A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

The quick cut: A teen girl who supports her family by painting art forgeries finds her life turned upside down with an offer from an unexpected place.

A real review:

We'd all like to think we're prepared for the worst, but life can prove us wrong when the unexpected happens. Truyan's family experiences that when her father disappears at sea and her mother's gambling puts them at risk.

Truyan's family used to be happy, but when her father never comes back from a trip, it leaves their family broken. Now, their mother has wracked up a significant debt that Truyan has no hope of paying off. When a mysterious Lord offers to help her out in exchange for marrying him, she's left with no option but to agree. Why require a marriage and what will the real cost be?

This book is primarily fantasy, but it also features elements of romance as well. Truyan is trying to keep what family she has together and she's the only one acting somewhat like a responsible adult. That's a difficult burden to bear, especially with two younger siblings dependent on you.

Truyan does what she has to in order to survive, but what she agrees to is not necessarily smart. At every turn, it seems like a new truth is revealed that requires her to trust in those that do not seem to trust her. Her only leverage is her vision and the art skills she has.

The story overall was enjoyable, but the ending felt like it dragged along a bit longer than necessary. The magic and the mystical creatures made me smile to the end though.

A fun fantasy story.

My rating: 4.5 out of 5