Breath of the Dragon is a total ride from start to finish—full of action, emotion, and unexpected twists. The main character’s journey is intense but relatable, and you really feel their growth as the story goes on. The magic system is super unique without being confusing, which makes the world feel fresh and exciting. I loved how the story mixes high-stakes adventure with quieter, emotional moments that actually hit hard. It’s one of those books that sticks with you after you finish—like, you just want to talk about it with someone.

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

"Sometimes fate tore loved ones apart. Sometimes it turned rivals into brothers.”

What a great read! And also my first Fonda Lee book! A wonderful fantasy story with a focus on martial arts. The world building was fun and unique, a world where special children, called Breathmarked, are taken from their homes and trained to utilize their powers for the good of the realm. The story focuses on Jun, a young man who, more than anything, wants to be the strongest martial artist in the world and win the Guardian’s Tournament. It is his life’s goal. He will stop at nothing to get it, even disobey his father who does not want him participating in any martial arts. Along the way, he meets people who want to rebel against the Emperor and his Wall separating the East and West regions. Overall, the novel was fun, enjoyable and unique. I loved the world building and the action scenes, as well as the character arc of Jun. Everything about the tournament was interesting and engaging, like I was watching the fights in person. Fonda Lee’s dynamic writing is action packed and descriptive. I can’t wait to read more!

Breath of a Dragon is the first book in a new YA fantasy duology that is inspired by martial arts powerhouse Bruce Lee. Jun and his father are exiled when Jun displays forbidden martial arts moves in front of officials who are evaluating his breath marked twin brother. Jun struggles with the guilt of causing the rift in his family and the insecurity of not being breath marked like his brother. Dragon breath marks provide powers to those who bear the mark.

Once settled into a new life in exile, Jun is determined to enter into the Guardians Tournament and win the coveted title and responsibility of being the Guardian in hopes to reunite his family but his father strictly prohibits it. Jun is determined to show that he has the skills to be a warrior and that such skills can be just as powerful as the special abilities of those who are lucky enough to have been marked with dragon scales.

Through training and competition, Jun soon realizes that there is much more at stake than simply becoming Guardian as he is exposed to the inner workings of two kingdoms at war.

I really enjoyed this story. So long as you go into this reminding yourself that it is YA, it is a fun story and one I’m looking forward to continuing in the final book. What this story lacks in world building it makes up for in action packed martial arts inspired fight scenes. This book is fantasy but with the nostalgia of feel good movies like The Karate Kid.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for my copy; all opinions are my own.

Thank you netgalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review

Took a while to get through the book, it felt like the standard YA where our main character needs to carve a path to prove their identity. A feel good action light read

I haven’t read Jade City by Fonda Lee, but it’s on my TBR list and I’ve heard nothing but good things. So I was excited to get the ARC of this where they teamed up with Bruce Lee’s daughter.
This was an exciting story and I really enjoyed it. The way it ended wasn’t my favorite, but I’ll definitely read the next

This is like reading a Bruce Lee movie in written form.

Shannon and Fonda Lee are both extremely knowledgeable of martial arts and the writing showed. I also love how this is a YA written in a male perspective, which feels less common.

The problem I had with this is the characters felt flat and I never connected. Due to this, I found it difficult to be invested in this. I don't plan to continue on with this series.

Thank you Net Galley for sending an ARC. All opinions are my own.

The way I just devoured this last half of this book in almost one sitting is actually insane and I'm kind of mad I did because there isn't any news for book 2!!! Where is the title or cover reveal at?? Thank you to Wednesday Books for sending me an e-arc of this one sorry it took a while for me to finally read it! Dying for book 2!(:

Having previously read Jade City by Fonda Lee I was really excited to see how this novel was going to unfold! This novel definitely did NOT disappoint! We follow our main character who faces an immense amount of challenges as he tries to make a way for his family to survive. I was expecting the world to be really hard to follow but, it was the complete opposite! The imagery while reading this book really had me feeling like we were set up kind of like Mulan with the battles. This book was very fast paced and had me interested from the very beginning! I will definitely be waiting for the sequel to this book because the ending had me on the edge of my seat!

DNF

I got maybe 100 pages into it and personally felt bored. I might have just over hyped the plot of the story in my mind since it was such an innovative and interesting idea but fell flat to me

If you love martial arts and descriptive world building--this book is for you! It isn't for me, though. The book was enjoyable until about 30-45% of the way through and it felt like I had to trudge through it just to finish it.

It is just a me problem, I'll admit that--the writing style just isn't my cup of tea

I want to thank Net Gallery for a copy of this E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now, when I first started this book I didn't know what to expect. But It was beautifully written and plot was amazing even if I'm not a big fan of martial arts. I think it was really cool that Shannon Lee who is Bruce Lee's daughter decided to help with this story in a way to show her fathers legacy. It made this story feel more real to me.

Fun, exciting. A different kind of entertaining from Lee’s other works. Sat down and read the whole thing in only a day!

I didn't take the opportunity to finish this one. I haven't read Fonda Lee before but I know several co-workers at the library who have read books by this author and liked them. For some reason the beginning of this one just didn't hold my attention. I am sure that most people would find that they enjoy it but I kind of felt like this was just kind of the same type thing as so many other ya books I have read before. It wasn't one I kept wanting to pick up.

