Girls of Fate and Fury is the final installment in the Girls and Paper and Fire series by Natasha Ngan. Lei and Wren are separated, and have to fight their way back to each other, and then fight the long-awaited final moments of the war against the Demon King. Facing allies and enemies alike, the two have to hope that they’ll succeed in their missions so that they can live the lives that they dream of.

I loved the two previous books in this series, and this one was just as good. It felt like all of the characters had fulfilling arcs as the book explored serious issues of sexism, sexuality, and disability with care and nuance. Part of me wanted some more time with some of the characters interacting – especially with Lei and her father – but I also feel like the story ended where it should have.

A great series with a great ending!

A perfect, epic conclusion to an amazing series that stole my heart. It grabbed it hard in the first passages of the first book and didn't let go until the end. What a brilliant, beautiful series. Also, omg, what a suspense - I feel like I've been holding my breath from the first chapter of the first book until the very end of this one. A masterpiece.

I love Lei and Wren, watching them grow and fight for themselves, each other, and the world around them. They are absolutely precious.

I love so many of the secondary characters. Chenna, Aoki, Blue, Lova, Nitta, Kenzo... All of them so real, so well-written, they could step off the page at any moment.

I love the rich, Malaysia-inspired fantasy world, filled with rich cultures and demons.

Please be mindful of CWs as you head into the books! There is explicit sexual assault, kidnapping, torture, dealing with trauma and PTSD, death/killing, maiming, and many others.

I think Girls of Fate and Fury is my favourite book of the series. It is darker than the first two — how can it not be, with Lei back at the Hidden Palace with her abuser and war at the centre — but it was so well done, the conclusion of a trilogy I’ll think for a long, long time. Especially about the girls.

In this book, we get Wren’s POV, which feels so different from Lei’s, but one thing they both have in common is their determination and their love for each other. Book 2 left them separated with a pretty big argument and my heart hurt every time they thought of the other. How can two people love each other so strongly, despite — because of — their faults is. wow. I don’t think I even have words for their love. I was drawn by Girls of Paper and Fire for the sapphic love story and got so much more than that.

| “It’s only polite to look at a girl in the eyes when she kills you.” |

And girls. So many resilient, strong, endearing girls. With Lei back at the Hidden Palace, we see the other Paper Girls and their bond is stronger than ever. Them and their relationship were everything to me in this third book. We get to know each of them better, understand them better, and they’re just, girls. Girls. I said war is at the centre of this book, but Girls are at the centre of the series. They were all written so perfectly, with all their strengths and their flaws. I’m gonna miss them. This is a love letter to girls, every single one of us.

As it is the conclusion of the series, and war is brewing — is here — Girls of Fate and Fury is way much darker than the first two books. Expect a lot of emotions and things you would not agree with but are necessary in their times. Expect death. Lots of it. I definitely cried more than a few times reading this book.

| There was no space for mercy in war. |

There were also reactions and talks about trauma and disability and how to live with it, and it felt so much important. Not everyone’s answers were the same, as people are all different, but it was there. It was seen, known, talked about.

All in all, I think this was a perfect conclusion for the series. I smiled and laughed and hurt and cried and loved, and I will miss the girls very much, but they will always have a place in my heart.

The Girls of Paper and Fire series has been my reading life for the past 3 years, ever since the first book arrived in my Fairyloot subscription in 2018. I've loved a lot of books in between, of course, but I utterly fell in love with Girls and it's always in the back of my mind as my favourite, as the one in which I'm always waiting for the next book. I knew the final book was going to be amazing and it didn't disappoint - there are a lot of surprises along the way, some good and some bad, some I could never in a million years have anticipated. I'm sad that the series is over, but I'm really happy with the way it ended.

It's so incredibly hard to sum up the finale of a trilogy, especially one that's so meaningful to me, so I'm going to make a list of a few (no spoiler) points I think you might like to hear -

We get to hear from Wren's point of view, as well as Lei's.

There is so much healing in this book, I'm glad that the trauma is named out loud for what it is.

As with the previous book, there's a lot of humour in Girls of Fate and Fury - some of these characters are hilarious.

