JESS JUST READS

A BOOK REVIEW BLOG

Girls of Storm and Shadow by Natasha Ngan

The Girls of Paper and Fire did the impossible. They escaped. But out in the unforgiving wild, hunted like prey, Lei and Wren learn that the most terrifying prisons have no walls.

Lei, the naive country girl who became a royal courtesan, is now known as the Moonchosen, the commoner who managed to do what no one else could. But slaying the cruel Demon King wasn’t the end of the plan – it’s just the beginning. Now Lei and her warrior love Wren must travel the kingdom to gain support from the far-flung rebel clans. The journey is made even more treacherous thanks to a heavy bounty on Lei’s head, as well as insidious doubts that threaten to tear Lei and Wren apart from within.

Meanwhile, an evil plot to eliminate the rebel uprising is taking shape, fueled by dark magic and vengeance. Will Lei succeed in her quest to overthrow the monarchy and protect her love for Wren, or will she fall victim to the sinister magic that seeks to destroy her?

Girls of Storm and Shadow is the sequel to the New York Times bestselling Girls of Paper and Fire, by Natasha Ngan. Events pick up exactly where the first book finished — Lei has just stabbed and slayed the King and she and her beloved Wren have escaped the palace.

Once again, Natasha’s writing is incredible — she’s so good at crafting prose that flows seamlessly and evokes emotion in the reader.

The series explores a few significant themes — it explores the notion of doing terrible things in order to achieve a good outcome, and it also explores trauma and how trauma remains with the victim long after their suffering has ended. Lei may have escaped the King’s clutches, but she’s still traumatised and haunted by the sexual violence that she endured under the King’s rule.

“Shivers pluck my skin as the words sink in. Naja tore me away while I was still attacking him. When Wren and I were escaping the grove, Kenzo keeping her occupied in battle, I had seen the King’s body on the ground, blood splattered and immobile.”

Setting is one of the strengths of the series, alongside characterisation and illustrating trauma compassionately and realistically. Girls of Storm and Shadow moves quickly through different locations, from vast deserts to snowy mountaintops and everywhere in between.

Lei’s characterisation and growth in this novel builds upon the foundations that were set in Girls of Paper and Fire. Lei is determined, strong, bold and she trusts her own judgement. She trusts others too, but she doesn’t forget what her purpose is.

In the first book, Lei was very much imprisoned — physically and mentally — by men. In this book, Lei has the freedom to forge her own path alongside her love, Wren. This book shows Lei standing up against men who seek to control and manipulate her.

“The sun is setting by the time we arrive at the Fukho Grasslands. Golden light washes over the undulating plains. It’s no wonder this region is nicknamed the Amber Sea, with the winds blowing the grass, filling the air with a rushing sound like running water, and the soft dips and lifts of the hillocks mimicking the roll of waves, all tinted in gold.”

Girls of Storm and Shadow explores the concept of good vs. evil, and how complex and complicated those two concepts can sometimes be. Lei has done things in her past she’s not proud of, and so has Wren. Can they forgive each other? Can they forgive themselves?

Romance is a strong element to this sequel and series fans will adore the connection building between Lei and Wren.

Admittedly, Girls of Storm and Shadow suffers a little from second-book syndrome. Nothing too significant really happens in the book and it very much feels like a filler book from Book 1 to Book 3. Could this series actually just be a duology? Probably. Regardless, this is a story about healing and recovering and rising up against those that oppress others.

“Across the campfire, Caen and Merrin are deep in conversation, discussing tomorrow’s route. Wren has been quiet for most of the meal. I cuddle closer.”

Natasha is incredibly skilled at writing evocative, explosive prose and bringing together an incredibly suite of characters that readers can’t help but fall in love with. This series is recommended for fans of fantasy and young adult fiction. It’s gearing up to be an explosive finale in 2020.

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Girls of Storm and Shadow (Girl of Paper and Fire #2)
Natasha Ngan
November 2019
Hachette Book Publishers

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer

Time is running out.
Together, they can save the world.
But they are each other’s worst nightmare.

Nova’s double life is about to get a lot more complicated:
As Insomnia, she is a full-fledged member of the Renegades, a syndicate of powerful and beloved superheroes. She works with Adrian’s patrol unit to protect the weak and maintain order in Gatlon City.

As Nightmare, she is an Anarchist – a member of a group of villains who are determined to destroy the Renegades. Nova wants vengeance against the so-called heroes who once failed her when she needed them most.

But as Nova, her feelings for Adrian are deepening, despite the fact that he is the son of her sworn enemies.

Nova, Adrian, and the rest of their crew are faced with escalating crime in Gatlon City, while covert weapons and conflicting missions have Nova and Adrian questioning not only their beliefs about justice, but also the feelings they have for one another.

The line between good and evil has been blurred, but what’s clear to them both is that too much power could mean the end of their city – and the world – as they know it.

Archenemies by Marissa Meyer is the second instalment in the Renegades trilogy, a vivid and exceptional series about superheroes and villains and the blurred boundaries between good and evil.

You can read my review of Renegades HERE.

In Archenemies, Nova and Adrian are still living their double lives. Nova is a member of the Renegades, but she’s secretly working with the Anarchists to bring down the Renegades and help super villain Ace Anarchy rise to power again. Throughout this sequel, Nova’s main task is to track down Ace’s old helmet and bring it back to him. With his helmet, Ace will regain his full power.

Adrian’s alter ego is The Sentinel, a hero working solo. Adrian has created his suit and spends as much time as he can capturing villains and saving civilians. But, neither the Renegades or the Anarchists are welcoming towards him. The Sentinel bends rules, breaks protocol, and he just may be a liability rather than an asset.

“For a long second, no one moved, Simon was standing only five or six paces away from Max, close enough that he should have felt the effects of Max’s power immediately. He would feel weak, first, and then the draining away of his abilities. When it had happened to Adrian, he had felt it most in his hands.”

Archenemies introduces a fresh set of problems for the characters. HQ unveils everyone to Agent N, an irreversible serum that erases a prodigy’s powers and forces them to become a common civilian. It’s a neutralising agent, designed to stop villains from ever harming others again.

This is very risky and Nova is concerned that errors will be made. Renegades are given training on how to administer the agent, but are given free reign to neutralise any prodigy who they deem to be a threat. Nova is vocally against Agent N.

Adrian also discovers the Vitality Charm, a necklace that means people can interact with his brother Max and not have their powers stolen. This is a long-awaited development for Max, who lives inside a sealed area and isn’t allowed to physically interact with other prodigies.

Nova and Adrian’s relationship develops over the course of the novel. Adrian is unsure about his feelings for Nova, and Nova has been instructed to get close to Adrian so she can get access to his family and Ace Anarchy’s helmet. This poses all sorts of problems for Nova as she starts to develop genuine feelings for Adrian.

“Once she was finished with her inspection, Nova raised the gun, gripping it in both hands, and fired. It was so fast Adrian wondered if she’d even bothered to take aim at anything, but a glance at the targets showed her dart dead centre in a distant bull’s-eye.”

I’ve been looking forward to this sequel all year; Renegades was one of my favourite reads of 2017. The universe is unique and imaginative, and the characters fully-fledged and relatable. This series explores the concept of right and wrong, evil and good, but it also immerses the reader in a really fast-paced, fun and exciting plot.

A highly enjoyable sequel to Renegades, the tension and pacing never wavering and the stakes only getting higher.

Thank you to the publisher for mailing me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Archenemies (Renegades #2)
Marissa Meyer
November 2018
Pan Macmillan Publishers