Name: What the Flower Says of Death
ISBN: 9789198425222

Danielle Koste

After a failed suicide attempt, Violet is left with her estranged grandmother and comatose grandfather at their estate in Newport. While biding her time until her next attempt, Violet stumbles across Jack. He has his own secrets for why he's in Newport, and in the process of figuring them out, Violet finds herself reconsidering life.

What the Flower Says of Death

Kali Roberson

This was by far one of the best books I have ever read. I’ve never read a book that conveyed the inner struggles of depression and anxiety so perfectly. Although in the book Violet and Jack are romantically together, Danielle Koste does a wonderful job of portraying how simply you can just be there for someone as a friend during a panic attack or depressive state.

Sophie Elaina 

What The Flower Says of Death delves into themes of love and loss in an absolutely magical way. The author was able to pack a punch and create a heartbreakingly real read while also being caring and considerate about the subjects she was broaching. The pacing was slow but I was never bored and I think it was because the book followed such a deeply emotional rooted plot. 

It is a very character focussed story, so if that's something you don't enjoy you might not love this, but I honestly can't imagine anyone not taking something away from this book. The characters felt overwhelmingly realistic and that made the book even more thought provoking. Violet was so relatable.

'Every single star is significant, because it's each one that helps make the sky so overwhelmingly grand.'

I adored Danielle Koste's writing. Within the first couple of pages I had fell in love. It was eerily lyrical and so real. There are so many amazing sentences that I can't get out of my head. The words were chosen and put together so perfectly. 

The only thing that irritated me a little, was the skipping over of some of the time. The instances where the protagonist talks about what happened instead of actually seeing those moments unfold, did make the relationship development feel slightly rushed. I would have specifically liked to see more build up concerning the romance. It was right on the tip of being incredible, there was just something holding me back from getting fully invested in it. I think the main reason was the fact that it felt too short and I just wanted more from these characters.

'I was playing a dangerous game with my dark thoughts, my dangerous lover.'

One of my favourite things was the way the book focussed so much on the familial relationships. The way it subtly followed three generations of women in Violet's family and how it portrayed the message of how you can't always judge a person by what actions they take. Sometimes it's hard to look past our own struggles and see the reasons for why someone feels or acts the way they do.

In addition the mental health representation is one of the most realistic I've read about before in any book, I absolutely love how well done it was. As someone who often deals with anxiety I understand how little worries can build up and become an overwhelming barrier that seems impossible to pass. I connected so much to story and it made me feel so many things. But the most important thing of all was that it didn't make me feel bad at all. Following Violet through her struggles was almost empowering. 

It was such a powerfully emotional read, and I was so drained by the time I got to the end of this book. The plot, and characters, and atmosphere that Koste created was perfect. I was completely consumed by the story. I honestly can't believe how immersed I felt while reading it.

I've already pre-ordered a physical copy and can't wait to get a hold of it. I'll definitely be re-reading this book in the future! This is a story I would highly recommend!

Trigger warnings: This book frequently references suicide and death.

*I was sent an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. 

Check out my blog for more reviews and bookish content: https://www.sophieelaina.com/

What the Flower Says of Death

Reviews

Highlights