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 😂

Thank you Netgallwy 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

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!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have loved Elizabeth Lim's writing from the moment I started reading Six Crimson Cranes. The universe she has created is so vibrant and colourful. I was excited when I learned that she was adding a new book to the world AND that it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling. I was completely shocked to receive the ARC and I have already ordered a special edition of it!

The world building was beautiful, as I have come to expect from Lim's works, and I was immediately hooked. I love that A Forgery of Fate returns to Ai'long, the underwater realm of the dragons, so we could see more of it after the brief experience from The Dragon's Promise where I just wanted to have more time there.

This was a nice, easy read and I enjoyed my time with it. I will continue to await what Elizabeth Lim does next.

An asian inspired beauty and the beast retelling that had me at noodles and a dragon lord...
This was a beautiful read with beautiful world building. My first book by this author and i enjoyed it.
It's definitely a world i will be going back to to read that's for sure.
I enjoyed everything about this book, from the marriage of conveniance to the perils they faced to the fmc who i loved for not being your normal uptight, spoilt, stubborn fmc lol

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed this a lot. Not as much as the Six Crimson Cranes trilogy, which really swept me away, but still a solid four star. Elizabeth Lim’s writing is beautiful and her books are really something special.

I love her characters the most I think. Truyan was an interesting character, different from Shiori in a lot of ways, but still with that resilient spirit that’s important in a Fantasy protagonist. I loved her sass and stubbornness in the early parts of her relationship with Elang.

I liked how important art was in this book. The idea of drawing the future was really fun and it was good to see a character so dedicated to her craft. The descriptions of the dragons she draw really came to life off the page. I don’t tend to picture things when I read, but this captured my imagination in a way that not many books do.

I can’t wait to see what Elizabeth Lim does next.

“I have met my grandfather’s conditions for my return,” he said. “Behold, the one whose heart I value more than my own, whose light shines without equal. My beloved bride, Lady Saigas.”

A Forgery of Fate is a romantic fantasy following Truyan, a girl who paints the future, and a mysterious Dragon Lord - intertwined in love, deception and a plot to bring down a tyrannical Dragon King.

“Fortune finds those who leap.”

Truyan became a master forger when her father was lost at sea - someone had to provide for her mother and younger sisters, so she stepped up. She has the magic ability to paint the future, but even this can’t piece her family back together, or fend off the gangsters demanding payment for her mother’s gambling debts. So when the opportunity arises, she agrees to a marriage contract with a Dragon Lord - her mother and sisters get a fresh start and she may find answers about her dad’s disappearance - on the proviso she joins him in his undersea palace. She must aid him in his schemes to infiltrate the Dragon King’s inner circle and to paint a future that’ll end his tyrannical rule.

“You forget, Lady Saigas, that you are only here because by some forgery of fate, you seem to be capable of the impossible.” He drew out his words. “The fall of the Dragon King.”

I really loved the magic system in this, so unique - she can predict the future via her paintings. It was so beautiful and created such strong imagery.

We all love a brooding MMC, and he’s half dragon! Cursed to never fall in love, he can only return home with a human bride. His curse can only be broken if he finds his Heavenly Match. I adored Elang, his character progression throughout the book was so perfectly done and the reveals throughout kept me engaged with the story.

I loved the world in which this was set - the author painted such a vivid picture and it was so immersive.

Overall - The writing in this was immaculate, so beautifully written. I adored the characters and the side characters added so much depth to the story. The relationship between the main characters was developed really well and I love how it gradually unfolded. This is a book I’ll be thinking about for a long time!

Tropes: Fantasy, Romance, Dragons, Marriage of Convenience/Fake Dating, Gods, Young Adult, Curses, Retelling

ARC copy provided by Hodderscape & NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

A Forgery of Fate is brilliant. I absolutely loved it! Beauty and the Beast underwater with dragons!
The overall premise of Beauty and the Beast is well known, but this was done in such a refreshing way. I could clearly see the parallels but at the same time it felt original.
Of course, I was rooting for Tru and Elang and 100% want more of them. Tru is very much an interesting FMC for me. The ability of sight that manifests itself through her paintings is absolutely fascinating.
I am genuinely struggling to convey how much I enjoyed this book. This is definitely going to be a book that I reread.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for an ARC.
Unfortunately, I have to DNF this one at the 50% mark.

While I love Elizabeth Lim’s books, I can’t find myself enjoying the new ones. I loved the duologies, but unfortunately, they became too YA for me. My main problem with “A forgery of fate” is that I don’t care about the characters, the plot or the world. I find the characters very flat, I can’t see the romance between the main characters, I don’t understand how everyone gave up so fast on Tru and they let her leave, her mother is awful and everything is too childish.

At the 50% mark, the MMC is still talking to Tru like she’s just a thing for him to take advantage of, which is strange because the book is “romance”. I didn’t understand the worldbuilding, how are they swimming but nothing floats?

The book is was too slow, the first 100-130 pages were just setup? I understood what happened for the first 40 pages, their father left, their mother is insufferable and has a gambling addiction, which.. don’t even get me started and they are poor. Tru paints to win some money.

So yes, I will give up on her books. I think I just grow out of the YA genre and these “magical” books. Too bad.

I like most meals with a lot of spices and chilli.

So when A Forgery of Fate ambushed my senses with a bowl of hand-rolled noodles in broth simmering in cinnamon, ginger and chilli oil, plus a fantasy romance, fake marriage, a phoenix demon and talking turtles, I knew I’d found a comfort read. This book legitimately gave me butterflies and food cravings.

Now, if you read the blurb, you already know this is a Beauty and the Beast-inspired story imbued with Chinese culture that unfolds under the sea. Despite Elizabeth Lim’s background in Disney retellings, I didn’t get heavy-handed “Disney” from this.

On the surface, it's all very whimsical and fairy-tale-core with seahorses pulling clamshell carriages and magical serviettes that summon your favourite food (how very Grimm). But underneath there’s loss and the whimsy is barbed. Maybe Studio Ghibli meets The Godfather but with more noodles and curses.

At its core, the story carries the traditional Beauty and the Beast themes of inner beauty, transformation through love, and what it means to be monstrous but they’re also filtered through a more diasporic lens. What I appreciated most was how Lim uses fantasy to examine very real questions about identity, racism, and othering.

So yeah, instead of talking furniture, rose petals and ball gowns, it’s sea, ink and a cursed half-dragon half-human prince, named Elang, (the “beast”) whose literal pearl-heart is missing. FMC, Tru gets roped into a fake marriage of convenience with him, where once she fulfils her mission, she will part ways with him and go back to her family. It’s less locked in a castle, and more of a I signed a contract to help a dragon guy and in return he will save my family and help me find out what happened to my father who was lost at sea vibe.

If the pearl-heart dragon lore and setting rings a bell, I’ll give you a hint that Six Crimson Cranes fans are definitely going to have fun with the Easter eggs peppered in this one, it's set in the same world! (Although it’s definitely not necessary to read SCC to enjoy A Forgery of Fate). I thought the writing was well-suited for the YA target audience.

My advice is that this is one of those stories that’s best discovered without reading reviews that give away too much plot detail, so you can appreciate the C-drama, romantic beats, underwater worldbuilding, fantastical characters and moss yourself. (Yes, moss).

One more thing. Pocket appreciation. Okay I’m finished.

If you like your fantasies with flavour, your romance served slow and yearning, and using chilli oil as a weapon, this book is for you. But maybe don’t read it on an empty stomach.

A big thanks to Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape & NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.