Trigger Warning: This book features kidnap, sex trafficking, sexual assault, rape, violence, sex shaming, and animal cruelty.

I've been looking forward to reading Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan ever since I first heard of it; a UKYA, queer, asian inspired high fantasy? Sign. Me. Up! Unsurprisingly, it was incredible, but it was the surprises that had me completely adoring this book!

In a world of demons and humans, where demons are superior to humans, Lei is Paper caste, fully human, who lives in a small village working at her father's herb shop. Seven years ago, there was a raid on her village, in which her mother was taken from them, the grief of which Lei has never got over. This year, the soldiers are back, and it's Lei they take. Having heard rumours of her golden eyes, a General has stolen her away as a gift to the King, in order to apologise for a mistake he made, believing the King would be pleased by her eyes. Lei is to be a Paper Girl, eight girls trained to be the Demon King's concubines, the highest honour bestowed upon a Paper caste girl, but this year there is to be nine. But Lei refuses to let her life be dictated to her, and when she falls in love with one of her fellow Paper Girls, Wren, their secret relationship and embracing their love is her secret rebellion. But Lei's life at court shows her just how cruel the Demon King is, and just how terribly treated the Paper caste are. When she discovers a plot to overthrow the King, Lei realises she can't just sit back and accept her fate, but must do what she can to help, for all Paper castes everywhere.

'We might be Paper Girls, easily torn and written upon. The very title we're given suggests that we are blank, waiting to be filled. But what the Demon King and his court do not understand is that paper is flammable.
And there is a fire catching among us.' (p273-274)*

Oh my god, I can't tell you just how incredible this book is! The world building is just so lush, heavily inspired by Ngan's own Chinese Malaysian background. The food, the outfits, the decoration! It's all just so gorgeous! But there's also the people of Ikhara; the Paper castes, who are fully human, and mulitcultural humans at that; the Steel caste, who are humans with some demon qualities; and Moon caste, full demons. But in this world, the demons aren't what you would normally think of when hearing the word "demon". The Moon caste are humanoid animals. The King, for example, is a bull-form; their are aspects of his face that are human, but his nose and jaw are more bovine, he's covers is dark hair, and he has hooves. What I found really fascinating about Girls is how it took an idea we've seen in fantasy before, of a world inhabited by humans and creatures, and flipped the hierarchy on it's head. Normally, humans reign supreme, and anything "less than" or "other than" human are monsters to be killed or controlled. In Girls, the hierarchy places humans at the bottom, with Steel caste demons above them, and Moon caste demons at the top. And it's not just a class system, it's prejudice and discrimination. Two hundred years ago, the first Demon King invaded and took control of all of Ikhara, and then put everyone in their place, his own prejudice against humans putting them at the bottom. And though not every Steel or Moon caste demon are prejudiced against humans, there's a hell of a lot of them that are. Humans are nothing, they are "keeda" - worms. And because they are nothing, the demons can treat them however they want. They can raid their villages and kill their people. They can kidnap women and give them as gifts. They can dress up becoming one of the King's concubines as an honour, but the fact is you are to have sex with the King whenever he wishes, however he wishes, and you cannot say no. It is your job to please him. You are not to have sex with anyone else. You are not to fall in love. Paper castes are to accept their lot in life, and not complain about what befalls them, because doing so can lead to death. It's terrifying and it's horrific. And, to be honest, it reminded me a lot of racism and slavery. In it's way, Girls holds up a mirror to our own world and our own history, shining a light on how the privileged white treat and have treated people of colour. And it's disgusting.

'It seems that to most demons, being Paper caste already makes you less human.' (p264)*

But we have Lei. What I loved about Lei is that she is just an ordinary girl. She's not the chosen one, she's not anything special, she's just a Paper caste girl who lived in a poor village, working in her father's herb shop. A peasant whose life would have continued on at the shop, in her little village, a quiet, unimpressive life, but a life that was hers. Her life might not be something readers can relate to, but we can relate to the fact that she is just a girl, just living her life. And in that, she's all of us, she's every-girl. But then she's forced to become a Paper Girl, and her life is turned upside down. All the other Paper Girls are there because they want to be, because they've fed in to the lies about it being an honour, and they're happy to have the life of luxury they now do. But this is not Lei's choice. She never chose to become a Paper Girl, she never wanted - never wants - to have sex with the King. She is trapped, she cannot escape, and her terror is palpable. But she has people around her who get it, and are fighting their own fight.

