Wondrous Worlds: Tales of Magic & Realism

Magical Realism is a genre that blends the ordinary with the extraordinary reality and make believe, & where traces of magic slip quietly in the real world. Magical realism sets itself apart from fantasy as it is grounded in everyday life in familiar places touched by something magical. If you’re drawn to tales where the mundane become wonderous and enchanted, follow along as I share a selection of great stories of magic hidden in the real world!

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina by Zoraida Cordova

The Inheritance of Orquidea Divina tells the story of the Montoya Family who live anything but an ordinary life. The Montoya family knows not to ask why the pantry never runs low or why their matriarch Orquidea, never leaves her home of Four Rivers Texas even for baptisms, graduations or weddings. One day, Orquidea, knowing she’s dying, invites her family to collect their inheritance. The family thinks the questions about their mysterious life will be answered but when Orquidea is transformed into a tree, more questions start to arise. 7 years later their inheritance turns into magical gifts though an enemy Orquidea knew, is after them killing their family left and right. A journey to Ecuador brings them to reveal what Orquidea hid for so long. There are things like a river monster and the living star. Sometimes the sex scenes were a bit too descriptive, and the points of view changed from one character to the next so quickly, but it didn’t ruin the story for me. I can’t wait to read what Zoraida Cordova writes next.

The Warm Hands Of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

The Warm Hands Of Ghosts by Katherine Arden blends historical fiction as well as magic and horror takes place during World War I. In 1918 field nurse Laura Iven is discharged from the medical corps after being wounded. Laura receives news that her brother Freddie died in combat in Flanders Belgium and is sent back his personal items. Though something doesn’t make sense to Laura & she’s determined to find out the truth after hearing whispers about a mysterious hotelier also known as Faland & The Fiddler & gives the soldiers the gift of oblivion but at a price…. Wilfred “Freddie” Iven is trapped in an overturned pill box with an enemy soldier named Winter. They both come across the Fiddler & to save Winter he stays with Faland and gives him stories, but this comes at a price as he’s about to lose some of his memory and his soul…. Can Laura save Freddie in time? Faland is mysterious and sinister because you don’t know who he is but you can guess he’s either the devil or something close to it. If you enjoy history, magic and scary elements and you’re a fan of Katherine Arden’s previous books, you will enjoy this one.

The Wondrous Life And Loves Of Nella Carter by Brionne Nwosu

In late 2025, I read The Wondrous Life And Loves Of Nella Carter. The story has romance, history and death himself is a character literally. Humanity does not know the day, the hour, the month, the year or the moment where death takes their last breath, but they know that it will come. In Nella Carter’s case, she is a slave in Savannah Georgia in the late 1700s. She has tuberculosis and see’s Death is about to take her. Death is jaded by the greed and selfishness of humanity. Nella believes she can prove that there is still good in humanity. Death is doubtful but he’s curious and he likes Nella’s optimism. Death gives her all the time in the world to prove it. The only legacy she will be able to leave behind is her words. Nella falls in love and loses those she loves. It isn’t till she meets Sebastian that everything changes… If you need a love story with a touch of magic, this one is for you.

Whispers of Ink And Starlight by Garrett Curbow

A sheltered life with her creator and captor, Wallace Quill, is all Nelle has ever known. Nelle was created by imagination and ink, which is how she can exist in our world. Every breath she takes, every move she makes is dictated to her by his pen. All that changes on the night of July 4^th when she meets James. James is born with flesh and blood but is also trapped by others’ expectations. James and Nelle inspire one another to explore the world & James is inspired to go after his dreams to be an author. Where there’s adventure and freedom there is also danger, but it is worth turning to what may be the last page….. The premise is unique because I haven’t read a magical realism book about a person literally created from ink. Garrett Curbow’s writing is descriptive and brings the story to life.