Elizabeth Lim is just the kind of author whose books can completely enchant me. Even if they have their issues and I don't enjoy every single thing in her stories, she just writes in such a beautiful way that I cannot stop fangirling over them.
"A Forgery of Fate" takes place in the same world as Lim's "Six Crimson Cranes" duology. Once again she focuses on different characters we already know from said duology - in this case, mostly the shunned half-dragon prince Elang who we've already met as a side character in the second book (though he's not the only returning character). He's the love interest, the Beast in this Beauty and the Beast inspired story. Our main character is Tru, and I absolutely adored her. She's strong and clever but is also allowed to have her flaws and emotional baggage to carry. She was a lot of fun to follow. I also did enjoy the romance even though I actually rarely like Fated Love kind of couples and even though Elang, while I really do like him a lot, is not much different than most of the love interests in similar books. The chemistry is not always there and I always felt like they were lacking some more profound scenes instead of the at times lacklustre arguments they have, but they were still cute enough.
The side characters are fun, the Dragon king is a good antagonist, the family dynamic is chef's kiss and demon lady Shani is probably my favourite character of the whole bunch. The world building is great, I simply loved returning here. There are some minor pacing issues, the book drags a little throughout the middle parts, but all in all - if you liked Lim's previous novels, you will also like this one.
3,5 stars, rounding up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this eARC.

As someone who has previously thoroughly enjoyed Elizabeth Liam’s previous series The Six Crimson Cranes, this was an absolutely fantastic addition to the world. This story is certainly elevated if read after completing the previous series, as the world building and lore appear more fleshed out, however if read as an introduction, would remain highly enjoyable.
I loved the relationship between the sisters and their strong individual characteristics, causing them to feel less like side characters and more integral to the plot. I also loved the painting element of the story, as it added an extra dimension he plot and the character.
The romance was also incredibly sweet, with such tender moments and a healthy amount of sarcasm.
Overall, highly enjoyable and beautifully written with fantastic execution.

I've adored (almost) all of Elizabeth Lim's books, but this one was undoubtedly my favorite.
From the beginning, I was in love with the gorgeous writing, the emotions weaved all throughout the story, the rich worldbuilding and the elaborate storytelling.
The magic system was so unique and it fitted perfectly into the story.
I loved the characters and despite this being a standalone, there was so much depth and character growth. It felt like I had been with these characters for longer than just a few hundred pages.
Even though elements of the plot were rather obvious, the writing and storytelling were so captivating that I still found myself gasping at the revelations. There were also several plot twists that really surprised me.
I also really enjoyed the way the foreshadowing was done. Some events became so clear in hindsight, that I often smiled at the way the author sprinkled clues throughout the novel.
The romance was beautiful, and I shed a tear or two at the end.

Overall, this was an absolute delight of a read and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This was my first journey into an Elizabeth Lim book and wow... the world building in this book was beautiful, I was enthralled throughout and did not want to leave!!! 'A Forgery of Fate' follows talented artist Truyan Saigas, as she is thrown into a marriage contract with a surly dragon prince after he promises to help her family out of debt and help her to gain information about her father after he was lost at seas years prior. The marriage requires her to follow him down to his undersea world in order to deceive a tyrannical dragon king and forge a new future.

The beautiful but brutal world of Ai'long was enchanting and Elizabeth Lim's writing was so immersive, I definitely felt the emotions of each of the characters as they made their way through the book and could perfectly imagine the scenes that we were thrown into. The stakes felt so real to me and I was definitely holding my breath on multiple occasions!!

The romance in this book also had me swooning, the marriage of convenience was full of subtle yearning and it had my heart swelling and aching all at the same time. After finishing this book I learnt that it is connected to the Six Crimson Cranes duology which I have on my physical TBR so I will definitely be picking those up soon!!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for providing me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

I LOVE ELIZABETH LIM

There is no book that Lim can write that I don't completely fall into, spellbound. Even though the books are all interconnected through the world they are set in, I am still totally surprised and enjoy the lore that happens each and every time.

This book creates an intriguing love interest, a complex story based around a fate and a magical gift and the dragon kingdom. So much tension and yearning grows so slowly throughout the book - it is so easy in Lim's world to forget the evils around us and just believe that everyone is pure of heart and love will be enough!

