3.5 stars rounded to 4...

An eerie story full of fairytales and gothic consequences, Chokshi weaves a story of betrayal, fate, and the things we do to keep our past hidden.

I'm a sucker for atmospheric reads and The Last Tale of the Flower Bride does not disappoint. Chokshi knows what they're doing when it come to atmosphere. At every point in the story I found myself fully captivated by the scenes around me. The absolute dedication to the atmosphere kept me intrigued with the story even when I wasn't very attached to the characters.

I found the relationship itself to be too detached from the story to really feel any emotion towards the relationship. This did not work well for the story because you need to pick a side to feel invested. I never felt like I wanted to route for anybody so it made the story not as lovable as I wanted it to be. Despite it being a grimdark fairytale I still expected to at least enjoy the characters. Overall they were not unenjoyable just not very dimensional, especially the bridegroom.

The audiobook narration worked well for this story and added to the atmospheric presence of the story.


This book gave me a lot of the same atmospheric energy as Spells for Forgetting. Both books do a fantastic job at creating an atmosphere that you can feel and fully grasp while reading the books. Another comparable book is House of Hollow simply because they are both eerie and deal with fae.


Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for an advance listeners copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, I found the male narrator to be very boring which lead to me not finishing this. I am still 100% very intrigued by the plot of this book and will be buying a physical copy on its release date.

Thank you HarperAudio for the audio ARC!

What a gorgeous novel. It reads like a gothic fairy tale but takes place in the modern world. A handsome historian falls in love with beautiful heiress, Indigo Maxwell-Castenada. They should live happily ever after but Indigo holds many secrets close to her heart. Especially regarding her long-lost friend, Azure, who's sudden disappearance is still a mystery. This story reminded me so much of the tale of BlueBeard, and that story is mentioned a lot. A lot of fairy tales are mentioned and woven throughout to create this atmospheric tale. I enjoyed this so much!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

I received this as an audio galley to listen to for free in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Audio for giving me access.

I absolutely loved Chokshi’s other works and knew that I needed to read The Last Tale of the Flower Bride immediately. This was dark with just a touch of the fae world and I devoured it. Chokshi wrote an exceptional story that I will be rereading for years to come.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook ARC.

Absolutely amazing. This was enchanting and tragic, and I wished it went on forever. The two friends in their youth remind me of who I was as a teen. Indigo as an adult is who I wished I could be. She's mysterious and beautiful, and can keep a secret like no other. The twist at the end was completely shocking and had me wanting to re-read everything a second time. I loved the Magic of this book.

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.

"A fairy tale in the oldest and truest sense: a haunting dream full of blood and love, vicious truths and beautiful lies. It swallowed me whole, and I went willingly." — Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of The Once and Future Witches

I’ve been really interested in <i>The Last Tale of the Flower Bride</i> since I first heard that it was a gender bent Bluebeard retelling. That concept intrigued me, as I’ve always be fairly fascinated by that particular fairytale. When I finally got my hands on the book (and my ears on it, thanks to NetGalley) it was actually far different that whatever I was expecting. So different, in fact, that I was originally very conflicted about it. I was repelled by the person who seemed like the central character, and judgmental of those who had allowed themselves to fall under her spell. But I was also deeply invested in these two perspective characters, and completely captivated by the writing.

The prose here is among the most beautiful I’ve ever experienced. The writing is lush and decadent and almost erotic, like the caress of crushed velvet against bare skin. It’s almost too pretty, bordering on purple, but that seemed to work well for the story. The stunning storytelling, mixed with the dark story being told, brought to mind Pan’s Labyrinth. That’s honestly the best comparison I can draw. Both stories are dark and tragic but oddly beautiful all the same.

I originally felt like the relationships in this book were all a bit toxic, and too dark, but that was the point, which became clearer to me the further into the book I read. This story showcases the dangers of co-dependency, of allowing yourself to be entranced by darkness and then compelled to remain in it. It showcases abuse in interesting ways, specifically with gaslighting and sabotage in order to ensure that the abuser remains the only refuge of the abused, and that there is no trustworthy means of escape. We are shown how poisonous love can be when mingled with obsession, possessiveness, and madness.

This story also showcases how poisonous imagination can be if not tempered with reality. Can you cling so tightly to your dreams that you miss out on everything else light might have for you? The answer is yes. All of the fantastical elements of this tale seem directly linked to the characters’ desire to experience the fantastic, which left me questioning whether all of the magic in the story was solely in the minds of those experiencing it. How much of the magic here is real, and how much is simply tricks of the minds that desire so strongly to be tricked?

