Sadly this book wasn't for me. The premise sounded so interesting but the writing really isn't my cup of tea (it's very flowery so if you like this kind of writing, you should definitely go for it!) and made it impossible for me to finish it.

was excited about this one so glad to read it it is clearly inspired by bluebeard and other gothic stories and has a dark academia vibe I did find some the descriptions a bit too much in times theres overly too much and many references to greek tragedy that seem over the top to set the tone of the relationships between the main characters but it actual is an a compelling story about relationships can dark and intense and twisted and none of them come off well really in the end the fantasy are fun because you dont much is really there and how much is imagination which gives it a whimsical vibe the bridegroom has some lines that seem like an overly angst teen from a a drama show which put you out of the story a bit but it carries though and I ended up liking this more than I thought I might from the beginning has a good twist for the end as well and does feel like everything is explained by the end

The story is from a point of view of the Bridegroom (yeah, we don’t know his actual name), who falls in love with an heiress named Indigo. Their marriage is one of stories, fairytales and love, but there is one rule, as there always is in these fairytales, which is to never pry into her past.
The other point of view is her childhood best friend Azure, whose backstory unravels as the couple is forced to go back to Indigo’s childhood home, the House of Dreams.

This was so magical, gothic, creepy, moody, the fairytales were interwoven in the story in such a beautiful and creative way. The writing style was gorgeous and now I have really high hopes for the Gilded Wolves series.

The ending crept up on me. I was really swept up in the magical realism of the story, until the darkness just came out of nowhere and really surprised me by the end. I absolutely loved the ending and by the last page it all wrapped in such a smart way considering the name of the book, which you only realize after you finish the very last page. Wow.

*I received this as an e-arc from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! *

So the book has a very interesting idea at its core, and I was really excited to read it. Unfortunately it was not like the author's previous works, which was a shame since I love her The Gilded Wolves series and was looking forward to an adult novel from her. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. Not to mention the very flowy language, which made it feel like I was watching something through a dream. A bit hazy, a bit hard to grasp. Now I know there’s people who will really enjoy that thing, but I need my story to feel a bit more grounded to get invested in the story.

This book was everything I hoped for and more.
Beautifully written, descriptive, atmospheric, captivating and utterly compelling. I cannot recommend it enough.

Not a genre I normally go for but I'm so glad I picked this up.
With the most stunning lyrical writing and characters you feel strangely compelled by, this was a phenomenal piece of storytelling

This is absolutely beautifully written. A magical and Poetic read.
It is split into 2 narratives. One from the perspective of the bridegroom and the other from Azure.
It explores the intensity of relationship between Azure and Indigo, the unsolved past memory of the bridegroom relating to his younger brother and his eagerness in finding out what his wife is hiding, all while interwoven with myths, legends, folklore and magic.
The perfect blend of love, obsession, secrets, fantasy, heartbreak and mystery.
Highly recommended.

That was… concerning

So the outline is that there's a man who married a beautiful but very mysterious woman. And the only marriage term from the woman was that the man should not pry into her past at all. IDK about you guys but if it were me I'd rather NOT get married if that's the case🙃

But let's talk about the bits that I loved first
The cover? gorgeous. Combined with an alluring premise. Turns out the writing was mesmerizing too. At a glance, everything's perfect. Then I dove deeper, instantly sucked into the mystery with an eerie gothic atmosphere. The story was narrated from the first person's point of view, it literally felt like reading the character's diary. Lots of narration, few dialogues. But miraculously, it didn't feel boring. The next thing I knew, I couldn't stop turning the pages.

Now… the not so good parts. AT LEAST FOR ME okay.
Indigo, the key character, the "mysterious" girl's behavior was… worrisome, to put it lightly. She's toxic and harmful and has zero empathy towards people. And then there's a certain stepfather being a side antagonis who actually didn't have a significant part to the plot but his presence in this book was being a pedophile and hypersex. Despite being said to be a "darkly romantic", there's hardly anything romantic about this book. all the relationships were problematic and really made me uncomfortable.

BUT, I'll say it again, I really loved the writing and I managed to finish this without dragging myself so that's a win! I recommend this if you like gothic mystery, dark fairytale fantasy-kinda stories. If you grew up loving The Brothers Grimm's fairy tales, I think you'll love this book.

He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after - and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

The concept of this book really grabbed me, I thought the potential for it to be an enthralling rollercoaster read was there. Unfortunately for me this was not the case.

Now, let me put this out there immediately, I liked the writing I thought it was beautiful in places. However there were also times when I felt unsure what was actually happening because of the story telling style. For most of the book I was trying to work out if there was actually magic or it was young girls imaginations. If there wasn’t then what was the point of the ‘house’ as a character that wasn’t a character and went nowhere? I was all ready for that house to move rooms around or kick people out.

The plot for me was also a let down, it was very slow in places and because of the dual POV I found myself not really caring about the man as the more interesting story was in the Indigo chapters.

Talking of which, all I saw in these was a very toxic/abusive relationship that is never really answered for.

