A Forgery of Fate

by Elizabeth Lim

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...

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult, Dragons, Romantasy, Mythology, Young Adult Fantasy

483 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 3, 2025

About the author

Elizabeth Lim grew up on a hearty staple of fairy tales, myths, and songs. Her passion for storytelling began around age 10, when she started writing fanfics for Sailor Moon, Sweet Valley, and Star Wars, and posted them online to discover, "Wow, people actually read my stuff. And that's kinda cool!" But after one of her teachers told her she had "too much voice" in her essays, Elizabeth took a break from creative writing to focus on not flunking English.

Over the years, Elizabeth became a film and video game composer, and even went so far as to get a doctorate in music composition. But she always missed writing, and turned to penning stories when she needed a breather from grad school. One day, she decided to write and finish a novel -- for kicks, at first, then things became serious -- and she hasn't looked back since.

Elizabeth loves classic film scores, books with a good romance, food (she currently has a soft spot for arepas and Ethiopian food), the color turquoise, overcast skies, English muffins, cycling, and baking. She lives in New York City with her husband.

Reviews

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

i will never not read a beauty and the beast retelling.

its my favorite kind of story because it has everything i need to be invested:
- a strong FMC who prioritizes her family
- the angst between enemies that slowly becomes something more
- the tragedy of a curse and the sacrifice needed to break it

while i do wish there was more romance in this, the gorgeous asian mythology, vibrant dragon world, and tender connections between a girl and her family create a strong story. as per EL standard, this delivers in terms of artful world-building, easy-going writing that expertly tells intriguing legends, and strong characters who are worth rooting for.

so while a retelling of a classic, EL has successfully created an imaginative story of her own - one full of spirit, color, magic, and love.

↠ 4 stars

[Esta · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏

Six Crimson Cranes is one of my fave fairytale retellings so I have a feeling Lim’s Beauty and the Beast underwater edition, with a marriage contract to a cursed dragon lord, paintbrushes and politics is about to steal my sleep too.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can confidently call myself a big fan of Elizabeth Kim’s works. Her masterful world-building always takes me on incredible journeys, blending Eastern mythology with mesmerizing fantasy settings, heart-pounding action, and heartwarming epic love stories.

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.

The story centers on Tru Saigas, a con artist and art forger trying to support her eccentric mother, who claims to be a fortune teller (though her "powers" never seem to help pay off mounting gambling debts), and her two younger sisters. Tru has carried the family burden ever 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 Gaari, her mentor and partner in crime, before they meet.

When her mother is threatened by the ruthless Madam Yargui to pay off her debts by midnight—or risk losing her daughters—Tru decides to use her gift to save her family. With Gaari's government connections, she hopes to find a solution, but a violent attack by Yargui’s men forces Tru to flee. This fateful escape brings her face-to-face with the enigmatic Dragon Lord, Elang, who saves her life—but at a price.

Elang is half-dragon, half-human, cold and calculating, and wholly focused on his mission. He presents Tru with a proposition: to pay her family's debts and secure their future, she must marry him and live in the underwater kingdom of A’landi to help him break the curse inflicted by the Dragon King. Tru hesitates, but when Elang reveals that her missing father may be held captive in A’landi, she realizes she has no choice but to accept. She ventures into this mysterious realm, prepared for a marriage of convenience with a monster.

Yet, as Tru begins her undersea adventure, she starts to wonder if Elang is as heartless and cruel as he appears. She feels an unexplainable connection to him and begins uncovering secrets about A’landi that will shake her world to its core. Amid the turmoil, she finds herself falling for the dragon lord hidden behind the monster’s façade.

Overall: I think this might be my favorite Elizabeth Kim novel yet. The clairvoyant painter heroine, the half-dragon hero, the enchanting underwater setting, the gripping twists, and the heartfelt ending all left me breathless. While it’s too soon to call, this book has already earned a spot among my top five fantasy reads of the year. It lives up to the hype and deserves all the praise—truly a marvel!

