3 stars - Steeped in myths and fairytales - and flowery indeed!

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi sounds incredibly intriguing and like it has all of the ingredients for a riveting read. It's a gothic fantasy full of references to different tales, myths and fairytales and the prose is supposed to be lush and rich. Add to that a gorgeous cover and I was quickly sold.

And the story itself does have a lot of potential: there are two plot lines following Indigo Maxwell-Castenada, but none of them is narrated from her perspective. The present is told by her new husband who remains unnamed and is only referred to as the Bridegroom. And the past is told by Indigo's very close friend Azure and centers around their symbiotic, obsessive relationship. And slowly, slowly both timelines build up to reach the climax of the story with a twist.

As others have noted, it is best to go into the book not knowing much about it and it does not really make sense to summarize the plot as there is not a whole lot of it anyway. This book is carried by its atmosphere of mystery, and dreamy other-worldliness where you can never be sure if there actually is a supernatural component to the world or if it is all imagined, fancies shared by the protagonists. There is a steady buildup of tension, the feeling that something terrible must happen soon and there is a sense of danger emanating from Indigo that is well done.

The weird and floating atmosphere is unfortunately not quite my cup of tea, but what really diminished my joy of reading was the overwrought writing. It was just too flowery, too meandering and wallowing in metaphors. So, at times reading this one was a slog, which I had not expected. However, I can appreciate that the idea was intriguing and the author clearly had a vision of what kind of book she wanted to write. I think she did succeed and I can imagine well that it will appear to many readers even though it did not quite work for me.

I have received an advance review copy via Netgalley and voluntarily provide my honest opinion. Thank you very much!

I absolutely adored this book for so many reasons, but especially the structure, atmosphere and prose. It was written in such a lush way that evokes both feeling and imagery, and I ended up tabbing the hell out of this book just to keep on top of every punchy line.

The atmosphere was so addictively dark and tense. It had this eerie undertone, like even the book was holding its breath, just waiting for something terrible to happen. It actually reminded me of early 2000s movies like The Ring or The Grudge, where there was just this general feeling of wrongness to keep you on your toes.

Then, of course, there’s the dual POV – the bridegroom telling the present and Azure’s view of the past. It was especially interesting because you’d think of Indigo as the main character, and yet, you’re never in her head. Brilliantly done, not to mention the twist that I didn’t see coming.

Finally, the incorporation of fairytale and myth, and the spotlight Chokshi puts on the darker side of these tales and how it relates to Indigo’s story is just brilliant. I loved everything about this book.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride piqued my interest after reading the blurb, but when I then learnt that it was genderbent Bluebeard-inspired, I immediately wanted to read. However, this book just didn’t quite hit for me.

The unsettling atmosphere and this obsession with fairytales and folklore was well done. It’s a beautifully written novel and I enjoyed the flow of the story, but at times the prose felt overdone that it made it difficult fully engage. I also felt disconnected from the characters and the majority of it felt set in the past during teenage years that my overall enjoyment of the novel felt distant rather than this intimate exploration of marriage and a peek into these adult characters’ lives.

Although The Last Tale of the Flower Bride had many intriguing moments, the story and the characters never quite captured my attention.

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me.

Personally for me, this review is really tough for me to write because I have mixed feelings about this book. First of all, for me, this book is dark which means in terms of the atmosphere and the triggers inside the story. When I am reading this, I get this feeling that like most characters in this story cannot separate between reality and fantasy. Adding to the mix is the writing style which for me has a lot of literary prose which adds the fantasy elements to the story. It makes me kind of alarmed when reading some parts of the story. There are also mentions of several folklores here (one of them is Bluebeard which kind of mirrors this story).

