I can't put into words how much I absolutely loved this book. Maybe it found me at the right time, or maybe it's the incredible writing and amazing characters? Either way, this book spoke to me on so many levels and I fell in love very quickly.. I could see myself re-reading this before the end of the year and buying it/recommending it to everyone around me.

Loved the first couple chapters and ended up buying myself a copy!! The magic system was so amazing!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Loved this book. I even preordered it to have the final copy in bookshelf. I reccomend everyone pick this one up, You won't be disapointed.

Trees and stars and circuses oh my!

After years away from the Montoya matriarch's home in Four Rivers, the entire family is coming back to collect their inheritance. Orquídea Divina has always been a strange woman, and her children and grandchildren have always taken the unexplainable oddities that surround her in stride. But this time, after each receiving a letter from her to come collect their inheritance at a specific time and date, the Montoyas realize what is happening to Orquídea isn't just odd, it's serious and will change their lives forever.

This was such a gorgeous and intriguing story. The narration goes back and forth between the present as certain Montoyas cope with their inheritances and what happened to Orquídea, and to the past as Orquídea's life unravels to make her into the curious woman we meet in Four Rivers. It's an absolutely incredible story of family and legacy, magic and love, wrapped up in lush, beautiful writing that has so much of the author's heart in it.

The characters were so interesting to follow along with. I really loved that this centred on family and family alone. Aside from the flashes of Orquídea's past, the present is told through the eyes of three of her grandchildren.

Marimar is living in New York City after fleeing Four Rivers several years before. She never knew her father, and her mother died in a tragic accident. She fancies herself a writer but can't quite get any words down.

Rey lives with his cousin Marimar, and is working a god-awful numbers job that he doesn't care about. He and his cousin are as good as siblings, and their relationship was definitely my favourite.

Tatinelly is about to welcome her first child, but there is no way she is going to miss not seeing her grandmother one more time. Something in her gut is telling her to go. Honestly, she was my least favourite POV, so I was kind of glad she wasn't in the story as much compared to the other two.

The ending left me a little disappointed. With such a fabulous build-up of story and the importance of this complicated family legacy, it felt a little rushed and tidy. It was quite a let-down in the grand scheme of things, and for that reason it's a four star read.

I'm really glad I chose to do the audiobook for this as it seemed to really up the magic. It was also really nice knowing how to pronounce the names and places properly, not being a Spanish speaker myself. This was my second Córdova book, and it most certainly will not be the last.

This book is full of magic and mystery. You really fall in love with all the characters, no matter how flawed they are. A special story about family.

Magical realism! Miraculous plants, scents, buildings, letters! Fabulous intergenerational tale with a beautiful package. To be bundled with Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen and Laura Esquivel. We have it right next to our Tiktok / Booktok table with Addie Larue! Thank you

Orquídea Montoya once walked from Ecuador to Four Rivers with her second husband and rooster Gabo, then settled there in a valley that became verdant almost overnight. There, she married and buried several husbands, raised children and grandchildren who grew up and moved away. One day, her descendants receive an invitation to come receive their inheritance. Three of her grandchildren, Marimar, Rey, and Taninelly’s gifts appear as a flower growing out of their flesh, and Tati’s daughter Rhiannon is born with a flower in the middle of her forehead. When several of their relatives die in quick succession, and the cousins all see or feel a shadow stalking them, they must return to Four Rivers and explore Orquídea’s past to identify the threat and destroy it before it kills all of them.

I apologize for the terrible synopsis, but this book is very hard to describe without giving away too much. It is a kind of dark fairy tale, with a Faustian bargain and a revenge spanning generations. Like a lot of fantasy or magical realist novels, it takes some time for the story to get rolling in earnest, because the setting takes some time to be given proper shape. Here, there is also an entire extended family to introduce, even though the tale is told through the eyes of only a few of them. Once past the first third of the book, the rest flies by and you may not be able to put it down. This is not to say the first third is boring, a lot of important information and clues are in that section of the book, as is the slow introduction of the strange magic this family possesses, so it is still fascinating, just less eventful.

i loved the story of orquídea and her family. from the lore to the modern day relationships and characters, everything about this book felt natural and, somehow, wholesome. the magic system was well explained with just the right amount of mystery left behind. the story twisted and turned in many ways that i did not expect, which i found to be entertaining and captivating.

This book is soo cool and so unexpected! Loved getting to see all the different characters and the jumps between time!

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc for an honest review!

☆☆☆☆,75 /5
(english review below)

Entre secrets de famille, survie et magie, l'autrice m'emporte dans une histoire épique, que j'ai adoré lire !
¤
Les Montoya sont habitués à une vie sans explications. Ils savent mieux qu'il ne faut pas demander pourquoi le garde-manger ne semble jamais être vide ou pourquoi leur matriarche ne quittera jamais leur maison à Four Rivers -même pour les remises de diplômes, les mariages ou les baptêmes. Mais quand Orquídea Divina les invite à ses funérailles et à récupérer leur héritage, ils espèrent découvrir les secrets qu'elle a gardés si étroitement toute leur vie. Au lieu de cela, Orquídea est transformée, leur laissant plus de questions que de réponses.
Sept ans plus tard, ses dons se sont manifestés de différentes manières pour Marimar, Rey et la fille de Tatinelly, Rhiannon, leur accordant des bénédictions inattendues. Mais bientôt, une figure cachée commence à déchirer leur arbre généalogique, les éliminant un par un pour détruire la lignée d'Orquídea. Déterminés à sauver ce qui reste de leur famille et à découvrir la vérité derrière leur héritage, les quatre descendants se rendent en Équateur -à l'endroit où Orquídea a enterré ses secrets et ses promesses non tenues sans jamais regarder en arrière.
¤
J'ai été époustouflée par cette lecture ! Le style d'écriture de l’autrice est fluide et poétique. En faisant des arabesques stylistiques, chaque mot choisi avec soin m'ont fait rêver. Ce texte m'a fait voyager. Et pour cause, l'autrice nous emmène en Équateur !
J'ai apprécié apprendre à connaître les différents personnages d'Orquídea, Marimar, Rey, Tatinelly et Rhiannon. Chaque membre de cette grande famille a sa propre personnalité et ses différences. J'ai été fascinée de voir à quel point ils avaient chacun leur propre vision de la vie malgré leurs nombreux points communs et le même sang dans leurs veines. De plus, ce qui m'a le plus charmée à leur propos, c'est leurs relations justement dans cette grande famille. Les différents rapports qu'ils entretenaient entre eux avec le temps qui passe, leurs interactions... Je me suis sentie plus proche d'eux au fur et à mesure des dialogues.
L'intrigue était intéressante à suivre. Entre magie et enquête, il est surtout question de survie et de solidarité. Et pour survivre, les derniers survivants doivent déterrer les secrets bien gardés d'Orquídea. J'ai trouvé que l’autrice a bien su distiller les informations et les révélations tout au long du roman. Mon intérêt a été maintenu jusqu'à la dernière page, même si je regrette les rebondissements qui étaient trop nombreux pour ma part, rendant le rythme rapide et essoufflé.
Enfin, j'ai littéralement dévoré cette lecture tant elle était prenante.

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ENGLISH REVIEW:

Between family secrets, survival and magic, the author takes me on an epic story that I loved to read!
¤
The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low or empty, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—even for graduations, weddings, or baptisms. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed, leaving them with more questions than answers.
Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly’s daughter, Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, the four descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked back.
¤
I was blown away by this reading! The author's writing style is fluid and poetic. Each carefully chosen word made me dream. This text made me travel. And for good reason, the author takes us to Ecuador!
I enjoyed getting to know the different characters of Orquídea, Marimar, Rey, Tatinelly and Rhiannon. Each member of this large family has their own personality and their differences. I was fascinated to see how they each had their own outlook on life despite their many similarities and the same blood in their veins. In addition, what charmed me the most about them is their relationship in this large family. The different relationships they had with each other over time, their interactions... I felt closer to them.
The plot was interesting. Between magic and investigation, it's above all a question of survival and solidarity. And to survive, the last survivors must unearth Orquídea's well-kept secrets. I found the author was able to distill information and revelations well throughout the story. My interest was maintained until the last page, although I regret the twists that were too numerous for me, making the pace fast and breathless.
Finally, I literally devoured this reading because it was so engaging.

On this episode of Everything is Canon, Steve talks to Zoraida Córdova all about her new book, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, which is described as, “Perfect for fans of Alice Hoffman, Isabel Allende, and Sarah Addison Allen, this is a gorgeously written novel about a family searching for the truth hidden in their past and the power they’ve inherited.”

Starting with an amazing cover by artist is Erick Dávila, and opens with about as good a letter to the reader as you’re going to find by the books editor Melanie Iglesias, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina instantly gives you sense you’re in for something special. In what feels like a classic already, Zoraida crafts something so unique, so distinct in this day and age, it’s awfully difficult to pin down, folks, this is storytelling.

We talk about the long journey this book took to write, the highs and lows of the publishing industry, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina of course, and much, much more.