Some characters are lost, some are gained.

One word - betrayal.

This story is so inclusive when it comes to queer and disabled characters, I have never felt so seen by a book.

The first two books were definitely exciting...but they have met their match - so many heart pounding scenes!

I got the warm fuzzy reunions I was hoping for.

I may have a crush on a gay wolf demon, I will not be taking questions at this time.

Thank you NetGalley, Hodder and Stoughton, for the chance to read and review this book in exchange of an honest review.

Lei doesn't want to be trapped again in the Hidden Palace, there with a brutal and sadistic king, expecially without Wren, but the last time she saw Wren she was fighting for her life against soldiers. Now they are apart and each of them are in peril, so they will manage to fight back and get together again and will they be separated for good?

Girls of fate and fury is the epic conclusion of this heartwrenching saga and I loved everything! Like always the author did an outstanding job describing feelings and actions in a rollcoaster emotional story and explosive finale!
Lei and Wren are brilliant and complex characters, I loved their interactions and romance and the story is thrilling, scary and heartbreaking, leaving me breathless until the very end. Definitely recommended it!

3.5 🌟

Girls of Paper and Fire is one of my favourite fantasy trilogies and I am quite happy with this ending. As you can probably tell from my rating, I did not love it as much as the other two books (I gave 4 stars to both of them), but I still feel like this is a solid third book. Generally, the third book is never my favourite, the second one is, and this series is no exception. Second book supremacy.

Anyways, I love Natasha Ngan's writing style: she is able to perfectly balance action scenes with lyrical writing, and I really enjoy some of the quotes, especially the ones about love, loss and all the different kind of pains experienced by her characters. I think the depiction of war, illness, injuries, abuse and affection is extremely spot on. I would love to read a hard hitting contemporary written by the author, because I think she would do an amazing job and contemporary is one of my favourite genres.

The only problem I had with this book -- which is probably a me problem, since it happened twice this month alone -- is that it was a bit too long for my taste. The first part was a bit boring and I struggled to get into it. After the 50% mark things became much more interesting and I found my old love for this series, but I am not gonna lie, if I was someone who DNF'd books, I may have DNF'd this one based on the first half.

In any case, I am glad I have completed this trilogy and I can tell this is going to be something I will recommend to anyone who's looking for a good YA fantasy series with lot of diversity and accurate depiction of the struggles people in these situations may face. I hate when fantasy doesn't tackle the aftermath of battle and abuse, but this book is so very much about that and I think it is really important.

Be sure to check TWs before reading this series, though, as it is not an easy and light one!

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC.

“The small bird flies on the wings of the golden-eyed girl”

Nine Paper Girls. Each claimed their very own piece of my heart in Girls of Paper and Fire. While I loved them all, I identified mostly with three: Lei, the Moonchosen, trained assassin Wren and Blue, winner of the girl with the most attitude award. Then there was sweetheart Lill, not one of the nine but so darn adorable that I couldn’t help but want to protect her from the big, bad world.

My favourites all returned in this final book of the trilogy, a book I’d both anticipated and dreaded. I needed to know what would happen to each of my girls and I couldn’t wait to spend more time with them, loving them and learning from them, but I wasn’t ready to say good bye to them just yet. Although I’m sad to be leaving them behind (for now; I know they’ll be waiting for me when I return for my reread), I’m also grateful because my heart is so full having known them.

These girls are everything I want in characters, and in myself, if I’m going to be honest. They’ve been through absolute hell but, despite everything, they keep showing up. Although literal survival would be a triumph at this point, they’re always reaching for more. They want justice, they want peace and they’re going to fight, in an actual war, to achieve it. Their resilience, their courage, their ability to still love and be loved, is extraordinary.

“When the world denies you choices, you make your own.”

That’s not to say that they don’t feel the effects of what they’ve survived so far. There are the nightmares, the flashbacks, the dissociation, the times when the past tries its darnedest to swallow them whole. PTSD, although it’s not officially diagnosed in Ikhara (none of our girls really have the time to make an appointment with a psychologist anyway), is evident in the various trauma impacts the reader is privy to. Coping mechanisms, healthy and otherwise, are as varied as the individual characters, and I adore that about this series. There is no one correct way to respond when you’ve experienced the kind of trauma these girls have; all of their responses are normal.

