The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova ~ a Review

by MK French

The Montoya family never expected to have answers in life. The matriarch never left the family home in Four Rivers, and yet the larders were always full, the fields always yielded plenty, and there was always room for family. She invited the family to her home to receive their inheritance, which manifests in different ways seven years later. Someone is picking off the Montoya descendants, so four of them return to Ecuador, where Orquídea had left her secrets behind without ever looking back.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

September 2021; Atria Books; 978-1982102548
audio, ebook, print (336 pages); magical realism

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is a tale where magic is real, laced throughout Orquídea and her family, the children and grandchildren and great-granddaughter. Most get seeds to plant, which grow in time. It's the magic of talented people, from those able to talk easily with people and twins that are gifted songwriters, to the living flowers that Marimar, Rey, and Rhiannon have. Orquídea tells stories in elliptical ways so that on her transformation her descendants don't truly know her. Collecting the half stories, they try tracking down the past and the fears she left behind.

In looking for the past and who Orquídea used to be, Marimar comes into her own. Rey isn't afraid of himself, and Rhiannon shines. They discover what their grandmother had been running from, and finally learn the truth behind her silence. It's only in the family coming together that allows them to survive and learn the truth, a poetic way to conclude this tale. 

Zoraida Córdova paints a magical place for this book, weaving Orquídea's past through to the present as well as her descendants. The pages flow, and the characters really grab hold of you to make you love them. While reading this book they're your family, too, and maybe some of their magic can bleed out through the pages into your life.

Buy The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina at Amazon

Born and raised in New York City, M.K. French started writing stories when very young, dreaming of different worlds and places to visit. She always had an interest in folklore, fairy tales, and the macabre, which has definitely influenced her work. She currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, three young children, and a golden retriever.

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