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Breathmarked #1
Breath of the Dragon
The first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy duology based on characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee!
Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Earth to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s honor—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.
But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. There is no future in honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin. Determined to be the next Guardian, Jun stows away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital where the tournament will take place.
As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life, but the fate of the country itself.
Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Earth to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s honor—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.
But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. There is no future in honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin. Determined to be the next Guardian, Jun stows away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital where the tournament will take place.
As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life, but the fate of the country itself.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 7, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 592 reviews
January 14, 2025
4.25!
“The first one to show doubt loses.”
I am so glad I started my Fonda Lee journey with this book because it gave me such a good idea of her writing, it was so addicting and so fun to read like it wasn't anything mindblowing but the concept was very well thought and the way it was written was so easy to get invested in. I feel like the story itself was very unique. It's a series so I won't be too critical about the world building but it was severely lacking in this book. There were occasional glimpses of it but nothing rock solid for the book to have a foundation so I hope the next book explores a bit of that. I really enjoyed reading the about the magic system and of about the breathmarks and how it works and who they are and how they're chosen. It was right up my alley.
"Li Jun is only sixteen, born under the Red Star. He's the youngest competitor at the tournament, and even though he doesn't have a breathmark, he fights as if divinely inspired by Dragon himself."
The main focus of this book is about Jun, a twin who is not breathmarked and banished alongside his father for practicing the art of fighting becuase it is forbidden in the east whereas his mother and his twin who is breathmarked are taken to be raised and morphed into soldiers, I feel like Jun not being breathmarked was the part that I really liked becuase it didnt make the main character to be the strongest like he wasnt given that, he had to train and figth and earn it and his passion for it was amazing to read. The lengths that he went through to get there was also something I appreciated and the brief emotional points that we got to read between him and his father were also well done. Yin Yue and Fen (I maybe confusing her name) were nice additions to the sty as side characters. I liked the bond of friendship that they made over the span of this story.
"I had a good sifu,' Jun said, 'who told me that the only way to master others is to master yourself first."
The plot was overall also an enjoyable factor of this book. The whole tournament kinda gave me that first season of beyblade vibes lol, the arena and the way the contestants fought was something that I was craving to read, I liked the journey that Jun had to go through to be on that level the overlapping plot wasnt really that gripping for me, I was more interested in reading about the tournament and one more thing that I felt could have been way better were the action sequences in this book, I feel like they could have been more descriptive than they were. It would have set the mood and the tone of those scenes much better but besides that I didnt really have any problems that bugged me.
Overall, I would recommend!
__
Me being in this atrocious slump made me forget about this arc 😞 gonna try and speed through this one also didn't think this would be my first Fonda lee book but here we go 🤸🏻
“The first one to show doubt loses.”
I am so glad I started my Fonda Lee journey with this book because it gave me such a good idea of her writing, it was so addicting and so fun to read like it wasn't anything mindblowing but the concept was very well thought and the way it was written was so easy to get invested in. I feel like the story itself was very unique. It's a series so I won't be too critical about the world building but it was severely lacking in this book. There were occasional glimpses of it but nothing rock solid for the book to have a foundation so I hope the next book explores a bit of that. I really enjoyed reading the about the magic system and of about the breathmarks and how it works and who they are and how they're chosen. It was right up my alley.
"Li Jun is only sixteen, born under the Red Star. He's the youngest competitor at the tournament, and even though he doesn't have a breathmark, he fights as if divinely inspired by Dragon himself."
The main focus of this book is about Jun, a twin who is not breathmarked and banished alongside his father for practicing the art of fighting becuase it is forbidden in the east whereas his mother and his twin who is breathmarked are taken to be raised and morphed into soldiers, I feel like Jun not being breathmarked was the part that I really liked becuase it didnt make the main character to be the strongest like he wasnt given that, he had to train and figth and earn it and his passion for it was amazing to read. The lengths that he went through to get there was also something I appreciated and the brief emotional points that we got to read between him and his father were also well done. Yin Yue and Fen (I maybe confusing her name) were nice additions to the sty as side characters. I liked the bond of friendship that they made over the span of this story.
"I had a good sifu,' Jun said, 'who told me that the only way to master others is to master yourself first."
The plot was overall also an enjoyable factor of this book. The whole tournament kinda gave me that first season of beyblade vibes lol, the arena and the way the contestants fought was something that I was craving to read, I liked the journey that Jun had to go through to be on that level the overlapping plot wasnt really that gripping for me, I was more interested in reading about the tournament and one more thing that I felt could have been way better were the action sequences in this book, I feel like they could have been more descriptive than they were. It would have set the mood and the tone of those scenes much better but besides that I didnt really have any problems that bugged me.
Overall, I would recommend!
__
Me being in this atrocious slump made me forget about this arc 😞 gonna try and speed through this one also didn't think this would be my first Fonda lee book but here we go 🤸🏻
January 31, 2025
➸ this book is a young adult fantasy that follows Li Jun, a young boy learning martial arts from his father in a quest to grow stronger and prove himself. His twin brother is Birthmarked—a status that seems to signify greatness—but Jun isn’t, which drives his desire to carve out his own path as a warrior.
This was such a fun, lighthearted read. I picked it up partly because Fonda Lee was listed as a co-writer, and I think that raised my expectations a little too high. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a solid book. But I was hoping for something that completely wowed me, and it didn’t quite get there. That said, I can’t really point to anything specific that bothered me, either. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and honestly, I devoured it in one sitting.
➸ One of the things I loved about Breath of the Dragon was how much it reminded me of some of my favorite anime, especially Hunter x Hunter. The whole setup of a young boy trying to prove himself through arena competitions gave me major Heaven’s Arena ARC vibes. And the way Jun learns to channel his energy and embrace his inner power? It felt a lot like how Gon mastered Nen. I don’t know if that was intentional, but it was hard not to see the parallels.
Overall, this book has a strong anime feel—plenty of action, training montages, and moments of self-discovery. It’s not a book that’s going to completely change your world, but it’s a fun, quick read that’s easy to get lost in for a few hours. If you’re into martial arts, coming-of-age stories, or anything with a bit of anime inspiration, it’s worth checking out.
: ̗̀➛ ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher—St. Martin's Press—and an audio copy by—Macmillan Audio—in exchange for an honest review.
"Sometimes change strikes as a disaster, On the other hand, sometimes embracing change is the only way to get where you want to go.”
This was such a fun, lighthearted read. I picked it up partly because Fonda Lee was listed as a co-writer, and I think that raised my expectations a little too high. Don’t get me wrong—it’s a solid book. But I was hoping for something that completely wowed me, and it didn’t quite get there. That said, I can’t really point to anything specific that bothered me, either. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and honestly, I devoured it in one sitting.
“The first one to show doubt loses.”