“Fire in. Fear out.”

While recovery from sexual assault remains something our girls are all dealing with, another character is having to figure out her life post-disability. This character is a total badass and one of my new favourites. They’re able to acknowledge their disability and the impact it has on their life without it defining them and I loved them even more for that. The authenticity and sensitivity evident in the writing, already proven by the way the author has handled the experience of and survival after sexual assault, are extended to the experience of disability.

There will be reviews that will talk about the story and others that will talk about its themes. I’m here to tell you that I love these girls even more now than I did before I began this book. I got to return to the Hidden Palace to confront the past and spent precious time with characters I didn’t think I’d cross paths with again.

This isn’t only Lei’s story. We’re also given chapters written from Wren’s perspective in this book and I couldn’t help noticing the differences between the two. Lei, who is more open and leads with her heart, has chapters written in the first person. Wren, the trained assassin who guards her heart more, has chapters written in the third person, almost as if she needed to keep the reader at arm’s length because she’s not certain they’re worthy of her trust.

This is a story for all Paper Girls both on and off the page. Like the books before it, I felt seen in its pages. I was reminded that you can survive your past. You can continue to fight even when your mind and body are telling your spirit you can’t. It’s okay to accept help from the supportive people around you. You are not the labels others place on you. You can look forward to a future where your past, while it can never be undone, doesn’t have to define you.

“Give them hell, girls. For all of us.”

Content warnings include mental health, misogyny, racism, references to sexual assault, self harm, torture, violence and war.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book.

“Paper isn’t just a caste to them. It is a state, an expectation of what we should be. Weak. Blank. Something to tear. Something to use and discard without a second thought… I learned long ago that Paper has its own power—the ability to ignite, re‑form, evolve.”

TW: Sexual assault (remembered), death of loved ones/family, blood, death, battle

I can’t believe this series is over now because I loved being back in the world. It’s rich, magical and complex, with layers of history and world building. After two years of being on the outskirts of the world and the politics, this book dives straight into the mess at Ikhara’s core.
I really enjoyed the dual perspective in this. Having reread the first two in the series this month too made me look at Wren in a different light, but GoFaF really made me appreciate her. She’s forced to be the way she is and think the things she does because that’s what she’s always been taught to. But she so fiercely loves those around her and this book proved it.
I love Lei. Where she was always strong willed, she’s now brave and strong and selfless - in ways she didn’t have the power to be before. It’s amazing to see how she fights for and interacts with the people around her.
This books still deals with themes of SA, but more so the long-term impacts. These are characters that have been hurt, but who don’t always realise it. I think the author did a fantastic job of telling their story and recovery.
The flow of the story made it really easy to keep reading - I was tense and shocked so often, but there were still moments of joy and hope. The ending was perfect.
I cannot fault this book. Would definitely recommend.

I loved Girls of Fate and Fury and I thought that this, the final book in the series was the best. The story is so fast-paced and I loved the dual POVs that flipped between Lei and Wren’s , it’s such an addictive read just like the first two, and like the first two there’s lots of emotion, and I admit to a ton of tears during and at the end. The sense of love, sacrifice and strength in this are just truly magical and it’s a fitting (but bittersweet) end to a fantastic series

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Hands up anyone who can guess what my very first remark here is going to be?
Points to you! It's the one I often say: recap.

Storm and Shadow came out two years ago. Paper and Fire was another year before that. Granted, the book I read is a proof, and there are often changes and alterations before publication, but the version I read has nothing in the way of a recap. This is a Loads and Loads of Characters series, and I genuinely only remembered the two main girls and the Demon King. That meant that when people were getting threatened, injured, killed, or showing up to say lines that are clearly references to lines they said before, I had no idea who any of them were and what the significance was. Even parts of the plot, important things that were informing character's actions, I had no memory of.

