Elizabeth Lim has this exceptional writing style that keeps the readers hooked till the very end. Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk were the books that got me into the Romantasy genre and Six Crimson Cranes is my absolute favorite. The Dragon's Promise did not live upto the mark so I didn't pick up Her Radiant Curse, but this book compensated for the same. I absolutely loved the characters of Truyan and Elang. The book had some of the best scenes and twists, especially how witty the actions of Tru were. The characters were realistic and although it was single POV, it did not feel monotonous.
I would definitely love to see this one turn into a movie and recommend it to all Romantasy readers. There is no spice as well so suitable for readers under eighteen. The ending could have been a bit better but I feel this is part of a series so that's why some things were left incomplete.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Elizabeth Lim for providing me with an arc copy in exchange for an honest review.

A Forgery of Fate is Elizabeth Lim’s newest release, it’s a standalone and it’s part of the Legends of Lor’yan universe. I’ve read some of the author’s previous books, so I knew what to expect in terms of writing style and setting.

This book follows Truyan Saigas, a painter or maybe I should say a forger, and Elang, our favourite half-dragon (do we know more than one? Absolutely no, but I have it in good authority that he would still be the favourite even if there were multiple half-dragons to choose from).

I don’t know how to express how much I loved this book. I’ve enjoyed Elizabeth’s previous works so I knew I was going to enjoy this, I just didn’t know how much. This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and now I can say it’s probably going to be one of my best reads of the year.

Let me start with the setting. Even though we are in a different part of the universe, it still felt like coming back home. Gangsun is a magical land and not just because we are in a magical universe. The detailed descriptions of Tru’s art, of the food, of the decorations for the different celebrations are what make it magical.

Now the characters. It took me a little bit to warm up to our side characters, I really liked Nomi but for a while I couldn’t really enjoy Fal or Tru’s mom. It was the opposite with our main characters, I loved them immediately and I was fascinated by their stories. Tru and Elang work perfectly together, and make the perfect duo.

The retelling aspect, in my opinion, was more noticeable in this than in her other books but it didn’t bother me. I liked it and I enjoyed seeing the story unfold.

🖌️ We are strangers, we hate each other at first sight and then… we fall in love. It's a classic idea that most readers absolutely love (I am readers). While I find the gratuitous antipathy bothersome, there are times when I understand it (because it makes sense). Like it does for Tru and Elang. Overall, Tru hated him for stalling her, while the dragon detested her for being a fickle human who trespassed on his property. I know, I know, don't throw rotten tomatoes at me yet. Their story is much a bit more complicated than that, but I am trying to avoid spoilers here. Anyway, if we take a hard look at all facts, the two started out as a pair of strangers, then the threads of fate got tangled.

🖌️ An arranged marriage? We already know where we're headed. It's easy to understand that one way or another, the original pact will be broken and the two will fall in love. As they say, "all roads lead to Rome." What I appreciated were the clean scenes and the timid beating of Elang's heart, but I would have definitely liked a smoother unraveling of the knot that binds the two.

🖌️ Tangled are the ways of fate. Things never seem simple at first glance, but when you look back, everything seems to make sense. In a way, Truyan Saigas seems to be the exact embodiment of this idea. The final resolution was too easy and I think the ending was a little rushed. There were many scenes where Tru practiced her artistic skills underwater and some moments where she lacked the instinct of self-preservation, but in the end, she didn't blow me away the way Maia Tamarin did.

🖌️ Magic has its limits too. Someone please explain to me how to boil water underwater and how to paint paper in the depths of the ocean. One way or another, Lim once again forgets that the world she created works a little differently than ours. I can understand that some things can be omitted, but seriously, now we're cooking egg noodles and other human dishes underwater, in boiling pots and serving them on regular (?) plates... while floating through the water...? I don't get it. At least if she chose to mention that everything is drawn in magic, it would have made more sense. But no. The same happens with the paints and paper that Tru draws on. All are impeccable and the paint stays in the container.

Disclaimer: I received this book from Hodderscape via Netgalley to read in advance and give my honest opinion.

An art forger who can paint the future, a half-dragon prince with a literally lost heart, a marriage of convenience, and an underwater world full of magic and fantastic creatures.

