A very unique retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed the underwater setting. There were so many twists in this book with a forced marriage and a dangerous world to navigate. This book will definitely appeal to a variety of readers. It will definitely be part of my library. Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Artistic premonitions, dragons, marriage contract and mystery? Yes, please!

A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim is a standalone that takes place in the same world as her previous novel, Six Crimson Cranes and is gripping from the start.

This story really keeps you on your toes. There’s so much happening and it’s at such a great pace, there’s random pockets to breath before diving back in. Loved it! It had great dialogue and was an emotional roller coaster.

The emotions that emanated from these pages were fantastic. The way pain and grief were written so beautifully took me to another level. I don’t cry much from books, but this one got some tears out of me. Amazon writing!

I also enjoyed the family dynamics within as well as the blend of cultures/practices. This was set up so clearly and allowed for conflicts to possibly be foreshadowed. The fact that Mama and Baba were so opposite in perspectives on how their daughters should be, it influenced each of them to go on their own journeys. Things like having a patriarchy but abiding it yet defying it to be their own person was interesting. I’m always for a go against the grain and be your own person type of story. There were also sibling rivalries, which is always fun!

Additionally, I liked the various magical aspects as they opened the story to more. Lastly, I enjoyed the way societal norms were portrayed in the story. Again, great writing and I can’t wait for the next.

I’d highly recommend this to readers 15 and up. If you love fantasy, magical creatures, dealing with family, society, and growing into yourself then this is for you.

Check out the Six Crimson Cranes series and The Blood of Stars series by Elizabeth Lim.

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of A Forgery of Fate from Elizabeth Lim via NetGalley

Truyan Saigas had to support her mother and two younger sisters after her father was lost at sea. Tru can paint the future and is a gifted art forger, but she still has trouble paying off gangsters demanding payment for her mother’s gambling debts. She agrees to marry a mysterious dragon lord in exchange for a fresh start for her mother and sisters and answers about her father's disappearance. Now she must join him in his desolate undersea palace and assist in his plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle. She must do this by painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms.

Tru had turned to forgery to make ends meet, especially when her mother's fortune-telling took a turn for the worse. The dragon lord is cursed, a half-human and half-dragon without his pearl to fly. His grandfather, the Dragon King, had banished him so that he could not return without his fated bride, and Elang hopes to use her ability to trap the Dragon King. His palace fell into disrepair without him, his people were without a proper home, and the Dragon King grew ever more tyrannical. As Tru tries to learn how to paint the Dragon King's form properly, she finds herself growing closer to Elang, learning some of his secrets, and understanding more of the magic around her as well as her ability to paint the future.

I had trouble putting the book down. It's loosely based on Beauty and the Beast, with a healthy dose of Asian dragon lore. I adored the mix of legendary creatures in the story, and the message that hope and love can still make a difference even when it all seems lost. Elizabeth Lim is a gifted storyteller, and Tran Nguyen's art for the cover is perfect.

This was seriously so good.
When I heard this was a Chinese mythology version of Beauty and the Beast, but make it under the sea I was sold. I was not disappointed in the route Lim took with this either. The whole plot was very intricately woven and you could tell there was something bigger going on, but for the life of me I couldn't figure out what it was which was frustrating and amazing at the same time. I love that although we got to see and hear about other characters from previous books, this story didn't at all rely on those and stands on its own with no issue.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, this world, and this love story. This beautiful, descriptive, underwater retelling of sorts of Beauty and the Beast, with dragons, and sprinkled with just the right amount of spice. Elizabeth Lim's writing style was perfect for bringing this world to life; it was vivid, with a fantastic cast of characters and a magic system that I loved. I could appreciate the time Ms. Lim took in unfolding the story of Elang and Tru. The attention paid to explaining why each character was the way they were and understanding what shifted that caused the attraction. The attention to detail and the little Easter eggs placed throughout the story were perfect.

The world-building is impressive, the enemies-to-lovers storyline is well written, and the magic system is beautiful. Let's not forget the stunning cover art and appropriate title. This book was a good time!

Thank you to Netgalley, Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers, and Elizabeth Lim for the ARC of this imaginative book.

This hit hard, like all your favorite Disney princess tales combined, but better! It's definitely it's own original tale but gives you nostalgia for that same sort of magic.

World building was enchanting, even the side characters shined. I was so invested in the twists and preparing for heartbreak. It's one of those books that are "wish you could read again for the first time," but also will be fun to reread knowing the reveals. 🤐🤫

I could go on and on but really there's nothing of substance for me to add that won't be a spoiler so just read it. It's amazing!

Thank you netgalley and Random House for the arc! I'm so excited to check out her other works. This is going on my favorites for sure!

Thank you NetGalley, Elizabeth Lim, and Knopf Books for Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun and unique read! This is perfect for people that love Studio Ghibli films. I read Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes awhile back and was excited to see something else pop up by her! I feel like she is an atmospheric writer (which I know generally refers to a “gothic” atmosphere- but her books just give that same feeling to me even if it’s not a “gothic” atmosphere). The writing is vivid and so fun to picture in my head. I only knocked of a star because I feel like the book was just a bit longer than needed. The book could have cut 50-100 pages and not lost any plot or character development.

