A Beauty & the Beast retelling with an Eastern twist, a Forgery of Fate is a romantic fantasy about an art foger that can paint her future, and a cursed half-dragon lord bound by fate.

Kind of like how Tru (our FMC) paints with her magic paintbrush, Elizabeth Lim must have a magic pen because this book was PURE magic.. from the moment I picked it up, I was completely immersed.

The world-building was was so beautifully done, very vivid and capitivating. The story takes place in Gangsun (on land) and Ai'long (underwater dragon realm.)

I was on an emotional roller coaster throughout, and a big part of it had to do with Truyan (Tru, FMC.) Her determination to save her Baba, protect her family, and those she loved, really resounded with me as someone who is extremely close with their family. She was smart, witty, and strong. All the things I loved in a FMC.

I highly highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of Eastern mythology or Beauty and the Beast retellings, or just if you're a fan of romantic fantasies. You won't regreit it.

Also- TURTLES. TURTLES!!

I just love Elizabeth Lim’s writing and storytelling, everyone of her books just transport you to a different world. I’m so thankful to have gotten an arc from NetGalley. I also love how she ties her books all into the same world.
I really enjoyed the characters of this book a lot. The plot was very interesting I really loved it.

I enjoyed this story and the twist it puts on Beauty and the Beast. I love how the character grew into her own. The mom while going through things really irked me! Ughhh. But overall this was a great read

I received a copy bought NetGalley for review.


I love Elizabeth Lim's works, and was super excited to read this one. And I absolutely loved it, I ugly cried at the end.

Truyan Saigas is doing what she can to hold her family together since her father disappeared 5 years ago when his ship went down. Her mother is constantly getting into debt, and she has her two younger sisters to look out for.
She's become something of a very talented art forger, and has been using her skills to keep her family afloat. If she's caught it's a decade of imprisonment.
She can also use her painting skills to predict the future, but tries not to think about it, the consequences aren't worth it. She wants nothing more than to make enough money to try to find her missing father.

With the help of her friend Garri, they have a good system worked out, he has sway with the imperial auction houses, and helps her works get to the right buyer, for a cut of course.
But she runs into some trouble and ends up in a deal where she's married to the infamous "Demon Prince" when she climbs a courtyard wall chasing one of her works as it blows away. The prince part happens to be real, but while he's not a demon, he is a exiled Dragon prince under a curse, and he needs to convince the Dragon King he's found his heavenly match in order to return to his realm.

He's missing his pearl, his soul and he's been cursed. Elang has some major problems to overcome.

In exchange for a lot of wealth, Tru agrees to a fake marriage with Elang and will journey with him into the world of the great seas, as the Lady of the Western Seas- bride to the Dragon prince.

Not everything is as it seems, and Elang is hiding many secrets. And Tru will find herself much closer to the Dragon than she could ever imagine.

This was a lovely story, I really enjoyed this one so much.

The heroine of this book might have a magic paintbrush, but Elizabeth Lim must have a magic pen because “A Forgery of Fate” is pure magic.

It has everything—battles between good and evil, magic, dragons, a curse, fake marriage, art forgery, noodles, turtles, heart wrenching moments, gut busting moments, and kicking-your-feet-in-the-air moments.

Elizabeth Lim blends Eastern mythology with a Beauty & the Beast tale in another perfect book. Her writing style is always impeccable but she really takes it to another level in “A Forgery of Fate.” Her word choices elevated the already incredible story and made it an even more enchanting read.

A Forgery of Fate is a masterpiece of mystery and intrigue, a slow-burn romance and breathtaking storytelling based heavily around mythology that gives this story it's own unique flavor.

The moment I picked up A Forgery of Fate, I KNEW it was going to be the one for me. Dragons? Check. Mystical powers? Check. A love that breaks the bounds of mortal and immortal and claws at the hands of death? You got it!

And I read it!

