GIRLS OF PAPER AND FIRE

Narrated by Allison Hiroto, this Asian-culture-influenced fantasy audiobook follows teenager Lei as she is kidnapped from her village and forced to become part of the demon king's harem of Paper Girls. Though living in opulence and splendor, Lei finds there are horrors awaiting her--as well as an unexpected love. While Hiroto possesses a pleasant voice, her narration leaves much to be desired. Her delivery is frequently unsuitable to the the action in the story. In particular, her performance lacks the appropriate emotion for the more intense scenes. Her slow pacing and lack of character differentiation further disengage the listener. This is a disappointing performance of what could have been a stellar production. A.L.S.M. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2019]