Girls of Paper and Fire, by Natasha Ngan, is set in a world brimming with
demons, living alongside humans. As our story begins, Lei is taken from her home to
become one of the king’s concubines, a Paper Girl; girls from the lowest caste, fully
human. When Lei arrives at the palace, she discovers that she has no hope, not of
escaping, not of ever seeing her family again, and not of ever having a choice again.
She soon starts to feel something is different about one of the other girls. Lei begins to
realize that she has something that the king can never take away from her.
I loved this book because it talks about so many real life issues masterfully
woven into a fantasy world. I also love how most characters show resilience, though
each in their own way. I read this book because my cousin recommended it to me. I
would recommend this book to any teen who wants a beautiful yet disturbing read.