A Forgery of Fate Summary, Characters and Themes
A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim is a fantasy novel that takes the reader on a journey of art, fate, and family. It follows the story of Tru, a young woman with a unique talent: the ability to paint the future.
Raised in the small town of Gangsun, Tru’s life has been influenced by her mother’s fortune-telling abilities, and her father’s adventurous spirit. However, when tragedy strikes, Tru is left to navigate her abilities and the complicated relationships in her life. As she tries to save her family from financial ruin, Tru’s art leads her into dangerous and mysterious situations. The novel explores themes of destiny, free will, and the cost of using one’s talents for both personal gain and the greater good.
Summary
The story opens with a glimpse into Tru’s family life in Gangsun, where her mother, Mama, is known for her incredible fortune-telling abilities. Mama has the power to read people’s faces and predict their futures.
Despite her extraordinary skill, she marries Baba, a trader with little money but a passion for adventure. Tru grows up in a world shaped by her mother’s predictions, where she is told she will never go hungry and will be good at making money.
However, Baba believes that the future is something one creates, not something that can be predicted.
Tru inherits her father’s artistic talents and begins to paint. She is given a special paintbrush that brings her artwork to life in ways she doesn’t fully understand.
One day, her hair turns blue, a change seen as a bad omen, causing concern for her mother. Despite this, Tru embraces her hair as a symbol of uniqueness.
But when Baba leaves on a voyage and is lost at sea, Tru’s world changes forever. Mama insists that Baba isn’t dead but only lost, vowing to find him.
Tru realizes that her life will never be the same, and her family struggles with the void left by Baba’s disappearance.
Five years later, Tru is a skilled forger of paintings, working for a man named Gaari who supplies her with materials and arranges deals with buyers. Tru forges paintings in the style of famous artists to make money, hoping to improve her family’s financial situation.
One day, while on her way to sell one of her forgeries, Tru is pursued by thieves but manages to escape and meet with Gaari. At an auction house, Tru presents a forged painting, but the appraiser, Mr.
Jisan, expresses doubts about its authenticity. With Gaari’s help, Tru convinces him to list the painting at the auction.
Gaari advises Tru to create her own artwork instead of continuing to forge others’ work, but Tru is hesitant. She feels that her strength lies in imitation, and she struggles with the idea of creating her own original art.
Meanwhile, Tru’s family continues to face financial hardship. Mama’s gambling addiction worsens, and Tru discovers that Mama owes a dangerous woman, Madam Yargui, a large sum of money.
If Mama can’t pay the debt, Madam Yargui threatens to sell Tru’s younger sister, Falina, into servitude. Determined to protect her family, Tru resolves to find a way to pay off the debt.
She considers robbing the rich or creating a forgery that could sell for a substantial amount. When her youngest sister, Nomi, overhears Tru’s conversation, she insists on helping, showcasing the unity among the sisters.
Tru promises to get the money needed to save Falina, even if it means taking risks. As the Ghost Festival approaches, a time when spirits are believed to roam the earth, Tru prepares to take action.
She resolves to paint a miracle, convinced that she has the power to create her own fortune, just as Baba once taught her.
Tru’s determination deepens, and she starts to take control of her destiny. Realizing that she can no longer rely on Mama’s fortunes or predictions, she prepares to take bold steps to change her family’s situation.
Tru knows that her skills as an artist could be the key to securing the money they need. She paints with the hope that her creations will make a difference, that her artistic abilities will allow her to shape her own future.
In the following chapters, Tru’s journey becomes increasingly complicated as her artwork begins to have more than just predictive power. She discovers that her paintings can influence reality itself, allowing her to manipulate fate in ways she had never imagined.
A particularly pivotal moment occurs when Tru encounters Gaari, who offers her a job as a forger. While working for Gaari, Tru’s paintings grow more powerful, and she realizes that her talent is not just for predicting the future but for altering it.
The plot thickens when Tru becomes entangled in a dangerous game of power and deceit. Madam Yargui’s criminal syndicate and the mysterious dragon prince Elang draw Tru into a conflict far greater than she could have anticipated.
She must choose between her family’s safety and her growing relationship with Elang, who is tied to her visions of dragons and destiny. Elang, a half-dragon prince, offers Tru a dangerous deal: if she helps him return to his realm, Ai’long, he will offer protection to her family and a new future for herself.
The challenge for Tru is deciding whether to accept his offer and change her life forever, or to continue fighting for her family’s survival on her own terms.
As Tru’s relationship with Elang deepens, she learns more about the mystical forces surrounding her. Her ability to create art that shapes fate takes on new dimensions as Tru uncovers the complex world of dragons, curses, and the power of her paintbrush.