I understand that this is YA and a satisfying conclusion is needed by many readers, but I feel the impact of the story's undertones and morals was lessened by a neatish ending - it should have not had an epilogue chapter.

Normally I love Elizabeth Lim's writing and her books are amazing and she did it again. This book felt so whimsical and unique and I didn't want to put this down. The characters were developed really well, although this was a retelling, everything felt new and like nothing I'd read before. I think anybody who is fans of fantasy and/or romance will fall in love with this book.

𝗧𝗶𝘁𝗹𝗲: A Forgery of Fate
𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: Elizabeth Lim
𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁 + 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁: Ebook, 480 pages by Hodderscape

★★★★★

💌 First of all, I would like to thank @NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for a honest review. I requested this ebook because I am a fan of Elizabeth Lim.

📖 A Forgery of Fate is a young adult fantasy standalone and Elizabeth Lim's sixth book in the Legends of Lor'yan universe, in which we follow Tru, an art forger who agrees to a marriage contract with Elang, a dragon lord, in order to save her family.

🎨 Did Elizabeth Lim just become my all-time favourite author? Probably. She manages to weave stories with magical elements, adorable characters and clever worldbuilding so perfectly, and I am here for that. A Forgery of Fate is sold as a retelling of The Beauty and the Beast (aka one of my favourite Disney movies), but it is quite loose that you can almost miss it if you are not paying attention to the details. I was kind of skeptical at first about Tru's story and how it would unravel, but in the end, I just loved it, and as always, I am truly happy to see some characters from her other books appear or be mentioned in this one. Under the magical descriptions and all the fantasy, there is a real story line and, like in most fairy tales, a moral. I absolutely loved the characters and their chemistry.

I highly recommend reading this book if you have not read it yet!

For anyone a fan of fairytales, Eastern mythology and noodles this is the book for you.

The fantasy world Elizabeth has built to encapsulate this story is mythical with a hint of fairytale whimsy. The images she manages to conjure in your head of the seascape and Earthen realm are detailed and magical.

I fell in love with this story from the get go. It sets up an enchanting tale of an art forger and a mysterious collector before elaborating on the real story. In order to save her family she must help destroy the dragon king by painting his demise.

I felt joy, sadness, hope and hunger (they eat a lot of noodles) while reading this book. It is one of the best mythological fairytales I have read to date.

Tthank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely love Elizabeth's writing, but unfortunately, I did not enjoy this book. Her writing is still as wymsical as ever but I could not connect with the characters this time around, their personality changes gave me whiplash at times and the sense of deja vu I had through 80% of the book was the weirdest thing that has ever happened to me. I spent the whole time feeling like I had already read this book.

Whilst I enjoyed the base plot, I did not enjoy the character development. I will defo still read other books by Elzbeth Lim but this one was not one I really enjoyed

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim is beautifully written, Lim paints a fantasy world that is rich in beauty.

🐉 Marriage of Convenience
🐉 He Falls First
🐉 Dragons
🐉 Beauty and Beast Retelling
🐉 Slow Burn

I wasn't really sure what to expect going in, and I'm so glad because I'm so happy with my experience. AFOF starts with Tru our FMC, she after losing her father at sea, she makes a career as an art forger to support her family and pay off her mother's gambling debts. After chasing a painting into a dragons lair she ends up in a marriage of convivence with Elang, a exiled dragon price. And yes, the marriage of convenience does marriage of convenience.

I loved how, Tru was so committed to her family in particular her sisters and her passion. Elang, my baby, what to do with you, because I love you and you must be protected at all times. I loved all the side characters, there was an air of mystery and who do you/don't trust that kept you on your toes the entire time. Tru's mother though was the worst part of the book, every time she came on the page I signed and wished for it to be over. She made it on the list of characters I can't stand and at times ruined the book for me, she's so selfish and the fact that they're playing happy family at the end annoyed me so much which she caused literally all of the misery they suffered. I get the whole forgiveness but she's the reason Tru's sisters were sold... so how does that make any sense. That ending though was beautiful and sad and perfect.

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton / Hodderscape for the eARC in exchange for my honest review,

🎨🐉 𝓐 𝓽𝓪𝓵𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓰𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼, 𝓯𝓪𝓽𝓮, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓪 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓭𝓻𝓪𝓰𝓸𝓷 𝓵𝓸𝓻𝓭 🐉🎨

Truyan Saigas has always done what she must to protect her family, even if that means forging paintings and hiding the truth about her magic. With her father lost at sea and her mother drowning in debt, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord who offers her family a fresh start… at a cost.