➸ One of the things I loved about Breath of the Dragon was how much it reminded me of some of my favorite anime, especially Hunter x Hunter. The whole setup of a young boy trying to prove himself through arena competitions gave me major Heaven’s Arena ARC vibes. And the way Jun learns to channel his energy and embrace his inner power? It felt a lot like how Gon mastered Nen. I don’t know if that was intentional, but it was hard not to see the parallels.
“A sense of discovery. Poetry in motion."
Overall, this book has a strong anime feel—plenty of action, training montages, and moments of self-discovery. It’s not a book that’s going to completely change your world, but it’s a fun, quick read that’s easy to get lost in for a few hours. If you’re into martial arts, coming-of-age stories, or anything with a bit of anime inspiration, it’s worth checking out.
: ̗̀➛ ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher—St. Martin's Press—and an audio copy by—Macmillan Audio—in exchange for an honest review.
Shelved as 'walk-of-shame-dnf'
September 6, 2024 ﹙started﹚ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ 0 9 / 0 6 / 2 4 ⊹
౨ৎ arc is secured !!! ready to eat what fonda lee has been cooking up.
౨ৎ arc is secured !!! ready to eat what fonda lee has been cooking up.
January 3, 2025
“Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being.”
i wanted to like this more than i did cause the concept was interesting and the world building was very well thought out and realized. i just didn’t connect to the characters so i felt detached the whole time i was reading this. the fight scenes we’re entertaining but there was almost too many of them, so it started to feel repetitive and i got bored halfway through. i expected more out of Jun and his twin brother Sai’s dynamic and i found the reveals to be predictable. not a bad book by any means, just not the most memorable to be honest.
⥇ many thanks to NetGalley, the authors and St. Martin’s Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i wanted to like this more than i did cause the concept was interesting and the world building was very well thought out and realized. i just didn’t connect to the characters so i felt detached the whole time i was reading this. the fight scenes we’re entertaining but there was almost too many of them, so it started to feel repetitive and i got bored halfway through. i expected more out of Jun and his twin brother Sai’s dynamic and i found the reveals to be predictable. not a bad book by any means, just not the most memorable to be honest.
⥇ many thanks to NetGalley, the authors and St. Martin’s Press for the arc, all opinions are my own.
December 29, 2024
breath of the dragon is a love letter to martial arts, so much so that if you're not interested in martial arts or a plethora of fight scenes, this book is very much not for you.
the worldbuilding is easily the strongest aspect of this book - it's a fully realized world, with a rich history and mythos, built upon a compelling conflict and held up by well-written political intrigue. the plot is pretty straightforward and could've been so much better if it was carried out by more memorable characters and stronger relationships.
our protagonist jun starts off as a fairly infuriating, ungrateful, bratty kid but he does eventually face some harsh reality checks and undergoes much-needed growth and learning. i like seeing flawed characters grow and change. i also liked that the authors did a sort of reverse chosen one trope with him and actually stuck to it - jun isn't born with any special breathmarked abilities and doesn't somehow magically gain them over the course of his journey either (at least in this book). his triumphs are hard-won and i did feel for him, especially towards the end.
my major issues with this book are the lack of truly stand-out characters and the lack of genuine, strong relationships. i feel like the authors could've really delved into relationships like father/son, mentor/mentee, brothers, best friends/rivals that were only touched upon. this book needed strong emotional bonds to anchor the story and give more urgency and heft to some of the fight scenes.
there were points where the writing with all the fight scenes started feeling repetitive and tired - it just needed something more to it. when you have a generic plotline that's so full of fight scenes, you need great characters and relationships to make your story memorable. like this was a story that was crying out for a found family - i don't know how the authors missed that (and no, characters simply travelling together does not automatically make them a found family).
all in all, a fairly good young adult fantasy book with missed opportunities that could have made it something truly special. the ending does open up lots of potential for the story moving forward, so i'll definitely be checking out the sequel.
thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
the worldbuilding is easily the strongest aspect of this book - it's a fully realized world, with a rich history and mythos, built upon a compelling conflict and held up by well-written political intrigue. the plot is pretty straightforward and could've been so much better if it was carried out by more memorable characters and stronger relationships.
our protagonist jun starts off as a fairly infuriating, ungrateful, bratty kid but he does eventually face some harsh reality checks and undergoes much-needed growth and learning. i like seeing flawed characters grow and change. i also liked that the authors did a sort of reverse chosen one trope with him and actually stuck to it - jun isn't born with any special breathmarked abilities and doesn't somehow magically gain them over the course of his journey either (at least in this book). his triumphs are hard-won and i did feel for him, especially towards the end.
my major issues with this book are the lack of truly stand-out characters and the lack of genuine, strong relationships. i feel like the authors could've really delved into relationships like father/son, mentor/mentee, brothers, best friends/rivals that were only touched upon. this book needed strong emotional bonds to anchor the story and give more urgency and heft to some of the fight scenes.
there were points where the writing with all the fight scenes started feeling repetitive and tired - it just needed something more to it. when you have a generic plotline that's so full of fight scenes, you need great characters and relationships to make your story memorable. like this was a story that was crying out for a found family - i don't know how the authors missed that (and no, characters simply travelling together does not automatically make them a found family).
all in all, a fairly good young adult fantasy book with missed opportunities that could have made it something truly special. the ending does open up lots of potential for the story moving forward, so i'll definitely be checking out the sequel.
thank you to netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 4, 2025
➸ 4.5 stars
— thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!
this was literally so good?! i was unable to put this one down and had so much fun reading!
i loved all of the martial arts/fighting, the tournament and the characters! looking forward to the next one :)
“The abilities that matter the most don’t come from Dragon’s blood. They’re gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being.”
— thank you to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!
this was literally so good?! i was unable to put this one down and had so much fun reading!
i loved all of the martial arts/fighting, the tournament and the characters! looking forward to the next one :)
June 3, 2024
Overview:
👊 Tournament story
🚫 No romance
👨👩👦 Found family
🥋 Martial arts
⏩ Fast paced
👥 Academic rivals
👦 Male main character in a YA
Fonda Lee, queen of fantasy as teamed up with Shannon Lee to break into the wonderful world of Young Adult and has now conquered this too.
Jun is a passionate martial artist, exhaled from his homeland while his magic endowed twin is brought to court. Living a life desperate to prove himself, Jun enters the Guardian Tournament, where he can fight to rise in the ranks of his newfound kingdom.
But this year, the tournament is different deadlier. More corrupt- and Jun is starting to learn why.
Lets just get something out of the way now. This is an actual YA, age appropriate adventure about a 16 year old who acts like a teen. While this adventure is larger than life, its awesome reading a book where the prose and story are meant to reflect children instead of being an adult book with the serial numbers shaved off. This is the kind of book id be pumped to give to my teenagers. For lack of a better comparison, it reminds me of the type of adventure mixed with darkness the later Harry Potter books had.
