Reading The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina was a truly magical experience. From the very beginning of this book I was drawn in by the multigenerational story line, the hint of magic, and the threat of a family curse. I tried to read this book slowly to savor all of the magical moments, but it was hard because I kept getting sucked back in. Hands down one of my favorite reads this year.

I loved how Orquídea‘s story is explained to us. It’s nonlinear, but not at all confusing. Just when we think we are getting the full story another secret is revealed and suddenly there is another mystery to unravel. The Montoya clan are all easy to root for and I was cheering for them all to overcome the curse. Marimar, Rey and Rhiannon were easy favorites. I celebrated and mourned alongside them the whole way through.

The magical elements were some of my favorites and I loved the Latinx representations. If you love magical realism, stories of families overcoming obstacles (and curses) this is the book for you. I do wish we had a bigger “battle” at the end. That was the only thing that was really lacking.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this beautiful book. I can’t wait to check out more of this author’s work.

I was kindly sent a digital ARC from the Publisher via Netgalley though all thoughts are my own.

This was quite the wild adventure of a book. I found myself caught up in the story from beginning to end and it was hard to put down because Zoraida has a way with words that kept me hooked.

I loved how Orquidea had a secret life that was slowly revealed to her family after her transformation and though each had mostly gone their own way once reading adulthood and then after the transformation, they came together as a family to try to protect each other.

I adore Marimar, Rhiannon and Tatinelly who are such strong ladies in their own ways and have unique magic that shows up throughout the book. My heart when out to Rhiannon when she lost her mom (Tatinelly) who died protecting her family from a terrible person.

Full of magic, mystery, the power of family, adventure, surprises and the power of love, it was quite the wild book and I highly recommend reading it. I really hope that there will be a sequel because there's so much more I'd love to learn about this family and this particular world of magic!

Trigger warnings: death, drowning, murder, curses, some violence, cheating, torture, car accident, suicide, death due to a plague, death of a child

What can be better than a family curse, magical roots and celestial beings! I enjoyed jumping between the present family and Orquídea's past. The mood set by the family coming to see Orquídea and the reality of dealing with the questions that a loved one leaves behind with all the buried family secrets was phenomenal. Journeying with Marimar, Ray and Rhiannon to Ecuador to save their family was definitely a roller coster of emotions and I loved every minute of it!

I loved this book. From its enchanting beginning to the thrilling, nerve tingling conclusion, you will savor the characters and absorb this family full of unending illusion and enchantment.

This is the story of a family seeking the truth about the unexplainable episodes that have permeated their lives and a power that holds sway over the all.

If you love Alice Hoffman, as I do, please do not miss this extraordinary book. What more could you ask for-----mystery and magic? Perfect combination!

Marimar and Rey are my two favorite characters, by far. They are certainly a product of their generation, but they were also influenced by growing up where they did with the family they had. Young Orquídea was also a favorite of mine; her experience with the monster of the river, and with her unfortunate mother, as well as her time with the circus, felt like a much more compelling story, and I wish there had been more focus on her past instead of glimpses. Aside from our main cohort, I found myself confused as to who everyone was. Aside from Marimar and Rey, it was difficult to keep track, nor was it worth it to do so. As Orquídea’s curse spread, I didn’t really...care...who it struck, since most of them were hardly worth a name drop.

As the curse took hold, everything became very chaotic, in a sort of detached way. Time moved so fast, too. About a third of the book happened within days, then suddenly, seven years passed. Rhiannon had grown up, Rey quit his job and became a world famous artist, Marimar rebuilt the home that had been destroyed. It was a lot to happen and only glanced over in a matter of pages. The beginning of the book had better pacing, as did some of the flashbacks. It contrasted sharply with a large chunk of the novel and felt jolting, and not in a good way.

The curse itself was revealed in fits and starts but the details were revealed far too late, making the ending feel so rushed as it all comes together. I wish there had been a few more chapters to really build up the suspense and allow for more exposition.

I found Cordova’s writing to be absolutely enchanting; the description of the magic and the Guayaquil were the most engrossing. It was definitely more magical than magical realism, but held the fine line between the two very well. The spiciness was not great, awkward at best. It felt out of place.

The inclusivity was very much appreciated. Marimar’s lack of romantic attraction, and Rey’s queerness just added to why I liked them so much as characters. I definitely want more, especially of Rey’s whirlwind success as an artist.

