4 Stars!

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Trigger Warnings: Violence, Self Harm, Reference to Sexual Abuse and Trauma Recovery

Wow. What a way to end the series. I was so so so nervous going into this one, I've genuinely loved this series and all that it stands for. There are so many heart felt moments throughout these series and I cannot applaud Natasha Ngan for how she deals with trauma throughout. It is always brought up in such a sensitive way and the fact that it doesn't disappear and is with the characters throughout it really is done in such a way.

Going into this I KNEW there was going to be deaths of characters, I had an expectation of someone I thought would die, but honestly so much happened! There were some scenes that I was just absolutely blown away by. I genuinely think my favourites without going into spoilers were between the "Paper Girls" and an unfurling lets say. It was so intense and the execution and I just had all of these emotions for so many characters!

Due to this being the finalé I was skeptical as to how it would end, and I genuinely feel like this outcome is believable, I say time and time again that war in books SHOULD have casualties, it really irks me when an author isn't willing to sacrifice people but this felt real.

So many tears were shed, but it was just so well done! I genuinely can't wait to read more of what Natasha Ngan has to offer, this series is one I 100% recommend! Great characters, great representation throughout. Just overall a well executed series, I can't wait to re-read!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Hodder&Stoughton for this e-Arc

Girls of Fate and Fury was a beautiful ending to the Girls of Paper and Fire trilogy. As Lei and Wren begin this book apart, Ngan uses a duel POV to build tension between the two women and it really feels like a slowburn romance all over again. Also while both Wren and Lei are apart, we get to see both characters become more independent characters in their own right.
This series deals with a number of important issues that need more recognition. This installment was no different. The character development in GoFaF is impeccable, we see how Wren and Lei come to terms with their emotional trauma and take back their agency over their abuser.

I loved the first book in this series but felt that the second book let the series down a bit. This installment feels much more like the first book and the ending of this trilogy was so heart-wrenching and beautifully pieced together.

Overall, I enjoyed this conclusion immensely, while it did feel a little rushed dealing with the fallout between Wren and Lei from the second book in places. I felt this was a lovely resolution to a wonderfully written trilogy.

4.5 stars
Natasha Ngan’s tremendously empowering and breathtakingly explosive finale to The Girls of Paper and Fire Trilogy was simply spectacular! It’s heart wrenchingly action-packed but, ultimately it’s the themes of love, sacrifice and strength in the face of injustice that truly make this an unforgettable masterpiece.

Following on from those jaw dropping events at the end Girls of Storm and Shadow, Lei and Wren’s future now hangs in the balance.

The only thing Lei knows is that she can never return to the hidden palace, not after the trauma she faced behind those opulently decorated walls. She cannot be trapped there with the sadistic king—not without Wren. The last time also saw the girl she loved, Wren was fighting an army of the king’s soldiers to the death.

With both girls torn apart and facing unimaginable peril can they finally reunite to take down the monster that seeks to destroy everything they hold dear or will they be forever torn asunder?

I just have to say how much I loved this and how absolutely incredible this series has been. Ngan expertly tackles real world issues and even champions self-empowerment through well written and endearing characters. Honestly I don’t think I’ve ever been so emotionally invested in a character as I was in Lei, cheering her on through all those heart-stoppingly nail biting action scenes.

I love the writing style with is very detailed and emotionally evocative, the characters (particularly the female characters) are portrayed with soo much depth (having endured soo much pain.) but the strength shown,inspite of such tragedy is utterly spectacular— and really highlights negative experiences in life don’t define us and neither should the opinions of others, which I think is a pretty powerful message.

I loved exploring more of this world and getting to see more of the supporting characters such as Mistress Azami and Nitta as well as finally meeting the Demon Queen. Getting to explore the lore surrounding the shamans and Wren’s birth clan was also really interesting—especially given Wren’s POV is one of several we get to explore.

I can’t mention Lei or Wren without talking about how beautifully written and tender their relationship is, it’s virtually impossible to not ship them together or want them to get their HEA (which they so obviously deserve.)

The ending was absolutely satisfying, if a little bittersweet but overall this tale of love, sacrifice and endurance is definitely one that I thoroughly recommend you check out. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to Hodder&Stoughton and NetGalley for the e-arc.