Jun is a wonderful protagonist. Hes a rambunctious pain in the ass with a big ego and a lot to learn, but he really does learn and grow through the story and becomes a young man. The character moments for him are earned through his own actions and a wonderful supporting roster of bright characters.
Jun connects with a musical martial arts master and teen sidekick duo. A whole revolutionary army. A corrupt general and his monster, a conniving doctor. A cast of crazy fighters from all over the country...and last but not least, his academic rival Yin, the boy he's dedicated himself to beating that he slowly can't help but be drawn to as a brother.
These characters give life and vibrancy to this world and make it feel whole. Down to very minor characters, they are all memorable, creatively written, and interesting to follow. The dialogue is sharp and snappy and its easy to follow each character and their motives over the course of the story.
The plot blends court politics and extremely well written, epic fighting scenes. Imagine the first Throne of Glass book if it had a baby with Cobra Kai. Its a fast paced blast of a story that always gives you motivation to turn the page. Reading this felt like watching a CW show from 2010. Its candy, but its candy made from an artisan small batch crafter who takes pride in his work.
Anyone going into Breath of the Dragon for 'Jade City' is going to be miserable, but the story has Fonda Lee's sharp writing and wit and impossible ability to draw you into a story. This book knows and respects its teen audience and I think has a ton of crossover appeal with adults who just appreciate great writing. I look forward to the world discovering Breath of the Dragon and will be going absolutely nuts when the second book drops.
👊 Tournament story
🚫 No romance
👨👩👦 Found family
🥋 Martial arts
⏩ Fast paced
👥 Academic rivals
👦 Male main character in a YA
Fonda Lee, queen of fantasy as teamed up with Shannon Lee to break into the wonderful world of Young Adult and has now conquered this too.
Jun is a passionate martial artist, exhaled from his homeland while his magic endowed twin is brought to court. Living a life desperate to prove himself, Jun enters the Guardian Tournament, where he can fight to rise in the ranks of his newfound kingdom.
But this year, the tournament is different deadlier. More corrupt- and Jun is starting to learn why.
Lets just get something out of the way now. This is an actual YA, age appropriate adventure about a 16 year old who acts like a teen. While this adventure is larger than life, its awesome reading a book where the prose and story are meant to reflect children instead of being an adult book with the serial numbers shaved off. This is the kind of book id be pumped to give to my teenagers. For lack of a better comparison, it reminds me of the type of adventure mixed with darkness the later Harry Potter books had.
Jun is a wonderful protagonist. Hes a rambunctious pain in the ass with a big ego and a lot to learn, but he really does learn and grow through the story and becomes a young man. The character moments for him are earned through his own actions and a wonderful supporting roster of bright characters.
Jun connects with a musical martial arts master and teen sidekick duo. A whole revolutionary army. A corrupt general and his monster, a conniving doctor. A cast of crazy fighters from all over the country...and last but not least, his academic rival Yin, the boy he's dedicated himself to beating that he slowly can't help but be drawn to as a brother.
These characters give life and vibrancy to this world and make it feel whole. Down to very minor characters, they are all memorable, creatively written, and interesting to follow. The dialogue is sharp and snappy and its easy to follow each character and their motives over the course of the story.
The plot blends court politics and extremely well written, epic fighting scenes. Imagine the first Throne of Glass book if it had a baby with Cobra Kai. Its a fast paced blast of a story that always gives you motivation to turn the page. Reading this felt like watching a CW show from 2010. Its candy, but its candy made from an artisan small batch crafter who takes pride in his work.
Anyone going into Breath of the Dragon for 'Jade City' is going to be miserable, but the story has Fonda Lee's sharp writing and wit and impossible ability to draw you into a story. This book knows and respects its teen audience and I think has a ton of crossover appeal with adults who just appreciate great writing. I look forward to the world discovering Breath of the Dragon and will be going absolutely nuts when the second book drops.
September 22, 2024
I love tournaments. Throw in a couple magical abilities too, and I'm there.
Rating: 4 ⭐️
"The abilities that matter the most don't come from Dragon's blood. They're gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being."
Every year since the East and West divided, there have been less breathmarked, those born with a special power. 10 years after being banished to the West, Jun dreams of winning the elite Guardian's Tournament. This book follows his journey to becoming a warrior, during which he is entrenched in a world of political machinations and treachery. What fun!
What I liked about this book:
1. The Tournament
Listennnnn, I love a tournament. It is such an effective way to create a cohesive storyline, introduce new opponents, and constantly up the stakes. It's also just so much fun to read!
2. The Characters
Jun had both the naivety and arrogance of a 16-year-old, while still being hard working and having a strong moral code. We first perceive many characters through his eyes and as he changes, so too do our perceptions of the people around him.
Jun is not breathmarked. He struggles to find a way to be important and carve out a place for himself without a special ability. While I love the show and pomp of a main character with ceaseless magical powers, there is something about a character having to make do with study, hard work, and aptitude.
3. The World
I love magical powers. There's something about having a physical manifestation of innate magical ability that scratches my brain. And having one twin be magical while the other isn't? And then being thrust apart because of an ideology? That absolute drama!!
4. The Ending
I'm excited for book 2!! I, of course, will not be supplying spoilers, but this is what I was waiting for all book!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me early access to Breath of the Dragon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 4 ⭐️
"The abilities that matter the most don't come from Dragon's blood. They're gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being."
Every year since the East and West divided, there have been less breathmarked, those born with a special power. 10 years after being banished to the West, Jun dreams of winning the elite Guardian's Tournament. This book follows his journey to becoming a warrior, during which he is entrenched in a world of political machinations and treachery. What fun!
What I liked about this book:
1. The Tournament
Listennnnn, I love a tournament. It is such an effective way to create a cohesive storyline, introduce new opponents, and constantly up the stakes. It's also just so much fun to read!
2. The Characters
Jun had both the naivety and arrogance of a 16-year-old, while still being hard working and having a strong moral code. We first perceive many characters through his eyes and as he changes, so too do our perceptions of the people around him.
Jun is not breathmarked. He struggles to find a way to be important and carve out a place for himself without a special ability. While I love the show and pomp of a main character with ceaseless magical powers, there is something about a character having to make do with study, hard work, and aptitude.
3. The World
I love magical powers. There's something about having a physical manifestation of innate magical ability that scratches my brain. And having one twin be magical while the other isn't? And then being thrust apart because of an ideology? That absolute drama!!
4. The Ending
I'm excited for book 2!! I, of course, will not be supplying spoilers, but this is what I was waiting for all book!
