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!

I’m starting to think the marriage for convenience trope is becoming a favorite of mine.
This is a beauty and the beast retelling with Chinese folklore that makes this story so beautiful and rich with culture. Elizabeth Lim is such a fantastic writer and master world builder that any story she writes is going to be an automatic success. This book is no exception.
I fell in love with these characters, with this world. I can’t believe it’s primarily set in the ocean, it makes it so much more fun.
Our main character Tru is a con artist and art forger, doing the best she can to support her mother and two sisters. Her mother, after losing her husband, has developed a gambling addiction leaving her poor girls in a large debt. Tru is then forced to make a great forgery piece to make that money back. Those events start off the rest of the story into a magical, underwater world.
That’s really all anyone should know. I went into this book completely blind and was so pleasantly surprised. The world, the romance, the overall mission of the two main characters. I loved it all.
If you decide to read this book I hope you love it as much as I did.

Finished this in two days!! Weekend well-spent. I thought I'm going to be a slow reader for a YA, but A Forgery of Fate surprised me.

First, the LOVABLE MCs are well written. I love Tru's persistence. Her hardwork. Her love for money and jewels. Girl is true, and cunning, and sly (I still don't like Tru's mom tho). And Elang my boy 🖤 you're telling me a demon prince is someone who takes great care for his ugly roses? And garden?? And loves his aquatic and reptilian pets??? Ridiculous.

The story is actually quite straightforward with a twist at the 30%ish end. And the twist is BIG REVEALS (surprised but not very impressed. But it got the story more layers, thus make it more interesting).It has non-rushy fast-paced plot. The action was well timed. Non dragging in a way it's hard to keep going. LOVING THE PACE.

Lowkey wanted the ending to be ANGST WAKAKAKA
I need explanation about the ending tbh......

The writing is atmospheric with rich world-building. As always Mrs. Lim is exceeding expectations. Loving the duo dynamic even though it's sour and bittersweet oftentimes. The trio sisters definitely steal the show ✨

If you're familiar with Elizabeth Lim's game, the main character is actually familiar. I still insisted we have Seryu's own book. More importantly now than ever....

But do you need to read her other books to understand this? NOPE.

A Forgery of Fate is standalone, set far after The Dragon's Promise and before Blood of Stars Duology.

You can enjoy this book as it is.

If you're into Dragons, underwater adventure, beauty and the beast loose inspired story, PAINTINGS, read it🩵 it's a well-crafted YA fantasy adorned with romance, soulmates, and strong love for family.

Thankyou Knopf Books for Young Readers and netgalley for the e-arc in exchange for honest review 🫶🏾✨

First of all thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I started the arc last mon, and it is taking me this long to try to finish it, but I can not force myself to do it. I started with the eARC, then when I got the book I kept reading the book. I read 309/467 pages, the book is too long to keep going.
It started really good, very entertaining and fast pace, until they went under the sea.
I had an issue with the FMC, saying all the time that the male lead was arrogant. and a monster, and rude... I felt like the author was trying to sell us that arrogant, hot , jerk male character. But I did not see anything of those traits on him. It was just a dude taking care of business, he had a deal with her and that was it. FMC was a little annoying, acting stubborn and doing whatever she wanted.
The world under the water, seemed a little odd. How were they boiling noodles in the water? I feel like there should have been more specific description of how life worked under the sea, I know the book is fantasy, but personally, there is so much of fantasy that I can take without making any sense. Like how did they lived a normal life ( similar to life in land) under the sea ? Were they living under a dome like Sandy Cheeks?
And the dialogue between the FMC and MMC was kind of bland. There was no chemistry between then. The book turned boring and I just did not like it anymore, I lost all the interest I had at the start.
Shani, the demon, was the only character I liked.
The turtles? the general turtle? I could not take that seriously.
I think the book was mediocre.

I really wanted to like this book but it just wasn’t for me. I definitely saw the beauty and the beast vibes that were mentioned but I couldn’t get myself involved in the story. I have to say that I did enjoy the ending though!

I have never craved a bowl of noodles more. And why aren’t there infinitely more Beauty & the Beast inspired stories? Give me that over Cinderella any day. I love that all of EL’s books exist in the same universe and fans get to spot all the little easter eggs. Overall, solid standalone fantasy that had vibes of a vivid Studio Ghibli.

*Note I have received a free digital copy of this book and it will not affect my thoughts or feelings towards this title*

As a massive fan of Elizabeth Lim work I can confidently say that this book does not disappoint. If you are looking for a magical and beautiful reimagining of a the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast this book is for you. I also want to give a shout out for the beautiful and vibrant setting Lim is able to create and thread throughout the entire novel as she always is able to deliver a magical world so well. My only problem with the book is it felt like for the first half of the middle section it felt very slow and repetitive. However it didn’t ruin my enjoyment too much as it still gave me more time with my favorite characters before having to say goodbye. Overall if you are looking for a quick standalone fantasy novel this book is perfect for you.
Overall 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love all of Elizabeth Lim’s books and this was no exception. A Forgery of Fate was a really entertaining retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I feel like there have been a lot of retellings recently, but this one definitely stands out and is worth the read.

