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rorikae's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
'The Last Tale of the Flower Bride' by Roshani Chokshi is an atmospheric and fairy tale infused story that follows two characters interactions with the same mysterious and manipulative woman.
In the current storyline, the Bridegroom has married Indigo, a beguiling woman with a mysterious past that she asks the bridegroom not to ask about. When she is called back to her home to see her dying aunt, her secrets begin to unravel.
Woven between the Bridegroom's story is the story of Azure, Indigo's childhood friend who tells about their childhood and the special place that the two created. Influenced by the fae and fairy tales, the girl's relationship is codependent and isolates them from their peers.
Chokshi has created the perfect, atmospheric story centered around secrets, friendship, and codependency. The mystery is woven throughout the story and Chokshi's evocative writing not only captures the different character's relationships with Indigo but also how Indigo sees the world even without ever hearing her side of the story. It is dripping with myth and folklore not only in its influences and the characters' interests but also in the imagery that Chokshi evokes.
It's wonderfully told on audio, which added to the atmosphere. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for people looking for a folklore inspired, gothic tale dripping in mystery.
In the current storyline, the Bridegroom has married Indigo, a beguiling woman with a mysterious past that she asks the bridegroom not to ask about. When she is called back to her home to see her dying aunt, her secrets begin to unravel.
Woven between the Bridegroom's story is the story of Azure, Indigo's childhood friend who tells about their childhood and the special place that the two created. Influenced by the fae and fairy tales, the girl's relationship is codependent and isolates them from their peers.
Chokshi has created the perfect, atmospheric story centered around secrets, friendship, and codependency. The mystery is woven throughout the story and Chokshi's evocative writing not only captures the different character's relationships with Indigo but also how Indigo sees the world even without ever hearing her side of the story. It is dripping with myth and folklore not only in its influences and the characters' interests but also in the imagery that Chokshi evokes.
It's wonderfully told on audio, which added to the atmosphere. I cannot recommend this book enough, especially for people looking for a folklore inspired, gothic tale dripping in mystery.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment
ddnreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
WHAT WAS THAT?!!
Mesmerising lyrical writing, this book revolves around the dynamic of a married couple under one condition: the bridegroom shouldn't pry into his wife past at all cost.
Until a condition brought them together into the House of Dreams. The wife's childhood house. This is where the secrets unfolded telling about two girls found their way into adulthood, from believing into fairies and otherworld, and acted upon those beliefs.
Mesmerising lyrical writing, this book revolves around the dynamic of a married couple under one condition: the bridegroom shouldn't pry into his wife past at all cost.
Until a condition brought them together into the House of Dreams. The wife's childhood house. This is where the secrets unfolded telling about two girls found their way into adulthood, from believing into fairies and otherworld, and acted upon those beliefs.
"I thought you love us. Or maybe I just don't understand your love."
Giving a gothic dark vibe, the story was told in riddles. We were to see beyond what was written. It tackled the issue about a broken home, domestic abuse, pedo step father, and a obsessive psychopath kinda best friend.
This was a very dark coming of age stories. When RC said it's about how the marriage comprises the monsters in the past, I felt that.
"We're two blues, the heat seam of dusk and dawn. We share a sky, if not a soul, and yet we are cut out the same shape."
"Only grief can make time change its tempo like that, expand seconds to centuries, with only our eyes marking the distance crossed."
I love how the author weaved the philosophical ideas of teens turned into adulthood. What shaped them and what those years means.
The characters' trait was so intriguing. The condition that they have to put through shaped what they are. The TOXICITY was heavy.
However, I can't shake the feeling of relief when I finished. I love how the story ended.
(I just really wish the stepfather rott in hell somewhere)
If you're into atmospheric dark romance, gothic mysterious vibe with alluring writing, tales about love and finding oneself, coming of age (teens and married), and the subtle line between fairy tale and reality, give this book a gođź’–
The characters' trait was so intriguing. The condition that they have to put through shaped what they are. The TOXICITY was heavy.
However, I can't shake the feeling of relief when I finished. I love how the story ended.
(I just really wish the stepfather rott in hell somewhere)
If you're into atmospheric dark romance, gothic mysterious vibe with alluring writing, tales about love and finding oneself, coming of age (teens and married), and the subtle line between fairy tale and reality, give this book a gođź’–
"All marriage possess their own tongue. It is a lexicon discovered in that space between clipped sentences. Its poetry can be heard in the rustle of blankets as you shift to curl around the other in silent apology."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Grief
snowwhitehatesapples's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Review can also be found at Snow White Hates Apples.
How long can you last if your partner in marriage has a past they refuse to share with you?
If they turn cold or unhappy at initial probing so you’d immediately stop in fear that the beautiful fantasy of love shatters. If they know more about you than you do about them and it feels as though you’ll never know all of them as they will you.