Tru, a fierce and strong-willed character (who is also a bit morally gray in the best way!) is determined to both secure a future for her family and find out the mystery behind her father's disappearance. Made human by her desires and guarded nature, we see Tru bloom throughout this book but still keep her thorns. Her creativity and cleverness shines through even when she is in the capture of insurmountable odds paired with her iron will to save those she cares for makes her a special character in my heart. Her motivation to repair her broken family will always tug on my heart strings. ✨🎨

Meanwhile the Dragon Lord, Elang, has his own motivations which are both noble and insightful into her true character beneath his cold mask. A dragon forged from deception, he is not unwilling to use it himself. He will leave you reeling in both shock and awe at the depths of which he is willing to go for both revenge and love. 🐉📖

While the pacing is never slow, there are so many jaw-dropping revelations within each plot point that it takes a minute to puzzle it all out! I did especially enjoy the subtile foreshadowing of both the secret reveals and the ending. Lim's build-up of tension and yearning that spills over and pulls back at the most inopportune times was as tear-inducing as it was frustrating but worked in tandem with the well balanced moments of tenderness and care. 💙

A romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast, this book creates a masterful retelling with a blend of intricate world-building based around elements of mythology that draw you into a world of intrigue and carefully painted (wink) characters that perfectly portray personal growth, empathy, ingenuity and strength of character. This book is a definite re-read and will be something I reach for.

What I Loved:
✨ A morally gray, strong-willed, and brilliant heroine! Tru, my love!
🐉 A brooding, complex dragon lord with secrets galore and no compunction to share them.
🎨 A world dripping with complex mythology that can be overwhelming but magical!
💙 A romance full of tension, betrayals and surprising emotional growth.
📜 A plot that keeps you hooked!


A Tiny Wish:
💖 A little more spacing between world building and reveals! They were all incredibly intriguing in their own right! I just had a little trouble comprehending the entire world at once when things keep popping up (maybe it's just me! I read this in the middle of the night!)

Elizabeth Lim sends us back to the wolrd of Six Crimson Cranes in this Beauty and the Beast retelling. Tru and Elang’s slow burn fantastical journey grabbed me from page one. I loved revisiting a favorite character from the Six Crimson Cranes world. I know I am not the only one who hopes his story is next. I do wish the world building of Elang’s unwanted kingdom had been a bit more detailed. I had a hard time visualizing it. And the ending/epilogue fell a bit flat for me. Possibly because I wanted more or Elang and Tru’s story or just more details. I love Elizabeth Lim’s writing and would recommend her stories to anyone. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity the read and review this book.

Elizabeth Lim is a master at weaving together wonderful tales. The worlds she builds. And the characters she brings to life. Sometimes love stories aren't always romantic. Love can be built over time with patience. In the little details. This is full of dragons,mermaids, and a host of side characters. I don't understand how anyone couldn't like Elang. And Tru? She doesn't give up. Not even on those whom others would. Thank you for the opportunity of reading this before release. Mrs. Lim is one of my favorite authors.

I love the relationship between the sisters. One of Elizabeth’s strongest tropes that she writes is families that will do anything for each other, as seen in her other works. Ina A Forgery of Fate, Tru’s family is devastated when their father is presumed dead after a ship wreck. They’ve faced tragedy together and while they don’t always get along, they pull through at the end. Fali and Nomi never waver in their belief that Tru can handle and fix their problems. Tru’s devotion to keep them safe no matter what speaks volumes to her character. To be so young and have so much to protect. Her heart just continues to grow and have so much love for others like Mailoh, Shani, Caisan…Elang.

Is it ok to be annoyed with her mother? I feel like she’s been given grace multiple times off page and in her grief hasn’t made the best choices, but why did she not stop? It got to the point where her daughters became the bid of her gambles.

Elang’s curse: totally not what I expected its absolutely heart wrenching and I genuinely felt so sad for the way things were set to play out. Why was his grandfather so UGHHH

Elizabeth’s writing has gotten stronger and transports you easily into her worlds. The descriptions were so vivid, which they should be given we are reading from an artists pov, but I felt like I was there. I could smell the noodles and crullers, feel cold water, and see the petals of the waterbells. The growing relationship between Elang and Tru was so subtle but perfect.