For the full interview, click the link below...

https://www.cinelinx.com/off-beat/shows/everything-is-canon-the-inheritance-of-orquidea-divina/

* Thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada, Atria Books and Netgalley for an advance copy for review purposes *

Marimar Montoya left her multigenerational house after a fight with her grandmother, and has not heard from her for years until she receives a mysterious letter telling her that her grandma is dying and she should head back to receive her inheritance. And thus begins a very memorable family reunion, filled with magic, longing and a darker than expected inheritance.

Orquídea Divina is the matriarch of the family. She is a fascinating character. The book alternates between narrating events from her childhood and youth, to the present day events surrounding her progeny. Some elements reminded me a lot of Lorca's "House of Bernarda Alba", in the way that Orquídea's heart has hardened and the control she exerts on her family. The tone and motivation are quite different tho; even though there is some darkness, this is a more optimistic book. The magic itself is very lyrical and reminiscent of Garcia Marquez., although it explains the source of those magical moments. I really enjoyed the book, and it was hard to put it down as the mysteries started unfolding.

And while you shouldn't judge a book by its cover - wow, that cover is stunning!

“The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina” is thus far my favourite release of 2021.

This multi-generational story of family and fate was absolutely enchanting, on par with the greatest works of magic-realism masters like Sarah Addison Allen, Isabelle Allende, and Alice Hoffman.

Of course, the distinct South American flair made the story unique in its own right, and the beautiful description leant a breathtaking backdrop for Zoraida Cordova’s epic tale.

At times, the writing was so beautiful that I had to read it aloud, much to the chagrin of my patient partner, also attempting to read nearby.

This is the kind of story so intricate and rich that you want to revisit it again and again. And with each crack of the spine, I imagine that Orquidea Divina will feel more and more like an old friend.

If magic-realism is your cup of tea, this is the masterpiece you’ve been waiting for. It simply is not to be missed.

Happy release day!

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is a wonderful story about magic, loss, and a family unified by a buried history they must exhume or else risk their lineage being snuffed out entirely.

At the centre is Orquídea Divina, matriarch to the Montoya clan and resident of Four Rivers, a place she called home for most of her life and settled down with her four husbands and numerous progeny. Years later, when her children and grandchildren are grown and make lives for themselves across the globe, the Montoyas receive an invitation to go back to Four Rivers and collect their inheritance. On their return, the Montoyas are faced with a reality they took for granted in their upbringing: that the house at Four Rivers is enchanted, and the natural landscape surrounding the home is imbued with magical properties they cannot begin to understand. As Orquídea’s life as she knew it comes to an end, the family is embittered by her wilful silence when left with a deluge of unanswered questions, no one more than her granddaughter, Marimar, who believes that her grandmother knows more than she lets on about her mother’s death and the true identity of her father.

While time passes and life goes on, the ramifications of Orquídea’s past rear it’s ugly head when Montoyas are discovered dead under mysterious circumstances. A family divided by secrecy and irreconcilable difference must come together to uncover the truth of Orquídea’s past by travelling to Ecuador, where Marimar will learn the answers to her questions, including some she dare not ask.

I love how little time it took for me to be enamoured with this story. The Inheritance was engaging from the very start, as the novel begins to tease out the mystifying appearance of the house in Four Rivers and Orquídea’s unique heritage and abilities. Given the many characters both within and surrounding the Montoya family, I found every detail and character’s story arc to be sympathetic and sincere, every bit of history enhancing my appreciation for the characters and their actions.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina was a beautiful homage to culture and family who grow from their blemished past and come together in the worst of times.

My sincere thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley for this transporting read!

The Inheritance of Orquìdea Divina is a story about the complexities of family, personal identity and self-acceptance. Each character is complex and fully realized, making their chaotic family dynamic so relatable. For me the highlight of the story is the relationship dynamic between Rey and Marimar. Rey is so sassy and Marimar is more broody, but they get each other in ways no one else does. The family members argue and fight but at the end of the day they all have each others back. Overall, this is a story about all types of love.

I received an advanced copy of this book for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova is magical and mystical and most definitely one of my favourite books that I read this year. Cousins Marimar and Rey Montoya grew up in a household where the pantry was never empty, the gardens were always bountiful, and their grandmother never left her home. Questions never received answers and even when they did those answers only gave way to more questions. When their grandmother Orquidea Divina announces that she is dying and the entire family is invited back home to receive their inheritance, even more questions are left unanswered. They begin to realize that they will have to seek out those answers themselves because there is a mysterious presence stalking family members, and not knowing the answers could cost them their lives. The story moves seamlessly between the past and the present and the twists and turns will have you avidly turning the pages to find out what happens next. I highly recommend reading this book.
Publishing Date: September 7, 2021. #TheInheritanceOfOrquidaDivina #ZoraidaCordova #SimonAndSchuster #AtriaBooks #ContemporaryFantasy #bookstagram #Bookstagrammer #UrbanFantasy #UrbanFantasyReader #ContemporaryFantasyReader

ARC Copy...I can firmly say I would place this as "adult" fantasy (although with leeway room for YA with the cast being multi-generational). Yes Cordova's Latin magical realism style is much present and oozing weaved with strong themes of family + generational bonds.

