A mix of magical realism, fantasy, mystery, and family drama, this enchanting novel has a little bit for everyone. After receiving bird-delivered notes from the family matriarch, Orquidea Divina, the Montoya family gathers at her home in Four Rivers, USA, to find out what she will be leaving them when she dies. Orquidea is a five-time married woman who lives in a magical house. When her large family gathers, they're astounded to see that she's started to turn into a tree. Before dying, she warns her family that a shadowy force from her past is coming for them and they need to "take back their power" to defeat him. Through two timelines--Orquidea's childhood and the lives of two cousins from her family--we learn about how Orquidea ended up in Four Rivers and also how a choice she made in the past has serious reverberations for her family in the future, particularly her grandchildren Rey and Marimar.

This story intrigued me from the start, especially with the magic-infused storyline and the mysterious character of Orquidea. It was a bit slow to get started, but once Rey, Marimar and crew were on their way to Ecuador to learn more about Orquidea's family and life, things picked up and I was immersed in the "who is the Big Bad" storyline. The characters are complex, the locales (and descriptions of the food, structures, and magical entities) are vivid, and the magical aspects of the story are engrossing. I really enjoyed how the main characters' personal growth was tied to the discovery and acceptance of their magical family, particularly the grandmother they truly did not know. I'm looking forward to more adult stories from this talented author!