Cannot rate this title as I could not get into the story or narration. Thank you for the opportunity to review this title.

Beautifully narrated audiobook!!! I mean, what else can you expect from THE Steve West, right?

Of course, 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.

Gorgeously written and incredibly atmospheric, I was transported when I listened to this book. I enjoyed the twist of the gender roles in a traditional fairy tale story such as the male for once not having a name and the female being the dangerous, alluring character with an alluring past. I didn't quite see the switch in characters and was delightfully surprised. The ending still left me with a lot of questions and I thought the ending was quite ambiguous. I still enjoyed the story, however, and would recommend it!

The narration of this audiobook is beautiful to listen to. This is the same narrator who did the "Ember in the Ashes" series as Elias. His voice is so rich and engaging you can't help but be entranced.

This is an adult fiction book by Roshani Chokshi which I didn't realize when I first got it. I think a lot of young adult authors are branching into adult fiction which is pretty cool. She has done middle grade fiction as well, it amazing me how certain authors can write for any age. That being said Chokshi has a type of writing that mesmerizes me, every book I've read by her previously I've really enjoyed. However, this book wasn't personally my cup of tea. I'm not a huge fan of mystery //thriller books. In an overall sense of her work I don't think this is the best thing she's done, but if you like the mystery/gothic/thriller/horror genre, any of those you might like this just based on the way she writes.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an e-copy of #TheLastTaleoftheFlowerBrideby Roshani Chokshi to read and review.

I am always in love and in awe of everything Roshani writes. Her adult debut does not disappoint. I hope she continues writing adult as I will continue forever reading her work.

Reading this whole book felt like putting together a puzzle in the end where you keep trying to make the pieces fit and you get frustrated when they don’t. You got to go slowly and keep trying. This book should be read slowly. Which doesn’t bode well the fact that I read it over two days. But I promise I went slow. It was vague and interesting that we never really knew the husband in the end it’s almost like we could all be the husband. It was beautifully creepy and romantic like it could be read on Valentine’s Day or on Halloween and it will fit the atmosphere of both.

Gotta say I kept waiting for the fantasy element to show up and for their to be actual faeries and I kind of love that in the end it was never real. AND THE TWIST! Never saw any of that coming.


She could make a grocery list sound beautiful.

This lush and romantic gothic fairytale was a fabulous adult debut by Roshani Chokshi. I was able to easily guess the twist, but I really enjoyed the narration style with alternating POV between the husband and Azure.

Narration: The audiobook was perfectly cast, especially for the unique style of narration. I’d easily listen to these narrators again.

Thanks to Harper Audio, NetGalley, and Libro.FM for my ALC.

DNFed this. It was weird and not in an enjoyable way for me. The relationship seemed strange and I got some icky vibes. This is a retelling so that was probably the point.

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.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a lush, gothic tale about complex, often toxic, relationships, obsession, grief, broken promises and most importantly, fairytales and the dangers of believing in them. I thoroughly enjoyed the choice of having the Bridegroom stay relatively anonymous, as well as the choice of letting readers get to know Indigo through the POV of two individuals whose lives seemingly revolve around her. The narration was fantastic; I was already a fan of Sura Siu’s voice acting and she did not disappoint. With a slow, steady pace, told in split chronology and dual POVs, accompanied by some of the most beautiful writing you'll ever encounter, this book thrives on ambiance and budding feeling of foreboding. While I’d venture to say that this book is not for everyone, those who it is for will savor and cherish it endlessly.

She stunning. This book is so haunting and creepy and the narration adds to that eeriness. I couldn't stop listening.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
I ended up feeling that the story was just ok. The author was trying too hard to make the book spooky and atmospheric, but it just dragged out the story without really adding anything. Because of the focus on atmosphere over the plot, what little plot that was there disappeared and suffered. Its touches on fairy tales didn't really do anything either.

This book was all vibes and no plot. So if that's your jam then this is for you. The audiobook was enjoyable and I honestly think audio was the better format for a novel like this. The setting was great, but like I said, no plot.

THE LAST TALE OF THE FLOWER BRIDE is a gothic story with dark secrets and a friendship cursed in tragedy.

I knew very little about this book going in, but saw so many great things about it and loved the beautiful cover, and was so excited to be approved to listen to the audiobook.

I thought it was such a fascinating read! I really enjoyed the underlying fairytale and discovering each secret that unfolds. The audiobook was great and really added to the reading experience.

*many thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow/Harper Audio for the gifted copy

The book is great. Everyone should read it.

The audiobook, left me pleasantly surprised. I was fully prepared to hate it, thinking that the narrator's voice would not work, and I was 100% wrong. The narrator is excellent.

While the premise of this book was appealing, it was a little too descriptive and overwrought for my liking. It was also quite slow moving which only served to draw out the experience. While it sounded great, it was mostly a flop for me.

Thank you Harper Audio for the captivating gifted audiobook. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is poetically evocative in both formats. I finished this whirlwind in a day going from reading the physical and then listening to the soothing tones of Steve West and Sura Siu when unfortunate chores called. They are wondrous together!

It's a masterfully blended tale of the strength of love, the power of belief and the destruction wrought by cursed friendships. I loved how the POV transitions between the husband in the present and Azure from childhood's past as the mystery of Azure and Indigo slowly creeps in. I did find myself questioning the maturity of Indigo and Azure at one point when they are nearing an age most stop believing in Fae and magic...but you know what? The author even took that into account and wrapped it into an almost coming of age character growth.

The writing style was one of my favorite aspects. The prose is eloquent and flows like a fairy tale ritual. This is such a bewitching read; and that ending! Yup, did not see that coming.

If you're a reader who loves gothic mysteries and grew up believing in Fae worlds and magic rituals, you'll find a kinship with the characters crafted in this novel. I highly recommend this one!

Steve West has such a low, smooth voice, it's a comfort to listen to. The story has some nice eerie elements where you're always slightly unsettled about everything. The shifting POVs was a nice way to build the story.

I am left speechless by Roshani Chokshi! She is now an author that I plan to automatically buy, any book she puts out.

I am DNFing at 47.2% into the audiobook. Reasons for DNF-ing:
-This is not a fantasy and I can already tell how this is going to end; I thought I was sold a fantasy. This isn’t it.
-The writing is purple prose which this novel really helped solidify, for myself, that I do not like purple prose at all.
-There is significant bullying. To the point where they almost have a girl commit suicide. I don’t know if I’m supposed to like any of the characters after this, but I didn’t really like them before this scene and I don’t like them after it either. That scene alone gave me the ick.
-This book, while well written, is very much not for me.

The narration is great though if you decide to pick up the audiobook.

This gorgeous cover had me very excited for The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi! Unsurprisingly, Chokshi's writing is beautiful, but unfortunately I still found myself bored with this book. I listened to the audiobook and I will say that both narrators were pleasant to listen to though.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride does an excellent job of exploring a toxic friendship. It's easy to see what draws Indigo and Azure together and the chapters from Azure's perspective were my favorites. The "romance" of the book felt very undeveloped and I figured out the twist at the end pretty quickly. Looking into the past of the story was intriguing, but the present of the story left me very underwhelmed. I hope this book finds the readers who will love it, it just wasn't for me!
2.5 stars