Happy Monday everyone. I’ve been ill this weekend so I wasn’t sure if I would make my post for this blog tour. But I have go me! Today I’m super excited to be part of the blog tour for GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE BY NATASHA NGAN organised by the lovely Kate from Hodder who have me the opportunity to read and review this powerful book. It kept me going this weekend so I need to do this review justice. I hope you enjoy it and make sure you buy a copy or in some cases take it off the bookshelf and read it ASAP. Here’s a little bit more about the book…

Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire, #1) by Natasha Ngan
Published by Hodder & Stoughton on November 6, 2018
Genres: Fantasy
Amazon | Book Depository
Goodreads

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 instead of paper, she's made of fire.

In this lush fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most oppressed class in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards still haunts her. Now, the guards are back, and this time it's Lei they're after--the girl whose golden eyes have piqued the king's interest.

Over weeks of training in the opulent but stifling palace, Lei and eight other girls learn the skills and charm that befit being a king's consort. But Lei isn't content to watch her fate consume her. Instead, she does the unthinkable--she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens the very foundation of Ikhara, and Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide just how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.

Presented by James Patterson, Natasha Ngan's lyrical, searing, visceral fantasy, Girls of Paper and Fire, will remind us how precious freedom is--and the price we must pay to achieve it.

*This book contains scenes of violence, rape and sexual assault.*

Some of the books I’ve read recently are powerful. They are all so different in their own way but boy do they hit it right there *points to heart* Girls of Paper and Fire is one of those books. I think I might have been one of the few people who has been living under a rock when it comes to this book until now.

Lei lives in the kingdom of demons and humans separated by three castes, Paper, Moon and Steele. Moon and Steele castes are human to demon like qualities. Whilst, Paper is what Lei is, a pure human and considered the lowest in society. After the Night War, the King wanted to make his own rules that every year he would choose 8 Paper Castes to serve as his Paper Girls, the king’s concubines and highest duty that a Paper caste can have. Lei is the girl rumoured to be have demon like eyes, the girl with the golden eyes, her mum was snatched by the royal guard seven years ago and now the King wants her all to himself, she is the ninth Paper Girl which is never heard of. But what he doesn’t know is that Lei is more than just a Paper caste, she unstoppable force of nature that will do everything in her power to stop the King.

The world building of this book is mythical and unique. It’s a world that has the potential to be beautiful when it feasts upon a plot full of darkness. Whilst everyone follows the king and his rules, there is an unknown sickness with the clans, assassinations on the king and public executions. Lei hates being His Heavenly Master’s concubine is demeaning, cruel, and angry and possessive. Seeing the other girls go through the roughness, almost like torture to go through lesson. It weakens you, your spirit and your soul. But You are simply a body to be used. The book really picked up 100-150 pages in, the plot tensions grew, forbidden romances blossomed and  Lei finds a spark in her, she finds someone, another Paper Girl called Wren. Wren is a secret warrior, her clan was demolished by the king. I loved Wren, I want to be friends with her. Her fierce nature is captivating and that what pulls Lei to her. Together they are spellbinding, the f/f relationship sets the book on fire, with so many feels – I loved it. Another book I can I’ve read as part of my LGBTQ+ list.

The feelings of this book is unimaginable, the pain and ugliness is so strong within Lei, she is consumed by the grief of her mum and losing her family to a life of servitude. The small amount of kindness and happiness came from her new family, a unity with the Paper Girls and she wants to protect them. This along with Wren sparks her revenge on the King, she becomes a power not to be reckoned with. She shows strength just by saying no and will accept any punishment given. I love Lei’s force, she is inspiration, even from the beginning, she never deterred from her personality she embraced it, she maybe stubborn but that gives her strength to seek her revenge. Natasha’s writing undeniably one is best I read in fantasy. I say that a lot, but her writing is a statement of heart, the feels, the fantasy, the world and the brutality is truly beautiful.

“Our emotions.” She says at my non plussed look. “Our feelings. Our thoughts. None of them will ever be able to control the way we feel. Our hearts and minds are our own. That is our power, Nine. Never forget it.”

Girls of Paper and Fire is a blazing glory of rebellion, justice, identity and love. This diverse, own-voices YA book is a stunning, kick-ass tribute to be who you are, embrace your identity and facing oppression.

Thank you to Hodder for sending a review copy in exchange for honest review.