Sunday, December 10, 2023

Review - The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi

 

 
 

 
Title: The Last Tale of the Flower Bride
 
Author: Roshani Chokshi
 
Pages: 304
 
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
 
Release Date: 16th February 2023
 
 
Blurb from Goodreads:
 
 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.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
My Review:
 
 *I received an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley*




A scholar of fairy tales meets the enigmatic Indigo Maxwell-Castenada, an heiress who is as beautiful as she is mysterious.

When the two marry, Indigo asks that the bridegroom never digs into her past, and the two live happily ever after.

Or, at least, they do until Indigo has to leave for her childhood home because her estranged aunt is seriously ill.

At the House of Dreams, the bridegroom is enticed by the promise of secrets and finds himself unable to stop from searching for answers.

Who is Azure?

Why does Indigo not talk about her and where did she go?


The premise for this book really intrigued me, especially the mystery element.

Out of the bridegroom, Indigo and Azure, I found Azure to be the most interesting character and I enjoyed her chapters the most. I didn't like Indigo very much, but she was a complex character. I felt indifferent about the bridegroom.

The plot was interesting and held my attention, but I wasn't gripped.

The magical realism element was intriguing and made the novel unique.

I enjoyed the writing style and found it easy to follow.

While I did like this novel, I can see other people enjoying it more than I did.


Overall, this was an enjoyable, unique read.



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