Thank you to Elizabeth Lim, Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

An East-Asian YA fantasy inspired by the tale of Beauty and the Beast, A Forgery of Fate follows Truyan, an artist, and her deal with a dragon prince.

The premise was interesting and the setting was good. However, the writing style read far more like middle grade - “demon turds”, for example. The characterisation fell flat and the actions and words of certain characters didn’t fit them at all. It felt like the book was trying to hard to be funny and it wasn’t landing at all. I’m sure younger readers would enjoy it more.

4.5 ⭐️

I went into this book blind and wasn’t expecting the underwater setting, but it gave me such Little Mermaid vibes - I was totally here for it. Loosely based on beauty and the beast, but with a Dragon (of half dragon in this case).

Told from the point of view of Tru, a young woman who’s father has gone missing when a storm hits his ship. To feed her family, artist Tru is forced to mimic other artists, forging their work, honing her skills to sell at auction.

Tru was really likeable, she’s tough, feisty, has plenty of snark yet she’s fiercely loyal and will do anything for her sisters and mother. I love art, so I really enjoyed the depth of the art element to the tale - which was really interesting.

The MC - Elang, is a growly, dark and brooding character - whilst I wasn’t initially drawn to him, he’s redeemed himself and grew on me ( and Tru! ) as the story progressed.

I loved the whimsical world the author created, it was my first book of hers, but won’t be my last. The writing was immersive without being too descriptive and I feel so easily into - it felt effortless.

A really unique concept and a fast paced story which I thoroughly enjoyed, and was nearly blindsided by the ending!

If you enjoy YA fantasy, with a great concept, interesting world and magic systems then pick this up!

I absolutely loved 'Six Crimson Cranes' and the 'Spin the Dawn' duology so I was looking forward to another one of Elizabeth Lim's Far Eastern-inspired fairytale retellings.

'A Forgery of Fate' is based on Beauty and the Beast but it has a lot of other elements inspired by various stories and mythologies (eg. The Magic Paintbrush). After Truyan's father dies in a shipwreck, her family is thrown into poverty, which is exacerbated by her mother's gambling problem. Truyan is a gifted artist and makes money by forging paintings to sell but she also has a secret that she's never told anyone - she has visions and can paint the future.

When a desperate financial situation forces Truyan to seek the help of the mysterious masked 'Demon Prince', he offers her a deal. He will pay off her debts and protect her family in exchange for her posing as his true love, joining him in the dragon realm and helping him to overthrown the cruel and tyrannical Dragon King. The Demon Prince is in fact a Dragon Prince called Elang - a half dragon, cursed by the Dragon King. But once she joins him in the dragon realm, she discovers there's more to Elang, and more to the story than she's been told.

This is a charming, lyrical and romantic story, filled with strange creatures, vibrant landscapes and captivating characters. Unlike, her recent duologies, this is a standalone story so everything is wrapped up nicely by the end of the book (although there are some tears along the way). Highly recommended!

Thank you to Hodder & Stoughton for approving me to read this book, I’m rating it 4.0 -4.25 stars.

This book really made me smile, the magic and creativity of the plot and world building was fun throughout. The mix of myth with magic and our witty selfless FMC at the heart of it was great. The story is told from Tru’s POV and she’s in a dire situation with her family and this leaves her in a position of making an alliance with a mysterious lord.

The plot takes us on a journey with dragons, multiple realms, arranged marriage and so much more, I really recommend reading this.

*Actual rating is 4.25 stars*

One thing I have come to love over the last few years are standalone books, or short series, set in an interconnected world. In case you have read Six Crimson Cranes duology or Her Radiant Curse from the author then you will be familiar with Ai’long and some of the characters therefrom.

In A Forgery of Fate the half-dragon half-human prince Elang is set to lift his curse and end his grandfather’s, the Dragon King, reign with the help of the main character of the story, the painter and con artist Tru Saigas. Because she has the ability to paint the future, and is desperate enough to accept the loveless marriage deal.

It’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, so it features strong family bonds, slow burn romance, and a grumpy guy with a soft heart - as you would expect. But it also features a water demon, the sweetest turtles and treacherous adventures in a whimsical and magical underwater world. Tru was a great lead, and I loved her ability to use art as both a way to predict the future and as a weapon. Also her relationship with Elang was really cute. While I didn’t always enjoy her actions, I still had a good time reading.

A Forgery of Fate is a YA fantasy inspired by Chinese mythology that features Elizabeth Lim’s lyrical prose and very high stakes. The biggest problem was that the story sometimes felt a bit rushed and at times lacked explanations.

Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Three Stars

Lim's novels are always enjoyable and grand enough to feel different from the crowd. Unfortunately, A Forgery of Fate falls into too many cliches to be truly satisfying. You could have a full set of cards for YA romance bingo by the end, and it's a well-executed demonstration of each.

Usually, I don't get on with underwater settings in books; it tends to overcomplicate even basic scenes and become a distraction. But this book simplified it enough while also playing with the setting that it worked. I enjoy how Lim uses fairy tales very loosely and then lets herself build whatever elements she likes into something new; the water and dragon elements took the classic Beauty and the Beast narrative and made it far more epic and fresh.

There are some vaguely uncomfortable elements of the romance, but more generally, I just found the book a bit uninspiring. I'm a fan of Lim's writing and I'm sure will continue to enjoy it - this one just wasn't my favourite of hers.

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

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.