The Last Tale of the Flower Bride

I am a huge fan of Roshani Chokshi’s work—but she outdid herself with this book. The writing is thickly luxurious, and the House of Dreams, where much of the story takes place, feels like it sits at the borders of a fae otherworld. The magic is palpable. And deliciously foreboding.

Ever been at a sleepover? The lights are low, the wind is rustling outside, and someone starts telling a spine-chilling story they swear is true?

The Last Tale of the Flower Bride gives those vibes. Rich and dark and a throwback to my old teen favorites like Down a Dark Hall and Flowers in the Attic, but adult and twisted and terrifying and beautiful. A fairytale in the true sense, with its midnight heart exposed, and at the same time lovely and lyrical. Like nothing else I read all year.

This is one of those novels that confounds me in the best way: The story is so propulsive, I wanted to race through to learn what happens in the end. But the writing is so lyrically delicious, I often needed to stop and absorb the sentence I’d just read.

One of the most fascinating aspects of this gem is that you’re kept wondering until the very end whether something supernatural is happening – it’s definitely not your parents’ coming-of-age story. Crucially, the characters are richly drawn in all of their glimmering strengths and very human flaws. In short, the novel… show more.

Roshani Chokshi is my author idol. I found out about her work years ago through the Rick Riordan Presents imprint and have read everything she’s written.

As we write in similar genres, she gives me hope that I will also achieve success like hers one day. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride is her adult debut, a dark fantasy that draws on myths, legends, and fairytales across the cultures of her heritage.

I listened to the audiobook, often in bed late at night, and the darker parts sent chills down my spine. Be prepared for a twist at the… show more.