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A review by shrands
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
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
A bit of a slow starter for me - I really loved the writing style in places, but it could get slightly too flowery in places which made it hard to get into the plot.
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
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
Content Warnings
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Child death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, and Sexual assault