The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a dark fairy tale about fairy tales, where nothing really is as it seems. There are secrets within secrets--but will the revealing of the secret be what breaks the curse or what triggers it? That's the risk the Bridegroom has to take.

Indigo Maxwell-Castenada is a figure full of mystery and enchantment. She is rich and famous - and utterly eccentric, living in a world defined by her own rules. But the deeper you dig into the mystery, the more you find that it isn't really an enchantment. The Bridegroom dreams of a brother that he has lost. Indigo hides a best friend who has disappeared and is never to be spoken of. And the House of Dream's quest, it seems, is to reveal everything that has been carefully hidden and talked around for all these years.

It's hard to tell what's real and what's not in this fairy tale. Where does the enchantment begin, where does the hard, ugly truth end? Hidden under the glitz and glamour of the Castenada wealth, obscured by the magic of Faerie, is a dark tale of manipulation and abuse. This is a tale of memories buried because one cannot bear to remember them, of pasts obscured so that they do not hurt in the present. Yet with all that is hidden, there is this thread of truth that refuses to be buried, that screams to be uncovered...

...but at what cost?

It's still a love story of sorts - inasmuch as Indigo and the never-named Bridegroom understand love. This is a twisted love that cannot bear to let another go, that always lives in the fear of being left behind, and thus makes it so that their partner can never leave. It is utterly self-serving, taking all and giving nothing. At points, it felt like madness; a child so lost to their delusions that they cannot live in the real world - and cannot let others do so too.

It's hard for me to put an actual star rating to this one. It was a little too dark for me to truly enjoy - especially towards the end, and yet the lure of Faerie was strong enough to keep me going. Do read with caution.

Note: I received a digital ARC of this book from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a dark and atmospheric story of toxic relationships, heavy secrets, and unraveling of what is dearest to you. I know it's supposed to be a story of a married couple (and the secrets that lie between them), a mysterious woman called Indigo and her husband, dubbed simply as the bridegroom, but for me, the heart of the story was definitely in the tale of the youthful friendship between Indigo and Azure. The bridegroom was merely a pawn for me, a silent observer that wove the tale of Indigo in her later years, the narrator that was (with his feelings and tales) more a backdrop to the lush and poisonous relationship between Indigo and Azure.

While I do wish I loved this devastating story more, I still think it would be a great read for anyone looking for a book about horrible secrets and tragic heroes and an ending that will make you gasp out loud.
(Sadly for me, the bridegroom lacked personality and I dreaded his chapters, which made the book drag a bit - but Azure's chapters kept me going and I do really like her character a lot. This was definitely a story of two powerful women, which I LOVED. I also wish the sapphic undertones got explored a bit more)

It deals with some heavy themes (like abuse of a minor, abuse, toxic relationships, etc.) so checking the trigger warnings would be wise <3

Firstly, I would like to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an e-arc of this title.

I've read two previous titles by Roshani Chokshi but unfortunately, they didn't really work for me. I didn't enjoy them at all and was almost willing to give up on reading more of her work.

But this book blew me away.

Since it's been a while since I read a Roshani Chokshi novel I'm uncertain if my previous issue with her work was her writing style or plot elements - but I felt that this book transcends both on all levels.

I was initially intrigued to request this arc as I have a penchant for gothic storytelling which is very different from the genres of her other works. There are very specific markers to hit when writing a gothic novel - a newlywed couple, a haunted house and a secret. I've previously read other novels that claimed to be gothic but failed to hit all the marks. This one does and with how well I felt it handled the genre - could very well become a classic.

From my recollection, this novel also has a very different writing style from Roshani Chokshi's other work. It's much more lyrical and flowery which works in favour of the genre and style of the book. It feels very akin to V.E. Schwab's The Invisible Life of Addie La Rue in the writing style which can be polarising to audiences but again only adds to the gothic, mysteriousness of the novel.

