Reviews tagging 'Sexual harassment'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

123 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.

mariavdl's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Animal death, Blood, and Death of parent

sarahschuster's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad medium-paced

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

4.0

I loved Azure and it broke my heart thinking she was going to die. Pretty early on I started hoping that it was Indigo who died and Azure assumed her identity.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, and Sexual harassment

scrubsandbooks'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

3.5

The prose was a bit much at a few parts but not so overwhelming that you have no idea what's going on. This was positively mysterious, kept me gripping the pages to find out what was really going on. Both moving and bone-chilling.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic friendship

Moderate: Child abuse and Sexual harassment

erinreadsbooks's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.75

Gorgeous imagery and evocative, atmospheric writing. The beginning was not my favorite and the rapid development of the relationship between the protagonists made me a bit wary but the last 3/4 of the book (basically when we started seeing the past) was gripping and very enjoyable as the creeping sense of horror began to seep in. Recommended for those who like dark fairytale vibes and writing that makes you question what is reality and what is imagined. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Gore, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, and Sexual harassment

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, and Gaslighting

e_lace'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
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book is perfect. No notes.  Would gladly read this over and over again for the rest of my adult life 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Incest and Sexual harassment

areen's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

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

4.75

I'm beyond impressed with how this story was told. the way it reads like a Grimm's fairytale while having no fantasy or magic at all but how it expects you to assume and feel. there's also something about same-sex toxic codependent relationship for me...🧐

I'm still digesting that plot twist at the end and can't say I appreciate it. I feel the need to reread to fully experience the story and understand the gravity of that plot twist but idk maybe I'll come back to it one day, maybe I won't. either way I really enjoyed it.

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Content Warnings

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

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

Minor: Sexual assault

linnybear's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Sexual harassment

Minor: Child abuse and Child death

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

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