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cgibson25'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? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Blood, and Racial slurs
runes_reads'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Slavery, Rape, Medical trauma, Grief, Alcohol, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Kidnapping, Animal death, Trafficking, War, Murder, Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, Racial slurs, and Misogyny
Moderate: Outing, Gore, Adult/minor relationship, Torture, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Genocide, Death of parent, Mental illness, Confinement, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Vomit
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: 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
sammymilfort'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? It's complicated
1.0
I liked the authors writing style and the pacing of elements was good, but this book was traumatic and there was little to no reprieve.
I appreciate the author putting trigger warnings before her story to warn readers, but no one tells you how graphic the SA scenes get. I was enjoying the story in the first part (about 100 pages) but then it got to be too much for me.
I felt like many of the characters and world were underdeveloped and the only time I enjoyed this book was during the romance of Lei and Wren
The plot in itself is vague and kind of predictable, but other than that I kept thinking so many times as I read this how can this be marketed as YA?
The amount of times I was deeply disturbed from this book and had to take multiple breaks was astounding because that is how dark and truly horrible this reading experience was for me.
I know abuse is an important part in stories and highlighting it in stories is sometimes needed and important, but with this it felt cruel and unnecessary
I kept thinking to myself how could a teenager read this without being affected emotionally in some type of way. I know if I was still in my young teens I could not grasp or be able understand this in a way I do now, but this book is trauma based and I think it’s important to note that.
This story had so much potential but instead I am getting a therapy session out of this
Please if you are thinking of reading this book- CHECK TW and be prepared for graphic SA of minors and more
TW: Violence, Blood, Body Horror, Branding, Graphic SA and Rape, non consensual, physical and emotional abuse
Graphic: Confinement, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Body horror, Gore, Torture, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Death of parent
I’ve had this book on my radar since I started watching booktok and no one told me how drained I would feel after. I liked the authors writing style and the pacing of elements was good, but this book was traumatic and there was little to no reprieve. I appreciate the author putting trigger warnings before her story to warn readers, but no one tells you how graphic the SA scenes get. I was enjoying the story in the first part (about 100 pages) but then it got to be too much for me. I felt like many of the characters and world were underdeveloped and the only time I enjoyed this book was during the romance of Lei and Wren The plot in itself is vague and kind of predictable, but other than that I kept thinking so many times as I read this how can this be marketed as YA? The amount of times I was deeply disturbed from this book and had to take multiple breaks was astounding because that is how dark and truly horrible this reading experience was for me. I know abuse is an important part in stories and highlighting it in stories is sometimes needed and important, but with this it felt cruel and unnecessary I kept thinking to myself how could a teenager read this without being affected emotionally in some type of way. I know if I was still in my young teens I could not grasp or be able understand this in a way I do now, but this book is trauma based and I think it’s important to note that. This story had so much potential but instead I am getting a therapy session out of this Please if you are thinking of reading this book- CHECK TW and be prepared for graphic SA of minors and more TW: Violence, Blood, Body Horror, Branding, Graphic SA and Rape, non consensual, physical and emotional abuseaxelstudies'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: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Xenophobia, Violence, Rape, and Hate crime
Moderate: Blood, Child abuse, Sexual content, Grief, Racial slurs, and Racism
Minor: Death of parent and Confinement
gattolinos_nerdy_nook'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
4.5
I did forget how complex some of the characters are which made reading about them again a pleasant surprise. It felt like I was reading for the first time again.
I cannot wait to see where the series takes me with the next two books. I wonder who we will see again in the sequels and how relationships have changed.
Graphic: Animal death and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Slavery and Racial slurs