Forgery of Fates is about Tru Saigas, a con artist and art forger trying to support her family including her mother who claims to be a fortune teller. Tru has supported the family since their father disappeared at sea years ago, leaving them to fend for themselves. But Tru has a secret: she can paint the future whenever her fingers begin to tingle, and everything she paints eventually comes true. It’s through this power that she first envisions her mentor and partner in crime, who she has yet to meet.
This is a fantastic magical tale, similar to Beauty and the Beast but in a very different setting. It is magically written and absorbing and such a find that I am now going to read er previous books.

This was absolutely lush. I adored the romance, it was slow burn and oh so sweet. All the characters were complex and interesting, and the magic was like stepping into a fairytale.

Yes I can see the inspiration from Beauty & The Beast, but this is completely its own story in its own unique setting.

This is my first time reading from the author and I’ve just purchased her back catalog of books as well as preordering a physical copy of this one. Obsessed.

This was fun! I really love how even though all of Elizabeth Lim’s stories take place in the same world, they are still so distinct. This one follows Tru, an art forger with a secret, who is trying to feed her mom and sisters after their dad disappeared at sea. The beginning of the book is so much fun and throws you into the action immediately when a lot goes wrong for Tru. She has to make a deal with a mysterious dragon lord to live in his castle for a month and help him overthrow his evil grandpa dragon king. Once Tru arrives there, the pacing slows down a loooot, but I was still invested. Lim described this book as having way more romance, but it’s definitely not the central focus of the story. I did love all of the characters, especially Tru. Lim is just great at writing main characters. The world could have been developed a little better and the central conflict seemed a little… simple, but in the end Lim did take her time wrapping it all up. I recommend if you enjoyed other books by this author.

<i>I received this ARC thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.</i>

<b> WARNING - although this can be called a standalone, it is a part of the <i>Legends of Lor'yan</i> universe - I advise you to either read them in publishing order (my recommendation), or the chronological order listed below, as they do spoil each other heavily:
1. Her radiant curse
2. Six crimson cranes
3. The Dragon's Promise
4. A Forgery of Fate
5. Spin the Dawn
6. Unravel the Dusk</b>

I looove what I call 'Blood of stars' series, tho in fact it's name only for the first two published books, the others are spin-offs all over the place (imagine weird Shadowhunters publishing to chronological order), but they're really fun this way! Reading each next book makes you notice all the details for potential spin-offs - I'm talking about you, Seryu book, I still need one :')
Nonetheless, I was really happy that after <i>Her Radiant Curse</i> which wasn't my favorite we're getting a book that comes <i>after</i> The Dragon's Promise - in case you didn't know, it's about Seryu's cousin, Elang!
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<b>"Use the brush to paint what's real, or pain what isn't," said Baba. "So long as painting it makes you happy, that is the best practice."</b>
Tru suffers from eldest daughter syndrome, in a way where she has to keep her family together, after her father never returning from the sea. As seasoned painter, she makes living the only way profitable enough to earn for it - by forging famous painting, and selling them on auctions with help from her old friend. One day, everything takes one big turn, like a real twist of fate, by making her acquaintance of the local demon lord, the dragon prince. Elang has a simple offer for her - follow him into the sea as his fake bride, to help him take down his tyranic grandfather, so his righteous cousin can take the throne and bring peace to the ocean world. Why does he have beef with his own grandfather? Well, Elang is only half a dragon, cursed with being heartless.

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<b>"I wish the visions hadn't come to you, Tru, but the gods never give us more than we can handle. You must have questions. Tell me."</b>
Tru's situation was desperate, her sisters being threatened with paying for their mothers debts with their bodies, so Tru takes the offer, offering Elang her hidden talent of the Sight, as her paintings can predict future, one can even say, forge it. I have to admit I've really enjoyed the switch of the setting compared to Her Radiant Curse, and back to one familiar with us from the Dragon's Promise, but compared to TDP it was much slower, which to me feels like my only issue with this book - of course slowburn is great and delightful, but this flame felt like it was too much submerged in the water to even burn, so it took a veeeery long time to ignite.

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<b>"Finish the portrait," Nazayun snarled. "Now."
I clenched the brush, my entire body glittering with hate. He wanted me to pain? By gods, then I would paint.</b>
Don't get me wrong, this book is a great expansion to the universe, especially that <b>all</b> of us have beef with the Dragon King Nazayun from previous books so it's really fun to see the rebellion against him take the right tide, but with the limited character cast and most of the book being a literal waiting game I simply wish it was either a bit shorter, or maybe a bit more advanced when it comes to connections with other characters - I loved the fact we got to meet with Seryu at some point, but considering how close in the timeline we are to SCC duology I really wish we got more cameos, or even collaborations with its characters. Hence my 4 stars rating - really good book if you know the universe, but not the perfect one to start with.

And once again - dear Elizabeth, we all have been good kids, Seryu has been a good kid, please finally give him his own book. X, your dear readers.

What an enchanting and lovely read this was! I went in with zero foreknowledge or expectations and was immediately pulled in. The heroine, Truyan, and her desire to save her family - so much so that she entered into a marriage of convenience, a pact that would both save them and help the MMC, Elang - was entirely believable.

I enjoyed the world-building immensely. Lim created an Asian-inspired mythological world filled with mythical creatures and a gorgeously rich cast of side characters. I didn’t expect the story to shift into an underwater setting, but when it did, I was fascinated by the vivid descriptions and the thought that went into crafting it!

The romance was well done. It was a slow burn, filled with plenty of pining and longing as Tru slowly came to understand more of this new world and of Elang. The dragons in this story were ancient, powerful creatures, and I found the lore surrounding them truly intriguing.

Also, the ending made me a little emotional. It was very sweet, and I was so relieved that it didn’t take the direction I feared it would! Gah, this entire story felt like a beautiful fairytale, full of intricacies, whimsy, and quirky mythical elements. I loved it so much!

If you love The Regency Faerie Tales by Olivia Atwater, Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan, or Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, then this book is perfect for you. It’s whimsical and utterly charming, yet still compelling and full of real stakes. I enjoyed myself immensely.


Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the advanced copy for review!

I love the worlds Elizabeth Lim creates. The premise of her newest novel caught my eye: Beauty and the Beast but with a twist - a dragon lord and an artist? Sign me up!

Sometimes a book blurb may sound too good to be trust - but this isn't the case. A Forget of Fate delivered as promised and more. This was one of those books that wouldn't let me put it down until I finished.

Tru is our main lead - she's witty, creative, and brave. I loved the nature of her painting talent, her strong love for her family, and her fearlessness. Elang - what can I say - I've fallen in love with this grumpy 'beast' too. He's a perfect pairing to Tru, and I enjoyed following their story from start to finish.

Our cast of secondary characters are well fleshed out - Tru's family members, Elang's court and allies, as well as our villain. The pacing of the story was on point, and there were definitely moments that tugged at my heartstrings.

Can't wait for others to enjoy this as much as I did!

5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Oh this story had put a tear in my eye by the end. The Epilogue really touched my heart.

A Forgery of Fate was such an exciting, immersive, and overall heart-warming story. The settings of a deep underwater world with magical creatures was painted beautifully and really transported me to a whole new fantasy world. Tru was an amazing main character—not only was she strong and true to herself, she was hilarious. Many times her comments had me wheezing, and I loved her more and more as each page went by. Her personality was top notch! And Elang, the MMC, started off mysterious and cold, but as the story went by, my love for him grew so deeply. By the epilogue I was sniffling and wiping a tear from my eye.

I loved the Asian Fantasy meets beauty and the beast theme and overall this story painted such stunning visuals and gave such a heart-felt story. The romance is very sweet and heart-touching, and is one which will take your breath away.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC, I adored this book! This was the first book I've read by Elizabeth Lim, and I am now even more excited to start the duologies of Six Crimson Cranes and Spin the Dawn, both of which are sitting on my shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton | Hodderscape for providing me with an ARC.
It was an interesting book. I liked the characters. While some twists and turns were expected some certainly weren't. It was heartening to read that after learning a major news Tru didn't behave like other heroines and stayed on the path.

As an avid Lim fan, A Forgery of Fate did not disappoint. I loved returning to the underwater dragon world, as I felt we saw too little of it in Six Crimson Cranes!

I loved the arranged/fake marriage trope a lot as well; as the dynamic between our two main characters.

I’m not crying. You are! 😭

A Forgery of Fate is yet another masterpiece by Elizabeth Lim that I absolutely adored. I was incredibly lucky to receive an ARC of this book, and I just finished it—what a journey!

I devoured every page! The moment I found out we would be returning to the beloved Dragon Realm and the magical world of Six Crimson Cranes and Spin the Dawn, I could hardly contain my excitement.

Once again, the storytelling was flawless, and I loved meeting all the new and intriguing characters. I cried so much along the way as well...

Our heroine is simply wonderful—bold and daring yet deeply devoted to her family, always striving to protect and support them. An art forger who can paint the future.

Elang has officially become my favourite half-dragon! His love for gardening even made me want to give it a try myself.

The world-building was utterly magical—I felt as if I had travelled to the dragons’ sea realm myself. The descriptions were so vivid and immersive.

This book has everything—love, romance, action, magical creatures, curses waiting to be broken, heavenly bonds, and even an arranged marriage. How could you possibly resist reading it?

And, of course, I now have an undeniable craving for noodles! You will see why when you read this book. 😜

For those familiar with this world, there’s a delightful cameo from a beloved character. It was such a wonderful surprise!

Overall, A Forgery of Fate is a fantastic addition to Elizabeth Lim’s enchanting world.

A little mermaid X beauty and the beast retelling?? SIGN ME UP

This is my first Elizabeth Lim book and it definitely won't be the last. The world-building was absolutely incredible and the writing felt almost poetic so there was never a dull moment. One of my new fave FMCs, Truyan was marvellously selfless and her character development was an absolute joy to witness. I adored her interactions with the Prince and where this took the story, I found it a teeeeny bit predictable but it didn't detract from the story at all!

