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

This was not at all what I was expecting.... But I liked the dark gothic vibes and not being sure at any given time how rooted in reality we actually were. And while I didn't really connect with the bridegroom pov and still had some questions about his plot line, I overall enjoyed this

THIS BOOK IS AMAZING! Roshani Chokshi is my automatic read author, but she never stops to amaze with anything she writes. I would read anything she writes period. This story was amazing, however I was expecting something different and the story went a total different way. I enjoyed every minute of this tale and would recommend this dark twist of a book to everyone.

3.5 rounded up.

I think it could have been a five if it had been more of Azure’s POV and even just her POV because I love unhinged teenage friendship stories.

I do understand why the bridegroom plot was necessary for the story, however.

The writing is absolutely stunning. The narrators are strong and fit the characters.

*thank you to harper audio for the advanced listening copy! the audiobook is fantastic

*dnf at page 134
it is going to be strange writing a positive review for a book i didn’t finish but i am trying to set down books that i’m not in love with this year and the last tale of the flower bride is a novel that is excellent and will work for many people. it just didn’t work for me.

as usual with gothics, the writing here is absolutely gorgeous. it’s so lush and dreary and honestly was the only reason i kept reading. roshani chokshi paints this tale in a way that is fully realized and the atmosphere is so vibrant. i also loved the duel perspective narrative and if i was more interested in the mystery i would’ve enjoyed that more.

my only problem i had was that i fail to connect to characters a lot of the time in gothic stories. the characters feel more like ideas or archetypes and i can never fully grasp their characterization or motives. i fully understand that this is the case for most gothics and that the characters are usually not the focal point, but for a book as slow as this one, i was hoping to get a bit more in depth with the bridegroom. i’m almost halfway through this book and care for him very little.

so this was a miss for me. but i do think fans of modern gothic stories and dark fairytales are going to very pleased with this.

2.5 - Roshani Chokshi has an elegance to her stories and descriptions. Sometimes it seems a bit much, over-the-top, and sometimes it draws directly into the scene. Sometimes I liked it, sometimes I just wanted to get on with the story as I tend to be more plot focused in regards to books. I loved the idea of this plot and anything with a dark, gothic fairytales description is going to be a must read for me. This story definitely gave me the gothic atmosphere with some mystery, but the love story I was looking for fell on the wayside and the friendship/love between Indigo and Azure got a bit repetitive (so many scenes describing how beautiful Indigo is naked) and while they aged in the book, they didn't seem to mentally age. Also, I was confused by the plot. I believe the reader is supposed to wonder if the otherworld/fairytale element is fictional or just the over-imagination of the girls...but I am still not entirely sure? While listening to the audio, I couldn't help feeling I missed an important scene to help me fully understand what was real...or not? I can see others really enjoying this story, but I in the end it didn't come together in a way that left me satisfied.

Thank you to Harper Audio and NetGally for this advance listening copy of Roshani Chokshi's new book. Honestly, what can I say other than that this book was a masterpiece? The narrators were absolutely FABULOUS, capturing the chill of the characters as well as the romantic ambiance. It is truly a new favorite of mine. It is cozy and creepy all at once, and the prose is breathtaking. I recommend this audiobook tenfold. This book is described as "enchanting" and the narrators captured that and more. I am in absolute awe. Highly, HIGHLY recommend this gothic, utterly romantic, and timeless novel.

I can not in good conscience provide a review of this book until Harper Collins returns to the bargaining table and negotiates a fair and equitable contract with the Harper Collins union. I stand in solidarity with the union and will not be reviewing Harper Collins titles until the union demands are met. The union is asking for a living wage, more diversity initiatives and further recognition of the union. It's been 41 days since the union went on strike and HC has not returned to the bargaining table.

This story is a true ride from start to finish. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and got lost in the luxurious descriptions as the3 story was told in 2 entwining parts. The author did a wonderful job, building mystery, setting tones and creating unforgettable characters and certainly an unforgettable story. The audiobook was amazing, the voices the narrators gave added so much to the tale.

I need more gothic novels like this!!! This was enchanting…yet with the same darkness that fairytales deliver. Told by two narrators the Bride Groom and Azure sharing the present and the past building up the character of Indigo… a mysterious heiresss. A large part of this book is about complicated/obsession/toxic friendships. Loss and loneliness. I feel like this one would be a great one to reread and pick up something different or notice something on the second go around. The words are so beautiful it’s hard not to get lost in The House Of Dreams.

"This is why fairytales are dangerous, their words sneak into your veins, and travel into the chambers of your heart, where they whisper of your exceptionalism. They say, "Ah, but remember the boy who walked into the woods and came out a King? Oh, but what of the girl who was kicked and slept in ashes? Remember the man who was only kind and so the world bent around the shape of his smile?" But we are not exceptional.

I'd say this audiobook is pure magic. But it's so much more dark, and twisty, than most magic would allow. The deeper we go, the darker it gets, until the end scene where it all comes together.

"Later I would understand that the entrance to another world craves that which cannot be traced. It's wants: the mouthy weight of a nickname no longer uttered, the soft furred throat of the dreams that pad quietly after you from one year to the next."

The narration moves back and forth between The Bridegroom and Azure, the mysterious best friend of his Bride Indigo. This style lets us see far more than we would any other way, and lends to the book wonderfully.

And oh, the opening chapters to this book are so lyrical and romantic.. (in such a dark and consuming way). 😍

"I have since learned that marriage is nothing more than a spell, strengthened by daily ritual. The spell requires libations, mundance musings, hoarded and poured over. The repetition of small displays, the knowledge of how your spouse takes their coffee. Marriage asks of that crust of time you were saving for yourself, marriage demands blood, for it says: "here is what is inside me, I tithe it for you." 👌 Perfection.

It has been so long since a book (especially an audiobook) has absorbed me so thoroughly. I cannot wait for people to dive into this one. The setting is so dark and luscious, the characters are so mysterious and haunting. Stunning, from start to finish.

This is a book I will forever long to read for the first time again.

If you were a fan of Strange the Dreamer, Gallant, The Ten Thousand Doors of January, or The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue.. I'd give this book a try!

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a beautifully written suspenseful gothic fairytale that is centered around a husband and a wife in a cat and mouse game. A scholar that is unnamed throughout the whole book and is only ever mentioned as the “bridegroom” meets and falls in love with a mysterious heiress named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. Their relationship is built on their mutual love for fairy tales and mythology and the vow that the husband never pries into Indigo’s past. But as the last surviving member of Indigo’s family falls ill and the two are forced to visit her childhood house called House of Dreams, the husband’s vow is tested and the many secrets begin to unravel.

The book is told from two different perspectives set in two different timelines: the bridegroom (set in present timeline) and Azure, Indigo’s childhood best friend who tells us about her past and whose whereabouts we don’t know until the very end. This is as much of a coming-of-age story about two girls and their bittersweet and at times, cruel, friendship built on their mutual obsession for escaping into a magical land, as it as a story about a marriage built on dark secrets.

I really enjoyed the back and forth of the two different timelines and how secrets are revealed slowly as past and present timelines converge. It really helped build the suspense, in my opinion. The writing is enchanting and pulled me in immediately right from the prologue and if I could, I would have devoured this audiobook in one sitting.

As an adult and a thriller debut from Roshani Chokshi, this was great and I couldn’t recommend it enough! It is lush, dark, has a plot twist and an ending you do not see coming and it leaves the reader wondering whether everything mentioned in the book was truly magical or was it just a figment of the narrator’s imagination. I really hope Roshani Chokshi keeps writing thrillers and gothic horror novels.

Lastly, if you’re interested in reading a darker version of Bridge to Terabithia or a book with gender bent Bluebeard retelling vibes, then this book is definitely for you!

Haunting, lyrical, and captivating, The Last Tale of the Flower Bridge was an absolutely delight. This was my first Roshani Chokshi book, and I was absolutely blown away. The storytelling is beautifully constructed. The plot is full of suspense in a way that keeps you coming back for more, without sacrificing anything in the way of writing. The characters are messy and morally grey and unique and interesting. Overall, this book was one of my favorite reads of 2022. If you haven't preordered it yet, you should absolutely do that now.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Married to the mysterious Indigo Castenada, the narrator, her husband, is forbidden from inquiring into her past upon the pain of leaving her. The couple is called back to her childhood home when Indigo's estranged aunt is dying.
Through flashbacks, we learn of Indigo and Azure's co-dependent relationship. Obsessed with returning to farie, Indigo sets their lives to revolve around their becoming worthy of being allowed to return.

Beautifully written, a modern gothic fairy tale with twist and turns... no one is without secrets.
The narration was wonderfully done.



Thank you to NetGalley for a eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is a beautifully written suspenseful gothic fairytale that is centered around a husband and a wife in a cat and mouse game. A scholar that is unnamed throughout the whole book and is only ever mentioned as the “bridegroom” meets and falls in love with a mysterious heiress named Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. Their relationship is built on their mutual love for fairy tales and mythology and the vow that the husband never pries into Indigo’s past. But as the last surviving member of Indigo’s family falls ill and the two are forced to visit her childhood house called House of Dreams, the husband’s vow is tested and the many secrets begin to unravel.

The book is told from two different perspectives set in two different timelines: the bridegroom (set in present timeline) and Azure, Indigo’s childhood best friend who tells us about her past and whose whereabouts we don’t know until the very end. This is as much of a coming-of-age story about two girls and their bittersweet and at times, cruel, friendship built on their mutual obsession for escaping into a magical land, as it as a story about a marriage built on dark secrets.

I really enjoyed the back and forth of the two different timelines and how secrets are revealed slowly as past and present timelines converge. It really helped build the suspense, in my opinion. The writing is enchanting and pulled me in immediately right from the prologue and if I could, I would have devoured this audiobook in one sitting.

As an adult and a thriller debut from Roshani Chokshi, this was great and I couldn’t recommend it enough! It is lush, dark, has a plot twist and an ending you do not see coming and it leaves the reader wondering whether everything mentioned in the book was truly magical or was it just a figment of the narrator’s imagination. I really hope Roshani Chokshi keeps writing thrillers and gothic horror novels.

Lastly, if you’re interested in reading a darker version of Bridge to Terabithia or a book with gender bent Bluebeard retelling vibes, then this book is definitely for you!

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!