A beautifully written love letter to fairy tales and how they reflect our world. I enjoyed both narrators, they did an expert job with Chokshi’s wonderful prose. Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGalley for the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for an ARC of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride.

Roshani Chokshi's adult debut is a rich addition to the gothic thriller genre. The story was beautifully written and hauntingly calls back to mythology and fairytales. This is the type of story that works best if you go into it not knowing anything or even reading the synopsis. However, that is somewhat where the positives end. The narrative leaves you as an outside observer into the characters lives. While this is a typical tread for the genre, it left me disinterested in the main characters and where they end up. I enjoyed reading this book for the gothic vibes and references to mythology. But, there is not much going on with the plot. I think Chokshi intends for this book to be read as a distant fairytale rather than an immersive novel.

Overall, I enjoyed reading it for the gothic vibes. Both narrator's did a great job at conveying the characters and recommend reading this in audiobook format. I give this book 3.5 stars. I also advise picking up this story with the intent of reading it like a Grimm's fairytale. The synopsis leads you a bit astray with how this story is actually structured.

Btw shoutout the cover artist because this is one of the most beautiful covers I have ever seen!

I’m not sure how to feel about this one. I have a love/hate relationship with gothic reads and this one was okay.
The story was a bit slow for me and it took me a bit to get into the book.
The narrators, were actually the ones that kept me listening to the book. They used a variety of tones and Steve West did a wonderful job portraying the MC.
The story is very atmospheric, and haunting. This is a perfect read for fans of gothic and dark secrets.
3.5 ✨story
4✨ audiobook

Chokshi warns readers off the fantasy of a "fairy tale romance" by reminding us that, dang, fairy tales are full of terrifying stuff.

My first ARC audiobook and, of course, it was destined to be a full five stars!

I adore Roshani Chokshi, so this should come as a surprise to no one that I loved this hauntingly gothic tale of childhood friendship, marriage, and faeries. I actually don't think anywhere in the synopsis does it mention faeries, but they actually indirectly play a vital role to the entirety of this story, which was a pleasant surprise. The book market is oversaturated in faerie content currently, but Roshani brought the creeps and magic of true fae to the forefront of this story. I'm not going to go too much in detail because I think this story is told best by following along yourself. A lot can be considered spoilers so the less I talk about this book, the better.

Anyway, The Last Tale of the Flower bride follows two dual perspectives. The first a man merely known as Bridegroom who marries Indigo and follows her back to her childhood home when her estranged aunt's health is near its end. The other POV does not appear for the first few chapters, but it was a pleasant surprise that I think a lot of reader's will find interesting. But back to Bridegroom—he starts to realize something is amiss as soon as he steps into the House of Dreams (name of Indigo's childhood home). The house seems almost... sentient, and Indigo refuses to acknowledge even a single detail of her past. It's all very peculiar and discomforting, so Bridegroom begins to investigate.

I found the unraveling of Indigo's secrets to be highly entertaining. She initially reminded me of Evelyn Hugo from The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo because of her larger than life aura, so it was great to learn about her from another character rather than her own POV. Obviously, that decision makes her wildly more mysterious. Her marriage to Bridegroom was interesting too because in the beginning, Bridegroom is certainly the one not in control when it comes to their relationship, but as the story unravels, Indigo does too. She becomes less composed and "seemingly" perfect. The House of Dreams unsettles her, and Bridegroom senses it too. To be honest, this story was a journey into whether this marriage would become stronger or obliterated. Readers will enjoy trying to guess what the endgame will be for these two.

The writing is extremely telling rather than showing, so if you don't like that then maybe don't pick this up quite yet. All gothic literature is very lyrical and detailed, so it didn't bother me one bit getting to listen on this audiobook to Roshani's laments of love. Her writing burns the brightest in this standalone; she was meant to write gothic literature.

Now I'm definitely going to come back to this review with spoilers. I want to scream about the other POV to the rooftops! I'm very excited to see people's reactions to this story, and I really hope Roshani decides to write more within this genre in the future. I'll be the first to read them!

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I don’t think the blurb accurately depicted this one. I also would have liked content warnings before going in. This just wasn’t it for me.

The book is told from two point-of-views and they come from the bridegroom and Azure. Personally, I didn’t connect to any of the characters but felt bad for the situations that some of them found themselves in. I also wish there would have been content warnings for Azure’s story because she deals with a lot of predatory advances/behavior from her stepfather. It made for a very uncomfortable read which is what is intended I’m sure but when it comes to that sort of material I need the warnings so I know going in what I am getting.

I also don’t think there is any thing romantic about this book. The relationship between Azure and Indigo is very toxic, even the relationship with the bridegroom is. This can obviously be boiled down to one good reason but that is a spoiler. All of the toxicity and harsh topics just made it very hard to get through the book.

The two things I did like were the narration and the writing style. They are both done very well.

Overall, this one was a miss for me. I feel like it is more magic realism set in a more contemporary setting and with the content of the book I didn’t connect with it.

Rosh, Rosh, Rosh!!!!!!! YEEEESSSSSS QUEEN! I'm telling you if you want someone to carry you away in a book this is the author to do it. I was so pumped to get this audio from NG. The narrators were perfect. This was such a gothic tale. For her first adult novel, I was sucked right in. Can't wait for my physical copy so I can immerse myself again in this haunting lyrical tale!!

Roshani Chokshi’s lyrical writing is so beautiful in this gothic mystery thriller. The way she told the story from the dual POV of the Bride Groom and Azure, trying to unwind the mystery that is his wife and her best friend, Indigo. Him not knowing exactly who he married and her best friend growing up. I loved trying to figure out who/what Indigo was.

I love the audiobook, it’s two different voice actors and they both speak so beautifully, they were perfect for this story.

5/5 for the audiobook narration
4/5 for the book itself.

The only thing that took it down from 5 stars for me was that I thought it would have more fantasy elements. And I thought the ending was predictable.

I really loved The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. This was my first Roshani Chokshi book and I can 100% say that it will not be my last. The writing was gorgeous and it had me hooked from the beginning. This story is told through a past/present timeline with two narrators. I loved the chapters from Azure’s POV. I was so invested in her & Indigo’s friendship. It was toxic and almost unsettling at times. I couldn’t believe some of the things that happened between them!

I had a good time trying to pick up on details to figure out what was going to happen. It did get a bit predictable but I was still surprised by a few things in the end. This story is full of mystery, fairytales and morally grey characters! I can’t wait to have a finished copy on my shelves.

The audio was absolutely perfect! So happy that I went this route. Both narrators did a phenomenal job. They really brought this dark story to life.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is an adult gothic fairytale by Roshani Chokshi. We follow a man referred to as “the bridegroom” as he meets and falls in love with Indigo. They are destined for a happily ever after when they are wed, as long as the bridegroom doesn’t try to dig up Indigo’s past. When the couple has to return to Indigo’s childhood home-the House of Dreams-to care for her sick aunt, the ghosts of the past begin to come out. The bridegroom is mesmerized with what has happened in the past, including the tales of Indigo’s best childhood friend, Azure. As more secrets are unraveled, things begin to fall apart and the lines between reality and fairy tale are blurred.

This book was so good. It is a book full of atmosphere that pulls you in more and more the further you read. It has that lush, gothic feel I want from so many other books but very few deliver. When the storyline started going between the present and the past, I could hardly put this book down! I know that a lot of people will probably complain about the pacing but I thought it was immaculate. I loved being in this rich world.

I’ve seen this book compared to Mexican Gothic and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue and I think that is a solid comparison. While this story is very different from both of those, the tone of all three are very similar. If you enjoyed both of those books, I am positive you’ll enjoy this one as well.

I do think the end was a bit predictable, but it just shows how good the rest of the book is that it didn’t bother me at all. I don’t think there is another way it could have ended that I would have liked. If you are a fan of fairy tales but like the feel of gothic novels, this is a must read.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi | 5 stars

What a ride. This was my first ever audiobook, and what a book to experience in this format! The narrators are both wonderful, and I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them. Chokshi's writing is extravagantly floral, atmospheric, and lush and quickly sweeps you away in a dark, fairytale-like story.

I can see how you'd have to be in the mood for this though. This book is extremely character driven, and the reader jumps back and forth between two POVs that flicker through time between the Bridegroom and Azure. These two are closely connected to Indigo, a mysterious, ethereal woman who impacts both their lives in twisted ways. The heart of this book is not in it's plot, but a mystery that's slowly revealed through character relations and magical realism that has you questioning the reality of this world. Be prepared for TOXIC relationships (yes, in all caps), deeply romantic prose, and melodramatic horror! I guessed the twist at the end, however I'm extremely satisfied with how it ended. I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did by the ending! Definitely a book I'd love to pick up a physical copy of so I can annotate it's lovely prose to my heart's delight.

This was the first book I have read by this author. I really liked the magic and the gothic vibes. The writing at times is poetic and beautiful. The story itself is more about a toxic friendship as opposed to a marriage. Overall, I liked it.
3.5 stars

As someone who has been intrigued by Roshani Chokshi’s stories in the past, but not able to fully connect, I went into this without expectations.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is Chokshi’s first foray into adult fantasy, and I think her writing was just perfect for it. This is a story I’d describe as a mystery with gothic and nostalgic, magical realism elements. It’s also worth noting I listened on audio, and the dual narration was wonderful - I was captivated both by the Bridegroom and Azure’s POV. They covered present and past events, with the latter being my favorite to read.

Though saying that this book is about a marriage is kind of selling it short - they get married before the female narrator is even introduced and we aren’t shown much of the courtship period or the mundane aspects of their marriage. This is a story about Indigo. Because she is a force of nature, unearthly and ethereal, with a magnetic personality.

I went in with only a brief glimpse at the synopsis and would recommend you do the same. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is out February 14, 2023 and you won’t want to miss it! Thank you NetGalley for an audioARC.

**Review will be posted on my sites/socials February 9th, 2023**

UNDERWHELMED.

Audiobook review: LOVED the audio. I thought the narrators (hello Steve West, I love you) were great. I didn’t have to switch audio speeds between them and thought it did enhance the story.

I wish I had more to say, but I am feeling completely MEH about this entire book. I have no distinct feelings and that’s saying something on it’s own.

I’m not sure where this book got the idea it’s a romance? But it is not. There’s some undertones and there is a marriage, yet that’s kind of it. This mostly focuses around one POV (that takes place in the past) and how that is affecting the bridegroom in the present. There was kind of a Narnia quality to this with a dark and fairy like overtone.

The writing gives an atmospheric vibe. I can see the gothicness with the spooky house that seems to know all. I didn’t have any complaints about the writing itself, more so, the execution of the plot.

A super toxic friendship that clearly goes predictably south didn’t bring anything new to the table. The set-up leads you to the inevitable conclusion.

Overall audience notes:
- Magical Realism
- Language: a little strong
- Romance: multiple vague to closed door; low innuendo
- Violence: medium
- Trigger/Content Warnings: adult predation of a child, grooming, bullying, murder

This book is a gorgeously decadent dark fairytale that left me yearning for more. I’ve always admired Roshani’s writing, but she’s leveled up in the best way with this book for sure! If you are a fan of morally grey characters, delicious prose, and books like Addie LaRue you will devour this one and be left ravenous and eager for whatever Roshani writes next!

The audio for The Last Tale of the Flower Bride was fantastic. I honestly believe that it made the book even better (I also read the e-ARC of this previously). I enjoyed the two narrators for the two points of view and I don't think this would have been as successful without both of them.

I think this is the type of story that needs to be heard more than read.

Thank you so much to the publisher for the audiobook.

Wow what a delight! I could not put this one down. It took me a little bit to get into it at the beginning, but soon I was hooked. The story kept me guessing and I didn't pick up on the twist until the author wanted you to. I cannot wait to reread so I can pick up on the little hints that were there from the beginning.

I could see the setting in my head and could picture the characters. I will recommend this one to everyone. I know it was compared to Mexican Gothic, however I would compare it to more classic magic realism authors such as Isabel Allende or Laura Esquivel.

I really loved this audiobook. The overall story was fantastic and reminded me of House of Hollow in the fantastical elements of the story.

A man falls in love with a stunning and mysterious woman. Shortly after they are wed, they must go to her estranged aunt’s home because the woman is dying. There, the man, referred to only as Bridegroom, is faced with the intense history of his love, Indigo and the strange disappearance of her childhood best friend Azure.

I struggled a little bit with my rating of this book. The writing is solid! The storyline is great. Very interesting. But there were some things I really didn’t like, things that made me question whether this is worth 4 stars or 5 stars. Ultimately, I went with 4 stars because while this book is GOOD, the things I didn’t like were not things I could get over.

What I liked:
The writing was great. Kept me very much IN the story. The characters were well crafted. I enjoyed the dual timeline. I loved the strong friendship between Indigo and Azure, as well as the intense, toxic relationship between the girls. They have a codependency that is a guilty pleasure for me. I also really liked that I couldn’t quite get a grasp on Indigo’s character. It left her very mysterious.

What I didn’t like:
The way that Azure’s mother continuously chose the love of her pedophile partner over protecting her child. That was one of my MAIN issues with the book. I can’t handle that. The other issue I had was the lack of believability in the Bridegroom’s ABSOLUTE love for Indigo. They “fall in love” in the beginning of the book, but that’s it. It’s just said and not shown, and for the rest of the book, he trails after her like a puppy with no real evidence of their love or why he care so much for her. It just seemed strange and disingenuous.

Overall, the story and the mystery we are spoon fed throughout this book was amazing. I listened to the audiobook and was overjoyed that Steve West (my favorite male narrator) was voicing the Bridegroom. The female narrator grayed slightly at first, but once her chapters really got going, I definitely enjoyed her voicing of Indigo and Azure.

What a gorgeous novel full of loveable characters and a storyline that I couldn't put down. This one is a must read!