Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Girls of Paper and Fire

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 abuse

Content Warnings

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 abuse

mothman19's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.25

Content Warnings

yohhhanna's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I read this book once already 2 years ago but somehow I only realized now on my reread that I never wrote a review. so this is just my second thoughts no first reaction..
this book is perfect for anyone looking for an Asian-inspired fantasy world with strong sapphic main characters fighting against their oppressors. also there's lots of friendship, food descriptions and a himbo helping the girls. I strongly urge you to have a look at the trigger warnings beforehand though.

spoiler warning just in case: wren is an absolute goddess, where do I get a gf like her? she makes me feel all giddy and her love isn't even directed at me. I love how her and lei are never whiny, always fighting, always fire. and I miss kenzo already :(

Content Warnings

lkluhs24's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

smoochinggirls's review against another edition

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adventurous dark inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The book was ok the pacing of the story felt rushed like the climax came to soon. I found Lei and Wrens relationship cute but I wish more time was dedicated to building it up the romance felt really sudden. As for the other paper girls I wished there was more time spent on fleshing them out thr book doesnt really explore much of who they are..

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