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baby_jewels's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Rape, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Misogyny and Lesbophobia
poppywarphan's review against another edition
- 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
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.
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
mirroaoror's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
Minor: War
kristakp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I understand why the author went there, but it was still a surprise
I knew from about 40% through the book that I probably wouldn't be continuing on with the series afterwards. The world didn't lure me in although the writing was good.
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Sexual violence
Moderate: Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Lesbophobia
peppermintlegs's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Lesbophobia and Outing
karapillar's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
noxii's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Death of parent, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, and War
emlela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Physical abuse and Violence
Minor: Animal death, Cursing, Sexism, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Classism
The girls are forced to become concubines to the king, so there are scenes in which the characters are forced into sexual situations.annaki_laila's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
Minor: Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcohol
planetshelf's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Grief, Murder, Lesbophobia, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Alcohol
Minor: Bullying, Genocide, Infertility, Infidelity, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Trafficking, Pregnancy, Outing, and Gaslighting