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me early access to Breath of the Dragon in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 29, 2024
4.0 Stars
This was an action packed story clearly inspired by the classics of martial arts. I loved the nods to these popular plots. I found myself invested in the action sequences. The character work was good but not up to the level of the Green Bone Saga. However it's tough to compare to some of the best characters I have found in fantasy.
While this is categorized as young adult, I was pleased to find it avoided many of the tropes I dislike. The novel does not have any adult subject matter but it doesn't dumb down the actual story. The characters felt the right level of maturity which made an enjoyable read.
Needless to say, if you enjoy Fonda Lee's adult fantasy or are simply interested in a new martial arts fantasy series, this is an excellent option. I highly recommend it. I got to the audiobook version and the narrator helped to uplift the story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
This was an action packed story clearly inspired by the classics of martial arts. I loved the nods to these popular plots. I found myself invested in the action sequences. The character work was good but not up to the level of the Green Bone Saga. However it's tough to compare to some of the best characters I have found in fantasy.
While this is categorized as young adult, I was pleased to find it avoided many of the tropes I dislike. The novel does not have any adult subject matter but it doesn't dumb down the actual story. The characters felt the right level of maturity which made an enjoyable read.
Needless to say, if you enjoy Fonda Lee's adult fantasy or are simply interested in a new martial arts fantasy series, this is an excellent option. I highly recommend it. I got to the audiobook version and the narrator helped to uplift the story.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
Want to read
August 26, 2024my first arc
January 8, 2025
3.75
I feel like the sequel is going to hit so hard.
I feel like the sequel is going to hit so hard.
December 27, 2024
See below for more details on ⭐️ rating | TikTok |
Solid YA perfect for younger readers who love martial arts and a tournament setting. Filled with found family, and an MC that works hard to accomplish his goals.
What’s to love…
- found family
- romance-free (not my fav. but I know others love this so I always included it here!)
- Tournament
- martial arts (epic fight scenes!)
- magic!
What I didn’t love…
- a bit of a slow start
- the characters and their connections to each other felt a little under-developed
Rating Details:
Intended Purpose/Audience: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment/reading as an adult: 2.5⭐️
Occasionally I read a YA book that I didn’t particularly enjoy but I could see the merit as a good book for the intended audience, this is one of those times. While I didn’t love this book and had a hard time connecting with the characters, I could see this being well loved by the right audience. This is something I would recommend for advanced middle grade readers and younger teens.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Solid YA perfect for younger readers who love martial arts and a tournament setting. Filled with found family, and an MC that works hard to accomplish his goals.
What’s to love…
- found family
- romance-free (not my fav. but I know others love this so I always included it here!)
- Tournament
- martial arts (epic fight scenes!)
- magic!
What I didn’t love…
- a bit of a slow start
- the characters and their connections to each other felt a little under-developed
Rating Details:
Intended Purpose/Audience: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment/reading as an adult: 2.5⭐️
Occasionally I read a YA book that I didn’t particularly enjoy but I could see the merit as a good book for the intended audience, this is one of those times. While I didn’t love this book and had a hard time connecting with the characters, I could see this being well loved by the right audience. This is something I would recommend for advanced middle grade readers and younger teens.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
January 18, 2025
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the E-Arc
3.5⭐
I have to say that throughout the entire time I was reading this book, I felt like I was watching a movie. I understand that it is a tribute to Bruce Lee's legacy, and both authors succeed in capturing that essence.
The book is an adventure from start to finish. The story is driven partly by the development of the main character and partly by the plot, although you don’t fully understand where the story is headed until you’re about 35% through the book.
Overall, this is a story that has been told before in other books and movies, but it still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is a tribute to all the martial arts films I grew up watching, with classic tropes like the mentor x mentee relationship, the hero's journey from being self-centered to becoming part of something much bigger and even a bit of romance. It was a very fun adventure, and I’m already eager to read the second one.
Pre read: Is it wise to trust fonda lee with my heart again?
3.5⭐
I have to say that throughout the entire time I was reading this book, I felt like I was watching a movie. I understand that it is a tribute to Bruce Lee's legacy, and both authors succeed in capturing that essence.
The book is an adventure from start to finish. The story is driven partly by the development of the main character and partly by the plot, although you don’t fully understand where the story is headed until you’re about 35% through the book.
Overall, this is a story that has been told before in other books and movies, but it still manages to keep you on the edge of your seat. This book is a tribute to all the martial arts films I grew up watching, with classic tropes like the mentor x mentee relationship, the hero's journey from being self-centered to becoming part of something much bigger and even a bit of romance. It was a very fun adventure, and I’m already eager to read the second one.
Pre read: Is it wise to trust fonda lee with my heart again?
December 24, 2024
This would be so much fun as a graphic novel! I'd love to see all of the action scenes in a visual format.
(No hate for fight scenes written in words or anything, but they just don't capture my attention as much as they do in graphic novels and comic books.)
While I was pretty bored with the first half of the novel (typical YA coming of age concepts like a family being torn apart, making new friends, being the best/most disciplined fighter, etc.), I had more fun with the second half of the novel. (But this is definitely a personal preference. I get bored easily with tournament situations.) The second half was more classic YA adventure story, which was more my taste.
This is definitely for the YA set, so adult readers should set their expectations at a reasonable level. Everything is pretty straightforward. You know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. There aren't really any plot twists to make you gasp out loud, but I was satisfied enough to keep on reading.
I liked the relationships between the characters, especially with Jun and Yin. And I was pretty satisfied with Jun's character development. (Because lbr, when YA characters undergo ZERO growth, or become too OP, it gets ridiculous and boring really quickly.)
I'm interested to see how the next book goes.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc.
(No hate for fight scenes written in words or anything, but they just don't capture my attention as much as they do in graphic novels and comic books.)
While I was pretty bored with the first half of the novel (typical YA coming of age concepts like a family being torn apart, making new friends, being the best/most disciplined fighter, etc.), I had more fun with the second half of the novel. (But this is definitely a personal preference. I get bored easily with tournament situations.) The second half was more classic YA adventure story, which was more my taste.
This is definitely for the YA set, so adult readers should set their expectations at a reasonable level. Everything is pretty straightforward. You know who the good guys are and who the bad guys are. There aren't really any plot twists to make you gasp out loud, but I was satisfied enough to keep on reading.
I liked the relationships between the characters, especially with Jun and Yin. And I was pretty satisfied with Jun's character development. (Because lbr, when YA characters undergo ZERO growth, or become too OP, it gets ridiculous and boring really quickly.)
I'm interested to see how the next book goes.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this arc.
