kimmielgross's review against another edition
I’m convinced the first half and second half of this book are literally two completely different books. The first half dragged so much, but the second half was so amazing!
storysaurus_rex's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
readitandeat's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
ravynnator's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
beadgirl's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Córdova's short story was one of the only good ones from Toil and Trouble, so I was excited to read its expansion into a novel filled with family legacies, art, magic, and resilience. Loved it.
lazygal's review against another edition
5.0
Rounded up from 4.5 because of a few pacing issues (and typos that I'm sure will be caught before this goes to press). If you like magical realism, you'll love this; if you've never read any, this is a good book to start with as it bridges the border between fantasy and magical realism.
Orquieda Divina's story, from unloved daughter to family matriarch and beyond, takes place mostly in flashbacks as her family arrives in Four Rivers (located somewhere in the Southwest) to receive their inheritance and later as three of them attempt to cope with the aftermath of her death. Only at the end is the mystery at the heart of her life revealed, and readers will be sad their journey is ending. Getting to know Rey and Marimar, and through them Tatinelly and Rhiannon, and the multitudes of tias, tios and cousins they have felt like meeting real people. Even the family and other who made cameo are described as though readers are friends about to meet these people.
As for the magical realism/fantasy part, it is woven throughout the book, at first lightly and then taking centre stage as the story develops. Readers have an opportunity to get to know the characters and situation before things get, well, weird. And there is a lot of weird! Living stars, a multi-lived rooster, and a house with orchard that simply appears one day in an arid valley are just the beginning.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.
Orquieda Divina's story, from unloved daughter to family matriarch and beyond, takes place mostly in flashbacks as her family arrives in Four Rivers (located somewhere in the Southwest) to receive their inheritance and later as three of them attempt to cope with the aftermath of her death. Only at the end is the mystery at the heart of her life revealed, and readers will be sad their journey is ending. Getting to know Rey and Marimar, and through them Tatinelly and Rhiannon, and the multitudes of tias, tios and cousins they have felt like meeting real people. Even the family and other who made cameo are described as though readers are friends about to meet these people.
As for the magical realism/fantasy part, it is woven throughout the book, at first lightly and then taking centre stage as the story develops. Readers have an opportunity to get to know the characters and situation before things get, well, weird. And there is a lot of weird! Living stars, a multi-lived rooster, and a house with orchard that simply appears one day in an arid valley are just the beginning.
eARC provided by publisher via Edelweiss.
unicornreader's review against another edition
2.0
This was not my cup of tea. I think the cover and the description are misleading of what is actually in this book. A lot of people seem to love this book, and I only read this because I thought this was going to be a favorite.... obviously it wasn’t, not even close. It dragged, dwelled too long on unimportant parts. It introduced a lot of big concepts and tropes and then persisted to not give any answers or do anything remotely interested with those concepts... the characters were uninteresting. We meet such a big cast that very little time is actually spent on getting to know our main cast beyond the surface level. It took me 20 days to finish... and I had this on audiobook mind you. Needless to say I wasn’t very motivated to pick it up and it pushed me back into my slump.
sydney_elenaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
gmm1966's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
kacarella's review against another edition
4.0
So it took me a little while to get into this book. I think the back and forth narration of past to present with multiple narrators was maybe too much for me. But I’m glad I did push through, because the end was really good!