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!

The premise of this book is what made me request this. Its beautifully written, buts its a very slow paced book and I found it hard to connect to the characters. I also had a hard time following the plot.
If you like gothic fiction books you may like this more than I did.

I received a copy of this audiobook from NetGalley.

When I began listening to “The Last Tale of the Flower Bride,” I took a look at some of the reviews that had been written about the novel. One particular comment said, “I cannot believe a book like this exists,” or something of the like. I have to say that I agree with this statement. I am in awe of the author for creating this tale. I am glad that I accidentally requested the audiobook version because its lyrical writing demanded to be spoken aloud.

There is not much I can object to in this novel; it was stunning. I quickly became addicted to it and had it playing while I cooked dinner or simply sat in front of my fireplace, content to be lost in the story. I was lost in the dialog, lost in the mystery, the things unsaid. I became entranced by the marriage of our unnamed male narrator and the secretive Indigo. I became unsettled about the codependent friendship between Indigo and Azure, but I could not get enough of it! Even the House of Dreams became a beloved character.

This book was radiant, addictive, shocking and haunting. I would recommend it to adult readers who crave the kind of subtle magic that prowls through these pages and pulls you into The Other World.

I will 100% be reading more by Roshani Chokshi. 5/5 stars.

Ms Chokshi has the most beautiful writing style and it shines through yet again.

You never really know where she's going to take you in her books and this one is no exception. I thought we were getting a BDSM romance but she changed gears and took us down a twisted path exploring childhood friendship and love. She weaves magic into the story so perfectly that you are never quite certain if it actually exists or if the characters are a bit delusional. The characters are all deeply flawed and leave you wanting to scream at them to stop being so stupid but it all works out to make a very intriguing story.

The end felt a little rushed and I was left wishing she had fleshed it out just a bit more.

Steve West and Sura Siu do a good job of narrating. I kind of wish Ms. Siu had just done the whole thing but I got used to Steve's parts in the end.

I love Roshani Chokshi's writing and when I found out she was writing an adult book, I knew I needed to read it.

Things I Liked
Mystery and spooky vibes
Dual POVs
Ambiguous timeline

I loved this book. It is perfect for fans of Mexican Gothic and lush storytelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Steve West is without a doubt my favorite male voice actor. Something about his voice! So I was over the moon when I saw him as a narrator on this. The other narrator was fantastic, too.Gothic books are my favorite and it was done very well here. I loved the past and present timelines, the alternating narrators were equally interesting, and the writing had a beautiful flow to it. I absolutely loved the mystery in this one! It was my first book by this author but it won’t be my last. The book was darker than I thought would be, which was a welcome surprise. And I actually didn’t guess the major twist right away! Overall, definitely recommend to fans of gothic fantasy.

Audiobook of the Last Tale of the Flower Bride

This ADHD girl almost didn't finish, boy am I glad I kept reading! I promise you, just keep reading... once the past storyline came into view - i couldn't stop listening!

The main male character, known as The Bridegroom, is bewitched by the main female character, Indigo Maxwell-Castenada, She is a mysterious heiress to a hotel empire, who has the ability to bewitch all who come to know her. The Bridegroom is enchanted and falls in love at first site and the feeling is mutual. Before they marry, Indigo has but one condition. He must never dig into her past, or try to uncover any secrets. He agrees and off they go, traveling around the world until one day, Indigo's past comes calling. Her estranged aunt is dying and they need to go back to Indigo's childhood home, known as The House of Dreams. The House of Dreams wants to reveal her secrets and temptation begins to haunt the Bridegroom; he breaks his promise... The mystery involves the disappearance of Indigo's childhood best friend, Azure. Indigo and Azure They are deeply entangled in mind, body and heart, so much so that they create a place called The Otherworld. A place where life is full of magic and fae and all the world's problems and realities go quiet. As the two of them start to grow up, one of them clings to this alternate reality and one of them starts to explore the world outside of The Otherworld and The House of Dreams. What happens to Azure, what happens to the Bridegroom and Indigo, what happens to the House of Dreams... the pages tell the story, and what a story it is.

My Struggles...
~I found myself deeply disturbed by the toxic, codependent relationships between EVERYONE in this book
~I found myself having to reread parts because they were a bit too lyrical and flowery at times, it's beautiful, but with an audiobook, I struggle with that style. (Totally a preference)
~Felt the pacing dragged the first half of the book

YET, I couldn't stop reading!
I wanted to find out what happened to Azure, I wanted to find out why the Bridegroom was haunted with dreams of a brother that didn't exist. I wanted to know why Indigo was the way she was. I wanted to know why Azure never wanted to be home. I wanted to know more; The Otherworld...does it exist? Is the House magic? Mystery and intrigue drip from every page, and I became obsessed with these crazy, unhinged characters.

This book feels haunting, dark, intriguing, mysterious, magical, confusion, and full of contradictions.

Roshani's writing is stunning, and she knows how to weave beauty into every word. I've never been more mystified by a book in my life... The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi is the most unique book I've ever read.

Book will be released February 2023
#netgalley #thelasttaleoftheflowerbride #arc