December 31, 2024
firstly, thank you to the publisher for an arc and an alc!
this was absolutely fantastic and i enjoyed every second i spent reading/listening. i’ve read fonda lee before, and while i wasn’t hooked by her green bone saga, i see her craft clearly in the breath of the dragon.
i’ve never been interested much in martial arts but shannon and fonda lee depict the fighting scenes in such concise yet vivid details that i felt as if i were watching a movie.
i enjoyed the political propaganda/intrigue, and really enjoyed the tournament aspect of the book! i’m excited to continue reading this series.
the narrator was fantastic as well!
this was absolutely fantastic and i enjoyed every second i spent reading/listening. i’ve read fonda lee before, and while i wasn’t hooked by her green bone saga, i see her craft clearly in the breath of the dragon.
i’ve never been interested much in martial arts but shannon and fonda lee depict the fighting scenes in such concise yet vivid details that i felt as if i were watching a movie.
i enjoyed the political propaganda/intrigue, and really enjoyed the tournament aspect of the book! i’m excited to continue reading this series.
the narrator was fantastic as well!
Read
January 7, 2025This fast-paced, engaging xianxia adventure is aimed at the teenage audience, but anyone could enjoy it.
The story centers around teenage Jun, who aims to redeem his family’s honor by winning the prestigious Guardian’s Tournament. This tournament, held every six years, chooses the new protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. Winning it will net Jun the prestige to restore his father's good name--or so he believes. A hunt of the twisted road to come is that it was his father who stictly forbade Jun from going, due to the fact that Jun is not breathmarked by the Dragon god—born with a patch of dragon scales that grants magical skills. Unlike his twin brother. Oh, the rivalry there!
That's the beginning of the tough obstacles facing Jun, but he's going for the gold. He stows away with some performers led by blind Chang and his daughter Ren. These two are not as simple as they appear, and Jun gladly opts for whatever training he can get. Even if it sounds weird, at first.
When they reach the capital, Jun signs up for the Tournament, again, not without personal cost. Here he begins facing tough competitors, each the hero of their own story. Slowly Jun begins widening his awareness away from his personal problems to those besetting the entire country.
This is a vivid, detail-rich xianxia world. Everything, from the food to the lore of the breathmarked create a lived-in feel for the world. Add to that the tension from the martial arts battles, and the pacing never lets up.
The characters are sympathetic, interesting, complex. Jun's tough struggle toward growth and awareness is complemented by the multi-dimensional side characters, who have their own stories and quests.
The themes of honor, sacrifice, and the pursuit of greatness typical of xianxia tales are balanced by the upward path toward understanding--cultivation in the oldest sense.
I can hardly wait for book two!
The story centers around teenage Jun, who aims to redeem his family’s honor by winning the prestigious Guardian’s Tournament. This tournament, held every six years, chooses the new protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. Winning it will net Jun the prestige to restore his father's good name--or so he believes. A hunt of the twisted road to come is that it was his father who stictly forbade Jun from going, due to the fact that Jun is not breathmarked by the Dragon god—born with a patch of dragon scales that grants magical skills. Unlike his twin brother. Oh, the rivalry there!
That's the beginning of the tough obstacles facing Jun, but he's going for the gold. He stows away with some performers led by blind Chang and his daughter Ren. These two are not as simple as they appear, and Jun gladly opts for whatever training he can get. Even if it sounds weird, at first.
When they reach the capital, Jun signs up for the Tournament, again, not without personal cost. Here he begins facing tough competitors, each the hero of their own story. Slowly Jun begins widening his awareness away from his personal problems to those besetting the entire country.
This is a vivid, detail-rich xianxia world. Everything, from the food to the lore of the breathmarked create a lived-in feel for the world. Add to that the tension from the martial arts battles, and the pacing never lets up.
The characters are sympathetic, interesting, complex. Jun's tough struggle toward growth and awareness is complemented by the multi-dimensional side characters, who have their own stories and quests.
The themes of honor, sacrifice, and the pursuit of greatness typical of xianxia tales are balanced by the upward path toward understanding--cultivation in the oldest sense.
I can hardly wait for book two!
January 7, 2025
This one is tough to rate, because while the worldbuilding is great, and I liked the main characters, the story dragged on for far too long and ended on a cliffhanger. Seriously, it took forever to get to the main event, and then the reader is just left there. I don’t mind if the ending is left a little bit open, but I didn’t feel like there was much resolution at all. I was hoping for more, based on how much I liked the first part of the book. I’m not sure if I will continue with the series, to be honest.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
3.5 stars, rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
December 14, 2024
Karate kid meets fantasy in one boy’s journey to define his destiny.
Jun is separated from his mother and twin after accidentally revealing his martial arts practice as a child. He and his father is exiled from the East to the West where martial arts is revered. Against his father’s wishes, Jun enters the famous tournament that will decide the new Guardian of the Earth Scroll, a sacred duty.
I thought this would focus on the element of the Breathmarked - people given gifts by the Dragon. However, Jun is the underdog. It his identical twin that is marked rather than Jun and in the West, the Breathmarked are despised.
Rather, this is a story about Jun realising it is how you work on your talents and achieve your goals.
“It took me years to realize this, and even longer to accept it: The abilities that matter the most don’t come from Dragon’s blood. They’re gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being.”
I usually find it difficult to visualise fight scenes, yet this was vivid and tense - perfect for young readers who want high stakes.
For me though, it felt too repetitive and too easy. This is as someone who typically finds fight scenes boring especially in a tournament setting.
I also was not expecting this to read as young as it did. Definitely on the younger range of YA with very on the nose morals and good v evil.
“That’s what we want to leave the audience with, at the end—the reminder that we’re all human, we all feel joy and pain the same way, in the end we all die and join our ancestors. If we can make people feel that way about a fictional soldier who lived in the East fifty years ago, then maybe we can all become more compassionate.”
I could definitely see Fonda Lee’s stylistic approach with inclusions and inspirations by Shannon Lee - daughter of Bruce Lee. This felt similar to the age range of Avatar: the Last Airbender or Percy Jackson.
If you enjoyed this and want an adult fantasy comparison, I would recommend The Art of Prophecy.
Physical arc gifted by Hodderscape.
Bookstagram
Jun is separated from his mother and twin after accidentally revealing his martial arts practice as a child. He and his father is exiled from the East to the West where martial arts is revered. Against his father’s wishes, Jun enters the famous tournament that will decide the new Guardian of the Earth Scroll, a sacred duty.
I thought this would focus on the element of the Breathmarked - people given gifts by the Dragon. However, Jun is the underdog. It his identical twin that is marked rather than Jun and in the West, the Breathmarked are despised.
Rather, this is a story about Jun realising it is how you work on your talents and achieve your goals.
“It took me years to realize this, and even longer to accept it: The abilities that matter the most don’t come from Dragon’s blood. They’re gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being.”
I usually find it difficult to visualise fight scenes, yet this was vivid and tense - perfect for young readers who want high stakes.
For me though, it felt too repetitive and too easy. This is as someone who typically finds fight scenes boring especially in a tournament setting.
