Words can not fairly describe the enjoyment of reading this book. The story is woven around a bridegroom and two girls, while tangled with fairytales and a troubling mystery. It is exquisitely told, paced, and satisfying to read. Perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic, Nettle and Bone, or House of Hollows!

A beautifully written story of a husband uncovering the truth of his wife’s past and the twisted, complex friendship at the center of her life. A gothic horror woven with mythology and prose that reads like poetry.

This book was nothing like I expected! I was expecting a fantasy but it was definitely a psychological thriller with some fantastical undertones.

The characters were so interesting to me and though I typically don’t like dual timelines, this worked really well to help tell the story. I picked up on the twist about 3/4 of the way through but still liked the ending a lot. It was a tad slow in the middle but really picked up to get to that ending.

The audio was also really well done and I liked the dual narration!

Read this if you like:
🥀 Dark Fairytales
🥀 Dual Timelines
🥀 Obsessive characters

Chokshi's writing has a lurid magic that I've only ever felt a handful of times in a handful of other books (namely The Night Circus and The Starless Sea). Flower Bride felt like an aged cassis: rich, sweet with an undercurrent of tartness, and that cloying weight of something darker beneath its still and rather viscous surface. There's a stutter-step to the whimsy, a darkness around every corner, shadows that stand stark against the beauty of the prose - and this, more than anything, is what makes it feel like a fairy tale that we're peeling apart layer by layer.

The bridegroom's sections were much more fairytale (exacerbated by the fact that he has no name, and instead his moniker stands in its place just like the archetypes in a fairy tale). Azure's section was where we bored deep beneath the facade and watched it all unravel, then looked at all the layers of falsehoods we had to buy into to get here.

The gaslighting and the use of fairytales to sell those pretty lies were what made the story heavy and unbearably real.

In a word: masterful.

The prose was extremely lush and whimsical, blending the lines between reality and fantasy. The story crafted is a beautiful gothic atmosphere.

I am pulled into stories by characters and plot. Both these aspects suffered under the world building and lush prose. The pace was extremely slow, and I was incredibly detached from the characters and their toxic relationships.

This cover is gorgeous. For that reason alone, I tried really hard to get into this book, even switching to the audiobook at 20% and trapping myself with it in the car during my drive. I did finish the book, but it was difficult.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

“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.”

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is what happens when you let an author truly go wild. This is a nightmare wrapped up as a fairytale, with its teeth hidden away but always ready to strike. It is an incredibly lush, nearly dreamlike gothic fantasy. This reads like a fever dream come to life.

We have a dual POV and dual timelines. The bridegroom from the current time with his marriage to Indigo and Azure from the past - during Indigo's childhood. The romance in this is very muted, it's more like a tale in reverse. Their courtship (or Indigo's hunt) is over quickly and it's really just the setting to him learning more about Indigo's past at the cost of their marriage. I have to say that I found Azure's chapter's to be more addictive but the pace overall was beautiful.

The Bridegroom may be part of the discovery, but he is not part of the story - more of a vessel to learning about our two soul halves Indigo and Azure and what could have ever separated them. It is a dark tale of obsession, opulence and an underlying sapphic longing throughout. Watching their lives is something that you can't look away from even as flawed as they are - it's that alluring.

I loved how real fairytales are blended in throughout the story - and always the true darkest versions and this is truly where the bridegroom shines. With his background in them - we are always able to learn more through him.

This book is one that I will think about for so long. I could reread this 20 more times and still find new clues and hints along the way, it is simply just that lush.

rep// Persian sapphic mc, Bedouin character

cw// blood, violence, gore, animal death, pedophilia, harassment, child abuse, death

My expectations weren't quite right for this book. I was expecting it to be more of a gothic tale between husband and wife, with the husband uncovering the wife's secrets. It was much more about the youth of the wife and her best friend, and their toxic friendship, which had big fairy tale/folklore elements to it. Because that youthful relationship was at the fore, the book felt more a little more fantasy than gothic, and more YA than adult to me. I still found it a very enjoyable story, thoroughly creepy and satisfying. I hope the audiobook is getting an editing pass, because there were so many mispronounced words, especially for flowers, that I was beginning to think it was a comedy bit on the part of the narrator.

First, thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Almost from the first paragraph I was drawn into this beautifully tragic, gothic inspired fairy tale. Chokshi has built a world that’s lush, and so rich and evocative that you’ll feel like you’ve melted into it and become part of the story. There is a huge amount of intrigue present from the start, so you’re never quite sure exactly what to expect. The way the story unraveled , taking the reader through two different timelines, and two different POVs was so well done. And I did not see that final twist coming at all. I highly recommend this audiobook, as both narratives were fantastic. This is a dark tale, so check content warnings before reading.

4.5/5 Stars

I thought this book was super interesting -- I like this new direction for Roshani Chokshi, I was already a big fan after her last series (The Gilded Wolves). It's a really great gothic story and the twist had me at the end! Extremely atmospheric and I liked the two parallel timelines!

This book missed the mark for me, but lovers of gothic/fantasy will probably enjoy. Recommend it to people that are into those genres.

Did not finish, was not engaging enough and the relationship felt very plastic. Had no connection to the characters.

Well, WOW. This book was definitely something else. I know I’m going to be thinking about it a lot.

As always, Roshani Chokshi’s beautiful and lyrical writing style drew me in right from the beginning. By Chapter-5, I was intrigued but by Chapter-10, I was wholly invested in this tale. Enough to have theories on what will happen next and not being able to stop myself from reading further.
The vibes were eerie and haunting. I’ll recommend reading it at night for the best experience (unless you’re scared of the dark)
It read like a haunting fairytale (which it was, in a sense) and half the time, I couldn’t tell apart the reality. I loved how there were so many myths and tales woven into this story which gave it even more of a dream like quality.
I loved the way the story was told, the switching POVs, the way we were edging towards the main plot twist. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
I’m very pleased to say that I guessed the final plot twist right and was expecting it from around 50% mark.
It was not a pretty fairytale. It was absolutely horrifying and there were some things my mind just can’t get over. I’m going to be turning over those actions and certain characters’ intentions for a long, long while.

I still have no idea how to rate this book but I will definitely recommend it because Roshani Chokshi’s writing alone is enough to convince anyone to read it. The vibes, the complex characters, the way the story is told and the secrets buried within is all just additional bonus.

I received an ALC in exchange for an honest review (thank you very much Netgalley and Harper Audio!) and a huge part of my reading experience were the amazing narrators so I’ll 100% recommend the audiobook to everyone!

This book is so dang dark and weird... not at all what I was expecting. I feel like if I had been reading it, I would've lost interest partially through the book because it is very lyrical and I don't think it translate well to paper. But because I listened to the book, the cadence and depth from the narrators made it enjoyable.

First, thank you HarperCollins audio for sharing this audiobook arc with me!

I have been a longtime fan of Roshani's work since the beginning of her career. Her previous lush, and vibrant stories never failed to lure me in, and The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is no exception. This tale masters the art and tradition of all the best fairytales: word by beautiful word, it enchants the reader towards a glittering, ethereal web that is not at all what it seems. By the time you realize your feet are rooted in darkness, silken webbing has wrapped your neck, and the phantasm you've found yourself in is a trap made of blood and hurt and teeth, it's already too late. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride caught me so deeply in its glamour and web, I never wanted to leave. Five stars to this gem of a book and a million to the author. I enjoyed every second of the spell this story put on me.

This book was completely different than I expected, but God did I love it!

This story is a gothic tale infused with folklore where the truth is never completely clear.

Told in two alternating perspectives/timelines from the Bridegroom and Azure, the truth of Indigo is slowly unveiled in a beautiful tale.

I can’t speak too much without spoilers, but I loved the in-depth look at female friendship and adolescence.

If you love magical realism, fantasy vibes, and books with the unexpected, this is for you!

Thank you so much to the publisher for the advanced copy!

*** I support the HarperCollins Union in their fight for wage increases.

I didn’t know what to expect with this one because I haven’t read any of her other books. Anyone who listens to books probably knows the feeling I have with this one: would it be as good if I read it? Steve West does such a great job that I found myself loving this book but I honestly don’t know if I would have enjoyed the writing style as much without him reading it. It’s has lots of fairy tale references and feels like one big fairy tale itself in a way. All in all I really liked it and hope everyone chooses to listen to it.

This is a tale of mystery, myth and fairytales. It leaves an unsettling feeling in your gut but you must read on. Chokshi paints a beautiful image of events and creates a beautiful story of love with surprising twists.

A beautifully written gothic fairytale.

A coming of age mystery.

A man who believes and studies fairytales, falls in love with the biggest mystery he's ever met. In exchange for her love, the only thing she asks, is to leave her past in the past.
Some people can't leave well enough alone (am I right?).

When Indigo's aunt dies. They head to her childhood home, and naturally, he can't stop himself. Indigo's past begins to slowly unravel.

The words and prose in the book were just lovely. The atmosphere was dark and uncomfortable and magical. I was immediately pulled into it. I loved the way the world was described. And the dark kind of dreariness to the characters.

Don't ask me to explain but this book was like Addie Larue meets gothic horror. I can't say enough good things about it!

(I definitely wouldn't say this is a dark romance. I think it's dark AND has romance. I loved it so much. )

I will 100% be buying a physical copy of this book.
Thank you for the chance to read this Net Galley.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

DNF at 70%
Please check content warning for this book.
I will be withholding my review due to the Harper Collins Union being on strike to get a fair contract. Review to come once everything is resolved.

Really really enjoyed this, but Harper Collins has still not met with the union, so I will not be reviewing this in full until Harper Collins joins the bargaining table.

If you want to order this, checkout their Bookshop or donate to help supper the union!