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moonchild_cos'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
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Confinement, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Trafficking, Murder, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Drug use and Death of parent
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
erynpaige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
karapillar's review
- 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
lajoy'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? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual assault, Violence, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
mckinleyrae316's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Trafficking, Lesbophobia, and Sexual harassment
leama's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Sexual harassment
giuliagoolia2k's review against another edition
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Confinement, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Kidnapping, and Colonisation
axelstudies'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? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual content, Blood, and Grief
Minor: Confinement and Death of parent
kristinbookdragon'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? It's complicated
3.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Trafficking, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Death, and Blood