THE LAST TALE OF THE FLOWER BRIDE

Narrators Steve West and Sura Siu capture the atmospheric tone of this haunting gothic romance. An unnamed bridegroom weds mysterious Indigo Maxwell-Casteñada. When her aunt becomes ill, they travel to Indigo's childhood home, the House of Dreams. There, the bridegroom learns about Indigo's childhood best friend, Azure. Chapters alternate between the bridegroom in the present, voiced by West, and Azure in the past, voiced by Siu. As secrets about Azure and Indigo's relationship and Azure's disappearance slowly unravel, reality and fantasy become blurred. West shines in his performance, commanding scenes with his deep, smooth British-accented delivery. This creates an interesting contrast with Siu's higher pitch and sharp tone. The performances and lush writing create an enchanting listening experience. V.T.M. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: FEBRUARY 2023]