While I enjoyed the writing, the story fell short for me. The pacing and an introduction of too many characters detracted from my enjoyment. I wanted more of Orquídea’s background, and less time leaps. I know this could have really made this book an epic, lengthwise and storywise, but it would have been worth it.

This book was stunning. The writing was lyrical and the story was heartwarming. I loved Orquidea and her family. I felt that the villain and resolution of the story did feel a little rushed though.

I took some time to process this book before writing this review. Cordova creates an incredible blend of magical realism, family heritage, and cultural homage to Ecuadorian and Latinx culture. The choices of one grandmother who dreamed of a life greater than the one she was given shaped the lives of her descendants for three generations. If you think you could be interested in sailing across the stars, possessing the magic of the universe, and meeting demigods, this book is for you.

I loved this book so, so much! I loved that it revolved around the family's culture, how unusual of a story it was, and the fact that it had some magic throughout. It was intriguing to read about Orquidea's past, and to see how her family finds out all the things she never told them. This was such a good book, I cannot praise it enough!

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is a magical family story, which covers legacy, family ties, and power. This is Cordova's debut adult novel, and is known for the Brooklyn Brujas series (although I know her best for her romance under a different name, Zoey Castille). This book shares a lot of it's DNA with the Brujas series, and is unique in the way that it integrates magical realism into a story that feels deeply present in our real world. I have not found very many books that take place in Ecuador (or written by Ecuadorians and promoted here in the U.S.), so this is both an important book in terms of setting in Guayaquil and integrating cultural aspects of Ecuadorian culture (it made me very hungry for llapingachos and humitas).

For anyone who has loved the whimsy and thoughtful nature of The Night Circus, Like Water for Chocolate, or The Astonishing Color of After, plan to pick up this book. With rotating POVs between two of the grandchildren, and flashbacks to Orquidea's life, there is a richness of voice and of experience that makes this a joy to read. Towards the beginning of the book, I drew out the family tree for myself to keep all the characters straight, but as it progressed, you get to know each of them and their importance in the family line. I imagined many parts of this novel sharing the beauty of the movie (and book) Stardust, and how colorful the world would be.

Thanks to NetGalley for an early review copy, all opinions are my own.

I started reading this book completely captivated, but eventually lost my way within the wide cast of characters. Creative, to be sure, but I ended up skimming the second half. I found changing timelines a bit too confusing to follow.

This book is a complete tour de force--the way it blends contemporary humor with magical realism, navigating a multi-strand timeline and a sprawling family saga, is staggering. It was such a joy to read, even when it was heartbreaking (and in my opinion, this book will gut you from time to time but then also knit you back together). There's truly supernatural stuff here, and Cordova as always excels at that, but there's also deep emotional truths, nuanced and profound, that propel this novel toward its gorgeous conclusion. I ordered my own copy immediately after I finished it. (Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC.)

Brilliant! Orquidea Divina has always been strange and magical, but when she sends out invitations for her own death to her children and grandchildren, their inheritance of her magic leads them down a path to discover the secrets Divina never shared in life. This engaging story has placed Zoraida Cordova on my list of must read authors.

I devoured this intricate family saga rich with magic and history. The author did a fantastic job of painting the settings in such a way that I could could see the valley in Four Rivers and the streets of Ecuador, as these characters walked through them.

Zoraida Cordova took my breath away with her lyrical depictions of the Montaya family. Her exploration of family in this book was spot on. It showed all the ways in which family can be, from Enrique to Marimar to Tatinelly who all viewed their family differently and yet in the end they all recognized the importance of family.

The way in which the story unfolded reminded me of a flower slowly unfurling into full bloom. There were no pieces that didn't fit or scenes that didn't add something to the overall narrative. It was beautifully done. Books that feature magical realism are always tricky but this one felt so grounded even in the descriptions of the power source and its origins. The story was seamless and magically woven together in such a way that will leave readers mesmerized by this enchanting story.

Beautiful, magical, divine, I absolutely LOVED this book! From the very first page I was pulled into the enchanting world of Four Rivers and the Montoya family and their secrets. I loved the way the story unfurled itself, told over time and generations and full of life all the way through. The elements of magical realism were also stunning, and the way they were woven through the book made for such a beautiful read. I can't even begin to express how beautiful I found this book to be and how much I loved this story. I highly recommend!

