Sadly this book is between 2-3***.

This had absolutely stunning writing- the descriptions were enchanting and I loved all the nods to mythology and the weaving of different folk tales and fairy tales from different parts of the world.

Sadly the beautiful writing was not enough to save this book. This was an incredibly slow moving book and as a reader, I felt completely detached from the characters, meaning that I never gained an interest to find out more- even when everything was revealed.

I found the relationship between the main m/f was established too quickly- I would’ve liked to know more of the progression of this- despite this not being the main plot of the book.

I would say this book has a MASSIVE warning for TOXICITY- which for me, made it a really uncomfortable read, which probably added to my displeasure of reading it.

A beautifully lyrical and atmospheric gothic fairytale full of magic and secrets. This book is deeply imbued with folklore and the way it has shaped the world we live in, Perhaps a little predictable to voracious fantasy readers, but still poetic, immersive and enchanting in a way that kept me turning the pages right to the end.

Dark Gothic…
Dark Gothic tale of friendship, love, relationships, toxicity, deep secrets and he choices we make - conveyed in dream like fashion across a dual timeline. Almost a fairy tale telling in beautifully descriptive and often haunting language but almost always destined to end in utter, devastating tragedy.

Indigo Maxwell-Castenada is like something out of a fairytale. She wraps herself in stories and myths and legends and decorates them with riches and mystery. When a historian who specializes in the myths and fairytales Indigo covets catches her interest, a whirlwind romance ensues. Soon after, a long-term relationship with a single catch: he must never ask Indigo about her past or risk losing her forever. Years later, when Indigo's aunt lay in her death bed, that promise proves hard to keep. As questions pile up and inconsistencies rise, their relationship is put to the test and Indigo's worst fear draws near: the truth.

Fairytales and myths play a huge role in this book, evident in not only the storyline but also the prose and timing. The writing was both atmospheric and, in a way, ethereal. It had the same beauty as the prose in Circe while having the same addicting quality of House of Hollow. It also managed to work two timelines both without losing this quality and without a decline in clarity.

The plot was engaging and while I wasn't expecting a mystery/thriller at first, the transition felt natural and unforced. The characters very extremely well written, and while every single one was either morally grey or just downright evil (except maybe the Bridegroom...) I still found myself rooting for most of them. They were multidimensional and interesting.

I don't know how else to convince you to read this, but I loved it a lot and if you enjoyed A Lesson In Vengeance or House of Hollow, you will love this. This was my first read by this author, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Chokshi's work!

After reading the Gilded Wolves Trilogy by Roshani Chokshi, I was excited to read her new adult book.

First of all, I am again deeply in love with the author’s writing style. It is really poetic and draws you right into the story. Also, the author always finds the right words to describe emotions and feelings in a very metaphorical way. Because of this, the story had a very intriguing atmosphere. It was mysterious and a at times a bit unsettling, but most of all, it made me read the book in one sitting.

Concerning the story, I think it is best to just dive into it without much knowledge. The story evolves really nicely and I think the pacing was just perfect. Moreover, there are some plot twists that will make you even more invested in the story.

What I liked most was definitely the potrayal of the characters. I personally wasn’t sure who I could trust, who was crazy and who was telling the truth. Because of this, I always had a chilling feeling while reading which made me enjoy the story even more.

I also liked the ending, however, it didn’t really surprise me that much. I wished I would have been a bit more shocked but I guess this is just a personal thing. Maybe the big plottwist in the end will surprise other people more than me.

In conclusion: Eventhough the ending couldn’t shock me, I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the dark and mysterious atmosphere and I also liked the many flawed and complex characters. Additionally, the writing style fits the story perefctly and it reads like a twisted, gothic fairytale come to reality. So, I can totally recommend this book and give it 4,5/5 stars.

Thankyou Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for a free e-arc in exchange for a honest review

This book had me hooked from the first page. The way it is written is very lyrical and descriptive. I could visualise everything perfectly and the vibes for autumn was on point. I felt every emotion and couldn't put it down. It is a fairy tale for adults and was done perfectly!

This one was such a pleasant surprise! It was my first book by the author and must say it had me hooked right from the start. Excellent pace, right narrative and fab plot - if you aren't reading, you're missing out something great!

This is a fairy story but it’s not for children. This is for adults. The characters and the story are complex and like all good fairy stories, they live in a strange world of their own making and their tale is compelling.
It goes from character to character in each chapter; revealing a bit more of its secrets as we go. You need to concentrate so you don’t lose the thread and there’s here’s a twist at the end.
Do they live happily ever after? You’ll have to read it to find out.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a brilliant book, full of magic, beautifully written and dreamily poetic. It draws you in immediately, keeps you guessing all the way, is incredibly intriguing and wonderfully smooth. I absolutely loved the mysticism throughout and greatly appreciate all the fairy tale references.

Fairy tales however are often also unsettling and the same goes for this book. Particularly the friendship between Indigo and Azure was both magical and uncomfortable, which really demonstrates the complexities of female friendship. It felt like a dance with fire, with a looming threat of something terrible.

This book is as heartbreaking as it is exquisite, nothing is what it seems and the ending was entirely unpredictable, leaving you feeling as though the spell is finally lifted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“In the end, a fairy tale is nothing more than a sense of hope. Hope lures and tricks. It tempts with shining thrones, exquisite nectars, and loving arms. It whispers to us that we are extraordinary. Exempt. Thus lured, we follow its path.”

4.5 stars from me for The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi! This adult debut, very much in the vein of Isabel Allende’s works, was truly stunning. The proof is in the proverbial pudding, which in this case is Chokshi’s mesmerizing writing. This is a book that transports you to an Otherworld that’s rich in both beauty and horror, a true modern gothic fairy tale. It also vaguely reminds me of The Others (2001) which is a real win in my book.

Without going into too much detail, the novel chronicles the discoveries of the Bridegroom concerning his enigmatic wife, Indigo, and the question of her missing childhood friend, Azure. The book is set in the old, isolated, and sentient childhood mansion known as the House of Dreams where Indigo grew up. It’s moreover about the secrets the Bridegroom and Indigo are both hiding from each other, the poison of secrecy and mistrust in relationships, and the perilous journey that is crossing over into the land of “magic” from our real, banal world. A must-read for anyone who adores magical realism, horror, and atmospheric writing. Chokshi’s metaphors and similes and her use of imagery genuinely had my jaw-dropping.

I took off half a star from my rating for this book because The Last Tale of the Flower Bride leans toward that “all vibes, no plot” genre of books which made it sometimes difficult for me to enjoy it to its fullest. But, that may be just a ME thing. I’d absolutely recommend this book to anyone who’s looking to get swept away in a luscious, dark fantasy novel by a talented writer.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a dark, gothic tale with elements of mystery. I didn't particularly like any of the characters and found it quite a difficult book to get into, although it is beautifully written. Definitely a book that I have mixed feelings about!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the early access!

This was one of those fun, quick reads that will get you out of a slump, or just keep you company on a rainy afternoon.

You won't put this book down: it's intriguing, confusing (in a good way), and amazing.

I loved the atmosphere. All those dark, Gothic, dark academia vibes. I also loved how this was write. I think Roshan Chokshi has really a way to convey emotions and things. The story was original, well written and intriguing. Indigo was a cool main character with many depth. I liked this one.

I just love reading purely escapist novels in winter and "The Last Tale of the Flower Bride" by Roshani Chokshi did not disappoint. I just loved the friendship of Indigo and Azure and the magical house they frequented when they were younger, juxtaposed with the visit of Indigo and her husband when her aunt is dying. Brilliant, just brilliant.

I have so many thoughts and feelings on this I don't even know where to start. Usually when I question 'What did I just read?' it's not for good reasons. This time, I'm so unsure of what was real and not in after closing the pages on this story.

"Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. " This doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of everything happening.

Their marriage, we see from the POV of the scholarly man named only as the Bridegroom, is riddled with its own mysteries. Games of being this and that from different stories, nightmares from the Bridegroom's childhood that he can't remember. It isn't really until we meet the House of Dreams and delve into the entity that is/was Indigo and Azure that we find more mysteries than answers.

Moving between Azure and the Bridegroom's views, we get a full picture: a deeply dysfunctional, obsessive and toxic co-dependent relationship. As we know Indigo marries a man who believes in fairytales, it comes as little surprise that the relationship between Indigo and Azure is also rooted in a different world.

Indigo says they are one soul, split in half and by the end you cannot help but wonder if they really were.

There's suspense, unsettling moments, betrayal, the struggle of growing vs staying where are, and a startling series of dramatic moments for a book just over 300 pages.

In short, I read through it as fast as I did because I couldn't put it down.

A poetic and moving tale of secrets, marriage and obsession.

Wealthy heiress Inigo marries a scholar, he having been seduced by her mystery. All she asks of him is that he not ask about or investigate her past. To do so, would mean losing her. When Inigo learns that her aunt is close to death, they travel to her childhood home, The House of Dreams, where inevitably, he succumbs to curiosity and seeks to uncover her past. When he learns that Inigo's childhood friend Azure has gone missing, he soon finds himself immersed in a dark story.

"The Last Tale of the Flower Bride" is a true Gothic tale. As seems the norm nowadays, it's told in two timeframes - the present with Bridegroom who meets and marries Indigo, and the past, during Indigo’s childhood with Azure. We learn about her husband's almost obsessive love for her, and the toxic, claustrophobic friendship with Azure. Their shared love of fairy tales makes for a dark backcloth to the events which transpire. The house itself is a character drawn large and adds a lot to the general atmosphere.

Despite the publisher's blurb, this book is less about marriage and more about obsession, control and desire. Inevitably it will be compared to, among others, Mexican Gothic with its the fairy tale themes. For me, the narrative didn't move forward as I'd expected, and although there is some tying up of loose ends, the ending, complete with twist, does leave things slightly open. It's a beautifully written book with lyrical prose and fine detail, although I found the language dense in places.

I'm sure the book will appeal to fans of Silvia Moreno-Garcia and Jessie Burton, so I'd encourage fans to read the book and decide for themselves.

This novel is quite short with just 300 pages, but I had such a hard time getting into it. Although in general the pretty prose is alright for me, it feels too abstract to engage me and it also doesn't work or me in a first person perspective. Additionaly neither the pacing nor the structure work for me and I therefore didn't enjoy the story.

"Chokshi's tale is as sweet as a piece of fairy fruit, and just as wicked. Every bite is velvet, every swallow is gold, and the taste lingers like a fever dream." — V. E. Schwab,
This is perfection in describing Roshani’s writing in this book.

This is a gothic, horrifying fairytale about a marriage underpinned by deep, dark secrets, a past, cursed friendship shrouded in curses, warnings and mystery, and the alluring danger of believing in fairy tales. And happy ever afters.

"I've been trying to find a way to live in this world. Barring that, I was looking for a way to leave it."

The magic was this: the supple sorcery of Indigo's words, such that your own hand became a blade you eagerly welcomed.


I picked this up after falling in love with her characters in the Gilded Wolves, and whilst the atmosphere and mood was so different, the addiction I felt whilst reading this was the same.
Roshani’s writing was alluring, enticing and exceedingly horrifying, creepy and eerie.
This book was nail-biting epitomised.

And OH MY WORD THE ENDING! Please read this so you can be as freaked out as me!

I would recommend this to fans of House of Hollow or House of Salt and Sorrows.

I'm going to prelude this by saying that I read for enjoyment. I don't necessarily read for my reading ability to be test (though I enjoy my views and perceptions being challenged). So I will generally read books that are "easy" to read for me - language that I understand without subtext or second meanings.

However, after reading The Last Tale of the Flower Bride, I think I'm missing out.

This story was DRIPPING in poetry. It is the most hauntingly beautiful tale I have ever read. I just -. I can't shift it.

"In the end, a fairy tale is nothing more than a sense of hope."

I feel like anything I say may well lead to spoilers and I can hand on heart say - I'd never want to spoil any aspect of this book for anyone.

All I'll say is that this is a gothic fairytale in every sense of the word - one I could well see Del Toro producing - and I think this could become one of the few books I would re-read.

I loved every single part.

The Last Tale of The Flower Bride is a sleek gothic novel that perfectly manages to walk the line between unsettling and whimsical. I particularly enjoyed alternating between the past and the present and seeing how they wove together, and was hooked by this story from start to finish. Chokshi herself describes it as a ‘crooked fairytale wearing the skin of a thriller’ and this couldn’t be more accurate. Fans of either of these genres will eat this up.

However, I feel as though the marketing and blurb is slightly misleading. The book is less focused on the marriage aspect and much more on the coming-of-age narrative explored in the flashbacks. I also felt unsatisfied with some unanswered questions which I do understand is on purpose - yet another secret weaved into this book bursting with them - but it left me feeling frustrated.

Despite this, I thought the final climax of the book was brilliantly done, and throughout Chokshi’s writing remains as haunting as always. I think a lot of people are going to fall in love with this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton, and Roshani Chokshi for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.