Whoa this was perfectly magical and emotional and harrowing...so deserving of the hype! It's such a dark premise, but it's handled so well. And can I just say the amount of Asian #ownvoices fantasies coming out at the moment is incredible (!!) not only that this has an f/f romance, demons, rebellions, secret assassins, empowering female friendships aND A BEAUTIFUL COVER.

bless tbh, we have been blessed

➸ WORLD BUILDING
dude, this was amazing. Complex and developed, with history and lore!! the world seemed really big too, which is something I crave in YA fantasy but often find wanting?? Also the author's note said she drew inspiration from her own Chinese and Malaysian background and I think that's incredibly special too. Also the descriptions of the world, the palaces, the food (!! I'M SO HUNGRY TOO) just made you feel really in the story.

➸ ok the premise IS very dark. We do need to note this.
It's about the demon king taking girls as concubines, so yes there is rape and sexual abuse and violence. (I also think it was very very good that the book had a content warning at the beginning.) It's not graphic, but it is talked about thoroughly. At first I was like "this isn't YA..." but you know, I did change my mind??? Somewhat because of the author's note too where Ngan said: "While I realise these are hard discussions, especially for teens, it is of vital important we have them. Books can be safe places to explore difficult topics. While we cannot shelter young people from being exposed to sexual violence, whether through lived experience or indirectly, we can give them a way to safely engage with and reflect upon these issues. I hope Girls provides such a space."

I couldn't agree more. Especially in this day and age where (I think the stats are?) 1 in 6 women will experience sexual abuse in their life. We NEED to talk about it. And this is harrowing and awful, but the book really handles the topic so well. I still felt gutted reading it though afjskdla I ached for these girls and omfg I hate the Demon king so freaking much.

➸ A MOMENT FOR OUR FAV GIRLS, LEI AND WREN.
I loved Lei so so much! She's the narrator, and omg her little snark quips gave me life. But she's so real. She was emotional and unsure and made messy decisions and had messy feels (a true teen!!). And she WAS brave and fiery, but like not in a totally stoic way?! Nothing against stoic women, I just don't often see girls who are both soft and determined in epic fantasy. She's awkward and a bit dorky and omggg when she realises she has feelings for Wren, SHE IS SO CUTE. I loved their romance so much! It wasn't rushed and it was sweet but also intense. Wren was mysterious and drop-dead gorgeous and badass and had a Secret Thing going on. I think I can count on one hand how many f/f epic fantasies I've read so *smol flail* this is amazing and more please.

➸ Like idk what else do you want from me? MORE FLAILS.
I was really captivated the whole time (beginning took a while to get going but eh) and the pacing was goodness! Ok it didn't give me all-the-feels-of-ever, but I am also a tree stump. I acknowledge that. But I want more from this world, this author, THESE GIRLS, and I'm really excited this was so good and powerful. The cast is like 80% women, strong and soft and making mistakes and plotting and being enemies and being heroes. I LOVED THAT. It's not a light fluffy fantasy. It's heavy and unsettling but written very very well.

I'm definitely pointing to this one ➸ very recommended!

What does a girl who has unusual golden eyes see that everyone doesn’t? While some people may think becoming a rare Paper Girl, or one of the King’s concubines as a privilege, Lei sees it for what it truly is – an abuse of female rights where young girls are forced against their will for the King’s pleasure. Girls of Paper and Fire talks about a subject that is prevalent in Asian history, but one that is rarely spoken about or explored in much detail – becoming the King’s concubine.

While the thought of living in the palace amongst other royals may be enticing, it’s the actual act of having your body taken away from you just to serve your purpose, that is really highlighted. And unlike Lei, most of the other Paper Girls take on their responsibilities, whether reluctantly or slightly willingly. Lei on the other hand, from the start of the book until the end, stands by her strong stance which could be treated as treason and defying the King – but she believes her right to her body is more important than a life of servitude. Much of the book focuses on the training of these Paper Girls and the caste-based system that they come from – some with privileged familial ties, others with blessed features – whereas Lei comes from a small rural town and has never received training to become a Paper Girl.



So you get what you’d expect, when you bring a bunch of teen girls together – bickering, gossip, bullying and general competitiveness, but soon Lei and the girls find their place in the palace. Until they get called by the King, you see. For the whole book, you can sense the relative fear and unease that Lei feels about being a concubine and serving the King, and it’s a rather uncomfortable experience. Although everyone tells her that she’s lucky to be there, you don’t need to be a modern day feminist to see how wrong it is. This fear is written in such a sensory way, and is accompanied by triggers of sexual assault and rape, that you have to see whether Lei will make it out of the palace safely. And that’s what I found gripping about the book, along with the mystery and f/f romance within.

