Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks

Girls of Storm and Shadow is the second novel in the Girls of Paper and Fire series by Natasha Ngan. The first novel took the literary world by storm, and there’s little doubt that this book is about to do the same.

Lei managed to survive the world she had been thrown into at the beginning of Girls of Paper and Fire. She grew, and so did her need for revenge. And for change. She rose and did the unthinkable. She killed the emperor.

Girls of Storm and Shadow brings us back to the dangerous and deadly world that Lei has grown up in. And once again, our heroine is championing for change. Only things haven’t gone quite according to plan. For one thing, her greatest achievement ended up being false.

Like its processor, girls of Storm and Shadow is an extremely heavy novel. There are sensitive subjects covered within these pages, but Ngan does so with grace. Still, I would like to warn and remind readers that there are themes such as sexual assault and PTSD to be found within this book.

Writing

Where Girls of Paper and Fire was an epic tale of a Paper Girl rising and doing the unthinkable, Girls of Storm and Shadow is all about rebellion. Natasha Ngan brought us back to this dark world that we can’t help but be fascinated by. And she turned it all upside down.

This is a world torn apart by corruption and rebellion. And it’s not as easy to tell one apart from the other. Many poignant moments are written in this novel, and all of them will weigh heavy on our hearts.

Lei is the shining light in this novel. She was just as hopeful and determined as ever – even while dealing with emotional trauma that won’t seem to fade. Girls of Storm and Shadow shows us what a person can go through and still come out fighting. There are plenty of powerful messages to be found in that.

Development

Girls of Storm and Shadow was a relatively fast-paced read. We were introduced to many new characters along the way. And along with them came even more complications – as one might expect. Reading was harrowing, but all the buildup will be worth it.

This novel increased the political scheming and drama tenfold. Given what Lei is trying to accomplish, it was a necessary decision. It added even more complexity to a tale already bursting at the seams. And thus, the world feels a bit more real and richer.

Naturally, Girls of Storm and Shadow was a novel full of heart-stopping moments. And some of those moments included some gratifying or intense fight scenes. After all, one cannot have a rebellion without a skirmish or two. These scenes were aided by the emotional connection forged by the primary and secondary characters. It was hard to breathe while watching (reading) them risk their lives repeatedly.

But perhaps the highlight of the novel is how much Ngan could hide in plain sight. There are hints of the truth between the lines. They’re not easy to spot, but they are there nonetheless. It combines shockingly well with the strong sense of foreshadowing, which grows throughout the book.

Conclusion

Girls of Storm and Shadow was a powerful and exhilarating read. I was concerned about the second novel slump in this series, but I needn’t have bothered. This is a novel worth reading. Lei’s tale is growing more powerful by the minute.

This review was originally written for Word of the Nerd, but has been ported over to Quirky Cat’s Fat Stacks now that the site has shut down.

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