Reviews tagging 'Pedophilia'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

130 reviews

cheye13's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

The best thing I can say about this book is that the writing is beautiful. Stepping back, I can see what it was going for, but ultimately, I think it should've been a novella, or even a short story.

A big part of my disappointment is the fault of the synopsis. I had expected a bluebeard-like tale featuring the Bridegroom as a main character, but as is, he could've been removed from the story entirely. In actuality, this is the story of Indigo and Azure growing up together, and the all-encompassing nature of their friendship and the world they create together. It's an interesting story, but simply too long. Every element of the tale is overdrawn to the point that any initial tension dissolves.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Death, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Gore, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Alcohol, Child death, Dementia, Gaslighting, Grief, Sexual content, and Suicide

Minor: Death of parent, Dementia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, and Pedophilia

a myriad of standard old-style fairytale content warnings, not graphically described, but consistently mentioned: rape, incest, murder, etc. A persistent predatory stepfather and an off-page sexual assault involving blackout drinking.

selenatothemax's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Child death, Pedophilia, and Child abuse

areen's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

I'm beyond impressed with how this story was told. the way it reads like a Grimm's fairytale while having no fantasy or magic at all but how it expects you to assume and feel. there's also something about same-sex toxic codependent relationship for me...🧐

I'm still digesting that plot twist at the end and can't say I appreciate it. I feel the need to reread to fully experience the story and understand the gravity of that plot twist but idk maybe I'll come back to it one day, maybe I won't. either way I really enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Child abuse, Blood, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual assault

lareinadehades's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia

Minor: Toxic friendship and Toxic relationship

dragonwriter's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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

The Bridegroom swears he had a brother that vanished one day, disappearing from the world as though he’d never inhabited it in the first place. This phenomenon sends him on a search through fairytales and folklore, trying to find the secret to crossing over to the Other World to find his brother, and spinning into the arms of the mysterious and mythical Indigo. She is a fairytale creature in itself, wrapped in magic and mystery, and she warns him not to go poking into her past, for the secrets there will destroy them. Enchanted by this fairy tale challenge, the Bridegroom agrees, but all too soon he learns that secrets whisper to you at night, begging you to unlock their mysteries. Is Indigo’s warning merely a quirk of her fairytale existence, or is there something much darker locked in his beloved’s past? And who is Azure, the mysterious ghost who’s left her own mark on his bride?

This book was so dark and SO brilliant! The mystery of Indigo really draws you in, enchanted by the way her life and world revolves around fairytales and the fae, and you really wonder if she IS a fairy herself, walking among mortals. You totally understand how the Bridegroom could love her so wholly, even with so much of her wrapped in secrets. Then, you start to get Azure’s side of the story, and you start to root for both the Bridegroom and Azure to escape this person who is so wrapped in the perverse nature of fairytales. I’m normally really good at figuring out where a story is going to go and how things will play out, but I had NO CLUE the entire book until I reached the end, where all I could say is, “Oh. Oh! Oooooooohhhhh.” This is definitely the kind of book that will hold a different story the second time around.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic friendship and Gaslighting

Moderate: Rape, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault

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

toodrew's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective medium-paced

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

5.0

This is hands down one of the best books I've ever read. There is very little I can say about the book without spoilers. It is better to read without knowing much about the book.

I believe this book is best suited for fantasy and fairy tale enthusiasts. 

Every element is a brushstroke in this absolute masterpiece. But be prepared for trauma. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Rape, Violence, Death, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

displacedcactus's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious slow-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

You can really tell this is the first "adult" novel from a YA author, especially since one of the dual timelines involves teenagers. If the idea of a story inspired by Gothics and fairy tales/folklore but set in modern times, but everything is so overwrought that nobody talks or acts like a normal person, you will probably enjoy it! I found the overwrought dialog really pulled me out of the story and the middle really sagged, but I understand why some people love it.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Child abuse, Child death, Pedophilia, and Toxic friendship

Minor: Animal death, Blood, and Death of parent

The toxic friendship crosses over to abusive territory, IMHO.