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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
another lovely, whimsical, heartbreaking masterpiece by elizabeth lim; i really don't know how she does it but i feel emotions so deeply when i read her books 😮💨
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
And THAT’S how you write fantasy romance with common tropes, baby.
Elizabeth Lim is so, so good at creating beautiful stories. I swear no one is doing it like her. She takes these overdone tropes and breathes new life into them.
I love that this book doesn’t bother with a love triangle, admittedly my least favorite trope ever. We spend the whole novel developing Elang and Tru’s relationship. It really is a love story, and I loved every second of it.
I think Six Crimson Cranes is still my favorite of Lim’s work, but this one was definitely up there. She’s also done a good job sharing the SCC-verse while still creating new stories every time. It almost feels like Diana Wynne Jones’s Howl’s Moving Castle trilogy.
Overall, I 100% recommend this one!
Plot: ★★★★
Prose: ★★★★
Pacing: ★★★★★
Characters: ★★★★★
World: ★★★★
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Final Rating: ★★★★ (4.4/5)
adventurous
challenging
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reminiscent of Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan, A Forgery of Fates is rooted in the cadence of Asian folklore. The atmosphere is ethereal yet grounded, drawing on mythological motifs without ever feeling derivative. Fans of lyrical worldbuilding and rich cultural undertones will feel right at home in this universe, where every detail—down to the stars inked in the sky—feels intentional and meaningful.
What truly shines is Lim’s narrative voice. Her storytelling is intimate and immersive, with a rhythm that feels almost oral in tradition, like you’re sitting by a hearth being told a story passed down through generations. Her characters are flawed and fully human, even when touched by the divine, and the emotional arcs are finely tuned to the soft ache of longing and sacrifice.
Where I felt this novel faltered slightly was in the emotional depth between characters. While relationships are described with clarity and intention, I sometimes struggled to feel the connections, particularly the bonds that should have carried more emotional weight. This may stem from the folkloric style of storytelling Lim draws from, where the focus traditionally centers on the protagonist’s journey, often at the expense of nuanced side relationships. While thematically consistent, it left some character dynamics feeling more observed than experienced.
Still, despite the emotional distance between some characters, A Forgery of Fates remains a solid and evocative novel, one that fans of folkloric Asian storytelling will deeply appreciate. Its mythic tone, lyrical prose, and cultural resonance more than make up for the moments where emotional connection takes a backseat to narrative tradition.
What truly shines is Lim’s narrative voice. Her storytelling is intimate and immersive, with a rhythm that feels almost oral in tradition, like you’re sitting by a hearth being told a story passed down through generations. Her characters are flawed and fully human, even when touched by the divine, and the emotional arcs are finely tuned to the soft ache of longing and sacrifice.
Where I felt this novel faltered slightly was in the emotional depth between characters. While relationships are described with clarity and intention, I sometimes struggled to feel the connections, particularly the bonds that should have carried more emotional weight. This may stem from the folkloric style of storytelling Lim draws from, where the focus traditionally centers on the protagonist’s journey, often at the expense of nuanced side relationships. While thematically consistent, it left some character dynamics feeling more observed than experienced.
Still, despite the emotional distance between some characters, A Forgery of Fates remains a solid and evocative novel, one that fans of folkloric Asian storytelling will deeply appreciate. Its mythic tone, lyrical prose, and cultural resonance more than make up for the moments where emotional connection takes a backseat to narrative tradition.
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It felt like reading a re-telling of a classic fairytale in a way I enjoyed; Lim wears her inspirations on her sleeve with this book, while still doing something nicely distinct with them. I enjoy the setup between the two leads, though I don't know if I'd call some of their relationship development earned. The tone of the ending fits the story's tone well, though, and I overall had a great time.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No