Fishbone Cinderella

by Elizabeth Lim

A bracelet. A curse. And golden fishbones to be returned to the sea ...

Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.​

After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family's shoe factory.

But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever...

Genres: Fantasy, Adult, Historical, Historical Fiction, Retellings

Kindle Edition

Expected publication July 23, 2026

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

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

.5 stars.
⤿ 💌 ⌗ publishing date: 28 July 2026.

.my thoughts.
Fishbone Cinderella is a story about love, loss, hope and curses. The sweet passing down generational curses. [And not the mental ones.]

After finishing this book I cried for an hour straight knowing I had school the very next but I had a hard time sleeping without thinking about this book. I became a cold hearted person because this book made me cry😔

This is what we call a masterpiece, a phenomenon, the intense emotions, everything was done beautifully. And I may just hate the author a little bit for that ending. [jk love you author]

I have always liked Elizabeth Lim books, whether it's Six Crimson Cranes or A Forgery of Fate, if she writes it, I would most definitely read it. I was hesitant to pick this book up because I was scared if I would be the same person afterwards or I would be a changed one.... I'm a depressed one now if you are wondering. I cannot stop thinking about this book.

The story is been told from dual perspectives following Helen in her younger years and Marigold who notices her mother disappearing every then and so. Sensing something is wrong, she tries to help her mother, and find the very shadow that she left behind.

Helen, has went through a lot, it makes me sad, it makes me angry so much that I want to throw things. It makes me want to cry a lot. A girl who just wanted to be a singer, and it kills me, it would always kill me that the younger Helen's photo when she fell in love, she would never able to depict that picture again. Whenever I think of the picture that was taken her looking at him, it makes me so emotional. And the results that happened made me cry even harder.

The writing was lyrically beautiful, the first perspective from Helen still drew me in, from the start there was something about this book that told me to keep going till the very end. And so I finished it in one setting.

The siblings bonding hit me hard. No one could have prepared me for the moment with different people. When Helen talks about how she saw his sick brother smile at her and how she wished she had smiled back because the connection was strayed. They never got to talk every again and never would.

But the other brother! I disliked him quite in the starting with the way he used to behave. But there was something quiet about him when he would do the bare minimum for her sister and I would just wish there was something more. And you are supposed to tell me they also don't meet again.

Lily, for a second I thought she was going to be rude all the time, but beneath all these layers of facade, was a girl insecure and wanting to get noticed by her mother just by being herself. It made me cry so much the way Helen would act as a real mother than the actual mother ever did. Am I supposed to be okay now Elizabeth Lim? Because my heart broke in multiple pieces.

I will just say this book broke me but forgot to put the pieces back together, they are now lying down somewhere far, hoping another story would heal them and they would move on.

Sometimes when we watch and read about love, a thought of a character doing loveless marriage after being in love with someone else sounds abnormal.

The reason I cried so much, was because of this. Am I supposed to start reading fanfictions about them meeting now? Am I to make the fake scenarios about it huh? Or am I supposed to take it like a woman matured.

No, I cannot. I rooted for them, and the idea of what would happen seared at the back of my head. I brushed it off, I wish. He waitedd!! A part of me desperate wanted her to meet him! I still wonder after those 20 years what he would be doing, or if he remarried someone else. Or if he stayed waiting for her. This made me stay awake at night for an hour straight.

Marigold was such an academic achiever, I loved her so much! The way she was focused on grades, the middle daughter of the family. And the way she saved her mother.

But maybe I loved Kenji more, he was such a great man!! He wrote letters for her! And he waited for her!! He had a crush on her back then and then when they were rivals like when she would be first and he would be second. But they would debate about topics like 'Romeo and Juliet' if selected in class or if it's about history. Or the way when they became best friends he taught her driving, and maybe when he drew her in secret. AHHH <33.

I hated some characters while I loved the others. I rooted for some and watched something happen the opposite. I watched and cried almost 6 times while reading. The what if's would always, make me drown.

Elizabeth Lim please:
1. Pay for my therapy bills.
2. Give Kenji as an compensation.
3. Maybe a few more scenes some day.

Sometimes I would wonder how Helen could actually hide the letters [maybe not hide but] the way it was done to her it was like it happened to Marigold too.

Overall, yes, do read this book! This will change your life tbh, atleast mine did, I wish I could go back to the person I was before I read the book. Now I am so solemn and sad that I wonder if I would be able to move on.

💌 Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this beautiful arc in exchange for an honest review <3.

.preread.
I got the arc! I'm so excited for this book because the cover is genuinely so beautiful anddd I might read it after my exams or before my exams who knows sometimes temptation wins😔🫶 [bleh😝]

[andreea ᥫ᭡]

𐔌 . ⋮ pre-read 🌊 .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

the scream i just let out!! 😭 i can’t believe i got approved for the ARC of fishbone cinderella… which means i get to read a new elizabeth lim book. she made me fall back in love with reading, and her stories mean the absolute world to me.

thank you to netgalley and del rey, random house worlds, inklore for this arc in exchange for an honest review. 🌟

[justine ⊹ ࣪ ˖]

°‧ 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 ·。

pre-read : what do you mean i got approved for another anticipated release?! #4everblessed 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯

01/21/2026 : YES PLS

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Del Rey

[Aanz ★.ᐟ]

₊𖥔𝙿𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍! ۪ ׄ໑୧ ׅ𖥔ׄ
This is the first time I’ve seen such a high rating for a book, 4.67 star is INSANE ( in a good way) I’m already prepared with a pack of tissues 🏃🏻‍♀️🤸 Manifesting a five star read!🤞🏻🧘‍♀️


⤷ Thank you Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this arc in exchange for an honest review! 💓

[AG]

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the ARC! So excited to read!!

[Salma ✧˚.࣪]

Quite excited to read this!
Thanks to Netgally and Del Rey for the ARC💖💖

[Llunch · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and my review is based on that copy. The final published work may differ from what I read.

I do not usually read stories containing magical elements but I wanted to request this one because I was intrigued by the title, cover and synopsis - and I am so glad I did! I absolutely adored this book. Even if you don't usually read this genre, I'd recommend this story to everyone.

The life stories of Yut Ying/Helen and her mother are both beautiful and heartbreaking; I couldn’t stop reading. Marigold’s point of view is especially compelling, as we get to see Helen in a different light—one that’s a little conflicting with the girl we come to know in the earlier chapters, yet completely understandable.

Every character in this book bursts with life and credibility, and the story itself is deeply emotional, immersive, and unforgettable. It’s one of those books that will stay with me long after I turn the final page.

[najd · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love Elizabeth Lim's books but i personally prefer her YA books (her older books Six crimson cranes, The dragon's promise, A forgery of fate and such) more than this one, since they include a more magical dream-like haze to them(?). but as an adult debut this book is a really good start! the characters, blend of genres and plot line are pretty interesting.

soo fishbone cinderella is a fusion of historical fiction, family drama, and magical realism, drawing inspiration from a chinese folktale. at the center of this tale are two women whose lives span across decades and continents, their destinies entwined by secrets, survival, and a legacy of magic. ha yut ying, who later adopts the name "helen"-begins her journey in the midst of 1940s guangdong, china, when the looming threat of Japanese occupation forces her family into hiding. as danger closes in, they must navigate a world of fear and uncertainty, where even the smallest mistake could mean death. as she survives and rebuilds her life, helen's hidden past and the mystical powers she possesses become an ever present weight, shaping her in ways she cannot escape.

fast forward to 1980, and we meet marigold, helen’s daughter, who begins her own journey in hong kong. the "shadows" of her mother’s secrets loom over her, but she is determined to carve her own path. accompanying her mother to a new land, she initially speaks in fragmented, fleeting moments, her voice growing stronger as the layers of the family’s hidden history are slowly peeled back. marigold confronts her own identity and the mysterious powers she too possesses, she discovers the cost of keeping such secrets, and the depth of the magic that runs in her blood.

i literally screamed out of happiness when my request got approved for the arc 😭😭 thank you Netgalley and Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

[khadija · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis does not do the story justice.

