Thank you so much to Penguin Random House, Elizabeth Lim, and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.


There's something about an underwater setting in a fantasy book that makes it so much more magical. The worldbuilding was strong, vivid and unique, and I loved the kingdom of Ai'long with the mermaids, turtles, and of course, the dragons. The imagery was well-written and strong, creating a whimsical vibe to the entire story.


When Nezayun's name was first brought up, I immediately found it familiar and remembered that he was also in the Six Crimson Cranes duology. I put two and two together and found out that Seryu and Elang are cousins (though I do not remember Elang's appearance in that series).

I loved both Tru and Elang. Tru was an admirable and strong female heroine, always putting her family's needs over her own, and is a kind and beautiful person through and through. There's nothing more satisfying than a female MC drawing strength and courage from her desire to protect her own family. Elang was more mysterious, and he seemed cold on the surface, but deep down, he was someone who loved and cared deeply about Tru and the people in his kingdom. Both characters are layered and compelling. The buildup of their romance was slow and full of yearning, which allowed their relationship to become stronger over time as they navigated their feelings for one another. Despite it being a slow burn, I still found it to be very engaging and it definitely kept me invested and wanting to see what would come next.

I have not read the Radiant Curse duology yet, but I loved the Six Crimson Cranes duology, and loved that Seryu made a cameo
Overall, this book was amazing with a beautiful world setting and lovable characters. I am very excited to read more of her books and will definitely being reading the Radiant Curse Duology next.



Read if you love
✨ Beauty and the Beast Vibes
✨ Retellings
✨ Fake Marriage
✨ Dragons
✨ Yearning
✨ Badass female Heroine
✨ Slow Burn
✨ Grumpy x Sunshine
✨Fated Mates
✨ Found Family
✨ High-Stakes Action and Adventure
✨ Political Intrigue
✨ He Falls First
✨ No Spice

Forgery of Fate is actually my first Elizabeth Lim book. I've had all of her other books on my to read list since they were announced, but this one immediately jumped to the front of the line because of the premise. There was no way I could resist Chinese fantasy with dragons mixed with a Beauty and the Beast retelling (I'm a sucker for Beauty and the Beast retellings), so I knew I had to request this. As someone who hasn't read Six Crimson Cranes, I think Forgery of Fate holds up perfectly well on it's own. I enjoyed it so much that I actually read the Six Crimson Cranes duology after finishing it, and I will say after having read both, it's definitely not necessary to read Six Crimson Cranes beforehand. It does give more background information and insight into the world building, but nothing that the reader would have to know for Forgery of Fate to make sense. It was nice to see Elang make an appearance in Six Crimson Cranes and on the flip side, you do get to learn more about Seryu, who only has a brief appearance in a Forgery of Fate.

On the topic of characters, I really liked Elang and Tru. Both were very headstrong and clever characters, and I enjoyed their dynamic. I do wish we had a bit more romantic moments between the two (I get it, there are a lot of other things happening in the plot, but I just thought the two of them were super cute). The storyline was interesting, and I liked the concept of fortune telling through art. Lim's writing style felt descriptive and vivid, and the worldbuilding was well done. The pacing of the plot was good, and the main conflict was interesting.

Overall, a very solid book by Elizabeth Lim with well-rounded romance, plot pacing and elements, and strong world building. I highly recommend it to fantasy fans (and of course those that enjoyed Six Crimson Cranes) with a cute romance.

After her father is lost at sea, Truyan Saigas finds herself working as an art forger to support her family, but she isn’t just any art forger, she has the ability to paint the future. When she finds herself in a tight spot due to her mother’s gambling debts, she agrees to marry a mysterious lord in return for protection for her family. However this marriage requires that she travel to the dragon’s undersea world and join a plot to overthrow the tyrannical Dragon King.

I absolutely loved this retelling of the Beauty and the Best fairy tale. Tru is smart and courageous and far more complex that they traditional heroine, and the dragon prince is clever, honorable, and cold for reasons of his own, not just the wounded pride of the original story. The world-building was lush and magical and made me want to join Tru for a bowl of noodles. I will be recommending this book to so many fantasy readers, young and old.

