A Forgery of Fate

By Elizabeth Lim

Book Overview

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A breathtaking romantic fantasy inspired by Beauty and the Beast about a girl who paints the future and a cursed dragon lord, bound by love and deception in a plot to bring down the gods.

From the New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes

"Everything I love in a story--danger, complex characters, romance, betrayal and gorgeous writing." --Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of Dance of Thieves

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. . . .

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0593650611
• ISBN13: 9780593650615
• Release Date: June 2025
• Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.8" x 8.3"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

A work of art!

I love reading the books written by this author! Full of magic, familiarity of certain fairy tales with the delightful Asian mythology twist to make them fresh and beautiful works of art that flow easily and keep me hooked the whole time! This one has touches of Beauty and the Beast (though Tru is awesome and an art forger along with a touch of magic to see the future through her paintings) and a Demon Prince with a curse that only Tru can lift. This book is full of dragons, turtles (who knew they could be such great warriors, even against sharks), demons (I love Shani, complicated character though she is!) and a rebellion to overthrow the Dragon King and free the land from his wrath. That is no small task and that does not include awkwardness of Tru and Elang pretending to be in love to fool the Dragon King long enough to get to Yonsar and finalize the plans for ending his reign. So you get a love story, an adventure, and thrills and tears. This book has it all and it flows so well, though I wish I could see the art that Tru makes (she is so talented, even if she totes herself as just and art forger) and I loved every minute of it. All of the characters are interesting, from Tru's family to the court of Elang with the mermen and mermaids, turtles, and of course Shani. It was all woven well for the reader to feel all the emotions and while there are tears at the end, there is also a sweet sigh and a wonderful ever after! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to dive into this book and experience and wonderous story!