Black Orchid, by Neil Gaiman

Gaiman, Neil (1991).  Black orchid.  New York: DC Books.  

ISBN: 0930289552

Summary:  Black Orchid is a super-hero who is "hybrid"--part plant and part human.  Unclear of her origins, Black Orchid seeks to find out who, or what, she is. She unravels the story of her life as a human that ended in murder and was followed by rebirth or creation by a childhood friend who was a scientist. 

Additional Comments:  Black Orchid was originally a comic book series from the 1970's.  Gaiman's vision of her life story is mysterious and dreamy and slightly confusing as events are out of sequence.  Comic book aficionados will appreciate this unique story that goes from Gothic City to the Bayou to the Amazon.  Readers who are unfamiliar with the genre may get lost in the narrative that requires a good deal of inference and patience to follow.