"I bind you to me, Tru Saigas," he spoke, wrapping the string around our wrists. "Until the end of our days upon this earth, under this heaven, and across the seas, our fates are one, our destinies entangled. Whatever course you may wend, I will follow." – Prince Elang Yuwong

✨ An Enchanting Journey of Love, Secrets, and Sea Magic ✨

✨ BLURB:
➡️ Truyan, a con artist and painter, finds herself in a desperate situation when her sister is at risk of being sold into slavery. When the Dragon Prince offers his help, she has no choice but to accept—unaware that this decision will change her fate forever.

✨ MY THOUGHTS ABOUT IT:
➡️ WAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!! OMG!!! I AM SOOOO IN LOVE WITH THIS BOOK—with Ai’long, the turtles, the merfolk, Tru, and PRINCE ELANG!!! This was such an amazing read, I wouldn’t want anyone to miss it.

➡️ First, let’s talk about how swoon-worthy PRINCE ELANG is! He traveled across the sea pretending to be someone else just to get close to his heavenly match. He spent years secretly admiring Tru. He may seem cold and distant on the outside, but he’s soft, kind, protective, and deeply loyal inside. Despite his tragic past and all the cruelty he faced because of his unique appearance, he grew up with such strength and grace.

➡️ Then there’s Truyan—hard-working, determined, and willing to do anything to save her family from hunger and to find her missing father. Tru and Elang’s chemistry is chef’s kiss! I literally squealed out loud!

➡️ Elizabeth Lim’s world-building is INSANE! I felt like I was breathing underwater. Every magical detail, from the merfolk to the turtles and dragons, was so vivid and enchanting! With high-stakes action, lovable characters, and a stunning setting, this book had me crying, swooning, and screaming with excitement! Elizabeth Lim is now officially one of my top favorite authors.

➡️ In a nutshell, this was absolutely a MASTERPIECE I can’t wait for you to read! If you love pirates, turtles, merfolk, underwater kingdoms, Beauty and the Beast vibes, mythology, and swoon-worthy royalty, this book will definitely become your next obsession.

➡️ A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children’s for giving me the opportunity to read this unforgettable tale of Truyan and Elang. 🌊🐢💙

✨WHAT I LIKED:
📌 Truyan desperately finding ways to save her family
📌 Truyan and Gaari’s unexpected friendship
📌 Nomi being a bookworm, and Fal being protective of Tru
📌 Truyan’s hidden power
📌 The Dragon Prince slowly revealing his secrets (OMG!!! This was definitely mind-blowing!)
📌 Truyan and Elang’s fates intertwined!
📌 Elang’s cold personality (Totally worth the wait!)
📌 Mailoh, Konkui, Caisan, and Shani!!!

✨TROPES:
📌 Slow Burn Romance
📌 Grumpy x Sunshine
📌 Friends to Lovers
📌 Fated Mates
📌 Hidden Identity
📌 Royalty in Disguise
📌 Found Family
📌 Unexpected Friendship
📌 Strong FMC and MMC
📌 Heroine with a Secret Power
📌 High-Stakes Action and Adventure
📌 Beauty and the Beast Vibes
📌 Touch of Political Intrigue
📌 He Falls First
📌 No Spice

This was such a lovely story!
This is the best type of fantasy! I don’t think I can quite put into words.
Elizabeth Lim‘s writing is captivating. She knows how to pull the reader into a magnificent and intriguing place.
The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb.
The attention to details in her writing really set the scene and tone.

Thank you so much @penguinteencanada for the gifted digital ARC for an honest review.

A Forgery of Fate left me in such a state, I cried my eyes out and then when it was over, I just wanted more.

I know it's a standalone but it was just so good and their story was beautifully written with the perfect dose of yearning, chemistry and fate.

There were so many things I didn't see coming and it was such a pleasure to return to the kingdom of dragons from her precedent books.

I fell in love with the dragon's world under the sea, the turtles and the magic. If you have read the author's previous work, you'll see characters that you met before and I loved meeting them again in this story.

Read this if you love :

✨ Beauty and the Beast ;
✨ Retellings;
✨ Fake Marriage ;
✨ Dragons ;
✨ Yearning ;
✨ Fated Love;
✨ Badass Heroine.

