A review by onemorepagecrew
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

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 
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