Girls of Fate and Fury by @girlinthelens - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thanks so much to @hodderscape & @netgalley for an advanced copy, though I have already ordered a beautiful @fairyloot special edition to complete my set of hardbacks; I just could not wait for it when I had an early digital edition at my fingertips! Also, in the interests of full disclosure Natasha and I have known each other before we ever became authors, but seriously, I genuinely adored the conclusion to this stunning trilogy and I’m not just giving my friend five stars because I love her and she’s such a beautiful person!

This finale. What can I say about the grand conclusion to these three wonderful books? I was entranced by Girls of Paper and Fire when it first came out - even more so than her first two books - the story of two Paper Girls, chosen concubines taken to live in the Hidden Palace to serve a Demon King who, along with his line have ruled a kingdom where magic is slowly dying with an iron fist for 200 years.

The first 3/4 of this book show us more of Natasha’s strong, complex characters from the cast she’s built where I think there is someone we can all relate to, with beautifully, vividly written scenes and enough shocks to keep you racing forwards, but the final 1/4, while nothing unexpected happens I think was beautifully appropriate: it left me feeling a sense of peace, important I think in an a trilogy that is not just about fighting for a better world, but that is primarily about healing.

If you start one new fantasy series this autumn, let it be this one. They’re brilliant stories about strength and resilience, and they’re also impossibly important books with the themes about identity they explore.

I can’t wait to read whatever Natasha writes next!

Girls of Fate and Fury was an incredibly satisfying but bittersweet resolution to the girls of paper and fire trilogy.

I loved how the author dealt with the characters emotional trauma. Wren and Lei character development throughout the trilogy was very well done. However, the struggles sometimes felt too rushed and I was unable to truly engage with the story.

The romance is impeccable. The dual POV is so good for building tension and combined with the fact they begin the book apart, it felt like a slowburn all over again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC

This is such an important trilogy, it covers a heap of important issues that need addressing, whilst setting it in a fantastical world full of beasts and magic. The concluding book is very satisfying and I hugged it for a good few moments after finishing, it filled my heart with joy.

It's hard to review a third book without giving clues as to what's happened previously and what happens here, so I'll keep this one brief. For me what makes the series is the friendships, and this book was no different. Nitta was still my absolute favourite, and Lo made me giggle in every scene she appeared in, but there were plenty of others that I just adored.

The overall conclusion was very satisfying, with everything neatly tied off at the end. I don't really enjoy trilogies ending with a heap of questions remaining, so I loved that we get everything clearly laid out here. These books are clearly very important to Natasha Ngan, with so much of her personal experiences woven through the pages, and I think that comes across as you read.

3.75 stars rounded up to 4 :)
I cried when I was approved an ARC of this book and I devoured this in one sitting after a week because I was still reeling from shock. The characters had a wonderful conclusion to their anxiety-ridden storyline and, honestly, well done. The writing was its usual gritty and tactile language and that's probably why I find this book is very gripping. In terms of relationship dynamics, Natasha Ngan aced it again as always.

'I whisper the words that have always been there for me when I've needed courage. "Fire in. Fear out." '

This is how you finish a trilogy! Girls of Fate and Fury was an incredibly satisfying resolution to the girls of paper and fire trilogy. I was SO EXCITED to receive an arc of the book (Thank you NetGalley!), I have been waiting for this one for so long! I found it a little challenging to get back into the worldbuilding as I read the previous two a while ago but I found myself quickly swept back into the plot.

This was an incredibly healing ending for a story about consent being violated. The story followed the characters as they regained their agency and took steps to make their own incredibly importance choices.

This book was a masterclass on how to write a convincing abuser in a position of power, who doesn't come across as glorified. You got to see the King struggle to maintain his power over his victims, until his actions were clearly a façade and a poorly constructed one at that. The growth and confidence Lei shows was at the forefront of every interaction, and there were no moments for the King to have a satisfying blow to her morale. He was made to seem small, ineffectual and honestly a prop for the empowerment of his victims if you really want to slander his character. The Kings underestimation of their strength and willingness to continue to fight in the face of certain death was consistently his downfall. The way the paper girls all got to show their growth in the way they refused to be cowed by this demon in a leap so far from where they began. It made my heart all warm and fuzzy.