WOW! Just WOW! I absolutely loved this book.
As a kid of the 90s the Little Mermaid was my favourite film to watch so seeing this described as Little Mermaid in Asian mythology I had high expectations and it completely met and surpassed them!
I could not put this book down, every single word was devoured and loved. I need more! I need this physically on my shelf... so if the wonderful publisher sees this PLEASE!!!!! PLEASE CAN I GET A PHYSICAL COPY so I can love this again and again.

I loved this story - it was wonderful to step back into Elizabeth Lim's world of magic and dragons.

This is losely based on beauty and the beast but with a lovely unique asian twist. Tru is a great protagonist and her ability to see visions of the future through her paintings felt interesting and original.

The romance subplot felt a little predictable but still enjoyable - perfect for YA readers. No spice to be found here just kisses and longing glances - tbh im not even mad about that.

This was the first book by the author that I've had the pleasure of reading, but it definitely won't be the last!

It's a book where it feels like anything could be possible. Merfolk? Dragons? Yes! And so much more.

The story is so whimsical and woven so vividly that it's easy to picture the details that the author is trying to convey. It does have the Beauty and the Beast vibes for sure, but is also set largely underwater, so I'd agree with other reviewers saying it also is reminiscent of the little mermaid.

I loved the concept of Tru being an artist who paints visions of the future, forced into a marriage with the surly half dragon, Elang, who is mysterious and determined to keep Tru at arm's length.

This book just felt so magical and although I did guess the twist, I loved the journey so much. I couldn't put this down and was always wondering where it would go next.

Thank you to Netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton, Hodderscape and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was such a beautiful retelling! I have previously enjoyed Elizabeth Kim's book and this one also didn't disappoint!

I enjoyed the writing style and the characters were entertaining to say the least!

I was hooked in the story from the very fist minute and I loved it!

I am a sucker for a beauty and the beast retelling and this book did not disappoint. I loved the characters and world building within this novel. It was just so well written and I adored the ending… I cannot recommend this book enough! I will definitely be checking out Lim’s other novels.

Another great read by Elizabeth Lim! I was totally enchanted with Tru, Elang and the setting involving art, forgery and painting. Tru was badass, and Elang a total grumpy (until he wasn't) and I was totally absorbed by the world and their tale.

The only reason I'm not giving this a higher rating is because I was left with some questions at the end, and while I'm happy with the ending itself, I feel like it was a little rushed and pretty vague.

I bawled my eyes out! Actually, i don’t have high hopes for this one since i dislike The Dragon Promise, but oh boy! End up i gave 5 stars to it! I’m hooked by the blurb and very curious bout the book, and i don’t regret that i requested the ARC. I think the author’s writing is very romantic, i love Tru, i love Gaari, but i love Shani the most! Her witty characters make me smile! The world building is good, we have a bit romance, and action. The idea of Beauty and The Beast retelling mix with chinese mythology is very interesting indeed.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this arc!

A Forgery of Fate follows three sisters, but at its heart is Truyan—the one who truly inherited her mother’s gift. With the Sight, she can paint visions that inevitably come true, a secret she’s carefully guarded. But when her mother’s reckless gambling costs her sister’s freedom, Truyan is forced to reveal her abilities and flee with her family.

Their escape leads them to the enigmatic Demon Prince, who offers a deal: in exchange for his help, she must paint something for him when the time comes. As a skilled forger, Truyan is no stranger to deception, forging masterpieces to survive—but this bargain may cost her more than she ever imagined. With the fate of her lost father tied to the Demon Prince’s promises, she agrees, unknowingly setting herself on a path filled with dragons, magic, and an adventure that will reshape everything she thought she knew about fate, power, and the price of her gift.

Honestly this book was such a refreshing read, from someone who has been in a book slump with fantasy this is perfect. It kind of gives you Disney vibes but the nostalgia from the old movies and the magic. It truly is a great book and I'd recommend it to everyone.

4★

Wow! This was so much better than I imagined, and I am so happy.

The world-building was great, though it could have done with a little bit more to help with visualising the world a bit more. I loved the blend of mythology with fantasy. It was full of action, love, and YEARNING. Goodness me, the yearning! I love when a character is down bad, but hides their feelings and just pines after their love interest.

The fmc in this story is a strong, badass woman. She is headstrong, but still has empathy and puts others needs above her own. She was very likeable.

The mmc was my favourite, to be honest. It was super cool to see Chinese mythology and fantasy interwoven with the story/themes of Beauty and the Beast (which is a classic, cmon). I was a little bit lost sometimes with the mentions of other gods though.

I didn’t really see the “six of crows” vibes, but then I was immersed in the rest of the story so it doesn’t even matter. I wish the villain/conflict had a little more reasoning other than family feud though.

Overall this was a fun and mesmerising read!