A quirky and exciting tale of a magical family. This book was full of twists and surprises that drew me in and made me fall in love with the Montoya family

Ok, this is definitely my top book of 2021. The cover is fantastic. Absolutely love Zoraida. This book gave me all types of feels. Major family tea, magical things and so much more. I'm sure the way I'm imaging it is no justice to the way it was told. I loved everything about it. Most definitely going the permanent collection.

I'm not even sure where to begin to try to express how much I loved The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. I actually haven't read Cordova's other work, but she's quickly become one of my favorite authors. The world-building is truly magical, and the characters are relatable in their arcs and their nuances.

I was drawn into the plot from just about the first page, which is quite an accomplishment for me and my distractible brain! The complex family dynamics are something I think almost every reader can relate to, and some nuggets of wisdom resonated in deep ways that have continued to stick with me. When Marimar is reflecting on her experiences and relationship with Orquídea, she says, "You can still love someone after they hurt you," to which her cousin, Rey, responds, "Doesn't mean you should." There were poignant utterances like this throughout the book that made me stop and reflect on my own life, yet still kept me fully immersed in the story. Cordova's writing is brilliant, her characters are captivating and full of depth, and, although I am not a Latinx reader, it felt like her use of language and representation of her culture were fierce and powerful.

This was a complete delight. I'm so grateful I got a chance to read The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina and cannot wait to share this with everyone I know. Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the advance copy! I can't encourage you enough to pick up this book.

Magically delicious.........

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is unlike anything that I've read in some time. It positions you on a comfy cushion of organic tales that unfold through the creative touch of Zoraida Cordova. Prepare yourself for unexplainable happenings that twist and turn and roost heavily in secret places as your mind accommodates the unreasonableness of its reasoning.

Orquidea Divina sits within her ancient wooden house in Four Rivers. She reflects on her long journey from Ecuador, so long ago, to this sparsely inhabited place. Her memories are lined with her five husbands, her multitude of children, and the grandchildren and great-grandchildren filling the peripheral of her mind. And as intertwined as all of this is, the span of her life is far more knotted and threaded like the backside of a hanging tapestry.

Orquidea stares at the flourish of her handwriting. She has prepared invitations for all of them. The Montoya family has been beckoned to come to Four Rivers in order to claim their inheritance. No one is certain of Orquidea's exact age. Her family only knows that it is time. Cordova will introduce us to all the remaining members who will gather to honor Orquidea as she leaves this world for the next. But it's in the leaving that your curiosity will be piqued to the highest level.

Zoraida Cordova sets her novel down within a bevy of interesting characters. I could not even do justice to all of them here and their life expressions. But the two most outstanding of them are cousins, Marimar and Reymundo "Rey". They are extremely close while living in New York City so far from Four Rivers. The cousins travel to see their grandmother for the last time. They have a remarkable link to one another and this link will fortify them as they experience the reunion of their family and the parting of their grandmother.

Cordova shifts her storyline from the present to the past in the back-and-forth seam that leads from Orquidea's early life to her present one. It is filled with fantasy and curiosities and countless life-impacting decisions made by Orquidea and those around her. It's like viewing an expanding and contracting kaleidoscope of patterns taken in all at once. Cordova has a wide and colorful imagination with an exciting panoramic glimpse into "protecting the magic". And isn't that what all of us are compelled to do?

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster and to the talented Zoraida Cordova for the opportunity.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of Inheritance of Orquidea Divina.

I typically read mystery/thrillers , but I really enjoyed this book.

This is the translation of my goodreads review which was originally written in Spanish.

Score: 4 Stars.

The book stars with a quote of the song "Luz de luna", which is one of my favorite songs of all time.
The story starts with Orquidea Divina Montoya inviting her relatives to her home on May 14th. On her letter she says that she's dying and that she will give them their inheritance. All of her relatives go to her place, which means there´s a huge family reunion, and from here things become weird. Orquidea becomes a tree and give her grandchildren a gift that will change their lives forever.

One of my favorite parts of this novel was the story about the origin of Guayaquil's name. I have friends from Ecuador that were born in Guayaquil and now I want to talk with them about their city. I already wanted to go and visit them, but now I want to explore more about their culture and legends.

Even though the beginning is a little slow, the story starts building up with the turning of the pages. Everything improves when they travel to Guayaquil, since from here we start to get to know more details about Orquídea and her misterious past.

This is a perfect read for the summer. An agile story, full of Magical Realism that will keep you entertained. Slow at the beginning but easy to enjoy.