Just as expected, this was absolutely amazing!! The magic and whimsical vibes were so beautiful. And all the talk about food definitely made me hungry.

Tru was such a fun MC! I loved how hardworking she was in any conflicts thrown at her. And although she felt scared and hopeless at times, I admired how she was always brave for her younger sisters. She always prioritized her family over herself. She was also very caring towards those around her and just a beautiful person all around.

I also loved Elang! When I first saw the synopsis of this book, I was like "could it be???" And it was! If you've read the Six Crimson Cranes duology, you've met Elang before. I loved his character there, and it was so fun to see him again. I also enjoyed seeing how he had grown between his previous appearance and this book.

The romance was so sweet. It's definitely slow burn and focuses more on Tru and Elang navigating their feelings for each other than their time together as a couple. And I loved it so much! The progression of the romance was very engaging.

The story was really intriguing. The main antagonist is Nazayun, Elang's grandfather and the Dragon King. He is also a character previously in the Six Crimson Cranes duology, and he hasn't changed at all. There were so many twists throughout the story, and they all felt natural. The ending was so intense. Literally had me on the edge of my seat.

This book can definitely be read as a standalone, but if you've read the Six Crimson Cranes duology, it's so fun! Along with Elang and Nazayun, there's a cameo from Seryu!

Elizabeth Lim is one of my most favorite authors, and I'm so happy I loved it as much as I thought I would!

3.5 ⭐ If you are looking for a book filled with rich folklore, sweet love, and dragons, then this Beauty & the Beast retelling is perfect for you. The world building is fascinating and well developed for a standalone, and I absolutely loved our main character, Tru, and the devotion she had to her family and to her art (and to Elang, but that comes later). The imagery was vivid, and the descriptions were so detailed that I felt like I was seeing the dragons with my own eyes.

Although I thoroughly enjoyed this book, there were key plot points that I was confused about. When it came to Elang's curse and his pearl, I was never quite sure if the curse was put on his pearl, or if his pearl was taken and he was ALSO cursed? It felt like at times, the pearl and the curse were talked about like they were connected, and other times it felt like that curse came later. While we do receive clarification on this, it was a very monumental thing for me to be confused about, as it directly impacted the main plot. Who knows, maybe I missed something?

Either way, this book atmospheric and beautiful and I recommend it! Thank you again NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I had a lot of fun being taken back into Lor’Yan. I love how she crafted beauty and the beast retelling with Asian folklore. The underwater dragon world is captivating, the magic is unique, and the relationship had a gradual growth. The ENDING gave me whiplash with the twists and turns in a positive way! At this point Elizabeth Lim has made me cry with every book.

Truyan Saigas’s sea merchant father disappeared in a voyage 5 years ago, and to make ends meet for her, her two sisters and her mother with a penchant for gambling, Tru has put her painting skills to work as an art foger, until one day past debts are called in, circumstances align and her world implodes. To save her family and hopefully find her father, Tru begins to use her gift of Sight and agrees to marry the mysterious demon prince (who is actually a dragon lord) and help him break his curse.

Drawing from Chinese lore with subtle influences from Rumplestilskin and Beauty and the Beast, I completely loved this story! It was fresh and I enjoyed savoring this unique story and its twists and turns. I also loved the turtles, mermaids, dragons, and the water demon, and how they were blended together in Al’long. I loved how the dragon kingdom and magic was water-based, which was not something I would have expected. Truyan’s magical gift of Sight, plus her street smarts as a con artist, and how they prepare her perfectly for mission with the demon/dragon prince and the fake marriage she agrees to with him, are a blend of components I know well from other fantasy stories, but put together in an invigorating way.

I savored this book as I read it, enjoying the originality of it, the excellent writing, the slow burn between the leading characters. It was everything I hope to experience when I read a new fantasy book, yet I rarely find. I wholeheartedly recommend it and give it 5 stars - something that I have not been able to do for many books I’ve read so far this year.

I loved this book. Dare I say it, it’s my favorite Elizabeth Lim book yet. So much sequel / spin off potential in this one too!!

I desperately want to see a spin off about a certain cousin who will remain nameless for spoiler reasons but I need to know his story!

