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A review by liv_easton
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.5
Going into this book, I was definitely excited to read Chokshi's prose again, since it's really been too long. While it was beautiful as expected, I do think it got a bit overwhelming towards the middle of the book, which was also about the time I began to suspect the ending of the story—perhaps that's why I suddenly felt a lag. I went back and forth between preferring the Bridegroom's chapters and Azure's chapters, but tended to prefer Azure's more, and I think it was because the Bridegroom felt like less of a character to me and more of a narrator. The story was clearly about Indigo and Azure, to the point that he literally doesn't even have a name. I don't mind that focusing of the story, but it did mean that I didn't really care about his fate, which I think would've driven his chapters more. The last criticism I have is the prologue. I know it was meant to add tension to the book and make the reader immediately wary of Indigo, but I think it just gave too much away and as a result, sacrificed about 79% of my suspense as I read.
Onto the good things!
For a book about magic, illusions, and belief, Chokshi has perfect writing. Her characters are successful storytellers because she works so deftly, and she really does make an enchanting world throughout the novel. I also wouldn't just call this purple prose, because I think she maneuvers the reader through the story so well—to choose the ending she did and have me satisfied with our main characters is no easy feat, but it really did have the fairy tale *and all ends as it was meant to* feeling about it. I think she could've gone for a more horror-focused character arc if she wanted, but if there's one thing to take away from this it's that Chokshi loves fairy tales, and I think she told the tale she wanted to beautifully. In conclusion: I recommend if you're in the mood for a dreamy, mildly horrific, over-written story.
Onto the good things!
For a book about magic, illusions, and belief, Chokshi has perfect writing. Her characters are successful storytellers because she works so deftly, and she really does make an enchanting world throughout the novel. I also wouldn't just call this purple prose, because I think she maneuvers the reader through the story so well—to choose the ending she did and have me satisfied with our main characters is no easy feat, but it really did have the fairy tale *and all ends as it was meant to* feeling about it. I think she could've gone for a more horror-focused character arc if she wanted, but if there's one thing to take away from this it's that Chokshi loves fairy tales, and I think she told the tale she wanted to beautifully. In conclusion: I recommend if you're in the mood for a dreamy, mildly horrific, over-written story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Abandonment, Death, and Pedophilia
Minor: Child abuse, Self harm, and Child death