However, all that aside, this is a good ending to the series. Lots of characters get significant moments, there's action and adventure, lots of tallking (possibly too much talking, in spots; lots of people talk about things we've already had people talking about, especially in Lei's chapters.) I liked that Wren and Lei's chapters were written in different tenses, as it made it easy to remember which POV we were in. The action scenes really hummed, although some of the talking bits felt too long to me, but maybe some people will enjoy them.

I know that authors are writing these more or less at once, and the hope is that eventually readers will buy and read them one after another. But that's not the way they're marketed. I can't be the only reader who would love a recap in this kind of book. Maybe if we keep saying it loudly enough, publishers will start to listen.

(Oh, and I love the map of the palace. Absolutely amazing, so much detail!)

Girls of Fate and Fury is a wonderful conclusion to an amazing series, an emotional roller-coaster complete with even more worldbuilding, plenty of intrigue and backstabbing.

I loved getting Wren’s viewpoint as well, with an intriguing glimpse into her psyche, trauma and abilities. She’s come so far from the steely ice princess of the first book, opening up and loving even deeper. However, that growth has come alongside truly tragic and devastating events. What I loved here was Ngan’s discussion of the ongoing impact of trauma and reclaiming your identity in a world pitted against you. The backstory of every Paper Girl was tragic and made them that much more empathetic. You want to just scoop them up and protect them.

Whereas Girls of Storm and Shadow was potentially a more character-driven story, here Ngan ramps up the tension and action even more. You’ve seen these characters grow and fallen in love with them, so now Ngan places everything on the line. The action scenes are not short of spectacular, full of darkness and violence. Every page has the tangible sense that everything may come crashing down at any point. This truly is an emotional rollercoaster of a book. I also really enjoyed Ngan’s ethical exploration of the cost of vengeance and the dark places we will go to (or be manipulated into) in order to survive and protect our loved ones.

Speaking of ramping up, I adored how Ngan threaded in even more details to this complex tapestry of worldbuilding. There are still new power players to meet and lands to explore. Also, I loved the sheer amount of intrigue and backstabbing hidden round every corner. The political machinations have always been a fascinating aspect of this trilogy and Ngan utilises them perfectly, showing the horrific cost of war. Just when you think you know everything, Ngan unveils another layer of emotional depth and twists that leave you reeling.

Girls of Fate and Fury confirms what I already knew: Natasha Ngan has my whole heart.

What a wonderful opportunity to reread this entire series. If you're wondering whether to dive straight into this book or to go back and start at the beginning my recommendation is to treat yourself to the reread, it will make this third book even more special!
Third books in a series are often incredibly difficult to review as you really don't want to spoil things but I will endeavour to do my best!
This book fits wonderfully in with the other two books in the series which I wasn't necessarily expecting since there are a few differences between them and there has been some time between releases, but I think Natasha Ngan has perfectly managed to capture the essence of the earlier books while also bringing in all the additional elements needed to tell this story well.
I was fully expecting to be my usual cynical self and to have had a perfectly ok time with this book but I'm delighted to say I got incredibly caught up in the story and even found myself shedding a tear or two on the way. It doesn't feel 'punch you in the heart' in the way that some series' conclusions do, but it definitely hits home.
One thing I very much appreciated was that this felt simultaneously a totally reasonable conclusion while not feeling predictable. Ngan sets up a series of possible endings and I have to say I was very pleased with the one that ended up happening.
I am so pleased to say this series is a total hit from start to finish. Bear all the content warnings in mind but I would definitely recommend them!
I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own!

Okay, where do you even begin with a review for a book that concludes one of your all-time favourite trilogies? Girls of Fate and Fury picks up pretty much straight after the events of the second book, with Lei on her way back to the Hidden Palace that she despises so much and Wren still fighting to make the world a better place… whilst being internally torn apart as all she wants is to rescue the girl she loves.

I am to die, but I am not theirs to kill.
If you loved the palace dramas of the first book, then you’ll really love this as it’s half that and half like the second book, focused on the build up and inevitable fight against the Demon King. We have the return of some great characters in this too. I loved Blue by the end of the first story and she’s back in this and just gets better and better as a character the more we see her.