I love the way Elizabeth Lim weaves magic into every word she writes.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Forgery of Fate was my first book by Elizabeth Lim, but it definitely won’t be my last. It was an enthralling YA Chinese romantic fantasy based on Beauty and the Beast, and it had intricate heists, art forgery, high stakes magical schemes, forbidden romance, and a vibrant mythological world.

It tells the story of Tru, a girl who’s forced to become a con artist to support her mother and sisters after her father is lost at sea. She can paint the future, and uses her talents to forge artwork and scam people. When she’s caught, she has no choice but to enter into a marriage contract with a dragon lord named Elang. He will provide for her family and protect her from her enemies, and in exchange, Tru must go with him to his underwater palace and assist him in his plot to overthrow the tyrannical Dragon King.

It was everything I could’ve asked for in a YA fantasy romance. It was fast paced, well written, the world building was thorough and imaginative, it had complex and morally ambiguous characters that you couldn’t help but love, was full of twists, turns, surprise reveals and betrayals, and had an excellent slow burn romance filled with yearning. I absolutely loved it, and I highly recommend checking it out!

P.S. This book has a water demon named Shani in it, and MY NAME IS SHANI. It’s fate.

Thank you to Get Underlined, Alfred A. Knopf, Random House Children’s Books, Penguin Random House, Elizabeth Lim, and NetGalley for the ARC and finished copy.

📔A Forgery of Fate
✏️ Elizabeth Lim
📆 June 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🖌️ Chinese folklore
🖌️ art forging, heists, & schemes
🖌️ demons, dragons, & magic
🖌️ forbidden romance
🖌️ marriage of convenience
🖌️ political intrigue

A big thanks to NetGalley for sending my this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

A stunning beauty and the beast reimagining, “A Forgery of Fate” by Elizabeth Lim explores love, family, fate, and most importantly.. talking turtles? I was blown away by this whimsical story told about a man dragon and a sassy human with blue hair working together to take down the evil dragon king. The world Elizabeth created was vivid and enchanting, and the characters lovable even when they drove you nuts (Mama I’m lookin at you)

Tru is an amazing FMC; she is strong, and brave while also being soft and caring. She puts the ones she loves before herself and will do anything to ensure their safety. Shes an incredibly easy protagonist to root for and I really enjoyed seeing her character grow and kick some bad guy butt.

And Elang oh be still my beating heart I love this sweet little dragon man. He is mysterious, seeming to be cold and unfeeling when deep down he’s really just disguising his true nature of being a sweet lil cinnamon roll.

The romance between these two captured my heart immediately, the marriage of convenience, the “my wife” lines, the shared love for noodles… everything was just perfection.

My only complaint with this book would be that I wish there was more. More world building, more characters development, more Tru and Elang. Unfortunately that’s the way things often go with standalone fantasy though and Lim still did an incredible job overall. I will definitely be exploring more of her work after this ☺️

Thank you so much to the author, Random House, and Netgalley for an opportunity to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

As my first venture into the lush East Asian-inspired fantasy world that Elizabeth Lim crafted, I'm thrilled by the overall enjoyment I felt about the book. A Forgery of Fate is a standalone story that encapsulates the perfect blend of a classic Western tale and Chinese culture, perfect for readers who want to read more from BIPOC authors and to support stories that balance romance and fantasy without the reliance on steamy romantic scenes.

The story follows Truyan Saigas, a young woman who struggles to keep her family alive following the mysterious disappearance of her father at sea. Making ends meet as a skilled con artist, she encounters Elangi, a dragon prince who makes her a tempting deal: in exchange for money and his help to find her father, she would be his wife and use her skills to overthrow the dragon king of an underwater kingdom. She agrees to his terms, and what transpires is a breathtaking journey from land to sea.

There is a lot to love about the book. I loved the immersion of exploring a part of the author's rich world through a stronghearted female protagonist. I loved the true slow-burn romance between Truyan and Elangi, where the author took the time to develop their relationship from reluctant allies to lovers. But most of all, I loved how every supporting character, including the main antagonist, played a role in the overall plot, never being sidelined in favor of the romance.

Every single aspect of the book came together flawlessly. Every page left me with anticipation of what would happen next. I highly recommend picking this up as your next read, especially for people who enjoy shoujo manga-style storytelling!