Thank you for the arc

Elizabeth Lim delivers another magical tale filled with art and dragons all based off of Beauty and the Beast. I am a sucker for a good retelling and Lim has delivered in the past with Six Crimson Cranes and as such I was excited to pick this up.

It was wonderful to sink back into this familiar and new magical world. I very much so enjoyed the magic system and the use of folklore. The main plot was whimsical and steeped in political tension that I enjoyed. I did wish for a bit more in regards to the main villain take down especially since there were apparently other players involved in it that we didn't get to see

Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I will be excited to recommend to patrons.

3.75 I read this book, quite literally, in one-sitting while I was on a 10-hour flight. Elizabeth Lim has always been good at world-building and this book is no exception, it was beautifully done and I enjoyed every bit of her story-telling. Our two main protagonists, Tru and Elang, were great but I did wish more moments were shown more moments between them.
I read this when I was in need of fairy-tale whimsy and overall I had a great time.

This book was sooooo good!!! I absolutely loved every piece of this fantastic story! I’d recommend this is anyone really wanting to read a romance that’s a bit YA but every bit of mature!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me a first read of this book.

This book is a moving retelling of retelling of Beauty and the Beast. The characters are all amazing and the story is extremely emotional.

Tru and Elang work beautifully together. You will fall in love with them both.

It is a must read.

Five stars.

After her father’s trade ship is lost at sea, Truyan's happy life is turned upside down. Five years later Tru, her two younger sisters, and mother are barely making ends meet. Tru has turned to art forgery to balance her mother’s gambling debt and to support her sisters. But her mom’s most recent relapse has detrimental consequences. Tru has no choice but to explore the possible magic underscoring her painting talent and strike a deal with the demon prince. This leads her to the undersea and into a realm completely foreign and deadly. Will she be able to save her family and make them whole again?

This was a great read. Tru is an interesting character who is likeable and has a unique talent with her painting that drives the story thread. There is a light fantastical and magical quality to the story as it’s really driven more by the relationship between Tru and the demon prince. Light romance, bright characters and the strength of family drive this novel. Easy to pick up and read. 5 stars.

Based on a digital Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by Random House Children’s, Knopf Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

I thought this was a super cute story. I got drawn into the world and when demons came up I thought it would be a turn off for me but these read like any other creature in the world, not monsters, which was interesting. The ending was looking like it would disappoint me but.....I did get my HEA 🤭

This is my first book by Elizabeth Lim, and I really enjoyed it! I felt like there were some tropes that weren't my favorite, but overall things flowed well, and made more sense due to characterization and the story than in others where the tropes feel more forced in and kind of brushed over. Overall it was a fun read, and I'll definitely be recommending it to patrons!

I am a massive fan of Elizabeth Lim's work, and this addition to her world did not disappoint. Fans of The Apothecary Diaries anime/manga & Beauty and the Beast will absolutely adore this story: wonderful world-building and callbacks to the original fairytale.

I didn’t know how much I needed this beauty and the beast retelling. It was absolutely perfect. The slow burn. The yearning. The grumpy dragon. A quiet but strong FMC. The settings were magical, who doesn’t love an underwater palace? Not to mention the politics and light banter that kept me from putting it down. To top it all off, the ending was so heartbreaking and beautiful I cried.


Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for the ARC!

Just finished this book and let me tell you- I’ll be buying a physical copy for sure. Partway through, I felt like this would end up being a favorite read of 2025 and it didn’t disappoint.

I really liked Tru and Elang and all of the side characters. The writing was excellent. I love The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast so much and this was a perfect blend of those stories and more.

As the end approached I felt bittersweet emotions about the way things were going, and I’m still not sure how to take the ending but it was also so so good. I wish that it wasn’t over, and yet it was a satisfying length at the same time.

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy, which I was given in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely love all of Elizabeth Lim's books because her stories are so whimsical, full of lyrical prose, and inspired by childhood stories from around the world. One of my favorite things about her stories is that I always learn about Eastern lore and this one was no different. A Forgery of Fate by @elimpix is a magical and romantic story that will sweep you away to an underwater dragon realm. It's described as a Beauty and the Beast retelling so if you're a Belle girlie or a Beast fan, this one's for you. Tru is a con artist and an art forger gifted with Sight which gives her the ability to paint the future. Her ability is inspired from one of my favorite children's books, The Magic Paintbrush! She ends up in a deal with a dragon prince, Elang, that will save her family from debt. Unfortunately, this deal involves overthrowing the dragon king. Elang seems heartless at first, but his quiet actions are swoon worthy. Elang is not a man of many words, but a dragon of action. Tru slowly figures out his game and goes all in. The yearning!! Lim is so great at infusing yearning in her relationships. I also loved the underwater setting and how Lim gave sea creatures different roles. There were some really great opportunities for this story to be darker with the dragon king, demons, and family drama; however, the book is YA and written for YA audiences. I still really enjoyed it and couldn't put it down!

My favorite of Lim's work. The beauty and the beast storyline combined with the lore of her world was a lot of fun, but most of all I liked that it was a single volume, not split up and stretched out to fill a duology. It felt tighter this way, very satisfying.

I loved this! So much in fact, that I just bought myself a copy from Walmart. I loved the romance in this. It felt so intoned with the story and overall this was incredible. I can’t wait to read more from this author.