GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE - Natasha Ngan 
Jimmy Patterson Imprint from Little Brown & Company
ISBN: 978-0-3165-6136-5 - Hardcover
ISBN: 978-0-3165-6138-9 - EBook
ASIN: B079RCLL3D
November 2018
Fantasy

In the world of Ikhara, there are three castes of humanity. Those in the Paper Caste are purely human. The Moon Caste members are demons – human but with strong animal characteristics and appearance. The Steel Caste is a blend of the Paper and Moon Castes. They have some animal characteristics, but are predominately human. Every year members of the court of the Demon King select eight girls from the Paper Caste to serve the king as courtesans for one year. The king takes care of the girls and their families during and after their service, but many of the girls become courtesans for the court at large. 

General Tu raids an herb store in Xienzo. Those inside the store are afraid. A raid seven years ago grabbed the wife of the shop's owner, and no one has heard from her since. Tu had learned of a girl with gold eyes, rare eyes believed to bring good luck. He grabs an unwilling 17-year old Lei, daughter of the shop owner, threatening her with retribution against her father and Tien, a Steel Caste person but now part of Lei's family, if she doesn't come with him. The unscrupulous Tu (a characteristic, in general, of all the court inhabitants) has Lei's dog killed by sword blade in front of her. On the trip to Hidden Palace, where the magic of shamans keeps out invaders, Lei discovers she is actually the ninth Paper Girl. Tu wants her to win him back the approval of the King. 

Lei has an unwilling and long road to learn the intricacies of behavior within the court, and another long journey to discover herself. She trips and falls many times. Her friends are the other Paper Girls, often contentious ones, but they share the same home and duty. Lei becomes particular friends with two of the other Paper Girls, Aoka and Wren, each traveling in opposite directions. For the others, she always tries to show support and sympathy even when it is rejected. Worse, rebels and plague haunt the king and court, making all situations dangerous and tenuous in a court filled with intrigue.

A flavor of Asia fills this story. The palace and the multitude of characters are described, as is the scenery, in lush, evocative wording. Lei is an interesting character and tells her story in first person which helps involve the reader. Knotted and twisted situations control a court filled demands for loyalty and denizens suspected disloyal. Seemingly all under the control of a demanding, devious, and maniacally self-serving king. There are a few minor hitches, but readers will overall enjoy this suspenseful and emotional story.

Robin Lee