5⭐

This book was an enchanting read! The blend of asian folklore and beauty and the beast was STUNNING! It offered a lush and emotional backdrop and journey while reading! The lyrical world-building and writing style had me hooked and captivated the entire time.! The description and writing style is detailed and well developed, exploring different parts of the world. The conclusion was epic and the plot was evenly paced throughout. The ending had my jaw dropped with all the action scenes and twists. I cannot wait to read more books from Elizabeth Lim!

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒑𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒚 𝒐𝒘𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘.

3.5 stars: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim is a gorgeously written, atmospheric standalone that weaves art, myth, and romance into a vibrant tapestry of Chinese-inspired fantasy. The prose is undeniably beautiful—Lim paints with words as vividly as Tru paints with her brush. From underwater castles to enchanted paintings, the imagery throughout this book was absolutely stunning, and I found myself completely immersed in the world she created.

Tru, our heroine, is everything I’ve come to love in a Lim protagonist: clever, courageous, and emotionally grounded. Her role as a forger adds a unique twist to her moral compass, and I enjoyed seeing her navigate a world full of deception and divine politics. Her bond with Elang—the half-dragon, grumpy-to-soft love interest—was well-developed and emotionally satisfying. The slow-burn dynamic, paired with tropes like forced proximity and secret identity, was a definite highlight for me. Fans of romantic tension will not be disappointed.

That said, while the premise and characters drew me in, there were a few elements that didn’t quite land. The pacing felt uneven—particularly toward the end, where things wrapped up a bit too quickly and left several important threads unresolved or brushed over. The worldbuilding, while enchanting in aesthetic, lacked some of the depth I was hoping for. Mentions of gods and mythological elements were intriguing but underexplored, and the villain's motivations felt too simplistic given the rich world we were shown.

I also think readers unfamiliar with Chinese mythology or drama tropes might find themselves craving a bit more context or explanation. There’s a lot of potential in the setup, but some of it remains on the surface rather than digging deep into the cultural roots that inspired it.

Still, A Forgery of Fate has a lot of heart—and style. The romance was swoony, the heroine compelling, and the premise refreshingly original. I just wish the plot and world had been given a bit more room to breathe.

Would I recommend it? Definitely—especially for fans of romantic fantasy with lush settings and strong female leads. Just know going in that while the journey is lovely, the destination might leave you with a few lingering questions.

I enjoyed this so much more than I expected to and didn't want it to come to en end. Truyan is devastated by the disappearance of her father and is desperate to look after her mum and sisters
She meets Elang and agrees to help him in order to help her family. Little does she know the importance of this relationship.
A fantastic fantasy. Loved it.

ARC Review: A Fate Forged in Fire by Elizabeth Lim

She did it again. I absolutely loved Six Crimson Cranes and I adore this Beauty and the Beast-inspired romantasy just as much. What do you think how I felt when I realized this takes place in the same world!? I loved being back in this beautiful setting. She weaves lush fantasy with mythology, great family dynamics, and a love story to die for. This story had everything I wished for.

What is this about?
This book is about Tru, a strong, independent, and sassy FMC who can paint the future and makes a deal with a (half-)dragon prince to save her family. She must marry him and help him achieve his own goals to get what she needs for her family's survival. Suddenly, she finds herself in the midst of a conflict with the cruel dragon king in the underwater kingdom of Ai’long — a conflict whose outcome could change the future of both the mortal and immortal worlds.

Tru felt so real and relatable — and she was funny! Her loyalty made me adore her even more. Even though you might think that because she “only” paints the future, she must be weak... she was far from that. She turned the events of the book and beat an OP villain. Loved that!

Our MMC is the half-dragon prince Elang, who at first seemed cold and distant — but he was soooo much more. He cared for Tru and his court, even though he didn’t have a heart?! I loved how much he adored Tru and did everything for her.

Besides these well-written MCs, we had a lot of interesting and endearing side characters, which made the book even better!

