Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

86 reviews

xreadingwithdemi's review

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

klsreads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense slow-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

4.0

Wow, does Roshani Chokshi know how to write a beautiful sentence. You can really feel the world she crafted, which is no small feat as she jumps between whimsical and brutal realities. I love a coming of age story. I love a dark fairy tale. I love a personified house. I love a weird marriage with secrets. 

As always, check the TW's. There's nothing overly graphic, but plenty of unsettling, nasty things.

1 star docked because while this was stunningly beautiful and filled with fairy tale lore from around the world, the plot was quite slow and sometimes got lost in all the metaphors and similes. Because of that, I think it dragged and it took me a while to get through (though I am silly, silly busy right now). I'm a bit torn saying this, though, because I adored the character development in the backstory and am unsure if this could've been done at a faster pace. I wasn't as interested in the present-day story in the book, though the twists and turns hit some emotional slam-dunks. 

I will absolutely be reading more from Chokshi. Her writing is gorgeous! Highly rec if you like dark fairy tale, slow-burn, coming of age stories. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Dementia, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Animal death, Gore, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, and Grief

seforaflorian'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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Death, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

praaliine'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? No

5.0

this was so beautifully written and it really crept up on me. it really gets into the weirdness of teenage girlhood and it would have still been so good if that’s all the story explored, but then it goes further to explore marriage, relationships that border obsession, and this dangerous thing that is the want to be loved and desired. 

you’d think that this premise wouldn’t mesh well with a gothic yet whimsical tone, and in the style of a bizarre fever dream. but oh, how it does! it really lured me in with the premise and the lush, atmospheric prose and the story itself had me locked in till the end.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Dementia, and Grief

everlymayreads's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

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

Minor: Animal death, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, and Suicidal thoughts

takarakei's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-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

I can definitely see myself rereading this book. It's a bit of a fever dream on a first read, and knowing where it was going, I think it would make an interesting re-read. 

A story that weaves together between chapters in the past and present all surrounding the life of Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada, told from her husband's pov and her childhood friend in the past. Very atmospheric and character driven, the plot is really just the mystery of Indigo as a person being unraveled. Super creepy, eerie and unnerving at parts. Like being in a nightmare (but it's not horror persay). I found I really couldn't put it down! 

It's rather a hard book to describe, so if the synopsis sounds good I recommend you try it!

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Animal death, Death, Blood, Death of parent, and Alcohol

tamara_joy's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Terminal illness, Sexual harassment, and Classism

Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexual content, Blood, and Medical content

mrsjoellebell's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse and Toxic relationship

Minor: Child death, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment

oz2021's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

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

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual harassment

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