A Forgery of Fate was a delightful take on the classic Beauty and the Beast retelling. One of the aspects I enjoyed most was how seamlessly she integrated this story into what I like to think of as the ELCU (the Elizabeth Lim Cinematic Universe). There’s a special kind of joy in recognizing characters, places, or threads from her other works, and it always feels like a rewarding nod to loyal readers who have followed her interconnected stories.

The plot twists in this novel were especially well-crafted. They took me by surprise in the best way possible, keeping the story unpredictable and engaging. I loved how she keeps that fairytale familiarity feel but added unexpected turns.

That being said, I do feel that the execution of certain elements could have been stronger, particularly when it comes to the romance. While the chemistry between the leads was present, it didn’t always feel as fully developed or emotionally resonant as it could have been. Still, the ending was satisfying, tying the story together in a way that left me content, even if not completely swept off my feet.

Ultimately, while this book didn’t quite reach the five-star mark for me, I still consider it a worthwhile read. One thing I truly appreciate about Elizabeth Lim’s writing is that even if a story doesn’t become an all-time favorite, I never walk away feeling like I wasted my time. Her books consistently offer an enjoyable, whimsy feel, and this one is no exception.

I did DNF this book around 15%. I believe I could have enjoyed this book a lot if I were in more of a fantasy mood. However, I have not been in a fantasy mood lately. I do think I will be coming back to this series eventually because I loved her other series (Six Crimson Cranes) so much and I still think about it to this day.

Elizabeth Lim is an author I happened upon by accident and now I can't stop reading her books. This was another fantastic read and the way she writes a story that makes you feel so immersed in the world is one of her gifts. I look forward to seeing what she does next!

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

Obviously, I’m probably going to read almost anything that bills itself as a new version of “Beauty and the Beast.” And, while I didn’t fully connect with previous books I’ve read by this author, I still think she has a strong, compelling style to her writing that, at the very least, will be good reading on its own. So reading this book was an odd mixture of expected points of interest and strange disconnects.

First of all, I very much enjoyed the main character. Not only was she an engaging lead, full of spunk, smarts, and a refreshing streak of pragmatism, but her magical abilities tied to painting and prophesy were incredibly interesting. The author wisely crafted this magic system to be just useful enough, often giving Tru (and the reader) glimpses of a future that may end up presenting itself in a completely different manner than how one might at first interpret it.

Beyond Tru’s abilities, I really liked the magic and world-building of this story. Much of these fantasy elements were of the whimsical sort, such that if you perhaps spent too much time trying to picture how any of this worked, it could be frustrating. But if simply accepted and viewed through a lens of wonder, much of it was fantastical and beautiful. Yes, I did get caught up with movement in the underwater scenes more times than I want to admit, but that might just be a “me” issue. Obviously, I also really liked the dragon lore and the way this was tied up in the classic “Beauty and the Beast” tale.

As for characters, I also enjoyed many of the side characters and Tru’s intimate family. Tru’s relationship with her family is strained by the circumstances they find themselves in, but I enjoyed the layers this added to their dynamics, particularly between Tru and her mother. And, of course, I loved Tru’s devotion to her sisters. I was sad when they disappeared for large chunks of the middle of the book, though that’s probably to be expected in a retelling of “Beauty and the Beast.” I also really liked many of the inhabitants of the “castle” that Tru meets and befriends.

Unfortunately, the one real sticking point for me was the romance itself. It started off strong, with a spark-filled first scene, but then things seemed to peter out completely as the story continued. For one thing, they simply didn’t seem to spend enough time together to justify any growing interest, at least on Tru’s part. There was a lot of action, but much of it was spent apart, which then made Tru’s growing interest feel disconnected from anything we’d seen on the page. Even as I was told that the attraction was growing, I never felt it. Beyond this, there was a “twist” that was introduced late in the story that I think only complicated this relationship, and not in a good way.

Overall, I think this was a successful fantasy adventure story, and Tru was a great main character on her own. However, as a “Beauty and the Beast” re-imaging, I think it struggled with a lackluster romance. Fans of this author, however, should definitely still give it a go and I’m still committed to checking out new books by her in the future, as I think her storytelling is only improving over time!

Rating 8: A whimsical, fantasy adventure, though a bit lacking in the love story itself.

Link will go live on The Library Ladies on Sept. 10

I’ve read a bit of Lim’a other works and liked them so was excited for this book and it did not disappoint!! Wow, wow, wow! Loved the beauty and the beats spin with con artists and heists. It was wonderfully written, fast paced as any book of this genre should be, imaginative in its twists and just overall a lot of fun to read!

Elizabeth Lim delivers another lush and enchanting tale in A Forgery of Fate. Her signature storytelling shines through with vivid imagery, lyrical prose, and a world steeped in myth and magic. The premise is compelling and layered with themes of destiny, sacrifice, and the power of choice.

I especially loved how Lim weaves emotion into every interaction—the characters feel both fragile and fierce, torn between duty and desire. The atmosphere is intoxicating, almost cinematic, and the moral questions at the heart of the story kept me hooked.

Thank you Netgalley, Elizabeth Lim, and the publisher.

Elizabeth Lim never disappoints. I love how all of her series are set in the same world and she continues to build upon it. I was hooked from the very beginning. Tru was very caring towards her family. I must admit I didn't care for her mother even at the end. Elang was not the nicest but as we get further into the book we find out he has all the reasons to act the way he does. I thought it ended perfectly. I can't wait to see what she gives us next.

I’ve always considered Beauty by Robin McKinley to be the gold standard of Beauty and the Beast retellings, but I might have to change my mind because I ADORED this book. Where McKinley’s retelling is simplified with all the right moments and not much else to it, A Forgery of Fate instead adds complexity and depth in a way that had me completely obsessed.

There is no end to delightful imagery. There are dragons, phoenix demons, turtles, sharks, jellyfish, a lot of other sea creatures, and noodles. The relationship between them has delicious tension, and Tru is a great main character. The way things were revealed had me wanting to cheer while also giving me moments where I wanted to cry and a few times I gasped out loud.

I don’t want to say anything more because I went into it without even remembering the blurb, and letting it unfold and having the delight and surprise of everything in it was one of the most enjoyable reading experiences I’ve had in a long time.

I truly loved this book and plan to reread it again very soon so I can appreciate all the details I may have missed the first time.

Book review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Genre: fairytale retelling/YA fantasy
Themes: Chinese mythology, family, dragons, responsibility, fated love
📖 Read if you like: The Keeper of Night, Of Jade and Dragons

I have been a big fan of Elizabeth Lim since reading Six Crimson Cranes a few years ago. She has this immersive ability to create worlds and characters that are full of depth and imagination within a layer of Asian folklore. Her newest book certainly lives up to her standard and was a delight to read. It is a play on The Beauty and Beast and The Paintbrush with a few other fairytales making brief appearances just for fun.

It also features some places and creatures from previous books, though it is certainly a standalone. Elang was an interesting character briefly introduced in The Dragon’s Promise and I desperately wanted to know his story, so I was thrilled to see him as the Beast.

The Beauty is artist and future seer Truyan Saigas. With her father lost at sea and her mother cursed with a gambling addiction and debt that has ruined their lives, Tru must be the one to look after her sisters. With a career in art forgery, she harbours a unique (and secret) ability to see the future through her paintings.

When her mother lands herself deep in the red with the city’s worst gangsters, Tru accepts a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord in order to save their lives. When she realizes part of this deal will involve overthrowing the Dragon King, the worlds will be thrown into chaos. Tru may have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire.

It was certainly an eventful story from the streets of Gangsun with Tru acting as an Aladdin-ish street urchin to the Westerly Seas forever at battle with the dragon realm of Jinsang as Tru takes her place as lady of the realm. Elang was a mercurial character, but his moods hid his heartfelt desires. Their relationship flared warm between the cold shoulders and the off hand disparaging critiques. It was a sort of forced proximity attraction between two oddities. It is a sweet love story about sacrifice and choice.

I will be saying it until the end of time, but Lim really has an ability to weave a story so immersive as to paint the world of your imagination with impossible creatures and all too real feelings. This adventure under the sea was a story to be savoured, and I am glad I took my time to read it.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and Netgalley for an advanced eARC. In the end I waited for the copy I pre-ordered to arrive before starting, but having a digital copy allowed me to read while on the go too!

GORGEOUS cover. I enjoyed the book a lot, the universe felt griping, the pacing felt just right, it reminded me of Arcane in terms of the huge worldbuiling and character moments.

3.5

This had such exciting promise, the concept, the characters, and the magic system, but, for me, failed in its execution to truly grip me. It was great to briefly glimpse Seryu again though!

This new romantic fantasy brims with imagery so vivid it practically begs for an animated adaptation. The story of Tru, a gifted painter who can capture the future on canvas, swept into a dangerous marriage contract with a cursed dragon lord, feels tailor-made for the kind of lush, painterly animation seen in films from Studio Ghibli or Netflix’s Arcane. The undersea palace, the shimmering world of gods and dragons, and the act of painting prophecies onto canvas would all translate into breathtaking visuals, layered with romance and mythic tension. As a novel, it occasionally leans heavily on familiar tropes (Beauty and the Beast, arranged marriage, chosen family), but the lyrical atmosphere and magical conceits lift it above formula. On the page it’s a strong four stars, but as a visual story, it has the makings of something extraordinary: a sweeping, romantic fantasy whose beauty might truly be realized in animation.

Elizabeth Lim hitting with a slam dunk yet again. I literally have no complaints with anything she writes and this might be my favorite book so far. The characters, the relationships, the stakes, the losses, reunions, and struggles. Just everything is great. I loved the dragon world and how the plot twisted several times over that I didn't see coming. The way she crafts the high intensity of the overall story while seamlessly interweaving quieter moments to build the relationships and the growth of the characters. Just excellent work yet again.

One of my favorite fairytales is Urashima and the dragon palace, so when there was also mention of Beauty and the Beast elements I was instantly hooked. I adored this book!

Tru and Elang are now one of my favorite couples. The yearning and confusion between these two was perfect. The way their story unfolded was beautiful and bittersweet. And the scenes between the two are so vivid in my mind as I read. Tru's joy of noodles had me constantly craving my own. Elang had me riveted, I couldn't wait to see how his vows, words, and actions would truly play out. Definitely was not disappointed, though my heart about shattered towards the end.

I really enjoyed the world and stricking descriptions. I could smell the chilies and noodles, or see the beautiful and bleak underwater world full of mermaids and turtles.

I truly enjoyed A Forgery of Fate and can't wait to get more people to read this just so I can share my love of Tru and Elang.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's for providing the opportunity to read this book.

Thanks to Random House Children's and NetGalley for an advanced copy!

I went into this book knowing that it was a Chinese retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I love fairy tale retellings, and I have really enjoyed other books by Elizabeth Lim, so I was excited for this one! The author did a great job of tying the story into the original tale it's based on but also kept if very original. I loved the characters and the ending. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants an original and immersive retelling!

3.5 stars rounded up

Growing up devouring asian media has made me neutral to a lot of the settings YA asian fantasies had to offer, and when I went into this book I was sort of expecting something of the same generic, fluttery world. But Elizabeth Lim really surprised me with the world she crafted — from the uniqueness of Ai'long, the vibrant Gangsun markets, to the mouth-watering description of the noodles, I really got a sense of how rich the world is. The writing was also fast-paced and easy to follow, leading to a very enjoyable and quick reading experience.

The characters were also not stupid, or annoying, which I find is extremely rare in YA asian fantasies. I loved Truyan for how silly she was whilst still managing to be kind and reasonable (even if her survival instincts aren't the best sometimes) and Elang was also lovely to read about. I do occasionally love a grumpy man. Tru's sisters were also really sweet but gods did I loathe her mother. I also found the relationship between Tru and Elang to be pretty well written — it progressed naturally and was honestly pretty tender at times.

However I did have to deduct some points for that one twist in the story which I predicted and feared and prayed that it wouldn't come into fruition. It's just not really my thing and I thought it was unnecessary. This story, lovely as it was, will most likely not stay in my mind for too long. I didn't make any meaningful connections with either mc, and the story didn't particularly speak with me.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children's for this ARC; all thoughts are my own :D

In this fascinating and exciting fantasy novel inspired by Beauty and the Beast, readers follow Truyan Saigas, a con artist and gifted art forger who turns to crime to support her mother and two young sisters after her father disappears. Desperate to protect her family and keep the gangsters away from collecting on her mother’s gambling debts, Truyan agrees to a marriage contract with a dragon lord -- protection for her family and answers about her father’s disappearance in exchange for joining him in his undersea palace and infiltrating the Dragon King’s inner circle -- without knowing the scope of the plot she is now part of. As she takes on the Dragon King, Truyan grows into herself and comes to terms with her artistic gift and desire to protect the people she loves, and readers will love the details and fascinating elements of this brilliant new novel. The characters are definitely the stars of the book, and Truyan’s relationships with her mother, sisters, and the Dragon Lord really highlight her motivations and character traits. Entertaining, immersive, and fascinating, readers will love this brilliant, complex, and detailed new fantasy novel and the incredible realms, beings, and political players it brings to life.

A FORGERY OF FATE by Elizabeth Lim was a deeply engaging read with romance and fantasy wound so tight and written so well that I was breathless to see what the talented and resourceful art forger/painter of the future Truyan does when she agrees to an impossible marriage with a dragon lord. While I don't typically read romantasy, this story was satisfying, holding together and relating an entirely fresh and fascinating take on the Beauty and the Beast fable. Great fun, wonderfully immersive! I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, I loved this one.

Tru is my favorite kind of MC, the kind that may internally doubt herself and worry, but outwardly is made of pure spite and challenges literal gods and dragons despite being a human.

I also love the fact that art is her weapon. She wins these battles by painting and being willing to jump at any moment.

Her and Elang’s romance was so sweet, I KNEW that Elang was hiding feelings from her the whole time. He fell first AND he fell harder. But I liked that they were friends and they KNEW each other and would give themselves up for the other.

In terms of side characters, not many stood out except for Shani, who was the MVP and Tru’s begrudging guardian and friend. Sometimes the mean water demon will actually care about you as a person.

If you like fated romance and wonderful fantastical worlds and magical paintbrushes, pick this one up!