Overall, I enjoyed this book so much more than I expected. It is one of my more favourite genres of storytelling and I think Roshani Chokshi did a very good job with it. I would recommend this to anyone who is looking for a twisted tale that is dark and gritty and mysterious steeped in lore and myth and fairytale. It's gripping and gruesome and will have you guessing the whole time.

I’m DNFing this for now. I gave it a good shot but I’m really not getting on with the fairytale/fable writing style, though I love the ideas and inspiration behind the novel.

The atmosphere is really cloying and intense, hugely lyrical, but I didn't get enough of the character depth or connection that I needed in order to remain in vested in the novel.

I think it was definitely me here as I've loved novels in this style before, so I think it'll be one I give another go via audiobook.

I enjoyed this gothic tale full of fairytales, mysteries and secrets! At times I wasn’t sure how I felt about this book because although the writing was beautiful and whimsical, the story was dark and at times almost suffocating. The unraveling mystery had me hooked though, and I did enjoy seeing everything unfold. I started to worry that I may not like the ending, but I was pleasantly surprised! I love Roshani’s writing and can’t wait to read more of her books in the future!

I always push myself to read books that are out of my usual go to-s, and I'm more than thrilled that I picked up the wonderful and atmospheric The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi!
Rich and lilting prose that contrast with the dark and at some times heavy for the heart story.
Gothic mystery with intriguing characters that leaves a unique aftertaste long after you've read the book. Especially Indigo's character that is so well crafted that you can distinguish the way she speaks, her mannerisms that are unmistakably HERS.
And on the other side is Azure – that is the opposite to Indigo but at the same time so similar!
And to wrap all this atmosphere and unique characters there comes the final touch in this Gothic painting with a breathtaking plot twist that keeps you thinking and go over it even after the book is over!
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is THAT good!

The thing about fairytales is that readers are kept at a safe distance from them, which doesn’t matter because they are short and it is all about the story and not about the characters. However, extend the length to a novel and keep the same lyricism and structure and the lack of characterisation becomes a problem as does the stretched storyline and missing lack of pace.

The writing is beautiful in places and I really, really wanted to love this book but the voices were too similar, the plot too slight and the pacing all wrong for me.

I know that this book will find a lot of fans of gothic fantasy but unfortunately for me, I kept thinking of Angela Carter and how in her hands this would have been a short story with hidden blades and teeth.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

a lovely, weird little book.

i was a bit confused at times and there were some things i didn’t understand but i think that’s just because i need it spelled out for me lol. i’m not great at finding the ~hidding meanings~ in literature. but still, i enjoyed this a lot. the writing was pleasant — more so than in the gilded wolves trilogy, i’d say. i also appreciate that this book wasn’t dragged out for the sake of simply adding more pages (this book is just a few pages shy of 300, but that’s enough because the story feels finished to me).

i received the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I truly enjoyed reading this title, it was a really well written book and I am so happy I got to read this early! Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this title.

this was not for me. i could only pretend for so long i was entranced by the atmosphere and writing, which i was in the beginning, but i really could not take anyone serious after a few chapters. the synopsis had me expecting a completely different story. biggest surprise was the male narrator.

clearly, this book was not suited for my tastes which is ok! this was even more flowery than roshani's previous works. well. thank you for the arc

When I first saw this book on Netgalley I wasn't entirely sure if it would be my thing. And although I love reading and I love trying out new things once in a while I prefer to pick review copies I know almost for sure I'll like. But the more I heard about the book the more intriguing it sounded and eventually I reached the point where I did press that request button. And I was very happy that Hodder and Stoughton granted me a review copy!

In a way this is a really special book. It's the kind of book that will change. Every reader will read another book. Every reader will find something else in this story. Every reader will see something else in this story. But I think every reader will also find a different book when rereading. It's the kind of book that changes depending on your mood, your age, your life experience, your situation. I'm pretty sure that no matter how often you'll reread you will never read the book you already know.