Speaking of which!!! The romance in this story!!! Was impeccable!!! The use of dual POV was so so good for building tension between Lei and Wren, and combined with the fact they begin the book apart, it genuinely felt like a slowburn all over again. The drama of them both on the battlefield! The dramatic declarations of love! The sacrifices they were willing to make for each other!! I could have wept honestly, it was like a buffet of all of my favourite romance tropes and there was no holding back. My feelings were also hurt constantly which was just spectacular.

I really truly enjoyed finishing this series, and thought it conveyed a really beautiful and important message about healing from trauma that will help so many young people come to terms with something incredibly difficult to process. Representation in stories is so important and this series came through in spades.

3.5 stars

Girls of Fate and Fury is the final book in the Girls of Paper and Fire series and we are once again following Lei and Wren on their journey to take down their monsters, both literally and figuratively. Lei is back in the palace after being captured at the end of book 2 and is forced to confront the demon king and work to defeat him and all the hurt he has caused. Meanwhile Wren is back with the rebels, still reeling after their losses at the end of book 2 and is racked with guilt at some of her actions but determined to rescue Lei.

I think to be completely honest I have slightly outgrown this series, it has been a while since I read the first two and while I enjoyed reading it and seeing how everything concluded it felt very surface level to me. I think this is no real fault of the book, given the fact it's ya fantasy so things move very quickly but I just felt like everything was happening so fast and we didn't get a chance to see anything in great detail.

I also felt like some of the relationship issues from book 2 were resolved very quickly for the sake of moving the plot along quickly. I would have liked some more angst and discussion as I thought in book 2 it was a really interesting element to explore the toll abuse can have on future relationships. Some of the other relationships as well I felt like had no real time to resolve issues/tackle challenges and therefore I feel like certain scenes had less emotional impact than they could have.

However despite those criticisms I still think this is a fantastic series for fans of YA fantasy, one of the sapphic classics and Ngan's writing style is beautiful - so many times while readng I just had to take a second to appreciate the poetry of words on the page. I also think the themes of the series are really great, taking back agency for yourself and reclaiming your destiny after sexual and emotional abuse are such powerful themes and I think will mean a lot to a lot of people. I also really like the core message of healing and hope.

Additionally I think the exploration of disabilty in this book is excellent, the author is disabled herself and that authencity really comes across. Many different forms of disablity are explored through different characters and I think it adds an extra layer of empathy and consideration to the novel.

Overall I think this conclusion is relatively on par with the other books in the series and I think especially if you are reading all three together and have enjoyed the first two you will enjoy this!! For me while I did have a fun time reading I think my reading tastes have changed and the fast moving nature of the book without enough time to explore character emotions and relationships meant I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I remember liking the first two!

This is the third and final book in a trilogy, and if you enjoyed the other two books then you will enjoy this one too. Equally well written and I was hooked from the start

This conclusion is just as good as Girls of Storm and Shadow if not better, It was so well written and the character development was off the chart and ended the series with a bang

When I read Girls of Paper and Fire in 2018, it was at the start of a kind of boom in f/f YA fantasy. And I loved it. Now, reading the final book in the series, in 2021, having read a lot more f/f YA fantasy since, I find I’m a little… bored by it, in all honesty.

That sounds harsh, sure, but thinking back on this book, I found it quite slow, with a lot of hanging around and not a lot of plot progression. I think, what I liked about it, I liked for the nostalgia of how I felt reading the first two books (although more the first than the second, it’s true). This isn’t to say it’s a bad book—it’s a book I think I’ve grown past.

There’s not that much I can say about this book that’s not somehow spoilery, but I’ll give it a go.

What I liked about this book, as I said, was partly nostalgia, but I did also genuinely enjoy seeing Lei and Wren get their happy ending. I was, after all, mostly there for them and not so much the plot itself, insofar as it didn’t impact them. And I always felt that you could trust Natasha Ngan to treat them and their traumas with the requisite care. In part, that meant that the ending wasn’t so much of a surprise to me—I was never that worried that they wouldn’t survive—but there was something comforting about the safety of knowing that.

