Another whimsical fairytale-esque story of defiance and family from Elizabeth Lim for the shelves!

For existing fans, we get to dive into a region of Lor'yan we got paid a short but thrilling visit in the previous duology---the realm of dragons, Ai'long---as Tru gets swept up in half-dragon Elang's pursuit to break his curse of a missing heart by overthrowing his grandfather, the Dragon King. True to the blurb, the Beauty and the Beast inspiration comes in touches here and there, but it's easy to forget it as a touchpoint as the story is busy forging its path. I did suspect some plot twists here and there while a few got away from me. The worldbuilding is gorgeous once again with a cool plot-relevant artifact introduced.

Art forgery is a topic I've been interested in, so it was interesting to have it be the profession for Tru and seeing how it plays in the story. The progression of the FMC's increasing skill in painting and control over her magic and her feelings was enjoyable and desired. The romance is more disgruntled compared to Lim's other couples with a healthy dose of convenience-marriage-troubles and tsundere-ism. Personally, their romance is not as addictive to read but it gets cute. Tying the whole story together is the notion of will and crafting ways and places for one to fit into society or accept themselves.

Now, due to the MMC, his family, and the main region the story unfolds in, we naturally get lovely callbacks and ties to said duology. These kinds of canonical allusions are some of my favourite ways of lorebuilding. Speaking of, SERYU MY BELOVED! YOU'RE BACK! Elizabeth, I beg you, please let us follow this character in a book.

TLDR: enjoyable!

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Hodderscape for providing me with the e-ARC/DRC in exchange for an honest review.

3.25⭐️. Thank you NetGalley & Hodderscape for the ARC.

There's just something about this that didn't charm me as much as Six Crimson Cranes did. Maybe it's because I'm just not as receptive to the "Love Interest Pushing Her Away for Her Own Good" trope. Then there's also my suspension of disbelief over the fact that they could drink tea underwater.

Regardless, I will continue to commend author Elizabeth Lim's strength in tugging her reader's heartstrings when it comes to strong familial bonds and the main couple finally admitting their feelings for each other. The romantic development here is also a true slowburn, which always wins points with me. While Tru's clairvoyant abilities ("the Sight") feel fickle and arbitrary, I enjoyed reading of her painting talent every time it comes up, much like my experience reading Spin the Dawn . Lim's prose is lush and descriptive, which helps with envisioning these wonderful paintings that Tru creates.

It's a decent standalone to the ever-expanding universe Lim has created. Recommended to read after The Dragon's Promise, due to the references to it.

I love books that read like cdramas, the world building, the lore is unmatched. And as expected Elizabeth Lim did not disappoint. Through her previous books we already got to know her magical world, she took us further into her world and I had so much fun reading about our strong female lead and all the characters generally because they are written so well, I was really sad when the book ended.

I have never requested a book so fast after seeing the words ‘Inspired by Beauty and The Beast’.

This is my first book by Elizabeth Lim so I didn’t really know what to expect going into it, but I thought this was a really cute whimsical read!

I loved the FMC! Tru is an art forger who has a unique ability to paint the future. Tru’s father is lost at sea, and in order to support her family and save them from a heavy debt, she agrees to a marriage contract with a dragon lord. Except Tru must also help him with his plot to take down the Dragon King who cursed him.

It was very easy to get into this story, it had me hooked from the start and kept me entertained all the way through!

However I feel like I could have benefited from a little more in terms of world building as I did struggle to visualise some of it. The ending also left me with some questions.

But overall this was a really enjoyable read!

A Forgery of Fate takes you into the depths of the sea, within the confines of a crumbling palace as Truyan finds herself bound in a marriage contract to Elang, a dragon lord with a devastating secret. I loved how this book further expands on the world-building that we've already come to know through Elizabeth Lim's previous series and books, adding in some seriously cool places to explore. If I was an artist, I'd definitely love to make a location map of every location that we've visited in all books, included this one and the ones that have come before.

This book is filled with such incredible pacing - the story practically flows off the page, taking its time to settle us in the world, and then throwing us straight into the action. There was always something going on in the story, and the overarching plot, and that really keeps you on your toes. I also personally felt that the middle of the book was its best part. It is where the story shines through, and both Truyan and Elang's motivations become clear.

Beauty and the Beast makes perfect sense as a comp title, because the early story beats feel pretty similar to what happens in the classic, except the book makes it its own unique thing. Tru, as a character, has become a master forger and painter, making her paintings to ensure her family survives. It is those very paintings that land her straight into Elang's radar as someone who can help him solve a very deadly problem. Tru, on page 1, and on the final page of the story, feels like two different people, and it is a testament to how her character arc was developed - it feels well-done, complex and does justice to her as a character.

Tru's marriage contract with Elang comes out of a desperate need - a fresh start for her family, and a possible answer to her father's disappearance at sea. At first, she clearly hates him. But that doesn't last long because as the plot unravels and secrets come out, she starts viewing Elang in a different light, something that adds weight to their marriage contract. Their romance unfolds so beautifully, and their ending will make you sob.

A Forgery of Fate is a devastatingly beautiful and unforgettable adventure, that takes us across dragon and human worlds, and showcases what lengths you are willing to go to for your family and for love. This is another master piece from Elizabeth Lim and I can't wait to get my hands on a physical copy!

This book was pure magic and reminded me how I’ll always have a soft spot for YA fantasy.
Truyan is a con artist, specialised in forging art to make ends meet. However once criminals start attacking her and her family, she is forced to enter the undersea world, striking a deal with the Demon Prince to fight the Dragon King.

I honestly loved everything about this book. I liked how feisty our main character is, how she tries to honour the bond to her family (as well as that to the mysterious prince) and how elegant, yet effortless the writing seems. Lim has the magic touch for creating magical sentences, weaving emotions and mythology together and making the reader swoon, yet never crossing the border to cringe-land. I loved following the budding (somewhat enemies-to-lovers) romance that always seemed to be able to strike a balance between heaviness and lightness.

The story was written with powerful and colourful strokes, and I was curious to learn more about the individual characters (especially Elang, the love interest), but also the craft behind the main character’s talent.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough, yet my heart was growing heavier with every page closer to the end.

One of my favourite YA reads in 2025!

A retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast' set in the world of 'Six Crimson Cranes'? Count me in!

This romantasy is reminiscent of 'The girl who fell beneath the sea' mixed with Disney's version of 'Beauty and the Beast'. A resourceful, brave heroine goes on an adventure for the sake of her family and meets an array of whimsical characters including a handsome dragon, a scheming demon, and a surprising amount of turtles and other sea creatures. Both the plot and the romance have twists that will keep you turning pages.

4.5/5
This was so transporting! I wanted to stay in this underwater world and never return back to reality! The slow burn was top notch, and the prose was lyrical. The Beauty and the Beast vibes were there and they were on point - I loved our version of Belle, she was Tru, an art forger. Elang was our GORGEOUS version of the beast.
I loved this.
Knocked off half a star because I simply wanted MORE banter.

This book definitely cements Elizabeth Lim as an auto-buy author for me. Seriously, I will literally read anything she writes! As soon as I heard this being marketed as Beauty & the Beast x Six of Crows, I knew I’d love it. The writing, as always, is utterly beautiful - it immerses you into a fresh, fairytale-esque world. The blend of Chinese folklore and romance had me captivated the whole way through. I absolutely adored both main characters, especially the MMC. I was on the edge of my seat throughout this whole book - I gasped, I cried, I laughed. This was magical in every sense of the word. I genuinely can’t recommend it enough!

This love story was so epically beautiful, the way this book is written is stunning . I gave it 3 stars because I think I have a ceiling to how high my fantasy Could go I need more humanoid characters I could be OK with one or 2 talking animals but they nearly all can talk and my brain just couldn't grip the magnitude of fantasy in this book

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim is a breathtaking, emotional triumph — and I knew it would be my new favourite just 8% in.

As a longtime fan of Elizabeth Lim, I always expect something magical when I open one of her books — but A Forgery of Fate completely exceeded those expectations. It's a stunning blend of fantasy, romance, and mystery, wrapped in Lim’s signature expressive writing style and immersive worldbuilding.

The story follows Tru, an art forger with a love of spicy noodles and a dangerous secret: she can paint the future. Then there's Elang, a cursed half-dragon who we first met briefly in A Dragon’s Promise — a quiet, brooding prince with a cup of tea always in hand. One of my few criticisms of A Dragon’s Promise was that we didn’t spend enough time in the underwater kingdom of Ai’long. Now, I understand why — Lim was saving the full reveal for this story, and experiencing the kingdom’s beauty and terror through Tru’s eyes was absolutely worth the wait.

While the book draws subtle inspiration from Beauty and the Beast, the narrative is entirely original, standing confidently on its own. The romance between Tru and Elang is a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers journey that’s rich with tension and depth. Though there is technically an arranged marriage element, it’s far from the typical trope. Their bond begins as a deal — Tru needs money and protection for her family, while Elang needs a Heavenly Match to break a curse — it's purely a practical arrangement, until it isn't.

The plot is packed with action, yearning, betrayal, and magic, making this both a heartwarming and hypnotic read. And for readers who loved Six Crimson Cranes and A Dragon’s Promise, there’s an added treat: a glimpse into Seryu's life post-Shiori.

A Forgery of Fate is a beautiful, powerful addition to Elizabeth Lim’s universe. I couldn't put it down — and I already can't wait to reread it

I wasn’t expecting this but oh my goodness did I love it! We have this gorgeously vivid world full of little details and quirks that make it fantasy. It reads like a fairytale especially closer to the end – I read it was a beauty and the beast retelling but honestly it is so far away from the original and improved that I wouldn’t have made the connection otherwise! When I did realise it made for a happy discovery because then I could link all the little bits and pieces!
Tru as a heroine is so delightful to read because she bonds two of my favourite heroine attributes together: she is strong and has been strong in her own right for years and her ability is not ‘discovered’ by the romantic interest, it is something that she has already wielded for years on her own. She is a painter, forging early masters in dead artist’s style so that her and her family can survive on the little food and shelter that she can work for. Unlike a lot of heroines who are warriors she is a creative which was so lovely to read and definitely memorable!
The imagery and world of this book were honestly just exquisite especially for the first 30% or so when we were in Tru’s world. It felt so real and all the little details that had been added as we jumped into Tru’s ‘just on the slight side of illegal’ life style was honestly flawless.
I also love that Elizabeth Lin didn’t make Tru’s sisters unlikeable or vain or shallow like a lot of retellings and original versions do. It made it so much sweeter of a read for me that I wasn’t annoyed over that.

Age Recommendation: YA -  12+ - while I think that older readers would also enjoy this it is a romance that I would be happy to give to a 12 year old and it feels on the lower age end of YA.
Romance Rating: Soft
Violence Rating: Level 3
Content Warnings: None

The parallels with Beauty and the Beast are clear, as that tale is the inspiration here. Tru is the tough young woman, willing to do what it takes to save her family. Elang wants to avenge himself on the Dragon King and will use Tru to do it. I can’t say too much without revealing spoilers, except to say that the characters in this novel are believable, rounded and relateable. Even the demon Shani plays her part well, being a kind of begrudging helper and has the kind of biting sarcasm I enjoyed. The story does drag a little in the middle but it never gets boring.

The relationship between Tru and Elang is the main driver in the novel, but it does well not to overlook the little details of culture dotted around. The preference for noodles, the beliefs about supersitious occurences, they’re all woven in very well so the reader gains a detailed knwoeldge of the world they’re invited to join without being beaten over the head with histories and facts.

Definitely well worth a read for anyone interested in fantasy, romance and fairy tales

I knew that i will love this book after The dragon's promise. I love all Elizabeth Lim's books. She has a way of creating a beautiful and captivating world and her words are like the keys to a magical underwater palace. Getting back to this book, i adored the dynamic between our heroine and the mysterious dragon and how little by little their relantionship changed and their opinion about each other. The other characters are so cute and interesting, and some of them funny. I can't wait to buy a physical copy to add it to my collection of Elyzabeth Lim books. Thank You NetGalley for the Arc.

I've been meaning to read Elizabeth Lim's books since her debut and now finally got the chance with her most recent work. It was in many ways what I hoped it would be but it also took some unexpected turns. I really enjoyed it though and I look forward to picking up her previous works.

I love Beauty and the Beast and stories inspired by it. I also love books inspired by Chinese culture so having these two come together here was a double win. I will say that the beginning felt rather uneventful, it wasn't until around 20% that things were actually moving forward. From there on, though, the pacing was well done. Although the stakes were reasonably high, I did feel that this was more of a calm story and I don't mean that in a bad way whatsoever - it suited the painting aspect of this tale perfectly.

Although cover and blurb give it away, I wasn't actually expecting this to be an underwater setting so I was quite surprised but really enjoyed the vivid underwater world and the various creatures we meet there. This vibrant setting also worked well with our main character Tru being an artist and it being part of the magic system presented here.

There were moments I thought I could guess the plot twists and while I was partially right for some, others caught me entirely off guard. I didn't have much of a favourite character, they were largely all pleasant and likeable but somehow non of them stood out as a potential favourite. On the flip side, I could not stand Tru's mother - she felt like a gambling version of Mrs Bennett. However, I did really enjoy Tru's bond with her two sisters Nomi and Fal. They're all three very different but still had nice interactions and care for each other - I'd actually love if Nomi and Fal could get their own book later down the line.

I enjoyed the romance with the Beauty and the Beast premise and also the fake marriage kept both me as a reader as well as Tru guessing on what's actually going on between her and the dragon Elang. I enjoyed them together but I also felt like there could have been a wee bit more of a spark.

As a whole, besides Tru's mother, I really enjoyed the entire novel. Much like the romance missed a spark, there was a little something missing for this work overall that makes me lean more toward a 4 than 5 star rating, but I truly couldn't tell you what that something is. Regardless, it's a beautiful standlone fantasy with lots of dragons and underwater imagery and I'd definitely recommend it to fans of Chinese inspired fantasy.

This book was absolutely phenomenal and exceeded all of my expectations!

Normally I'm not a huge fan of retellings of things like Beauty and the Beast, I find they tend to be a bit predictable and samey in their execution. A Forgery of Fate however, was so unique in how it goes about its retelling of the story and I truly enjoyed every second that was spent reading this book!

This is the first time I've read something by Elizabeth Lim and it's safe to say I will absolutely be picking up some of her other titles after this! Her writing style is so magical and atmospheric. I was absolutely mesmerised from page one. It's so easy to picture exactly where the characters are at any point in time and how they are feeling thanks to the vivid descriptions and fantastic world building. The descriptive writing didn't feel too overwhelming, or over done either. It was just the right amount to fully immerse me in the moment, without feeling like there was an endless stream of descriptors being thrown our way.

Truyan is the eldest daughter of the Saigas family. After their father goes missing when a storm hits his ship Tru takes on the role of main provider for her family, taking care of her mother and two younger sisters. She's an artist who excels in forging the work of other artists and with the help of her friend Gaari she hones her skills to sell her forgeries at auction and keep her family afloat.

Through a twist of fate Tru bumps into Elang - our MMC - and they come to an agreement involving a fake marriage to help break Elang's curse, in return Tru's family is to be kept safe and taken care of.

Every character was so perfectly crafted, even the side characters had such distinctive personalities and voices it was so easy to tell who was talking when, and all their different feelings on towards other characters and the situations they encounter.

I was a huge fan of Shani personally! She was such a wonderful, snippy, no nonsense character and I found myself looking really forward to every interaction she'd have with Tru!

Tru and Elang were such perfect main characters, they felt so real in their behaviour and their actions made sense and were really relatable.
Tru is such a strong, independent FMC. She's so resilient and loyal, never giving up on her family - or Elang.

Elang was a wonderful, grumpy little dragon prince! He was so charming even when he wasn't trying to be and I found myself falling absolutely in love with him from the moment we meet him!

I would absolutely recommend this book if you're a fan of twists and turns, secrets and betrayal, an emotional, slow burning love full of yearning and longing, and a world full of folklore and wonder!

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review the eARC!

5⭐

Thank you Elizabeth Lim, Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC!

