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beth019's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, and War
Moderate: Ableism and Torture
noyastan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Violence, Death, and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship, Suicide attempt, Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Sexual violence
angstifies's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
- 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
4.5
this whole series was so good, i found all the characters so interesting and i loved the way this story ended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Death, and Violence
Minor: Rape, Ableism, Alcohol, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
fantasyshelves's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- 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
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Classism, War, Gore, Death of parent, Misogyny, Animal cruelty, Violence, Animal death, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Sexism
Moderate: Child death, Emotional abuse, Slavery, Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Rape, and Torture
Minor: Suicide attempt, Ableism, Alcoholism, Fire/Fire injury, and Pregnancy
sarahna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- 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? Yes
4.0
4 stars
I started the year off rereading the first two books of the series in order to fully enjoy the conclusion to it all and it was so worth it! Wren's pov was something I wished for since book one and it really made sense how it was implemented. I don't even know where to begin to review the series but overall it was just amazing to read a YA fantasy series that didn't just have amazing sapphic and disability rep but also had high stakes. Major characters do die and the ones that survive usually have injuries or disability they have to deal with and play a big role in the plot.
Spoilers ahead:
Nitta truly shined in the book and I loved all the parts she was in. I just wish Bo was still around with Merrin. I noticed how most queer characters ended up dying, including the morally grey ones (Shifu Cein) but lots of other characters die as well so maybe its just me noticing that. Bo was just such a great comedic relief and I loved the chemistry he had with Merrin. Nitta on the other hand embraced her disability and I loved the fact that she got a wheelchair appropriate for war. Just badass.
The reason why it was a five star read for me was that Wren and Lei's relationship yoyo-ed too much for me. Some conflicts were blown out of proportion and happened because of miscommunication or the lack of communication in general. So much could've been avoided and when they finally did get together in the end it felt a bit unbelievable but because of the high stakes it didn't feel too off.
I loved the section 3 months after the Demon king was killed. It tied all the story lines together and it was nice to see the remaining paper girls stick together. All in all, I really liked the series even if book 2 was a bit of a mess. Just lovely.
I started the year off rereading the first two books of the series in order to fully enjoy the conclusion to it all and it was so worth it! Wren's pov was something I wished for since book one and it really made sense how it was implemented. I don't even know where to begin to review the series but overall it was just amazing to read a YA fantasy series that didn't just have amazing sapphic and disability rep but also had high stakes. Major characters do die and the ones that survive usually have injuries or disability they have to deal with and play a big role in the plot.
Spoilers ahead:
Nitta truly shined in the book and I loved all the parts she was in. I just wish Bo was still around with Merrin. I noticed how most queer characters ended up dying, including the morally grey ones (Shifu Cein) but lots of other characters die as well so maybe its just me noticing that. Bo was just such a great comedic relief and I loved the chemistry he had with Merrin. Nitta on the other hand embraced her disability and I loved the fact that she got a wheelchair appropriate for war. Just badass.
The reason why it was a five star read for me was that Wren and Lei's relationship yoyo-ed too much for me. Some conflicts were blown out of proportion and happened because of miscommunication or the lack of communication in general. So much could've been avoided and when they finally did get together in the end it felt a bit unbelievable but because of the high stakes it didn't feel too off.
I loved the section 3 months after the Demon king was killed. It tied all the story lines together and it was nice to see the remaining paper girls stick together. All in all, I really liked the series even if book 2 was a bit of a mess. Just lovely.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Blood, Classism, Death, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Sexual content, Violence, and War
starccato's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, War, Xenophobia, and Slavery
Moderate: Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Medical content, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Trafficking, and Self harm
Minor: Ableism, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, and Vomit
onceuponabookcase's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
I was received this eProof for free from Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for the purposes of providing an honest review.
I've been sitting on writing my review of Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan for a while now. It's been difficult to know exactly what to write. This isn't the kind of book where I can just talk about plot, characters, pacing, etc. like I normally would (though obviously they're brilliant, as I knew they would be going on the previous two books in the trilogy, or I'd be writing a very different review). Because this trilogy is so much more than just a story to me. As a sexual assault survivour, it's very close to my heart, and I anticipated this third and final book eagerly, but for more than just seeing how things would turn out, but also for a kind of closure, I guess. Lei has been fighting the person who hurt her, which I was never able to do, and I was looking forward to her triumphing. And I wasn't disappointed.
Before I get too much into how emotional this book was for me, there are a few other things I should touch on. When I finished Girls of Storm and Shadow, I was absolutely livid with Wren. Enough time had gone by that I had forgotten mostly why I was so amad at her, but thankfully these things were briefly covered in the book. Girls of Fate and Fury is narrated by both Lei and Wren, which I think was a very clever move on Ngan's part. I didn't finish the book having forgiven Wren for the terrible things she had done, and in some cases, continued to do, but I understood her. She has been brought up by her asopted father her whole life for the very purpose of defeating the Demon King. Her father, Ketai, is quite cold and calculated - which we knew, considering he gave Wren up to being a paper girl knowing full well she would be raped by the King - but we actually see more of what this looks like. Wren believes this is her duty, and making her father proud is almost the only thing that matters to her. She's done what she knows her father would say needed to be done. There is a bigger picture here, and defeating the King is the goal, by any means necessary, whatever the cost. Ketai had a fanatical obsession, and he forged Wren into his weapon. A lot of the things Wren did still don't sit right with me, but I understand her more. I understand why she did those things, and how she could believe there was no other choice. Still, I really don't know how certain characters were able to be in the same room as her by the end of the book.