At the beginning, the story is told from the bridegroom's POV's which are later told interchangeably with the mysterious Azure’s POV. I can feel the mystery more from the bridegroom’s part and the thriller or suspense more from the Azure’s part, especially nearing the ending of her POVs. Actually, I really like the ending because it is kind of bittersweet? But more to the sweet part, in my opinion. However it is tough to get to the ending because I am overwhelmed with the literary prose which makes it quite hard for me to grasp the story. For me, the story leans more to the blend of general fiction and fantasy with mystery to begin and sort of end the story I think. For me, if you are interested in a fantasy story written in a more literary way with a bit of mystery, the story may suit you.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder and stoughton for the e-Arc in exchange for my honest review and opinions.
This beautifully written Gothic tale both surprised and enchanted me with it dark tale. I was absorbed into this fantasy book with no prior knowledge of the authors work before hand, I wasn't disappointed I enjoyed this dark fantasy and couldn't put it down. Each chapter had me intrigued and lured into the pages of the magnificent gothic and creepy tale.
Different and refreshing I was swept away.
Solid 5 Star read for me ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Here's the thing - I LOVED this book!! I'll try to put in small points what I loved so that I don't go on a huge endless rant :)

☆ The eerie gothic setting. The House of Dreams seems like a place you either long to visit, or a place you wish you'll never have to set your foot inside. Most of the time, it feels like it's both alluring and scary.

☆ The beautiful slowly flowing prose. If you love words and the beauty that comes out of it's careful weaving, you'll love this narration. And I love how fairy tales are incorporated into the narration. It gives you the feeling that this story is a fairy tale too.

☆ Azure and Indigo - characters fleshed out so well they leave a shadow in you. They are two bodies consisting of one soul and you can feel that deep connection when you read.

☆ The ending - The twist at the end of this dark tale was something I probably should have seen coming but I was too engrossed in the text to notice the incoming whiplash. I love how a single sentence presents a sharp answer to the question I've been thinking about the whole story. It's brilliant how a single small detail answered everything.

I absolutely enjoying reading this one! A 4.5/5 star read for me :)

I really enjoyed this book. From the outset the author's style of writing really appealled to me and from the first few pages the narrative dragged me in, and made me want to read more - who is the academic who marries a rich, and decidely unusual American young woman. She calls herself Indigo, I'm not sure we ever do learn his name. What is the young woman's story? Why does she make him promise never to pry into her past? As the book progressed and we come to hear an earlier story (Azure's story) the plot develops further ... until the point where the two stories to intersect, in a way that I have to admit I hadn't expected. I can see why some readers describe this as gothic fiction, there were also I felt some elements of magical realism ... definitely some slightly odd, supernatural undertones. Whilst these were probably my least favourite bit of the book to be honest, the descriptions of the settings of the characters were excellent, I would probably read this again as there was so much detail and I suspect that in my eagerness to find out the story ending I did not always do that detail justice

If you are not a fan of purple prose, then this is not the book for you. I, however, loved the romantic prose, the effortless way that the words created a dreamy vision, an uncertainty in the real and unreal.

The setting was immersive, gothic, and what you would want from any fairytale with its juxtaposition of dark and light.

The characters of Indigo and Azure lead you into a world of hysteria, unrealistic dreams, and childlike innocence. A friendship that a lot of us dream of, but the reality of it is entirely different. The duel storyline intertwined in a way that expanded the plot and left us wanting to know more. There was a sadness I felt, which was built as I moved through the pages, and it left me a little bereft at the end. Bittersweet and yet full of a promise between husband and wife.

When Indigo meets her husband, she insists that he asks no questions about her past, which he agrees to. However when they return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, to visit her dying aunt the house itself begins to reveal secrets that Indigo did not want to share.

A beautifully written, captivating story.

Roshani Chokshi has put together such an exciting plot that is unpredictable and completely absorbing. It is full of vivid descriptions and interspersed with fascinating stories that Indigo and her husband share with each other.

I think what makes this book so brilliant is the characters. The story is told from both past and present narratives, giving the reader a real insight into the characters' histories and motivations. There is a real atmosphere created by the secrets that are being hidden.

I loved following the twists and turns of this book, it kept me hooked until the very end.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to like this book, and I tried, the synopsis really pulled me in and made me want to dive in. However, I always struggle when the author uses abundant flowery words and not enough grit. I find it off-putting that will be no surprise to people who know me.

I think the synopsis overhyped the book and maybe don't have the characters meet because of a particular something and never mention it again.

I don't know what I was expecting but this was fantastic!

Dual POVs from the Bridegroom & Azure (the best friend). Indigo is our main point of focus so we get her married life and her childhood fairy tales with her best friend. Very gothic, mysterious, enchanting, twisty.

Although the writing is beautiful and creates a strong sense of imagery, I found that the plot lost out as a result. I'm afraid that I couldn't finish it. I can imagine that other people would love this as there is that otherwordly, ethereal and gothic vibe which appeals to lots of readers. I just don't think this book was for me.

I enjoyed this book for the most part, but do not go into it without reading the trigger warnings. This is not a book to go into with preparing yourself for what you have to face.

As usual, I loved the fairy tale aspect of the book. I loved the Azure chapters and I loved the constant metaphors that the main character made between the mythology and fairy tales he knew and the events of the stories. It was perfect. It led to a general vibe of the mysterious and fantastical.

However this vibe was not always there and when it wasn't, the book kind of fell flat. Before the Azure chapters started, I was honestly a bit bored. I hadn't warmed to the story yet and I was impatient for the story to start. I also found it went away at the end when the characters had to return to reality as it were.

It was only really the first half an hour of reading and the last half an hour though, other than that the book was fantastic.

This was a sumptuous and gothic novel with layers upon layers of beautiful writing. It was very dark in places and the story wraps itself around the reader so you feel that you can't escape.
It was a perfect atmospheric winter read and I will definitely be picking up more of this author's work in the future.

A story that fascinated me and made me think of some mythical women, usually a fae, that asked their lover never to ask about their past.
That said this is not a new story but it's a story retold according to our time, and it's a good story.
Roshani Chokshi is an excellent storyteller and can write, she tells this story and slowly reveals secrets and make her characters evolve.
I liked the characters and liked the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

‘In fairy tales, a kiss marks a threshold - between the state of being cursed or cured lies a kiss. But not all kisses cure; some kill.’

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride follows enigmatic heiress Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada through the eyes of those who love her most - her bridegroom and her childhood friend, Azure.

Indigo believes in fairy tales, so much so that to her husband believes she’s one herself. He sees her as something otherworldly, divine, and as a scholar of mythology he is drawn to her from the beginning. They both love exchanging stories and believe in worlds outside their own reality, but Indigo makes him promise that in exchange for their HEA he must never pry into her shadowy past.

When Indigo gets news that her estranged aunt is dying she is forced to return to her childhood home, The House of Dreams. The sentient house whispers of his wife’s secrets, and here the bridegroom learns of Azure, Indigo’s childhood best friend who disappeared without a trace. However, as the house continues to lure him into investigating the past, it is not only the bridegroom’s marriage that will be threatened…

Synopsis:

I inhaled this book. The prose is gorgeously written, I loved the dual POV, the magical realism and the book’s gothic atmosphere and I’ll now be reading all of Roshani Chokshi’s other books!

This book also gets bonus points for referencing the Welsh myth of Lleu and Blodeuwedd in the story and title. Indigo is as ethereal and mysterious as Blodeuedd, a woman shaped by those around her and touched by magic, and I couldn’t put this book down because of it.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is out now. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-arc.

I had high expectations for the Last Tale of the Flower Bride. I was attracted to the gothic and mysterious setting with a romance plot existing in the background.
Unfortunately, it did not exceed my expectations. At first, the story of the scholar Bridegroom searching for an old grimoire intrigued me. I was interested in seeing how it would progress. But it didn't. A tale was told of a relationship, then marriage which was especially manipulative and toxic.
I enjoyed the dual P.O.V, but to be honest I was bored. It took me forever to finish the book because I really didn't feel motivated to finish the story as I didn't really understand it. There was no key ploy to maintain momentum and it just fell flat.
The author can write, that's for certain. The setting provided a beautiful backdrop but the plot and characters didn't provide much to this.

“You never forget the moment when beauty turns to horror”

My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Last Tale of the Flower Bride’ by Roshani Chokshi.

This proved a lyrical fairytale romance with Gothic overtones. As with most novels I avoided too much prior information about its plot and at first thought it was going to be a straightforward fantasy or even about vampires given language and initial descriptions of its characters. Yet while myths and fairytales are important to the story, it is a more grounded tale that demonstrates the power of myths and how they can effect lives and relationships.

The Bridegroom is a scholar of myths, a man who believes in fairytales. He meets and marries a beautiful, mysterious heiress named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. They settle down believing that they will live happily ever after. However, Indigo had extracted a promise from her bridegroom that he would never pry into her past. Well, you can’t get more of a fairytale promise than that!

The Bridegroom is especially drawn to the myth of Melusine, who had extracted a similar promise from her husband, who broke her trust and lost her. One sees similar stories throughout world mythology including the myth of Eros and Psyche

When Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying, the couple returns to her childhood home, the House of Dreams. It’s not long until the bridegroom finds himself unable to resist looking into Indigo’s past, especially when he learns of Azure, Indigo's dearest childhood friend, who had disappeared many years ago without a trace.

The narrative moves between the present as the bridegroom slowly uncovers his wife's secrets and the past charting the relationship between Indigo and Azure. The girls are obsessed with faeries, seeking ways to attract their attention hoping to be taken into the Otherworld. Indigo believes herself to be a faerie child stranded in the human world. It is all quite dreamlike and completely understandable. If this was a film one would expect it all to be soft focus shots as the girls dance in floaty dresses in the woods and do rituals to attract the Fae. Naturally the situation turns darker as they mature.

Roshani Chokshi’s writing is beautiful though is loaded with the purplest prose. Having access to the audiobook edition did mitigate this some as spoken aloud its flowery nature fitted the novel’s Gothic and Faerie themes.

Given the novel’s title I was delighted that the Bridegroom mentioned the Welsh story of the bride magically created from flowers, Blodeuedd, or ‘Flower-Faced’. That tale ended in tears.

Overall, a novel full of wonder that I enjoyed and found satisfying, finishing in a single day.

Chokshi is a very hit and miss author for me. It took me two/ three tries to read her The Gilded Wolves series and while I read this book fairly quickly, the purple prose in this book took me out of the story a lot of times.

I feel the complex and the toxic nature of relationships between the characters was explored quite well in the story but at the same time, it never felt that I knew the characters at all. A lot of it has a fairy tale vibe and at times it felt like I was reading a magical realism story rather than a gothic mystery. This was not what I expected going in the story and was therefore disappointed. Plus, the mystery was really easy to interpret and the atmospheric and fairy tale aspects didn't keep me engaged in the story for long.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Drawing from several myths and Grimms fairy tales, this book is a concoction of the imaginary.

I haven’t read a Fantasy in a matter of few hours as this book. It gets a star just for keeping me committed to the story which many books failed to do this month.

The book opens with our mc, referred as Bridegroom, waiting to meet the famous hotelier Indigo. She has a grimoire that he has been searching for a while and the woman he meets is an enigma.

He and Indigo hit it off with their shared love for myths and folklores. They fall in love and end up getting married. But even after staying married for 3 years he doesn’t know much about Indigo’s past, not for lack of trying but he was strictly warned not to pry into her past. This the main plot is about digging her past and thereby giving us a peek at her friendship with Azure.

The story flips between the Bridegroom’s (mildly) cautious accounts of his wife and Azure’s (Indigo’s friend) povs but nowhere in the story do we get the story through Indigo’s lens.

Azure and Indigo were like soulmates. She was Indigo’s shadow. What kept her by Indigo’s side was their shared idea of the otherworld and the belief that someday they would be welcomed by fairy folk. Both these girls were inseparable and wanted to live the fantasy.

I must admit the plot felt a little clumsy in the middle, leaving me with more questions. The line between what was real and not was indistinct. You cannot tell for certain if what a character saw was real or whether it was the trick of their minds. But the ambiguity between reality and imaginary added layers to the plot making it come across as a twisted fairy tale.

The house in this book was every bit alive and a prominent character but it didn’t serve a bigger purpose to the plot like it did in Mexican Gothic. Rest assured there’s no weird mushrooms or incest in this book, so you can go into it without any worries.

Looking at this book with a logical hat would be useless. Instead I’d ask you suspend your disbelief and dive into it just for the wild ride it has to offer.

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Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the free DRC!