A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

Title: A Forgery of Fate

Author: Elizabeth Lim

Genre: Fantasy

Series: N/A

Publication: June 3, 2024, 483 pages

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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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. . . .

MY THOUGHTS

If you’ve ever read my reviews, you know I’m always on the lookout for an amazing and memorable Asian Fantasy. While the market is overflowing with them, I hadn’t truly found one that stuck with me...until I read A Forgery of Fate. What first piqued my interest was discovering that it’s a Beauty and the Beast retelling, one of my all-time favorites.

Within the first few chapters, I knew I was reading something special. Truyan Saigas, our heroine, makes her living as a painter by forging artwork from famous artists. With her father missing and her mother battling a gambling addiction, Tru does whatever it takes to provide for herself and her two younger sisters. Just when things start to look up, the local gang comes calling to collect her mother’s debts. With little time to repay them, Tru strikes a desperate deal with the Demon (Dragon) Prince: pretend to be his wife for a month and help him overthrow his grandfather. In return, Tru and her family will receive unimaginable wealth and protection until their mission is complete.

Tru is a fantastic heroine; brave, loyal, kind, and full of heart. She’s not only the kind of character you root for, but one you can truly relate to. The Dragon Prince, Elang, is a standout male lead. He initially gives off that brooding, insufferable charm we all know and love; one moment he’s driving you mad, the next he’s making you swoon. The slow-burn chemistry between Tru and the Prince is delicious, full of tension that will give you butterflies. It gave me Pride and Prejudice vibes in the best way.

The worldbuilding is easy to follow yet refreshingly unique. I especially loved that the dragon realm is set underwater. The Beauty and the Beast elements were beautifully woven in, with familiar moments acting like Easter eggs for fans of the classic tale. At the same time, the author added her own unique spin, making it feel both nostalgic and entirely new. It was a breath of fresh air. I've read many Beauty and the Beast retellings over the year, and this is by far the best one I've ever read. Whether intentional or not, the underwater kingdom and cursed aspect also gave me The Little Mermaid vibes, another favorite of mine!

Every year, there’s one book that completely surprises me—a hidden gem that exceeds all my expectations. A Forgery of Fate is that book for me this year. It’s everything I didn’t know I wanted, and I adored every moment. This was my first book by Elizabeth Lim, and it definitely won’t be my last. Her writing is magical, flowing effortlessly and pulling me deep into the story. It made me feel—which, to me, is hallmark of a truly great book.

I highly recommend A Forgery of Fate. This is one you don’t want to miss!

The Scorpion and the Night Blossom by Amélie Wen Zhao

Title: The Scorpion and the Night Blossom 

Author: Amélie Wen Zhao

Genre: Fantasy

Series: The Three Realms duology # 1

Publication: March 4, 2025 400 pages

Source: I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

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Nine years ago, the war between the Kingdom of Night and the Kingdom of Rivers tore Àn’yīng’s family apart, leaving her mother barely alive and a baby sister to fend for. Now the mortal realm is falling into eternal night, and mó—beautiful, ravenous demons—roam the land, feasting on the flesh of humans and drinking their souls.

Àn’yīng is no longer a helpless child, though. Armed with her crescent blades and trained in the ancient art of practitioning, she has decided to enter the Immortality Trials, which are open to any mortal who can survive the journey to the immortal realm. Those who complete the Trials are granted a pill of eternal life—the one thing Àn’yīng knows can heal her dying mother. But to attain the prize, she must survive the competition.

Death is common in the Trials. Yet oddly, Àn’yīng finds that someone is helping her stay alive. A rival contestant. Powerful and handsome, Yù’chén is as secretive about his past as he is about his motives for protecting Àn’yīng.

The longer she survives the Trials, the clearer it becomes that all is not right in the immortal realm. To save her mother and herself, Àn’yīng will need to figure out whether she can truly trust the stranger she’s falling for or if he’s the most dangerous player of all . . . for herself and for all the realms.

MY THOUGHTS

Lately, there have been many Eastern Asian fantasy novels, and I’m still on the lookout for a good one. The synopsis for The Scorpion and the Night Blossom sounded intriguing; demons and a magical trial held by the gods? That was right up my alley! I had such high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it was extremely disappointing and so bad.

The world-building was confusing. The author drops the reader into the story, expecting them to already understand what’s going on. There are different realms and a magic system that is barely explained, if at all. The mortal realm is infested with nightmarish creatures, but their descriptions were vague, leaving me unsure of what they actually looked like. Àn’yīng, our main heroine, wields multiple magical blades, each with a different name and purpose, but again, none of it is properly explained. As the first book in a new series, it desperately needed a clearer foundation and setup.

The writing was okay, but the pacing suffered due to long, dense paragraphs that detailed every little thing, making the story drag. There was barely any dialogue, and the narration relied heavily on telling rather than showing. This made it difficult to stay engaged or connect with the characters. One of the biggest aspects of the novel was the trials, but they were so dull and uninspired that they never felt high-stakes or life-threatening.

Àn’yīng, our main character, was beyond insufferable. I had hoped that as the book progressed, she would grow on me but no, she never did. She is one of the most immature and annoying protagonists I’ve ever read. From the start, readers are told how strong Àn’yīng is, yet we never actually see it. Throughout the entire novel, she constantly needed saving—by Yù’chén, Hao Yang, his mother, and even the other contestants. She also harbors major prejudices against halflings until it’s convenient for her to forget them. For example, when she discovers that Yù’chén is a halfling, she tells him to stay away from her, refusing his help because he disgusts her. And what does she do right after? She befriends and hangs out with a group of halflings. She made disgusting remarks about Yù’chén to his face yet constantly lusts after him. She strings him along, pushes him away, then demands his help whenever she needs it; only to get mad when he uses his demon powers or bends the rules for her. She’s completely delusional, convinced that she’s been saving Yù’chén’s life and that he owed her. But when did she ever save him? Never. And somehow, he’s the one accused of stringing her along? I honestly felt bad for the guy. I have no idea why he likes her when her personality is awful. And don’t even get me started on Yù’chén’s nickname for Àn’yīng, Scorpion, it was not cute at all. I lost count of how many times I rolled my eyes.

I sadly did not enjoy any part of The Scorpion and the Night Blossom. The plot was weak, the world-building was lackluster, and most of the characters were flat. The most important thing to me in any novel is the protagonist, and Àn’yīng was truly a revolting person. I don’t recommend this book, but if you’re still curious, I’d suggest borrowing it from the library.