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scarlett_f's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Toxic friendship, Bullying, Confinement, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Mental illness
Minor: Blood, Alcohol, Death, Death of parent, Child death, Animal death, Grief, Gun violence, Child abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, and Stalking
With a flower bride comes flowery language.emmakchapman's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Pedophilia
likethepickle's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence and Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexual content
unfiltered_fiction's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This was a mixed reading experience for me, because there were so many things I admired - especially the quality of the prose and the careful, clever references to fairytales - but it still all felt quite flat to me. A lot of this was due to really struggling to take an interest in any of the characters until about the last quarter of the book. The denouement is absolutely excellent, but it just felt to me that everything that builds up to it lays a wobbly foundation which makes it hard to really value the best bits at their very best.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Violence
thelittlestmermaid's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
* Thanks to the publisher for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley *
I would like to start this review by saying that I had no idea what I was going into when I started this book. My brain essentially said "ooo pretty cover" and I was sold.
And following that, I'm not 100% certain how I feel about this book. I mostly enjoyed it but also found myself confused multiple times throughout the story. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to read books like this, but the writing was beautiful. Lovely imagery and the setting was very atmospheric. There were so many fairy tale and folklore references made, many of which I didn't know. But I enjoyed them! I love a good fairy tale.
Honestly the house made me think very much of Encanto? Just like. Not for kids.
I do think that going into this book knowing very little about it helped my reading experience. This is not a story you'll want spoiled! I didn't know where the heck it was going until I got there.
Despite my confusion, I enjoyed The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. The story was slow paced but in an enjoyable way. Sitting down and reading it in small segments was the ideal way for me to read it. This isn't a book I would recommend speed reading.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a slower paced read, with elements of magic.
4 stars
I would like to start this review by saying that I had no idea what I was going into when I started this book. My brain essentially said "ooo pretty cover" and I was sold.
And following that, I'm not 100% certain how I feel about this book. I mostly enjoyed it but also found myself confused multiple times throughout the story. Maybe I'm just not smart enough to read books like this, but the writing was beautiful. Lovely imagery and the setting was very atmospheric. There were so many fairy tale and folklore references made, many of which I didn't know. But I enjoyed them! I love a good fairy tale.
Honestly the house made me think very much of Encanto? Just like. Not for kids.
I do think that going into this book knowing very little about it helped my reading experience. This is not a story you'll want spoiled! I didn't know where the heck it was going until I got there.
Despite my confusion, I enjoyed The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. The story was slow paced but in an enjoyable way. Sitting down and reading it in small segments was the ideal way for me to read it. This isn't a book I would recommend speed reading.
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy a slower paced read, with elements of magic.
4 stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood, Pedophilia, Violence, and Sexual content
litty_lydi's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bullet point review:
- really cool premise, just not the best execution
- I liked all the references to fairytales and lore, although the flowery language of the bridegroom could be a bit much at times
- couldn't care less about the bridegroom. As soon as we got Azure's POV every time we switched back to him I was disappointed
- very accurate & jarring depiction of a toxic friendship
- if I didn't listen to the audiobook for this one I doubt I would've finished it
- when I was in it I was in it, but as soon as I had to stop, I didn't really think of it again. I was intrigued, but it didn't pull me in enough to make me want to just sit down & devour it
- I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!! MANY OF THEM!!
**ALC was provided by Libro.fm
- really cool premise, just not the best execution
- I liked all the references to fairytales and lore, although the flowery language of the bridegroom could be a bit much at times
- couldn't care less about the bridegroom. As soon as we got Azure's POV every time we switched back to him I was disappointed
- very accurate & jarring depiction of a toxic friendship
- if I didn't listen to the audiobook for this one I doubt I would've finished it
- when I was in it I was in it, but as soon as I had to stop, I didn't really think of it again. I was intrigued, but it didn't pull me in enough to make me want to just sit down & devour it
- I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS!! MANY OF THEM!!
**ALC was provided by Libro.fm
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Violence, and Pedophilia
Minor: Suicide attempt
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Medical content, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Death, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Self harm, Violence, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse
Minor: Death of parent
theavidreader405's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I liked the poetic prose, but the pacing was too slow for me. Sometimes I felt a little overwhelmed by the poetic prose and found myself reading things over again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship
Moderate: Violence and Murder
renettereads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely adored this book for so many reasons, but especially the structure, atmosphere and prose. It was written in such a lush way that evokes both feeling and imagery, and I ended up tabbing the hell out of this book just to keep on top of every punchy line.
The atmosphere was so addictively dark and tense. It had this eerie undertone, like even the book was holding its breath, just waiting for something terrible to happen. It actually reminded me of early 2000s movies like The Ring or The Grudge, where there was just this general feeling of wrongness to keep you on your toes.
Then, of course, there’s the dual POV – the bridegroom telling the present and Azure’s view of the past. It was especially interesting because you’d think of Indigo as the main character, and yet, you’re never in her head. Brilliantly done, not to mention the twist that I didn’t see coming.
Finally, the incorporation of fairytale and myth, and the spotlight Chokshi puts on the darker side of these tales and how it relates to Indigo’s story is just brilliant. I loved everything about this book.
The atmosphere was so addictively dark and tense. It had this eerie undertone, like even the book was holding its breath, just waiting for something terrible to happen. It actually reminded me of early 2000s movies like The Ring or The Grudge, where there was just this general feeling of wrongness to keep you on your toes.
Then, of course, there’s the dual POV – the bridegroom telling the present and Azure’s view of the past. It was especially interesting because you’d think of Indigo as the main character, and yet, you’re never in her head. Brilliantly done, not to mention the twist that I didn’t see coming.
Finally, the incorporation of fairytale and myth, and the spotlight Chokshi puts on the darker side of these tales and how it relates to Indigo’s story is just brilliant. I loved everything about this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and 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: Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Violence, Death, Sexual harassment, Blood, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Pedophilia and Terminal illness