Reviews with content warning for Sexual assault - The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

Told in alternating perspectives between the "Bridegroom" (set in the present) and "Azure" (the Bridegroom's wife's childhood best friend, set about 20 years in the past), this tale winds around various mysteries and secrets. This has the cruelty of a dark fairytale, mixed with desperation, obsession, and dangerous imagination. Suggested for fans of toxic friendships, atmospheric settings, and lush writing. I also think fans of dark academia who are willing to set aside the lack of "academia" would enjoy this book.

On a personal note, I saw the twist coming but still enjoyed the ride. I don't think the view on marriage (the Bridegroom's perspective) was nearly as well done as Azure's. Big content warning for the looming threat of sexual assault in Azure's perspective, child abuse and neglect, and bullying.

Content Warnings

liv_easton's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

Going into this book, I was definitely excited to read Chokshi's prose again, since it's really been too long. While it was beautiful as expected, I do think it got a bit overwhelming towards the middle of the book, which was also about the time I began to suspect the ending of the story—perhaps that's why I suddenly felt a lag. I went back and forth between preferring the Bridegroom's chapters and Azure's chapters, but tended to prefer Azure's more, and I think it was because the Bridegroom felt like less of a character to me and more of a narrator. The story was clearly about Indigo and Azure, to the point that he literally doesn't even have a name. I don't mind that focusing of the story, but it did mean that I didn't really care about his fate, which I think would've driven his chapters more. The last criticism I have is the prologue. I know it was meant to add tension to the book and make the reader immediately wary of Indigo, but I think it just gave too much away and as a result, sacrificed about 79% of my suspense as I read.

Onto the good things!

For a book about magic, illusions, and belief, Chokshi has perfect writing. Her characters are successful storytellers because she works so deftly, and she really does make an enchanting world throughout the novel. I also wouldn't just call this purple prose, because I think she maneuvers the reader through the story so well—to choose the ending she did and have me satisfied with our main characters is no easy feat, but it really did have the fairy tale *and all ends as it was meant to* feeling about it. I think she could've gone for a more horror-focused character arc if she wanted, but if there's one thing to take away from this it's that Chokshi loves fairy tales, and I think she told the tale she wanted to beautifully. In conclusion: I recommend if you're in the mood for a dreamy, mildly horrific, over-written story.

Content Warnings

aliyachaudhry's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

3.5

sometimes being delulu is NOT the solulu

Content Warnings

alloftaysreads's review

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.5

Content Warnings

felicityjoy's review against another edition

Go to review page

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? No

4.0

Content Warnings

lazalantinh's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-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

5.0

An enchanted fairytale becomes a haunted reality. Captivating, tragic and bittersweet.

Content Warnings

cocopuff3438's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

5.0

a terribly beautiful story, something like an old grimm fairytale made modern. Gorgeous, lyrical prose that transports you into the dark magic of the tale— or rather the dark magic of life.

Content Warnings

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-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

4.5

Context:
I borrowed The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi from my local library through the Libby app.

Review:

As someone who hates fairytales and dislikes romance, I was skeptical about a book billed as a gothic fairytale about a marriage. I became even more skeptical when confronted with the flowery, lush prose that placed me at a distance from the characters and their motivations. I am so glad I kept reading, however, because The Last Tale of the Flower Bride absolutely won me over.

For me, the heart of this story is the tale of the friendship between Azule and Indigo. Within this story, it becomes clear that Chokshi’s constant references to fairytales and her lush prose serve a purpose, which is to creatively and compellingly paint a portrait of an incredibly codependent female friendship. I am blown away by Chokshi’s originality as she approaches a storyline that could have easily been a trite thriller or melodrama from a place of compassion, empathy, and true artistry.

Given how much I love the chapters exploring Azule and Indigo’s friendship, I am less enthralled with the chapters from the Bridegroom’s perspective. Although they contain moments of beauty and clarity, I think they serve as unnecessary padding. I believe The Last Tale of the Flower Bride would be a more effective and powerful story if these chapters did not exist, and we instead remained immersed in the story’s central plotline.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like The Last Tale of the Flower Bride if . . .

· You are looking for a unique take on toxic female friendships and codependency

· You love fairytales and folklore (but even if you don’t, give it a try!)

You might not like The Last Tale of the Flower Bride if . . .

· You can’t stand flowery prose, no matter how it serves the story

· You go into the book expecting a romance (seriously, I think this book is mismarketed)

Content Warnings

More...