The writing of the book isn't that complicated. On the contrary. Writing wise this book is an easy read with easy sentences. It's mostly about what's not said, about what's implied, about the stories in between the lines. There's a lot of symbolism in this book, there's a lot of mystery in this book and this entire book plays with the lines between this world and the otherworld, between stories and daily life, between myths and facts.

Since this book is playing around with symbolism and stories it becomes infinitely more fun if you know quite a few fairytales, myths, legends and stories. A lot of stories are mentioned, used and twisted and it's lovely to see how the author both gives those stories meaning, while also using those stories to craft her own fairytale. Because that's what the author does. The author uses other stories to craft an entirely new one. A gripping, mesmerizing and very touching one.

I'm really happy I took the leap of faith and requested my copy. I wouldn't have wanted to miss it.

"You warned me that knowing your secret would destroy us. At first, it sat in our marriage like a blue-lipped ghost, hardly noticeable until a trick of the light drew it into focus. But you could always the days when it gnawed at my thoughts. You tired to comfort me. You stroked my face and curled my fingers to your heart.

You said: "If you pry, you'll destroy our marriage. "

But oh, love, you lied."

The Last Tale of The Flower Bride was exquisitely written. If you love fairy tales, especially those written in the style of Grimm, then you will love The Last Tale of The Flower Bride.

The Last of The Flower Bride was superbly composed, every line is a fairy tale. I loved, loved, loved it.

The book is divided is written from the perspective of both The Bridegroom and someone called Azure. The Bridegroom is a researcher of fairy tales and has contacted the heir of the Castenada fortune to look at a 13th Century grimoire. He is expecting the heir to be a man not a beautiful youung woman. He is captivated and so the romance begins.

"You're fascinated with the world we cannot see, the creatures that might have lived within them but now only exist as fairy tales. I suppose that's why I wished to meet you."

I loved all the details about fairy tales included in the book and the analysis of fairy tale themes anyone would recognise.

The Bridegroom senses something of the other about Indigo and that is what draws him to her.

"I have always been intrigued by these not-quite women, whether they were sirens or mermaids, kinnari or selkie. The world can't seem to decide whether to condemn, covet or celebrate them."

After the wedding The Bridegroom and Indigo have to go to her childhood home, The House of Dreams, to visit a dying aunt. It is in her childhood home that The Bridegroom begins to feel the strain of the promise not to pry into her past. He learns she once had a friend named Azure who was like a sister to her.

"The moment I saw the House, I knew it held magic. These dragons slumbered beneath its floorboards, that the trees of it's property grow wish-granting fruit, and that in the highest turret lived a queen and when she combed her hair, jewels clattered to the ground for the first time, I became aware of what my life looked like in comparison greasy and cheap."

This Last Tale of the Flower Bride is about the power and danger of believing in fairy tales and the pull of the forbidden. It was enchanting and I can't wait to read more from this author.

🪻 The book begins with a promise of a dark fairytale in a Gothic atmosphere and is narrated by two of the three main characters, Azure and the Bridegroom. On one hand, the Bridegroom narrates how he met his beautiful wife, Indigo who made him look forward to their fantastic life in exchange of a promise that he shall never pry into her past or her secrets.

🪻 On the other hand Azure narrates how she met Indigo as a child and found a home in Indigo's House of Dreams. She also explains Indigo's obsession with fairytale and her faith that she is one of them, destined to go to the Otherworld when her time comes. As they grow up, Indigo and Azure becomes inseparable and a reflection of each other until one day Azure disappears from the face of the earth, much like the Bridegroom's younger brother who went missing as a child.

🪻 This is my first read by Roshani Chokshi and given the hype around this book and the author, I was expecting a better plot. Nevertheless the narration was lucid and fast paced. The Last hundred pages were so suspenseful that it kept me up late at night and made me finish the book first thing in the morning. The book has everything for a Gothic fiction, eerie setting, dark magic, cruel rituals and secrets. The ending was very satisfying and I felt it worth my time. Recommended to thriller/Dark Fantasy fans.

