Liliana Santiago

“Sometimes the things we think are lost are only hidden, waiting to be rediscovered.”

No other word to describe this but simply, wow. A beautiful story about the power of stories, the power of connection, and strength that can be found in our darkest hour. I haven't felt this moved by a story since One Hundred Years of Solitude, and it'll be a couple of days until I can digest it, but this is a simply can't miss story.

I have a complicated relationship with magical realism - it's either a hit or a miss. Having said that, I'm happy to report The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina is a definite hit, similar to Isabel Allende and Garcia Marquez. Incorporating magical realism into a world that still felt grounded contributed to a fascinating read that was hard to put down.

My only complaint is towards the end. Spoiler alert!!! The entire final battle felt a bit too much like a Hollywood screenplay and took me out of the story. By the end, Londoño Bolivar felt too much like a caricature of a villain instead of a three dimensional person.

Overall though, really great read - 4.5

A travel memoir, story of forgiveness, growth, love, and hope. What more could be needed?