When Girls of Storm and Shadow had ended, Lei had been caught and was to be taken back to the Hidden Palace. Girls of Fate and Fury starts with her there. I have to say I was horrified at her being caught, and was dreading the things she might go through in this book. But Lei is not who she once was. There is a fire in her, a determination to do whatever damage she can, to get out, so save her friends. Time and again, she is put in impossible situation after impossible situation, where it would be so easy just to give in to despair. But she is not alone, and there are others to protect, and her strength sees her through. That's not to say she's not fearful, or that she isn't living constantly on edge, waiting for a blow that's sure to come. Or that it doesn't take more than you could imagine to be in the presence of the King. But there is a bigger picture. While she's there, whatever she can learn could be helpful for when she gets out - and she will get out, along with the other paper girls, because you can't let herself imagine any other possibility. She is on a mission, and despite how dire her situation is, she doesn't lose sight of what they're all fighting for, and it's what keeps her going. And I was in complete and utter awe of her the entire time.
Girls of Fate and Fury is a fast paced book, and a lot goes on. It's full of action, and strategising. Characters we love return, and charcters are lost. For those who are reading just for a high fantasy story, it ticks all the boxes as the tension builds to the climax. For me, it was also hugely emotional. Because while there is this bigger picture, it's also very personal. For Lei, for Wren, for the other paper girls. It's a fight for justice, and seeing that justice handed out. I honestly cannot find the words to describe how I felt reading those final chapters. There was triumph, and anger, and vicious joy, and relief, and a hollow emptiness, and, still, the loss. But then hope and joy and love. I got to live vicariously through Lei, but healing isn't necessarily over once there is justice. Lei is getting there, though, and I'm getting there, and these books have helped immeasurably.
I'm never going to be able to fully articulate what these books mean to me. Nor can I ever thank Natasha Ngan enough for these incredible books. They ahave, internally, changed my life, and I can't give any higher praise than that.
I've been sitting on writing my review of Girls of Fate and Fury by Natasha Ngan for a while now. It's been difficult to know exactly what to write. This isn't the kind of book where I can just talk about plot, characters, pacing, etc. like I normally would (though obviously they're brilliant, as I knew they would be going on the previous two books in the trilogy, or I'd be writing a very different review). Because this trilogy is so much more than just a story to me. As a sexual assault survivour, it's very close to my heart, and I anticipated this third and final book eagerly, but for more than just seeing how things would turn out, but also for a kind of closure, I guess. Lei has been fighting the person who hurt her, which I was never able to do, and I was looking forward to her triumphing. And I wasn't disappointed.
Before I get too much into how emotional this book was for me, there are a few other things I should touch on. When I finished Girls of Storm and Shadow, I was absolutely livid with Wren. Enough time had gone by that I had forgotten mostly why I was so amad at her, but thankfully these things were briefly covered in the book. Girls of Fate and Fury is narrated by both Lei and Wren, which I think was a very clever move on Ngan's part. I didn't finish the book having forgiven Wren for the terrible things she had done, and in some cases, continued to do, but I understood her. She has been brought up by her asopted father her whole life for the very purpose of defeating the Demon King. Her father, Ketai, is quite cold and calculated - which we knew, considering he gave Wren up to being a paper girl knowing full well she would be raped by the King - but we actually see more of what this looks like. Wren believes this is her duty, and making her father proud is almost the only thing that matters to her. She's done what she knows her father would say needed to be done. There is a bigger picture here, and defeating the King is the goal, by any means necessary, whatever the cost. Ketai had a fanatical obsession, and he forged Wren into his weapon. A lot of the things Wren did still don't sit right with me, but I understand her more. I understand why she did those things, and how she could believe there was no other choice. Still, I really don't know how certain characters were able to be in the same room as her by the end of the book.
When Girls of Storm and Shadow had ended, Lei had been caught and was to be taken back to the Hidden Palace. Girls of Fate and Fury starts with her there. I have to say I was horrified at her being caught, and was dreading the things she might go through in this book. But Lei is not who she once was. There is a fire in her, a determination to do whatever damage she can, to get out, so save her friends. Time and again, she is put in impossible situation after impossible situation, where it would be so easy just to give in to despair. But she is not alone, and there are others to protect, and her strength sees her through. That's not to say she's not fearful, or that she isn't living constantly on edge, waiting for a blow that's sure to come. Or that it doesn't take more than you could imagine to be in the presence of the King. But there is a bigger picture. While she's there, whatever she can learn could be helpful for when she gets out - and she will get out, along with the other paper girls, because you can't let herself imagine any other possibility. She is on a mission, and despite how dire her situation is, she doesn't lose sight of what they're all fighting for, and it's what keeps her going. And I was in complete and utter awe of her the entire time.
Girls of Fate and Fury is a fast paced book, and a lot goes on. It's full of action, and strategising. Characters we love return, and charcters are lost. For those who are reading just for a high fantasy story, it ticks all the boxes as the tension builds to the climax. For me, it was also hugely emotional. Because while there is this bigger picture, it's also very personal. For Lei, for Wren, for the other paper girls. It's a fight for justice, and seeing that justice handed out. I honestly cannot find the words to describe how I felt reading those final chapters. There was triumph, and anger, and vicious joy, and relief, and a hollow emptiness, and, still, the loss. But then hope and joy and love. I got to live vicariously through Lei, but healing isn't necessarily over once there is justice. Lei is getting there, though, and I'm getting there, and these books have helped immeasurably.
I'm never going to be able to fully articulate what these books mean to me. Nor can I ever thank Natasha Ngan enough for these incredible books. They ahave, internally, changed my life, and I can't give any higher praise than that.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War
Moderate: Ableism, Sexual violence, and Violence
Minor: Torture
Drugging, starving.lzzz004's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, War, Torture, Genocide, Death, and Self harm
Moderate: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Sexual violence, Slavery, Rape, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, Fire/Fire injury, Addiction, Alcoholism, and Alcohol
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