Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

37 reviews

cheye13's review

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: Death, Blood, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Sexual content, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, Gaslighting, and Alcohol

Minor: Gun violence, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Rape, Dementia, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail

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.

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: Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Incest, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

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

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

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

prairieraven's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• 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

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

katmystery's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad 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

2.5

Fairytale-inspired horror about toxic relationships and self-deception. It wasn’t quite horror in the violence sense- it wasn’t too gory or icky- but in the atmospheric sense. It had a pervasive bleak, unpleasant, and sickly mood, which is typical for the horror genre and something I personally do not enjoy. Recommended to fans of the original Grimm’s fairytales, in all their messed up glory.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Pedophilia and Grief

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

madamenovelist's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Medical trauma, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Abandonment and Classism

Minor: Incest

salie's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective tense fast-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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Death of parent, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

booksbutmakeitgay's review against another edition

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Self harm, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

natashaleighton_'s review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Words cannot do justice to  how breathtakingly atmospheric and beautiful this was! The prose and world-building was gorgeously lush— in a dark fairytale-esque, House of Hollow meets Mexican Gothic way that had me utterly hooked from start to finish! 

It’s told through a unique, dual POV narrative that spans two timelines and was really intrigued by the decision to not give a name to our first (and only male) protagonist who is referred to as The Bridegroom—and even then only in the chapter headings. To me, it felt like it was harkening back to the early gothic/ horror genre, where unnamed characters added an aura of mystery and unease to the plot, which I really enjoyed. 

It also worked perfectly with the hauntingly lyrical prose and descriptions that weaved a sinister sensualness into very scene.  I know not everyone is a fan of this type of prose, but Roshani Chokshi’s darker, intricate and ethereal overtones felt like an homage to traditional fairytales (which have always been seen as rather macabre to modern audiences)  adding a fabulously unnerving sense of foreboding that kept the plot moving. 

The plot twists were also fantastic! I was really wasn’t expecting any of the reveals that occur and really enjoyed trying to piece together the breadcrumb-like clues to unravel Indigo’s mysterious back story. 

Overall, a beautifully crafted and decadently suspenseful gothic novel full of twists, turns and unreliable narrators that made this a truly unputdownable read.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Alcohol

Minor: Child death