In all honesty. I probably would never have picked this book up had it not been sent to me but I am so so glad I did. This was more than a story, it was full of history, family and hidden love. I literally finished the book in just over 24 hours of getting it.

Starting the book, i thought Marigold was our main character and once Yut Ying's chapters began I was patiently waiting for the story to return. But when it did I just wanted to go back to her mother’s story. The characters were so intriguing and I loved the plot line. I completely forgot there was a fantasy element and was just so intrigued by the lives of these mothers and daughters. I found it difficult to connect Helen to Yut Ying at first but as the stories drew near to one another it was so interesting to watch the two come together into one. She was such an interesting character. Kenji was definitely my favourite male character in this book. He was a breath of fresh air compared to all the male characters who always seemed to disappoint, reading his chapters felt like a cute YA romance. It’s kind of ironic since he’s Japanese and that his people were the ‘enemy’.

“Give me all the books ever written, and my favorite line would still be the one between your lips, my favorite world the one where you exist next to me." I LOVE THEM.

There’s so much love throughout this story. It’s not the I love yous but the actions and the sacrifices we make that maybe only we know about. And that’s especially true in Asian families. It’s the slicing the fruit for you whilst you’re studying or telling you off because your jacket is more fashionable than designed to keep you warm. And in this case it’s mothers sending you where they think you’ll be safe from the war, keeping their distance so you’re not cursed with their fate, if you can look between the lines, I think it’s even stronger than just ‘I love you’.

The story was a blend of genres and I think it was done well, it even felt gothic at one point. Idk why it also reminded me of Stoner by John Williams. The change of settings as we went through different phases of their lives and the political situations that were weaved in made me want to learn more about what actually happened in real life. I had a little background info about China in those time periods which did help.

I would highly recommend this book, I know it’s probably not for everyone but for those it is, I hope it finds you. There are a few things I’m still curious about like Yi Gor, I wonder what happened to him and whether he’ll also find his way back to his family. But overall I loved the story. I would be even happier if we got a mini novella about the future, just throwing that out there in case Elizabeth Lim ever stumbles across this review.

And finally thank you to NetGalley for sending me this ARC.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and my review is based on that copy. The final published work may differ from what I read.

The premise hooked me from the prologue, but the prose and the character work held me captive. This is a book about mothers and daughters and the complexities of that relationship, and it’s written beautifully. I teared up before I was even 10 chapters in. The subject matter is often dark and painful, but it’s handled with lightness and care. There are parts of the book that were hard to read, but the heart and emotion of the story get you through it.

Helen mattered to me. I cared about what she was experiencing. She is a complex, layered character. There is nothing flat or stereotypical about her, and the journey she goes on was not the one I expected. The point of view switches between her and Marigold were fascinating. You get to see Helen through a fresh lens, and it complicates our relationship to her as a reader. And Marigold is so relatable. I felt so much empathy for her.

Elizabeth Lim keeps some of the familiar hallmarks of the Cinderella story but she approaches them in a fresh and grounded way. There’s so much going on underneath the surface of this story. Generational trauma is a big one, and there are some intricate and beautiful themes about identity, belonging, and how our coping mechanisms can end up crippling us. The metaphors are not always subtle, but they are effective.

The examination of ways we hurt each other, out of misguided attempts to protect, was written so well that it felt real. The catharsis of connection and healing was earned. I was shocked to find myself weeping at the end. Books often move me to tears, but not to this extent. The decades long family saga, anchored to two women, worked so well that I wanted to read the book again when I finished.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part historical fiction, part family drama, and part fantasy inspired by Chinese folk tale, Fishbone Cinderella unravels the complicated history of two women. Ha Yut Ying, who later takes the anglicized name "Helen" starts her story in Guangdong, China in 1940, as Japan invades and her family must hide or be taken. As her story moves forward through her life, her middle daughter, Marigold, starts her story in 1980, traveling to Hong Kong with her mother and her narration, in interludes at first, then in larger portions is revealed. Hiding both her history and magic seem to dominate the mother's life. The novel delves into unraveling secrets and bringing these two characters and their intertwined stories together. This is the author's adult debut, and some of the subjects touched on are pretty heady matters, at least more so than her excellent YA works, but the family dynamic at the core of the story is touching and the Chinese mythic elements that are familiar to her readers can be found in this tale as well.
I received advanced digital access to this book thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, Del Rey, Random House Worlds, Inklore) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

[Angel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley!😍😍😍

Fishbone Cinderella is (another) beautifully crafted fairytale retelling by Elizabeth Lim, filled with magic, curses, and heartfelt relationships. The magical elements are one of the strongest aspects of the story, the curse feels meaningful, and the worldbuilding is, as always, immersive😍

I especially loved the focus on family. The relationship between Helen and Lily was surprisingly warm and refreshing, and I appreciated that Lily was written as a layered, vulnerable character rather than an evil stepsister❤️. The emotional core of the story truly lies in these family dynamics.

The romantic elements were thoughtfully developed. I enjoyed how Helen’s relationship with Tommy unfolded naturally, and how the historical context was seamlessly woven into the narrative. Kenji’s storyline, while painful, was. beautifully written and added depth to the emotional arc❤️‍🩹

At times, the pacing felt a little slow, particularly in the middle, but the depth of character development made it worthwhile.

[Noëmi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Del Rey and Random House for this ARC.

What a story!

We get to read about Ha Yut Ying/ Helen and her history, how she discovers her magic, they way she basically turns into a servant for her family. Her magic the only thing saving her by making her invisible.

But then we also get to follow one of her daughters, Marigold who has her own troubles, especially after all her mother has been through. And now thinks she‘s the only one who can save her mother from completely vanishing.

This book wasn‘t just a story about magic, but also about generational trauma, overcoming fear, family, sisterhood and finding love in more than just one way.

They way the author uses Chinese legends (and fairy tales (she mentions Ye Xian in this book and it‘s worth giving it a read too), weaves them into these stories, binds them together with history is just amazing.

I was completely mesmerised and couldn‘t put it down!

[Fon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fishbone Cinderella alternates between the POVs of Ha Yut Ying (Helen) and her daughter, Marigold, in China, Hong Kong, and San Francisco. Honestly, I love everything about this book, especially the Chinese folklore! I learned about the story of Ye Xian, which predates the Western version of the Cinderella story. I felt deeply immersed in the story and felt every emotion of the characters - sorrow, happiness, anger, fear. I'll definitely be thinking about this story every now and then.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC from the publisher, Del Ray, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Saray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four pages in and I knew that I was going to fall in love with this story and also have my heart ripped out of my chest. When I tell you I was IMMEDIATELY hooked. The synopsis really does not do this book justice. Historical fiction with a dash of magical realism, it's just TOO good. We follow two POVs of mother and daughter, each fascinating and complex in their own journeys. I'm so attached to both characters, their confrontations and determinations. It all felt so in depth and real. oh my god, my shaylas!! Elizabeth Lim...when I catch you omg....

Can't wait to purchase a physical copy!

Thank you to Del Ray and NetGalley for letting me receive an ARC.

[Good Manticore]

Thanks to NetGalley and Del Rey for the e-ARC! I'm so excited!!!

[Liana]

Chinese Cinderella fable meets 1940s Southern Chinese history? Let's fucking gooooo!

[Emma J · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not okay