I think really, then, where this book let me down was the pacing and the plot. Of course I knew from the first two books that it might be a slowburning kind of book. I had, somewhat, expected that. But it was not only slowburning, but really long. I felt it didn’t need to be nearly so long as all that, especially since it took about 150 pages for anything of real note to take place in Wren’s POV at least. And then there was the fact that the plot itself ended sixty pages before the book itself did. Yes, those sixty pages were used to tie up loose ends in terms of character relationships, but it made the pacing somewhat odd and I skimmed most of that part in an effort to just finish the damn thing.

This sounds negative, sure, but I fully believe it just ties back to the fact that I’ve changed as a reader, and have read and enjoyed a lot more f/f YA fantasy by now than I had when I started the series. So really, sorry to this book, it’s not you, it’s me.

It's hard to review the third book in a trilogy without spoilers, so without saying much about the plot let me just say oh my god, this was amazing. It was the perfect end to a fantastic series. I cried, I read frantically through the night, I punched the air in triumph and I cried some more.

CW : Sexual abuse, physical and emotional trauma, post-traumatic stress disorder, racism, misogyny

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Girls of Fate and Fury is a solid finale that masterfully weaves the painful realities of the war. After where the story ended in the previous book, we see the fallout and the stirrings of war in Ikhara. With Lei and Wren separated, each of them is trying to survive on their own. I liked how the author dealt with the characters emotional trauma. I couldn't get enough of Wren and Lei. Their character development throughout the trilogy was very well done. It surprised me how much I grew to like Blue, whom I despised in the beginning. However, I felt indifferent towards the struggles in this book. It felt rushed and sometimes disjointed that I was unable to truly engage with the story. The ending was bittersweet with hope towards a bright future but the execution felt slightly underwhelming. This still remains as one of my favourite fantasy series that I would highly recommend.

As basically anyone who's heard me wax poetic about Natasha Ngan's writing could predict, I was ecstatic to jump back into Lei and Wren's (albeit burning) world - even as brutally unprepared for the pain and joy these ending events would wreak on me as I was. With Lei and Wren wrenched apart at the fateful finale of book two - and the piercing words of their final exchange echoing in the expanse now wedged between them - this final book bounces back and forth between the perspectives of its jinxed protagonists: one beginning as an unbroken prisoner at the Hidden Palace, the other enduring preparation efforts for the pending war without any news of her beloved, both parties weathered and weary but pitching forward in their fear-choked, unfaltering way, primed to walk to the ends of the earth to find each another again.

Much of the first part of the book earmarks the build-up to the focal battle; faithful to its earlier themes of poorly-handled power and prejudiced exploitation, Girls of Fate and Fury elaborates on freedoms forfeited and the endlessness of evil's fallout, with the bereavement of their fallen and the wrath of wronged women becoming pivotal elements of the plot. Both an excruciating breaking point and a breath-taking final push, and this endmost episode pulls no punches in engaging with the feelings of fault that burden us when we emerge from the wake of warfare, portraying what follows from such wretchedness not as a triumphant phoenix emerging from the wreckage but brave yet frail people who are emotionally bruised, physically battered and in fraught need of being propped up by the friends and family who somehow haven't yet perished in the bloodshed to go on.

The ending of Girls of Fate and Fury is as heart-wrenchingly epic and elegantly pieced-together as you'd expect, and Ngan wraps up this one-of-a-kind trilogy by bestowing upon us a wonderfully extended epilogue; torn-apart friendships are patched up, burials are attended to, emancipations are won, and we get a panoramic glimpse of how Ikhara's future will pan out - even with the fighting petered out, weapons withdrawn and the barbarous procession of persecutions and executions broken off, the nation is far from being fixed, and there are still plenty of amends to make. Yet you know our pluckily fire-hearted, ever-passionate protagonists will endeavour for peace and equality until their final breaths - just as I well know that the poignant, bittersweet pages from which they flutter will forever be among my faves.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for kindly passing on this ARC! 💫