Taken to his lonely undersea palace, Tru is asked to paint a future that could bring down the Dragon King himself. But as she spends more time with the one she was meant to fear, the line between deception and devotion begins to blur. And when feelings emerge, so does a truth she never expected.

“I bind you to me, Tru Saigas. Until the end of our days upon this earth, under this heaven, and across the seas, our fates are one, our destinies entangled.”


This book was such a creative take on magic. I loved the idea of painting the future, it felt so original and meaningful, especially as someone who’s really passionate about art. Tru’s connection to her visions and the emotional weight behind her paintings added so much to the story.

Elang’s character had my whole heart. He was loyal, layered, and quietly intense. I genuinely wish we got more of his past, (view spoiler), his battles, his regrets. I still feel like he had so much story left to tell.

The undersea world was one of my favorite parts, lush, eerie, and dreamlike. I honestly would have loved even more depth in the world-building, but what we got was still rich and immersive. The pacing felt steady and never too slow, but the ending wrapped up a little too quickly for me. It lacked the emotional punch I was hoping for after all the buildup.

Still, I really enjoyed this book overall. It was unique, heartfelt, and filled with soft moments of connection and strength. If you like art magic, cursed romances, and quietly powerful heroines, A Forgery of Fate is worth diving into.

“My heart, my home—they are yours. They always have been.”

📅 A Forgery of Fate was released on June 5, 2024.

Special thanks to NetGalley, Elizabeth Lim, and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 / 5

I like a good Beauty and the Beast retelling, and this did not disappoint, while still delivering a fresh story unlike anything I have read before.

This was my first Elizabeth Lim book. I gather it is set in the same universe as others of her books- this was not a problem for me, but does make me want to read some of the others, so that’s good!

I liked the characters, and their motivations made sense. The art forger who can paint the future angle was well used and made for a unique story. However, at times the pacing was a little slow for me and the ending did not quite work for me. Nevertheless I did like it, and I can imagine some readers will absolutely love it.

Thank-you very much to NetGalley and Hodder books for the opportunity to read an eArc.

Thank you Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC.

This was my first Elizabeth Lim book and I loved it!
The world building was easy to understand, it was fast paced and the story was just amazing!
It is a Beauty and the Best retelling, so if you don’t like these the book is not for you.

The story follows Tru who has to marry the Demon Prince Elang to a avoid her sisters having to be come concubines due to their mothers Gambling Problem.

Following Tru and Elangs story will make you go through all the emotions. I really loved following their journey and how, in the end, it all came together and everything just made sense.
Also, HE GAVE HER DRESS AND COAT POCKETS!

If you like the following tropes, this book is for you:
- Beauty and Beast retelling
- He falls first and harder
- Dragons
- Slow Burn
- Bad Ass FMC
- Adventure
- High stakes

This was a mixed read for me. I liked the first part that took place in human world. The stakes were high and the characters felt real. But it completely lost me once the story moved underwater. The worldbuilding wasn't believable and the story began to meander. Elang never grew on me and I didn't like Truyan much either, but I liked how it wasn't insta-love, or even insta-trust. This author's books are hit or miss for me, and I guess this is the latter.

I absolutely love it when you find a series that has lots of different stories told in the same world. Six Crimson Cranes is one of my fave books, and if you didn’t know, Elizabeth Lim has now written quite a few tales set in this whimsical world following different characters!

The latest instalment, A Forgery of Fate, came out in early June and I think it’s soared to my second fave spot (no one will top Shiori, I’m sorry Tru!). It took me a little while to get into this one, but I ended up being so invested in Tru and Elang’s story. It was one of those books where I felt like I kind of knew where it was heading, but also didn’t, all at once? Elizabeth Lim really blindsided me with some of the twists in this one! 😂

It’s loosely inspired by Beauty and the Beast and follows Truyan, Tru is skilled in forging paintings and when her family racks up a hefty debt she has no choice but to make a deal with a dragon lord to save her family. It was sweet and surprising, whimsical and twisty and I really enjoyed it!