How long can you last?
For one man, it lasted until the past came haunting his wife again and that’s where The Last Tale of the Flower Bride truly begins.
Written with gorgeous prose filled with lush imagery, this book is its own dark fairytale that centres around the powerful acts of believing and lying, creating a world where reality is seamlessly interwoven with fantasy. It starts with the bridegroom whose name we never find out, falling for Indigo, a wealthy heiress who greatly feels as though she’s a creature from the Otherworld. They strike a deal where in exchange for her heart, he cannot pry into her past. Thus, they marry and everything’s dandy until Indigo has no choice but to bring them both back to the House of Dreams, introducing the series of cracks that later, shatter their happy fantasy. Consequently, as these cracks appear, the bridegroom can no longer resist and begins to search between the veils of the world for the truth.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a mesmerizing experience. The gothic atmosphere, the precariousness of the balance between reality and fantasy, the many lies and the parallels between the story’s world and the myths and folklores we know today — the more I read, the more in love I am with the book. It’s a brilliant ode that emphasises how the scariest monsters will always be humans.
Nevertheless, all the aforementioned also worked against the book’s favour because despite them (plus the beautiful prose), there wasn’t a balance to the emotions from both perspectives. The bridegroom’s POV felt more and more detached as he dug further in search of the truth while Azure’s POV came more and more alive. Eventually, the emotions from Azure’s POV overtook the bridegroom’s, leaving his side hollower than before. Although I suspect that this was done on purpose since we never learn his name and the title of the book itself says the story isn’t about him, I can’t help but wish there was a little more depth to his side of the story.
If you adore myths and folklore, gothic horror, magical realism and lush imagery, this book is for you.
How long can you last if your partner in marriage has a past they refuse to share with you?
If they turn cold or unhappy at initial probing so you’d immediately stop in fear that the beautiful fantasy of love shatters. If they know more about you than you do about them and it feels as though you’ll never know all of them as they will you.
How long can you last?
For one man, it lasted until the past came haunting his wife again and that’s where The Last Tale of the Flower Bride truly begins.
Written with gorgeous prose filled with lush imagery, this book is its own dark fairytale that centres around the powerful acts of believing and lying, creating a world where reality is seamlessly interwoven with fantasy. It starts with the bridegroom whose name we never find out, falling for Indigo, a wealthy heiress who greatly feels as though she’s a creature from the Otherworld. They strike a deal where in exchange for her heart, he cannot pry into her past. Thus, they marry and everything’s dandy until Indigo has no choice but to bring them both back to the House of Dreams, introducing the series of cracks that later, shatter their happy fantasy. Consequently, as these cracks appear, the bridegroom can no longer resist and begins to search between the veils of the world for the truth.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a mesmerizing experience. The gothic atmosphere, the precariousness of the balance between reality and fantasy, the many lies and the parallels between the story’s world and the myths and folklores we know today — the more I read, the more in love I am with the book. It’s a brilliant ode that emphasises how the scariest monsters will always be humans.
Nevertheless, all the aforementioned also worked against the book’s favour because despite them (plus the beautiful prose), there wasn’t a balance to the emotions from both perspectives. The bridegroom’s POV felt more and more detached as he dug further in search of the truth while Azure’s POV came more and more alive. Eventually, the emotions from Azure’s POV overtook the bridegroom’s, leaving his side hollower than before. Although I suspect that this was done on purpose since we never learn his name and the title of the book itself says the story isn’t about him, I can’t help but wish there was a little more depth to his side of the story.
If you adore myths and folklore, gothic horror, magical realism and lush imagery, this book is for you.
Thank you so much Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
maeverose's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.75
So close to being five stars
TL;DR: The writing and gothic atmosphere are a 10/10. Gave me Rebecca vibes. So satisfied with the ending.
I love how gothic and atmospheric this book is. I loved the dreamlike magical realism elements. I almost want to immediately re read this and annotate it. I didn’t even realize until I finished it and I don’t know if it was intentional (since I’ve heard this is a bluebeard retelling) but Bridegroom’s pov felt very reminiscent of Rebecca. With his quick marriage to Indigo and her secret past with Azure, who’s almost supernaturally tied to the house. And him being unnamed throughout the whole book (which I love).
I found zero objective flaws with this book (outside of the unnecessary body shaming of one of the antagonists), but the main thing that makes me hesitant to give it five stars is that at a few points it triggered my anxiety a little bit (it might’ve just been because I had too much caffeine that day honestly lol). I also really don’t like to read about toxic friendships, which is a big part of this book.
But mostly I loved it
“Too often the truth of a memory lives not in the mind but in the heart, in the subtle and sacred organization that makes up one’s identity. But it is a tender place to reach, and I am wounded by touching it.”