Girls of Paper and Fire also explores the twice-taboo relationship of Lei and Wren, another Paper Girl – not only are females loving other females unheard of and forbidden, but they are also defying the King. The sense of danger is balanced out with the love, curiosity, support and solace that they find in one another, and let me say I loved seeing how their relationship unfolded. Wren herself is shrouded in mystery, disappearing during the night, keeping to herself, being careful not to form bonds with others. I was curious to see what would happen between Lei and Wren, whether they would pursue their relationship, what would happen if they did/didn’t.

Along with this, there is an interesting exploration of different castes based on their makeup – Paper Castes who are fully human without special abilities, steel castes who have partial animal-demon qualities, and moon castes who are fully demon and the most privileged caste of all – such as the Demon King that they all serve. This leant to some fascinating elements of world building within the world – including how, no matter how high born or privileged you are as a paper caste – the steel/moon castes will always be above you.



Girls of Paper and Fire is an Asian fantasy that will light the fire within you when it comes to female rights, and it is a story that will stay with me for a long time. While it explores a somewhat discomforting topic, I loved the element of fire and emotion within Lei as one of the Paper Girls. It’s a visceral #ownvoices Asian fantasy about becoming the King’s concubine, and what happens when you feel like your life is entirely out of your hands. I loved the caste based system and how this book is inspired by the author’s upbringing, and the f/f romance was also beautiful to see. Definitely a fantasy that I recommend!

I was extremely lucky to obtain a free copy by NetGalley for my true and honest review. I can see that this will be a very popular YA fantasy book and already I am seeing it being part of YA reading groups and doing very well on goodreads/booktube/blogs.

Girls of Paper and Fire is a fantasy novel based in a world where there are three castes; Paper, Steel, and Moon. Our heroine is Lei. Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest. The reason for this is that each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.

Often with YA fantasy books I don't tend to like the main character, however, Lei is the exception to the case. Her character was very well written, she was funny, adorable, clumsy but yet strong willed and minded. The book was a bit slow placed and the last 100 hundred pages were page-turners. I loved the asian inspired elements and the diversity within it. It just shows that having diversity in books is not something that is too difficult and is so amazing to see in YA books.

Overall, this would be perfect to YA fantasy lovers.

Let me be clear, while this novel is classified as a 'young adult' novel in the majority of markets, this is not a typical young adult publication.

To start, it deals with some heavy themes, ones designed to make even an adult reader feel ridiculously uncomfortable. It deals with (and this is not a comprehensive list) torture, slavery, rape, inappropriate sexual content, animal abuse, gratuitous violence and prostitution. I would advise anyone who may experience trauma should they read about any of these themes, to serious reconsider whether this is the book for you.

Now that the dark and broody stuff is out of the way, I felt that the world within GoPaF was impeccably created, blending Eastern architecture and customs with a dash of Western civilisation. I could envisage myself amongst the architecture, wandering in the temples gardens or just spending some time within one of the temples.

While Lei is the main character, I found myself more drawn to Wren, a fellow Paper Girl who has her own secrets. I loved her story arc, going from the perfect example of Paper Girl etiquette to a soft and marshmallowy lover who would do anything and go anywhere to protect the woman she loves.

The portrayal of the majority of male characters left a bad taste in y mouth however. While there were one or two men who seemed to have a soul, most were written as seeing women as 'things', desiring them for only one thing. While I understand this is still rife in some cultures, it felt a little overdone.

The love interest between the Lei and her girlfriend was very well written, slowly easing the reader into their feelings. The majority of other relationships were very power centred and abusive, a trait that I feel I would never want portrayed as 'normal' if I had a teenager reading this work.

Overall I enjoyed this novel for what it was although at times, I found this novel overbearing for even myself a 30 something woman with vast life experience. I am intrigued as to Lei's plight and look forward to further instalments.

"I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review"

Each year, eight beautiful girls are chosen as Paper Girls to serve the king. It's the highest honor they could hope for...and the most cruel.
But this year, there's a ninth girl. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.
In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

TRIGGER WARNING : Sexual and physical abuse

First things first this book reminds me so much of The Hundredth Queen by Emily R King (not that it is exactly the same but there are a lot of similarities within the story). This book I have to say is even more dark and I found it easier to get into this book though.

I was worried once I noticed the similarities between this and the other book I mentioned I would find it hard to get into but I read this book pretty fast and I found the world easier to understand than I was expecting.

The sexual and physical abuse was a shock to read (I had not checked good reads before reading it, if I had I would of been forewarned) and at times made me uncomfortable to read but I can see the importance of it within the story it is just a hard topic to read about.

Lei I found hard to connect with throughout the book, I don't know what it was that made it hard for me but she just come across unlikable. I have to say her love interest was a nice twist in the story and I liked their character much more than Lei.

Can I just say the ending wow, I didn't see that coming at all. It has me very interested in whats going to happen in the second book (which I will be reading).

I ended up rating this book 3.75 stars, it would of been a 4 star read if it wasn't for the fact it reminded me so much of another book I had only read in the last year. I 100% will continue on with the series as I think more exciting and interesting things will happen in the future books.

Girls of Paper and Fire is a little like The Selection would be if it had (a) been set in an Asian inspired fantasy world, (b) involved a f/f romance, and (c) possessed slightly (okay, A LOT) more substance. Every year eight girls are selected from the lowest social caste to serve 12 months as concubines to the king. They are known as paper girls. After a group of soldiers hear about her rare and beautiful eyes, Lei is kidnapped from her small village and submitted as a candidate to gain favour with the king. To protect her family and investigate what happened to her mother, who was taken during a raid ten years ago, Lei agrees to play her role. Things soon get complicated when she falls in love with one of the other paper girls, Wren, and becomes wrapped up in a resistance plot against the king.

A Compelling but Underdeveloped World
I found a lot of aspects of Ngan’s world, Ikara, interesting and the fact that she took inspiration from Malaysia in its creation is great! The population is broken up into three different castes – Paper, the fully human, Silver, humans with partial animal-demon features and some abilities, and Moon, full demons with significant animal-demon features and demon capabilities. This concept in itself was quite compelling and provided a very obvious challenge for rebellion on the lower caste’s part due to their inherent physical disadvantages.

However, the biggest issue I had with Ikara was that while there were things I was really interested in learning about, such as the history behind the current political and social structure, there was just so much of the world that I was massively lost or in the dark about. For example:

- How did this whole human x demon thing happen and how does it continue? Giving me some vague folktale isn’t going to cut it.
- What is this ‘The Sickness’ thing affecting the villages? What does it do? Why is it causing so many problems?
- The world has a magic system involving Shaman and the use of something called Qi. I still have no clue how any of this works. None.
- The world building has a lot of gaps and the book has a tendency to try to info-dump where it needs context for parts of the story (e.g. Wren's family history). There’s potential here but a lot of work to be done.

Two-Thirds Slow, One Third Fast
GoP&F starts off well but very quickly the story hits the brakes pacing-wise. Much of the first half is devoted to Lei going about her new life – taking classes, having conversations with the other Paper girls, experiencing reactions to Wren she doesn’t understand, and basically just waiting to be called by the King for the first time. This goes on for a while and it’s hard to see what the purpose of everything is until you hit the last third. Here, we finally get some direction and things pick up a great deal. The romance ramps up, the emotions feel more tangible, and there’s some plotting, a little defensive training, and a few super dramatic, character-shaping moments. I honestly wish this section had been more developed and less rushed.

While I was largely apathetic through most of this book, I really enjoyed the climax/ending. It’s entertaining, fast-paced and pushed me to get invested in a way I hadn’t previously. I was even a little disappointed to see two side characters die so early in the series (it didn’t help that they were two of the very few I somewhat liked). The epilogue is pretty good, too, and it almost, almost makes me want to read book two.

Lack of Likeable and Engaging Characters
The thing that let GoP&F down for me most was that I had terrible trouble connecting with or finding affection for almost all the characters (something I'm sure a lot of others will differ with me on). As an MC, I found Lei to be very generic. While she does show more “fire” (*winks*) as the novel goes on and I can admire her strength in some absolutely awful situations, she always lacked a really well-defined personality in my eyes. Wren, her love interest, is far more interesting in traits and backstory, and I liked that she was both fierce and feminine. Although I can’t say she was a favourite, I do feel I could have grown to really like her were I to continue with the series.

As for the other paper girls, these characters came off feeling very two-dimensional and, aside from Aoki, Lei’s friend, & Blue, her “nemesis” and the age-old mean girl trope (ugh), they tended to blend into each other. Even the King, our big antagonist, isn’t much of a richly written character. Sure, we despise him for the awful things he does to the paper girls and other paper caste members, but all there really is to him is arrogance, a need for control, and religious superstition. I would have appreciated some more depth for someone so important to the story.

Yay for F/F YA Romance
The romance between Lei and Wren is kind of sweet and what I liked most was that the characters balanced each other so well – hard and soft, emotional and cool. I do wish there’d been more conversation and emotional/mental connection leading up to their passionate stage but the moments between them later in the novel are really nicely done and showcase the easy flow between them. The descriptions of their affection for each other are beautifully written, emotionally intense and definitely jump right off the page. My one big complaint is Wren’s unwillingness to tell Lei her secrets for so long. The constant back and forth of ‘You’re lying to me’, ‘I’m trying to protect you’ has been done to death in YA books and I am so damn tired of it.

Other Thoughts
- Diversity and representation for the win – an Asian inspired world, populated by Asian characters and featuring a f/f romance. Hell to the yes. There’s also a huge focus on female characters in general which is a nice bonus.
- Trigger warnings. First, with regards to sexual assault. As you can tell from the description, rape is a big plot point for this book and there is one scene that will be difficult for some readers to get through. While the act isn’t shown we do get to read the lead-up, which is quite violent, and the aftermath, so be prepared. However, credit to Ngan for tackling this quite well. Second, animal violence. A dog has its throat slashed in the first few pages of the book, so again just be prepared.

____________________________________

For me, GoP&F certainly has the potential to become something good with work to its characters, pacing and world-building, but in saying that, I don’t think I’m prepared to stick it out to reach that point. I can see this being popular with others and I definitely commend Ngan on her debut, but I just don’t believe it’s the read for me.

2.5 stars

Thank you to netgalley for giving me an e-ARC for an honest review.

"But what the Demon King and his court do not understand is that paper is flammable. And there is a fire catching among us."

Each year 8 girls are chosen from the 'paper cast' to serve the demon 'moon caste' king as concubines. Our protagonist Lei is forcibly taken from her home to be put forward as a paper girl so a general can win back the favour of the King. During her time as a paper girl Lei falls in love, comes of age and defends her rights.

✅ Great Cultural Diversity and LGBT representations.
✅Multiple representations of rape culture.
✅The romance was well written and i felt like this was an LGBT coming out story as well as a survival and coming of age story.
✅The world was really intriguing.
✅The different Castes were really interesting.

❌I felt a real detachment from the terrible things that were happening to the girls and their reactions.
❌Only a small amount of world building
❌Some important moments felt rushed or thrown in to make the story work, others were really dragged out and didnt give any depth to the story.

Unfortunately this book wasnt for me. Though i can see how it would appeal to a range of readers, the abuse portrayed in this story was hard for me to read and therefore made it not so enjoyable. I would recommend this to more mature readers.

⭐⭐⭐/5

“At night, the gods dreamed of colors, and into the day those colors bled onto the earth, raining down onto the paper people and blessing them with the gifts of the gods. But in their fear, some of the people hid from the rain and so were left untouched. And some basked in the storm, and so were blessed above all others with the strength and wisdom of the heavens.”

TW: rape, sexual assault (implied, actual or threats), brutal descriptions of death (including one of an animal)

It's great to see a culturally diverse LGBTI+ novel and I think there will be quite a few people who will enjoy this book. Unfortunately it just didn't really connect with me.

When creating a mythologically rich world, descriptions are key, particularly in the way they are delivered. I felt like the descriptions were written in a very analytical and distant manner, so I just didn't feel the connection with the events or the people.

There was a lot of violence in this book. Physical, mental and sexual violence. I understand that Lei is training to be a concubine and that tends to be the way of the world in these settings, however it is quite jarring to read it occurring so often.

*thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Books, Australia for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“I know what it means to dream about the past. To dream about things you have loved, and lost.”

Girls of Paper and Fire quickly gained momentum well before it’s release date. It didn’t avoid my radar and young adult fantasy readers shouldn’t let it avoid theirs either. Natasha Ngan is redefining the standard for young adult fantasy because this was damn good.

Heavily inspired by Natasha Ngan’s Malaysian upbringing, Girls of Paper and Fire is set in the fictional region of Ikhara, where three types of classes (known as ‘castes’) exist. The first being Moon castes, who represent the most powerful class. They are demons that look like animals in humanoid form. Below this class are Steel castes, who mostly have a human form, but take on demonic features (i.e. horns patches of fur). Lastly Paper castes are the most oppressed class and are completely human.

This story follows Lei, who is from the most oppressed class. Lei is stolen by the Demon King’s royal soldiers, who every year take eight girls from the Paper caste where they are trained to become his concubines.

What immediately caught my attention was how phenomenally written this book is. The ability of Natasha Ngan to write something horrifyingly emotive, yet gorgeous was incredible.

“For a moment, it feels so like before—when our family was still whole, and our hearts. When it didn’t hurt to think of my mother, to whisper her name in the middle of the night and know she can’t answer. But despite his joking, Baba’s smile doesn’t quite reach his eyes, and it reminds me that I’m not the only one haunted by their memories.”

In a society that is incredibly misogynistic and Moon castes are outrageously privileged, this story features some really disturbing themes. It is ripe with sexual abuse, rape and violence against underpowered parties. Most notably the Paper Girls, who are chosen as concubines and begin their work as sex slaves for the Demon King.

Some of the Paper Girls are raised to see this as an honourable position. And really, when they are so young, taken to a life of luxury and assured their families are being looked after; you can’t blame them for not knowing better. Lei on the other hand, instantly despises her role and is finding ways to rebel against the Demon King and the Kingdom that stole her mother from her.

Lei shows such strength and determination in the face of adversity. She felt so real too – there are more facets shown apart from strength. Like her pain and stubbornness, her ability to love, feel happiness and support her friends and fellow Paper Girls. Lei is definitely a character many readers will find easy to champion.

I also adored the personality this book has. Despite the heaviness of whats happening, there are light moments too. Honestly after this passage, you have to read Lei’s name aloud and smile to yourself (biasedly maybe).

“They named me Lei, with a soft rising tone. They told me they chose it because the word makes your mouth form a smile, and they wanted to smile every time they thought of me.”

Also, Natasha Ngan is coming for you people who take morning showers.

“First stop—the bathing courtyard.” “Um…I usually bathe at the end of the day. You know, after I’ve had time to get dirty?”

Furthermore, this book does not neglect side characters. Lei’s relationship with her fellow Paper Girls is as complex as their attitudes towards one another. At times, it’s complicated and political. In moments where you want them to band together, they don’t. This was arguably the most frustrating part of the story, but ultimately really important. I can see the roles of side characters being expanded upon in future novels and can see these relationships being really rewarding.

We're also blessed with an f/f romance and a lot of sapphic content. This love story is slow burn and absolutely divine. It compliments the story so well, but I would've loved some more angst. I wouldn't have minded being made to wait longer in the series and essentially would've elongating that slow burn.

“I have seen beneath that Paper Girl mask, the night when the rain washed away everything between us and left only the deep thrum of desire.”

This world is incredibly rich and the book itself is such a page turner. It is also much needed in the Young Adult realm, where sapphic Asian girls have representation and are the incredible heroes of their own story. I can hardly wait for the forthcoming books.

I have finally finished the magnificent book that is Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan! I was lucky enough to have been accepted to read the ARC through Netgalley, and I have finished it just in time for its release! I give Girls of Paper and Fire 5 stars/5. I thought it was such an amazing and important book with great representation and an excellent storyline. The world building and explanation of the classes and magic system was incredible and I had a really clear vision in my mind of how the surroundings looked. Though I can NEVER picture the actual characters, the gorgeous Jamie Chung was in mind as Wren. I was never bored during the novel and I thought the pace was just perfect. The plot was everything I absolutely love rolled into one massive ball of perfection and the romance was so refreshing and something so sorely needed in the YA community. Along with the romance, there were some really important topics dealt with and I’m looking forward to see how that impacts the rest of the series. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed Girls of Paper and Fire. It was a fantastic YA novel with great representation and a thrilling fantasy world. If you’d like to read Girls, it comes out today (the 6th of November), but before diving in, please note that there are triggers for sexual abuse and violence. I’m looking forward to reading more works by Natasha and I can’t wait for the next two books in this trilogy!

This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library

There were some things I liked about this book and some things I didn't, so I'm trying to go middle of the road and rate this a solid 3 stars.

I'll start with the things I didn't like:
◾Lei had super special pretty beautiful eyes that made her super special and she was treated differently because of this, not because of any internal characteristics.
◾Lei didn't have to go through the trials the other girls did to become a Paper Girl because of her super special pretty eyes, and that's because she would have failed.
◾One of the characters told Lei she was the strongest person she'd ever met. Lei had done absolutely nothing to warrant this praise.
◾Lei was the only Paper Girl ever who refused the king and he let her get away with it.
◾Sometimes Lei said something that wasn't particularly cutting but the person in authority she said it to always looked like she'd slapped them, because the author was trying to show how brave/mouthy/spontaneous/witty Lei was, but the reaction seemed really weird and out of place.
◾The betrayer was way too obvious and it would have been more interesting and a better conflict if the person betraying them was a different character who did it not because 'it wasn't fair' but because of loyalty to the king. And also, I love reformed bad guys so I would have loved it if Lei's enemy/rival had NOT been the one to betray her and become almost begrudging friends.
◾When Lei was confronted, she didn't even TRY to deny anything, and no one even had any proof.


What I did like:
◾The romance was really well written, like really. It's probably worth reading for that alone. And not because it's LGBTQ, which I didn't know going in to this (I don't really move from my corner of the interwebz and I don't really feel any kind of hype because I'm not active on social media, so I legit had NO idea), but because it's just really well written. And as unprepared as I was, it didn't seem out of place. I can safely say this is NOT instalove, and maybe even a slow burn, and really enjoyable.
◾The worldbuilding was kinda cool. The different caste systems, the magic. I mean, it's pretty easy to see the Eastern influences but I think it was solid worldbuilding. I've been reading a lot of diverse YA fantasy about oppressed women living in luxury lately (The Bone Witch, Forest of a Thousand Lanterns, Grace and Fury etc) and it fit in really well with those books.
◾I liked the descriptions of the clothing and food.

Other things to note:

The blurb is kind of innocent and mentions that Paper Girls 'serve' the king as a 'consort' and that it's a high honour, but it was actually sexual slavery. This book was just as dark as Damsel by Elena K Arnold but definitely aimed at a young adult audience.

Lei complained again and again about how the demons treated her and the other Paper caste like they 'weren't even human' and that language doesn't work at all because the demons are superior to the humans, so to treat them like they're human would mean something completely different in this world where humans are little better than animals.


It seems that to most demons, being Paper caste already makes you less than human.


and


Think of all the Paper castes he has his soldiers capture as slaves and kill as easily, as if we weren’t even human.


I wish the author had thought more about this language when Lei made that complaint multiple times. I really hope this is changed for the final version.

I actually think that this whole story could have been more interesting if it was told from another character's point of view.

If you are more invested in the romance part of fantasy romance, you'll probably enjoy this forbidden romance as much as I did.

(I actually already own The Elites by this same author and I'm pretty keen to give it a read now!)

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Girls of Paper and Fire was a fantastic, inspiring debut by author Natasha Ngan. It was a mix of fantasy and rebellion that made me want to read late into the night without stopping. Our main character is Lei, a girl from the 'Paper' caste, the lowest of the three classes in the land of Ikhara. The middle class, Steel, includes humans with a mix of demon (animal) features. The Demon King of Ikhara is a Moon caste, the highest class.

Lei, along with 7 other girls, are taken to the kings palace to serve as concubines. I found that despite this horrible circumstance, Lei is a wonderful and inspiring character to read about. She is taken from her home, far away from the palace to serve the king. While the threats posed to the girls are life changing, Lei also has the chance to change her life in another way, when she falls in love. Her love is forbidden, but that doesn't stop Lei from following her heart and defying the king.

I found the characters extremely well written. I hated the king so much and I felt so much for these girls who were stolen away. The plot, while on the slower side, definitely heated up in the second half of the book and there were a few unexpected twists that I really enjoyed.

The author not only writes about themes of love and hope, but also rebellion and the fight for what is right. It was a very easy book to read and enjoy, and I am eagerly awaiting further books in the series if there are more.

I would definitely recommend this book if you love Asian inspired fantasy and rebellions!

I really enjoyed Girls of Paper and Fire. While the story progression was rather predictable, I found that the characterisation and writing were so excellent that I didn't mind that the plot was relatively linear.

The book features a F/F romance, and I wish I could say I was invested in it. To be quite honest, it felt a bit underdeveloped and fast paced. Maybe this was just me though, because I have seen a couple of comments from various people that they really enjoyed the romance. On the other hand, I did very much enjoy the development of the individual characters, and thought there was a lot to be invested in in terms of the individual character journies.

The world building is excellent, with the caste concept falling into the realm of fantasy (demons vs half-demons vs humans). I'm quite interested to continue the series and learn more about the various castes and the dynamics between them, as we got a pretty limited view in the palace. I'm also looking forward to discovering why Lei has golden eyes, and whether there is more to her ancestry.

Overall, a standard fantasy plot that is built on a foundation of excellent world building and well developed characters. I'm looking forward to seeing what deviations off standard Ngan will be able to show us in further books of the trilogy.

Ratings
Overall: 8/10
Plot: 4/5
Romance: 3.5/5
Writing: 4/5
World Building: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

I'm not sure what to say here, I liked it and that is it. like it wasn't what I was expecting. The writing is beautiful for a debut author she has done very well.

Girls of Paper and Fire is an antidote to the poison that is on the daily news. It’s a testament to the resilience of survivors, filled with fire and fury and hope. If you are in the mood for a read that will set the patriarchy alight, this is definitely one to grab.

There is a lot to unpack about this stunner of a debut novel. The experience of reading Girls is intensely personal, as the book draws intimately from the Natasha Ngan’s experiences. From the cultural flourishes to the Paper Girls’ shared trauma, every detail within the book is carefully considered to create an emotionally immersive experience. I confess this novel left me in a daze after I finished it, so do approach with caution considering the heavy content within.

The world building in Girls is rich and expansive, helped by Natasha Ngan’s beautiful descriptive writing. Characters within this world are divided into three groups – with the powerless humans of the Paper caste oppressed by the demons in the Steel and Moon castes. There is mythology and founding legend deeply rooted in the fabric of this world, re-purposed by the ruling class to reinforce their reign at the top. I loved the political tension between the different caste and the various provinces of the Demon King’s vast empire. As the world is based in Malaysia, it’s as rich in cultural diversity as its real-life counterpart.

Lei is a Paper Girl, one among a group of nine selected to be concubine to the Demon King. Born to a world where women are routinely robbed of their agency, Lei emerges from the page simmering in anger yet plagued by insecurities and self-doubt. Her character arc is an exploration of self-empowerment and reclaiming of identity in a deeply flawed and misogynistic system. I appreciated that the book presented a multitude of ways in which these women coped, and does not pass judgement on any methods.

The romantic love story within this book is the slow burn F/F fantasy romance readers everywhere have been waiting for. It’s satisfying watching two women learn of each other’s flaws and strengths, empowering one another, and falling in love along the way. It’s so easy to root for these ladies and cheer on their battle against the world.

If you only pick one debut novel to read in 2018, make it this one.

Damn, this book was not pulling any punches. It was like reading the start of Daughter of Smoke and Bone before realising that this wasn't going to be a standard love triangle trope YA.

This book is not an abduction fantasy where the girl falls in love with the demon king. I mean, well, it is... in a way, but that girl who falls in love isn't actually our main character. Sweet girl, but not so bright.

Lei, though. Lei is a character I could get behind 110%. She is strong, capable, opinionated. Exactly the kind of YA lead we need.

And the politics of this novel! It does not at all shy away from the complexities of becoming a concubine against one's will. Nor does it shy away from rape and sexual assault, though the scene I am talking about is not graphic and the emotional aftermath is more what is focused on.

Now let me talk about Wren. She doesn't seem a very assuming character at the beginning. She keeps to herself, neither a mean girl nor a shy one. She's obviously got strength, but doesn't need to share it.

Yet Lei is drawn to her. Of course. These two women don't need each other to be strong. They are strong on their own and it's made clear that they get comfort from the other and better understanding that they belong to their own selves. It's such a wonderful message.

After so many years of reading books where I shipped the two female characters, I thought for a while that this was going to be queerbaiting, but no. The friendship and romantic feelings that grow from there are beautiful to read. The tension is maintained quite magnificently with the overbearing king watching over all of them. His growing fears of rebellion and the gods' displeasure make him an increasingly unsympathetic character as the story goes on.

gorgeous, sensational, tense and lovely. a sapphic love in a fantasy world inspired by asia!! the diversity!!! everything about this book is thrilling and it's 11:28pm so I need sleeep.

more to come

EDIT: OK SO girls of paper and fire is many things. and exploration of oppression and discrimination, and how the oppressed themselves can be complicit. power dynamics and sex. the cruelty and brutal reality of sexual slavery.

It's wonderfully diverse with a beautifully wrought setting. I want a physical copy in my hands so I can visualise all the provinces. natasha ngan has such beautiful prose, such a way of drawing a scene in our minds and immersing us in it. the beauty of the palace versus its ugly underbelly. the casual casualty that the moon caste display towards paper caste.

going over the pages I bookmarked and the quotes I highlighted, I'm even more emotional about this book. I see the buzz it's been getting and I love it. Even if it deals with sexual assault and sexual slavery, it's handled with care. I only wish I could have seen more of the other paper girls, maybe have seen what aoki loved about the king. or how wren's nights with the king went. she's such a mystery!! I want to get into her head, know what her childhood was like, her training.

a quote!!

.."Last time I checked I wasn’t a lost member of the Xia trained since birth to be a secret warrior-assassin-goddess."

oh lei, you're sassy.

the relationship with wren is painstakingly and lovingly developed. I found a faceclaim for wren and let me say... I'm in love. my gorgeous assassin bb!!!

here are two other quotes:

But with Wren it’s the very opposite. Instead of disappearing, she makes me feel reappeared. Reimagined. Her touch shapes me, draws out the boldness that had been hiding in my core.

Because that is what Wren is to me— my wings. And, with her love, she’s taught me how to use my own.

ohhhh my godddd. cue tears.

there were moments between them that had me literally in tears.

and this:

How long does it take to break a person? To take their will and fire and spirit and love and crush it beneath your fists?

like some other reviewers, I did find the book dragging in the middle bit. but once it picked up the pace, it did not stop. I yelled at lei when she was being exceptionally defiant (and stupid). I ached for the characters that suffered. I literally had to close kindle and de-stress by reading fanfic because it got so tense in the bit where lei recovers after her first night with the king and meets him again.

diverse lit is crushing it this year, especially asian-inspired fantasy. we may have to work twice as hard for half the praise, but by god do we work. aaaand I'm off to add more to my tbr and to see if the author has a pinterest board. I might re-read this again too, now that I've been given the benefit of hindsight!!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The Asian influence was spectacular and the author created an immersive world the was part familiar and part spine tingling newness. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I’ll admit my interest in Girls of Paper and Fire was two-fold – first, the cover is so strikingly beautiful that I just wanted to pick it up and find out what was going on, and second, it’s coming from James Patterson’s line of young adult fiction books, and I’ve really enjoyed what’s been published so far under his James Patterson Presents line.

I also had no idea what it was about, and the story itself was a lot darker than I thought.

Lei is a member of the Paper caste – fully human and thus at the lowest scale of society in the world of Ikhara, which is ruled by the Moon caste – beings that look more animal than human. A decade earlier the royal guards raided her small village and took her mother; now they’re back, only this time it’s for Lei and her golden eyes. She’s taken to the palace to be trained as one of the Paper Girls, a group of eight girls that the king has selected for the year and she must learn to survive in the palace and dedicate herself to the king above all else. Which is fine, until she falls in love with someone else.

There are a lot of things to love about Girls of Paper and Fire. It is beautifully written and easy to read, and there’s an undercurrent of tension the whole way through the story. Lei begins as an incredibly naive teenage girl who fights her new situation without knowing the best way to do that at first. Her determination and her skills grow throughout the course of the story.

I also appreciated the female/female relationship that is developed within the story, too, but also the female friendships. We spend a lot of time with Lei and the other Paper Girls, and while they’re not always nice to one another, they each have their reasons and there’s a lot of understanding and acceptance between some of the characters – particularly Lei, Wren and Aoki – that they’re each partly to blame for the hurt they cause each other in arguments. There are genuine apologies, because the girls enjoy one another’s company, and that’s important.

There are a lot of trigger warnings in this story – kidnapping, rape, abuse, and violence toward women are just the beginning – but they’re dealt with in a way that highlights just how wrong those things are, and the impact they have on the people involved.

If you’re a fan of dark, young adult fantasy stories, Girls of Paper and Fire is definitely worth checking out when it’s released in November.

[Review to be published October 24th on The Nerd Daily]

Girls of Paper and Fire is Natasha Ngan's third book and first foray into fantasy, and she has created one of the most original worlds I have come across in a long time.

Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after—the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable—she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge

The setting is inspired by Ngan’s upbringing as a British Chinese Malaysian and the ensuing blend of cultures she experienced during her childhood. There two primary elements of the worldbuilding seem to be Imperial China and Feudal Japan, but it would be easy to imagine the influence of several other historical eras (and mythologies) from the Asian region shaping the world of Ikhara. As a consequence, Ngan has built a world which feels as though it has a very definite history, a nuanced political structure, and a clear sense of where the rifts lie within Ikhara, which plausibly leads to the ‘bigger-scale’ events of the book.

The conceit of the castes is, in a word, brilliant. Probably one of the more unique ideas that I’ve encountered in a book is the melding of animal and human form. This not only functions to capture the imagination, but works as a rather brilliant metaphor. It explores the coercive element of superior strength (and resources) ruling and upper classes often have at their disposal to secure their position and facilitate the poor treatment of other groups within society.

The nomenclature of ‘demon’ is quite interesting given its connotations, especially as it stands in contrast to the elevated status of those who are demon caste within the book’s setting. However, it is a very deliberate choice—perhaps this is going to be a plot point within the subsequent two books.

The central character, Lei, is very easy to find empathetic, and through her eyes we see the breathtaking majesty of the imperial administration which exists concurrently with its callous brutality.

It might have benefited the story to establish a little more clearly the specific thoughts or influences which lead to Lei’s singular rebelliousness. However, it was easy to understand why the experience of living as a subjugated Paper caste, and having her mother taken in a village raid by imperial forces seven years previously would ferment a resentment that can only lead to defiance when she herself is taken to be serve the king’s sexual desires, regardless of her consent.

Particular credit must go to Ngan in the way she portrays with the sexual violence Lei witnesses and suffers, without any overly graphic detail. Recounting the aftermath of the novel’s most traumatic moment through Lei’s narration of others’ reactions in fact makes the event even more powerful. Moreover, the fact that Lei never really considers it is acceptable for her to be forced into a position where she serve the whims of the King, while initially a little jarring as it goes against other similar stories, ultimately serves to point out how unacceptable such practices actually are. As such, it softly leads to a broader comment about narratives which portray concubines unhesitatingly and cheerfully going about their duties being inherently problematic.

The love story between Lei and one of the other girls is beautifully written and completely plausible. It outlines with delicate clarity Lei’s reactions, both emotional and physical, to a woman rather than a man. More importantly, never once does Lei feel any shame for her sexual orientation, she merely realises this truth about herself. Stories which do not feature a somewhat stereotypical sense of shame about sexual orientation are really powerful because the message that they send is that there is absolutely nothing shameful or wrong about who you are, so this was a real delight to read.

Perhaps in the tail end of the story, the romance was given a little more weight than was strictly necessary. I felt that Lei had sufficient motivations external to her relationship to follow the course she pursues, but that could be a matter of opinion.

In terms of the writing, the book is very easy to read. I always feel settings of older worlds, which make use of more contemporary parlance (e.g. creepy), need to do so carefully. But then again, few authors write with flawless prose, such as Neil Gaiman’s entire oeuvre being an exception, as is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. However, those few moments aside, there is an absolute lyricism to the some parts of the book that show Ngan’s mastery of language.

Additionally, present tense can read in a slightly stilted manner, but here it gives us a sense of immediacy and proximity to Lei’s feelings. This is particularly important as Lei is a character whose feelings are integral to the decisions she makes, and the journey to her final decisions is one which is really teased out beautifully.

While I am a little weary of the storyline found within YA novels which emphasises female characters’ journey to discovery of their own power in patriarchal worlds. However, I also recognise this is a personal preference as I prefer reading about women who know they’re powerful and have the ability to meaningfully effect change. That being said, Girls of Paper and Fire is a novel which is well worth reading. The world alone makes it worthwhile, but the story’s deviations from a great many tropes in concert with some truly beautiful writing in parts means this is definitely a book for which you should keep an eye out.

Thank you to Hachette Australia for providing The Nerd Daily with a copy in exchange for an honest review.