Review of 'The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina'

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, from the author of the acclaimed and “giddily exciting” (The New York Times Book Review) Brooklyn Brujas series.

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.

Alternating between Orquídea’s past and her descendants’ present, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is an enchanting novel about what we knowingly and unknowingly inherit from our ancestors, the ties that bind, and reclaiming your power.

Review

Cordova does it again with masterful storytelling in The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, bringing together a family with secrets from the past and magic.

Amazing

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina entrances readers from the beginning, an open invitation to her funeral to her children and grandchildren to come and collect their inheritance. She knows her time has come, and she welcomes it, greeting death like an old friend.

Her family is less than thrilled with her transformation, leaving them with more questions than answers and magical gifts that manifest differently. While the story goes back and forth between the past the present, it also focuses on Marimar, Rey, and Tatinelly. Cousins and grandchildren of Divina,

The pacing is fantastic, and the story moves like water on a stream, building up to this magnificent waterfall. While the story goes back to Divina’s beginnings, it also tells the story of the three cousins, expanding to cover seven years’ worth of time.

What is so incredibly magical about Cordova’s writing is how her pacing never falters, how she shows so much with so little. Cordova’s writing is concise without losing the magic, without losing the mystery and characterization and growth.

The reader is invested in the story because of Cordova’s incredible writing talent. Cordova continues to keep the reader engaged when going back and forth between the past and the present. There is a mystery here waiting to be solved, and Cordova uses her skills to entrance the reader with it. How did Divina get her magic, and who is hunting them now that she is gone? The reader needs to know, and with the rising tension, the secrets begin to unravel wonderfully.

Excellent Characters

Cordova also does not neglect her characters. While half of the plot follows Divina’s perspective, The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina also focuses on Marimar, Rey, Tatinelly, and her daughter, Rhiannon. These four characters go through much in the seven years. The reader sees it and connects to it. They grow and develop as their gifts grow and develop.

Reading their journeys and seeing them unfold in the way they do gives the reader a reason to be invested in them. Marimar inherits the farm, the land, but her power, her gift, does not quite manifest in how she hoped. Instead, her journey focuses on reconnecting with her grandmother’s past, finding those hunting her, and the secrets surrounding her mother’s mysterious death and absent father.

Divina had many secrets in her life, and she thought she did what was best to keep her family safe. She was, for the most part, successful. However, it does create this wall between her family and herself. The reader sees it in the way Rey develops, first by being cold and angry, then by flourishing in his art, his passion, a promise made to Divina to nourish his love of art.

These characters are family, bound by their love and devotion for one another, but their journeys are different, giving the reader this thoughtful narrative and exceptional character growth.

Final Thoughts

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina is remarkable. Beautifully written, this novel shines like a star in the dark, weaving a spell over the reader.

• Writing Quality: 10/10
• Character Development: 10/10
• "Couldn't Put It Down"-ness: 10/10
• Intellectual Depth: 10/10
• Originality: 10/10
• Overall Rating: 5 out of 5.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband and son and their two cats, Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx.