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.

This was not one of the books that I usually read but after finishing it I didn't regret that I picked it. Fantasy and mystery. The story about two girls who can't imagine life without each other think that they share one soul but really the relationship is more complicated because everyone is different.

I really enjoyed The Last Tale of the Flower Bride.

It was really beautifully written and was a great atmospheric gothic read!
I highly recommend it!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

A haunting, atmospheric gothic novel that alternates between the present, with the Bridegroom's obsessive love for Indigo, and the past, detailing the toxic, all-absorbing childhood friendship between Indigo and Azure. I enjoyed the past storyline more than the present, although the emphasis on dark fairy tales in the present storyline added atmosphere.

it kinda blows my mind how a book about an unhinged, toxic, obsessive girlhood friendship with sapphic undertones is being sold as a 'darkly romantic' story about a troubled marriage instead. trust me when i say the blurb is so misleading - there's barely any romance here and the marriage with all its secrets is the least interesting part of this book.

i think if the marketing was more accurate and i went in with the right expectations, i would've appreciated the book more. because there's a lot to like here - the writing is incredibly atmospheric with lovingly rendered gothic and dark fairytale vibes. i enjoyed the coming-of-age childhood friendship flashbacks in which the two girls play games that blur the lines between fantasy and reality, it often reminded me of bridge to terabithia. their dangerously codependent relationship and collective spiral into delusion was a fascinating train wreck to witness.

however, while the writing style is beautiful at times, it's equally annoying and hilariously melodramatic at times. i'd be highlighting lines in one chapter and rolling my eyes in another. also, the husband's chapters were so frustrating - his constant musings on fairytales got old after a time and his marriage with indigo didn't make me feel anything. honestly, his character exists just to drive the plot forward which means he doesn't have much of a personality - and since the plot builds up to an extremely predictable plot twist, his chapters weren't that exciting to read. i wish this book was just about the girls instead (although i admit their characters could've had more depth).

despite my complaints though, i'd still recommend this book for what it gets right: the gothic fairytale atmosphere and the dark, bittersweet coming-of-age tale.

4.5*

The strongest point of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is the writing style. Having read The Gilded Wolves I knew to expect absolutely amazing setting descriptions, and I was still surprised by just how good it is. Everything is very lavish and extravagant, and it adds so much to the dreamlike mystery of the story. I also really enjoyed the way the story is told, because although this book is very much about our favorite Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada, it's told through the eyes of her husband, slowly uncovering the secrets of her past, and her childhood best friend Azure, whom she grew up with. You only ever get to see Indigo from the perspective of other people, getting to know here through how she acts while having no idea what she is thinking, and it's so fascinating.

The plot is incredibly immersive. I was utterly obsessed from the very first chapter, just swept along by the strange and dreamy atmosphere although I had no clue where the story was going. There are gothic horror vibes, for sure, there are lavish settings and fairy tale references but is decidedly uncomfortable at times, and towards the second half of the book, unexpectedly tragic. It's definitely not fantasy, but it's so peculiar that you can't really call it literary fiction either. Unlike what I expected from the blurb, it's also not a romance; the marriage merely works as the catalyst that uncovers Indigo's strange childhood.

My main complaint is that I found the ending to be a bit anticlimactic. There was no increase in mystery, and instead just kind of ended. If the rest of the plot was carrying me along like a lazy river, the ending was me being undramatically dropped off on the shore. In hindsight, though, this book feels a bit like something I've dreamt in the past, and I've definitely found myself thinking about it, so I will give it that, at least. Also I don't like the names of the characters. Indigo I can accept, but when everyone else also had similarly strange names, it made the book feel eeever so slightly pretentious and like it was taking itself too seriously. Maybe that's a me problem, though.

Overall, this is a really interesting read, super dreamlike and weird and strange. It reminded me a lot of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, both in terms of plot and vibes. If you like gothic horror and atmospheric writing, this is definitely a book for you!

Indigo has a secret, and she warns her husband not to pry. I will say no more about the plot. This beautifully written novel uses vivid imagery and is illustrated with fairytales. It is well worth reading and I do recommend it. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me a copy of the book.

I was hoping it would work for me since it is not YA as her other books didn't work for me. Alas, it didn't work for me either. Her books try to hard to feel intimate and honest but eventually lose that touch with excessive metaphor and not so very clever usage of words. Maybe she and I are not meant to be buddies. Adieu.

First thank you to netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an earc of this book. I was really looking forward to reading this book after reading the blurb, a bit of gothic, mystery and intrigue, perfect for this time of year. Unfortunately for me the blurb was the best bit. I will say the book was written beautifully, very lyrical and fanciful and full of flowery detail. However, the plot fell way short for me. I found that it dragged and I just go to the point I just wanted it to end.

First of all I want to thank the Publisher for sending me the ARC copy of this book.

The last tale of the flower bride is a very interesting novel where dreams and reality get mixed up. A man who believes in legends, fairy tales and myths meets a strange and mysterious woman: Indigo Castenada.
At the beginning he wants only to read a certain grimoire possessed by her, but the the get married.
He is totally in love with his wife even though she had tolse him not to be curious about her past.
After three years, her aunt Tati calls Indigo home, to Domus Somnia. A house he has only seen in paintings.
Domus Somnia, the House of Dreams is what its name suggests. There their wedding is at stake.
What will happen? Who is Azure?
The man starts to unravel the questions about his wife’s past and his open.

The narration is perfect. It seems to be in a fable with fairies and elves. The style of the author is intriguing and fascinating, I loved reading this novel and I couldn’t stop turning pages until the end.

What about the end! Such a plot twist, I had never ever imagined that conclusion.

I really enjoyed reading this book which I suggest to everyone that likes fables and dream atmospheres.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
A hauntingly beautiful tale, full of half-truths and hidden reality. I loved every page of the book. The author really has a way with words. The story grabs you tight and doesn't let you go. Hold your breath cause you're going to immerse in the story. And with some luck, you'll make it out alive.

This was the perfect October read. A haunting fairytale draped in beautiful prose. I really have no idea to describe the experience I had while reading this book… first let me say I think this is a masterpiece, and I loved so many elements! And also I hate thrillers and horror and this one felt a bit like both and it honestly terrified me to bits. Why did I read it? Well, I love Roshani’s writing style and all her books are amazing, including this one even if I wanted to bury my ereader under a heap of clothes to prevent nightmares (spoiler alert: that didn’t work).

Okay I guess this review is just gonna be one big mess. I loved it, I hated it, but mostly I loved it. The myths and legends woven into this story are amazing, and my absolute favorite. The love story began epic, basically a fairytale, though which one is the question ;). This entire story feels like a fairytale to be true, the writing makes sure of that, but also the slightly surreal setting. You feel something is off, but can’t quite put your finger on it. Roshani keeps you questioning about what is real and if it is what actually happened. The story between the two girls is hauntingly beautiful and just a bit horrifying yet so much like teenagers, and the switch in POV between then and now is perfect and never gets dull, I also never had a favorite POV which is always a good sign, that means it’s balanced.

The plot twist was amazing! You can kinda feel it coming, and you grasp at the edges but when it’s there it hits you in the face. And the ending is perfect. Honestly, if you’re even a little bit into thriller/horror you need to read this! For me, as a very sensitive autist, it was simply way too scary and I needed to get out of the story every few pages because I couldn’t handle it, which made this a very hard read for me, hence the four stars instead of 5. So, bear in mind I’m very much not the average person and don’t let my easily spooked self deter from reading the most beautiful sentences you’ll ever read in a haunting stories about… well, stories.

I received a free e-arc through Netgalley but it hasn’t influenced my opinions.

I got a free copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

It's not often that I give 5 stars, but this book deserves it.

I haven't read anything from this author before.
The prologue is good. And I really like the writing style. The prose is so captivating.
The book is gothic and mysterious, it kept me on my toes, pulling me in.
I couldn't stop reading this book.

We have two POV's. The Bridegroom as the present and Azure as the past.
Normally, I hate switiching between past and present POV, but for this book I actually enjoyed it.
It didn't put me off, annoy me, or confuse me when we changed POV.

I have no cons at all for this book. I liked this book tremendously, and I will definitely get a physical copy of this book when it releases. This book was just so good, I don't have anything else to say, other than read this book, you won't regret it!

It has a touch of horror, and fairy tales that will make you wonder if Indigo is real or just a figment of the bridegroom's imagination, with lyrical and engrossing writing at the start that will entice you to read more. It's dark, lustful, and even creepy in some chapters, making you uneasy.

It alternates between the present and the past and is told from the perspective of the bridegroom. Although I enjoyed the writing, I found the plot to be tedious, and none of the characters piqued my interest. The plot twist at the end, on the other hand, completely surprised me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! 💕

Fairy tales aren't true but happily ever afters seems delivered to those who circle around Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. Her wealth guarantees her status and she shares every part of her gilded world with those she loves. The only rule is never to ask questions and to remove yourself from the reality that exists beyond Indigo's glittering person. She will become the sun you orbit around and blind you from envisioning anything other than her figure as your future.

Such exquisite prose featured on every single one of these pages that I could give this nothing less than five stars, despite this being quite different to the story that I had anticipated reading. It was far more abstract in design, with truth, lies, fantasy, and reality all mingling as one with the reader left as the one to untangle them all. In this way, the murky beauty that adorns the front cover is the perfect depiction of what also lays inside its pages.

The chronology was split between past and present, with two narrators, and both built up Indigo's character, her history, and her desires. Even at the book's close I never felt I learned enough about her person, nor about those who were garnered access to it. And for all the beauty, ugliness, happiness, and tragedy that lay within these pages, I also can't properly describe all that occurred between them all either.

3.5/5 stars
Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the e-arc of this book. This was my first book by Roshani Chokshi. The writing style was gorgeous and the storytelling was done so well .It was thrilling and had me guessing until the very end.I liked the gothic fairytale theme of the story. Even though i do felt that story was very slow paced in the beginning i overall enjoyed reading this book

4⭐️

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. The writing was gorgeous and the story was interesting, but it felt quite slow at times even though the story had a rhythm to it that was easy to sink into.

I did guess the plot twist pretty early on, but I still felt like it was a good reveal. This was gothic and magical and I feel like it would make a really great movie because it was so visual.

The thing that confused me was that I wasn’t sure if the magic in the book was real, and maybe that’s intentional, I’m not sure.

The writing was very lyrical but not too bogged down and all in all, I think I enjoyed this a lot.

This wonderfully twisty novel is draped in gothic elements with a fanstastical fairy tale narrative. Dark and unsettling and with a superb ending, I loved this book!

The novel begins with a husband contemplating the secretive past of his mysterious and beautiful new wife Indigo, and as we learn more about them as a couple, we also jump back frequently to Indigo’s teenage years as seen through the eyes of her best friend Azure. Inseparable and more like sisters, they shunned the world and built their own fantasy games and lifestyle amongst the lavish house and grounds Indigo had inherited. But just as darkness underpins fairy tales, obsessions and desires creep round the edges of The House of Dreams, and secrets emerge like whispers from another place.

This is definitely an adult book & includes mature themes including abuse, control and injury.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is an interesting read, it’s a dark, poetic, classically romantic gothic read, and while I say it’s romantic, it’s not a love story in a sense, it’s a love story to fairytales, to childhood fancy, to wanting to belong. The book follows 2 plotlines, the present with ‘Bridegroom’ who meets Indigo Maxwell Castenada and becomes seduced by her mystery, soon marries her but with the explicit instruction from her that if he looks into her past, if he delves, he will lose it all. For a while he is content living this mystery and missing that part of his wife, until Indigo receives the call that her Aunt is close to death and they must visit her childhood home, The House of Dreams. While there, Indigo’s husband is tempted by Indigo’s secret, her childhood friend Azure, known to have gone missing, who she forbids to talk about, but he cannot resist not knowing. The 2nd plotline follows Indigo’s childhood with Azure, a childhood of 2 girls who form a sisterhood only needing each other, who believe in a fairy underworld and do everything together to ensure they can live there one day together, however their sisterhood strains as Indigo becomes more persistent and possessive of this dream and Azure finds a belonging elsewhere. But what happens to Azure? What happened to Indigo to make her so secretive?

The true heart of this book is the writing, it’s just delicious, it’s like red wine, dark chocolate, it’s just sxy, Indigo in particular is just incredible and while she’s potentially deadly and dangerous and you don’t really know much about her, whenever she is on the page, you’re in for a wild ride. Chokshi intertwines the story with fairytales, ancient stories and characters that the characters on the page start to shadow. It’s very clever writing, it gives off a powerful but unstable vibe, which is actually very reminiscent of the characters themselves. The Bridegroom isn’t a character I necessarily connected nor cared about, although seeing as he has back story but is never given a name, he really is more of a plot device and I’m sorry but as terrible as she was at times to everyone in this book, I couldn’t help but root for Indigo.

The house itself is also an interesting character, the building being almost alive, you get to know how it feels and how it reacts to the characters who play out their story inside it, likewise the fairy underworld written enough to be intriguing but not overwritten to be fantastical, this book really is just the right about of dark fantasy you want to curl up and get lost in.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. I would really recommend reading this and what an introduction to Chokshi’s writing!

No history is created by people keeping their oaths. Stories are only created when vows are broken....
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The Last Tale Of The Flower Bride was my first book by Roshani Chokshi and it will not be the last.
The blurb talks mainly about a marriage with secrets. But there is also a toxic relationship that takes up a big part of the story, fairytales and a lot of gothic vibes.
I liked the plot, even if it was a bit predictable towards the end. But mostly I was there for the atmosphere. Chokshi created an incredibly great little world and described it so vividly, I could picture everything. I am very happy that I could read it already, because it fits perfectly to autumn with its unsettling atmosphere.
Even though the writing style was poetic and descriptive, it never read dense.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for the eArc of The Last Tale Of The Flower Bride.