There is a character who returns having been injured to the point where they can’t walk, and Natasha adds in this representation in SUCH a beautiful way that it’s very clear they aren’t defined by this disability as their glowing personality shines through.

“I am still a warrior. I am still myself.”
Another returning set of characters… Lei’s adorable family! The Hanno Clan is keeping them safe and it’s just lovely seeing them back again.

We have three key new characters, including two warriors on the Lei and Wren’s side and… a certain Queen. It’s slightly maddening that we’ve had two books without the Queen but it makes sense given the Demon King’s treatment of women in general. I won’t say much about her but she was definitely my favourite addition in terms of new characters!

In terms of the structure, we have both Lei and Wren’s perspectives throughout and that works so well for the story. The other two books were focused around Lei and although that worked incredibly well to get to know Lei I absolutely adored the more intimate look at things through Wren’s point of view. I don’t know if it was intentional but following the events of the second book it makes even more sense to see things from both of their points of view, as they end up pretty separated both physically and emotionally following what happens in that one.

This trilogy has absolutely torn me apart emotionally whilst I’ve read it. But it’s just the perfect way of showing people dealing with PTSD and overcoming obstacles to make the world a better place that I can’t help but love it. Heavy subjects are dealt with throughout, including the effects of rape and emotional manipulation. But, I have to stress that Natasha covers this in such a way that you have to keep reading. It’s handled with care and you fall in love with every character, even when they do questionable things you’re shown the reasoning behind it.

“You were the only thing in the world that existed right then. The only thing she cared about.”
And that reasoning is usually love. Whether is familial, friendship or romantic these books are filled to the brim with love being how things are overcome. There are instances where family members don’t show their love but this is picked up by friends around them, there are times when sacrifices are made out of love, and it’s obvious that one of the reasons why the Demon King is so monstrous is that he’s incapable of loving in the normal way.

In short, this is a trilogy that will rip your heart open but stitch it back together in the most beautiful way.

When you're reading the conclusion to a series and you are worried for LITERALLY EVERY CHARACTER then you know you've been reading a good one.

There were some things I LOVED about this book - the fear and worry for every character has been ramping up all series and, for a trilogy with all of the trigger and content warnings, Ngan has always done a good job of treating these things with an element of sensitivity, or, at least realness.

In this book we see more of an emphasis on not just physical disability, but also the debilitating effect that long-term trauma can have on an individual. That's always what this series has been about, and it won't be for everyone, but it's not afraid to approach these things. There SHOULD be long-term trauma when horrendous events happen in a novel. The characters have to live it.

And in that same vein, the story here continues beyond the action's conclusion - there's another 15% of the novel to go before you reach the its actual conclusion. Which is satisfying - again, it's the way it should be.

I appreciate a lot of people were excited for POV chapters from Wren - this was certainly the time for it. However, I enjoyed this less once the two POV characters were united, as things began to switch between first person and third person narrative in the same setting.

Finally, there are a few events that happened that I felt should have had more of an impact. But with so much else going on, I can understand why we didn't dwell on them.

This was a satisfying end to an intense trilogy that made me fear what would happen next and truly lauded the importance of sisterhood.

4.5 stars overall.

I had to sit and just think for a while after finishing this read. I absolutely adored the first 2 books in this series and and after the cliffhanger of the 2nd book was anxious to find out what happened next.
This third book in the trilogy does not slow its pace one bit.
Without giving too much away, the characters remain well written and I really came to dislike some of them for their personalities but that is the mark of a well written character in my opinion, one that can make you feel something.
The world building remains strong as well, it is the same one as written previously.
Now the storyline. The storyline. I just can't with how this one went. It made me feel all sorts of things as I was reading and I really found that I didn't want to put it down, I needed to turn the page to find out what happened next! Really, this is one of my favourite series and I need more haha.

Pick it up, and if you haven't picked up the first 2, then go pick those up as well!

Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4,5 <3 Girls of paper and fire was one of the top three books I read in 2021 so I was equally excited and nervous going into this one. I love this series and these characters so much! Natascha Ngan deals in this series with trauma so well and in such a realistic way. This is also one of those books about war where actual casualties will fall. Although I was saddened by some of the deaths, I can appreciate it when authors do it because it is realistic. You can't have a big war finale without people dying, as much as it breaks my heart. The first book will still remain my favourite in this series as it has a special place in my heart, but I loved how this one wrapped up. I hope Natascha Ngan keeps writing because I will definitely pick anything up by her no matter what is it about

I loved Girls of Fate and Fury. In fact, I loved re-reading the whole trilogy, but this conclusion to the series was the best book out of all of them. It took all of the themes and things I enjoyed, and went into them in more depth and detail. This still is the wonderful sapphic YA fantasy centred around Lei and Wren that readers have loved since the beginning, but this really dives into the themes of abuse and trauma. Not only are Lei and Wren dealing with their pasts and present, but many of the side characters actively show and experience the consequences of what happens to them, and their treatment at the hands of the king.
Natasha Ngan is a master at writing with compassion. The way she writes about trauma, abuse and disability never feels like it’s condescending or lecturing, but accepting. As someone with mental health issues, I really empathized with the wide range of responses the former Paper Girls had in the wake of Lei’s return – none of them considered lesser because they struggled. Another character became paralyzed, and after the first shock of everyone around them, the acceptance and love that emanated from the characters was wonderful. Not many authors manage to strike this balance and it is clear that this series is a true labour of love for Ngan.
And damn, the story. It’s fast-paced – faster than the previous two books – and extremely addictive. I really liked that this switched between Lei and Wren’s PoV for the first time, as they are apart for the first time in the trilogy. It really allowed both their stories to shine, and Ngan to explore the struggles they faced. And while, obviously they are the OTP and fated to be together, reading about them striving to reunite and longing for the other is so damn delicious. Combine that with revolution, overthrowing an evil king and friendships in all their iterations, and you have a fantastic conclusion to a great trilogy.

The final instalment! Ahhhh

Even though there was no recap it was easy to get right back into the swing of things, I loved being back with Wren and Lei

I did prefer Lei’s chapters, I think there was more drama and I wasn’t best pleased with Wren following the last book…

It wraps up very sweetly and is a great finale to the trilogy! I thought that maybe the whole trilogy could just have been a slightly longer duology but I enjoyed it nonetheless

The authors note especially made me very connected to the book and Blue is probably my fave character in the end :)

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Hachette for the gifted E-ARC x

Review coming to @rosies.book.shelf Instagram on release day

Girls of Fate and Fury is the final book in this trilogy. I read the first two books back to back so it's been a while but I'm really happy to be back to Lei and Wren's world one last time. This book was full of action more than the second book and I loved all of the war scenes. It was fast paced and very well written. Also in this book, we had dual pov's. Lei and Wren's. I loved Lei's parts a lot especially I loved how she changed. Lei grow a lot. She was full of fear in the beginning but now she became braver. Wren's pov's were also really good too. This book is full of sensitive topics and I loved that author wrote them very carefully. I cried at the end. It was beautifully written and I think it was definitely the ending the characters deserve. Overall I enjoyed this series so much and thank you to the publisher and Natasha Ngan for this early copy.

Girls of Fate and Fury is a balm to my soul. Featuring a Lei and Wren POV, it's a story about agency and change. My favorite characters have gone through so much. Girls of Fate and Fury merely cements the lengths, mistakes, and sacrifices these characters have gone through. At the beginning, Ngan asks us what we are willing to do. Sacrifice and choice has always been a central theme in this series. But Girls of Fate and Fury takes moments to deconstruct our duty, loyalties, and choices.

The lines of mercy, forgiveness, and blame in war. All the nightmares that haunt us when we close our eyes. In the heat of the moment, we can be caught up in the hum of battle, but only when the dust begins to clear, can we see the blood on our hand. It's not only those choices where lives are in our hands, but all the times we stand by, those indirect pauses. Girls of Fate and Fury is emotional and action packed all at once.