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Lim's works is the word 'vibrant'. She's a master of descriptions and it shows here too. Her words make sights, sounds, and smells come alive. Vibes play no small part in the beauty of her books. Fans of The Little Mermaid will find themselves at home with Lim's Ai'long. This is a world you'll want to escape into. AFOF works perfectly as a Beauty and the Beast retelling: something that retains the essence and vibes of the original fairytale yet feels wholly original. The rich worldbuilding and lore inspired by Chinese myth made this a fun time!

Tru is a likeable protagonist with whom I often resonated. A problem I often encounter in romnatic fantasy is the author 'telling' the reader how oh-so-strong and self-reliant and definitely-not-like-other-girls the FMC is, only for her to fall prey to insta lust and lose her agency. I loved how Tru maintained her authentic self throughout: she's determined to make a better life for her family and also has an actual brain.

Overall, AFOF did justice to its enchanting premise. The ending actually made me tear up. It was very fitting for such a cinematic tale. (I'd looove to see EL's works being adapted into animated films!) I'd recommend this to anyone who loves fairytales or Ghibliesque fantasy adventures!

I loved the story, the characters, and everything else about it. I was so captivated that I stayed up all night to read it. I haven't done that in a long time. Can't wait to read another book by Elizabeth Lim. I loved Six Crimson Cranes and The Dragon's Promise as well. I can't wait to read Her Radiant Curse and the other duologies.

If you’re into fairy tale retellings, especially ones that twist the classics into something fresh and magical, this one is a must-read. It’s a super imaginative reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, but with dragons, cursed kingdoms, and a whole underwater world that honestly stole the show.

At the heart of the story is Tru, a painter and a con artist, who is just trying to keep her chaotic little family afloat. Then there’s Elang, the mysterious half-dragon prince who shows up with a wild proposal: marry him, move underwater, and help him break a deadly curse.

Their dynamic is full of tension and slow-burn magic, and I was totally hooked by the emotional layers behind both characters. Tru’s painting ability is such a cool twist, and Elang’s inner struggle as part-human, part-dragon made for some genuinely powerful moments.

I’ve read some of Lim’s other Disney retellings (her take on Mulan was solid!), but this one hit different — it was even better. The world-building is just amazing with turtles, sharks and bioluminescent jellyfish that will 100% try to kill you, and a Dragon King who’d rather burn it all down than share power. I loved every second of it.

Highly recommend if you love retellings that feel both epic and intimate — this one’s definitely going on my favorites shelf.

I love Elizabeth Lim's writing and how her books always read like a fairytale. She also always manages to make me cry. It also helps that a fake relationship is one of my favorites tropes.

This can 100% be read as a stand alone but it is set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes (yes, we do see Seryu again) and it follows a very similar vein, so if you liked one you'll definitely like the other.

This time we follow Tru, the oldest of 3 sisters. She makes a living as an art forger to support her family and pay off her mother's gambling debts after her father was lost as sea. But Tru also has a very special talent: she can paint the future. In order to save her family from the gangsters demanding blood payment, Tru makes a deal with the mysterious Demon Prince, who turns out to not be a demon at all but a half-dragon (yes, the same one we met in The Dragon's Promise).

The half-dragon offers Tru a fresh start for her and her family, answers about her father's disappearance and solutions to all her problems. In exchange, all he needs from her is a painting. But this paining must be done in Ai'long, the underwater dragon kingdom, and in order for a human to be allowed in Ai'long she must marry a dragon (or half-dragon in this case). For their plot to succeed and for Tru to be able to paint this future, they must keep pretending they are completely in love with each other (you can see where this is going).

I loved the characters in this book. I loved Tru, Nomi, Fal, Elang and even Shani. I loved Tru's painting and how it all weaves into the story. However, I do think this book was a bit too long and could've cut a few pages out.

That being said, I would really like to read about Nomi at the National Academy and her falling for someone that can match her brain and wits. I'd love to see her being swept off her feet.

I loved every single second of this book. The writing style, the pacing and the world building were exactly what I enjoy most. Tru is a wonderful heroine for this story, she is real, makes mistakes but is fierce, loyal and kind. As another oldest daughter of three girls, I related to her a lot. Whilst I picked up on a lot of the hints throughout the story, I didn’t see the big one coming and I loved the reveal so much. I adore Elang, he is the perfect grumpy MMC.
Minor spoilers for tropes below
If you love a fake marriage and enemies to lovers then this really is the perfect book for you.