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Fantasy. Romance. Young Adult Fiction. LGBTQIA+ (Fiction.) HTML:Uncover a riveting story of palace intrigue set in a sumptuous Asian-inspired fantasy world in the breakout YA novel that Publisher's Weekly calls "elegant and adrenaline-soaked." In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they're after �?? the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest. Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learns the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable: she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and reven… (more)
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In order to encourage peace following a civil war, every year one paper caste girl is selected from each of the eight provinces and presented to the Demon King. The families of the chosen girls are showered in gifts and riches, while each paper girl is brought to the palace to live in luxury, with one immense caveat. For one year, they must give themselves fully to the king. The Demon King has a notoriously insatiable appetite for young virgins, and his ferocity is known throughout the land. Ngan does not shy away from depicting dark subjects. Sexual assault and rape is prevalent, but she writes these scenes carefully. It also helps that while she depicts plenty of unhealthy relationships, there are healthy ones to retreat to when things get too depressing.
Speaking of relationships, Ngan writes them beautifully. From the very beginning of the novel, Lei’s relationship with her father, Baba, and her dog, Bao, is incredibly endearing. When she is cruelly ripped away from them, the devastation is palpable. When Lei is stolen away to the Hidden Palace to be a paper girl, she never expects to make friends, but as time goes by, her relationship with each of the girls blossoms in different ways. While she doesn’t get along well with everyone, even the conflicts that arise come across as realistic and intimate. When Lei does find love, and a forbidden one at that, it is so natural and affecting that the pair seem to not only enhance each other strengths, but complete each other fully.
While the overarching plot is fascinating on its own, the sub-plots add more intrigue. If you enjoy reading about family tragedies, political machinations, and/or revenge, there’s a lot here to whet the appetite. Ngan is also quite talented at weaving together slower passages full of character development with fast-paced action sequences. If you like martial arts, you’ll be pleased.
There’s a lot to love in Natasha Ngan’s Girls of Paper and Fire, but most of all, it’s refreshing to follow an empowered young female protagonist. Her refusal to submit to the horrors thrust upon her is inspiring, and we need more of that in life and literature. The novel ends on a cliff-hanger, which I could have done without, as I will be picking up the next installation in the series regardless, but I understand the reasoning behind it. I often hesitate to recommend incomplete series, but I can confidently say that this is one I expect will continue to be satisfying until its eventual conclusion.
First off; I loved the world that Ms. Ngan built for this book. Instantly, I was
Lei may start out as an innocent but by the end of the story, she is a leader. The rest of the girls become leaders as well. The king is heartless and evil. He is not someone that could be liked. Can I talk about the ending. What an ending. That is all I can say. If you want to know more you will have to pick up a copy of this book for yourself. Girls of Paper and Fire is not to be missed. Ms. Ngan builds a lush world of fantasy with great characters.
The fantasy world presented was interesting, but the story was lacking. Mostly the book was just boring.
I also had trouble engaging with the characters; they just seemed so one-dimensional and shallow and were over characterized. I nearly stopped reading it a couple of times and won't be continuing the series.
Overall this was another book that was okay but lacking. I really didn’t enjoy it that much. I feel like I’ve been reading a run of rather disappointing YA fantasies here. Not recommended, there are much better YA fantasy books out there.
That end. Oh deary dear.
My reaction to the epilogue: awhh shit
Beautiful imagery, worldbuilding and amazing are the beats of this book,.
10/10
Please know, there is a warning at the beginning of the book that should definitely be heeded:
"Please be aware this book contains scenes of violence and sexual assault."
I didn't want to like this book, it was too
The world in Girls of Paper and Fire is similar to other books I've read, there is a caste system, and the lowest caste is exploited and, well in a lot of cases brutalized, but the upper caste. But Ngan takes that basic outline and creates a beautiful and horrible world. On the surface, this book is wonderful, but if you look at the larger implications, the ways the book touches on so many topics that are relevant, especially right now, it becomes magnificent. The story and the characters are so vivid that I think everyone can relate to them on some level.
I honestly just loved this book, but again, it is not an easy read. It is an emotional journey.
This was really good and I can't wait to read the next in the series.
In regards to the way sexual assault was handled...I felt like the situation was taken seriously which was good, but the book also acted like the protagonist was special and admirable for fighting back against her attacker in contrast to the other girls who went along with the situation in order to survive. Her reaction can tell the reader about her character yes, but I felt like the narrative held up her reaction as the correct one and looked down on the other girls as weak because they didn't fight back, and because they followed the status qou. There's no "correct" way to handle an assault, especially in the extreme situation depicted in this book where physically resisting will literally get someone killed. Your mileage may vary on this but it made me very uncomfortable and grossed out.