Bottom Line: An excellent standalone YA fantasy combining well-known fairytales & Chinese folklore.

Read full review at Redeemed Reader

This was a beautifully written Beauty and the Beast retelling with asian flair!! I loved every minute of it. Some of the twists were surprising, and it kept me on the edge of my seat! Love it.

DNF at 66%. I received an eARC. Book is long out and I still haven't finished it. Perhaps my interest in books changed, but also I can't find myself caring enough about this story no matter how much I forced myself. I have loved Elizabeth Lim's previous work (minus her sequels), and I was sure this book would be another hit. Sadly, it wasn't for me. The book is supposed to be a beauty and the beast retelling, with Elang meant to give that Beast vibe of grumpy, gruff male but an awkward softy deep down. In 66% I have not seen an IOTA of this. Elang is either a dick, dismissive, or ignores Tru. There is NOTHING he does that gives me any notion he cares, and it kinda loses the purpose of what a Beauty and the Beast retelling should be.

A Forgery of Fate has cemented Elizabeth Lim as a favorite author of mine. Inside you’ll find a fake marriage, scheming, an underwater palace, a brooding dragon, budding friendships, and drool-worthy food descriptions. I’d say this is Beauty and the Beast inspired, but not a retelling. It retains the cursed love interest vibes while offering a wholly new experience!

What I Loved:
-The character building
-Focus on family and friendships
-The Magic System (painting the future still leaves room for trickery and surprises)
-Fake Marriage (and the slow burn genuine yearning that goes with it!)
-The descriptions, Lim is a master at settings and visuals
-It made me cry

What I Could Have Used a Little More Of:
-On-the-page Scheming

I can’t finish my review without expanding upon the characters in this, especially the main characters Truyan and Elang. Tru knows her strengths and she stands by her convictions. She’s fierce yet compassionate and her empathy and cleverness are aspects that I adore and respect most about her. As she gets transported to the undersea realm of magic and dragons and has to start her life anew, she forges new friendships and inspires the people around her to do their best.
I also enjoyed the agency Lim gave Tru, considering the retelling vibes. Unlike Belle who essentially gets kidnapped and is held prisoner; Tru is instead a willing participant in a fake marriage where she uses her painting skills to help Elang’s mission while Elang helps Tru find her missing father.

Overall, I devoured this book and highly recommend fantasy readers looking for a studio Ghibli vibe and to romance readers who love a slow burn.

4-4.5 stars
A romantic fantasy involving an art forger and a half-dragon/half-man. And it's set under the sea! And all very well done: the plot, the world-building, and the characters. I really enjoyed this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free e-ARC of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This was just spectacular. The writing was beautiful, the story captivating, and I felt like I could close my eyes and see the paintings and the world. I was completely invested in the characters and their romance and lives and conflict.....I want to go swim in those waters (well, after the book) and see the turtles and merfolk and dragons....I want to eat those noodles and sail with Baba and Mama and try on Tru's sister's clothes and read their books...I loved it.

This book does exactly what a fantasy book should - it removes you from reality for a while and keeps your heart in the story. It was beautifully written and I loved every second.

Elizabeth Lim just ripped my heart out and stomped on it through this story. Beautiful prose, an interesting take on Beauty and the Beast, and perfectly bittersweet with just enough hope to save me from totally combusting at the end. I will be thinking about this book for a long time

If Belle was an art forger who could paint the future and Beast was a cursed half-dragon seeking revenge instead of redemption, this would be that story. But it’s also so much more.

The Beauty and the Beast inspiration is subtle but strong, woven through the emotional core of the story without overpowering it. Instead of a dusty castle and enchanted objects, we have an enchanting undersea kingdom and a reluctant bride whose paintbrush holds the power to alter fate.

And let’s talk about that world-building. Lim is a master!

From jellyfish forests and shark-infested waters to ancient turtle guardians and shimmering underwater palaces, the world of A’landi is so richly imagined you’ll wish you could breathe underwater just to live there for a while.
The visual, lyrical prose makes each scene feel like a painting in motion and it’s all anchored by two beautifully complicated characters!

Tru is a heroine you want to root for. Fierce, flawed, and full of heart, she’s willing to risk everything for her family, even if it means marrying a monster. Elang is the kind of slow-burn hero fantasy readers crave guarded, gruff, deeply wounded, and quietly yearning. The chemistry between them simmers beneath every tense glance and reluctant moment of trust.

While there’s action, intrigue, and mythology galore, it’s the emotional depth that makes this story unforgettable.