ARC Review: Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim

Fishbone Cinderella
by Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: July 23rd 2026
Publisher: Del Ray
Find This Book: Fishbone Cinderella
Source: Physical ARC
Rating: 6/5

A bracelet. A curse. And golden fishbones to be returned to the sea ...

Guangdong, 1940. When Ha Yut Ying narrowly escapes Japanese soldiers by turning invisible, she knows her new-found magic must be kept a secret. But her mother, whose dreams foretell the future, suspects her daughter has changed, and warns her of a curse upon their family. For her protection, she gives her a gold bracelet whose links are shaped like fishbones.

After the war, Ha Yut Ying is sent to live with her father and his second wife, who have become wealthy factory owners in Hong Kong. Her stepmother, jealous of her beauty, forces her to work in the family's shoe factory.

But when Yut Ying collides with a boy on a bicycle on her way to work, she loses her bracelet. The boy is Tommy Yeung, scion of a local soymilk tycoon. And their encounter will change both of their destinies forever...

Fishbone Cinderella is a multi-generational historical fiction novel infused with magical realism about a mother and daughter navigating family curses, the immigrant experience, and the long-lasting impacts of war. I only dabble in historical fiction, but I love magical realism, and I’m a huge fan of Elizabeth Lim’s work, so I knew I had to give this one a try. Lim absolutely delivered and knocked it out of the park.

Fishbone Cinderella primarily follows Yut Ying as she lives through the Japanese occupation of China, life in Hong Kong during the Chinese Civil War, and her eventual immigration to America. The novel’s structure perfectly complements the story. Throughout Yut Ying’s journey, we also get glimpses of her daughter Marigold in present-day (1960s-ish) San Francisco. As the novel progresses, Marigold’s chapters become more frequent, and watching their storylines gradually intertwine was incredibly satisfying.

The themes are the true heart of this novel. Through Yut Ying’s relationships with her mother, her stepmother, and eventually her own daughter, Lim explores the complexities of motherhood across generations. There are family secrets, sacrifices, betrayals, and enduring love woven throughout the story. The theme that resonated with me most was the universal desire to be truly seen and understood—whether by family, friends, or the people we love.

Another thing Lim never misses is setting and atmosphere. Every location feels vibrant and lived-in, and her descriptions immerse you completely in each moment. Whether she’s depicting the turmoil of wartime or the quieter moments of everyday life, every setting feels rich with life and emotion.

I also loved how seamlessly the magical realism aspects were woven into the story. It never overshadowed the historical backdrop but instead deepened the emotional weight of the novel, reinforcing its themes of family, inheritance, and the burdens we carry across generations.

This is a beautiful, emotional story about resilience, identity, and the complicated bonds between mothers and daughters. Even if historical fiction isn’t your usual genre, I think readers who enjoy character-driven stories with a touch of magic will find a lot to love here. It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year and another reminder of why Elizabeth Lim is one of my auto-buy authors.

eARC Review: A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim

A Forgery of Fate
by Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: June 3rd 2025
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Find This Book: A Forgery of Fate
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 5/5

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.

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. . . .

A Forgery of Fate has cemented Elizabeth Lim as a favorite author of mine. Inside you’ll find a fake marriage, scheming, an underwater palace, a brooding dragon, budding friendships, and drool-worthy food descriptions. I’d say this is Beauty and the Beast inspired, but not a retelling. It retains the cursed love interest vibes while offering a wholly new experience!

What I Loved:
-The character building
-Focus on family and friendships
-The Magic System (painting the future still leaves room for trickery and surprises)
-Fake Marriage (and the slow burn genuine yearning that goes with it!)
-The descriptions, Lim is a master at settings and visuals
-The final showdown was awesome
-This book made me cry

I can’t finish my review without expanding upon the characters in this, especially the main characters Truyan and Elang. Tru knows her strengths and she stands by her convictions. She’s fierce yet compassionate and her empathy and cleverness are aspects that I adore and respect most about her. As she gets transported to the undersea realm of magic and dragons and has to start her life anew, she forges new friendships and inspires the people around her to do their best.

I also enjoyed the agency Lim gave Tru, considering the retelling vibes. Unlike Belle who essentially gets kidnapped and is held prisoner; Tru is instead a willing participant in a fake marriage where she uses her painting skills to help Elang’s mission while Elang helps Tru find her missing father.

In summary, I devoured this book and highly recommend it!

ARC Review: Her Radiant Curse by Elizabeth Lim

Her Radiant Curse
by Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: August 29th 2023
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Find This Book: Her Radiant Curse
Source: NetGalley eARC
Rating: 4/5

One sister must fall for the other to rise.

Channi was not born a monster. But when her own father offers her in sacrifice to the Demon Witch, she is forever changed. Cursed with a serpent’s face, Channi is the exact opposite of her beautiful sister, Vanna—the only person in the village who looks at Channi and doesn’t see a monster. The only person she loves and trusts.

Now seventeen, Vanna is to be married off in a vulgar contest that will enrich the coffers of the village leaders. Only Channi, who’s had to rely on her strength and cunning all these years, can defend her sister against the cruelest of the suitors. But in doing so, she becomes the target of his wrath—launching a grisly battle royale, a quest over land and sea, a romance between sworn enemies, and a choice that will strain Channi’s heart to its breaking point.

Weaving together elements of The Selection and Ember in the Ashes with classic tales like Beauty and the Beast, Helen of Troy, and Asian folklore, Elizabeth Lim is at the absolute top of her game in this thrilling yet heart-wrenching fantasy that explores the dark side of beauty and the deepest bonds of sisterhood.

Channi first makes her appearance in Lim's duology, Six Crimson Cranes. Following in its footsteps, Her Radiant Curse spins a lush tale steeped in beautiful world-building and Asian mythology. I don't think you will have to have read anything else by Lim to enjoy this one. While it is connected to Six Crimson Cranes, it is a prequel and a standalone. Perfect for testing out the waters! 

The sisterly love and friendships depicted in this book were so special, the magic system is well-developed, and the action sequences were fun. Channi and Vanna's bond is the main crux of the story, and it was so touching to see how these two girls are willing to do anything for the other, and how their relationship is shaped from childhood into adulthood. 

This did not quite get five stars from me because the plot wasn't woven together as tightly as I expected. I absolutely devoured Six Crimson Cranes, even the soft 'fluffier' scenes really added to and developed that story more, and Her Radiant Curse did not quite live up to that. I think the abundance of travel sequences took some of the sense of urgency out of this for me, which is why I have given it four instead of five stars.

ARC Review: Spin the Dawn by Elizabeth Lim

Spin the Dawn
By Elizabeth Lim
Publication Date: July 9^th 2019
Publisher: Knopf
Find This Book: Spin the Dawn (The Blood of Stars #1)
Rating: 4/5 




I was given an eARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Spin the Dawn is a precious pearl of a book. The only reason it doesn’t have 5 stars from me is because the pace wasn’t quitewhat I prefer. The gorgeous cover and Mulan description made me want to read it ASAP and I was so excited when I was approved for this arc. The book itself was just as awesome as the cover! Lim takes us into an East-Asian inspired fantasy world with a setting very similar to China, and mythology that seems lightly based in Shintoism (the sun goddess Amana/Amaterasu is upset by a and the sun goes away, creating the cycle of night and say. There are even mythical decedents of Amana, though they are not royalty like in Japan.

The novel is about a girl named Maia, who is “enlisted” like Mulan to replace a male figure. In this case, she is taken to compete to be the new Imperial Tailor, as the Emperor’s old tailor just died. The book Is broken into three parts, all with their own intrigues. In the beginning you’re learning about how the Summer Palace works, how the social hierarchy is laid out, and how the book understands and defines magic. Later on, Maia has to prove herself by going on a thrilling and dangerous adventure to make mythical dresses out of the laughter of the sun, the tears of the moon, and the blood of the stars. Are these ingredients even real, and does Maia have what it takes to collect them???

The book didn’t ‘twist’ persay, as I feel twists include a bit of a jolt in the narrative, but the ending was certainly unexpected. There were many parts of it I didn’t see coming, but it all flowed together perfectly- the ideal balance! If you’re looking for fantasy, magic, and/or #ownvoices rep- Lim spins the perfect tale with Spin the Dawn!