'"[Men] have all the power, anyway."
The look Zelle gives me is sharp. "Do they? Yes, they like to think they're in charge, ordering us around and taking women for their own whenever they fancy. But is that true power? They can take and steal and break all they want, but there is one thing they have no control over. Our emotions," she says at my nonplussed look. "Our feelings. Our thoughts. None of them will ever be able to control the way we feel. Our minds and our hearts are our own. That is our power, Nine. Never forget it."' (p151)*

And Lei does choose to give her heart to another. Oh, the romance between Lei and Wren is just so beautiful! Especially given the circumstances they find themselves in. Despite the danger they would be in if anyone found out, their love is pure, and their only light in the darkness. And it's their love that makes Lei strong. It gives her something - something good, something she has now - to fight for. Her love, her choice, her freedom.

But there are also others to fight for. What she sees at the court, what she experiences, how she is treated, how the King treats his Paper Girls, what she witnessed seven years ago... at first she just wanted to get away for herself, back to her family, back to her own life. But as time goes on and she witnesses some truly horrific things, and it all just fans the flames of her anger, and she realises that she could never un-see or un-know all that she discovers at the palace.

'More than anything, I want to be free. Not just free of the palace, but free once I'm outside of it, too. How can that happen in a world where its King allows demons to do whatever they want to those they deem inferior? How can I live in happiness when I know now what happens to Paper castes all across Ikhara?' (p295)*

And this ordinary peasant girl - this every-girl, this girl of colour, this queer girl - chooses herself, chooses her love, chooses her people, and decides to take a stand. Against the King. Against the demons. Against her abusers and oppressors. Against the patriarchy. She becomes a cog in the machine that is the rebellion, and in doing so, she changes everything. I can't tell you how emotional it was - especially as sexual assault survivor - to see her take the decision to fight back. To not accept things, to not roll over, but to fight. And to me, she is us, she is fighting for us, and watching her become this resilient young woman was so empowering and so emotional. It was beautiful, and it was incredible.

I just want to briefly talk about some of the side characters. Lill, Lei's Steel caste 11-year-old maid at the palace, is adorable! She's the cutest little girl, although she is young and innocent, and doesn't realise that Lei doesn't actually want to be there, and thinks it is an honour that Lei is a Paper Girl. But she and Lei form this gorgeous older and younger sister relationship that is just to die for, and I love them! There's also the relationship that Lei forms with Aoki, one of her fellow Paper Girls. Aoki is 16, but is quite innocent and young for her age, and Lei feels protective of her. They form a really beautiful relationship, but one that is tested when Aoki starts to drink the cool-aid and believes in the King and all he does. I love Aoki, and went through such a roller coaster of emotions for her. I just wanted to take her away, give her a cuddle, and really explain things to her. But it's a fascinating and complex relationship to watch.

Girls of Paper and Fire is an absolutely fantastic high fantasy, and god, the ending! I can't say anything, but oh my god, I need book two now! I am so excited to see where the story leads in book two! Because the ending was epic, and oh my god, the next book is going to be unbelievable! I absolutely cannot recommend Girls enough; it's an absolutely amazing UKYA high fantasy, and not one to miss.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for the eProof.

*All quotes have been checked against my bought final copy.

I went in to Girls of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan with Expectations and I was not disappointed. The author has created a fantastic, layered world and doesn't shy away from the harsh realities of power struggles and desperation. This Asian sapphic lesbian fantasy really got to me. So I am going to try and do this glorious book justice with a spoiler-free review. And then link to my spoiler filled thoughts.

5 Words: Family, friendship, power, abuse, love.

Content Warning: Sexual assault, graphic animal death, torture, slavery.

Starting this book, I had expectations. I had heard so many amazing things from the author and people I follow on Twitter, and plenty of warnings about the content so I was prepared beforehand and made sure I was in a good place before picking it up.

Something I really appreciated with this book is how there were not only printed content warnings at the beginning, but also a list of helplines and resources for anyone affected by the difficult topics explored within the story.

I feel like Girls of Paper and Fire was a very angry story. And there is plenty to be angry about. It doesn't shy away from violence and brutality, it confronts prejudice and abuse head on.

But there is also a much softer side - girls supporting and loving girls, delicious food (it made me so hungry), hope, love. I loved those parts of the story where it slowed right down and looked away from the action and into the hearts of the characters.

Girls of Paper and Fire is excellently written, and there are so many gorgeous quotes that I could share. The world came alive on the page, I could practically see it and smell it and feel it. The writing is lavish and evocative and I want to read it forever. The characters are masterfully crafted, and even the smaller side characters have depth and secrets you cannot wait to explore.

I'm definitely going to read on in this series and I can't wait for the second book after that ending. In the meantime I am absolutely going to pick up The Elites.

I read this as part of the Fairyloot Readalong, and you can read my more in-depth (and rather spoilery) thoughts below on the Fairyloot Blog:

A very enjoyable read. I couldn’t get enough. The premise was very different and I was sucked in from the first page. A delightfully read, one I will keep an eye on for the next.

This was everything I hoped it would be and more. Magical, heartfelt & fierce, Girls of Paper and Fury is going to top all the best of 2018 lists!

The Girls of Paper and Fire is a fantasy of epic proportions with different levels of demons from cute to dam terrifying, a badass main character and a villain you will love to hate.

The writing in Girls of Paper and Fire had me hooked from page one and when I had time to sit down I completely devoured the novel. The writing was addictive and it felt like there was always something happening, although it is definitely a more character driven novel.

The bonds between the Paper Girls really makes the book while they train to become concubines to the king, the friendships that grow are lovely and even girls you hate at the beginning of the book you understand more about as their story develops. In particular the bonds Lei has with Lill, Aiko and Wren were fantastic to follow through Lei's journey. The romance between two characters is especially beautiful as it blossoms in such a bleak situation.

The main character Lei is likeable and relatable as she has flaws that she must improve on throughout her journey. Lei is brave and stands up for herself and her friends no matter how scared she is.

Some of the scenes are difficult to read due to the nature of the book, warnings for physical abuse.

I would highly recommend the Girls of Paper and Fire and I will definitely be reading the next installment when it is out.

*ARC received from publisher via netgalley, all opinions voiced are my own*

I’ve needed a couple of days just to find the words for how incredible this story was.

As soon as we begin reading we’re thrust into the Asian inspired fantasy world of Ikhara in which its citizens comprise of three castes: the oppressed, fully human “Paper” class; “Steel,” a human-animal mash-up; and the reigning “Moon” caste, made up of animals called demons.

Paper Girls tells the story of girls who are claimed as the concubines for the all-powerful, Moon caste bovine king. They live an entire year in the high palace, waiting to be called to his chamber every night. The impression they leave on him can impact not only their future, but make a mistake, and their whole family is in danger. Some girls are more willing to serve him others. Our self-empowered protagonist, golden-eyed Lei, dreads the day she is summoned to the brutal King’s bedroom.

Where do I start? This is such a well-developed novel that it went above and beyond my expectations. My favourite part would have to be the rich worldbuilding. I was entranced by the Asian elements which were interweaved throughout Ngan’s intricate prose. Paper Girls reaches a level of complexity a lot of fantasy books I’ve read have failed to achieve, instantly teleported to this new world. Yes, this is an incredible magical world with anthropomorphic demon animals. Nonetheless, it is real. The setting was unique, intriguing and I didn’t feel as if I were drowning in flowery descriptions.

Furthermore, while I did feel some of the other girls lacked depth, I loved watching the dynamics of friendship and jealousy blossom between them. Each of the eight chosen girls is diverse in terms of both their upbringing and their attitudes to their circumstances. Some are more eager to please the king than others; young Aoki, for instance, who my heart bled for at some points.

Moreover, the human-demon hierarchy was such an interesting concept. With humans at the bottom of the social order, it was a unique and successful way of revealing significant themes of oppression. While my mind sometimes struggled to picture half bird half human demons, the concept allowed for in-depth exploration of crucial themes. Besides the beauty of the magical world the novel inhabits, readers should prepare themselves for these deeper themes and subtext when approaching this book.

Ngan tackles feminist themes of concubines rebelling and the commodification of women, as well as condemning homophobia and the system of oppression, still prevalent in contemporary society. It also delves into difficult themes of rape and sexual assault which readers should be aware of. However, the execution of these themes wasn’t too hard-hitting, but it was enough to shine a light on significant issues. We’re seeing more YA novels than ever opening important conversations about issues in our society, and Ngan’s novel is a successful example.

Another aspect which can’t go unnoticed is the romance plot. Amid the dancing classes, etiquette training, and the highly-strung duty of being a Paper Girl, two girls find themselves slowly falling in love. The relationship between Wren and Lei was a slow-burner; to my delight they weren’t confessing their undying love within the first week of meeting each other. I’m not usually one for flowery romance, but even I fell in love with their relationship.

While I did feel that the book lost its way slightly in the middle, all these aspects build up to the girls’ dangerous scheme. Despite being unguided as to where the story was taking me, the climax blew me away. The ending is one massive cliff-hanger. It forebodes the plot of the next novel in the Paper Girls series, ending on the promise that there will be more horrors to come. I cannot wait to see what else Ngan has in store for us!

Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review!

