I first became aware of Roshani Chokshi when my kiddo discovered her Aru Shah middle grade series, the Pandava Quintet. Printed in the “Rick Riordan Presents” line it focuses on Hindu mythology as Aru Shah embarks on adventures with her friends. We even went to one of the Aru Shah book signings. Chokshi was witty, charming, and engaging. I left wanting to read the books but never got around to it. In the past year I became aware of her fiction for older readers, particularly The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. I wanted to quickly pick my next audiobook so I could listen while walking my dog, who was already in her harness. My favorite independent bookstore, Mysterious Galaxy, recommended it in Libro FM and the cover is gorgeous. So a snap decision was made to get it and I’m glad I did.
Indigo Maxwell-Castenada, orphaned heiress, was raised in the House of Dreams on an island off the coast of Washington. The Last Tale of the Flower Bride tells her story. Indigo moves through the world on a different level than the rest. She is gorgeous, of course, but more than that she has a rarified air, as if she were a fae hiding in human form. Alternating between the present day as told through her bridegroom and the past as told by her childhood best friend, Azure. Indigo and Azure are bonded by their belief that fairy is a real place one can get to if the fairies are properly appeased. They are one soul shared between two bodies. The bridegroom is a scholar, student of mythology, and seeker of stories. Together they build a life wrapped in stories and legends. But it is a life built on the promise that he never look into her past.
As we wind through the story, mystery and tension ramps up. What is Indigo hiding? What happened to end Azure and Indigo’s friendship? What will happen if the bridegroom discovers Indigo’s secrets? There was much I liked about The Last Tale of the Flower Bride. Chokshi writes luxuriantly. Her words are lush and evocative, painting beautiful and sometimes terrifying pictures. I think it’s a neat convention that the bridegroom’s name is never given. He exists as teller of the story, lending it an air of a fairytale. I was kept on tenterhooks as I kept guessing the ending and was surprised by the twist. Highly recommend if you like dark fairytales and mysteries. The fantastic audiobook narration was shared by Steve West and Sura Siu and if you enjoy audiobooks, I would suggest this one.
