The Last Tale of the Flower Bride follows a nameless historian who believes in fairytales who falls in love with and marries the wealthy, mysterious heiress Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. The only request she makes of him is that he never pries into her past. When Indigo's estranged aunt gets sick, however, they return to Indigo's childhood home, the House of Dreams, and the bridegroom finds out some worrying information about Indigo's childhood best friend, Azure.

The book is told from both the unnamed bridegroom's POV and Azure's POV going forward. I found Azure's POV more compelling and we get a lot closer to her emotionally than we ever get to the bridegroom. There was an enchanted, hazy quality to Azure's chapters, a blurring of the real and unreal. Azure and Indigo, from childhood, believe that they're special, chosen to be whisked away to Faerie. They exist pretty much only for each other, in a strange folie à deux until the cusp of adulthood, believing when they turn of age, they will go to the Otherworld. While this was believable when they were children, it was a bit strange for them to still believe it when they were teenagers. Despite that, I liked Azure's chapters and the themes of misogyny, class and toxic female friendships they explored. There were sometimes even romantic undertones in their obsession with each other, which, weirdly enough, reminded me of Jennifer's Body.

As for the bridegroom, I liked the glimpses we got of him, but he and his relationship with Indigo were more of a backdrop for Azure's story. I would not say that the story would have been better without him, but the marriage was not as focal a point as the premise would have you believe. The gothic elements were also more sparse than I would have liked them to be, despite the setting being an old house full of secrets. I liked how fairytales and myth were woven into the chapters, but at some point, it got a little repetitive. Switching the genders and having Indigo being the Byronic Hero and Bluebeard did only work to a certain extent because of the decidedly predatory, male violence inherent to those stories. While there was a lot of talk about magic, there was none literally, which I was bummed about. For some reason, I thought the book was adult fantasy, though that is on me. The prose and imagery were absolutely stunning and a joy to read. I just wish the story had a stronger foundation in either fairytales, Gothic horror, or fantasy.

The twist at the end was well done, and although I did not see it coming, foreshadowed nicely. Now that I know, I might have to reread the book to pick up on more details. Overall, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride was a fast read that left me feeling a little lackluster.

I’ve read Roshani Chokshi’s middle grade novels before but this was my first time reading something else by her and I’m very pleased by it! Her use of language is impeccable, there were so many lines that I reread because of how beautiful they were. This book is a true ode to the fairytale tradition, you can tell how much Chokshi knows about them. It was a little bit slow at first, just because I had no idea where the story was going but towards the last 60 pages, I was desperate to find out how it was all going to end. I think that the dual narratives sometimes sounded the same, it was hard to decipher a difference between both but maybe that’s intentional as both subjects are fascinated by the same person and hence their language begins to echo one another. Overall, a really solid read and I will be picking up more from the author!

First of all, I would like to say thank you for the review copy, which was provided to me by the publisher. This fact does not in any way affect my personal opinion of this book. This post contains advertising and the rights for the book belong to the publisher.

Of course, this is only my personal opinion of the book and just because I give this rating to the book doesn’t mean everyone will have that opinion.

I was so excited about this book! An adult gothic fantasy novel with thriller elements?! Sign me up. A big bonus point for me was that it was a standalone novel.
I liked „Mexican Gothic“ and the whole „spooky house, spooky family“ vibe that the book had. If you are looking for something similar this book is for you.
The writing style is dreamy and also fast-paced. I had a bit of an issue connecting fully to the characters because everything went a bit too fast for my taste.
I can’t say much about the characters because you need to experience them for yourself, but I can give one hint. Toxicity does play an important part in this book.
This book was a nice break for me and I enjoyed my reading evening.

Conclusion
Definitely check this book out if you like gothic fantasy/horror like Mexcian Gothic

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is an atmospheric, gorgeously written Gothic fairytale.

Chokshi’s writing has that delectably dark tinge to it in this Gothic, twisted tale of obsession. It is almost lyrical and ethereal in places, tapping into the beauty and fantastical nature of these stories and elements. However, there is always a shadowy nature lurking. You constantly feel the undercurrent of something threatening and deeply wrong. Chokshi is a fantastic storyteller. You become entirely immersed in this fable as she captures every one of your senses. The pacing is spot on, slower at moments to let the story breathe and suspense build, but it picks up as everything unravels.

This is an unhinged, toxic and obsessive fairytale gone horribly wrong. That slow spiral into delusion and obsession is fascinating to watch unfold. There is this deep connection between two women and their relationship, with heavy sapphic undertones, forms the core of this novel. That toxic co-dependence spirals into something much darker and dangerous, playing with forces beyond their knowledge.

I also really loved Chokshi’s meta commentary on myth and fairytale as well. There are so many snippets of myths and legends woven into the fabric of this tale, creating a rich tapestry of what Chokshi is paying homage to and spinning it into something new. The unnamed Bridegroom is a fun recognition of all the unnamed heroines of fairytale, placing the male character in that space of objectification and reduced power instead. Chokshi instead shines the spotlight firmly on her two flawed, fractured and deeply nuanced female characters. They are messy, power hungry and driven by their own desires, but there is something alluring about them. It is like watching animals stalk prey.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a beautiful nightmare of a book. Like a spider’s web, it pulls you in until you are unsure if you will ever escape its clutches.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This book was enthralling to read, it was different to how i'd expect it to be, though the twists can be predictable, the author does a wonderful job in unravelling each mystery. It made me question what was reality.

