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booksemmahasread's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Mental illness, Suicide attempt, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, and Toxic friendship
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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
Review April 2023
"They know neither the contours of our hearts nor the cold hands that shaped them."
This is, in fact, Roshani Chokshi's most magical book.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is an absolutely dreamy, mesmerizing story that starts off enchanting but gets darker as it goes. It swept me in and asked that I savor it, hence I didn't rush finishing it! I'd recommend going into it blind and not reading the rest of my review, though I don't include any major spoilers.
It's beautifully written, filled with lush metaphors and descriptions that often allude to and reference fairytales and mythology. I found myself constantly stopping to write down lines. It's a magical story that demands equally magical writing! Though some may find it confusing, I found the plot to be easy enough to keep up with and was only occasionally confused by some descriptions. The story reads like a contemporary written as if it were a fantasy!
The story is not only beautiful, but also tragic and haunting. Going beyond romance and into obsession. Going back and fourth between two timelines; one with an unnamed bridegroom who knows nothing about his wife's past, and another that tells the story between two girls who are obsessed with each other and 100% in love with each other romantically and this is one of the most homoerotic things I've ever read. Both of these timelines connected by the enigmatic Indigo. It's focused heavily on a small cast and character study, allowing the cast to be fleshed out as we learn more and more about Indigo's backstory.
I'd highly recommend Flower Bride to anyone looking for a gorgeous Gothic story. Especially those who are in love with fantasy, despite the lack of fantastical elements!
TWs: death, blood and gore, pedophilia including sexual touches and advances, grief, abuse both physical and emotional, cutting of palms for ritual purposes, alcohol consumption
Pre-review April 2022
I posted an Instagram story about being excited for this that Roshani Chokshi reposted and in her repost she said "strangely, this is my most magical book... without a drop of magic?" which considering that her previous stories have dealt with gods it's absolutely WILD that this is her most magical one. Can't wait to read it!
"They know neither the contours of our hearts nor the cold hands that shaped them."
This is, in fact, Roshani Chokshi's most magical book.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is an absolutely dreamy, mesmerizing story that starts off enchanting but gets darker as it goes. It swept me in and asked that I savor it, hence I didn't rush finishing it! I'd recommend going into it blind and not reading the rest of my review, though I don't include any major spoilers.
It's beautifully written, filled with lush metaphors and descriptions that often allude to and reference fairytales and mythology. I found myself constantly stopping to write down lines. It's a magical story that demands equally magical writing! Though some may find it confusing, I found the plot to be easy enough to keep up with and was only occasionally confused by some descriptions. The story reads like a contemporary written as if it were a fantasy!
The story is not only beautiful, but also tragic and haunting. Going beyond romance and into obsession. Going back and fourth between two timelines; one with an unnamed bridegroom who knows nothing about his wife's past, and another that tells the story between two girls who are obsessed with each other and 100% in love with each other romantically and this is one of the most homoerotic things I've ever read. Both of these timelines connected by the enigmatic Indigo. It's focused heavily on a small cast and character study, allowing the cast to be fleshed out as we learn more and more about Indigo's backstory.
I'd highly recommend Flower Bride to anyone looking for a gorgeous Gothic story. Especially those who are in love with fantasy, despite the lack of fantastical elements!
TWs: death, blood and gore, pedophilia including sexual touches and advances, grief, abuse both physical and emotional, cutting of palms for ritual purposes, alcohol consumption
Pre-review April 2022
I posted an Instagram story about being excited for this that Roshani Chokshi reposted and in her repost she said "strangely, this is my most magical book... without a drop of magic?" which considering that her previous stories have dealt with gods it's absolutely WILD that this is her most magical one. Can't wait to read it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, and Grief
Moderate: Alcohol and Pedophilia
Minor: Death of parent, Self harm, and Drug use
tspice24's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Blood and Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
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
tsked_off's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Sexual assault, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief and Gaslighting
Minor: Racism and Sexism
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
hellodebbies's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Loved the book, characters and story ! It makes me think again and again of all the possible outcome of the situation they were in, I loved the dual pov (And I am not fond of those usually) I only wished we got more of Bridegroom's story and background in his chapters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Murder, Grief, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, Death, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship
astralbooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual harassment, and Grief
Moderate: Bullying, Emotional abuse, Animal death, and Suicide
Minor: Child abuse and Child death
poppywarphan's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Characters: 3/10
Enjoyment: 3/10
Plot: 5/10
Worldbuilding: 4/10
Writing: 7/10
Plot: 5/10
Worldbuilding: 4/10
Writing: 7/10
I’d say this was like a gothic fairytale mystery. Everything felt like a fever dream. The writing style was definitely not my preferred style. It felt like the words kept going in circles. Not as in being repetitive, but as in going on this roundabout way to express something but ending up back at the beginning. I appreciate the effort put into the writing, a lot of people will probably find it beautiful, but it was just too much for me.
The worldbuilding was just a big question mark. I was confused about the fantasy elements. When magic was described, I couldn’t tell if it was meant literally or figuratively. Additionally, I had no idea whether this Otherworld mentioned was actually real, or most of the things mentioned as a matter of fact.
The characters were boring. I didn’t care about any of them except for, maybe, Azure in the past. The relationship between Indigo and the bridegroom felt artificial. The friendship between Indigo and Azure was unhealthy.
Everyone was obsessed with the supernatural. The bridegroom studied magic, mythology, and folklore because he remembered having a brother who apparently did not exist. Azure and Indigo bonded over the fae. They were convinced they were a part of them and belonged elsewhere. Indigo took that obsession too far.
Everyone was obsessed with the supernatural. The bridegroom studied magic, mythology, and folklore because he remembered having a brother who apparently did not exist. Azure and Indigo bonded over the fae. They were convinced they were a part of them and belonged elsewhere. Indigo took that obsession too far.
The plot was extremely slow. Almost everything was merely told, and most of the page space was filled with descriptions.
The author said this is her best work. If that is the case, I don’t think her books are for me. I don’t understand metaphorical gibberish. That’s a me problem. I chose to read this first because it was the shortest of my arcs, yet it felt so long.
Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Arc provided by publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Death, Gaslighting, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Abandonment, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcohol