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scarlett_f's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual content, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, and Alcohol
With a flower bride comes flowery language.saliwali's review against another edition
- 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
3.75
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
saucy_bookdragon's review against another edition
- 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
"They know neither the contours of our hearts nor the cold hands that shaped them."
This is, in fact, Roshani Chokshi's most magical book.
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is an absolutely dreamy, mesmerizing story that starts off enchanting but gets darker as it goes. It swept me in and asked that I savor it, hence I didn't rush finishing it! I'd recommend going into it blind and not reading the rest of my review, though I don't include any major spoilers.
It's beautifully written, filled with lush metaphors and descriptions that often allude to and reference fairytales and mythology. I found myself constantly stopping to write down lines. It's a magical story that demands equally magical writing! Though some may find it confusing, I found the plot to be easy enough to keep up with and was only occasionally confused by some descriptions. The story reads like a contemporary written as if it were a fantasy!
The story is not only beautiful, but also tragic and haunting. Going beyond romance and into obsession. Going back and fourth between two timelines; one with an unnamed bridegroom who knows nothing about his wife's past, and another that tells the story between two girls who are obsessed with each other and 100% in love with each other romantically and this is one of the most homoerotic things I've ever read. Both of these timelines connected by the enigmatic Indigo. It's focused heavily on a small cast and character study, allowing the cast to be fleshed out as we learn more and more about Indigo's backstory.
I'd highly recommend Flower Bride to anyone looking for a gorgeous Gothic story. Especially those who are in love with fantasy, despite the lack of fantastical elements!
TWs: death, blood and gore, pedophilia including sexual touches and advances, grief, abuse both physical and emotional, cutting of palms for ritual purposes, alcohol consumption
Pre-review April 2022
I posted an Instagram story about being excited for this that Roshani Chokshi reposted and in her repost she said "strangely, this is my most magical book... without a drop of magic?" which considering that her previous stories have dealt with gods it's absolutely WILD that this is her most magical one. Can't wait to read it!
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Blood, and Grief
Moderate: Pedophilia and Alcohol
Minor: Drug use, Self harm, and Death of parent
carissa230's review
- 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
3.75
In current day Indigo is married and the relationship is coming undone. It turns out that Indigo brought a lot of dark secrets from her past and her husband is just learning who she really is.
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Death of parent
anni_swanilda's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Self harm, Violence, and Alcohol
Minor: Death of parent
ryuutchi's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.5
Otherwise, a generally entertaining mystical twist on what might have otherwise been an obvious thriller plot.
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Blood, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
shrands's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
It did really pick up though - this gave me Crimson Peak/Hill House vibes with added glamour. It's funny because I think if I had more experience with gothic novels I'd love this even more - but even with my limited experience with the genre I enjoyed it.
It really took an extremely dark turn near the end, which is when it finally started to click to me that all of the magic and escapism is just the main characters' delusions in order to escape their own trauma.
Indigo - abandonment and loneliness, a desire for control over death and family that was taken from her when her parents died.
Azure - escapism from her home life with a mother who devalued her and a predatory stepfather
The Bridegroom - escapism from an abusive home and blocking out the trauma of losing his brother.
Another detail I loved is that we never learn the name of The Bridegroom - as detailed in the book, names have power, and give people ownership over you. Also, the story isn't really about him in the end. It's about Indigo and Azure.
Really great subversion from Chokshi as well, because I suspected they had switched places but then was like 'nah that can't be right, people would notice the difference'
The more I think about the book the more I love it tbh
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment
caseythereader's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Death, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Blood, and Death of parent