Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

5 reviews

enchanteddroppings's review

mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

This is not Fantasy. The fact that the Fae were mentioned is probably why it is listed as Fantasy, but it has nothing in it related to the genre of Fantasy. 

This is Gothic Magical Realism Coming-of-Age Psychological Thriller. I might even throw in Paranormal, but I feel like calling it Gothic Magical Realism overlaps with the genre. 

This book is not for me. I’m done with Litfic type coming-of-age stories or toxic friendships. The book felt so slow and wrapped in mystery only to have a big twist at the end. The twist wasn’t the problem. It was the journey to get there. There was no plot; just dripping and crumbs of clues to lead to the twist at the end. It was basically like reading a person’s diary. If I wasn’t listening to an audiobook, I would have DNF the book in the first 1/3 of the book. 

Another thing about this book is that if you think in logical terms, then the genre “Magical Realism” can be removed and this is just a Gothic Coming-of-Age Psychological Thriller. What comes off as magic can be replaced with psychological disorders or personality disorders. If you want to live in a magical world and believe in magic, then this is a Gothic Magical Realism Coming-of-Age Thriller. The book spends most of its time walking on the line between the two sets, the same way certain people in the book walk the line between the two worlds or mental states. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Cursing

kwthor's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cursing, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Sexual harassment

wrensreadingroom's review

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

maeverose's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.75

So close to being five stars

TL;DR: The writing and gothic atmosphere are a 10/10. Gave me Rebecca vibes. So satisfied with the ending.

I love how gothic and atmospheric this book is. I loved the dreamlike magical realism elements. I almost want to immediately re read this and annotate it. I didn’t even realize until I finished it and I don’t know if it was intentional (since I’ve heard this is a bluebeard retelling) but Bridegroom’s pov felt very reminiscent of Rebecca. With his quick marriage to Indigo and her secret past with Azure, who’s almost supernaturally tied to the house. And him being unnamed throughout the whole book (which I love).

I found zero objective flaws with this book (outside of the unnecessary body shaming of one of the antagonists), but the main thing that makes me hesitant to give it five stars is that at a few points it triggered my anxiety a little bit (it might’ve just been because I had too much caffeine that day honestly lol). I also really don’t like to read about toxic friendships, which is a big part of this book.

But mostly I loved it

“Too often the truth of a memory lives not in the mind but in the heart, in the subtle and sacred organization that makes up one’s identity. But it is a tender place to reach, and I am wounded by touching it.”

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Cursing and Fatphobia

Graphic: Animal harm, suffocation, cult behavior Moderate: Delusions/Unreality, step father grooming his step daughter, as for the gore, most of it is kind of metaphorical or in the fairytales, so it’s not super descriptive but it’s brought up a lot so I put it in moderate.

annamorgan27's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious medium-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Blood, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Mental illness and Pedophilia