“Storytelling is a wonderful kind of magic, don’t you think? It is how we keep people alive in our hearts long after they are gone.”

TW: sexual abuse

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!! It doesn’t feel real that I’ve finally gotten to complete this beautiful series!!!

And it was beautiful, to the very end... through all the loss, all the hardships and trauma, every bad thing that our beloved Lei and Wren have to go through, the message that their story is trying to convey shines through. Hope. Resilience. The fact that you can break away from what you’ve been made or taught to be, and that you are more than what has happened to you.

I’ve said this in reviews of the previous books, but Lei will forever be one of my favorite characters from now on. I’m always drawn to people who are so dedicated to a cause, so passionate and determined, that it makes them absolutely shine, and she’s no exception. The satisfaction I felt when the King finally met his end?? Unparalleled!!!

Through it all, though, Lei has kept true to her morals, which only made me appreciate her journey even more. All the horrible things she’s been subjected to could have easily made her resent every single demon that crossed her path (and we see a tiny glimpse into that with Wren, though she’s very quick to realize her misguidedness - with Lei’s help), but no matter what she’s been through, Lei shows empathy and kindness every time. Of course, in having to make the horrible decision of killing Caen herself, she begins to understand that sometimes the right way to go about things isn’t always going to feel right, but her fundamental goodness in the face of evil is what helps her triumph in the end.

Her relationship with Wren is also... so special. Their love for each other comes across as tender and pure as it should with every page. These two girls would go through hell and back if it meant that the other was safe. These two girls did go through hell and back to keep the other safe. And every fight, every clash and disagreement, is not swept under the rug never to be talked about again - but they actually communicate and talk to each other about what they feel!!!! Which is incredible!!!!!! They care about each other enough to acknowledge that what happened to make them drift apart a little is serious, and that they need time to get back to the way they used to be, but they do it together!!!!

And finally, all the other Paper Girls... I was so happy when Lei killed Himura, purely because of what she did to Chenna. Zhen and Zhin are pure rays of sunshine as always. Blue is the love of my life and her snark will always stay with me (also, spin-off with her and Lova? Please?) And Aoki, sweet, in love Aoki. Because she was in love, and that was both simple and incredibly complicated, because the person she fell in love with was her rapist. I think her story was handled with exquisite grace, and I was so, so happy that we left her in Xienzo, finally starting to process her trauma and beginning to heal alongside the other girls. Their friendship and love for each other was also incredible to read about.

I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye to this world, to these characters. But I know that what this series has taught me will stay in my heart forever, and that’s beyond precious to me!!