Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Chicas de Papel y de Fuego = Girls of Paper and Fire, by Natasha Ngan

11 reviews

poppy_warphan's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Characters: 5/10
Enjoyment: 6.5/10
Plot: 6/10
Worldbuilding: 5/10
Writing: 8/10

This might as well have been a standalone. But it's not because of that extra page at the end. Unfortunately, I don't think I'm invested enough to read any further installments.

The idea was good, the execution not so much. The worldbuilding wasn't really explored. The plot and writing were simplistic. That's not a bad thing, but on one hand it read as a book for younger teens, on the other hand though it discussed mature themes. There's rape. It's not graphic, but there nonetheless. If there's anything that triggers me in books, its sexual assault.  The girls are taken as mistresses and must have sex with the king against their will. Yes, they don't object, but it's either that or be killed.

The characters were underdeveloped. The king as a villain was just stupid. He's evil. OK, and? That's it? The paper girls were pretty indistinguishable. Aside from Aoki and Blue whose personality was being a bitch. The relationship between Lei and Wren didn't really have any foundation. It was pretty much just lusting and attraction.

Now, what I did like was what was done with Aoki's character. Not that I like what happened to her, but the book highlights how easy it is to fall victim to an abusive man. Aoki is the youngest out of the paper girls and naive. The king makes her feel special, so she starts having feelings for him. I like how it pointed out (although in a pretty juvenile way) that such a relationship is, in fact, not good (side-eyeing all the romance books that romanticize toxic relationships). Aoki is probably the most nuanced compared to the other two-dimensional characters.

Overall Girls of paper and fire wasn't a terrible book, just underwhelming. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Violence, Child abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Confinement, Sexual violence, and Body horror

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, Trafficking, Injury/injury detail, Lesbophobia, Racism, Kidnapping, Gaslighting, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Classism, Bullying, Death, and Genocide

books_of_calypso's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, War, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Physical abuse, Infertility, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Injury/injury detail, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Violence

andromeda_1998's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

The girls of paper and fire is one of those books who have been hiding at the back of my bookcase for years…. And after reading it I have to apologize towards them. They didn’t deserve my silent treatment. The first book is in my opinion a good read. The book has a heavy theme but that’s to be expected. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Misogyny, Rape, Murder, Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual violence, Classism, Death of parent, and Kidnapping

planetshelf's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Classism, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Homophobia, Injury/injury detail, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Minor: Trafficking, Bullying, Gaslighting, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Outing, Pregnancy, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

zoevjester's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional inspiring tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This is the second time I've read Girls 1. You can tell immediately when your read it that the author poured their heart and soul into the story, and it shows. The diversity is a breath of fresh air, the characters and the story, while dark, is woven and told with such care that my heart breaks. Lei is a brilliant character and her story, so very similar to some people's reality, is a reminder to live despite.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Sexual content, Rape, Grief, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Injury/injury detail, Forced institutionalization, Death of parent, Classism, and Animal death

Moderate: Alcohol, Lesbophobia, Physical abuse, Violence, Infertility, Toxic relationship, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, and Racism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, War, Kidnapping, Infertility, Genocide, Injury/injury detail, and Gore

flavia_giovanetto's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Gaslighting, Lesbophobia, Murder, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Minor: War

lkluhs24's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Slavery, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death of parent

nishath's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Violence, Slavery, Murder, and Torture

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Death of parent

omnombailey's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Absolutely phenomenal. I had a difficult time putting it down once I dove in.

For something that's marketed to young adults, this felt like a mature read and touched on so many topics that speak to many regardless of age. I loved the fantastic world this took place in and all the worldbuilding gems throughout. I loved the diverse, complex female characters. I loved the plot constantly making me think one thing and leaving me pleasantly surprised with the outcome. I loved how the darker themes in the story were tastefully written and came from a place of quiet understanding and solidarity. I laughed, I gasped, I grumbled, I teared up. I loved Lei and so many other characters and related with all of them at once in an odd way.

My only complaints were that the first few chapters were a bit difficult to get into and that the story eventually ended.

I did not expect to fall so hard in love with this book as I did. Also the first time I immediately sought the second book and pre-ordered it instantly. Can't wait for November! Definitely one of the best novels I've read in a damn long time. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Bullying, Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Slavery, and Death

Moderate: Rape, Sexual content, Violence, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Death of parent

Sexual assault/rape survivors and the trauma associated with it is a HUGE part of this book. The author even talks about it towards the end of the book. I found it was handled well, though if even mentioning it in a safe space doesn't sit well with you, please avoid this book/series.

c430's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Sexual violence and Toxic relationship

Minor: Animal death