There was something about this book that made it hard to put down. I was sucked into the story right away and felt immersed in the world.

It did move somewhat slowly for a while, but in such a way I could feel it was building up to something. And I’d say it delivered.

I loved the characters and found the setting very interesting.

For the first half of the novel, I was internally screaming at Noemí. She was clearly in over her head and too trusting of these creepy-ass people. I had a hard time believing she wouldn’t send a letter to her father asking for him to come rescue her and Catalina. I know it would be lame for our heroine to need rescuing from her father, but I found her reasons for not contacting him kind of weak. She has sooo many opportunities to leave or send for help and she dismisses them all. It was kind of infuriating, but I get there’s no book if she left at the sensible time!

One criticism I have is that I wanted to get to know Catalina more. All we learn about her is that she was cheerful and loved gothic novels and fairy tales. Even at the end, Catalina barely gets to say anything even though she was instrumental in getting them all out of High Place alive.

One thing I found surprising is that Noemí and Francis actually get together in the end. I was expecting him to not be as good as he seemed, or for him to be infected irreparably with the fungus. I thought maybe he’d sacrifice himself to save the women. Though it was nice he and Noemí get to fall in love, I just found it unexpected. It feels like an opening for a sequel, though I don’t anticipate one.

I also expected the local medicine woman to figure into the story more. She disappears after she gives Noemí the tincture. I just thought she’d be important.

I listened to the audiobook and I like the narrator, Frankie Corzo, but I felt she sounded more natural narrating the Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. English accents are not her strong suit and I found it kind of distracting. I imagine for actual English people, it probably sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

Since I listened to the audiobook, I never realized the spelling of Noemí’s name had an accent on the i. The narrator pronounced it like no-EM-ee and now I wonder if she was mispronouncing it? Though I do think that’s prettier sounding than no-em-EE.

I would be very excited to see this novel turned into a movie or a miniseries. I was thrilled when I finished and saw Hulu bought the rights to it, but I can’t find any news about it since 2020.

The novel feels so cinematic. It was like a movie was playing in my head as I read it. I think a miniseries has the potential to be even better than the book because of all the crazy visuals we’d get. Not just the special effects, but think of the setting. Think of the cocktail dresses! Fingers crossed the Hulu series actually pans out!

Has anyone else read this book recently? I’m glad I finally got around to it.