Wow wow wow. What a journey. Im so glad I listened to the audio for this because it truly gave life to the story and the characters. When I picked this book up, I didn’t expect to find  a compelling story written in such a poetic way. This story is told in told different time periods. We see the past, in which we learn about Orquidea Divina, who she was and what she endured in order to become the Orquidea that her family knew, loved and resented. We also flip to the present, where Orquidea has bequeathed her children and grandchildren a dark inheritance. 

Where most grandparents leave the family home, money and fond memories, Orquidea leaves hers with a home that’s burned down, turmoil and the past she’s tried to run away from for so long. Someone is searching for her and now that she is dying, that person is coming for her family to take the magic that she left them. It’s up to two of her grandchildren and one of her great grands to figure out who is after them, what their magic means and how to save the family. Along the way they uncover Orquidea’s secrets and learn more about her than they could’ve ever fathomed. Each new story and lesson sheds light on the heartbreak she endured and why the woman they couldn’t help but love seemed so hardened to the world. 

The look into generation trauma is just…WHEW. So many parents put their issues, burdens and hurt onto their children without even realizing it. Even though Orquidea loved her family, she didn’t always know how to show it and that’s what drove them away. The irony is, that very same overbearing attitude and protective nature is what drove her away from her own mother. And so the cycle continued. I loved that by the end, the entire family was working hard to break that cycle. It wasn’t easy and it certainly didn’t mean they forgot everything that happened. No one made excuses what the behavior, but they did finally understand what got them to this place. 

I don’t want to give too much away, but all in all, this was such a beautiful read.