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A review by perpetualpages
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CWs: references to racism/xenophobia; mentions of anxiety attacks; death and death of a grandparent; estranged parents; brief references to past child abuse; infidelity; descriptions of disease; and some graphic sexual content
Zoraida Córdova is one of those authors who I feel like gets better and better with every book of hers that I read, and this, I think, is undoubtedly one of her best. This inter-generational saga is ambitious, magical, whimsical, thoughtful, and it just hits all the right notes to make an utterly unforgettable story.
I've said before that it feels like this book could be our generation’s The House of the Spirits, and I stand by that, because it embraces all the traditional hallmarks of Latine magical realism, but also creates something fresh and new by filtering the story through the lens of modern-day millennials. There's such a beautiful and effortless blend of the historical and the contemporary, that honors and almost replicates multigenerational family structures—especially those found in Latine communities—in a way that I find extremely compelling.
In some ways, one might think that "magical realism in the twenty-first century" is an oxymoron, but it actually really works because that unremarked magic mimics the way that the world itself is so strange, unknowable, malleable, and mysterious. The implementation of that genre in a modern-day setting also really speaks to the evolution of tradition, and how ideas can change over time without negating the roots of where they've come from. One of the really special things about magical realism is that it positions magic itself as expected and commonplace, and this story is no different in that respect. The magic in this story is so deeply tied to culture, family, and history, that it just makes sense. It feels deeply personal, and like a natural extension of the inexplicable ways the world works, in a way that's very satisfying to read.
And above everything else, it’s such a powerful exploration of family curses—not only the importance of recognizing and naming family curses for what they are, but also the importance of coming together to break those curses. I love how the story plays with the idea of inheritance, because we don’t just inherit the good things we want. We inherit trauma, we inherit family history, we inherit burdens, we inherit pain and loss. The story really understands that there is power and there is joy to be found in family, and how we can gain strength and grow from our connection to family, but also how there’s an equal chance we can be destroyed by it.
This is a story that shows how there is literal power in knowing where you come from, remembering where you come from, embracing where you come from, and also understanding how that power can be a strength just as easily as it can be a weakness. I think it’s also a great reflection on just how much you’d be willing to sacrifice in order to be free, and also how the impact of one person’s choices can still be felt throughout generations.
Ultimately this story is a quest where these modern-day characters are trying to excavate their grandmother’s secrets, to uncover firsthand all the things no one ever told them, so that they can create their own relationship with their history, and with that understanding hopefully break their curse. It’s a stunning story where the historical and present-day counterparts shine equally, and it imparts a strong message about the power of family and protecting your magic. This is far and away one of the best and most memorable stories I've read all year, and I cannot recommend it enough!
Zoraida Córdova is one of those authors who I feel like gets better and better with every book of hers that I read, and this, I think, is undoubtedly one of her best. This inter-generational saga is ambitious, magical, whimsical, thoughtful, and it just hits all the right notes to make an utterly unforgettable story.
I've said before that it feels like this book could be our generation’s The House of the Spirits, and I stand by that, because it embraces all the traditional hallmarks of Latine magical realism, but also creates something fresh and new by filtering the story through the lens of modern-day millennials. There's such a beautiful and effortless blend of the historical and the contemporary, that honors and almost replicates multigenerational family structures—especially those found in Latine communities—in a way that I find extremely compelling.
In some ways, one might think that "magical realism in the twenty-first century" is an oxymoron, but it actually really works because that unremarked magic mimics the way that the world itself is so strange, unknowable, malleable, and mysterious. The implementation of that genre in a modern-day setting also really speaks to the evolution of tradition, and how ideas can change over time without negating the roots of where they've come from. One of the really special things about magical realism is that it positions magic itself as expected and commonplace, and this story is no different in that respect. The magic in this story is so deeply tied to culture, family, and history, that it just makes sense. It feels deeply personal, and like a natural extension of the inexplicable ways the world works, in a way that's very satisfying to read.
And above everything else, it’s such a powerful exploration of family curses—not only the importance of recognizing and naming family curses for what they are, but also the importance of coming together to break those curses. I love how the story plays with the idea of inheritance, because we don’t just inherit the good things we want. We inherit trauma, we inherit family history, we inherit burdens, we inherit pain and loss. The story really understands that there is power and there is joy to be found in family, and how we can gain strength and grow from our connection to family, but also how there’s an equal chance we can be destroyed by it.
This is a story that shows how there is literal power in knowing where you come from, remembering where you come from, embracing where you come from, and also understanding how that power can be a strength just as easily as it can be a weakness. I think it’s also a great reflection on just how much you’d be willing to sacrifice in order to be free, and also how the impact of one person’s choices can still be felt throughout generations.
Ultimately this story is a quest where these modern-day characters are trying to excavate their grandmother’s secrets, to uncover firsthand all the things no one ever told them, so that they can create their own relationship with their history, and with that understanding hopefully break their curse. It’s a stunning story where the historical and present-day counterparts shine equally, and it imparts a strong message about the power of family and protecting your magic. This is far and away one of the best and most memorable stories I've read all year, and I cannot recommend it enough!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Infidelity, Racism, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual content