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newbiereads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror and Infidelity
thenovelmaura's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I read this book back in September and I had high expectations because I've seen so many positive reviews of this one. It didn't end up being a favorite, mostly because I didn't care very much about the modern-day timeline. Orquídea's past was much more interesting to me than anything that was happening to the Montoya descendants. I did love all of the magic and mystery that were woven into the story but it was hard for me to get into the actual plot when the chapters were focused on the modern-day Montoyas; I kept putting it down and not really wanting to pick it up again.
After a similar middle-of-the-road experience with Incendiary, I think Córdova has become a "just not for me" author; I tend to like her characters more than I do her plots. But I don't regret giving either of those books a try, and there's never a bad time to support Latinx writers!
After a similar middle-of-the-road experience with Incendiary, I think Córdova has become a "just not for me" author; I tend to like her characters more than I do her plots. But I don't regret giving either of those books a try, and there's never a bad time to support Latinx writers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Infidelity
Moderate: Sexual content and Death of parent
knenigans's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Stalking
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Death of parent
Minor: Body horror, Infidelity, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
apierlessbridge's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful and warm. A story of family, choosing to be a family, secrets, the legacies and inheritances of those who came before us. About finding your way and magic in every sense of the word. Involving the circus, the things and monsters that haunt us, ghosts, being other, love and loving. I felt this one deeply.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
ktdakotareads's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Grief, and Death of parent
Minor: Child death and Fire/Fire injury
thereaderfriend's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Absolutely loved this. The books that are emotionally challenging to read are usually the best ones to read and this was a great example. Loved the takes on generational trauma, and vulnerability. Loved the magical realism and fantastical aspects too. And mainly loved the lesson abiut how chosen family can help you in the midst of challenges :)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Violence, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Aghhhhhh this book ripped out my heart and I said thank you. Achingly beautiful take on generational trauma and vulnerability and domestic abuse, and I'm very excited to discuss this with friends for a casual book club!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
Moderate: Child death and Fire/Fire injury
onemorepagecrew's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova was my favorite kind of coming-of-age story, the ones that dig into family history and pass ancestral gifts or knowledge to the younger generation. This one had a touch of mystery and magical realism, which is icing on the cake for me.
In this story we meet Orquídea, the matriarch of the Montoya family who does not leave the family home and is full of unanswered questions. She invites her family to the home for her transition to the afterlife and their inheritance, which kicks off the unusual events and the start of getting to know the next two generations in the family.
The story is full of family banter as they decipher Orquídea’s cryptic messages, make sense of their supernatural abilities, and seek answers in Ecuador. The mystery unfolds in dual timelines to bring together the matriarch’s life story and pass the inheritance on to her loved ones.
At times it read a little YA, but I didn’t mind since that is a genre I really enjoy. The story was well done and the writing held my attention. The magic was sprinkled in and part of everyday life, differentiating it from a full-on fantasy novel. I am so glad I came across this in Libby and recommend it for those who enjoy multi-generational stories of ancestral powers with a hint of supernatural elements.
Content warnings: Death, Infidelity, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
thewildmageslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
This story was really intriguing! I had no expectations going in and it really caught me up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Emotional abuse, Racism, Sexual content, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death
saenz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
the integration of culture into the magic was cool as hell and made it feel so much more immersive. Loved the family stuff and it was a very good feel good revenge story :D
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity