Girls of Paper and Fire
Book - 2018 | First edition
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 she's made of fire. Lei is a member of the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She's forced to go with the royal guards after her golden eyes pique the king's interest. Forced to learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort, Lei does the unthinkable-- she falls in love. As an explosive plot threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, Lei must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge. -- adapted from jacket
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Opinion
From Library Staff
From Library Staff
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 she's made of fire. Lei is a member of the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She's forced to go with ... Read More »
From the critics
Community Activity
Notices
Add NoticesFrightening or Intense Scenes: Contains themes of sexual assault and violence. Scenes are not explicit in detail however the themes are central to the plot line.
Sexual Content: Contains themes of sexual assault and violence. Scenes are not explicit in detail however the themes are central to the plot line.
Violence: Contains themes of sexual assault and violence. Scenes are not explicit in detail however the themes are central to the plot line.
Sexual Content: Includes mentions of sexual abuse, and adult themes.
Age
Add Age SuitabilityAliceInWonderbread thinks this title is suitable for 14 years and over
bezoarbezoarbezoar thinks this title is suitable for 13 years and over
green_panda_7576 thinks this title is suitable for 15 years and over
Summary
Add a Summary"The citizens of Ikhara comprise three castes: the oppressed, fully human “Paper” class; “Steel,” a human-animal mash-up; and the reigning “Moon” caste, made up of anthropomorphic animals called demons. Every year, the Moon caste’s king claims eight “Paper Girls” as concubines. It’s an alleged honor, but when the military collects golden-eyed, 17-year-old Lei from her family’s herbal medicine shop, she’s devastated. Her father will suffer if she resists, however, and she wonders about finding her mother, also taken, so Lei relocates to the ruler’s Hidden Palace. Although she dreads being summoned to the brutal king’s bedroom, Lei finds comfort in the friendship of her fellow courtesans—particularly the secretive Wren, with whom she falls in love. Ngan’s plot is tense and tight, her action sequences are elegant and adrenaline-soaked, and her story’s stakes increase exponentially through the pulse-pounding conclusion. She champions self-empowerment while condemning classism, homophobia, and the commodification of women." - From Publishers Weekly
Quotes
Add a Quote“When the world denies you choices... you make your own”
― Natasha Ngan, Girls of Paper and Fire
Comment
Add a CommentI am not usually a huge fan of fantasy but the world-building and characters in this series are phenomenal. The plot does lag a little in terms of action but this book makes up for it with great characters and a fast-paced sequel. I highly recommend this series for fantasy fans or for those who want to go outside their genre comfort zone.
Absolutely adored this book. LGBTQIA+ representation was amazing, the love between the two women characters shone a light through the darker themes and intense story line.
The world building was unique and reminiscent of the author's Asian heritage. The characters were empathetic, determined and dynamic. The plot was suspenseful and engrossing. I'm eager to know if there's a sequel and to read whatever else Ngan has to offer :)
I thought the book was truly amazing. It kinda explained what could happen in the real world. As well most books with secret romance are boy and girl. I love that the it was a girl and girl. I hope other people like it as much as me.
I did not love this book. The dialogue was truly terrible and all of the characters were one-dimensional. Readers feel sympathy for the main protagonist but can't connect with her on a deeper level. Overall the plot was interesting, I just don't think it was executed well.
First of all, I’m gonna call bs on that epilogue.
Overall the story was interesting. I just didn’t connect well with it. I’m sure that was at least in part because of the woman who read it. Perhaps in the future I’ll reread it without listening, and my impression will change.
For a young adult novel I thought this book was fantastic! The mixture of first and third person style was really interesting and the captivating, and at times temptuous, writing really appealed to me. The love story progressed at just the right pace and kept you wanting to read more, rooting for the couple to find a way to be together. Even though there was a fantasy aspect of this with demons etc. it wasn't done in a over the top fashion and was still believable. I enjoyed it quite a bit.
This book is incredible. The world-building, the lore, the setting and the characters were all fully realized and described beautifully. The heroine, Lei, is likable but she's also very flawed. There were times I felt annoyed by her and that's alright. Perfect characters are boring. Lei can be self-centered at times and sometimes doesn't see beyond her own little section of the world, but throughout the book she grows.
My favorite character, however, is the love interest Wren. Now, this is a romance between two women, so if that bothers you, this book may not be for you. The scenes between them are sensual and intimate, but not overly graphic. I loved their love story and the way it developed. Wren is a total bad-ass and the perfect counter. I really think Wren was the girl of fire, not so much Lei.
It leaves things open for a series and I really hope the author follows through with that. We need more novels with LGBTQ+ romance and main characters of color, of which this book has both.
Warning: This book does contain scenes of rape and sexual assault. The scenes are not graphic, but the aftermath can be hard to read.
It was good and I read it in a single day, but it wasn't amazing. Plot was fairly generic and predictable, but enjoyable.
The thing about paper is that it is often underestimated. Easily torn, shredded, and disposed; yet, in rock paper scissors it overcomes rock. And it creates from itself the fuel of fire. In a world where demons rule over humankind (paper caste), one girl sees much reason to rebel against her system. When she is chosen to serve the demon king, she is set up against her internal and external fears. When she falls in love, it makes that bit of difference that spurs her on. I enjoyed the cultural ties (Mandarin) throughout this book. @Siri of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library
I quiet enjoyed this book. It was by no means a fast paced action packed story but rather a great tale of betrayal, love and loyalty. I can not wait for the next one to see how the story continues.