Five blazing dragon eyes, bluebells, and spicy noodle stars from me!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s / Knopf Books for Young Readers for providing this incredible fantasy as a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Forgery of Fate in a nutshell:
If Belle was an art forger that could paint the future + Beast was a half dragon cursed to live without his heart... BUT Beast wants Belle, not to get back his heart, but to help him take down his evil grandfather who cursed him. Oh and it all takes place in the most whimsical underwater world!

This was such a magical read and the Beauty and the Beast inspiration was present in all the right places without being overdone.

What I loved…
- the YEARNING! the SLOW BURN! A+++++
- family forward story
- badass FMC with quiet strength
- lyrical prose and whimsy for days!
- Adventure and high stakes
- He makes her POCKETS for her dress!
- marriage of convenience

What I didn’t love…
- Overall this was a great story but I felt like I couldn’t quite visualize the setting as well as in Lim’s previous books. I would have liked a bit more world-building.
- I wanted even more romance and moments between the MCs!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️ | IG | TikTok |

[Marquise]

In theory, the plot premise would be attractive to me. Why not? It has an Asian tinge, an undersea palace, a broody cursed dragon, and painting magic (one of my favourite types of magic). Sounds perfect, doesn't it?

But one read of the sample Kindle offers, and the palace of cards comes crumbling down.

I didn't like Elizabeth Lim's "Six Crimson Cranes," her writing is juvenile, dragging, and full of such superfluous characterisation it feels cardboardy, her dialogue feels childish (am I supposed to laugh at "dragon turds"?), and her romances lack chemistry.

Also, Beauty & Beast doesn't work well with arranged marriage plots. Beauty has to love Beast first before she can marry him, not marry him first, then love him, then break the curse through other means but love, that's the entire point of why he insists so much each night if she'll marry him. Coercion to get the girl to marry him just plays into execrable (and very mistaken) notion that Beauty and Beast is a tale of Stockholm Syndrome (thanks, Disney, but as you can see it's not just Disney's fault, it's also authors that come up with these hack plots that follow the same line).

Yes, you only need a few chapters' sampling to judge a retelling. Especially a retelling for a tale you know well. It's always incredibly predictable, and I'd rather spare myself another 1-star read.

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My heart, my home—they are yours. They always have been.”

This book was great! What a magical, captivating and engaging young adult fantasy about family, love sacrifice, and power. A Forgery of Fate follows Truyan, who became a thief and art forger after her father went missing at sea to support her sisters and mother. But Tru can't pay off her mother's gambling debut so she makes a deal with a Dragon lord, Elang and becomes his wife. Elang gives her mother and sister a safe place to stay, but she must follow him to a palace under the sea.

Thoughts
The pacing at the beginning was a little slow, but once it picked up I was completely swept away by this enchanting fantasy. The plot was engaging and intriguing throughout the book. There were several plot twists and betrayals that kept me at the edge of my seat. The writing was beautiful, descriptive and flowed well. The world building was excellent, the history of the world and the setting was very well thought out and executed. The magic was unique and interesting, I loved that the magic involved art and the future. I loved the inclusion of magical creatures including mermaids, dragons, demons, sea monsters, and turtles. I enjoyed that part of the setting was under the sea and descriptions made me feel that I was under the water too. The ending was action-packed and shocking, although I was expecting the book to end in another direction. I'm glad that the book ended on happy note and the problems were solved.

Characters
I loved Truyan, she was brave, resilient, strong, independent, and protective of her family. I was in awe of Tru's determination and bravery throughout the book, she stopped at nothing to save the people she cared about. There were a few times that I didn't agree with her decisions, but that made her relatable and she learned from her mistakes. Tru's character development was great, she became more confident in her abilities and learned from her past. I loved Elang, he was charming, funny, strong, brave, caring, and sweet to Tru. Elang's character development was well done, I enjoyed watching him find true love and become confident in himself. I wished we learned more about Elang's past and viewed the story from his perspective as well. I really liked the side characters especially Tru's sisters and father, and Caisan (a cool turtle). I enjoyed the interactions between Tru and her sisters, it reminds me of how close I am with my sister.

