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A review by c_serpent
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I did not finish this book at 76% because a man has grasshopper eggs hatch out of him. I cannot handle bug body horror, and want to bathe in acid now.
I'm counting it as a "read" because I suffered through 76% of it. It is very prettily written, but it's so unforgivably slow. At one point they land in Ecuador and Marimar "notices" hummingbirds around them. The hummingbirds are magic and have to do with her family and this should be something notable, but Marimar just notices them.
And that's the attitude toward magic. It's not acknowledged for what it is, or recognized as magic, or valued. It's vaguely noticed, no one does anything, and time continues to pass.
The whole novel just felt like time passing. Nothing happened, really. Orquidea is so concerned about something "getting" her family and as the book goes on the family is being watched by someone, and they just keep living their life and doing inconsequential things. Nobody tries to confront the threat. Nobody does anything. So it feels like there's no antagonist, but there's clearly an antagonist. It has me watching the main characters and going, "are you worried or not? is somebody going to get you or not?"
This makes the book feel hazy, like a dream, but like the slowest, most boring dream of all time.
"But most of the plot happens in the last third of the book!" you may object. "This was intentional!"
Was it intentional? Because it's also bad writing. If you want to contend it was intentionally bad writing, I won't stop you.
I really wanted to like this book, but none of the characters are interesting, and I'm tired by how slow it is. No actions are taken. I wanted to love you, novel! But I did not.
Two stars remain because I'm going to be thinking about how Marimar is named Mar y Mar, as in, "sea and sea," until I die. That's the coolest name ever. Three stars have been removed because I'd like to forget everything else and not remember any of it tomorrow, much less until I die.
Total score: 2/5 stars
I'm counting it as a "read" because I suffered through 76% of it. It is very prettily written, but it's so unforgivably slow. At one point they land in Ecuador and Marimar "notices" hummingbirds around them. The hummingbirds are magic and have to do with her family and this should be something notable, but Marimar just notices them.
And that's the attitude toward magic. It's not acknowledged for what it is, or recognized as magic, or valued. It's vaguely noticed, no one does anything, and time continues to pass.
The whole novel just felt like time passing. Nothing happened, really. Orquidea is so concerned about something "getting" her family and as the book goes on the family is being watched by someone, and they just keep living their life and doing inconsequential things. Nobody tries to confront the threat. Nobody does anything. So it feels like there's no antagonist, but there's clearly an antagonist. It has me watching the main characters and going, "are you worried or not? is somebody going to get you or not?"
This makes the book feel hazy, like a dream, but like the slowest, most boring dream of all time.
"But most of the plot happens in the last third of the book!" you may object. "This was intentional!"
Was it intentional? Because it's also bad writing. If you want to contend it was intentionally bad writing, I won't stop you.
I really wanted to like this book, but none of the characters are interesting, and I'm tired by how slow it is. No actions are taken. I wanted to love you, novel! But I did not.
Two stars remain because I'm going to be thinking about how Marimar is named Mar y Mar, as in, "sea and sea," until I die. That's the coolest name ever. Three stars have been removed because I'd like to forget everything else and not remember any of it tomorrow, much less until I die.
Total score: 2/5 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror