ZC
§Author· 3 books
Zoraida Córdova
Also known as Zoey Castile
Urban fantasy and speculative fiction span dozens of books across young adult, middle grade, adult fantasy, and media franchise universes. Zoraida Córdova is an Ecuadorian-American author and editor who has written more than two dozen novels and short stories, earning wide recognition for her Brooklyn Brujas trilogy and her adult fantasy novel The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. Her writings extend from original magical realism and folklore-inspired fantasy to official tie-in works for Lucasfilm Press, Marvel Comics, and Disney Books.
Career & Background
Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Córdova immigrated to the United States with her family at age five or six and grew up in Hollis, Queens, New York. English is her second language. She developed an early interest in speculative fiction through fantasy films, animated series, and young adult horror novels, deciding to pursue writing at age thirteen after discovering the published works of author Amelia Atwater Rhodes. As a teenager, she attended the National Book Foundation writing camp, and she later studied English Literature and Latino Studies at Hunter College and the University of Montana in Missoula. In addition to her fantasy novels, she writes romance under the pen name Zoey Castile, co-hosts the writing podcast Deadline City with author Dhonielle Clayton, and serves on literary community boards.
Writing Style & Themes
Córdova's storytelling frequently draws upon her Ecuadorian heritage, Latinx folklore, and themes of ancestral legacy, matriarchal power, and cultural memory. Her narratives explore contemporary urban fantasy and magical realism, focusing on characters navigating family bonds, self-discovery, and supernatural inheritances. Beyond her standalone adult fiction and young adult series, she is an active editor and short fiction contributor. She has contributed to anthologies such as From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back and Come on In: 15 Stories About Immigration and Finding Home, while also co-editing multi-author collections including Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories and Vampires Never Get Old: Tales with Fresh Bite.
Major Works
- The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina — An adult fantasy novel inspired by the author's Ecuadorian heritage, detailing a multi-generational family saga of magical realism, hidden powers, and matriarchal roots.
- Brooklyn Brujas Series — A young adult urban fantasy trilogy starting with the International Latino Book Award-winning novel Labyrinth Lost, following sisters who navigate witchcraft and ancient magic in New York.
- Star Wars: The High Republic: Convergence — A fantasy sci-fi novel written for Lucasfilm Press as part of the expanded Star Wars: The High Republic media initiative.
- Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories — An anthology co-edited by Córdova that reimagines classic literature and myths through contemporary Latinx perspectives.
- From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back — A short story anthology set in the Star Wars universe featuring fiction by Córdova among forty contributing authors.
- Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter — A middle-grade fantasy adventure centered on a family dedicated to protecting mythical creatures.
§All Books
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina
Zoraida Córdova, 2021
128 ratings
From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
Zoraida Córdova, 2017
44 ratings
Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories
Monica Sanz, 2024
4 ratings