The consequences of using her gift to alter fate become clearer, and Tru must decide whether to embrace the magic within her or reject it to protect the ones she loves.
The final conflict forces Tru to confront her fears and the dangers of her powers. She must decide how far she is willing to go to change her fate and that of her family.
The themes of destiny, sacrifice, and free will come to the forefront as Tru learns that while she can paint the future, she cannot fully control it. The story closes with Tru standing at a crossroads, facing the uncertainty of what lies ahead as she embraces her newfound power and her place in the world.
Characters
Truyan Saigas (Tru)
Truyan Saigas, the protagonist of A Forgery of Fate, is a talented artist with a unique gift for painting that shapes and predicts the future. Her story begins in a family where her mother, Mama, is a skilled fortune teller, and her father, Baba, is an adventurer with a passion for art.
Tru inherits Baba’s artistic talent, and her ability to paint isn’t merely about creating beauty—it brings her visions of what will come. While Mama believes that the future is determined by fate, Tru’s belief is influenced by her father’s view that fate is something you shape yourself.
This duality shapes Tru’s character, making her a determined and independent individual who constantly grapples with the balance between accepting destiny and taking control of her own life. Tru’s bravery and self-reliance are key elements of her personality, especially as she faces challenges, such as her family’s financial struggles and the heavy burden of her mother’s gambling debts.
Her artistic skills, particularly her ability to create forgeries, reflect her creativity and resourcefulness, but also her internal conflict between honoring the art she loves and using it for survival. Throughout the novel, Tru is forced to confront her powers, her past, and the choices that will ultimately shape her future.
Her journey of self-discovery is marked by sacrifice, courage, and a deep love for her family, showing the complexity of her character as she learns that while she can paint the future, she cannot control it completely.
Mama (Tru’s Mother)
Mama, Tru’s mother, is a deeply complex character in A Forgery of Fate. A gifted fortune teller, Mama possesses the ability to read faces and predict people’s futures, a talent that influences the entire family.
Despite her skill, Mama’s own life choices, particularly her marriage to Baba, a man with little material wealth and more interest in adventure than fortune, highlight her personal conflict. She is emotionally driven and places her faith in her gift of foresight, relying on it to shape her family’s future.
However, her belief in fate is in direct contrast to Baba’s view that fate is something one creates. This tension defines Mama’s relationship with Tru, especially as Tru begins to assert her independence and confront the limitations of relying solely on fate.
Mama’s actions, particularly her gambling habits, show her inability to manage the family’s finances, further compounding the pressures on Tru. Her deep love for her family is evident, but her refusal to let go of past dreams and her obsession with finding Baba after his disappearance leads her into dangerous financial and emotional territory.
Mama’s character represents the theme of fate and the consequences of relying too heavily on it, even when the world around her demands more practical solutions.
Baba (Tru’s Father)
Baba, Tru’s father, is a man of adventure and artistic passion in A Forgery of Fate. Unlike Mama, Baba does not believe in fate as something fixed and instead teaches Tru that one must actively shape their own future.
This philosophy is passed on to Tru, who uses it as a foundation for her artistic journey. Baba is a complex figure whose love for the sea, art, and adventure shaped Tru’s formative years.
His disappearance, when his ship is lost at sea, marks a significant turning point in the family’s life. Though physically absent, Baba’s influence remains strong in Tru, both in her love for art and her desire to carve out a life on her own terms.
His mysterious disappearance—framed as a tragic accident rather than an act of fate—symbolizes the unpredictability of life and the themes of self-determination. Baba’s legacy lives on through Tru’s work, especially her ability to bring her paintings to life.
His absence forces Tru to take on responsibilities and step into adulthood much earlier than she anticipated, and his teachings influence her decisions throughout the narrative, particularly her quest to break free from the constraints of fate.
Gaari
Gaari is a significant secondary character in A Forgery of Fate, acting as both mentor and guide to Tru in the art of forgery. Gaari, a man with a dubious reputation, provides Tru with the materials and connections she needs to sell her forgeries.
While Tru’s art initially focuses on creating copies of renowned works, Gaari pushes her to explore her own creative abilities. His influence helps Tru refine her skills, but he also represents the morally gray world of art forgery—an arena where truth and deception blend.
Gaari’s character is pragmatic and somewhat opportunistic, but he genuinely cares for Tru, encouraging her to step beyond the confines of imitating others. His role as an ally and guide plays a key part in Tru’s growth as an artist, and his encouragement to forge her own path in the art world, rather than relying on imitation, becomes a pivotal moment in Tru’s development.