A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

This book feels extra special, offering a creative twist on an Eastern "Beauty and the Beast" retelling while introducing a fresh, vivid take on an underwater world. The journey is painted in rich, colorful strokes, featuring phoenix demons, heroic turtles, treacherous sharks, dangerous jellyfish, and a vicious Dragon King determined to destroy his own kin rather than share his empire.

Tru was an outstanding FMC. I thought she was stong, determined, and so easy to love. You couldn't help but want to root for her.

From the different magical creatures and slow-burn romance to the vivid world-building and unique magical elements, this book has everything you could ask for—including secrets, twists, and turns that will keep you hooked!

The world within this book entranced me, it was unique and magical, and the premise was perfectly delivered. Not only does this book have an incredible MMC, Elang, who is half dragon and royalty (this character alone should convince you to read this book) and a FMC, Tru, who can see the future through her paintings, but there are also talking turtles, mermaids, and a water demon who lives inside a ring and can appear at will.

The romance was *chef’s kiss*, it was slow-burn, there was yearning, and it was all brought together by a marriage of convenience. This marriage is planned in hopes of overthrowing the Elang’s grandfather, dragon king (and god) of the sea, who is destroying the ocean, talk about high stakes! Tru agrees to this marriage to protect her family and to discover whether her dad really did die at sea five years ago. Although I wouldn’t have said no to more romance between the characters, it was perfectly timed throughout the book and I couldn’t stop reading, hoping for more.

There were a few times I couldn’t quite grasp how a scene was playing out in the underwater world but I think it’s up to your imagination to try and fit the pieces together and this didn’t affect how much I loved it. This was my first book by Lim and I will definitely be reading more of her work!

A girl who paints the future. A dragon prince with no heart. A marriage of convenience.

Elizabeth Lim is one of my ultimate auto-buy authors. I’ve loved her previous books, and while this one was slightly below the others for me, it was still a beautiful read.

🎨 I loved Truyan, the blue-haired heroine who’s fiercely loyal and gifted with a rare ability: painting the future. When her father vanishes at sea and her mother’s gambling debts threaten her family, she agrees to a marriage of convenience with Elang—a half-human, half-dragon prince as mysterious as he is broody.

🐉 Elang, the ultimate grumpy dragon lord, has lost his dragon pearl—the source of his heart, magic, and emotions—and now lives in an isolated undersea palace. With talking warrior turtles 🐢, shark armies 🦈, and the regal merfolk 👑, the aquatic world is rich and unique, though I did struggle at times to fully visualize it and feel completely immersed (pun intended, haha).

🖌 Tru is tasked with painting the portrait of the tyrannical Dragon King—whom Elang secretly wants to overthrow. Between royal secrets, ancient betrayals, and a very slow burn romance full of emotional tension, the story unfolds gently and fluidly. Lim truly has a gift for writing tender, heartfelt love stories.

✨ In short: a standalone YA fantasy filled with tension, strategy, magic, and a beautifully written romance. If you're into slow burns, grumpy x sunshine dynamics, and dreamy underwater worlds, this Beauty and the Beast–inspired one-shot might just be your next favorite.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HodderScape for the chance to read this early!

Instagram post planned Thursday 10th April

Absolutely stunning.

This was my first book by Elizabeth Lim, and I adored every moment of it. A beauty and the beast retelling in the best way.

The MFC is a delight, struggling with the loss of her father, with her hair that marks her out as 'other' in her home. She has to look after her family, younger siblings and a mother with a gambling problem. Despite everything thrown at her, she never gives up. Along the way she literally falls into a garden of a 'demon lord' who offers to save her family - for the minor price of her marrying him.

Our MMC. Oh our MMC. As all the best ones are, he is grumpy and cold and obnoxious on the outside but inside... he's a sweetheart. A romantic who takes a simple gesture and turns it into a whole field. Who throws himself into danger time and time again to protect her, while still trying to push her away.

And when you find out why he's pushing her away... well.

Sometimes, what you need is a fantasy romance wrapped up in a hug, a delicious melody of art and food, the burn of the noodles keeping you warm. This was just a completely enjoyable read, full of fantastic characters and just enough danger to keep you motivated.

I also really enjoyed that it is a standalone (although I certainly wouldn't complain if we returned to this world). It's really nice to have a one and done story sometimes, and to have all the plot very enjoyably wrapped up.