The plot overall is solid. Girls of Paper and Fire is a great look at how systems of power and violence are upheld. She was chosen for her eyes as an extra girl, which is the first time that ever happened, and she couldn't be more against being there. Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton. Is as lush--and brutal--as the Demon King's own court.
Probably one of the more unique ideas that I've encountered in a book is the melding of animal and human form. In the first book they sided with "mission, " but now after everything Lei has seen and learned, her answer has changed. She gets taken to the palace to become a Paper Girl. There is no 'right' or 'wrong' way to react or cope with emotional trauma, and we love Natasha for pushing that. "With deliciously deep world-building and a cast of fierce young women fighting to take charge of their own story, Girls of Paper and Fire cuts you deep and leaves you breathless for more. " So even though I did like the Wren/Lei endgame, I wanted to be more convinced of their love from the very beginning. I wanted to know more about her. Beautiful Friendships. Against a back-drop of impressive world-building, remi-niscent of Imperial China, this is a riveting, thought-provoking, diverse novel. 709. published 2021. I wanted to know enough about her so it would make sense that Lei fell in love with her so quickly.
Recap Contributor This recap was awesomely submitted by Ophélie Mélodie. From here on the story really becomes bigger and bigger. Considering the array of themes explored in the book, Ngan does an incredible job at exploring a variety of topics without curtailing its importance to the story. Master Tekoa goes into a weird trance and tells Lei she has a fire burning inside her. Generally speaking, the Paper Girls are valued only for their beauty and their compliance, whilst deviance from these standards are punished. The book deals with some difficult topics, including sexual assault, so readers should approach with caution. Fighting to take charge of their own story, Girls of Paper and Fire.
In addition, Girls of Paper and Fire also illustrates how people in oppressive systems – specifically, the Demon King's brutal and violent rules – can participate in maintaining such systems. One girl convinces herself she and the Demon King are in love because the truth of what is actually happening is way too difficult for her to bear. For there are astonishing punishments to those who defy the King. Organizations & institutions. A novel by Natasha Ngan. As they get to know each other. Last year's r/fantasy bingo had the perfect prompt for it: Read a book with the title ___ Of ___ And ___.
The second book especially is a story about dealing with being a survivor, and all the different ways people handle that. Visitors also looked at these books. That's right, we're re-reading Girls of Paper and Fire! As almost all magical fantasies plots, there is a prophecy: a prophecy of fire and redemption. She studied Geography at the University of Cambridge and later worked as a fashion blogger, social media consultant and freelance writer.
Each of them is strong. Natasha Ngan's latest stunning young adult fantasy series is set in the historical Asia-inspired Kingdom of Ikhara. Eventually Belial does get around to launching his evil scheme to take over London and then the world despite already bleeding from two wounds previously dealt by legendary magic sword Cortana. Pub Date: April 1, 2013. Lei's birth pendant still hasn't opened, since she is not 18. But personally I enjoyed the darker twist of the book. I absolutely loved this and how unique and powerful it was! The first book in the Girls of Paper and Fire series). An impulsive act of resistance lands her in the center of a vast conspiracy of secret revolutionaries. It is the highest honour and at the same time the most demeaning one. Girls of Paper and Fire and Girls of Storm and Shadow are available from Jimmy Patterson Books. Natasha recently moved to Paris, where she likes to imagine she drifts stylishly from brasserie to brasserie, notepad in one hand and wineglass in the other, but in reality she mostly spends her time lost on the metro and offending locals with her French. Perhaps in the tail end of the story, the romance was given a little more weight than was strictly necessary.
And I think having more character development for Wren would have been a huge aid in that. The court is dangerous and Lei, being a girl from the countryside, navigates it well enough. It was so impactful and touchy! I know that Lei's situation was an impossible one, but even in her internal monologues and reflections she seemed non-resistant to the fact that all her autonomy had been taken away – not just her bodily autonomy, which she did focus on, but all her autonomy as a person. She cannot let herself hate what's being done to her because, like the last girl, it might break her entirely. The King gives away slaves to his guests. Paper caste women exist in a state of intersectional oppression. In her rich, evocative series, Natasha Ngan takes readers on a fantastical journey through a historical fantasy version of Asia. The Girls of Paper and Fire series primarily falls into the Fantasy genre. Seventeen-year-old Lei is dragged from her small village to become a Paper Girl, or concubine. Here, you can see them all in order! No relationship can survive intentional and constant dishonesty, especially when what one person is covering up goes against the other's sense of morality. Her novel Girls of Paper and Fire was a New York Times bestseller.
This book takes off right where book one finished! 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. Hard science fiction. Search for a digital library with this title. This book covers lots of important topics – don't forget to check out the trigger/content warnings before picking it up! Lei is a member of the Paper Caste, and is unusual because she has golden eyes. There is enough build up to the event and character development with Lei that when the Demon King finally does come for her, the reader is prepared for it and trusts that Lei will survive him. The latest book, Girls of Storm and Shadow (Book 2), was published in November 2019. The Shadow and Bone Trilogy. Still rated it 4 stars, just like the previous two, but if you look at my CAWPILE rating, it is a little bit lower. Heartland book series. VERDICT A deeply unsettling look at forced prostitution for mature readers of fantasy. But not everything here is bad or sad, there are also beautiful moments in it, of friendship and love. The ending of book two had me wanting to throw my book across the room!
She is quite a strong character like there isn't many. 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. Science Fiction & Fantasy Books. Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Slow Burn F/F Romance. Reviewed on: 08/20/2018. Mastering the Art of French Cooking.
However now that I havebeen blessed with the sequel as a review copy I knew that I had to give the first book some extra attention. All the riches for their families. I did rate this book a little bit lower on the plot and logic part (just by one point) because there were a couple of, small, things that I thought went a little bit too easy. As a reader everything Lei knows about Wren you know about Wren. While Moon casts are usually depicted as discriminatory, we meet different Moons that are kind and show us that not everything is black and white. Some girls simply accept it as a fact of life, a chore they must get through.
And lastly, we have the Moon Cast, the highest of them and represented by Demons. 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. The characters are already amazing, but together, they are just perfect. She wishes for a quiet life in her village, but that seems to not be in store for her. Title found at these libraries: |Loading... |. Consider for purchase where Ellen Hopkins's Tricks and Traffick are popular. So it was nice to read them back to back!