Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

29 reviews

bookmaddie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Y'all this book made me almost cry at 35% in. That's when you know a book is gonna be good.

I think what made me immediately invested in this story is Córdova's writing—it is so warm and magical. It makes you feel wrapped up in a hug from a loved one, and instantly part of whatever story she is crafting on the page. Each character, setting, star, gust of wind is imbued with life.

It was heartening to see how the Orquídea's family came together around her, to support her and each other in their greatest time of need. When everyone reunited in the end, it was even more touching and beautiful to see how everyone had changed and grown, and their love for each other was stronger than ever. This book is just a beautiful (and magical!) tribute to family, and I've not read a book that warmed me in this way in a long time. Even at its saddest moments, this book is just so full of love.

I can't forget the MAGIC in this story. It's everywhere! And we also get a magical river guardian, a historical, mysterious circus, and otherworldly beings. I was delighted by the mix of folklore, family history, luck, and wishes gone wrong. Combined with Córdova's writing, it makes for an unputdownable read! 

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for my advanced digital copy that I should have read months ago.. woopsies! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Death of parent, and Death

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 :) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Death

Moderate: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Child death, and Domestic abuse

madmantha's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Absolutely loved this book. I highly recommend seeing if your local library has the audiobook as well. 

I’ve now reread it multiple times and enjoy it more and more each reading. It’s such a poetic and circular story. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Medical content, Abandonment, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Stalking, and Body horror

Moderate: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content

Minor: Animal death, Car accident, Genocide, Outing, Chronic illness, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Alcoholism, Ableism, Classism, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Animal cruelty, Cursing, Deadnaming, Deportation, Gun violence, Self harm, Stalking, Terminal illness, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Racism, Religious bigotry, Incest, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Cultural appropriation, Fatphobia, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Child abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse

javafenn's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

• 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

I want to give this a score of infinite. I have never and will never read a book that delighted me as much as this one. It gave off a Silvia Moreno-Garcia vibe mixed with Encanto but only if Encanto didn’t have the jovial numbers by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The twist was stunning and sad and the final two chapters left me in tears because it was over but I immediately wanted to close the book and start it over again. I have spent my life running from my Montoya last name but, for the first time ever, I feel like embracing it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Racism, Child death, Murder, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Infidelity

Minor: Violence and Torture

leannanecdote's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Classism, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Stalking, Violence, Xenophobia, Suicidal thoughts, Sexism, Injury/Injury detail, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Drug use, and Cursing

haylzno's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional sad tense 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? No

4.0

Fantastic audiobook - LOVED the narration. 

The magic was lovely and simple and almost intimate. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, and Violence

brokenbodybitch's review against another edition

4.5

low spoon review;

• i liked the way the magical realism was done; it was not only interesting but I think done well/realistically?
• ^ add on kinda; I liked the elements of the flowers and the way those hinted at what was going on 
• the family dynamics were super interesting; the 'current' generation of the family was a hot mess, and in the best way it was very much the -big wealthy family with the inheritance holder who is kinda pissing everyone off- vibes
  the story line with her husbands was interesting but I have to admit it did start to seem like just a lot was going on when the stuff with the star and the 'ring master' dude father story line was going on, again done well but like...it was a lot of things at once
• it does have a circus in it though and to my knowledge it was done pretty tastefully but, I am not educated enough on the history of the circus and mistreatment of people [specifically disabled people] to have a valid comment on how it was done [I know some things but not enough to be confident in how it was done] - although there was one comment about a 'circus oddity', in this case it was referring to a  magical being so 🤷🏼 I don't know
• the pacing was a little funky for me but that is mostly preference; it jumps back and forth between POV kind and time lines so it was a bit confusing at times but, if you normally don't struggle with this it will not be an issue, because for how much it jumped... it wasn't that bad  

my content warnings are not thorough as so much happened, I can guarantee I'm prob missing a few  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Confinement, Infidelity, Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Abandonment, and Fire/Fire injury

circus? I have heard of mis treatment of people - specifically disabled people because of the circus and I am not educated enough on the history that to know if it was ok or not - there was one comment about a 'circus oddity', although in this case it happened to be referring to a magical being so 🤷🏼 I don't know

drinaiscold's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Sexual content, Abandonment, Death of parent, Stalking, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Cursing, Violence, Body horror, Pregnancy, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Car accident

cozylifewithabby's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I have really mixed feelings on this book. I wanted to love it. I really enjoyed the first third with the family all being called back and the mystery of it all, the middle third alternated perspectives so parts of it were interesting and other parts were slow. The last third was chaos. I am still not sure what I read. Even though I am a fan of shorter books, this could have used another 100 pages. We also never learn anything about most of the characters and the family tree at the beginning could be deleted as most of it is never mentioned. 

I wanted so much more and I think this had potential, but fell flat. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity and Sexual content

Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Violence

nrogers_1030's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Violence

Minor: Child death and Pregnancy