The narrative is wonderfully executed to create a distinction between the past and the present; it creates an immersive experience for the readers due to the tension and the questions that arises alongside the mystery of the past that cannot be spoken about.

The story follows the bridegroom who journeys through the present to find answers to his past and to unravel the mystery of the House of Dreams whilst grasping onto reality. The other path this story follows is Azure, who narrates the past events. The weaving of both the past and present was brilliantly shown- easy to follow and process.

Overall this book was an excellent read,from start to end I was hooked. I rate it 5 stars, due to the writing and the plot. I cannot describe how good this book is, if you enjoy reading books that includes fantasy and mystery this book is definitely a good choice.

This had lovely writing and I really loved the premise. I wanted to like this so much more than I did.
In the end this one wasn’t for me. The writing was pretty enough but everything hinted at a depth that in my opinion just wasn’t there. The characters fell flat for me and I didn't really feel why they were drawn to each other.
The twist was pretty obvious, and I just didn’t really see why all the secrets were necessary??
The house as a character was completely pointless in the end, it didn’t add anything.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is beautifully written, full of intrigue and otherworldly nods.

The story is told in some past and present and is in two POV's. One is Indigo's husband and other is her childhood friend Azure. I loved the friendship between the two girls, there's so much love and childlike moments but its also blended with some strange obsessions and secrets. The husband meets Indigo much later in life, and they marry with the promise of him never prying into her past. I loved the chemistry between these two, the stories and myths the husband tells her are so dark and intriguing and I love how they fit into the whole story.

"If you are a figment of my imagination, some wild dream, I hope I never wake"

Of course secrets in a marriage never work out and when Indigo has to back to her child home, the Bridegroom comes to realise there's some very dark secrets hidden in Indigo's past and now he's not sure he can keep to his promise of not knowing that part of her.

The ending blew me away, I did not see that shocker coming.
I loved this start to finish, and read the whole book in one day, if your a fan of dark twisted fairy tale's this is one for you. This is dark, magical and heart breaking story that is so beautifully told. I highly recommend.

Thank you so much to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for an e-arc copy of this.
*Quotes are taken from ARC and may change on publication

A man who believed in fairy tales marries the mysterious heiress Indigo Maxwell-Castenada. Their relationship was built on the agreement that he would never pry into her past. Then word arrives that Indigo's estranged aunt is dying and the must return to her childhood home. There he learns of Azure, his wife's childhood friend that disappeared. As secrets are, the man must make a choice...

Without naming the protagonist, the narrator of this tale, the author places us firmly into the story. As if this is our own journey into the psyche, the footpath of a haunting tale, both blunt and lyrical. A narrative of ethereal quality, descriptions that caress the senses and carry a gothic wind.

It explores and plays with the themes of fantasy, reality and dreams. Chock full of symbolism, its beauty that each potential allegory brings forth intense thoughts and feelings. Promising us that if you believe, magic can exist. There is also a surprising POV which I really liked that was just as immersive. Actually I ended up enjoying that one better and wishing for more.

A bit of a slow burner, sometimes the bridegroom's musings get away with him. I grew impatient. But that ending rewarded me.

The beauty but also inevitable ugliness of human nature, through lush writing, words wrapped in silk. Come for the premise, stay for the gorgeous prose.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a mesmerising read, thriving off a mixture of mystery and personal trauma. The beautiful writing draws on folktales while creating a world that distorts our sense of the real and the fantastic. I predicted the conclusion(s) very early, but the book was good at fostering doubt in me, and in any case an ominous sense of inevitability worked well. It did feel just a little drawn out to me - I was very ready for the emotional climax long before we actually got it, and I did find the Bridegroom's folklore ruminations a little repetitive at points - but not to the overall deficit of the book. I'm still not entirely sure what to think of what the book has to say, but almost in a good way: this is a story that will continue to haunt, as it should.

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so far loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have a believable voice.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Received this book as an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review so here we go 💕!

Rating:3.5/5⭐️

Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Castenada. 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 extractor a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.

But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home - the House of Dreams -, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared.

This must have been the weirdest book I’ve read in a while. Not necessarily with a negative connotation for its peculiarity kept me curious (and confused at times!). I was, however, more interested in knowing Azure’s past story than seeing the husband finding out the true and Indigo was an incredibly disturbed person. Anyone would have ended up crazy being isolated by her. Regardless, all characters have their own peculiarities and at some point you can no longer see goodness or strength in any - except Azure or even the husband, everyone seem to be a pawn in other people games: Tati is a marionette in Indigo’s life and Azure’s mum is a puppet for Jupiter (despicable men, I hope he has a crash and dies). You do feel sorry for Azure but at the end of the day she became as macabre as Indigo.

