A review by hanarama
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

CW: body horror, sexism, death, grief

The Good:
• Dreamy prose
• Back and forth between past and present

The Bad:
 • Very slow

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Orquídea Montoya is rumored to be a witch. She came seemingly out of nowhere and her home appeared in Four Rivers overnight. Over the years her family grew and scattered across the United States. When she's dying, she calls them home to get their inheritances. 

Cousins Marimar, Rey, Rhiannon are gifted with blessings that manifest as flowers blooming from their flesh. For seven years, they prosper, until a mysterious entity sets them on the path to uncover Orquídea's past. 

Córdova's prose is simply magical. They paint scenes that feel right out of a dream. As the narrative switches between the past with Orquídea and the present with the cousins, the reader is exposed to more and more magic. 

Unfortunately, the story feels very slow, perhaps in part due to the dreaminess of the prose. I found it hard at times to keep reading because the narrative moves very slowly. 


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