This was such a refreshing surprise—a fast-paced YA fantasy rooted in martial arts and legacy, co-written by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee. Jun, our impulsive and flawed main character, has to earn every bit of strength on his own, and I loved watching him grow. The tournament arc was a personal favorite, the action scenes were sharp, and the magic system was unique and full of potential. Looking forward to book two—there’s more brewing beneath the surface. Big thanks to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Jun is the cute, selfish and slightly annoying type of character, but I loved the strange world set up here, the stakes and all of the glorious fighting! The story ends on a forlorn though predictable road, but nevertheless I am excited for the second part of this story!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley!

🐉Breath of the Dragon🐉

When I saw that this was a YA fantasy based on characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee I was very much intrigued. I read Fonda Lee’s The Green Bone Saga earlier this year so seeing that she teamed up with Bruce Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee had me even more intrigued. If you’re interested in the blurb, please swipe!

I found Breath of the Dragon to be a fast paced story that was easy to get invested in and keep on reading. If I didn’t need sleep this could have been a one-sitting kind of book. While this is YA compared to the Green Bone Saga’s adult rating, I definitely found Fonda Lee’s voice in this one very much present. The magic system was very unique and I am excited to see it explored more hopefully in book two.

Jun was an excellent main character. A twin banished from his homeland with his father, separated from his breathmarked twin brother and his mother, due to himself and his father practicing the forbidden art of fighting. I enjoyed that while Jun was not the twin born with powers, he had to earn his strength on his own and prove himself. I also really enjoyed the side characters and found they were an excellent addition to the story. I would also be remiss not to mention that this story has a tournament which is definitely a favourite trope of mine. I found that the action scenes were well done and easy to follow along with.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to see how the duology concludes!

⭐4.5/5 stars⭐

I enjoyed reading this book because it was quite different from other books that I have recently read. This book was a pleasant surprise and needs to get into the hands of more people.
After having his family ripped apart, Jun is more determined than ever to become the best fighter ever and has decided to commit to becoming the Guardian. While his initial motivations are selfish, his character develops significantly as the story progresses. His actions did get under my skin at time, as he often gets into trouble as a result of his impulsivity.
The story is fast-paced and compelling, making it difficult to put down. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface of the politics involved and will get a deeper dose of the machinations in the sequel.
I can confidently recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fantasy, flawed characters, secrets and betrayals, and is looking for a book with a male main character - I don’t find these come around often and this is a good one to pick up.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press (Wednesday Books) and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of the book. The opinions expressed are given freely, are honest and my own.

Only a story written with the legacy of Bruce Lee in mind could entwine martial arts and a fierce fighting competition with an overall story of tolerance and peace. Shannon and Fonda (both Lees, unrelated) have brought us a truly ‘Lee’ story that is not only a lovely tribute, but also a good reminder that we should all endeavour to live in peace and tolerate one another. Only fighting if absolutely mandatory. And then of course you must fight smart, waste no energy, and be prepared for anything.

I took Jeet-Kune-Do, Bruce Lee’s personal martial art, for a couple years when I was much younger (but still an adult). It was recommended to me because at only 5’1” and (at the time) a slight figure; it was one martial art I might be able to execute and do well at. I was pretty awful, lol. But did appreciate learning to punch properly, parry, and conserve energy with small movements. I still do some of the exercises I was taught back then. I carried those learnings forward to Tai Chi (which I wish I could find time to fit back into my life). All of which helped me be deliberate in my breathing, and movements. I know you’re all thinking I’m not the active type. Which is correct, and why I chose activities that didn’t require great strength or energy to participate in. Something Bruce Lee was known for; and certainly espoused in Breath of the Dragon.

We are set-up perfectly for the next novel; without feeling cheap at the end. If you chose to stop here this could be considered a stand-alone fantasy with an open ended ending. I love the relationships that develop here, the understanding people get for one another, and the representation of grief, anger, and frustration combined to give rise to an unprecedented need to work hard to achieve a goal.

There is a lot to love here. You don’t need to be a lover of martial arts stories (I’m not and still enjoyed this), or a huge war story reader. There is an evenness and balance throughout the novel. Making the Breath of the Dragon accessible to any fantasy reader. It has high fantasy lore with magic, political intrigue and war rumblings, alongside character driven concepts, and a lead that truly comes to learn more of themselves throughout the novel.

This is a great read, and the beginning of what I hope is an epic fantasy series. Above all else I believe Bruce and Brandon Lee would both have appreciated the way fighting, war, fairness, and peace are portrayed. You must have equality, and a calm fierceness, to be the best fighter and the best person. Being a fighter alone is not something to be proud of, you must also be a worthy human being.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

This is a great YA novel! Jun competes to prove himself as a warrior in the Guardian’s Tournament, but he may instead be fighting for the fate of the country. This book is pretty fast moving and action packed which I like, but it doesn't mean it lacked character growth or world building. I felt it all came together seamlessly and made sense for the world/characters. It's perfect for both adult and YA readers. There's nothing too adult, but it also didn't feel dumbed down. I loved the focus on martial arts teachings and the fight scenes were excellently done! I'm excited to see more of the politics at play (and maybe see Jun's twin) in the next part of this duology!

I loved the fight scenes in Breath of the Dragon so much, felt captivated from start to finish every time. It took me a while though to get into the book, probably mostly because I couldn't immediately connect with the characters this time for some reason. However, throughout the story, thankfully that changed and I will most certainly pick up the rest of the series.