This is unfortunately one of my most anticipated books of the year, and the biggest disappointment.
Everything felt incredibly under developed. The setting consistently felt as if the author was writing normally, and then remembered they were underwater and added a "swam". Similarly, there was no chemistry between the leads and that she remembered it was a beauty and the beast retelling and went "oh yeah he should be rude and snippy" so that there was never growth between them. I just felt absolutely nothing throughout the book, and then actively was grossed out by the twist of him being in disguise previously.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 4/5 stars.

Okay, so, technically I read the printed/published version of this (shoutout to the owlcrate edition once again) but I really enjoyed it? Honestly, I deducted a star because 1) the ending was rude and 2) I did feel like the rush at the end was a lot and 3) the ending and some of the other revelations kind of ruined some of the development between the FMC and MMC, especially with their relationship. I also haven't read most of Lim's other works in this "world" so I'm sure I missed out on quite a bit.

Anyways, the fmc can see the future when she paints. Gets roped into a plot with a half dragon. She's also a forger of art. Forced proximity, fake marriage, all that jazz. The tension is definitely good for most of the book and had me going HELLO????

First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Elizabeth Lim’s novel “A Forgery of Fate" – “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.”

I can confidently say that I am a fan of Elizabeth Lim’s works. Her masterful world-building always takes me on an adventure. I love the blending of Eastern mythology with mesmerizing fantasy settings.

A Forgery of Fate is a Beauty and the Beast meets The Little Mermaid, East-Asian inspired romantic fantasy about Truyan Saigas, a gifted art forget, who has the unique ability to paint the future. But when her father is lost at sea, not even magic can heal her family, or save her younger sisters from the dangerous consequences of her mother's gambling debts.

The world-building and writing style stands out the most. This is set in the same world as here Six Crimson Cranes and Spin the Dawn series. While this is a standalone it helps to have read those other books to get a better understanding of the lore in this world.

Truyan is a wonderful protagonist. Her selflessness and protectiveness towards her family is incredibly relatable. Her Prince is a brooding and enigmatic character, who's very secret and mysterious at the beginning but as the plot slowly unravels, everything is worth the angst and tension. Their dynamic is tense, intriguing, and layered with the classic Beauty and the Beast charm but does leave a little to be deserved.

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 family.

I think this might be my favorite Elizabeth Lim novel yet. The clairvoyant painter heroine, the half-dragon hero, the enchanting underwater setting, the twist, and the heartfelt ending all left me wanting more from this world and story.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A new romantic fantasy with a Beauty and the Beast spin but featuring a cursed Dragon lord and a painter who can see the future! Truyan "Tru" Saigas has always loved art what she does not love is the visions she gets. When her father's latest business trip gets him lost at sea its up to Tru to find a way to take care of her family... and that means turning to a life of being a art forger. When her mother's gambling debts get too high Tru is left with little options and the only answer is to agree to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. A Dragon lord who plans to overthrow his father, the Dragon King, who also holds so many secrets and connections to Tru... but with a fake marriage... why is she feeling like this might be more real than he is letting on. This was such a unique and fun read. I love the twist and take on Beauty and the Beast. It's a fast and easy read and one I'd definitely recommend for fans of fairytale retellings or good fantasy romances.

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I absolutely loved A Forgery of Fate, with its descriptive writing, amazing world–building, and characters that are so easy to fall in love with.
This book is also a beautifully written retelling of Beauty & the Beast, which is one of my favorite classic fairy tales. After reading a book that takes inspiration from the classic so well, but still creates something new, I’m convinced we need so many more retellings!

One of my favorite things about EL's books are the well-written characters. Tru is brave, loves food as much as I do, and is such a relatable and loveable main character. I loved her, the dynamics between her and all the other characters, and especially the relationship that develops between Tru and Elang. He’s hot, brooding, a kind of grumpy half-dragon, and also the love interest. At first he seems heartless and wholly devoted to the mission, but as Tru spends more time with him, she starts to see that there’s more to him than it seems and begins developing an unexplainable connection to him. There’s a lot of mystery around them, and it makes a large part of the book feel so sweet and frustrating at the same time.
The only thing I didn’t like was that Elang was revealed to have also been Gaari. Yes, it makes for some really sweet yet heartbreaking scenes at the end, but the whole idea just did not feel right to me.

I cannot write a review of this book and not mention how descriptive everything was, especially the scenery. At this point, I honestly shouldn’t have expected anything else :)

Finally, the ending. For me, it's what makes or breaks a novel. Yes, I’m all for the happily-ever-afters, but there’s something special about an ending that brings together all the emotions, the sadness and tears, the smiles and happiness, and that’s exactly how A Forgery of Fate ended. It was the perfect way to wrap up this tale!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Flew through this one! I loved the characters and the humor written within this one. Described as Beauty and the Beast meets Six of Crows and I can definitely see it. But make no mistake, this one hold entirely on its own!

Content Warning: mentions of death, blood, gambling, starvation, kidnapping, racism

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC! This was such a cozy read. This is my first Elizabeth Lim book so I can't really compare it to anything else that she's written, but I didn't feel lost while reading it. I did really enjoy that the author combined multiple folktale stories with the fairytale retelling. It made the story more interesting as well as I had many little details to look for.

The writing was really beautiful. I loved the world building and how it felt so mystical. The food descriptions were also mouthwatering. I definitely agree the setting was very Ghibli-esque. The romance is very slow burn, and I do wish Tru and Elang had more interactions, but overall, the relationship building was decent. I loved that Tru had her own strengths in wit and smarts. I don't mind a stabby kick butt heroine, but I prefer the quiet and cunning type. Brains over brawn as they say lol. Elang was ok, he had that stoic type which if you're into anime then you know the type I'm talking about (The first character that comes to mind is Byakuya from Bleach.) Tru's family was also lovely; her mom was a pain but that was expected. The plot was very interesting but also very slow which in some areas I liked and in others it felt dragged out. There are some action moments, but it doesn't take away from the cozy and comfort the story gives. The ending was not one that I expected either. Without giving spoilers, the ending is a bit tragic and, through some reasons that aren't exactly explained, there's still a happy ending.

I think my only gripe with the book is that the author has some nice in world curses that make sense, but the one that always threw me out of the story was the use of "turd." I just felt like it didn't fit the prose that the rest of the story is written.

I definitely think I'll check out some of Elizabeth Lim's other books that are set in the same world. I'm hoping for maybe some explanations for the ending that I might've missed, but overall, I just really enjoy her writing and I'm curious about the other characters that were introduced.

Oriental fantasy that’s Beauty and the Beast meets Little Mermaid with dragons. I loved the magic paintbrush aspect. Great characters and storyline.

Cute story. There were times where it dragged a little and I struggled to stay engaged, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The author has written a love story that had many unique elements that I have not previously read in another books.

4.5
My favorite thing about Elizabeth Lim's books is just how atmospheric they are. The settings she paints are truly magical and so intricately described. This is a compelling romance between Tru, an artist drawn to forgery to earn money and Elang, a mysterious half-dragon lord. It is a temporary marriage deal as she doesn't like him at first but is desperate to locate her missing father.

This was easily one of my most anticipated reads for the year. While the market is definitely pretty saturated with Beauty and the Beast retellings, this felt utterly original and so well-written. The plot and characters are so compelling and the story as a whole is well-paced and super interesting, especially the sensory-rich descriptions of food (my mouth was watering). Even though it is a B&B retelling, the nods to the original fairytale feel original in the way they're used. I loved this, a lot. I highly, highly recommend this and I absolutely cannot wait for more from this author.

As always from Elizabeth Lim--

Utterly original. Gorgeously written. Authentically engaging.




***Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for providing me with a digital copy of this book to review.***

When her father disappears, Truyan must support her mother and sisters in order to survive. A natural talent for painting, she learns to forge paintings to sell to wealthy clientele. But when her mother gets in trouble, Truyan has to sell a new painting that uncovers a secret magical ability. But it seems that she bit off a little more than she realized and it triggers a series of events that puts her in the middle of a political war and a curse that needs to be broken.

A re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast, this story was beautiful, magical, adventurous and mysterious. The storyline was special and unique that even the similarities to the fairytale feel fresh. Highly recommend.

I received a NetGalley copy of Forgery of Fate in exchange for an honest review—and I also purchased the stunning Barnes & Noble special edition with its gold-sprayed edges (absolutely gorgeous). Having read several of Elizabeth Lim’s novels, I can confidently say this is my new favorite. Forgery of Fate is a masterclass in storytelling.

Blending elements of Beauty and the Beast and The Magic Paintbrush, the story unfolds in a lush underworld realm where dragons reign and destinies intertwine—everything I adore in a fantasy novel. Tru is a gifted young artist who experiences visions and can paint the future, while Elang is a cursed Dragon Prince whose fate is inextricably linked to hers. As the narrative progresses, the layers of their relationship deepen, revealing ties to kingdoms beneath the sea.

The world-building is exquisite, and Lim’s prose is enchanting. The pacing is pitch-perfect, building tension and wonder in all the right places. The side characters were compelling and whimsical (Turtles!). I found the experience of reading this book deeply satisfying: the mysteries unfolded naturally and were resolved effectively, and the emotional stakes are achingly romantic, filled with longing and tenderness.

This novel is a true gem for fans of Asian fairy tale retellings and sweeping romances. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves Daughter of the Moon Goddess and the works of Axie Oh. The rich descriptions of Asian food—especially the noodles—made me crave comfort Asian food the entire time.

I devoured this book and already wish I could read it again for the first time. Highly recommended.

Tru has blue hair, a talent for art forgeries, and an oft-mentioned penchant for noodles. Elang is a stoic cursed half human/half dragon prince who lives in an undersea world with a talking turtle and merfolk. Not sure if there’s a more unique pairing out there. I absolutely loved them both, and their story! The whole book was beautifully written, but especially that ending OMG 🥹

I learned after I read this that it is set in the same world as Elizabeth Lim’s other books. Luckily, I don’t think it’s necessary to read them in order, though it likely would have added to the experience. I’ll guess just have to read her backlist out of order (and I plan to!).

I recommend you read this if a Beauty and the Beast retelling blended with folklore-inspired fantasy sounds appealing to you too! 🥀 🐉

Elizabeth Lim does it again! I throughly enjoyed this story. The world building was phenomenal. The characters were endearing and beautifully written. The romance was exquisitely written. The ending was beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Elizabeth for this truly magical story!

for me, this book started off with a bang and then dragged in the worst of ways. i actually enjoyed Tru's time on land with her sisters more than what was going on between her and Elang.

the beginning was magical: Tru was a painter with a secret, her motivation and drive were relatable, the sisterhood was fierce, the world was vibrant but not intimidating -- with enough food descriptions to salivate to. not to mention, the pacing felt just right. then the Beauty and the Beast plot line started and my enjoyment just... dropped?

the world building stopped making sense for me. i haven't read Lim's other books so perhaps there are contexts i'm missing, but why were we so nonchalant with dragons and myths and magic being real? i also felt like Lim was trying to do so much toward the later half of the book, Tru was saddled with sidequests upon sidequests. her chemistry with Elang was flavourless. Elang also had another thing going on but it didn't redeem him much for me?

all in all, i went into this book expecting much, much more than what i ended up getting. maybe Elizabeth Lim just isn't the author for me.

I've been a fan of Elizabeth Lim for a couple years now and this book was so good! I loved the Beauty and the Beast elements mixed in with Chinese culture. It was such an incredible reading experience. I loved the main character, Tru. I thought she was such a compelling character who had me rooting for her.

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!

This was an absolute delight. Lim described it herself as Spirited Away with C-drama vibes. She hit the nail on the head. It was slow until the 30% mark and then it was absolutely fantastic. The world building was top tier! I want to live in the fantastical seas she created. The characters were wonderful. And the twist!! I couldn’t have seen that coming. The ending left me with the warm fuzzies. I’m sad this is a standalone. I want more of Tru and Elang. Some of the side characters deserved more time, but I can see how that would have made the book too long.

Thank you Randomhouse and NetGalley for the eARC!