There is a bit of a plot twist but if you’re paying attention you’ll at some point catch on it. This is a gothic adult fantasy that relies on the fascination of what we can’t have but are hopeful it’ll be ours! It’s a story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales. I’ve never read anything alike.


Keep an eye out for my bookstagram (@maria_bookshelf) for a post on the 16/02!

I was hoping I would have liked it more!
Unfortunately I found it a bit confusing and not very engaging. A pity because the premise was good and the prose is gorgeous!

It was a short read so I'll probably give it a second chance!

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride uses the elements of gothic fairytales to produce an intriguing and engrossing tale of poisoned love and possession. The novel had me hooked from the start and could not put it down until I had finished it.

Bookreview: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read this book if you love to get lost in dangerous fairytales.🧚‍♀️🖤

In this book we follow a scholar of myths, who truly believes in fairytales and the world beyond. Who meets the heiress Indigo and they fall in love. They marry under one condition: that her bridegroom would never ask or go look for her past. Blinded my love he says yes. Until one day they go to Indigo's childhood home where her aunt is on her dead bed and the house feels haunted by mysteries around who Indigo is and what happened in her past.

This book had the perfect writing style, lyrical and mysterious. It had the best vibes of eariness and blind love. And the setting with the hause and chapters in Indigo's childhood where they prepare to be part of the world of fae is *chefs kiss*.
This book deals very well with family bonds the one you choose (friends) and the ones you are stuck with. How abusive they can be, and how you can find your own way, or get lost searching for them.

Thank you to @hodderscape for this e-arc! The Last Tale of the Flower Bride was a perfect loveletter to gothic stories.

I absolutely adored this book.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a wonderful addition to the gothic genre, enriching it with fairytale and mythology so that the reader is left feeling unsettled, not quite knowing what is real and what is an illusion.

The story, told in two POVs follows the Bridegroom and Azure, both characters who begin to orbit the world of Indigo Maxwell-Castenada. The Bridegroom (in the present) falls in love with Indigo and is tempted into marriage on the condition that he never probes into her past. The reader is then swept away to the House of Dreams, Indigo's childhood home where we learn about her close childhood friendship with Azure who disappeared under strange circumstances.

It is a captivating read, with the writer skillfully weaving the story with core folklore motifs, ensuring the pace is slow enough to build up the sense of foreboding until those final pages. The prose is almost lyrical and I could see how this might not be for everyone. I found it meshed well , used to convey the atmosphere of the book and the heightened emotions experienced by the childhood friends.

My only slight quibble (very slight), is that I found the Bridegroom character lacking in depth. I was counting down the pages until Azure reappeared.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a digital arc to review

This is such a beautifully written book that took my breath away many times as I was reading it. It’s a really difficult read to describe its so reminiscent of the fairytales I used to read as a child but it’s also has so much more than that, a gothic style story full of atmosphere and romance, myths are are here too along with poetic prose and an underlying feeling of menace threatening to destroy the harmony.
I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this book as it out of my comfort zone of thrillers but I really did I was immersed from the start and I’m so glad I read it it’s not a book I will forget easily it painted such wonderful pictures in my mind, many thanks to Roshani Chokshi for such a stunningly beautiful reading experience.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

The only way that I can describe The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is that it is dreamy. The writing is so lyrical and the characters so ethereal, Roshani Chokshi manages to blur the lines between fairy tales and reality and has you questioning what is real and what belongs in the characters' imaginations. This book draws you in with a gradual unravelling of a mystery and the juxtaposition between memories of the past and the present. Without giving anything away, because you really need to read this book to understand it fully, the final twist will leave you reeling but also with the feeling that the hints had been there the whole time - you just had to look a little bit harder to really see them.

This book was not what I was expecting, it was more magical realism than fantasy but I loved it regardless. Right from the start this book is so beautifully written in a whimsical style that fits the book perfectly.

This story is spread through two different timelines, switching between the present (the bridegroom) and the past (Azure) POVs. The two POV’s had a very different feel to them with Azures being very fairy-tale and dreamlike while the bridegroom’s was more gothic and serious. I loved both POVs and I think it was good stylistic choice that balanced the book well. I also loved the way the author interweaved different fairy-tales/mythological stories throughout the book.

I was hooked to this book and really wanted to know how it ended; I didn’t anticipate the ending and it was a little abrupt but it was still a satisfying ending.

I loved this.

It’s gothic, dark, twisty and has faerie magic.

It is beautifully horrific and approaches the ending in a way that takes you by the throat.

It is a slow burn of a read.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is deliciously gothic, weaving fairytales and mythology into a story about childhood obsessions and marital secrets. There’s much less actual magic than I was expecting but the storytelling manages to truly capture a dark fairytale, dreamlike quality.

The confidence of the writing is a real strong point of the book, with vivid imagery and an incredible sense of atmosphere. Some elements of the story could have been better developed, such as the relationship between husband and wife, but I actually felt this added to the mysterious and almost sinister feel of the book.

When reading this story you certainly have to be comfortable with the unknown and willing to become fully immersed in it.