However I see a lot of people are loving it and I wonder if perhaps I am just not the right market for this book?

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the advanced readers copy.

Wow.

I loved this.

Really, really loved it.

The writing was brilliant, poetic, captivating. I was intrigued from the prologue, the book grabbing me with claws and refusing to let me go until I saw this tale through to the end.

It was atmospheric, magical, enticing, haunting, tense. I couldn’t look at away, even if at times I wish I could. The book had me in its vices, and like with Azure, it told me, <I>you will see, you will see what we want you to see, when we want you to see it</I>.

This book was just crafted so well. The alternating point of views between the Bridegroom (I could go on a whole spiel about how brilliant it was to name his chapters that — so much complexity and story just within those two words) and Azure. I can’t really go in to that more without spoilers, but I repeat what I said at the beginning of this review: wow. Wow, indeed. Their perspectives worked well together, telling the story of both the past and the present…brilliant. Early on in the book I wondered why a specific perspective was missing, and again this is something I can’t go in to without spoilers (I fear I’ve already said to much) it all comes together perfectly at the end. So well done!

I did guess a lot of the plot twists in this. The truth about the brother, about Azure. The clues were sprinkled in, and I formed my theories, but I still wasn’t prepared to see it all come together. It was so good. And it really makes me want to turn right back to the front of the book, to read it again, knowing how the story goes, to see if I can discover any other clues and truths now that I’m in the knowing…

I loved how Chokshi used fairytales and myths as part of the plot structure. It was so well done, so beautifully incorporated, and added so much to the mystery, magic, and tragedy of the book. The way the fairytales mirrored the story, and how it all came back around in the end. So complex, nuanced and detailed, I loved it. Again, with the reread, I assume there is probably more to be picked upon if I were to go over this again and pay even more attention to the fairytale element of this.

I just want to heap so much praise on this book, and I wish I could write a review eloquently enough to express it. I just wouldn’t know where to start or where to end. All the stars.

This book reminded me why I love the fantasy genre so much! It was dark, moody, atmospheric, haunting, thought-provoking, engaging, and magical.

This novel has two timelines and two love stories. The first is between a husband and a wife, The Bridegroom and Indigo. The Bridegroom is a professor who preserves rare antique books and meets Indigo while hoping to view her wealthy family's old book of magic spells. They marry quickly and move to the 'House of Dreams' family estate in the Pacific Northwest, where he starts uncovering Indigo's secrets.

The second love story is between Indigo, as a teenager, and her friend Azure who spend their days at the 'House of Dreams' playing dress-up and waiting for graduation when they can escape real life, enter the Otherworld, and transform into faeries.

However, all is not how it seems in either relationship or with Indigo - that's what makes this novel so delectable! I look forward to reading another Roshani Chokshi very soon!

3.5 ⭐️
I think this is a book to read in one sitting if possible to be swept into the mystery of it all, I had to put the book down a few times and found when I came back to it the magic was slightly lost. Although the language throughout was beautiful and poetic.
The story is intriguing and dark which is intense at times with some triggering scenes that the characters are escaping from with their obsessions with the otherworld. The fantasy element was well explored and weaved into the story well.
I enjoyed this book and it’s the kind of book you could read again and get something new from it each time.
Many thanks for the E-ARC of this book - this is an honest review.

Thank you so much Hodder and Stoughton for this ARC!

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is written like a fairytale and captivated me since the first page. While it dragged a bit in the middle, the beginning and the end of this story kept me on the edge of my seat, I really enjoyed how dark and mysterious this book was and despite it being set in modern times, it read like a real gothic tale.

The events in this book are set in two timelines: in present, we see the marriage between Indigo and The Bridegroom and how coming to the house of Indigo’s dying aunt starts a series of events that will make old, dangerous secrets come to the light; in past, we follow Indigo and Azure, Indigo’s best friend who disappeared when they were 18. In the beginning I was a bit confused about what was happening, but I quickly got engrossed in this fascinating story. All the characters were really fleshed out and interesting and their relationships complex, which made this book so much more enjoyable. I also loved all the references to classical stories, fairytales and myths, it fit this story so well and made reading it an even more interesting experience.

I really liked The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, it was very well written and the story was compelling and unpredictable, I loved all the plot twists. Can’t wait for more books from this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing the ARC.

Oh boy. Where do I begin?

This book was absolutely magnificent, from beginning to end. It immediately made its way into my list of all time favourites, and I don't grant those titles lightly.

Roshani manages to create an atmosphere both light and rotten at the same time, incredibly alluring yet stifling.

The language is gorgeous, the characters intriguing and the ending completely unexpected.

If you want a blend of imagery from cottagecore and dark academia, this book is for you.

Oh my word this book was totally not what I was expecting but in the best of ways! I’ve adore Roshani Chokshi’ work since I picked up The Gilded Wolves back in 2020 so when I found out she was going to release and adult book I was quick to pre-order! Whilst the book definitely is a step away from fantasy it definitely doesn’t lack in its mythology and fairytale. Plus it’s modern day gothic vibes can’t be can’t be faltered.

