Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

44 reviews

sunnydale's review

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced

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

3.5

i checked out this book just because it was available on libby, and after the first few chapters, i was debating whether i wanted to continue. the bridegroom's perspective didn't hold much appeal for me. once azure's perspective was introduced, i was much more engaged—although i had to take some breaks when i realized what jupiter was. ultimately, azure's story was so compelling that i had to follow it through to the end. 

i enjoyed the fairy tale references, the haunted house, the theme of self-deception through personal narrative, and the girls' desperation to believe in magic. i still found the bridegroom's chapters uninteresting except as a framing device for azure's narrative, and i didn't enjoy the feeling of dread built around jupiter's predatory behavior. i ultimately found this to be a really satisfying story, but i'd be hesitant to recommend to readers i don't know well.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Incest, Pedophilia, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, and Medical content

Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, Blood, and Alcohol

Pedophilia/incest/sexual harassment details:

Azure's stepfather is sexually predatory throughout the book. He touches her in ways she does not like and tries to avoid, although his attempts at obviously sexual contact are thwarted. Azure is not supported by her mother or Indigo, who blame her and dismiss her fears, respectively. The increasing sense of dread culminates in a scene where Azure, having been drugged and stripped by Indigo, awakes to hear Indigo claiming to have walked in on Azure and Jupiter having sex. This did not happen, although later Indigo admits that Jupiter saw Azure naked and masturbated over her.

There is one chapter where Indigo bullies another girl over a period of time; many examples are given. Multiple sex scenes, mostly between the Bridegroom and Indigo within the first few chapters. One more occurs later in Azure's chapter about Lyric. Several dead starlings are described in detail.

meganpbell's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective tense slow-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

4.0

If slow and deadly is your poison, pick up this sumptuous, gothic fairy tale. Chokshi’s flowery prose hides teeth, claws, and a dark heart bloody with not only the fairy tales we tell each other and the secrets we keep from ourselves, but the wild reckless hope of being loved when the truth’s laid bare. This was darker than I expected and reminded me of Addie LaRue in its romance and pacing, which isn’t a great thing for me but others might love!

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Blood, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Minor: Eating disorder, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Death of parent

tired_cicada's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This book was absolutely INSANE and I loved every second of it! Finished in one sitting.

Gothic horror at its finest, with twists and turns that had me at the edge of my seat! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Classism

Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent

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

dropshift5568's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious medium-paced

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

3.5

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Content Warnings

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

Minor: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Abandonment

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

theresahasread's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Death, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, and Abandonment

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

uncreativeoops's review

mysterious slow-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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Sexual harassment