Reviews - A Forgery of Fate

691 reviews for:

A Forgery of Fate

Elizabeth Lim

4.29 AVERAGE

mythically_bookish's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional tense medium-paced

aimeethom05's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted 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: No

itsjustkatereading's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Multilayered and deeply immersive, Elizabeth Lim has once again shown herself to be a masterful storytelling with A Forgery of Fate.

A vivid and captivating underwater retelling of Beauty and the Beast, A Forgery of Fate is wholly unique in its take on the classic tale. A story of family, acceptance, passion and loyalty, this story is magical, heartwarming, action packed and whimsical in perfect measures.

I am such a huge fan of Elizabeth's work and A Forgery of Fate did not disappoint.

what to expect:

- noodles
- marriage of convenience
- underwater kingdoms
- mermaids and other magical sea creatures
- turtles
- beauty and the beast inspired
- ghibli vibes
- cursed prince
- sisterhood
- he falls first
- slow burn romance

revee's review against another edition

5.0

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

ehchang2011's review against another edition

4.0

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 🫩😮‍💨

stmuncy's review against another edition

4.5

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)

hearthandhardcovers's review against another edition

4.0

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.