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A review by veratree
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.75
I enjoyed the first half of the book, but the romance and magical world building lost me along the way.
There is another comment I saw below that had some of the same dislikes as me. Part of the book is in a magical undersea dimension/place/world/whatever. When Tru arrives there Elang explains that she would still be able to drink water and such, but it is never further elaborated upon. She is breathing in and existing in saltwater, how does her tea and/or water stay in the cup? When she is painting, why does Elang have to change her painting water? couldn't she swipe it through the water? Does this cause painting to bleed pigment? How does she eat soup? Would it float through the water?
I also wish Elang's more "dragon-style" form underwater was explained in detail. I recall it being described that when he was underwater, his dragon features came out more- enough so that she could ride on his back. What the hell would his face even look like? Does his jaw and snout extend outwards like a dragon, leaving his human face stretched or does he have a dragonesque body with a human shaped head? Being a combination of two very differently shaped bodies was confusing at times.
The "love reveal" wasn't compelling. He is practically forced to admit he indeed has feelings and she MELTS ON THE SPOT SOMEHOW???? I didn't feel like there was enough romantic tension prior. The romance after was alright, but I just didn't get how they fell in love under those conditions. Yes he was her friend prior, but emphasis on friend, who then LIED to her, and functionally used her. He barely comes to dinner with her. He grows a whole field of the flowers she likes and gives her some gifts and pigment, but I just didn't find it believable. I did like the reveal that he was Gaari, but the romance was off.
The Mother...
dude.... gambling and 50k in debt at the risk of her daughters pissed me OFF. I wish there were more consequences for her. Her minor children were forced to keep the whole family afloat, and Tru was pushed into crime...
On to his ~death~ and the ending....
She has a whirlwind 2 months Ai'landan / 6 months in real world with Elang then he dies fighting the boss and I am supposed to believe he just disappears but is alive??? Then he returns 3 YEARS later and doesn't remember shit but does when she reminds him? felt like a weak reunion.
Additionally- he sister- the 16 year old who wants fancy shoes becomes a cobbler??? Actually challenging, painful, skilled labor? It was surprising from how her character was described. Living years of discomfort and poverty, yearning to be able to afford these shoes and other physical luxuries and she becomes the one to make them, instead of enjoying peace and the high life? I guess not entirely out of left field, she was sewing at home before, but I found it a bit surprising.
There is another comment I saw below that had some of the same dislikes as me. Part of the book is in a magical undersea dimension/place/world/whatever. When Tru arrives there Elang explains that she would still be able to drink water and such, but it is never further elaborated upon. She is breathing in and existing in saltwater, how does her tea and/or water stay in the cup? When she is painting, why does Elang have to change her painting water? couldn't she swipe it through the water? Does this cause painting to bleed pigment? How does she eat soup? Would it float through the water?
The "love reveal" wasn't compelling. He is practically forced to admit he indeed has feelings and she MELTS ON THE SPOT SOMEHOW???? I didn't feel like there was enough romantic tension prior. The romance after was alright, but I just didn't get how they fell in love under those conditions. Yes he was her friend prior, but emphasis on friend, who then LIED to her, and functionally used her. He barely comes to dinner with her. He grows a whole field of the flowers she likes and gives her some gifts and pigment, but I just didn't find it believable. I did like the reveal that he was Gaari, but the romance was off.
The Mother...
dude.... gambling and 50k in debt at the risk of her daughters pissed me OFF. I wish there were more consequences for her. Her minor children were forced to keep the whole family afloat, and Tru was pushed into crime...
On to his ~death~ and the ending....
She has a whirlwind 2 months Ai'landan / 6 months in real world with Elang then he dies fighting the boss and I am supposed to believe he just disappears but is alive??? Then he returns 3 YEARS later and doesn't remember shit but does when she reminds him? felt like a weak reunion.
Additionally- he sister- the 16 year old who wants fancy shoes becomes a cobbler??? Actually challenging, painful, skilled labor? It was surprising from how her character was described. Living years of discomfort and poverty, yearning to be able to afford these shoes and other physical luxuries and she becomes the one to make them, instead of enjoying peace and the high life? I guess not entirely out of left field, she was sewing at home before, but I found it a bit surprising.