Reviews tagging 'Gaslighting'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

70 reviews

mad_books_'s review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

4.25

Great plot twist. Toxic girlhood meets fantasy. The two different timelines created good tension

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

erinreadsbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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

4.75

Gorgeous imagery and evocative, atmospheric writing. The beginning was not my favorite and the rapid development of the relationship between the protagonists made me a bit wary but the last 3/4 of the book (basically when we started seeing the past) was gripping and very enjoyable as the creeping sense of horror began to seep in. Recommended for those who like dark fairytale vibes and writing that makes you question what is reality and what is imagined. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Body horror, Bullying, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Gaslighting, Pedophilia, and Emotional abuse

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.

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

linnybear's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Child death and Child abuse

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

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

moonchild_cos's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Toxic friendship, and Animal death

Moderate: Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Child death, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness

Minor: Death of parent, Medical content, and Sexual content

dropshift5568's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Confinement, Death of parent, Chronic illness, Death, and Abandonment