I ended up loving <i>The Last Tale of the Flower Bride</i> in ways that I would never have guessed when I first flipped open its pages. It’s one of the most beautifully written stories I’ve experienced, and it was far deeper and more philosophical than it appears on the surface. This is the gnarled underbelly of a fairytale, and exposition of the dangers of living in dreams. It’s an exploration of abusive relationships that we wouldn’t view as abusive on the surface, and an exposure of madness that masquerades as imagination. It’s ugly in very purposeful ways. It’s terribly tragic and cautiously hopeful. I absolutely loved it, and can guarantee that I’ll be revisiting it. I’m already excited to dig into Chokshi’s back catalogue, but I don’t know that it will hold a candle to this decadent, decaying Gothic fairytale.

Gothic and haunting, excellent for fans of Addie Larue or Juniper & Thorn. This is the kind of book that people rightfully call an instant classic, drawing from myth and folklore and fairytales while simultaneously being wholly different.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced audiobook copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have very mixed feelings about this book, and even as I write this I am still unsure what I would rate it. On the one hand, Roshani Chokshi's writing is sumptuous and gorgeous. She paints amazing visuals of every scene, every room in the House of Dreams, every setting the characters are in. The whole book is this intriguing blend of ominous, dark, gothic house mystery with a real (or imagined?) faerie world. The audiobook narration is splendid, with both voice actors matching the lush writing with their narration.

On the other hand, there were so many unsettling and unpleasant aspects of the book. The blurb makes it seem as if the focus of the book is the marriage or relationship between the female main character (Indigo) and male main character (the bridegroom), but most of the book is about Indigo and her friendship with another girl her age, Azure. There's toxic female friendship, where the two teens seem obsessed with each other, unclear sapphic overtones, and primarily a coming of age timeline. All of the characters are problematic and unpleasant in various ways. I found the big reveal near the end to be fairly predictable. There was so much set-up about how the two girls were similar physically that it was not at all surprising what happened.

Despite my negatives though, there was something so compelling about this story. I couldn't stop listening and felt completely sucked into the rollercoaster Chokshi was taking us on.

Roshani Chokshi’s adult debut is a thing of beauty. I’ll not be shutting up about this one for a long time.

The story features two timelines told through two POVs. In one we follow “The Bridegroom” as he meets and marries the beautiful but mysterious heiress Indigo Maxwell-Castaneda. She makes him promise only one thing —that he will never pry into her past.

Our second narrator is Azure, Indigo’s best friend and confident growing up. The two are inseparable, sharing a bound like no other, until one day it all falls apart.

As the two storylines converge, Chokshi weaves and intricate and suspenseful tale. What happened to Azure all those years ago? What happens if the husband digs too far now?

I was simply mesmerized from the very first chapter. This is a story that draws on storytelling, harkening back to multiple myths and fairytales. There is even a wardrobe (if you know you know). Told in exquisite prose I’ve rarely encountered, I can’t recommend this enough!

If you like romantic thrillers, mysteries literary fiction, or fantasy with just enough magic to make you question what is and isn’t real, there is something here for you to relish.

I know it is just January, but this book will almost certainly be in my top reads of the year. It’s one of the best books I’ve ever read.

This book was incredibly twisty and atmospheric. I felt like I knew how the twist was going to play out, but that didn't make it any less exciting for me.

Told through alternating timelines (past and present), this story is full of suspense and gothic themes, including romance, love and toxic relationships.

At times I found myself drawn more to the past timeline and the present storyline (told from the POV of the main character's husband) seemed weak in comparison.

Definitely enjoyed this story and cannot wait to read more of Roshani's works and to talk about this book with others. It would make for an excellent book club pick and gives so many avenues for discussion.

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

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride was dark, magical, and beautifully written. The novel is about Indigo and her bridegroom. He doesn’t know too much about her when they get married. She makes him promise not to pry too much into her past. However, when Indigo and the bridegroom, are forced to return to her childhood house, known as the House of Dreams, the bridegroom cannot resist but pry into her past. I guess the mystery is what he loved about her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I loved the intoxicating relationship/friendship between Azure and Indigo, the fact that the bridegroom is never named (which makes him more of a mystery), and the dark secret of the disappearance of Azure. I didn’t want it to end.

The narrator was engaging!

Beautiful and Atmospheric. Full of adventure and fun. Exploring both myths, and fairy tales, The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a whimsical fantasy with an unexpected twist. A tale I will never tire of, one to be read again and again.

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