The idea of this story is incredible, the backstory and the myths, the history, the layout of the story is incredible. The actual execution of the idea? Sadly I found it lacking. The ending? That was the biggest shock of the whole book. I felt like not a lot actually happened in any one part of it. It felt like you were just there in an everyday situation. The descriptive style of writing was one of the only things that really kept me going through the whole book. I didn’t particularly like any of the characters, and I felt that it was a tad too predictable for what happens to the characters. I feel like we could have had a whole lot more from the story, more action, more drama. It was lacking in shocking moments.

This book is astonishing. It’s been one I’ve been desperate to read for months now, so when it popped up on NetGalley I immediately requested it and waited refreshing my inbox until I got the confirmation before promptly finishing it in two days after reading in every spare moment I could find. Ngan has a talent for storytelling that is so rich and descriptive that I ended up highlighting 80% of the book (on my kindle, of course, because have you seen this cover? It’s far too beautiful to deface the physical copy with my squiggles).

She creates this incredible world of humans and demons, separated by caste. From the Moon castes at the top, pure demons with animalistic traits that make them at once fascinating and unnerving to the Steel castes with both human and demon traits. Down at the bottom beneath them all is the Paper caste, humans.

“Ice blue eyes watch from under long lashes. Above his ears, thick horns unwind, etched with grooves inlaid with gold…The King’s face is long, almost delicate in shape, with a defined jaw and wide, graceful mouth, a cupid’s bow peaking perfectly in its middle.”

Lei is human, a Paper caste girl with unusual eyes that draw the attention of the King’s guards. She is taken from her home and told that she is to be a Paper Girl – a concubine for the King, eight of which are taken each year from the Paper caste as a sign of his goodwill and generosity. How low could the Paper caste be considered, after all, if the King himself takes them into his bed? Lei does not want to be a Paper girl, to dance and pose and smile for the King as he raids their villages and murders their families. But when her family is threatened, she will do anything to protect them.

I never realised how much fantasy fiction is Europe-based until I read this book. Ikhara has its roots firmly in Asian cultures, with walls of shifting rice paper, giant origami structures, ruquns and cheongsams and chopsticks. Then there’s the food….

“Some of the dishes are recognizable to me, if far more delicate than how I’ve tasted them before: steaming bowls of coconut rice jeweled with pomegranate seeds; marinated eel slices; a whole roasted duck glistening with dark sauce.”

I think the sole purpose of any scene with food in it was to make me hungry. Have I ever tried eel? No. Would I? Probably not. Did I want to when reading this? You know it. These lush descriptions juxtapose the luxury the girls experience every day with the horrific reality of what they are there to do. Yes they dress in jewelled dresses and eat the finest foods in the land, attending performances and parties – never hungry, never cold – but they do so at the cost of their freedom, and in exchange for a year of sexual slavery.

Needless to say this book has some dark themes. If you’re unable to read books that deal with sexual assault and a lack of consent, then sadly this may not be the book for you. It is accepted that the Paper Girls will be called one at a time to the King’s bedchambers where they will accept his advances regardless of their own desires. They return bruised and haunted, refusing to speak of what has been done to them, and the trauma of it permeates their otherwise peaceful lifestyle. Interestingly, it also deals with how some of the girls will defend their abuser. They are taught after all that he is the rightful King, all but a deity, and that his will is always correct and to be obeyed. He can be charming as well as menacing, and they live in isolated worlds of his making. If they take other lovers, if they defy him, they are branded as rotten and turned away to become prostitutes in a world that will no longer allow them to be anything else.

“I love him.”

The sentence hits me with a physical weight. Silence stretches between us, a dark, pulsing thing.I just about get the words out.

“You hated him once.

“I didn’t know him then.”…“He’s good to me, Lei – kind and caring and fair. He’s even said he’ll consider making me his Queen if I continue to please him.”

Amidst all of this suffering, trapped in their paper houses and bound to serve the man who says they are inferior, sparks of resentment and resistance fly and catch, spreading into a fire that will consume Ikhara. Alongside obedience there is rebellion, alongside hatred there is love. When Lei falls in love with another of the Paper Girls it is forbidden, and it is powerful. Their love story develops in the stolen moments, between classes, in the silence of the night. For Lei and Wren the love and desire they feel for one another is enough to strengthen them when the world is determined to make them weak, and their hatred of the King is enough to shatter the world as they know it. Because they are paper girls, but there is fire in their hearts, enough to burn the palace down.

“Falling in love is the most dangerous thing women like us can do.”

“I don’t agree”

“Oh? Then what do you think love is, then”

“Necessary. Powerful.Maybe the most important things women like us can do.”

I loved this book so, so much. It was stunningly written, poignant and heart wrenching and utterly, unmistakably wonderful. I’ve been recommending it to literally everyone since I read it, so here I am recommending it to you. Easily one of my favourite books this year, Girls of Paper and Fire is incredible, and I hope you will join me in adoring it.

Overall rating: 📖📖📖📖📖 5 books out of 5

A copy of Girls of Paper and Fire was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review

Girls of Paper and Fire is a wonderfully slow building fantasy novel. The world is built with beautiful complexity based on Asian culture, and providing diversity with characters race and sexuality.

Lei is a 17 year old girl of the lowest caste-paper-who is kidnapped to be one of the kings concubines on account of her beautiful golden eyes. Taken from her family, themes of kidnap, violence, rape and animal cruelty are explored as Lei learns how to live in her new world.

There is a lesbian relationship in the book which is simply portrayed as a love story, the normalcy of it was marvellous, and the relationship realistically built up to.

The final few chapters and the ending seemed a lot faster paced, which is at odds with the rest of the story, but it has set the scene nicely for the next book
in the trilogy.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy of #GirlsOfPaperAndFire in return for an unbiased review.

Memoirs of a Geisha meets The Selection in this stunning YA fantasy novel. Perfect for fans of Renée Ahdieh, Laini Taylor and Sabaa Tahir according to the publishers, they are really not wrong when it comes to this story.

A book that BooksAndLala drew me to on Youtube, I knew when I saw you could request it I had to give this a read and after reading it this week I know for sure I was right. Beautifully written characters and relationships that grow beautifully throughout the book with a fantastic finale, this book leaves you wanting more.

Along with the people, this book is written beautifully too. Wonderfully descriptive and keeping you on the edge of your seat throughout this book really does unfold so well from beginning to end and Ngan describes these developments so well that it is clear this author is now reaching her peak.

A fantastic book, if you love fantasy go read this now.

Girls of Paper and Fire, the first novel in a new series from critically acclaimed fantasy writer Natasha Ngan, is an exceptional reading experience. Holy mother of God this is one of my favourite fantasy reads this year without a doubt! There were so many aspects of this that I loved meaning I hardly know where to begin! Honestly, if I could mix and match various components to create a Frankenfantasy(!) then it would look something like this. In some ways, parallels can be drawn between the details within this enchanting work and the real world. For instance, Upper, Middle and Lower class labels are replaced in the book by Moon, Steel and Paper respectively, and are an everpresent and substantial part of the plot. As in real life, these are primarily what determines an individual's social standing.

The Demon King, a cruel and selfish demon-being, reigns over all of those who inhabit the kingdom of Ikhara, and the Paper Girls are the primary target of his rage. I appreciated Ngan didn't just write a whimsical and fluffy fantasy as she addresses some hefty topics, such as sexual assault, misogyny, LGBTQIA+ relationships, slavery, kidnap, objectification of women and class warfare, within the context of the story. Main protagonist, and Paper Girl, Lei is a character you care about from the outset and hope will gain the upper hand against her captor. She's fierce, independent, tenacious and stubbornly determined to right the wrongs she suffered at the hands of the callous king. The F/F romance between Lei and Wren was also something I very much enjoyed. It came as a nice surprise, and although I'm not usually a fan of romance, this felt sufficiently organic for me to get behind it.

Elaborate, enchanting and complex but not overly so. Often an author is overeager to pack every little detail into the narrative that the whole novel descends into complete chaos, but I'm glad to say that didn't happen here. The worldbuilding is certainly some of the most spectacular that I've ever come across, Rich and vivid, beautifully rendered and alluring. This is an impeccably built and compelling world. There is certainly something for everyone to appreciate here - diverse and beautifully drawn characters, a stunning Asian-inspired world, engaging writing, exploration of some critical real-world issues and a plot that leaves you hungry for more of the same. It will not be to everyone's taste but it suited me perfectly and was just what I needed when I needed it. What was the cherry on top of the cake for me was that Ngan made this a subversive novel and stayed well away from tropes often found in fantasyland. I can certainly see why James Patterson endorsed her work. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

First book in a Trilogy, "Girls of Paper and Fire" instantly grabbed my attention and then, when the book was in my hands, I quickly found out it surpassed my expectations... Hands up who loves when that happens?

Inspired by Ngan's experiences growing up in Malaysia, and her longing to create a story that would let readers lose themselves into a magical world actually reflecting some of their realities, this is a fascinating fantasy about friendship, love, and acceptance. But it is also full of cruelty and injustice, which makes the whole story brutally intriguing and it really lights up the desire in you to fight for/with the Paper Girls. They are trained to be the concubines of the Demon King, whether they signed-up for it or not, they must please the King. But what happens when two of the girls fall for each other? Is their forbidden love going to lead them to destruction even if they find some sort of salvation in it? The world-building is executed with precision, and the writing flows so well with such beautiful descriptions that it seems like you are seeing everything with your own eyes, not just your mind. To me, that is real magic.

Original, strong, and darkly enchanting, this Asian-inspired fantasy book is the beginning of a gripping journey I'm eager to continue. If you haven't already, I'd recommend you to start it now!

greetings gals and gays, welcome to one of the best reads i’ve had this year.

girls of paper and fire has been a highly anticipated book of mine for months. i was over the moon when i got approved for an early copy of it and immediately dived in, and despite having little to no time to read because of uni, i managed to finish it within two weeks (a perfectly reasonable time, imo, and indeed quite fast for a student in a reading slump during term time!) quite honestly, i surprised myself with exactly how much i enjoyed it, it was that good.

let’s start off with the basics. lei is paper caste that works in her father’s herb shop in a small, remote town in ikhara. as part of the paper caste, which is the name given to humans, she is one of the least respected members of society, and she and her father have to struggle to make a living for themselves as a result. one day, soldiers come and raid her home, taking her away to become one of this year’s paper girls for ikhara’s demon king to take to bed every night. in the palace, lei faces immeasurable challenges in the face of etiquette, discrimination, and worst of all – the king, himself. but then, she does the unthinkable – she falls in love (with a fellow paper girl, no less). that leads to her involvement in a convoluted plot that would require facing even harder challenges and even a few sacrifices.

the way this story is written is mesmerizing, let me tell you; the words just glide off the page and into your mind like melted honey. not only that, but natasha ngan manages to sound eloquent even with a protagonist that comes from a remote village (and it’s believable!) every sentence was beautifully thought-out and you can see the work that went into writing the novel. i did notice a bit of a drag with the pace, but that might have been more due to my own sluggish reading process. i particularly enjoyed the world building and the lore – the caste system is very well executed and explained contextually without feeding information to the reader. not only that, but the world itself was masterfully done that ikhara came to life in front of me.

a highlight that i absolutely have to mention is lei and her development as a character. she starts out as a bystander in her own story, reluctantly pulled into the action, but she grows so much throughout the novel that she learns how to fill her own shoes, if that makes sense. not to be cliche, but there’s a fire burning inside her and i loved how she began to embrace it. it’s been a while since i’ve seen such a determined character with a believable motive, not just for the sake of being a “strong female character”. which lei absolutely is, but not in any stereotypical kind of way. she’s strong – a fact that can be backed up.

speaking of strength, let me tell you how happy it made me that romance was used to build the characters up instead of having it be an obstacle for them to overcome. it was such a natural thing, it felt so organic. and neither lei, nor wren’s character were lessened by it – on the contrary, it’s one of the things that help them flourish. love is a source of strength for them, and it’s shown beautifully in the text. another thing i really liked was the normalcy of them falling in love; the novel embraces it and lets the relationship go on a natural course instead of having either girl question themselves or their feelings. it’s a wonderful thing to see, especially in a world where f/f relationships are over-complicated and dramatized, and almost always over-sexualized, which is not the case with girls of paper and fire.

the demon king can choke. that’s it, that’s the entire paragraph.

near the end i did have some concerns about lei’s motivations and feelings, as well as the pacing, but it all wrapped up together very neatly with ngan addressing my exact criticisms (if you can even call them that), making them disappear essentially. by the last page i had gotten what i needed, characterization wise, and was feeling more than content with how things were handled. and then that ending happened. ms ngan, call me, i have some complaints.

overall, there’s not much left to say other than i loved girls of paper and fire. it’s not something we’ve seen in the ya community, and quite frankly i can’t wait to see more of it. kudos to natasha ngan, because this is the lesbian novel that we’ve been waiting for.

I found out about Girl of Paper and Fire by Natasha Ngan several months ago. Its been on my TBR Wish list since I heard about it. So when I got my hands on a copy I was happy to dive right in. 







Every year the Demon King has eight human females girl chosen to be his concubine, his Paper Girls.



Being a Paper Girl is made to been seen as an honour but for some it is anything put. But this year a ninth girl is chosen and she is not made of Paper she is made is fire. 



Lei is a member of the Paper Caste she is human and this means she is the lowest of the castes. She lives in a small village with her father until one day the Royal Guard come and steal her away from her home. Her golden eyes make her unique that the Guards know the king will want her. 

At court Lei and the other girls are shown how to be the perfect Paper Girl for their King. This life is not the life Lei wants for herself. She does not want to be consumed by what the King and the court  wants of her. While trying to find her place, she break one of the King rule and that is not to love another person. Her love will make her a braver and will help set light to a rotten king and his kingdom. 







Girl of Paper and Fire is a beautiful and emotional story that will pull at more than one of your heart-strings.



First thing I want commended the author Natasha. As at the beginning of the she give the reader a head up regarding sexual, physical and emotional abuse. She also provides contact number and website for organisation that can help people who have has to suffer at the hand of another person. 



The lead character is Lei, she is such an interesting character. The way in which she deal with the changes and trauma feel true. She feels like she can't be happy as she knowns her family aren't happy. Her evolution makes the book such a compelling read, its like you can see the flame grow  stronger and brighter inside as the book progresses. I love how Wren and Lei bring the best out of each other. That the hurled to their relationship is not they are the same gender but the King seeing them as his property.



The world that Natasha has created is an incredible. The history and the lore, to the different types of Moon and Steel caste, Magic and fashion. I am looking forward to visiting this world again. 



My rating for Girl of Paper and Fire is 4.5 out of 5.









I ended up with two copies of Girl and Paper and fire, a digital ARC from Netgalley and a physical copy. Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the digital copy of the book for a fair and honest review.

Natasha Ngan created a fascinating world in GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE, it was complex and yet not difficult to grasp a hold of. It is a world of castes, paper, moon, steel and demon, with the Demon King at the head. Lei is paper caste, the most lowly of the castes but there is something special about her, her eyes. She is kidnapped and brought to be one of the honoured paper girls that the king gets to choose and bed for a year as he wishes. A grim life for a 17 year old.

This is a tale of politics, war, oppression, slavery and fear. Lei embarks in a journey from fearful new paper girl to a young woman who has a streak of fearless bravery, almost foolish at times. The land of the Demon King was colourful and diverse, the descriptions were excellent and my mind supplied all the mental pictures that I needed. The characters were a range of sweet, fiery, plain mean and evil.

The diversity elements of this book were fabulous. I welcomed the relationship between Lei and Wren and yet sometimes I struggled to connect with their coupling because the chemistry lacked a little something. This being a first in the series, I am hoping for more of a a build in the relationship between these two. The sisterly relationships of the paper girls were almost like a high school corridor with the resident mean girl, Blue. In addition, I loved to hate the Demon King, he really was vile.

This had both a sense of completion and an “oh heck, what” moment at the end. I am definitely looking forward to catching up with these characters again and finding out what happens in this world.

I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.

Reviewed for Jo&IsaLoveBooks Blog.

This book was....something.

Girls of Paper and Fire follows our main character Lei, who is whisked away to become a paper girl after the commander of the King's army finds out that she has two different coloured eyes, a sign of both beauty and mystery. The story follows Lei, as she leaves her father and friend behind to become one of the King's concubines. On this journey she meets bubbly little Aoki, and a romance ensues from there...

Natasha Ngan's writing really drew me in. Her descriptions and character development really carried the story forward. I was so immersed in this strange world, where Lei, who is part of the lowest caste in society- the paper caste- has to survive while falling into a forbidden romance. The romance itself wasn't cringy or unrealistic. It was slow-burning, making it more realistic.

The dialogue and action packed scenes were amazing and I can't wait to continue this trilogy. I will be grabbing a copy as soon as it is released!

i highly recommend this to fans of Leigh Bardugo and Laini Taylor!

This was one of the best books I have read this year. Here, it’s out. But more seriously, I have been hearing so many stuff, and good stuff that is, about this book since last spring that when I saw it on NetGalley, I jumped on the occasion and I am very grateful to the publisher for granting me the chance to read it in exchange for an honest review.

Girls of Paper and Fire follows Lei, a young woman with strange golden eyes, who gets hauled up to the palace as one of the Demon king concubines, known as Paper Girls, after her eyes caught the attention of a general. In the palace, Lei learns everything there is to learn about etiquette and what she needs to do as now a part of the court while waiting until the King finally summons her to perform her duty. Along the way, friendships are born, unprecedented and forbidden feelings arose while revolution seems to brew under it all.

I am not very good at explaining synopsis but here’s what’s important to know about this book; the world Natasha Ngan created is very lush, dark, gritty, complex and nothing like I have ever read before. Moreover, the writing is absolutely gorgeous and very addictive; I coud not put it down! When it comes to the story, it might seem a bit basic on the surface but it’s not and the world, writing and characters all add to the uniqueness of this book. Moreover, Girls of Paper and Fire deals with some heavy subjects like sexual assault and the objectification of women and it does it perfectly - nothing is romanticised or exaggerated, everything feels real from the execution to the characters’ reactions.