TL;DR: The writing and gothic atmosphere are a 10/10. Gave me Rebecca vibes. So satisfied with the ending.
I love how gothic and atmospheric this book is. I loved the dreamlike magical realism elements. I almost want to immediately re read this and annotate it. I didn’t even realize until I finished it and I don’t know if it was intentional (since I’ve heard this is a bluebeard retelling) but Bridegroom’s pov felt very reminiscent of Rebecca. With his quick marriage to Indigo and her secret past with Azure, who’s almost supernaturally tied to the house. And him being unnamed throughout the whole book (which I love).
I found zero objective flaws with this book (outside of the unnecessary body shaming of one of the antagonists), but the main thing that makes me hesitant to give it five stars is that at a few points it triggered my anxiety a little bit (it might’ve just been because I had too much caffeine that day honestly lol). I also really don’t like to read about toxic friendships, which is a big part of this book.
But mostly I loved it
“Too often the truth of a memory lives not in the mind but in the heart, in the subtle and sacred organization that makes up one’s identity. But it is a tender place to reach, and I am wounded by touching it.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing and Fatphobia
Graphic: Animal harm, suffocation, cult behavior Moderate: Delusions/Unreality, step father grooming his step daughter, as for the gore, most of it is kind of metaphorical or in the fairytales, so it’s not super descriptive but it’s brought up a lot so I put it in moderate.kristenlcoates's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
csmall73's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment
Little dark, manipulativemezzythedragon's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Love the atmosphere, as well as Steve West’s narration. Two-thirds of the way in, I had an idea of what the big secret was, but great story all around.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Blood, and Gaslighting
Minor: Pedophilia
astralbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
azrah786's review against another edition
4.5
**I was provided with an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**
CW: violence, blood, injury, death, animal death, bullying, child abuse, neglect, gaslighting, toxic friendship/relationship, sexual harassment, pedophilia, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, terminal illness
--
If you’ve read any of Roshani’s work before then you know that her writing is woven with its own unique magic, and this is a story that feels like it has been pulled from a dusty tome of forgotten fairy tales itself. Though if you come looking for something on the fantasy side you’ll be in for a surprise as this is very much a gothic thriller. An alluring tale centring on promises and secrets kept between people who love to go looking behind locked doors, it will reel you in more and more with each page.
Alternating between dual points of view and over dual timelines we follow The Bridegroom, lover of stories and myths who can’t resist following the breadcrumbs leading him to the secrets of his wife Indigo’s past and Azure, Indigo’s best friend narrating an account of their childhood growing up in the House of Dreams.
Roshani’s prose perfectly captures the ambience of the setting and all the wonder and mystery twisted around these absorbing characters. I was definitely more drawn to the coming of age side of the story but both storylines work in harmony to meticulously reveal the shadowy truths surrounding the enigma that is Indigo’s past in a similar fashion to a classic fairy tale. And the snippets of classical stories and folklore included within the narrative enhanced this even more.
Equally enchanting and horrifying the exploration of obsession and power, love and manipulation is done so well and the closing reveal is one of those that even if you see it coming it’ll still blow you away.
As ever I cannot wait for whatever Roshani writes next!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
CW: violence, blood, injury, death, animal death, bullying, child abuse, neglect, gaslighting, toxic friendship/relationship, sexual harassment, pedophilia, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, terminal illness
--
If you’ve read any of Roshani’s work before then you know that her writing is woven with its own unique magic, and this is a story that feels like it has been pulled from a dusty tome of forgotten fairy tales itself. Though if you come looking for something on the fantasy side you’ll be in for a surprise as this is very much a gothic thriller. An alluring tale centring on promises and secrets kept between people who love to go looking behind locked doors, it will reel you in more and more with each page.
Alternating between dual points of view and over dual timelines we follow The Bridegroom, lover of stories and myths who can’t resist following the breadcrumbs leading him to the secrets of his wife Indigo’s past and Azure, Indigo’s best friend narrating an account of their childhood growing up in the House of Dreams.
Roshani’s prose perfectly captures the ambience of the setting and all the wonder and mystery twisted around these absorbing characters. I was definitely more drawn to the coming of age side of the story but both storylines work in harmony to meticulously reveal the shadowy truths surrounding the enigma that is Indigo’s past in a similar fashion to a classic fairy tale. And the snippets of classical stories and folklore included within the narrative enhanced this even more.
Equally enchanting and horrifying the exploration of obsession and power, love and manipulation is done so well and the closing reveal is one of those that even if you see it coming it’ll still blow you away.
As ever I cannot wait for whatever Roshani writes next!
Final Rating – 4.5/5 Stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia and Terminal illness
kris386's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Gun violence, Blood, and Alcohol