Rating: 4.5⭐️/5

I adored this book. Tru is an art forger that pains the future and Elang the cast out “demon” dragon prince. They marry to convince the dragon king they’re in love in an effort to usurp him.

A Forgery of Fate is filled with Asian folktales, beautiful character arcs, mythical creatures and some great plot twists and political intrigue. I highly recommend this one and there’s a beautiful special edition.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House, and Ms. Lim for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

Beauty and the Beast? plus The Magic Paintbrush? and throw in dragons? and written by Elizabeth Lim?

Honestly I don't know if there is any result of the combination of those elements that I would not have LOVED with my whole heart.

Happily I am here to share that I love, love, loved Truyan Saigas and her intrepid, fierce, creative, spicy-noodle-loving heart. If possible I loved it even more than the Six Crimson Cranes duology. Tru is the exact sort of FMC I like best: feisty but intelligent. She doesn't run her mouth just for the sake of bravado. She listens to others, she knows her own strengths, and she thinks things through. Not that I didn't love Elangui and Shani and Mailoh too, not to mention Tru's sisters, but Tru is just SUCH a good character. I also really loved the setting; Ai'long was so beautifully described and I loved imagining it. For some reason I kept picturing bleak, desolate Yonsar as the bottom of the ocean that you can see in pictures of the Titanic: empty, barren, grey, cold. No idea if that's what the author had in mind but it stuck with me.

I loved this, wholeheartedly. Even that ending. (I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying!). I don't want to spoil even a second of the magic so I'm not going to describe any of the plot. Just read it!

🐉A Forgery of Fate🐉

I quite enjoyed Elizabeth Lim’s Six Crimson Cranes duology so I was thrilled to get an opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of her latest, A Forgery of Fate. This Beauty and the Beast inspired YA fantasy with an underwater/dragon-y twist definitely sounded up my alley! If you’re interested in the blurb, please swipe!

I absolutely loved the world building in A Forgery of Fate. An underwater palace with dragons, turtles and mermaids? Yes please! I really could clearly picture it as a read which really enhanced the story. I also found Tru’s power to paint the future absolutely enchanting! I’ve read a few books lately with artistic-y plots and I am here for it. The story was really well paced and I enjoyed the various twists and turns along the way.

Tru was such a great main character. Her strength and determination remains a constant though she's met with her fair share of challenges. Elang was also really interesting, of course I’m going to find a half-dragon fascinating! While he comes off as cruel and heartless, the reader cannot help but wonder what he is hiding behind that facade. While A Forgery of Fate is considered a romantic fantasy, I found it to be quite light on the romance. For me, it was the perfect amount so that it didn’t take away from the overall plot which is my preference.

Overall, I really enjoyed A Forgery of Fate and look forward to picking up more of Elizabeth Lim’s work!

A big thank you to @knopfyoungreaders & @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review! A Forgery of Fate is available now!

⭐4/5 stars⭐

What a stunning story. The merging of such beloved fairy tales is perfection and fits together so perfectly that the readers are taken on such a beautiful journey. Tru character leaps off the pages and her journey to find her father and save her sisters is such a wild ride. Merge in dragons and magic and you have the perfect storm for an inspiring book. I can’t wait to get this into readers hands.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read such a superb book.

From the moment I read Elizabeth Lim’s Letter to Readers and saw that A Forgery of Fate was inspired by Beauty and the Beast…with touches of The Little Mermaid and Rumpelstiltskin…I was sold! Those are my absolute favorite fairy tales, and Lim blended them beautifully with rich elements of Chinese folklore to create something truly magical.

The world-building is lush and vivid, filled with the kind of detail that pulls you in completely. The characters are layered and compelling, and the relationship between Tru and Elang was so sweet and rewarding to watch unfold. Their emotional journey added real heart to the story.

I loved this book so much! It was a stunning, lyrical tale that felt both fresh and timeless. And I have to say…the cover art is absolutely breathtaking.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children’s for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, my first Elizabeth Lim book and I was blown away. A beauty and the beast retelling I didn’t know I needed. I’m truly in awe of the storytelling and the slow burn romance was chef’s kiss. I’m now a fan and can’t wait to dive into her other stories :)