Scan barcode
javafenn'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: Blood and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Racism, Child death, Murder, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Infidelity
Minor: Violence and Torture
leannanecdote's review against another edition
- 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
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
brokenbodybitch's review against another edition
4.5
- 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
- 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
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 knowdrinaiscold'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
4.0
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
nrogers_1030's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Death, Grief, and Violence
Minor: Child death and Pregnancy
tajosima'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
3.75
Moderate: Sexual content, Abandonment, Racism, Death of parent, Infidelity, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death, Child death, Pregnancy, and Confinement
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
TL;DR REVIEW:
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is a really lovely standalone low fantasy novel in homage to Latinx family ties, traditions, and heritage. It pulled me in and held me the whole way.
For you if: You like low fantasy (magical elements in a real-world setting) and/or want to read more fantasy by Latinx authors.
FULL REVIEW:
“When she'd met Orquídea Montoya, she saw a whisper of a girl who wanted to become a scream.”
What a fun, lovely, magical story that Zoraida Córdova has given us in The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. It’s a standalone low fantasy novel (meaning the magical elements occur in a real-world setting) that almost feels like a modern-day fairytale, with great characters, a strong central mystery, and plenty of moments that tug on your heart.
Orquídea Montoya is the magical matriarch of a sprawling Ecuadorian-American family. One day, they all receive a letter inviting them home to claim their inheritance, as the time of her death has come. When they arrive, she’s begun a kind of transformation and leaves them with cryptic messages about staying safe. That sends a few of her grandchildren on a hunt for the truth — how Orquídea became Orquídea, what kind of deal she struck with whom, and who hunts them now.
This book is clearly a love letter to Ecuadorian family traditions, ties, and heritage; Córdova has written a story that sings with heart. I loved Marimar and Rey as characters, the magic sparkles, and I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery as I read.
If you’re looking for a standalone novel that provides a quick, magical trip into an engaging story, pick this one up!
Graphic: Child death and Infidelity
Moderate: Pregnancy, Grief, Death of parent, and Racism
foreverinastory'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
4.0
Rep: Mainly Ecuadorian and Ecuadorian-American cast of characters. Two cishet female MCs, one gay male MC.
CWs: Abandonment, alcohol consumption, blood, child death, death, death of parent, emotional abuse, fire, grief, infidelity, pregnancy, sexism, sexual content, toxic relationship, violence, murder. Moderate: injury/injury detail, misogyny, stalking, body horror, gaslighting, child abuse, racism/colorism.
Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Stalking, Body horror, Gaslighting, Child abuse, and Racism
meliroo's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Child death
faithe_mollett'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
It's generational and there's magic! A magic house, a powerful matriarch who sacrificed to keep her magic and her family safe. The family tree included in the book was good, it was helpful to have my own, simplified version though.
Just like many of the magical realism books I have read, once the actions starts it doesn't stop until the books over. It's like a really succesful scavenger hunt, go to point A for the next clue at point B for the next clue at point C, etc etc.
Magical realism has its roots in Latin American literature, and this novel is a wonderful addition. I forget how much I love this genre! Can't wait to read more from this author!
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Gore, Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual content, Stalking, Toxic relationship, and Violence
There's a family tree in the front of the book, but its hard to look at on an ereader that doesn't allow you to zoom. I found the fam tree online easily enough, and made my own simplified one to reference until I got to know the family a bit better.