Inspired by Beauty and the Beast, but with a very original twist and a setting that blends Chinese folklore, curses, and the deep sea, this story feels fresh and exciting. Tru and Elang have a relationship that evolves with great chemistry, tension, and tenderness.

It's easy to read at times; at others, you're a little confused by the descriptions, but ultimately it's captivating, ideal for young adult readers. And although some scenarios may be difficult to imagine due to the dense world, the story is so moving that this fades into the background.

A read that beautifully combines magic with deeper themes like identity and sacrifice.

Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for the ARC I read through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really tried to get into this novel, I just couldn't do it. I didn't connect with any of the characters. I will give it another chance in the future, I really want to read this author, because she has a good writing style.

Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Another lovely book by Elizabeth Lim. A Forgery of Fate is a slow-burn romance in a world of dragons, curses, and magical paintings. I loved how the author reimagined Beauty and the Beast—familiar yet refreshingly original.

4.5 stars

'A Forgery of Fate' is a novel in the 'Six Crimson Cranes' universe, and this time we follow Tru, a forger of paintings, as is gets in a deal with a half-human half-dragon to be his bride and paint his grandfather, the Old Dragon King.

I do love this universe, and Elizabeth Lim has crafted it with care and love, and it shows on her pages. This time, the story takes us on an underwater adventure, filled with emotional scenes and a slow-burning romance. The characters, especially Tru, were lovable, endearing, and interesting, brave but not on your face brave, as they all seemed to place sense over sensibility, which is something I enjoy with my characters.

Also, the story is quite entertaining, and the second half of the book was filled with action and fast paced scenes. However, the start was rather slow and wasn't as engaging.

Still, I loved the ending.

This review is also posted on Goodreads and Storygraph

Let's talk about A FORGERY OF FATE!

First of all I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

In fact we are only here now but I read this book in April! But let's go slowly to talk about this new release by Elizabeth Lim!
What is it about:
- fantasy
- asian setting
- in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes
- retelling of Beauty and the Beast
- romance with a marriage of convenience
- there are dragons (obviously)

Over the years Elizabeth Lim has been an author that I have always enjoyed reading, from her first books Spin the Dawn and Unravel the Dusk, up to this one, all set in an expanding world made of creatures, magic, art and characters that you'll remember forever. I have been following her publications for many years now and receiving this book in preview was really very nice.

I must say that the reading, in addition to the fact that I enjoyed it a lot, was a little different from usual, that is, perhaps because in this book the romance component, whether for a question of plot, is a little more present. Then, of course, we are reading Lim, so a writing style where we always find a romance sub plot but always in the background, delicate and very YA, which is fine given that we are in this genre, but I must say that in this book the romantic element is definitely slightly more present (I liked it).

The plot: Truyan is an artist, but a particular artist since with her art she actually sees the future. A series of dynamics mean that she finds herself without a father, and, to save her sisters and mother from a future on the street, she decides to accept the marriage offer with the dragon lord (ehehehe).

The plot is very cute and develops very quickly, which makes you read the book really all in one sit. Surely the marriage of convenience dynamic is always fun and I must say that from this point of view it works, even if in some ways perhaps the romance part is too fast at a certain point.

I really liked the book, also because I usually appreciate two elements of Lim:
- the fact that the magical element, the description of places and realities always emerges a lot from her books
- the fact that every main female character is always a character with a certain artistic ability that moves the story, which I think is a beautiful thing and that in a fantasy is wonderful, especially to go and underline the theme of artistic ability and fantasy world.

Anyway, the Dragon Lord does his job!

PS Those who have read Six Crimson Cranes will keep their eyes open for the whole reading of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and to Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Elizabeth Lim has done it again!

A breathtakingly woven story, A Forgery of Fate reads just like a fairytale.

The story follows Tru, a forger of artwork. To save her family, she makes a deal with a dragon… but how does she break his curse?

This book had it all. Slow burn romance, dragons, mermaids, adventure, demons, a curse to break… and oh my goodness, THE FOOD DESCRIPTIONS. It actually made me hungry every time I picked it up to read.