I also was not expecting this to read as young as it did. Definitely on the younger range of YA with very on the nose morals and good v evil.
“That’s what we want to leave the audience with, at the end—the reminder that we’re all human, we all feel joy and pain the same way, in the end we all die and join our ancestors. If we can make people feel that way about a fictional soldier who lived in the East fifty years ago, then maybe we can all become more compassionate.”
I could definitely see Fonda Lee’s stylistic approach with inclusions and inspirations by Shannon Lee - daughter of Bruce Lee. This felt similar to the age range of Avatar: the Last Airbender or Percy Jackson.
If you enjoyed this and want an adult fantasy comparison, I would recommend The Art of Prophecy.
Physical arc gifted by Hodderscape.
Bookstagram
January 12, 2025
2025 reads: 2/300
2025 tbr: 2/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
ten years ago, jun and his father were exiled from their home, separated from the other half of their family, due to practicing martial arts. now, jun’s father is content putting the martial arts behind them, but jun isn’t…especially when it comes to the guardian’s tournament, which happens every six years. despite not being breathmarked, jun knows he has a decent chance of winning, so against his father’s wishes, he sneaks off to the capital to take part in the tournament. as he competes, he begins to realize that he’s not only fighting for a better life for himself, but for the country itself.
as someone who grew up watching mixed martial arts, i was very excited to read a book focusing on martial arts, especially one in the fantasy genre. the descriptions of these fights were so detailed, helping me clearly envision what was happening (which isn’t always the case when i read fight scenes). the breathmarked element and how this played into the martial arts was interesting, too. most guardians are breathmarked, as their breathmarks can give them supernatural powers, such as having unbreakable bones, knowing an opponent’s exact weak points, and so on. jun’s twin has a breathmark, and was taken away when they were younger because of it, but jun himself does not have one. even though this makes him the underdog, he still works hard to be the best.
this was a thrilling YA fantasy, and i can’t wait for book two!
2025 tbr: 2/111
i received an advanced review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
ten years ago, jun and his father were exiled from their home, separated from the other half of their family, due to practicing martial arts. now, jun’s father is content putting the martial arts behind them, but jun isn’t…especially when it comes to the guardian’s tournament, which happens every six years. despite not being breathmarked, jun knows he has a decent chance of winning, so against his father’s wishes, he sneaks off to the capital to take part in the tournament. as he competes, he begins to realize that he’s not only fighting for a better life for himself, but for the country itself.
as someone who grew up watching mixed martial arts, i was very excited to read a book focusing on martial arts, especially one in the fantasy genre. the descriptions of these fights were so detailed, helping me clearly envision what was happening (which isn’t always the case when i read fight scenes). the breathmarked element and how this played into the martial arts was interesting, too. most guardians are breathmarked, as their breathmarks can give them supernatural powers, such as having unbreakable bones, knowing an opponent’s exact weak points, and so on. jun’s twin has a breathmark, and was taken away when they were younger because of it, but jun himself does not have one. even though this makes him the underdog, he still works hard to be the best.
this was a thrilling YA fantasy, and i can’t wait for book two!
January 1, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up.
This book is just so perfectly for me. I trained in martial arts for almost 25 years and taught classes for 10 years before settling on a different career path. Growing up doing martial arts, and reading different martial arts related fables has ingrained in me much of the philosophy and ideologies on full display in this book (thanks largely to Shannon I am sure). I have also read her father's Tao of Jeet Kune Do and could clearly see much of his spirit and philosophy oozing through the pages as well. That coupled with the epic fantasy elements just made for such a fun ride. If you love martial arts movies, or are a martial arts enthusiast yourself, this is truly a book FOR YOU. The fight scenes are beautifully executed, and are quite accurate to real martial arts movements and techniques making them a delight. The one thing that held this back from an unequivocal 5 stars in my boy Jun really got on my nerves at times. He was a realistically done 16 year-old boy for good or ill, which made him react to several situations in the melodramatic way teenagers will. Other than that I was simply hooked and loved every moment of his training and competing in the tournament. I am so curious to see where to story goes in the conclusion to the duology whenever it comes out.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me a copy to review via NetGalley.
This book is just so perfectly for me. I trained in martial arts for almost 25 years and taught classes for 10 years before settling on a different career path. Growing up doing martial arts, and reading different martial arts related fables has ingrained in me much of the philosophy and ideologies on full display in this book (thanks largely to Shannon I am sure). I have also read her father's Tao of Jeet Kune Do and could clearly see much of his spirit and philosophy oozing through the pages as well. That coupled with the epic fantasy elements just made for such a fun ride. If you love martial arts movies, or are a martial arts enthusiast yourself, this is truly a book FOR YOU. The fight scenes are beautifully executed, and are quite accurate to real martial arts movements and techniques making them a delight. The one thing that held this back from an unequivocal 5 stars in my boy Jun really got on my nerves at times. He was a realistically done 16 year-old boy for good or ill, which made him react to several situations in the melodramatic way teenagers will. Other than that I was simply hooked and loved every moment of his training and competing in the tournament. I am so curious to see where to story goes in the conclusion to the duology whenever it comes out.
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me a copy to review via NetGalley.
December 23, 2024
Fonda Lee isn't for me. I didn't love JADE CITY. While I didn't hate this, I was bored for most of the story.
(As an aside, as much as I love supporting Asian diaspora women, do I let go of the East Asian fantasy genre? It is not serving me.)
The premise? Amazing. I was so interested in Jun, his twin, and the magic of breathmarks. Jun's twin disappears pretty fast. His boohoo attitude, while woe is me, is very male of him.
There are a lot of descriptions about East v. West, in this case I assume Han v. non-Han Chinese. I won't delve into it. It wasn't that deep.
I wanted the secret revolution to be a little more exciting. It wasn't.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books
(As an aside, as much as I love supporting Asian diaspora women, do I let go of the East Asian fantasy genre? It is not serving me.)
The premise? Amazing. I was so interested in Jun, his twin, and the magic of breathmarks. Jun's twin disappears pretty fast. His boohoo attitude, while woe is me, is very male of him.
There are a lot of descriptions about East v. West, in this case I assume Han v. non-Han Chinese. I won't delve into it. It wasn't that deep.
I wanted the secret revolution to be a little more exciting. It wasn't.
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books
January 17, 2025
"Maybe we were on a path together all along, one we couldn't see at first but that reveals itself with each step."
schoolyard rivals turned begrudging allies to best friends dynamics will always be something i appreciate.
the concept of this book was the most interesting to me, and surprisingly i think this would translate to an entertaining movie. as a book however: it was good; i was waiting for you to be great.
schoolyard rivals turned begrudging allies to best friends dynamics will always be something i appreciate.
the concept of this book was the most interesting to me, and surprisingly i think this would translate to an entertaining movie. as a book however: it was good; i was waiting for you to be great.
