Q U I C K S T A T S
Characters- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Setting- ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing style- ⭐⭐⭐
Overall rating- ⭐⭐⭐. 5
// Content Warning: Abduction / Abuse (sexual/physical/emotional) / Assault / Caste system / Death / Forced contraception / Genocide / Harassment / Murder / Prostitution (forced) / Rape / Sexual assault / Sexual violence / Sexism / Slavery / Torture / Violence //
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson Books
Age group: Young Adult
Genre(s): Fantasy
Pub date: November 6 2018
P R E M I S E
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 demeaning. This year, there's a ninth. And instead of paper, she's made of fire.
In this richly developed fantasy, Lei is a member of the Paper caste, the lowest and most persecuted class of people in Ikhara. She lives in a remote village with her father, where the decade-old trauma of watching her mother snatched by royal guards for an unknown fate still haunts her. Now, the guards are back and this time it's Lei they're after -- the girl with the golden eyes whose rumored beauty has piqued the king's interest.
Over weeks of training in the opulent but oppressive palace, Lei and eight other girls learns the skills and charm that befit a king's consort. There, she does the unthinkable -- she falls in love. Her forbidden romance becomes enmeshed with an explosive plot that threatens her world's entire way of life. Lei, still the wide-eyed country girl at heart, must decide how far she's willing to go for justice and revenge.
M Y R E V I E W
I procrastinated picking this up because of a) the absolutely gorgeous cover (I was scared this would be disappointing) and b) the content warnings. But I eventually gave in and after almost two years of preparing myself for this book, I read it.
First of all, I loved how Natasha Ngan had handled a heavy topic because sadly in most fantasy novels, or any genre really, which includes sexual assault/ rape, it is almost always dismissed as nothing.
She had created an incredible cast and I adored all of them, especially Wren. Lei is not to be forgotten because without her, the unethical and immoral practice would go on for a really long time. She was resilient and awfully brave, especially when it was revealed that she had been the first to refuse the king's advances. Let's be honest, I was scared for her while she literally did not care and carried on trying all the possible ways one could assassinate a demon king (I absolutely hated him, and with all due respect, I hope they cut off your testicles Mr. Demon Dick). Wren on the other hand, also amazing and the only thing stopping me from worshipping the ground she walks on is that the ground she walks on is fictional.
The world building was *chef's kiss* I've got nothing much to say about it because it is as close to perfect as it can get. The only reason I gave it four stars is because it all belongs to the king and I hate him more than life itself. If they hadn't gotten there before me, I would have done it myself. I could go on a really long rant about him and the reasons why he should unalive himself but that's not what anyone is here for (my sister is though, she owes me).
And that's my cue to read the second book. If you see me throwing knives around, it's because I am trying to be Wren.
(Copied from the author's note at the end).
If you are the victim of sexual, emotional, or physical abuse, please consider speaking to a trusted adult, or contacting one of the following resources if you need to seek help anonymously:
RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network)
Call: 1-800-656-HOPE
Chat: online.rainn.org
Info: rainn.org
Love Is Respect—National Dating Abuse Hotline for Teens
Call: 1-866-331-9474
Info and chat: LoveIsRespect.org
Text: LoveIs to 22522
National Domestic Violence/Abuse Hotline
Call: 1-800-799-SAFE
Info and chat: thehotline.org
T R O P E S
Absent parent
Chosen one
Forbidden romance
R E P R E S E N T A T I O N
Sapphic main characters
Asian main and side characters
F/F romance
S I M I L A R B O O K S
Cinderella is dead by Kalynn Bayron
The Glass Arrow by Kristen Simmons
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