Scan barcode
A review by akallabeth
The Last Tale of the Flower Bride by Roshani Chokshi
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
well i just think she's neat. bluebeard x the crane wife x the boredom of teenage girls x the mortifying ordeal of being known.
the vibe is definitely more magical realism than outright fantasy, and the mood has been fairly described as gothic/dreamy/lush/haunting. i will not disagree. it's very pretty but surprisingly sad at turns, and chokshi is really able to convey a sense of claustrophobia as the noose of the story tightens.
i will not call the writing style purple prose because i do not actually find it disruptive, nor do i think it makes the story impenetrable. it's definitely on the flowery, elaborate side, but i found it suitable for the story being told. of course, as i have said on this website before, my tolerance for flowery prose is pretty high. so maybe don't listen to me i guess. know your limits. (to compare this to, say, this is how you lose the time war - i would say this is less flowery. but not by a TON.)
while this IS very vibes-based, there is a plot and there are reveals. i found them to be solidly guessable if you're the kind of reader who wants to guess (i mostly guessed both of the notable reveals decently in advance), but not heavy-handedly obvious.
on a shallow note, there was some discourse on booktube about the covers for this book lol, and while i actually like both, i do think the uk (? the dark one with the keys) version conveys the tone of the story a little better.
(r/fantasy book bingo read, square: published in 2023. also works for: magical realism or literary (hm), poc author, island or coastal setting.)
the vibe is definitely more magical realism than outright fantasy, and the mood has been fairly described as gothic/dreamy/lush/haunting. i will not disagree. it's very pretty but surprisingly sad at turns, and chokshi is really able to convey a sense of claustrophobia as the noose of the story tightens.
i will not call the writing style purple prose because i do not actually find it disruptive, nor do i think it makes the story impenetrable. it's definitely on the flowery, elaborate side, but i found it suitable for the story being told. of course, as i have said on this website before, my tolerance for flowery prose is pretty high. so maybe don't listen to me i guess. know your limits. (to compare this to, say, this is how you lose the time war - i would say this is less flowery. but not by a TON.)
while this IS very vibes-based, there is a plot and there are reveals. i found them to be solidly guessable if you're the kind of reader who wants to guess (i mostly guessed both of the notable reveals decently in advance), but not heavy-handedly obvious.
on a shallow note, there was some discourse on booktube about the covers for this book lol, and while i actually like both, i do think the uk (? the dark one with the keys) version conveys the tone of the story a little better.
(r/fantasy book bingo read, square: published in 2023. also works for: magical realism or literary (hm), poc author, island or coastal setting.)
Here is a path, and on it you may find riches and wonders and certain death. You will never have to return to the other side where riches are scant and wonders are stingy. There, death is hidden, but here, death wears a face that you love. Here, you can be certain that death loves you, too, in its own fashion.