This creepy, gothic story is written in beautifully detailed prose but its characterisation and identity let it down.

⭐️⭐️

The author is an incredibly talented writer; some passages in this are just heart-stoppingly stunning. Her use of imagery and descriptors to encase the reader within the pages of this book is superb.

The issue comes with the plot itself - it is basic, merging on juvenile. I appreciate a character or world-driven story but it just didn’t work here. Essentially, it’s a mystery, but it’s one that the overwhelming majority of people will work out almost instantly. There's no nuance, no subtlety to the clues we are given; it's in your face and glaringly obvious.


The other huge issue is with the characters. Considering it has a small cast, I find it really disappointing that we don't really get to know any character, other than maybe Indigo (but even then, we are forced to see her as this whimsical,fantasy creature which she isn’t). I think this could have been a powerful exploration of mental illness, childhood trauma, family and coming of age, but we never got any of that. Instead, the author kept up this pseudo-fantasy facade which, for me, didn't work at all.

Overall, I ended up finding this dull, pretentious, lacklustre and cowardly.

This was an ARC from NetGalley but clearly, these are my own opinions 🤣.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a gothic infused fantasy tale centring around fairytales, love, friendship and marriage. This is a beautifully written book with a lovely dream-like quality and some wonderful descriptive writing, particularly of the crumbling House of Dreams and Indigo and Azure’s costumes.

The story transitions smoothly between past and present following Indigo and Azure’s friendship and also Indigo and her husband’s relationship in the present day. Whilst I did enjoy this book I guessed the plot twist very early on in the story which did spoil the ending a little bit for me. However, if you don’t see it coming you’re in for a treat!

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley to review.

Thank you to net galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

I usually love this author's work, but this one just didn't hit right. I don't know if it was because Chokshi is branching out to adult lit, but I just didn't like it at all. The writing style was a little off for me, like it was trying to hard, and I just didn't enjoy the characters at all.

As usual Roshani Chokshi has done it again in terms of beautiful writing and enchanting descriptions. There was a lot of references to mythology and various folk tales from all over the world, which I just loved.

However I did find the romance between the too main characters felt quite rushed and there were quite a few triggers in the book for me personally that I found uncomfortable which probably took away from my overall enjoyment of the book.

I do recommend this book for the intriguing characters, mystery and beautiful writing style. I think so many people will really enjoy it if they have previously loved Chokshi's books. Some of the themes in this one just touched a little too close to the nerve for me.

I went in not knowing anything about this book except that Roshani Chokshi wrote it and that it was adult gothic fiction. That was enough for me and I truly thought going in blind made this book even more enjoyable to me.

This was lyrical, surprising and just plain great. I didn’t expect any of it and loved every single second of it. I actually got an audio arc as well as an ebook one and I absolutely loved the narrator. I could not stop reading and actually finished it in an evening/night. Some parts were not very fun and even painful but it was still just so captivating. I was taken aback by it all and even as I was screaming at the characters, I did it with my entire heart. I honestly didn’t expect to love this as much especially after the very beginning but that took me by surprise too. Roshani Chokshi is such an incredible writer and I can’t wait to see what more she has up her sleeve.

This book kept me reading until the end, but I'm afraid was ultimately a disappointment. The fairytale theme and Gothic atmosphere held lits of promise, but unfortunately for me just masked a mediocre thriller with tropes that have been used many times before. The writing is packed full of metaphor and is quite lyrical and if you enjoy this genre you may like it, but it wasn't for me.
This honest review is given with thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this book.

A fabulous rich lush fever dream of a book. I was swept along with the story split between the two narrators telling the tale, past and present. I felt lost in a fairy tale. I know it is only February but I may have already found my book of the year. Never before have I immediately wanted to read a book again as soon as I have read the last page. Delicious book.