Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

4 reviews

sunnydale's review against another edition

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

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

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

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.

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, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Stalking, and Toxic relationship

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

midnightrose_reads's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the first adult novel by Roshani Chokshi. It tells the story of ‘The Bridegroom’ and Indigo Maxwell Castenada & their marriage. Also the story of his brother and Indigo’s childhood friend Azure.

This is a very well written story, full of metaphors and descriptive prose. I’m not a magical realism fan, but this was a solid book. I do think that it’s being slightly mis-marketed, though. People going into it thinking it’s a fantasy book, and not a magical realism book are sure to be disappointed.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Child death, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual harassment

Minor: Sexual content and Blood

tinybluepixel's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Chronic illness, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting

Moderate: Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Grief