Shout out to Shani, as we love a sarcastic sidekick 😂

Set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes, this new book from Elizabeth takes the reader on a nostalgic, yet different and adventurous journey!
Where this story truly shines is the well-drafted side characters, the soft jokes and romance.
I really enjoyed the narrative of a painter, adding layers of beauty to the overall story. AND THE DRAGON OMG YES GIVE ME MORE PRINCES WITH UNIQUE LORES.

LOVED THIS BOOK!

This was my first book by Elizabeth Lim and I really enjoyed it! The story follows Tru, a girl who can paint the future. To save her family, she ends up marrying a dragon prince and is taken to a magical underwater world. There’s mystery, romance, magic, and so many beautiful moments.

I loved how it felt like a fairytale but also had real emotions and strong characters. I’ll definitely be picking up more books by her now

Elizabeth Lim already accustomed us to her fairytale tale like stories and, Forgery of Fate, is no exception. A whimsical Asian inspired retelling of Beauty and the Beast, this book is probably my favorite from her, until now. The fact that is a standalone plays in its favor, as I could appreciate more its story and characters, making me want to come back to her world.

A lovely star crossed lovers tale, Forgery of Fate is the perfect read for the eternally romantic. It’s cute, innocent and made me giggle and sigh in all its pages, with all its dreamy details and otherworldly aura. Also, it was fast paced, entertaining, and surprisingly twisty, what I didn’t expect but totally appreciated. But, for me, worldbuilding will always be Lim’s greatest talent. The beauty of this watery realm, the small enchanted details, I was so delighted for it that I just wanted it to be real.

Tru and Elang are the perfect pair of main characters for this story. I love how their relationship was built, even when Elang made me rolled my eyes. They were both very easy to love and, that final, was heartbreaking and so dramatically romantic.

If you want books with Studio Ghibli vibes, Elizabeth Lim’s books will always be my recommendations. I just love the vibes of it and I couldn’t be more happy that I decided to read this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodderscape for giving me an eARC in exchange of an honest review

This book started strong, and I should have loved it! A daughter of a missing father on a sea secret mission, has a strong bond with her family, especially her two sisters. She has a gift: she can paint the future! Now that I'm about halfway through the book, there is no family, no painting, and no secrets...

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley for DRC. I have given my honest review, but since I did not finish it, so I have not rated it.

3.75

I really enjoyed the Beauty and the Beast theme behind this book and while you can 100% tell its Beauty and the Beast themed the author does add their own twists to it which makes it a good level of different.
I'm not usually a YA reader as I can find them too simplistic but I appreciated that this was an easier read for me and that I was pretty much guaranteed a happy ending. I also enjoyed the magic system in that the main character has visions through her painting.

Another fabulous fable from Elizabeth Lim. I love the ever expanding world of A’Landi, and Tru and Elang’s romance is the dreamiest yet. Unlike previous entries in the A’Landi world this one is much more focused on the romance aspect but there’s still plenty enough side and subplots to keep you hooked.

Forgery has definite beauty and the beast vibes with Elang (last seen grumpily making potions in The Dragon’s Promise) being stuck in human form with a half dragon face and is a brooding, grouchy, enigmatic, Love Interest who keeps having soft moments. Tru is a brilliant determined heroine who will do anything to keep her remaining family together as her mother’s gambling debts threaten to force her sisters into a life of prostitution at the hands of a merciless Madam. A brilliant forger she determines to try and paint her way out of poverty and worse but ends up in a fake marriage with the fearsome Dragon Prince.

I loved how Tru uses her wits and her art throughout the story as weapons, she has no weapons but manages to be utterly formidable anyway. I loved the complex layers of her relationship with Elang and the way the little secrets kept slipping out.

Lim has also populated forgery with a fabulous Cast of side characters such as the water demon, Shani, the turtle siblings Mailoh and Caisan and Tru’s own colourful family.

The dragon king Narayan returns as nasty as ever and so does Seriyu briefly but brilliantly.

I really enjoyed this and will literally buy any trip to A’Landi Lim offers next!

