I’ve been following Elizabeth Lim since her debut and A Forgery of Fate is my favorite! I loved the mixture of painting, dragons, and a quest for her father. I’m not normally a Beauty and Beast fan, but this was so great! Keep reading this book review of A Forgery of Fate for my full thoughts.
Summary
Truyan Saigas didn’t choose to become a con artist, but after her father is lost at sea, it’s up to her to support her mother and two younger sisters. A gifted art forger, Tru has the unique ability to paint the future, but even such magic is not enough to put her family back together again, or stave off the gangsters demanding payment in blood for her mother’s gambling debts.
Left with few options, Tru agrees to a marriage contract with a mysterious dragon lord. He offers a fresh start for her mother and sisters and elusive answers about her father’s disappearance, but in exchange, she must join him in his desolate undersea palace. And she must assist him in a plot to infiltrate the tyrannical Dragon King’s inner circle, painting a future so treasonous, it could upend both the mortal and immortal realms. . . .
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I immediately loved A Forgery of Fate. I adore fantasies with fun and unique artistic talents. All the pressure falls on Truyan and when a series of her decisions catch up to her, she must engage in a fake marriage in order to help her family. A Forgery of Fate is multi-layered with the mystery of her half dragon prince, the quest for her father, and the swoony romance. An element I enjoyed was how A Forgery of Fate explores perceptions, being reviled, feared, and scorned for who you are and how you look. It’s a theme in Beauty and the Beast, but I loved how both Truyan and her mysterious lord both explore this element.
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A Forgery of Fate is full of adventure. It’s also a beautiful story about the defenses we put up when we’re scared of loving. I appreciated how their getting to know each other wasn’t rushed and we were able to see their characters unfold. I’m not normally a fan of Beauty and the Beast retellings, but this one was fantastic! And that ending made me weep! This has to be my favorite Elizabeth Lim book hands down! Find A Forgery of Fate on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.