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blackcatkai's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
CW: toxic friendships/relationships, ableism, emotional as well as physical abuse (against children and adults), gaslighting, death, violence, alcoholism, disordered eating, body/fat shaming, classism, sexual assault of a minor (mainly implied/mentioned: not overly graphic throughout majority of story), abandonment, trauma/mental illness, body horror
this was so beautifully written and really did feel like a faerie tale. it is very much a slower gothic read so definitely set expectations accordingly. its a story that deals with a few very heavy topics so heed any content warnings beforehand, as well. i really enjoyed the way chokshi interwove two main stories together with a common thread tying them together. you feel a lot for azure if no one else and really root for her against all odds. the bridegroom is a very interesting perspective to read from, especially as his sections are more in the now while azures are in the past until they both crash together in the end.
now some people will probably see the twist coming before you actually get to the reveal, but i dont think that necessarily takes away from the story as a whole. IS there magic? is it all just a ruse? ultimately its left a bit open-ended for the reader to decide and i really liked where it went in the end, it really got quite the roller coaster of emotions out of me. will definitely read more of chokshi's adult work going forward, shes a master!
this was so beautifully written and really did feel like a faerie tale. it is very much a slower gothic read so definitely set expectations accordingly. its a story that deals with a few very heavy topics so heed any content warnings beforehand, as well. i really enjoyed the way chokshi interwove two main stories together with a common thread tying them together. you feel a lot for azure if no one else and really root for her against all odds. the bridegroom is a very interesting perspective to read from, especially as his sections are more in the now while azures are in the past until they both crash together in the end.
now some people will probably see the twist coming before you actually get to the reveal, but i dont think that necessarily takes away from the story as a whole. IS there magic? is it all just a ruse? ultimately its left a bit open-ended for the reader to decide and i really liked where it went in the end, it really got quite the roller coaster of emotions out of me. will definitely read more of chokshi's adult work going forward, shes a master!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Classism, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Abandonment, Child death, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Self harm, Body horror, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcoholism, Eating disorder, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, and Medical content
Minor: Ableism
not_asha01's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, Sexual violence, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Murder, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Classism, Alcohol, Death, Blood, Animal death, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Gun violence, and Child abuse
mbmayo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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
Indigo and Azure are inseparable childhood friends, two halves of the same soul. Until the end of childhood, when the pair walks into the Otherworld and only one returns. Years later, Indigo's husband accompanies her to her childhood home, The House of Dreams. The House, a character in its own right, urges him to unearth his wife's secret and discover what happened that fateful night.
The book is told from two perspectives, the bridegroom tells the tale of meeting Indigo, their marriage and the unravelling of her secret. Azure tells the story of their childhood. The bridegroom was a scholar, and his chapters read almost as though Chokshi imagines as all children do that teachers do not exist outside their classrooms. In his relationship, he likens everything to the fairy tales he studies. In his recanting of the relationship he explains how each part matches with a particular trope found in fairy tales. Not even his childhood memories made him more real or human to me.
Azure, on the other hand, told a story I was eager to return to. She and her world and everything at stake for her felt real. I loved that the House loved her, and her struggle between the real world and the Otherworld; between being an individual or sharing a soul.
Lastly, it took me way too long to realize that Indigo was a villain. The bridegroom, Azure, Tati, everyone gave loved her. I thought we, the readers, were meant to as well. But, she bullies and manipulates so many characters you begin to wonder why they can't see it. She would have made an excellent cult leader.
The book is told from two perspectives, the bridegroom tells the tale of meeting Indigo, their marriage and the unravelling of her secret. Azure tells the story of their childhood. The bridegroom was a scholar, and his chapters read almost as though Chokshi imagines as all children do that teachers do not exist outside their classrooms. In his relationship, he likens everything to the fairy tales he studies. In his recanting of the relationship he explains how each part matches with a particular trope found in fairy tales. Not even his childhood memories made him more real or human to me.
Azure, on the other hand, told a story I was eager to return to. She and her world and everything at stake for her felt real. I loved that the House loved her, and her struggle between the real world and the Otherworld; between being an individual or sharing a soul.
Lastly, it took me way too long to realize that Indigo was a villain. The bridegroom, Azure, Tati, everyone gave loved her. I thought we, the readers, were meant to as well. But, she bullies and manipulates so many characters you begin to wonder why they can't see it. She would have made an excellent cult leader.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, and Bullying
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Animal death, Blood, and Physical abuse
tigger89's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a book that I believe is best enjoyed without knowing too much about it. If you're someone who loves fairy tale retellings, you might enjoy this gender-swapped tale featuring a genre-savvy protagonist discovering the woman he'd married might be a monster. In addition, the majority of the story is told via flashbacks to Indigo's childhood and teenage years, narrated by her best friend. I wasn't particularly surprised by any of the twists and turns in this book, but I still enjoyed the journey of discovering how we were going to get to the things I'd seen coming.
Chokshi's lush descriptions are probably the best part of this book. I could picture the House of Dreams and the Otherworld so easily that I almost felt as if I was reading an illustrated edition. My criticism would be that this felt like a novel about Indigo's childhood that occasionally flashed forward to her future husband, which wasn't really what I'd been expecting from the cover copy. What we got was still a great story, don't get me wrong, but I'd expected more focus on the husband using his knowledge of fairy tales to navigate the danger he found himself in, whereas the primary focus was actually on the story of Indigo's origin.
Chokshi's lush descriptions are probably the best part of this book. I could picture the House of Dreams and the Otherworld so easily that I almost felt as if I was reading an illustrated edition. My criticism would be that this felt like a novel about Indigo's childhood that occasionally flashed forward to her future husband, which wasn't really what I'd been expecting from the cover copy. What we got was still a great story, don't get me wrong, but I'd expected more focus on the husband using his knowledge of fairy tales to navigate the danger he found himself in, whereas the primary focus was actually on the story of Indigo's origin.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Sexual assault, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness
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, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Toxic friendship
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 friendship and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Grief, Bullying, Confinement, and Child abuse
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: Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Child death, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, Eating disorder, Bullying, Mental illness, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, and Murder
maeverose's review against another edition
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: Death, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Child death, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Blood, Bullying, Body horror, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Pedophilia, Rape, and Self harm
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: Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Body horror
csmall73's review against another edition
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: Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Bullying, and Toxic relationship
Little dark, manipulative