Thank you, NetGalley and Hodder&Stoughton for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a beautiful book. So far, I’ve enjoyed every book by Elizabeth Lim and this one is no different. Set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes, it captures the same fairytale-like magic, while still telling an original story. While it can be read as a standalone, I would still recommend to read her other books first to understand the connections.

As always, Lim’s writing is stunning. We see different settings and all of them are described beautifully. Once again, she writes a lot about food, and once again I love it. This book made me seriously crave spicy noodle soup. And all the little details! I know why I’m always happy to see a new announcement for her books.

The storyline is well paced. I never got bored, but it’s not rushed. Everything was thought out very well and made sense. There were some plottwists that I completely expected and that didn’t surprise me in the least, but that didn’t take away from the story.
Sure, the tropes are nothing special. But everything was just so well rounded that I didn’t even mind.

Tru was a great character. She’s not a sweet and gentle girl, she’s a con artist and she is ready to throw hands, but she’s still kind and tries her best. I loved her ability to paint the future.
Elang, whom we’ve already met briefly, was great. Every aspect of his character made sense to me and got explained very well.
I loved the sisters especially how they fight like normal siblings, but would still burn down the world for each other.

The ending was good. It was the kind of ending that often frustrates me, but in this case, I actually enjoyed it.

Overall – definitely recommend. I loved it and I’m already looking forward to rereading it and the other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodderscape and author Elizabeth Lim for this eARC

A wonderfully delightful, fantastical Beauty and the Beast reimagining.

What is there not to love abut this book?
A strong, determined, smart main character, an underwater world, talking turtles and dragons?!
Pair that with Lim’s whimsical world, vibrant characters and beautiful writing and you got yourself an amazing read.
4.5 stars

A Forgery Of Fate by Elizabeth Lim is a stunner and I absolutely loved it. It was my favorite book of May.

Six Crimson Cranes was my first fantasy based on Chinese myth/folklore. I loved it so much that I have read multiple books in the genre since. So it was no surprise when Elizabeth Lim sucked me into her latest creation with beautiful writing and master storytelling. I loved how art, food, folklore, and love come together to create this tale of fate.

Synopsis:

Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts. Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. ...

🐉🐉🐉

I mean come on. Mysterious dragon lord who is sweeter than he lets on. My heart melted there and then. The water kingdom reminded me of The Little Mermaid but it is so much richer. I wish I had a physical proof but I am going to try my best and get my hands on a signed edition. It will be totally worth it.

I loved every second of reading this one. Highly recommend it you love fantasy books in general or this genre in particular. Also for fans of fairytales.
4.5 🌟

this was my first ever elizabeth lim and im already planning on reading her previous work. to simply put it, i fell in love with her writing. the plot was amazing, but it was the romance that fell short for me.

typically when betrayal is in a book, i hold a grudge and i hate when the MCs forgive quickly but somehow i didn’t hate the character who betrayed tru and elang— i do wish we could have known elang’s reaction too.

in terms of the romance, there were too many lies and deceptions for me to believe that is even a speck of trust between tru and elang. i, also, couldn’t see how tru fell in love with elang when 90% of the time he was distant, aloof and cold and any time there was some semblance of kindness, he immediately pulled away. whilst i understand the reasons behind his behaviour and his lies, it doesn’t take away from the fact that one, there is no trust, and two, tru forgave elang too quickly. i do wish there was some sort of grovelling involved.

5 Stars – A beautifully spun fairytale full of heart, secrets, and shimmering magic!

Elizabeth Lim has once again cast her signature spell: rich, lyrical worldbuilding, a heroine you immediately root for, and that perfect blend of fairytale charm and emotional stakes.

As a Beauty and the Beast retelling, this book absolutely delivers. It’s familiar in the best ways but also layered with fresh twists that made it feel entirely new. The setting is so vivid and atmospheric—it’s one of those books where you can almost smell the candlewax and old magic in the air. I felt like I was living inside a tapestry stitched with destiny and secrets.

The FMC absolutely stole my heart. She’s clever, layered, and determined in a way that feels authentic—not too perfect, not too brash, just real. Her journey, both literal and emotional, was a joy to follow.

If you love fairytales with a little bite, a slow-burning mystery, and a dash of fate vs. free will, this is for you. I already can’t wait to own the finished copy!