May 29, 2024
3.5 stars
To be completely honest, I had a really hard time getting into the book in the beginning. This has a great writing and it is a lot fun with action scenes but the depth exhibited by the characters felt synthetic. I really wanted to love this book but more maybe in sequel.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
To be completely honest, I had a really hard time getting into the book in the beginning. This has a great writing and it is a lot fun with action scenes but the depth exhibited by the characters felt synthetic. I really wanted to love this book but more maybe in sequel.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2024
4.5 stars ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee, and the publishers for providing me with the e-ARC!
This was absolutely PHENOMENAL! It took me about 30% in to really connect with the characters and the world, but once I did I was absolutely hooked.
This story follows Jun on his journey to become win the Guardian Tournament and restore respect for his father. Through martial arts tournaments, Jun must fight his way to become the most highly regarded. There’s one catch - he must try and fight against those with special powers (the breathmarked).
Jun’s character development was so well written. I could not stand him in the beginning but his journey throughout the story was amazing and I felt so many emotions for him towards the end, a few tears were even shed.
This was action packed and the writing was so amazing that I felt like I could see a movie playing while I was reading. The martial arts scenes were so descriptive and detailed, completely immersive. I would absolutely love to see a movie or tv adaptation of this one day.
Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this!! This was one of my favourite reads of the year!
Thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee, and the publishers for providing me with the e-ARC!
This was absolutely PHENOMENAL! It took me about 30% in to really connect with the characters and the world, but once I did I was absolutely hooked.
This story follows Jun on his journey to become win the Guardian Tournament and restore respect for his father. Through martial arts tournaments, Jun must fight his way to become the most highly regarded. There’s one catch - he must try and fight against those with special powers (the breathmarked).
Jun’s character development was so well written. I could not stand him in the beginning but his journey throughout the story was amazing and I felt so many emotions for him towards the end, a few tears were even shed.
This was action packed and the writing was so amazing that I felt like I could see a movie playing while I was reading. The martial arts scenes were so descriptive and detailed, completely immersive. I would absolutely love to see a movie or tv adaptation of this one day.
Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this!! This was one of my favourite reads of the year!
January 19, 2025
4 stars 🌟
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the arc through netgalley and a finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
I have to admit I have never seen a Bruce Lee movie and in line with that, have seen very few martial arts movies or other forms of media. However, I find it interesting and entertaining in the media that I have consumed, such as Shang-Chi in recent years. This fantasy centered around a society with martial arts and sweeping Chinese folklore sounded so interesting, and was thrilled to be able to read this book through an arc and a finished copy with gorgeous red sprayed edges.
Jun's family was split apart the day that the East found out his brother was breathmarked and he wasn't, his father and him sent to the West on account of their martial arts practices that were forbidden. Now, at sixteen Jun aspires to win the next Guardian's Tournament to entrust the Scroll of The Earth to a new protector, which would restore his familial honor. However, his father forbids him from entering on account of martial arts was what drove them out of the East in the first place. Jun stows away in a carriage and makes his way to the tournament, and when he gets there realizes not only is his family's honor at stake but that of the country.
There were some reviews I read that said this story dragged far too much, but I think it was interesting and had some great lore pieces. I wish we had gotten more lore, but there was plenty that can be expanded upon in the next book. As for the plot, I think it was relatively well-paced even if it lost my attention just a little before the tournament started, but I didn't find the tournament itself too repetitive. Learning about the different fighting styles from the different martial arts schools and areas of the West was very interesting as well, especially with the descriptions and it made me intrigued to see more of this in coming books.
Jun himself was a fun main character, and it was honestly really refreshing to read a young adult fantasy centered around a male character. Oftentimes, these books center on young women which is fine as sometimes it's easier for me to connect with them, but Jun was relatable in himself. It was obvious, even if he made some rash choices, that he cared so much for his family and was willing to do anything to try to see them again.
The ending was crazy! So much was happening at once, things that I did not expect, and so it made me really interested in continuing the series. I think there's a lot of expansion that is going to happen in subsequent books that will make this world even cooler. I had a really good time with this story and think it is a solid start to what could be a very fun series.
[TW: death of a parent, depiction of grief, war themes, murder, blood and gore]
Thank you to Wednesday Books for the arc through netgalley and a finished copy in exchange for an honest review!
I have to admit I have never seen a Bruce Lee movie and in line with that, have seen very few martial arts movies or other forms of media. However, I find it interesting and entertaining in the media that I have consumed, such as Shang-Chi in recent years. This fantasy centered around a society with martial arts and sweeping Chinese folklore sounded so interesting, and was thrilled to be able to read this book through an arc and a finished copy with gorgeous red sprayed edges.
Jun's family was split apart the day that the East found out his brother was breathmarked and he wasn't, his father and him sent to the West on account of their martial arts practices that were forbidden. Now, at sixteen Jun aspires to win the next Guardian's Tournament to entrust the Scroll of The Earth to a new protector, which would restore his familial honor. However, his father forbids him from entering on account of martial arts was what drove them out of the East in the first place. Jun stows away in a carriage and makes his way to the tournament, and when he gets there realizes not only is his family's honor at stake but that of the country.
There were some reviews I read that said this story dragged far too much, but I think it was interesting and had some great lore pieces. I wish we had gotten more lore, but there was plenty that can be expanded upon in the next book. As for the plot, I think it was relatively well-paced even if it lost my attention just a little before the tournament started, but I didn't find the tournament itself too repetitive. Learning about the different fighting styles from the different martial arts schools and areas of the West was very interesting as well, especially with the descriptions and it made me intrigued to see more of this in coming books.
Jun himself was a fun main character, and it was honestly really refreshing to read a young adult fantasy centered around a male character. Oftentimes, these books center on young women which is fine as sometimes it's easier for me to connect with them, but Jun was relatable in himself. It was obvious, even if he made some rash choices, that he cared so much for his family and was willing to do anything to try to see them again.
The ending was crazy! So much was happening at once, things that I did not expect, and so it made me really interested in continuing the series. I think there's a lot of expansion that is going to happen in subsequent books that will make this world even cooler. I had a really good time with this story and think it is a solid start to what could be a very fun series.
[TW: death of a parent, depiction of grief, war themes, murder, blood and gore]
December 26, 2024
Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary e-book and ALC!
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။၊|•˚ A love letter to martial arts, with compelling fantasy elements + hints of romance.
I knew I loved Fonda Lee, but was even more intrigued to see this co-authored with Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee.
Jun is that insecure teenager that suffers from an inferiority complex. He was born without the dragon's mark with no special abilities, unlike his twin brother Sai who can mimic anything he witnesses. [I imagined Neo when he learns Kung Fu in the Matrix...]
