Beauty and the Beast, with echoes of other fairytales, is spun together with Chinese folklore in an an excellent YA fantasy: A Forgery of Fate.
*A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2025. 480 pages.
- Reading Level: Teens, ages 15-18
- Recommended For: ages 16 and up
A Forgery of Fate: The Story
Truyan Saigas has a secret. No, it’s not her shockingly blue hair hidden under the wig she occasionally wears. (Inherited from her foreign-born father, Tru’s hair causes her enough trouble.) Nor is Tru’s secret the fact she’s been supporting her struggling family with some art forgery. (Ever since her father was lost at sea, the family fortunes have been dropping.) The secret, the real secret, is that Tru Saigas can paint the future. She can’t explain it or understand the gift, but sometimes the things she paints come true. This gifting sweeps her into a bargain she can’t escape.
Elang is a dragon prince – well, half dragon, but still a prince with territory in the mythical Kingdom of Ai’ long. He is determined to rescue his people from the tyranny of his grandfather, the Dragon King. Elang convinces Tru to join forces with him, entering into an elaborate scheme. Tru reluctantly agrees for the sake of her family, and soon both are drawn into a tangled web of adventure, espionage, and possibly, romance?
A Forgery of Fate: A Unique Fairytale
To say more would threaten to give the story away, and it is too good to spoil. Tru is a plucky, determined heroine. Readers might catch certain plot details before her, but the story’s world-building in an alternate China, engaging characters, romance, and adventure, make for an excellent fantasy novel. I particularly appreciated how the story values family relationships: Lim paints a realistic portrayal of a family who love one another despite their very human flaws. While the ending comes in a rush, Lim skillfully creates her own story that is both utterly unique and an excellent fairytale retelling.
Perfect for fans of Joanna Ruth Meyer, Intisar Khanani, and Makiia Lucier. As an additional bonus, the hardcover copy of this book is exceptional; its stitched binding, embossed hardcover, marbled endpapers, gorgeous map at the beginning, golden foil spot gloss on the dustjacket, and gilded edges make it the most beautiful novel I’ve seen published this year. Overall, a beautiful copy to gift to a teen fantasy lover.
Considerations:
- None (There is some kissing, but it’s appropriate for the recommended audience).
Bottom Line: An excellent standalone YA fantasy combining well-known fairytales & Chinese folklore.
*indicates a starred review, the best of the best in its field
Related Reading From Redeemed Reader
- A Review: Embergold by Rachelle Nelson (another recent fantasy with Beauty and the Beast overtones)
- A Resource: Romantic Reads for Teens: A Booklist
- A Review: Lunar New Year Love Story (a graphic novel that includes Chinese and Korean folklore elements)
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