The story started off easy to read and went from “okay” to “OMG” in less than 100 pages. I couldn’t put the book down. So much was happening, and soooo much was at stake. The plot was plotting, and the twists took me to the edge of my seat.
(PS: At one point I was out of my seat. The ending nearly shattered my heart.)

The romance was subtle, but it was sweet and heartwarming. I was totally in for Tru and Elang — their banter and chemistry were great. We had a slow burn, but there was so much yearning and tension, which made the romance even better in the end.

You’ll love this if you like:
• Beauty and the Beast retellings
• Enemies to lovers
• Yearning and slow burn
• Sassy FMCs
• He falls first (and harder)
• Marriage of convenience
• Adventure and high stakes
• Family dynamics
• Shape-shifting dragons

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

This was a charming, magical story that felt like a Ghibli-esque fairytale.
I liked that the author took their time to introduce us to Tru, her family, and the relationships between them, showing us the before when everything was good, and then the after. It made me root for them all, wanting them to succeed in their everyday struggles but also in the fight to get their happiness back.
The book lost me temporarily when we got to meet the half-dragon and when Tru travelled into the underwater world shortly after. I found it hard to grasp both the half-dragon as a character and the underwater world. About halfway through the book I started to enjoy reading about both, with some suspension of disbelief concerning all the things that were possible within that world. I wish we could have seen a bit more of it.
The more we got to see beyond the half-dragon’s grumpy façade and with some reveals putting things into perspective, the more I was on board with the developing romance. I definitely wished for more moments with these two, but what we got turned out to be pretty cute.
Despite some transitions feeling a bit abrupt, the writing was lovely.
With all the talk about noodles, I felt hungry quite often.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read and a fun twist on Beauty and the Beasts.

Characters: 8/10 x4 (Great)
Relationships: 7/10 x4 (Good)
Atmosphere/Vibes: 9/10 (Excellent)
World-building/Setting: 6/10 x2 (Okay)
Writing: 7/10 x4 (Good)
Plot/Pacing: 6/10 x3 (Okay)
Enjoyment: 8/10 x5 (Great)
Total: ~7.26 = 3.5*

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

fortune favours those who leap🐉

such a wonderful story with such beautiful setting and imagery. sisters, dragons & a demon really make for my favourite kinds of reads. special shoutout to spicy noodles & all of the merpeople🥹

thank you for sharing such a lovely read with me xx

“Should you chance upon a dragon, be on your guard. Keep your distance, and his luck will be with you for ninety-nine years, But venture too close, and he will whisk you away into his watery kingdom, Where all your fortunes will be his.”

Beauty and the Beast but with sea dragons, Elizabeth has truly brought words to life in such an amazing way.

This was a truly magical adventure that I feel lucky to experience. Every moment felt like a breath of fresh air and I was living every moment of it, the characters felt so structured, unique, likeable and colourful, the relationships they all had with each other felt true and how everyone grew through the book was perfect.

Tru and elangs relationship was just so heartfelt that I didn't want their story to end and I want to know their future.

Some of the twists I never saw coming and normally I'm good at seeing foreshadowing.

All around this was truly a magical love story that hopefully many will enjoy for years to come.

4.5⭐️

oh my god, i had no idea this was set in the same world as Six Crimson Cranes—i was ELATEDD when i figured it out!! and why is no one talking about the fact that there’s a SERYU CAMEO. I REPEAT, a Seryu cameo!!!!!!

i enjoyed reading this so much! Elizabeth has a unique magic in her writing that really sets her books apart from others, and A Forgery of Fate is definitely my favorite work of hers!!
this book feels more young adult than Six Crimson Cranes (which was very much lower ya in my opinion!), and ahh, the romance 🥹💞 it was so delicious and devastating at the same time :’
this book was so whimsical and a really fun, adventurous read. all the characters have so much depth, and the pacing of both the plot and romance was perfect, considering everything that was happening. Tru and Elang are my favorite characters from Elizabeth’s books, and my heart goes out to them—i kept tearing up while reading the last few chapters 😭😣. oh, and if you’re a noodles lover, this book is definitely for you!! 🤣🍜 i got myself Chinese takeout two days ago because the noodle craving got out of hand 😂.

so excited to get the published copy so i can tab all my favorite moments!! and yes, please read this book!!


thank you, NetGalley, for the e-ARC! as always, this review is completely honest!

