This was an interesting book, it took multiple turns I wasnt expecting. I would say it would be good spooky tale. Would recommend to a certain person who likes a character driven ghost story.

A fabulous retelling of a classic fairytale, yet Roshani Chokshi uses her lyrical and poetic writing to weave together dark and sinister characters with deep smoky layers with a sparkle of champagne. I adored the unexpected twists and turns this story had, which kept my toes curling as I read. So few books surprise me these days, and although it's a retelling it is completely unique and surprising in its own right. I always look forward to the work this author publishes and "The Last Take of the Flower Bride" is no exception.

So many twists and turns I was not expecting! The tale takes us back in time, to the present, and from the point of view of the bride and her husband. In the midst of it all, there is a secret the bride has been keeping from her husband. All in all, a beautiful book.

This gothic tale was full of fairytale lore and haunting secrets. It features mysterious characters, a sentient house, and beautiful writing. Perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic and The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue. I really enjoyed this one.

In Roshani Chokshi's enchanting gothic fairy tale, a humble scholar known as "the bridegroom" falls deeply in love with the enigmatic heiress, Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. Their whirlwind romance, fueled by a shared passion for stories, takes a mysterious turn when Indigo insists on keeping her past hidden, making the bridegroom swear never to uncover her secrets. However, when a family crisis draws them back to Indigo's childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom finds himself entangled in a web of mysteries surrounding Indigo's upbringing, particularly her estranged friend, Azure.

As the bridegroom delves deeper into Indigo's past, he realizes the perilous consequences of breaking his promise, risking not only his own safety but also uncovering truths that could shatter their love. Through poetic imagery and themes of freedom and sacrifice, Chokshi weaves a spellbinding narrative that blurs the lines between reality and magic. The parallels between mortal desires and the allure of privilege, as well as the bonds of friendship and betrayal, heighten the tension to a breathtaking climax. Ultimately, "The House of Dreams" is a captivating exploration of love, sacrifice, and the timeless struggle between human desires and otherworldly forces.

A goth-ish story that unfolds from two perspectives told during two different eras.

Very baroque writing, to the point that I wasn't sure what world we were meant to be in. I went in with the impression that this was intended for an adult audience, but it reads as YA.

With a plot that is both adult and nostalgic, Chokshi departs from her earlier young adult work. Indigo and her best friend inhabited a world of fairies and imagination as children. As an adult, Indigo must confront those childhood ramblings and deal with the consequences. Dark and luscious, this story is a page turner.

I forgot to leave a review for this, but I really enjoyed it! It's been out for ages, so I won't say much more than I need to for my star rating. <3

The Last Tale of the Flower bride is full of delicious imagery and beautiful words, strung together eloquently, allowing the reader to envision the worlds of Indigo and Azure and the Bridegroom. While I enjoyed the journey the author takes us on immensely, the plot itself was a bit predictable to me. The Fairy Tale references reminded me of a course in college I once took, entertaining but overdone for my taste.

Thank you to William Morrow for this advanced readers copy. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I don't have a ton of experience with gothic literature but I've read a few of Chokshi's other books. I've really enjoyed her way of weaving a detailed fantasy story in the past and this feels very similar to the way i feel about her other titles. I really enjoyed the journey and get sucked into the story telling. Her books might not be for everyone, but I like them and continue to recommend them.

I didnt realize I forgot to post my review here, but this was one of the best books I read in 2022. Roshani Chokshi’s writing just keeps getting better and more haunting with every book.

Absolutely loved this. Haunting and gothic, full of mystery and unease and just a dash of the near supernatural. This is a great title to curl up by a fireplace on a winter evening and lose yourself in.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This author is. a writer. Not everyone published is these days but Roshani Chokshi writes beautiful atmospheric tales that linger in my mind for many weeks after completing the story.

Roshani Chokshi had a way to tell story that is just enchanting. The prose in The Last Tale of the Flower Bride was delightful and filled with myth and riddles. I loved the plot twist in the end, and the way that the book concluded felt like a balm to my soul. I would read anything she writes.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #WilliamMorrow for letting me read this book.For those that like a gothic and mystical atmosphere, this is definitely one to pick up. The atmosphere and details in this novel were perfection.

This just didn't work for me as well as some of Chokshi's previous works. Many great elements were there, from the mysterious backstory and the generally creepy home, but it didn't pull together quite well enough for me.

Haunting and slightly creepy, but undoubtedly mysterious and engaging. I kept thinking that the plot would develop into something more, something truly magical. I was disappointed when it didn't.

This book is nothing like what you will expect, and anything you read about it will spoil it for you. I gave it to my 15yr old niece to read and told her not to look the book up just to read it. She did and loved it. This is one of those moments that being a cover girl like me works. I almost always go into books blind and this is definitely my recommendation for this book. Don't read reviews, don't read the dust jacket - just go read the story. Thank me later.

I'm disappointed to say that I didn't enjoy The Last Tale of the Flower Bride until the final 15-20%, and even then, it never redeemed itself from a dreary, bland start and characters that I found it impossible to care about.

We start off with the bridegroom's POV as we learn how he and Indigo came to marry, and it is a painfully instantaneous romance that holds no chemistry or depth whatsoever. Instead of character development, the narrative was comprised primarily of one fairytale reference after another, and I felt like I was being beaten over the head with blunt metaphors. As someone who typically loves purple prose, this was a rare experience in which the writing veered far past whimsical and into the territory of downright pretentiousness for me.

After a bit, the story begins to alternate between the bridegroom and Azure, his wife's childhood friend, and while the plot developing within her segments was far more interesting, I struggled with the fact that the writing did not differ in any way whatsoever between their inner monologues.

On top of the previous issues mentioned, I feel obligated to mention how predictable the twist was; I literally guessed it within the first 10% of the book, even down to the outline of how it played out in the end. I typically don't knock off stars for predictability because I know I'm the type of reader who guesses twists often, and that doesn't always act as a negative against the writing; still, in this case, it only added to my boredom. I would have set this book aside early on, if not for the fact that I became determined to see if I had guessed correctly.

It genuinely hurts me to write this review because The Last Tale of the Flower Bride held so much potential and I think, in another writer's hands, it could have been a perfect read for me, but the writing is what held this story back in every possible way. I can fully understand how this book has been popular with so many readers in the brief time since it was released, and I expect it will find a great deal more fans from here on, but unfortunately, I'm not one of them.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy! All thoughts are honest and my own.