While this definitely has strong Beauty and the Beast retelling all over it, Elizabeth takes that story and does so much with her own personal twists and adding a bit of Chinese mythology to it. I’ve always loved this about her writing where can intertwine different tales into one of her own.

I loved the bits and pieces we got from other characters in this universe. It’s been a while since I read Six Crimson Cranes, but I loved that we were able to return to this world. Thank you for this ARC!!!

It’s so difficult to maintain my quiet and mysterious facade when I’m rendered a babbling, bawling buffoon any time a story presents the question of “will true love conquer all?”. It doesn’t even matter if the answer is “yes” or “no”, I’m crying my eyes out either way because, alas, I am a lover girl.

Fellow lover girls rejoice! For this book has a moody, broody half-dragon prince and together — reluctantly for the added tension — with a resilient, leap-first-ask-questions-later, paintbrush wielding criminal, they’re going to play a high stakes game of Russian roulette with a god. Will they claim victory? Pyrrhic victory? Or watch it all slip from their fingers like grains of sand?

Is the plot familiar? Yes, that’s why I docked a star. Did I still devour every word and cry my eyes out? Also yes, which is why I only docked one. Will I be purchasing this book upon release? Obviously.

Until next time,
xoxo 💋

Another wonderful Elizabeth Lim book. An excellent retelling of beauty and the beast with a special underwater twist. If you have read other Elizabeth Lim books then you have probably already met our main male character Elang, half dragon, half human, known to be cold calculating and without a heart. Our female main character is Tru Saigaus, a painter, a forger, and a fortune teller. Together they journey to Ai'long to take down the Dragon King and break Elangs' Curse.

My thanks to Penguin Random House for the complimentary review copy. I was sent an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Out on 06/03/2025!

A Forgery of Fate is a dashing addition to Elizabeth Lim’s Legends of Lor’yan epic! This Beauty and The Beast retelling is a sweet tale of love and adventure. Truyan Saigas is gifted with the power to paint the future. And to save her mother and sisters from a tragic fate against gangsters, she agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. Truyan later learns that the bargain may not only cost her her life, but also her heart.
What I love about this book is how it treads the waters of both middle grade and YA fantasy. You can truly tell that Elizabeth Lim wanted to make this book as magical and charming as possible, especially with the addition of the talking turtles and DRAGONS! It transports us back to a world we’ve seen back in The Dragon’s Promise but it an entirely different way (I can’t say who this is about guys but it is NOT Ser’yu). And for those who like the stakes of court politics, this book still has it while retaining its fairytale-like elements.

I could feel the romantic chemistry between the characters, especially with how the slowburn was done. The author didn’t cater to the insta-love trope and actually followed the classic retelling. I have noticed that Lim’s female leads become more and more unique and interesting throughout each book so I’m looking forward to her next novels. Truyan is by far the most fascinating female lead because of her stubborn determination and unique gifts. The retelling was definitely given justice. However, I think I found it quite difficult to envision the details in this book. I also felt like this was a novella connecting Six Crimson Cranes with a future series, maybe? I still recommend it, though!

I have loved Elizabeth Lim's writing since I stumbled upon Spin the Dawn, and my love has only grown. Elizabeth Lim writes new fairytales, incorporating pieces of the old ones we love, and weaving them with heroines whose true power are the skills they have worked hard to master. Heroines who wield sewing needles and paintbrushes instead of swords. Because, while they seem like simple and delicate tasks, sewing and painting are their own weapons. This story was everything I wanted, it was a retelling of bits and pieces of fairytales, it was clever and witty, and it grew on me just like moss.
Okay but seriously, moss? As a term of endearment? I want that! It's so sweet and goofy and just wonderful for these two.
Read this book if you want an adventure. Read this book if you like your main characters to be stronger in mind than in body. Read this book if fairytales and mythology were your obsession at one point. And Read this book if you want to explore the power a painter holds in her hands.

Lush worldbuilding, a heroine to root for, a slow-burn love story, and dragons! I loved it all. Five stars!!

The slow burn! I ate it up! There was Beauty and the Beast vibes and it was so good. That mixed with the Eastern mythology made for perfection. I loved the different mythical creatures throughout the story. The action was heart-pounding and it was an over amazing read!

This book takes a form of Beauty and the Beast, wherein Tru, an art forger with magic to "paint" the future, agrees to marry a dragon lord who rescues her. Tru supports her mother and sisters after her father died, but is desperate to get out of old debts of her father's - the marriage allows a fresh start of sorts for her and her family. However, the dragon lord dwells undersea and requires something in exchange - help to infiltrate the Dragon King's innermost circle.

I loved the mix in this book of Beauty and the Beast with a world under water. This was a great blending of story and details, of which were so vivid and descriptive I felt present there myself. The world building in this book was phenomenal. True to the story, Tru begins to see that the monster that is the dragon lord is not as bad as seems, and their connection grows.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Knopf Books for Young Readers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was beautiful. From the set up to the finale, I couldn't ask for a better journey. Loved it.
First off, Elizabeth Lim is a master storyteller. She captures sibling relationships so well. I love the dynamics she writes. You can feel the love in the family unit. And the sweet and clean romances are heartwarming and just perfect.
It was fun being back in Ai'long and seeing a familiar half dragon.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.

I loved this book so. much! I simply could not put it down - Elizabeth Lim has spun such a spellbinding tale here. I love Tru so very much, but the entire cast is genuinely so spirited and memorable, something which other books tend to struggle with. Definitely worth picking up!

Another absolutely solid entry to the Alandi fairytale series (as I've dubbed it), diving back into Ai'long, the underwater world of dragons, with a Beauty and the Beast retelling.

Lim's heroines always have such grit, and Tru is no exception. She will fight tooth and nail to protect her family, and she's not above a little bit of scheming to get there. Her romance with Elang has a fun balance of banter and vulnerability with some classic "marriage of convenience" shenanigans. Once again, Lim plots a well-paced adventure story full of lush magic and enough twists and turns to keep you just a bit stressed. Plus, you'll perhaps see a familiar face at some point. Admittedly, Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairytales, so I definitely delighted in seeing her spin on the story. Bonus shout-out goes to Tru's family—they're bursting with character and I loved every moment with them.

I devoured A Forgery of Fate faster than Tru could devour a bowl of noodles. From the moment I picked it up, I was completely immersed in this beautifully written, emotional journey. This book took me on a ride. I laughed, I gasped, I felt torn in two. It was a roller coaster of emotions in the best way, and I truly think this is Elizabeth Lim’s best book yet.

Truyan immediately won me over with her strength, wit, and determination. She’s the kind of protagonist you can’t help but root for, and her journey was nothing short of captivating. “Fortune finds those who leap” sums up her story so well, and I loved watching her take risks and grow.

The world-building was breathtaking. Every setting felt rich and immersive, and I could picture each scene so vividly. It was also incredibly character-driven, which made every moment feel personal and high stakes. And the turtles? Adorable and formidable. They were such a fun and unique addition to the story, and I loved every moment they were on the page.

The final action scene had me glued to the pages. I couldn’t look away, especially everything that happened in the little boat. The tension was perfectly built, and I held my breath through every twist and turn.

And then there’s Elang. Elang. He was my absolute favorite. I loved him, I hated him, I wanted to shake him and hug him all at once. He was such a fascinating character, and I felt everything when it came to him.

By the end, my heart was wrecked in the best way possible. If there hadn’t been an epilogue, I honestly don’t think I would have ever recovered.

If you’re a fan of Elizabeth Lim’s books, you need this one on your shelf. It’s stunning, emotional, and absolutely unforgettable.