Forgery of Fates is about Tru Saigas, a con artist and art forger trying to support her family including her mother who claims to be a fortune teller. Tru has supported the family since their father disappeared at sea years ago, leaving them to fend for themselves. But Tru has a secret: she can paint the future whenever her fingers begin to tingle, and everything she paints eventually comes true. It’s through this power that she first envisions her mentor and partner in crime, who she has yet to meet.
This is a fantastic magical tale, similar to Beauty and the Beast but in a very different setting. It is magically written and absorbing and such a find that I am now going to read er previous books.

This was absolutely lush. I adored the romance, it was slow burn and oh so sweet. All the characters were complex and interesting, and the magic was like stepping into a fairytale.

Yes I can see the inspiration from Beauty & The Beast, but this is completely its own story in its own unique setting.

This is my first time reading from the author and I’ve just purchased her back catalog of books as well as preordering a physical copy of this one. Obsessed.

This was fun! I really love how even though all of Elizabeth Lim’s stories take place in the same world, they are still so distinct. This one follows Tru, an art forger with a secret, who is trying to feed her mom and sisters after their dad disappeared at sea. The beginning of the book is so much fun and throws you into the action immediately when a lot goes wrong for Tru. She has to make a deal with a mysterious dragon lord to live in his castle for a month and help him overthrow his evil grandpa dragon king. Once Tru arrives there, the pacing slows down a loooot, but I was still invested. Lim described this book as having way more romance, but it’s definitely not the central focus of the story. I did love all of the characters, especially Tru. Lim is just great at writing main characters. The world could have been developed a little better and the central conflict seemed a little… simple, but in the end Lim did take her time wrapping it all up. I recommend if you enjoyed other books by this author.

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b> WARNING - although this can be called a standalone, it is a part of the <i>Legends of Lor'yan</i> universe - I advise you to either read them in publishing order (my recommendation), or the chronological order listed below, as they do spoil each other heavily:
1. Her radiant curse
2. Six crimson cranes
3. The Dragon's Promise
4. A Forgery of Fate
5. Spin the Dawn
6. Unravel the Dusk</b>

I looove what I call 'Blood of stars' series, tho in fact it's name only for the first two published books, the others are spin-offs all over the place (imagine weird Shadowhunters publishing to chronological order), but they're really fun this way! Reading each next book makes you notice all the details for potential spin-offs - I'm talking about you, Seryu book, I still need one :')
Nonetheless, I was really happy that after <i>Her Radiant Curse</i> which wasn't my favorite we're getting a book that comes <i>after</i> The Dragon's Promise - in case you didn't know, it's about Seryu's cousin, Elang!
<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b394f906914b2b4c6b88dc904a72ce41/ad048f1f7bb9f67e-c4/s540x810/06748d4424d704458867523231b7ffa33b823649.gifv" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"Use the brush to paint what's real, or pain what isn't," said Baba. "So long as painting it makes you happy, that is the best practice."</b>
Tru suffers from eldest daughter syndrome, in a way where she has to keep her family together, after her father never returning from the sea. As seasoned painter, she makes living the only way profitable enough to earn for it - by forging famous painting, and selling them on auctions with help from her old friend. One day, everything takes one big turn, like a real twist of fate, by making her acquaintance of the local demon lord, the dragon prince. Elang has a simple offer for her - follow him into the sea as his fake bride, to help him take down his tyranic grandfather, so his righteous cousin can take the throne and bring peace to the ocean world. Why does he have beef with his own grandfather? Well, Elang is only half a dragon, cursed with being heartless.

<img src="https://i0.wp.com/becomingtia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/b9843440d92ca1b29321f731d6cf6a567200164c.gif?resize=530%2C367&ssl=1" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"I wish the visions hadn't come to you, Tru, but the gods never give us more than we can handle. You must have questions. Tell me."</b>
Tru's situation was desperate, her sisters being threatened with paying for their mothers debts with their bodies, so Tru takes the offer, offering Elang her hidden talent of the Sight, as her paintings can predict future, one can even say, forge it. I have to admit I've really enjoyed the switch of the setting compared to Her Radiant Curse, and back to one familiar with us from the Dragon's Promise, but compared to TDP it was much slower, which to me feels like my only issue with this book - of course slowburn is great and delightful, but this flame felt like it was too much submerged in the water to even burn, so it took a veeeery long time to ignite.

<img src="https://64.media.tumblr.com/b588e2efb16ffde6d9b37708c0b79327/2739a8597b05d773-df/s540x810/faaed9fb2d6f0156a59259d383e0bd6c8d4ee58e.gifv" width="auto" height="auto" alt="description"/>
<b>"Finish the portrait," Nazayun snarled. "Now."
I clenched the brush, my entire body glittering with hate. He wanted me to pain? By gods, then I would paint.</b>
Don't get me wrong, this book is a great expansion to the universe, especially that <b>all</b> of us have beef with the Dragon King Nazayun from previous books so it's really fun to see the rebellion against him take the right tide, but with the limited character cast and most of the book being a literal waiting game I simply wish it was either a bit shorter, or maybe a bit more advanced when it comes to connections with other characters - I loved the fact we got to meet with Seryu at some point, but considering how close in the timeline we are to SCC duology I really wish we got more cameos, or even collaborations with its characters. Hence my 4 stars rating - really good book if you know the universe, but not the perfect one to start with.

And once again - dear Elizabeth, we all have been good kids, Seryu has been a good kid, please finally give him his own book. X, your dear readers.

What an enchanting and lovely read this was! I went in with zero foreknowledge or expectations and was immediately pulled in. The heroine, Truyan, and her desire to save her family - so much so that she entered into a marriage of convenience, a pact that would both save them and help the MMC, Elang - was entirely believable.

I enjoyed the world-building immensely. Lim created an Asian-inspired mythological world filled with mythical creatures and a gorgeously rich cast of side characters. I didn’t expect the story to shift into an underwater setting, but when it did, I was fascinated by the vivid descriptions and the thought that went into crafting it!

The romance was well done. It was a slow burn, filled with plenty of pining and longing as Tru slowly came to understand more of this new world and of Elang. The dragons in this story were ancient, powerful creatures, and I found the lore surrounding them truly intriguing.

Also, the ending made me a little emotional. It was very sweet, and I was so relieved that it didn’t take the direction I feared it would! Gah, this entire story felt like a beautiful fairytale, full of intricacies, whimsy, and quirky mythical elements. I loved it so much!

If you love The Regency Faerie Tales by Olivia Atwater, Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, or Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, then this book is perfect for you. It’s whimsical and utterly charming, yet still compelling and full of real stakes. I enjoyed myself immensely.


Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review!

I love the worlds Elizabeth Lim creates. The premise of her newest novel caught my eye: Beauty and the Beast but with a twist - a dragon lord and an artist? Sign me up!

Sometimes a book blurb may sound too good to be trust - but this isn't the case. A Forget of Fate delivered as promised and more. This was one of those books that wouldn't let me put it down until I finished.

Tru is our main lead - she's witty, creative, and brave. I loved the nature of her painting talent, her strong love for her family, and her fearlessness. Elang - what can I say - I've fallen in love with this grumpy 'beast' too. He's a perfect pairing to Tru, and I enjoyed following their story from start to finish.