Romance
The tension and chemistry between Tru and Elang was awesome! I'm glad that they were friends first and their feelings developed over time. I appreciated that their relationship was realistic, they had problems with trust, but were able to solve it together by communicating. They were able stay true to themselves and also found space to love each other.

I recommend this book to anyone who loves young adult fantasy, awesome characters and excellent world building.

[Noi (in & out)]

JUST LOOK AT THAT COVER

[AG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc!

🌟🌟🌟🌟/5

Ghibli fans, Elizabeth Lim is back with a new adventurous and whimsical fairytale that's sure to delight you! Not my favorite of her books but a great one nonetheless!

The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Lim's works is the word 'vibrant'. She's a master of descriptions and it shows here too. Her words make sights, sounds, and smells come alive. Vibes play no small part in the beauty of her books. Fans of The Little Mermaid will find themselves at home with Lim's Ai'long. This is a world you'll want to escape into. AFOF works perfectly as a Beauty and the Beast retelling: something that retains the essence and vibes of the original fairytale yet feels wholly original. The rich worldbuilding and lore inspired by Chinese myth made this a fun time!

Tru is a likeable protagonist with whom I often resonated. A problem I often encounter in romnatic fantasy is the author 'telling' the reader how oh-so-strong and self-reliant and definitely-not-like-other-girls the FMC is, only for her to fall prey to insta lust and lose her agency. I loved how Tru maintained her authentic self throughout: she's determined to make a better life for her family and also has an actual brain.

For once, I didn't mind a brooding MMC. The key to a good romance is having an adequate amount of yearning to make it feel realistic. The romance was quite well done here! Lim did use some of the popular tropes but not in a way that made me roll my eyes for having read the same thing for the millionth time. I'll be realistic here and not use words like 'heart-pounding' but the romance definitely had moments that shone. Fans of romantasy are going to eat this up. The side characters were very likeable too! I loved Tru's sisters (not her mother, though), Mailoh the turtle and of course, Shanizhun the water demon.

Overall, AFOF did justice to its enchanting premise. The ending actually made me tear up. It was very fitting for such a cinematic tale. (I'd looove to see EL's works being adapted into animated films!) I'd recommend this to anyone who loves fairytales or Ghibliesque fantasy adventures!

[ᖰhiᖱeɭia · Rating 4 out of 5]

—★★★✯☆ · 3.5 stars
well, I much prefer this to the actual beauty and the beast.
this was so darn good, which was very unexpected.
it particularly reminds of those fairytale myths that were narrated in such a way that took me right back to when I first started reading 🤌

more thoughts on this later, because wow, that was one hell of a rollercoaster ride.
time to obsess over this author's books 😈

📌

“Gray is the color of truth. The same in art as it is in life, nothing is ever as black and white as it looks.”

📌

““Fortune finds those who leap, my Tru. Whatever yours is—riches or love or adventure—you make it yourself. Nothing is predetermined. Not by the gods, not by the lines on your palm or the creases on your brow.”

📌

“Are you trying to get rid of me?”
That made him laugh softly. “Never would I dare,” he said. “My heart, my home—they are yours. They always have been.” He touched my hair, both his eyes sad and solemn. “I only want you to have the choice—to forget me, if you will.”
I didn’t get the chance to argue—or even say goodbye.

also, the fanart is just so gorgeous.

@credits to the artists

pre-read
my first Elizabeth Lim book.
apparently it's also a beauty and the beast retelling with six of crows vibes?

[Stillbelieveinnightmares (busy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4/5 edit: idc i'm changing my rating to 5/5. i'm still upset i'm done.

what to do with my life now that it's finished? maybe write the review at some point
______________________________________________________

***4.5/5 ***
Listen. The story, the worldbuilding, the yearning. The characters! This book had me hooked from page one, which honestly reraly happens for me. Usually I need a few chapters to warm up to a book, but not this time. I blame my adhd for my usual attention span issues when it comes to worldbuilding and characters, but somehow this one just clicked immediately. So yeah, major points for pacing.

We’ve got Truyan, our FMC, who's been forging paintings to support her family after her dad went missing five years ago. She can paint the future (yes, you read that right), and that little talent lands her in a deal with a very broody half-dragon lord. One painting for him, help for her family. Oh, and they have to get married for reasons. Tropes galore and I ate it up.


The tropes? Chef’s kiss.

💫forced proximity
🐉fake marriage
💫fated mates
🐉he falls first
💫single POV
🐉strong heroine

Tru thinks Broody McDragon hates her, and the slow reveals that maybe he doesn’t?? Yes please. It’s subtle but in the best way. Some might say she’s naive, but I felt like it just made the yearning land that much harder. I didn't need to be shocked by every plot point to still fully enjoy the ride.

We start off with flashbacks that gave just enough backstory without dragging, then the story hits the ground running and I immediately resented every real life distraction that pulled me away from reading. The only reason this isn’t a full 5 is because I wasn’t totally sold on the ending. But you know what? If a book makes me this emotionally invested, it earns that 5-star stamp.

[Maeghan 🦋 HIATUS on & off · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️ ✨

« Moss is better than a weed. It brightens up the world with its presence, and flourishes even when all is against it. »

Elizabeth Lim did it again. I’m completely bewitched and I wish I could read this for the first time again. This book is why I read.

« Fortune finds those who leap. »

The accurate representation of what it is to have a mother who has addiction problems and mental health issues really punched me in the gut. It’s so conflicting and complicated and the author captured this perfectly.

« … despite what people kept saying, the pain didn’t get easier. I only got better at hiding it. » ❤️‍🩹

The burden placed upon the sisters shoulders by their mother’s issues were well painted. You could feel the anguish and despair.

« But my sisters and I had learned to cherish even the smallest joys. We knew they brought us strength in hard times. »

The plot, the world building, the dragons, the romance… completely bewitched me. I’m absolutely in love.

« My past isn’t something you can manipulate for leverage. »

In her author’s note, she mentioned that she had written some Easter eggs from her last books in this - and it was clever I loved it so much 🥹

« I know what it’s like to want something impossible. How it keeps you up at night when everyone else is sleeping, and it ticks in your mind and haunts your every thought. »

[aimee (aimeecanread)]

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST MEETS SIX OF CROWS??????

-
Six Crimson Cranes: 5⭐
The Dragon's Promise: 4⭐
Spin the Dawn: 4.5⭐

[Azanta (azantareads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

it’s 3:30am and i just totally cried my eyes out 👍🏽👍🏽 this was so beautiful 😭😭😭

[Sara Machado · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always loved books, but it was the fairy tales and fantasy that fully made me fall in love with reading. Starting with the one that cannot be mentioned and graduating to Tolkien, it was Julliet Marillier that ultimately sealed my love for books. There is just something magical in her stories and her characters that always warmed my heart, and some of them are so dear to me that I reread them almost yearly.

Elizabeth Lim’s writing and storytelling abilities remind me a lot of Julliet, and I could hardly give a greater compliment than this.

A Forgery of Fate is a beautifully crafted underwater retelling of Beauty and the Beast, full of mystery, intrigue, friendship, high stakes and naturally, a bit of romance too. The worldbuilding is rich and spicy, and Elizabeth flawlessly guides us between land and underwater. I could picture every little detail in my head, from the moment I started reading until the moment I finished the book.

I adored all the characters, both main and secondary! Each one has a purpose and contributes meaningfully to the story and character development. Tru is just my type of female lead, independent yet caring, strong yet adaptable and compromising, compassionate, fierce and with a loving nature. Her power doesn’t rely on physical strength, but in emotional strength, cleverness, empathy and her other talents.

Elang fits perfectly the beast role. I loved him from the start and couldn’t have enough of his presence on the page, his character development and the chemistry between him and Tru. There are some things he does that altered my brain chemistry and will remain imprinted on my memories.

And a special mention for the title — A Forgery of Fate — absolutely brilliant and perfectly chosen.

If you haven’t read anything from Elizabeth Lim, this is your sign to do it immediately. If you already did, be sure that this is another brilliant book on Legends of Lor’Yan world.

I would like to thank to Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
-------------------------------------------------------------
Reading thoughs:
Five chapters in and I can already say this is going to be fantastic. There’s just something on Elizabeth Lim’s writing beautifully addictive.

[DianaRose · Rating 5 out of 5]

firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc!

i haven’t read a book by elizabeth lim since i read spin the dawn in 2019 — and i enjoyed every minute of a forgery of fate.

i always love a beauty and the beast retelling, and a forgery of fate is a wonderfully unique but loosely based addition to the retelling shelf.

the plot-twists were so well done that they came completely as a surprise to me

i’m so excited to see my fairyloot edition!

[jo ୨୧ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I had words for how much I loved this book

[Kate | FocusOnYourShelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Forgery of Fate is a Beauty and the Beast inspired fantasy romance. The heroine Tru is an art forger who is able to paint the future. While the hero, Elang is half-human and half -dragon, who starts off with a grumpy personality. In order for Tru to save her family from debt, she agrees to marry Elang and help him break his curse.

The book itself is truly one of a kind. From the world to the magic systems, it was different and very refreshing to read.

I loved the relationship between Elang and Tru, throughout the book you could definitely feel the Beauty and the Beast vibes, while still being incredibly original.

The one downside for me was i struggled a lot with visualizing the world that Elizabeth Lim created. While there was world building and descriptions, i just couldn’t get a clear image in my head.

Overall a 3.5 star read!

[✮demi✮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️
THE PLOT, THE CHARACTERS, THE ROMANCE??? AMAZING.
Seriously, I wasn't expecting to love this so much but omg it had kind of a slow start for me but then I really got into it.
This was a beauty and the beast retelling done so well!! I loved Tru and Elang's dynamic so much (and their cute banter and interactions) and the ending was PERFECT
Overall, I ate this up. Highly recommend to everyone.

*Thank you, Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC!!

[AndaReadsTooMuch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SOBBING! This book... this book... How is this not all over #booktok?? This. Is. Stunning. It has everything. It has fated mates, it has true love, it has an unbreakable curse, it has demons, it has FREAKIN' DRAGONS! It's a Beauty and the Beast retelling steeped in Asian folklore. It's beautiful, heartbreaking, and a straight 10/10 with NO NOTES. None. Zero. It has so much action, you are never bored or wondering when things will happen. There's court intrigue, a whole subplot with art forgery... I mean, it lacks for NOTHING. (Take that ACOTAR. Yeah, you heard me. I said what I said.) How is this even YA? Because it has no spice? BOOOO. Who cares? It doesn't need it. It's a work of art. If you haven't read it, get on it. If it's sitting on your TBR, move it right up to the top. You won't be mad you did. Make this book the viral sensation it deserves to be.

[gladness · Rating 2 out of 5]

i wanted to love this. i was ready to love this. i saw that gorgeous cover and said “yup, she’s mother.” i saw “cursed dragon lord” and “marriage contract” and “paint the future” and was already halfway in love. but then i actually read it. and baby… we fell off. hard.

this book had everything it needed to slay:
• fake marriage? yes.
• grumpy mysterious man calling the mc my wife? yes.
• art girl with powers? yes.
• undersea palace ruled by a dragon king?? yes yes yes.

so why did it read like someone dragged a beautifully decorated cake across the floor and handed it to me like “enjoy”?

⸻

what worked (barely):
• the vibes were vibing… sometimes. elang? he’s got that stoic, brooding, “i’ll burn the world for you” energy. also he’s literally a cursed dragon. we love that.
• i love the concept of someone painting the future. it’s fresh. weird. kind of creepy. very much main character behavior.
• and ofc, the arranged marriage. i’m a whore for the “we’re married but don’t act like it (yet)” trope. the “my wife” moments?? few and far between, but i devoured every crumb.

⸻

but now… the downfall:
• SLOW. girl this book was DRAGGING her feet. i felt like i was reading molasses. the first 100 pages were just setup. like okay we get it. she paints. her mom’s in debt. get her to the damn dragon already.
• no chemistry. the book told me elang and tru were falling in love. but my brain was like “where?? when?? who??” it felt like watching two coworkers awkwardly flirt at a christmas party. forced and dry.
• flat characters. no one really stood out. tru was okay. elang had potential. but everyone else? cardboard cutouts with names. i couldn’t care less if they lived or died tbh.
• the pacing was off. this book could’ve easily been 100 pages shorter. like if you’re gonna give me 400+ pages of fantasy romance, it better break my heart or blow my mind. this did neither.

⸻

final thoughts:
this book was like an art piece that looks stunning from far away, but up close you’re like “oh… it’s just paint splatters and vibes.”

i don’t think it’s a bad book. it just wasn’t the book. the idea? ten outta ten. the execution? two at best.

if you love slow burn fantasy with gorgeous prose and don’t mind waiting 300 pages for a lil tension, go off. but if you came here for spicy dragon romance and high-stakes drama?? pack it up.

2/5 stars. beautiful gown, bad performance.

*thank you netgalley, the author, and the publishing team for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Bex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Lim could publish her grocery list and I would STILL buy it, read it, review it, and love it!

This beautiful book follows Truyan Saigas who lost her father five years ago to the wild seas and has now become a little bit of a criminal as she forges art to support her family as her mother has fallen into gambling and they have lost everything. One day, Truyan returns home and discovers her mother racked up an enormous debt that needs to be paid off immediately or else her sister will be taken. Truyan is scrambling to find enough to cover it, while harboring a secret that she hopes to use to her advantage to save her family as she can paint the future.

Truyan in her zeal and desperation to find a solution lands in the garden of the infamous Demon Prince, on his prized roses nonetheless!! To save her family, Tru promises the Demon Prince anything that he wants, and oh he promises to hold her to that! After being saved, Tru returns to the Demon Prince and discovers that he is a half dragon prince who she must marry and create a painting for to assist in overthrowing the Dragon King. To sweeten the deal, he offers a new beginning and riches for her family and the answers she so desperately wants about her father. Will Tru finally know the truth and get back all she lost or will she lose herself?

How can one not love Truyan?? She was so strong and fearless, carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders like Atlas. I wanted to envelop Tru in the biggest hug possible. She is such a badass in this book and has become one of my favorite FMC's! She is also such a caring character as she does everything she can to help her family.

Staking my claim now, no one loves Elang like I do, just saying. He deserves the world and I just was giggling and kicking my feet when he came in. For a heartless dragon lord, he was quite loveable and caring. Both Tru and Elang were strong characters that bonded and I adore them so much. The romance between them was also so cute and I need more, one book was not enough for me.

THE PLOT GUYS. I was sooo hooked!! I loved the Beauty and the Beast and Little Mermaid inspiration incorporated into the story, but it was also original and leaves you wanting more. The ending also KILLED me so when you read it, be aware you will cry. This is a standalone and wrapped up beautifully! Elizabeth Lim's writing is also amazing and the message I am sending here is that I need more ASAP!

[mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My heart, my home—they are yours. They always have been.”

➳ 4.5

Elizabeth Lim, your words are so dear to me.

This was the only book I read in July and I just realized I never came back to review it. As such, this is going to be a very brief, very simple review. All of Elizabeth Lim's books are so important to me, she's one of my favorite authors, and this was one of her best yet. I loved so much about this story.

I can't often get my brain to shut up, so not a lot of books manage to be escapism for me (no fault of their own) but Elizabeth Lim's books have never failed to get me out of my head.

I hope she continues to write her romantic, fairytale-esque books for the rest of time.

[riri.⋆ᥫ᭡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

₊˚⊹☆ 3.5 stars (rounded up)

Sooo this book took me about a month to read... 👀 but I'm not gonna let that affect my rating because I'm pretty sure that was just due to the massive reading slump I'm currently in.

RTC

꒰🐉꒱﹒pre-read ﹒⟢

I have a absolutely ADORED every single Elizabeth Lim book I've read (which is almost all of them), so imagine my exitement when I found out a new one came out!!!!!
... we will ignore the fact that I only noticed more than two months later.

I'M SO EXCITEDDDDDDDD

[Samantha (ladybug.books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Though the underwater setting was lush and vivid, the story was disappointingly straight forward and generic. The characters were grating in their immaturity even for YA and the plot relied heavily on overly convenient victories.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/ 5 ⭐️

Wow, the FMC really loves noodles.

If you took a vodka shot everytime they are mentioned you would probably end up in a hospital.

Joking aside, this is worth the hype and probably the best standalone 'Beauty and the Beast' retelling in a long time.

I liked this more than 'Six Crimson Cranes' because it was more mature a novel. The author has definitely improved as a writer.

I can't give this 5 * as it's written in the 1st person which isn't my favourite and agree with the other reviews about the world building.

However, I loved the fact art was part of the magic system.

[Gigi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, this book totally surprised me. It's way better than I expected, and I’m so glad I read it! A Forgery of Fate was my first Elizabeth Lim book, and wow, it did not disappoint.

Tru, the FMC, is seriously awesome. She’s strong, fierce, and brave, but also kind and caring. Basically, I’d trust her with my life. She always puts others first, and I found her so easy to root for.

Then there’s Elang, the mysterious half-dragon prince. At first, he came off cold and distant, but nope.. he’s got a soft side. He cared deeply for his people and especially for Tru. I adored how much he cherished her and how far he was willing to go for her.

And their romance was perfection. It’s a slow burn with ALL the yearning, tension, and a marriage of convenience (which I’ll forever be a sucker for). The stakes were high too. This marriage was meant to help overthrow Elang’s grandfather, the terrifying dragon king of the sea, who’s destroying the ocean. Tru agrees to the plan to protect her family and uncover the truth about her father, who disappeared at sea years ago.

I do wish there’d been a little more world building around Elang’s kingdom as it was hard to picture at times. And the ending left me wanting more, mostly because I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Tru and Elang just yet. Overall, it was a magical, romantic, and adventurous read I couldn’t put down.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
🐉 YA Fantasy
🐉 Beauty and the Beast Retelling
🐉 Cursed Dragon Prince
🐉 Marriage of Convenience

[Panda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook (15 hours) narrated by Mirai

Mirai (https://www.miraivo.com/about) does a fantastic job with this narration. While she has yet to win an award for her narration skills, she is sure to be recognized soon. It is only a matter of time.
The audio is flawless.

Elizabeth Lim has a knack of writing fantastical fantasy fairy tale like stories with beauty and prose.

When I say beauty, her writing is exceptionally beautiful, however not in an overly flowery or a way that seems like she is trying too hard to accomplish a certain style. It seems that the world and the characters just flow effortlessly from her pen, which generally the easier the writing looks the more that she and her editor worked hard to make it seem easy.

The world just opened up for me. She really drew me in, and I ended up spending the entire day with her.

I will be reading more.