Perfect in every way. One of the best books I have read this year!
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is full of adventure, magic, mystery, and some family drama. From the first few pages I was hooked onto this novel. The writing was beautiful and provoked so much imagery, it played through my mind like a movie. I really love novels that incorporate cultural folklore and stories into their fantasy writing and I think Córdova did an amazing job with this.
I am also glad this is a stand-alone novel. Although I would love to read more from the Montoya family in the Four Rivers valley and this could have easily been drawn into a longer series, I'm glad it wasn't drawn out unnecessarily and I liked how it ended. So excited to read what Córdova writes next!

This book was so magical. I loved how much thought was put into all the details and how imaginative it was. I also wasn't expecting the amount of humour and wit in the dialogue, so that was a really pleasant surprise. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in magical realism, but also anyone who loves contemporary fiction about interesting families.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“You have to focus all of your energy on that connection every family has. It’s in our bones, our blood. More than that, it’s in the questions we need answered. The secrets, traumas, and legacies that we don’t know we’ve inherited, even if we don’t want them.”

The Montoyas gather at their family home in Four Rivers when they all receive invitations to attend the funeral of their matriarch, Orquidea Divina and collect their inheritances. But Orquidea hasn’t died, she has transformed – just one more unanswered question in a long line of puzzling occurrences. They each receive their inheritances, in the form of various magical powers, and go their separate ways. Over the next seven years, the gifts have manifested in different ways for those who followed Orquidea’s last instructions flourish, most particularly for her grandchildren, Marimar and Rey, and her great-granddaughter Rhiannon. But someone starts hunting down the Montoyas for their magic, one after another, the family knows the answer lies in Orquidea’s past, which she never spoke about. The three of them, along with Rhiannon’s mother Tatinelly, travel to Ecuador, where Orquidea spent her childhood in hopes of uncovering the truth and saving what remains of their family.

I was so excited to see that Zoraida Cordova had a second new book out this year, especially since I really enjoyed Illusionary a couple of months ago. This is, I believe, her first adult novel and very different from any of her other books I’ve read before. The writing is absolutely beautiful and there’s a dreamy feel to the narration, particularly the descriptions of Guayaquil and the mysterious magic that Orquidea can wield.

“Some people were meant for great, lasting legacies. Others were meant for small moments of goodness, tiny but that rippled and grew in big, wide ways.”

The story is narrated through dual timelines, focusing on Orquidea’s life in the past, and her descendants’ quest to find answers in the present. The flashbacks to Orquidea’s past were definitely the most interesting part for me as her history and the truth behind her many secrets came to light piece by piece, starting from her childhood in Guayaquil and her encounter with the river monster. Her descendants’ POVs were equally intriguing though, as, growing up in the United States, they are the product of a very different culture to the one Orquidea grew up in, yet having been raised in the house at Four Rivers with the family also had its own effect. It was particularly fascinating to see how each of them viewed Orquidea in such different ways and had their own images of her. It’s a rather dense read and you need to pay close attention to the story, because the POVs change frequently and it’s not always clear when they do.

While I enjoyed this concept behind this story, the genre of magical realism, much like urban fantasy, is for me, a hard genre to like. And this book might have actually worked for me, if it were not for the pacing. A slow moving story is one thing, but it’s quite another thing when a narrative doesn’t move past what is entirely obvious from the synopsis until more than halfway through the book and it was frankly an exhausting read, just waiting for the story to get to the point. This is essentially a family saga for most of the book, and it’s the kind of meandering narrative that I rarely have the patience for. However, it’s just due to my reading style that this wasn’t to my taste. I imagine there will be quite a few readers out there who will love this book for this exact same reason. The other thing I found irritating about this book was the ridiculous lack of emotion. There were some really intense things going on, from Orquidea getting turned into a tree, to various family members dying, to Rhiannon suddenly and tragically losing both her parents, and it barely seemed to affect any of the characters.

The ending was actually more along the lines of what I was expecting this entire book to be, with action-packed scenes, family secrets revealed, and the characters actually using their magic. It’s a pity it was all crammed into the last part of the book, making it feel like such an abrupt departure from the comparatively placid first half or so. The details behind the curse were explained far too late to really build up any suspense and it would have been so much better if the author had let it linger for a few more chapters. All said and done however, I did enjoy the writing and I’m glad I picked this up. If the story sounds interesting to you and the genre is something you enjoy, I would recommend it!