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lyonsdenprojects's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Blood and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Confinement
wai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Infidelity, Grief, Stalking, and Death of parent
Moderate: Child death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Suicide and Blood
laurareads87's review against another edition
- 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
4.25
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, set alternately between the United States and Equador, follows five generations of Montoyas and centres on the figure of Orquídea, a woman with many secrets. The novel jumps between Orquídea’s past as a child and young woman and her grandchildren’s present as they work to uncover the mysteries surrounding their family.
Overall, I really enjoyed this novel! It’s well written, the story is compelling, the characters are well developed, and the magical realism is perfect. I particularly appreciate that the story focuses on so many generations of multi-faceted and complex girls and women. The pace is a little slow at the outset, particularly as each member of the family is introduced in turn, but it picks up quickly enough and held my interest throughout – by the halfway point I had to know what was going to happen. Something about the third-person voice didn’t quite work for me consistently, but the beautiful writing, strong character development, and compelling narrative definitely add up to something special and I absolutely recommend this novel especially to those who enjoy magical realism and/or multi-generational family stories.
<i>Thank you to Netgalley + the publishers for providing an ARC in exchange for a review.</i>
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
Minor: Animal death
farransmith's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Grief and Abandonment
aeeklund's review against another edition
- 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
Zoraida Cordova’s first adult novel is a breathless, magical story of falling stars and roses blooming from bodies, transmutation into moonstone and softly speaking fireflies, the planting of seeds borne from bodies and vines erupting from the ground in stark defense of outrage or intrusion.
This book spans decades, generations, continents. It tours Europe with a circus and puts down roots in a secluded valley. It purifies with fire and it rebuilds from ash.
It studies silence and screaming and whispers and song, art and cooking and writing and loving, loss and gain and bargaining and settling, love in all its many and varied forms, some truer than we let ourselves see and some elaborate lies we tell or are told.
And the women. Women strong and weak, vulnerable and stubborn. In denial, in acceptance, in all their nuanced, many-faceted glory. I loved these characters and the histories they spun, entangled together like the roots of the orchids, laurels, and ceiba trees they all channel or reflect.
This book was transporting. And important. And so, so lovely that I am aching for it, even now having crossed its expanse. Read this.
Graphic: Cursing and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual content
Minor: Animal cruelty and Panic attacks/disorders