When Jun and Sai become separated by civil war between East and West regions of the country, Jun decides that his path to fame and glory is through the Guardian's tournament -- a competition for the elite warriors and martial artists of different fighting styles. If he can achieve that, he can bring honor and wealth to his family.
Along the way, Jun befriends several companions, mentors, and potential love interest Ren. Jun learns that sometimes there are more important things than winning. The political scheming between men in power added depth and complexity. Jun's character growth arc beginning to end belies a maturity beyond his sixteen years.
This is a duology, but book 1 is complete on its own. I loved this book! I don't think the cover is doing it justice.
🎧 Eric Yang narrated the audiobook and did a nice job as Jun. Both formats worked well for this one.
·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This book releases on Jan 7th! · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။၊|•˚ A love letter to martial arts, with compelling fantasy elements + hints of romance.
I knew I loved Fonda Lee, but was even more intrigued to see this co-authored with Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee.
Jun is that insecure teenager that suffers from an inferiority complex. He was born without the dragon's mark with no special abilities, unlike his twin brother Sai who can mimic anything he witnesses. [I imagined Neo when he learns Kung Fu in the Matrix...]
When Jun and Sai become separated by civil war between East and West regions of the country, Jun decides that his path to fame and glory is through the Guardian's tournament -- a competition for the elite warriors and martial artists of different fighting styles. If he can achieve that, he can bring honor and wealth to his family.
Along the way, Jun befriends several companions, mentors, and potential love interest Ren. Jun learns that sometimes there are more important things than winning. The political scheming between men in power added depth and complexity. Jun's character growth arc beginning to end belies a maturity beyond his sixteen years.
This is a duology, but book 1 is complete on its own. I loved this book! I don't think the cover is doing it justice.
🎧 Eric Yang narrated the audiobook and did a nice job as Jun. Both formats worked well for this one.
·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This book releases on Jan 7th! · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀
December 30, 2024
A great YA first-in-series that will keep you on the edge of your seat!
I read 70% of this in one day, and if I wasn't home with family I likely would have finished it that day. It was almost immediately engaging, and I was so excited to into the tournament! (I love a good tournament in my books) I read this thinking that Shannon was Fonda's daughter or niece, thanks to the shared last name, and I later learned she is actually the daughter of Bruce Lee. This shifted my opinion, because I thought it was more of Fonda helping a younger author get her start. I'm assuming, however, that the descriptions of martial arts comes from Shannon. I, myself, am not knowledgeable of martial arts in any way, so I can't explain if they were done well or not, but as an uninformed reader I really enjoyed it. I was able to visualize the many fight scenes in this book fairly easily, and I really enjoyed it.
The book does feel YA in that the main character is 16 and he feels so. However, I didn't think he felt underdeveloped as a character, just one with an underdeveloped frontal lobe. While it felt YA, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult.
I would highly recommend this book to people who like action, though I am not an action-driven reader myself and I still loved it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.
I read 70% of this in one day, and if I wasn't home with family I likely would have finished it that day. It was almost immediately engaging, and I was so excited to into the tournament! (I love a good tournament in my books) I read this thinking that Shannon was Fonda's daughter or niece, thanks to the shared last name, and I later learned she is actually the daughter of Bruce Lee. This shifted my opinion, because I thought it was more of Fonda helping a younger author get her start. I'm assuming, however, that the descriptions of martial arts comes from Shannon. I, myself, am not knowledgeable of martial arts in any way, so I can't explain if they were done well or not, but as an uninformed reader I really enjoyed it. I was able to visualize the many fight scenes in this book fairly easily, and I really enjoyed it.
The book does feel YA in that the main character is 16 and he feels so. However, I didn't think he felt underdeveloped as a character, just one with an underdeveloped frontal lobe. While it felt YA, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult.
I would highly recommend this book to people who like action, though I am not an action-driven reader myself and I still loved it!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow! I was not expecting to love this as much as I did; it's truly a love letter to martial arts, and co-written by Bruce Lee's daughter, I think it honoured his legacy very well. The descriptions of the martial arts fights were so vivid, it was like actually watching them, and they felt so tense and exciting! And I say that as someone who has never participated in or watched any martial arts in my life - so I don't think you need to have a love for martial arts to enjoy this book. I loved our main character Jun; he was relatable and entirely family-focused, and I liked seeing his development throughout the competition, he's very compelling. I also really liked Yin Yue and how his and Jun's relationship changes throughout the book as they slowly realise that they are on the same side. It was a bit repetitive at times, and the reveal of Ghostface, I saw coming from a mile away, but I had such a good time and I'm very excited to read the sequel whenever that comes out! I'm also very excited to read the Green Bone Saga and experience more of Fonda Lee's writing.
Wow! I was not expecting to love this as much as I did; it's truly a love letter to martial arts, and co-written by Bruce Lee's daughter, I think it honoured his legacy very well. The descriptions of the martial arts fights were so vivid, it was like actually watching them, and they felt so tense and exciting! And I say that as someone who has never participated in or watched any martial arts in my life - so I don't think you need to have a love for martial arts to enjoy this book. I loved our main character Jun; he was relatable and entirely family-focused, and I liked seeing his development throughout the competition, he's very compelling. I also really liked Yin Yue and how his and Jun's relationship changes throughout the book as they slowly realise that they are on the same side. It was a bit repetitive at times, and the reveal of Ghostface, I saw coming from a mile away, but I had such a good time and I'm very excited to read the sequel whenever that comes out! I'm also very excited to read the Green Bone Saga and experience more of Fonda Lee's writing.
January 21, 2025
3 🌟
Sympa. Je dirai que ce livre m'a laissé un peu indifférent. Je n'ai pas subi ma lecture, loin de là même, mais on ne ressent ni la force ni la passion de Fonda Lee ici.
L'écriture à 4 mains c'est toujours un projet délicat et je pense que ça n'a pas dû être facile pour ce titre. Je dirai que le récit ne me laissera pas un souvenir impérissable et je ne lirai pas la suite dans tous les cas.
Sympa. Je dirai que ce livre m'a laissé un peu indifférent. Je n'ai pas subi ma lecture, loin de là même, mais on ne ressent ni la force ni la passion de Fonda Lee ici.
L'écriture à 4 mains c'est toujours un projet délicat et je pense que ça n'a pas dû être facile pour ce titre. Je dirai que le récit ne me laissera pas un souvenir impérissable et je ne lirai pas la suite dans tous les cas.
January 12, 2025
when i read the first chapter, i told my friends there might be a possibility i won't like this book much because i usually hated the kind of mc that jun usually is. but i really shouldn't doubt fonda lee bc this was GOOD. i really enjoyed my experience reading it. i do admit it's too juvenile for my taste nowadays but this was still a good read
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