Our cast of secondary characters are well fleshed out - Tru's family members, Elang's court and allies, as well as our villain. The pacing of the story was on point, and there were definitely moments that tugged at my heartstrings.

Can't wait for others to enjoy this as much as I did!

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh this story had put a tear in my eye by the end. The Epilogue really touched my heart.

A Forgery of Fate was such an exciting, immersive, and overall heart-warming story. The settings of a deep underwater world with magical creatures was painted beautifully and really transported me to a whole new fantasy world. Tru was an amazing main character—not only was she strong and true to herself, she was hilarious. Many times her comments had me wheezing, and I loved her more and more as each page went by. Her personality was top notch! And Elang, the MMC, started off mysterious and cold, but as the story went by, my love for him grew so deeply. By the epilogue I was sniffling and wiping a tear from my eye.

I loved the Asian Fantasy meets beauty and the beast theme and overall this story painted such stunning visuals and gave such a heart-felt story. The romance is very sweet and heart-touching, and is one which will take your breath away.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, I adored this book! This was the first book I've read by Elizabeth Lim, and I am now even more excited to start the duologies of Six Crimson Cranes and Spin the Dawn, both of which are sitting on my shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for providing me with an ARC.
It was an interesting book. I liked the characters. While some twists and turns were expected some certainly weren't. It was heartening to read that after learning a major news Tru didn't behave like other heroines and stayed on the path.

As an avid Lim fan, A Forgery of Fate did not disappoint. I loved returning to the underwater dragon world, as I felt we saw too little of it in Six Crimson Cranes!

I loved the arranged/fake marriage trope a lot as well; as the dynamic between our two main characters.

I’m not crying. You are! 😭

A Forgery of Fate is yet another masterpiece by Elizabeth Lim that I absolutely adored. I was incredibly lucky to receive an ARC of this book, and I just finished it—what a journey!

I devoured every page! The moment I found out we would be returning to the beloved Dragon Realm and the magical world of Six Crimson Cranes and Spin the Dawn, I could hardly contain my excitement.

Once again, the storytelling was flawless, and I loved meeting all the new and intriguing characters. I cried so much along the way as well...

Our heroine is simply wonderful—bold and daring yet deeply devoted to her family, always striving to protect and support them. An art forger who can paint the future.

Elang has officially become my favourite half-dragon! His love for gardening even made me want to give it a try myself.

The world-building was utterly magical—I felt as if I had travelled to the dragons’ sea realm myself. The descriptions were so vivid and immersive.

This book has everything—love, romance, action, magical creatures, curses waiting to be broken, heavenly bonds, and even an arranged marriage. How could you possibly resist reading it?

And, of course, I now have an undeniable craving for noodles! You will see why when you read this book. 😜

For those familiar with this world, there’s a delightful cameo from a beloved character. It was such a wonderful surprise!

Overall, A Forgery of Fate is a fantastic addition to Elizabeth Lim’s enchanting world.

A little mermaid X beauty and the beast retelling?? SIGN ME UP

This is my first Elizabeth Lim book and it definitely won't be the last. The world-building was absolutely incredible and the writing felt almost poetic so there was never a dull moment. One of my new fave FMCs, Truyan was marvellously selfless and her character development was an absolute joy to witness. I adored her interactions with the Prince and where this took the story, I found it a teeeeny bit predictable but it didn't detract from the story at all!

WOW! Just WOW! I absolutely loved this book.
As a kid of the 90s the Little Mermaid was my favourite film to watch so seeing this described as Little Mermaid in Asian mythology I had high expectations and it completely met and surpassed them!
I could not put this book down, every single word was devoured and loved. I need more! I need this physically on my shelf... so if the wonderful publisher sees this PLEASE!!!!! PLEASE CAN I GET A PHYSICAL COPY so I can love this again and again.