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amberghinii's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Classism, Abandonment, Alcohol, Death, Dementia, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Animal death, and Sexual assault
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
provo's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-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
4.5
The language in this book is beautiful. Highly recommended, if you love fairy tales - look up the content warnings though, this book is not a light one.
At times I was really irritated about the time and place this is supposed to play out, I am still not sure if this takes place in Europe or the USA. There were thing very specific to Europe (e.g. drinking at 16) and things very specific to the U S (driving at 17). There were things typical for the 90s (big cellphones with an antenna are mentioned in the parts were the protagonists are grown up, which puts the childhood scenes somewhere between end 70s/mid 80s) but also things that were absolutely not typical for that time (girls making out with other girls in public without anyone reacting in a homophobic way in a small town).
I was less interested in the story of the husband (but it was important to the overall plot and it did not take up too much space in the story), but the parts about the past were really good (also very painful at times).
It also cements my belief that kids who grow up too rich are just completely out of touch 🤷🏻♀️
Edit: after reading a couple of reviews for this after finishing it, I want to add: I would not call this a romance nor fantasy and I am slightly annoyed by publishing houses who are not able to describe the genre of their books correctly because their fancy descriptions might sell better. This is a mystery thriller and a coming of age story in a Trenchcoat of fairytale metaphors.
At times I was really irritated about the time and place this is supposed to play out, I am still not sure if this takes place in Europe or the USA. There were thing very specific to Europe (e.g. drinking at 16) and things very specific to the U S (driving at 17). There were things typical for the 90s (big cellphones with an antenna are mentioned in the parts were the protagonists are grown up, which puts the childhood scenes somewhere between end 70s/mid 80s) but also things that were absolutely not typical for that time (girls making out with other girls in public without anyone reacting in a homophobic way in a small town).
I was less interested in the story of the husband (but it was important to the overall plot and it did not take up too much space in the story), but the parts about the past were really good (also very painful at times).
It also cements my belief that kids who grow up too rich are just completely out of touch 🤷🏻♀️
Edit: after reading a couple of reviews for this after finishing it, I want to add: I would not call this a romance nor fantasy and I am slightly annoyed by publishing houses who are not able to describe the genre of their books correctly because their fancy descriptions might sell better. This is a mystery thriller and a coming of age story in a Trenchcoat of fairytale metaphors.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Classism
Moderate: Pedophilia, Child death, and Death
Minor: Animal death
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
meshell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a beautiful twisty fairy tale within a fairy tale - the story pulled me in, every sentence, intentional, melodic, and woven together with meticulous prose, I felt a sense of perpetual tension, that feeling of not too much, but just enough, throughout the novel, and I was not disappointed with where we ended up. When I stopped reading, it was like I remembered to breathe again.
It is unsettling, romantic, haunting and fascinating. I will be thinking about this novel again and again.
The novel is told from two perspectives, Azure and The Bride-Groom, and they jump comfortably between the past and the present - telling a story filled with grief, neglect, unreliable memories, the struggles of finding ones identity in adolescence, and the magical worlds children create to escape terrible realities. I found most of the characters complicated and mostly loveable.
All that said, this story needs a bunch of content warnings.
Grateful to both Netgalley and the Publisher to have had the opportunity to read it a bit early and share my thoughts.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Body horror, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Murder, Child abuse, and Classism
matilda_holroyd_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I was given an audiobook ARC from net galley and Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review.
——————
This book is a wonderfully written, atmospheric tale of the way which magic and reality intertwine. It is told through dual points of view and has a twist I did not see coming.
Azure and indigo are closer than anything but this book explores the nuance of how friendship can be both toxic and all-encompassing.
Indigo is a rich and wealthy girl who is the heir to the Maxwell-Casteńada family fortune and due to have her parents dying she lives with her aunt in the house of dreams where the majority of the story takes place. This a house that has a portal to the other world a place where Indigo and Azure wish to remain but as the girls grow up what brought them together might be the reason they start to falter.
What’s the point of view is years later in to go and have a husband known only is the bridegroom. Indigo and the bridegroom has entered into an arrangement of their marriage so that he will never look into her past. He agrees, yet when a couple of forced to attend to the deathbed of Tate (Indigo’s aunt) The bridegroom question is why his wife made him swear to that promise.
Can he hold to this promise and not pry? Where did Azure disappear to and can the House Of Dreams help to uncover the mystery of his brother who his parents claim never existed.
A wonderfully whimsical piece of literature I recommend it my only qualm is that I found the Bridegroom’s voice in the audiobook frustrating.
——————
This book is a wonderfully written, atmospheric tale of the way which magic and reality intertwine. It is told through dual points of view and has a twist I did not see coming.
Azure and indigo are closer than anything but this book explores the nuance of how friendship can be both toxic and all-encompassing.
Indigo is a rich and wealthy girl who is the heir to the Maxwell-Casteńada family fortune and due to have her parents dying she lives with her aunt in the house of dreams where the majority of the story takes place. This a house that has a portal to the other world a place where Indigo and Azure wish to remain but as the girls grow up what brought them together might be the reason they start to falter.
What’s the point of view is years later in to go and have a husband known only is the bridegroom. Indigo and the bridegroom has entered into an arrangement of their marriage so that he will never look into her past. He agrees, yet when a couple of forced to attend to the deathbed of Tate (Indigo’s aunt) The bridegroom question is why his wife made him swear to that promise.
Can he hold to this promise and not pry? Where did Azure disappear to and can the House Of Dreams help to uncover the mystery of his brother who his parents claim never existed.
A wonderfully whimsical piece of literature I recommend it my only qualm is that I found the Bridegroom’s voice in the audiobook frustrating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child death, Classism, Death, Sexual harassment, and Abandonment
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