Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
When her father disappears, Truyan must support her mother and sisters in order to survive. A natural talent for painting, she learns to forge paintings to sell to wealthy clientele. But when her mother gets in trouble, Truyan has to sell a new painting that uncovers a secret magical ability. But it seems that she bit off a little more than she realized and it triggers a series of events that puts her in the middle of a political war and a curse that needs to be broken.
A re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast, this story was beautiful, magical, adventurous and mysterious. The storyline was special and unique that even the similarities to the fairytale feel fresh. Highly recommend.
A Forgery of Fate is a beautifully written romantic fantasy that gives Beauty and the Beast a completely fresh twist, mixing Chinese folklore, underwater kingdoms, and just the right amount of danger and magic.
This story follows Tru, an art forger doing everything she can to support her family after her father disappears at sea. She’s also hiding a powerful secret; she can paint the future. But when one of her jobs goes wrong, she ends up making a bargain with Elang, a half-dragon, half-human prince who’s been exiled from his home. What follows is an unforgettable journey through an underwater world filled with dangerous alliances, mythical sea creatures and layered politics, all the while with a slow-burn romance simmering quietly beneath it all.
Tru was such a strong protagonist. She’s clever, loyal, and knows how to stand her ground. I loved how her relationship with her sisters added warmth and heart to the story, grounding all the magic and chaos in something real. And Elang? He’s distant at first, full of secrets and quiet strength, but every little moment of care and vulnerability made me love him more. Their romance builds slowly and intentionally, with so much trust, angst, and emotional payoff. I really liked how the book handled emotional trauma and healing. Both Tru and Elang carry a lot from their pasts, but it’s not brushed aside but built in as part of their growth, their fears, and how they come to trust each other. It made their connection feel so much more layered and genuine.
The world-building really pulled me in. The underwater setting was stunning, so vivid and full of life, with phoenix demons, talking turtles and magical artifacts. Everything felt intentionally built, and the world kept expanding in ways that kept me curious and invested. The pacing worked perfectly for me, never rushed or dragging. It balanced action and quieter moments really well, and the plot had just enough twists to keep me on my toes without losing focus on the characters.
If you're into character-driven fantasy with lush, immersive settings, emotional storytelling, and a romance that makes you feel things, this one is 100% worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
This story follows Tru, an art forger doing everything she can to support her family after her father disappears at sea. She’s also hiding a powerful secret; she can paint the future. But when one of her jobs goes wrong, she ends up making a bargain with Elang, a half-dragon, half-human prince who’s been exiled from his home. What follows is an unforgettable journey through an underwater world filled with dangerous alliances, mythical sea creatures and layered politics, all the while with a slow-burn romance simmering quietly beneath it all.
Tru was such a strong protagonist. She’s clever, loyal, and knows how to stand her ground. I loved how her relationship with her sisters added warmth and heart to the story, grounding all the magic and chaos in something real. And Elang? He’s distant at first, full of secrets and quiet strength, but every little moment of care and vulnerability made me love him more. Their romance builds slowly and intentionally, with so much trust, angst, and emotional payoff. I really liked how the book handled emotional trauma and healing. Both Tru and Elang carry a lot from their pasts, but it’s not brushed aside but built in as part of their growth, their fears, and how they come to trust each other. It made their connection feel so much more layered and genuine.
The world-building really pulled me in. The underwater setting was stunning, so vivid and full of life, with phoenix demons, talking turtles and magical artifacts. Everything felt intentionally built, and the world kept expanding in ways that kept me curious and invested. The pacing worked perfectly for me, never rushed or dragging. It balanced action and quieter moments really well, and the plot had just enough twists to keep me on my toes without losing focus on the characters.
If you're into character-driven fantasy with lush, immersive settings, emotional storytelling, and a romance that makes you feel things, this one is 100% worth reading.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions are my own.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I feel so bad because this book is so pretty but I just wasn’t vibing with the characters/plot for some reason and I couldn’t see it getting better for me
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hot, mysterious dragon men, a fmc who isnt unbearably annoying, and noodles? sign me uppp
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I see how it is....playing with my feelings
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The problem with all Elizabeth lim books are that she doesn't let moments linger. It takes you out of the experience. If someone is dead then boom, 1.5 pages of mourning. If there's an action scene then it lasts half a page. It's action after action after action without any moment of them reaping the consequence of the last action. And it's just... Yeah that's not my kinda book. I enjoy her books for a quick read though.
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flew through this one! I loved the characters and the humor written within this one. Described as Beauty and the Beast meets Six of Crows and I can definitely see it. But make no mistake, this one hold entirely on its own!