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.

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
# Pages: 480
Publication Date: 06.03.25

“When I heard his heart, beating wildly against mine, I held him close, desperately worried that if I let go, he might disappear from the fabric of the universe forever.”

🐲 YA Romantic Fantasy
🐲 Beauty & The Beast Inspired
🐲 Fairytale Vibes
🐲 Fake Dating
🐲 Art Heists
🐲 Court Intrigue
🐲 Marriage Contract
🐲 Family Love
🐲 Dragons

Book Description:
A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.Truyan Saigas didn't choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.
Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father's disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King's inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms.

“A Forgery Of Fate” by Elizabeth Lim was rich and immersive. Per the usual, the world building was vivid, descriptive, whimsical and lush. Her writing is always consistent and this didn’t fail. Beautiful blends of reimagining of Beauty and the Beast, Chinese folklore, the underwater world and mythical creatures. Who doesn’t love dragons??

I loved the character development. They were easy to love and easy to feel for them. The FMC, Tru Saigas, showed growth, bravery, love for her family, and more.

Overall, i think this was a very well put together story that flowed. I loved how enchanting and captivating it was. The twists and turns were perfect. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for this ARC copy.

STUNNING

with a unique take on the classic, beauty and the beast lore set in an underwater world with surprising and unique creatures, beautifully developed characters, gripping twists and the moist breathtaking heartfelt ending

I've been a fan of Elizabeth Lim for some time now but this novel has absolutely put her in my auto read list. Will absolutely be recommending this title.

I had forgotten how much I love Elizabeth Lim's worlds. I have been in a mood for Asian inspired fantasies and I keep falling in love with covers and blurbs, but then, when starting to read, not finding a spark.

This book had that spark. I was hooked immediately and finished so quickly, reading in all my spare moments.

I loved the world building, the characters and all the descriptions. Tru was an artist and the author captured her paintings with her words.

Highly recommended.

This book made me go through so many emotions. This is one of the best books I've read in quite a while. I loved every moment of it and hated when I had to put it down. The world that was built is so captivating, the characters were all spectacular in their own rights. From beginning to end, I had the best time reading this book.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for allowed me to read this early!

Yes yes yes a thousand times yes I can not explain how much I love this retelling of beauty and the beast.

I was glued to the book and could not put it down I love the characters and how it’s written I love the detail the author puts into her books and how much it draws me into the story.

I have already recommended this book to several people I know and I will keep recommending it because honestly this book needs awards for how good it is .

Thank you Netgalley Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers for the arc

‘A Forgery of Fate’ is a mesmerizing new fantasy tale filled with magic, intrigue, and romance like no other blending ‘Beauty and the Beast’ with high-stakes workd building.

We have Tru, a compelling heroine, torn between duty, survival, and the allure of a cursed dragon lord. You’ll follow along an epic adventure of love and hurt, but most of all an amazing world sure to set your heart ablaze. The slow-burn romance and tension-filled plot kept me turnibg rhe pages turning. A constant giggle with every interaction between the two love interests.

This book was filled with breathtaking prose and setting. I easily fell in love with this book.

wish I loved this book as much as I loved the last 10% but it was still a solid read. I liked the writing but it felt kinda overwhelming at times, I feel like I would’ve been way more invested if there was more romance throughout the story bc they had soooo much potential 😭 all things considered, it was totally worth the read (especially since it’s a standalone) and it made me want to check out the author’s other books

thanks netgalley & random house for the arc! 💙