While his profession is questionable, Gaari’s character brings to light themes of survival, the value of artistic authenticity, and the blurry lines between right and wrong.
Madam Yargui
Madam Yargui is a formidable antagonist in A Forgery of Fate, representing the dark side of the world Tru inhabits. As a woman with considerable power and influence, Madam Yargui serves as the lender to whom Tru’s mother owes a large debt.
This debt creates immense tension, as Madam Yargui’s men, including Puhkan, threaten Tru and her family. Madam Yargui’s ruthlessness is seen in her willingness to take extreme measures, including selling Tru’s younger sister, Falina, into servitude if the debt isn’t repaid.
She operates in a morally ambiguous space, where power and wealth are achieved through manipulation and fear. Her character embodies the harsh realities of the world Tru and her family live in, where survival often depends on making difficult, sometimes dangerous, choices.
Madam Yargui’s role in the story is critical as she sets in motion Tru’s attempts to navigate the world of art forgery, crime, and survival. Her presence is a constant threat, reminding Tru of the precariousness of her family’s situation and the lengths she must go to in order to protect them.
Elangui (The Demon Prince)
Elangui, also known as the Demon Prince, is a powerful half-dragon prince whose fate is intricately tied to Tru’s. As the story unfolds, Elangui becomes a key figure in Tru’s journey, drawing her into the mystical and dangerous world of dragons.
Elangui’s tragic past and the curse that binds him to Tru create a complicated dynamic between the two characters. Elangui’s curse, which forces him into a fatal relationship with his true love, adds layers of complexity to his relationship with Tru.
As a character, Elangui is enigmatic, powerful, and burdened with the weight of his heritage. His half-dragon nature makes him both a figure of strength and vulnerability.
His connection with Tru is intense, filled with both romantic tension and a deep understanding of the price of love and sacrifice. Throughout their journey, Elangui’s emotional struggles, particularly in relation to his curse and his past, force Tru to confront her own feelings about destiny, choice, and the consequences of the path she chooses.
His offer to marry Tru in exchange for helping him return to his dragon realm presents her with an impossible choice, forcing her to evaluate her own desires against the needs of her family and the magical forces at play. Elangui’s presence in Tru’s life is a catalyst for her growth, as she must decide whether to follow her heart or her sense of duty.
Nomi (Tru’s Youngest Sister)
Nomi, Tru’s youngest sister, is a symbol of innocence and family loyalty in A Forgery of Fate. Though she is young, Nomi plays an important role in the emotional landscape of the story.
She supports Tru in her efforts to protect their family, showing a deep bond of love and solidarity between the sisters. Nomi’s character represents the hope and warmth that Tru fights to preserve, even as her world grows darker.
Her role in the narrative highlights the theme of familial love and sacrifice, as Tru’s protective instincts for Nomi and her other sisters are a driving force behind her actions. Nomi’s presence also brings out Tru’s nurturing side, reminding her of the family she is fighting for and what is at stake in her pursuit of a better future.
Themes
Fate vs. Free will
In A Forgery of Fate, the tension between fate and free will is a central theme that drives the protagonist’s actions and decisions throughout the narrative. Tru, with her artistic abilities and magical brush, learns that her power allows her to predict the future through her paintings.
However, while she is able to foresee events, she is also confronted with the realization that fate is not always something she can control or avoid. Her journey becomes a constant battle between shaping her destiny with the power of her art and the uncontrollable forces that determine her path.
Her mother, Mama, believes in the power of fate and often predicts Tru’s future through face-reading, seeing it as a predestined course. On the other hand, her father, Baba, offers a more free-willed view of the world, teaching Tru that she is the master of her own future, a lesson that guides her actions later in the story.
Despite her belief in her ability to influence her future through her art, Tru finds herself caught in a complex web of magical powers, family obligations, and a looming danger that challenges her notion of free will. When faced with difficult decisions—such as using her art to help her family or entering into a dangerous contract with Elangui, the half-dragon prince—Tru must confront the limitations of her control over her own life.
This theme raises important questions about whether Tru can forge her own path or whether her fate is already sealed by forces beyond her control. The constant interplay between these two forces underscores her internal struggle and the external challenges she faces throughout the novel.
Family and Sacrifice
The theme of family is deeply woven into the narrative of A Forgery of Fate, where Tru’s love and dedication to her family are the driving forces behind many of her actions. Tru’s relationship with her mother, Mama, is complicated by Mama’s reliance on fortune-telling and gambling, which ultimately puts the family in debt.
This creates a volatile environment for Tru, who takes on the responsibility of protecting her sisters and ensuring their survival. Her resolve to save her family from poverty and the dangerous forces threatening them is a defining aspect of her character.
Tru’s actions, driven by a sense of duty to her family, reveal the lengths to which she is willing to go to protect them, even if it means putting herself in peril.
Tru’s selflessness is a crucial part of the narrative, as she consistently places her family’s well-being above her own desires. The debt owed to Madam Yargui, which threatens to tear the family apart, forces Tru to take extreme measures, including using her skills as a forger to create art that could save them.
The love and bond between Tru and her sisters—especially her younger sister Falina—demonstrate the deep connection that Tru is willing to sacrifice everything for. This theme is also present in Tru’s relationship with her father, Baba, whose disappearance leaves a void in the family.
Although Baba’s physical absence is a source of pain for Tru, his teachings on creating one’s own fate live on in Tru’s determination and resilience. The central question of the novel becomes whether Tru can balance her desire to protect her family with the pursuit of her own happiness, as she finds herself entangled in increasingly dangerous situations.
Identity and Self-Discovery
Throughout A Forgery of Fate, Tru’s journey is one of self-discovery, as she grapples with her unique identity as an artist and the implications of her magical abilities. Her unusual gift to paint the future leads to an exploration of her role in the world, and whether she is merely a tool for predicting or controlling fate, or whether she can use her art for a greater purpose.
This internal conflict shapes her character development, as she questions the power of her art and whether it is a curse or a blessing. Tru’s struggle with her identity is not just limited to her artistic abilities but extends to her understanding of herself as a member of her family and society.
The discovery of her true potential, both as an artist and as an individual, becomes crucial when Tru decides whether to follow the path of forgery—imitating the works of others—or to create her own masterpieces that reflect her inner truth. This journey of self-actualization is complicated by the external pressures and expectations placed upon her by her family, society, and the mystical forces she encounters, including Elangui, the half-dragon prince.
As Tru navigates her responsibilities and the dangers surrounding her, she must confront her fears, limitations, and desires, ultimately discovering who she truly is and what she is willing to sacrifice for the sake of her future. The theme of identity is explored in how Tru learns to trust her instincts, embrace her uniqueness, and redefine her role as both an artist and a person who shapes her own destiny.
Power and Corruption
Power and corruption are recurring themes in A Forgery of Fate, particularly as Tru’s encounters with various powerful figures reveal the darker side of ambition and control. The mysterious ring that Tru paints, which plays a significant role in her survival, symbolizes not only her magical powers but also the dangerous allure of control over one’s fate.
The criminal world that Tru becomes entangled with, particularly through Madam Yargui, serves as a reflection of the corrupting influence of power, where individuals exploit others for their own gain. Tru’s own brushstrokes, which allow her to create life and shape the future, come with consequences that highlight the dangers of wielding such power.
The theme of corruption is further explored through the character of Elangui, the half-dragon prince, whose power and status come with an underlying corruption rooted in his heritage and the curse placed upon him. Elangui’s complex relationship with Tru evolves as they navigate their respective destinies, with his desire for power often clashing with Tru’s need to protect her family.
The Dragon King, Nazayun, embodies the ultimate form of corrupt power, manipulating events and people for his own purposes and threatening to destroy the world as a means to maintain his control. Tru’s involvement with these powerful forces challenges her understanding of what it means to hold power, and whether true power lies in domination or in the ability to act selflessly for the greater good.
This theme highlights the moral complexities faced by the characters as they struggle with the temptation of power and the consequences of its abuse.
Love and Duty
The complex dynamic between love and duty is explored in A Forgery of Fate, as Tru faces heart-wrenching decisions that pit her personal desires against her obligations to others. Her love for her family is her driving force, but as the narrative unfolds, Tru is also confronted with romantic feelings for Elangui, the enigmatic half-dragon prince.
This creates an internal struggle between her duty to her family and the allure of the magic and power that Elangui offers. Tru’s connection with Elangui deepens as she learns more about his tragic past and the curse that binds him, yet she remains committed to her mission of protecting her family, even at the cost of her own happiness.
Tru’s sense of duty and love are tested as she is forced to make difficult choices that could impact the future of both her family and the world at large. The growing tension between her loyalty to her family and her feelings for Elangui illustrates the sacrifices that Tru must make, highlighting the complex interplay of love, loyalty, and sacrifice in the face of impossible choices.
This theme touches upon the emotional toll of responsibility, as Tru realizes that sometimes love means making painful decisions for the greater good, even if it means letting go of her own desires and dreams. The evolving relationship between Tru and Elangui is central to the narrative, with both characters learning to navigate the delicate balance between their personal feelings and the obligations that bind them.