While we’re at it, let’s talk about the characters because wow, Ngan really outdid herself with them. Our MC, Lei, is the absolute best. I absolutely loved her; she is so brave, strong and so very human in the way she thinks, acts and feels. Moreover, she is a lesbian and oh my god, how good it feels to have a lesbian MC with a sweet relationship! And especially in a YA Fantasy book!! The rest of the characters were absolutely amazing, I really enjoyed them all - even the villains! Everything was perfectly crafted to give us this fantastic first instalment.

You cannot imagine how excited I am about the second book - I mean, with that ending, how could I not?! The hype around this book is well deserved and I’m really excited for everyone to discover Ngan’s world.

Content warning: violence and sexual abuse, reader discretion advised.

I thought that the premise of this book was wonderful. I mean, we've all read a 'she's forced into marriage with the evil prince/king but it turns out he is really just hurt and she changes him and they all live happily ever after' story right? And we've all thought it was bs? Well, this book felt like a glorious middle finger to that narrative (I'm being overly harsh, that narrative is something of a guilty pleasure, but it was still nice to have it called out). I appreciated that Lei was given a pretty fleshed-out backstory, despite the fact that there isn't a lot of action before she is taken to the palace. You get the full sense of why she acts the way she does when in the palace because of the context from her past. Had the book opened with her on the road to the palace, or in the palace itself, you wouldn't have had that level of immersion in the story.

I also thought that the 'side characters' were well conceived. I'm a sucker for women/girls who start a story at odds and gradually their relationships either fester or change for the better and this is certainly one of those stories. Obviously, this is a complicated situation for these characters to be in, and it's heartbreaking to see certain relationships get broken down as the story progresses. I was a little concerned, at one point, that a character was going to be portrayed as 'less-than' Lei because she believes herself to have fallen in love with the King, however, this was handled exactly as I would have wanted it to, and instead becomes something of a teachable moment.

So on to the romance, because it's certainly an important aspect of this book. I've read a fair few YA fantasy books with F/F pairings, but I've not read many where that is a core aspect of the story. I found it truly compelling to read Lei's discovery that she is attracted to a woman, it somehow manages to feel like that amazing revelation but not feel like an overdramatised moment, it's not voyeuristic for the reader, it's simply one woman falling in love with another. There are some YA tropes in there that some readers may not enjoy, personally, I'm here for a trope, especially when it comes to romance so I was head over heels for this couple.

I wasn't expecting the plot of this book to go in quite the direction that it did. It isn't drastically different from what one might anticipate, but there are some moments where I was genuinely surprised by various elements. This was particularly significant as I was expecting this to be quite a formulaic story. I actually hugely enjoyed the plot (perhaps 'enjoy' isn't the right verb here...some of it is hard to read), finding it intriguing and inspiring. There is a lot of violence, particularly violence against women, often in a sexual context so if you aren't comfortable or safe reading those passages then I suggest you either give this one a miss, or enlist a willing friend (I'll do it if you drop me a message) to make a list of pages or passages to skim over.

The one thing that stopped this from being a five-star read, for me, was that the ending felt a little bit rushed. It's something I seem to be in a bit of a phase with at the moment, a book has a wonderful slow build and then the last chapters/epilogue feel as though you blink and you miss them. I would have benefitted from more of a slow wrap-up, particularly since this is a standalone.

That's entirely a matter of personal preference, however, and it may just be indicative that I need to slow down when I'm reading the end of a book. Overall, I think this is a shining example of the kinds of YA fantasy books that should be being published, it doesn't make any excuses, it doesn't make apologies, it's wonderfully diverse and it is hugely compelling to read.

Final note, I'm a white lady so I can't comment on the representation of Asian characters in this story. It is worth noting that the author is half Chinese so this is an ownvoices book. I have also found a few ownvoices reviews which I suggest you check out, for opinions far more knowledgeable than mine! I'll hopefully come back and add to this list as and when I read reviews (since I'm guessing quite a few will come post-publication).

Forever and Everly

Read At Midnight

My rating: 4/5 stars

I received a free digital advanced review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was a fantastic book. A really richly developed world with so many brilliant characters. I found myself so drawn into the book that I completely lost track of my surroundings. I think this is a really great opener to this trilogy and I'm eagerly awaiting the next book.

Wow I loved this book so much.its was intense and amazing so much happen in it.. Girls of paper and fire is the first book in a fantasy series.I loved the elements of Asian culture in its. its had a wonderful love story in its i thought its was wrote so beautiful. I was rooting for them and hoping for a happy ending cant wait for the next book..