Reviews tagging 'Classism'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

16 reviews

philly37898's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pedophilia and Violence

Minor: Sexual content, Incest, and Classism

foxwish's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Grief, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Bullying, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, and Death

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Context:
I borrowed The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi from my local library through the Libby app.

 

Review:

As someone who hates fairytales and dislikes romance, I was skeptical about a book billed as a gothic fairytale about a marriage. I became even more skeptical when confronted with the flowery, lush prose that placed me at a distance from the characters and their motivations. I am so glad I kept reading, however, because The Last Tale of the Flower Bride absolutely won me over. 

For me, the heart of this story is the tale of the friendship between Azule and Indigo. Within this story, it becomes clear that Chokshi’s constant references to fairytales and her lush prose serve a purpose, which is to creatively and compellingly paint a portrait of an incredibly codependent female friendship. I am blown away by Chokshi’s originality as she approaches a storyline that could have easily been a trite thriller or melodrama from a place of compassion, empathy, and true artistry. 

 

Given how much I love the chapters exploring Azule and Indigo’s friendship, I am less enthralled with the chapters from the Bridegroom’s perspective. Although they contain moments of beauty and clarity, I think they serve as unnecessary padding. I believe The Last Tale of the Flower Bride would be a more effective and powerful story if these chapters did not exist, and we instead remained immersed in the story’s central plotline. 

 

The Run-Down: 

You will probably like The Last Tale of the Flower Bride if . . . 

·      You are looking for a unique take on toxic female friendships and codependency

·      You love fairytales and folklore (but even if you don’t, give it a try!)

 

You might not like The Last Tale of the Flower Bride if . . .

·      You can’t stand flowery prose, no matter how it serves the story

·      You go into the book expecting a romance (seriously, I think this book is mismarketed)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Murder

Moderate: Pedophilia, Alcohol, Child abuse, Classism, Death, and Domestic abuse

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Body shaming, Child death, Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Alcohol, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Child death

Minor: Death of parent

meganpbell's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

If slow and deadly is your poison, pick up this sumptuous, gothic fairy tale. Chokshi’s flowery prose hides teeth, claws, and a dark heart bloody with not only the fairy tales we tell each other and the secrets we keep from ourselves, but the wild reckless hope of being loved when the truth’s laid bare. This was darker than I expected and reminded me of Addie LaRue in its romance and pacing, which isn’t a great thing for me but others might love!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Toxic relationship, Child death, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Bullying, Death, Child abuse, Alcohol, Body horror, and Abandonment

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Death of parent, and Eating disorder

tired_cicada's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-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

5.0

This book was absolutely INSANE and I loved every second of it! Finished in one sitting.

Gothic horror at its finest, with twists and turns that had me at the edge of my seat! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship, Murder, Confinement, Abandonment, and Body horror

Moderate: Death, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, and Classism

Minor: Pedophilia, Death of parent, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt

prairieraven's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body horror, Sexual content, Bullying, Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Pedophilia, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Classism, Confinement, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, and Rape

madamenovelist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Grief, Death, Child death, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Gore, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Minor: Incest

salie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Gore, Gaslighting, Death, Child death, Classism, Emotional abuse, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Grief, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Abandonment, Sexual content, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Classism, Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Gore, Torture, Violence, and Death of parent

booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Classism, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail