Review: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
Available at Bookshop.org
5/5
For fans of: gothic houses, adult fairytales, mystery, toxic relationships, whirlwind romance, psychological games
The Big Questions:
What genre is this in? Contemporary fantasy, romance, magical realism
Are there any swoon-worthy characters? Indigo is mysterious, intoxicating, sensual, beautiful, philosophical, and wealthy
Is it spicy? The entire book is dripping in sensuality, but not spicy
Is it violent or gory? There are depictions of violence, but not gory
Should I buy, borrow, or pass on this book? BUY IT NOW
“This is why fairy tales are dangerous: their words sneak into your veins and travel into the chambers of your heart, where they whisper of your exceptionalism.”
Synopsis: A sumptuous, gothic-infused story about a marriage that is unraveled by dark secrets, a friendship cursed to end in tragedy, and the danger of believing in fairy tales—the breathtaking adult debut from New York Times bestselling author Roshani Chokshi.
Once upon a time, a man who believed in fairy tales married a beautiful, mysterious woman named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. He was a scholar of myths. She was heiress to a fortune. They exchanged gifts and stories and believed they would live happily ever after—and in exchange for her love, Indigo extracted a promise: that her bridegroom would never pry into her past.
But when Indigo learns that her estranged aunt is dying and the couple is forced to return to her childhood home, the House of Dreams, the bridegroom will soon find himself unable to resist. For within the crumbling manor’s extravagant rooms and musty halls, there lurks the shadow of another girl: Azure, Indigo’s dearest childhood friend who suddenly disappeared. As the house slowly reveals his wife’s secrets, the bridegroom will be forced to choose between reality and fantasy, even if doing so threatens to destroy their marriage . . . or their lives.
Combining the lush, haunting atmosphere of Mexican Gothic with the dreamy enchantment of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a spellbinding and darkly romantic page-turner about love and lies, secrets and betrayal, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
“You never forget the moment when beauty turns to horror.””
Review: I had the privilege to meet Roshani and pick up a copy of The Last Tale of the Flower Bride on her birthday in Brooklyn. She spoke so eloquently about fairytales and this book in particular. It got me so excited to read this book and my biggest regret is not reading it sooner. After I finished the book, immediately I went and found people to talk about it because I am HAUNTED. I devoured this book the same way I did the Night Circus. This book is all vibes and no plot and I am here for it. The story so quickly consumes you on this whirlwind romance of sensual storytelling that I could not put it down. The prose is so poetic and is very clearly a love letter to the fairytales and folklore of mysterious magical women who seduce mortal men with the promise of a happily ever after so long as they do not break a single rule. Indigo asks her Bridegroom just one thing: Do Not Pry.
But then we meet Azure, Indigo’s childhood best friend, and her past becomes too tempting to ignore. Told from the Bridegroom and Azure’s POVs, Indigo is such a mystery but holds such allure that you can’t blame either party for falling for her seduction. The marriage between the Bridegroom and Indigo is so beautifully portrayed along with all the mystery between them and the past that is haunting them. They truly love each other despite the secrets and betrayals. But my favourite character is the House of Dreams. It loves so much, probably too much, and sees all. It holds the key to magic and the past. It wants so much and gives so much in return. This book hasn’t left my head in days and all I want is to sit in this feeling for as long as possible. I cannot recommend this book enough.