Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

37 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.

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

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)

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Alcohol, and Classism

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.

foldingthepage_kayleigh's review

adventurous dark emotional slow-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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Murder, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism

Moderate: Child death, Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Alcohol

Minor: Death of parent

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

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

rayreyes's review

challenging dark mysterious sad slow-paced

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

1.75

Overall, boring sad and unpleasant. Trauma porn turned into magical realism. Flowery and boring. Child abuse and a pedophilic creep peppered throughout. Lame.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Alcoholism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Alcohol

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