[Yas · Rating 5 out of 5]

لعنتی‌ها😭❤️
پروانه‌های من🦋🦋 لقب‌هایی که به هم داده بودن چقدر قشنگ و پرمعنا بودن🥺✨️
ایده اشو دوست داشتم و رازهایی که الانگ رو میکرد، سکته‌ام میداد😂
خیلی خوش گذشت، پر هایلایت و استیک نوت و حاشیه نویسی دیگه *-*

پ.ن: کسایی که شش درنای سرخ خوندن، الانگ یه کارکتر از جلد دومه... راستی سریو هم حضور کوتاه و البته مهمی داره:)

[vxmpslibrary [hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

.4.45 stars.

“Fortune finds those who leap.”

.my thoughts.
I can't even leap for fortune since I'm way too scared to do so🙏😞

I have been waiting for this book for a long time when I got to know that Elizabeth Lim has finally written a new book which is definitely set in the same world as 'Six Crimson Cranes'.

Beauty and the Beast Retelling meets Studio Ghibli's Howl's Moving Castle 💌

Author wasn't lying, the Ghibli vibes was not lost on me at all, the mention of food, and the magic, the people around, everything was admirable.

Truyan Saigas is a con artist, while she didn't wanted herself to be one, her father is lost at the sea, and she needs to support her family at any cost. She has an unique ability to paint the future, but it doesn't helps her most of the time when in dire need of help.

Until she comes across the fact that her mother gambled away, and she has to pay to the money back to the gangsters just before the night so that they don't take her sister away, left with only few options, she strucks the deal with a dragon lord, he offers her protection for her family and answers about her father disappearance but in exchange she has to join him in the undersea palace under a quest.

I have loved the 'fake marriage' tropes as long as I can remember, it is one of my favorites where there is banter involved and everything and all.

Starting off from the start, we are given a cozy start, family bondings are the best, and Lim doesn't fails to deliver the exact same thing in my head. It was appreciating and loving, and yanked me into the story immediately. Even when the story is about to end, we are seen with more family bondings, and they delivered me heartfelt moments.

“Fortune finds those who leap, my Tru. Whatever yours is—riches or love or adventure—you make it yourself. Nothing is predetermined. Not by the gods, not by the lines on your palm or the creases on your brow."

Tru's bonding with her sister's Nomi and Fal, is something I appreciate so much, the sisterhood vibes isn't lost on me, and when few years later Fal and Tru hug each other, from dislike as kids to hug, it made me want to have their moments the most.

Truyan is an likeable character, I loved the way she would stand up for herself when the kids made fun of her blue hair, and the way she would do anything to save her family and even her loved ones.

Elang, the dragon prince, was an interesting character as well, he was sweet, and the way he planted the waterbells, entire, on his own?🤧 it takes efforts, and he did it every single time for her.

The romance was cozy and cute for most, like till the very end, I smiled and loved them both. The uniqueness of the moments also watched me off guard, but no one can convince me they aren't the cutest.

I wish I could say more about this, but it would be more fun when you guys will get the read the adventure Tru took from the land to the undersea. I would definitely recommend if you want a cozy, Ghibli vibes fantasy romance!

“Joy on the feet rises to the heart. Happiness is expensive.”

19/2/25
This book releases a day after my birthday!?!? omg best birthday month ever😭🤭💝

[Jenni ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this story, Tru agrees to marry a demon prince(who is actually a dragon prince) to help him plot in the killing of the dragon king and also I n exchange for his help in finding her father, who has been missing for five years.

While the premise had potential, I struggled to connect with the romance, which didn’t feel believable to me. The overall plot failed to hold my interest, and I found myself frequently bored and distracted while reading.

That said, I did notice some improvements from Lim’s previous works. The pacing was more consistent, without the abrupt shifts or overwhelming events that bothered me in her other books. Unfortunately, despite these fixes, the story just didn’t work for me, and I had a hard time staying engaged.