The whole book I was sat on the edge of my seat waiting to find out more about the three central characters, totally intrigued but Chokshi’s words and references to the fae/fairytales. As the story unfolded I felt blind and unable to predict anything that was going to happen, which I totally adored!

I would highly recommend to anyone that loves a gothic mystery or to anyone that loves the feeling of a story unfolding!

I listened to the audiobook and it was great, the dual narrators worked really well together and they both did an excellent job.

The atmosphere throughout this book was so rich and haunting, it really drew you into the world. I also enjoyed the toxic friendship between Asher and Indigo and watching that develop through the book. I did guess the twist at the end, but that didn’t dampen my enjoyment.

I do think the blurb of the book is misleading though, it is marketed as a husband and wife delving into their secrets, when I would actually say it’s more of a story of toxic friendships and growing up.

Overall I really enjoyed it, perfect for fans of got his stories with a haunting atmosphere and I would really recommend the audiobook!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A lovely, clever, enthralling read. A romantic, gothic mysterious feel to it throughout . Recommended.

There was once a man who believed in fairy tales who fell in love with a woman who could have crawled from one herself. Their marriage was filled with magic and stories and love, and in exchange for it all Indigo asked only one simple price, that her bridegroom would never delve into her past. That seemed so easy at first, but as humans we are naturally curious and when Indigo and her bridegroom get called back to her childhood home 'the house of dreams' he feels as though the house is calling to him, trying to get him to see something, something that involves a young girl called Azure, Indigo's childhood friend. The deeper he delves, the more the house reveals his wife's secrets and before long the bridegroom will have to choose between the magical world they have created for themselves, or to finally let reality in.

The Last tale of the Flower Bride was a seductive tale that showcases the danger of secrets, manipulation and how sometimes the believing in the 'magical' is easier than letting reality in. The story is told from two POV's; The Bridegroom, Indigo's husband, a scholar of the magical who found himself swept into her world after asking to view a grimoire from her family's collection. They both have a love of stories, of believing there is something magical out there, and are both desperate to find their way to that mystical world just beyond our reach, and that carried them through their first years of marriage. Our other POV is Azure, Indigo's best friend from childhood who disappeared after their graduation night. Azure was the polar opposite of Indigo in many ways, but they shared a love for stories, and for each other that made them an inseparable pair.

The story flits between the present and past POV's keeping us readers on our toes, ensuring we are never quite sure if the magical tales we're reading are true magic, or simply stories made up by children and people desperate to escape their reality for a little while. While Azure shows us Indigo growing up, learning how to manipulate not only the world, but those close to her, The Bridegroom shows us a different side to her, still manipulative and dangerous, but skittish and afraid of the secrets returning to her childhood home would bring to light. But my favourite part of his POV was the stories. If you're a lover of stories within stories then you seriously need to pick up this book. Chokshi weaves in folklore and fairy tales from around the world, with a focus on the creepy and darker themes. But what Chokshi does incredibly well is not just tell us the stories, rather she makes them fit into her own. Using them for foreshadowing, as well as clues to our characters backstories and motives.

The writing style was incredibly prosaic and lyrical, I can't tell you how many passages I highlighted because they were just that beautifully written. But this story tends towards introspection rather than action, so for readers who like their stories a little faster with plenty of energy to keep you intrigued, this might not be the one for you. However, if you enjoy being seduced by stories, having your version of reality tested, seeing the line between the magical and the mundane blur and never quite being sure where the story is heading then I cannot recommend this enough. I did guess the big twist rather early on in the story, but I'm blaming this on Chokshi's skill at foreshadowing, rather than any skill on my part.

If you enjoy stories you can dig your teeth into, with unreliable narrators, stories within stories and plenty of romance I can't recommend this enough. I was so eager to get my hands on this book and it did not disappoint!

‘In the end a fairy tale is nothing more than a sense of hope’

I loved the gothic mystery of this book, the fairy tales & the intrigue of the magical paths we were lead down! The ending didn’t disappoint either!

Many Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the digital review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Before I begin I would like to point out one glaringly annoying point about this book, at no point could you call this a fantasy genre, unless you count that the female protagonist lived a fantasy in her mind. This book is solely a mystery/thriller.
Ok, the writing style…. It is full of anagrams, annoyingly so, and it drags through the prose of over descriptions and the bland inner turmoil of “The Bridegroom” However, at his heart, this is a really emotional story, it brings together three individual people, that for the lack of better words are emotionally damaged, its about heartbreak, mental and physical abuse, loss and grief. Indigo and Azure are childhood friends, linked together in their love of other words and being free, The Bridegroom is another chasing dreams and memories of his young brother, when he starts to question Indigo’s own past, he finds something he never could have expected.
I do want to have a shout-out for my favourite character in the book, and that is the house, it is so interesting how atmospheric and important to the overall story that the house became. I wish I had this house!
Overall, if you look past the long flowery prose and teenage angst, you will see that is a book worth reading, I’m giving it four stars.