Breath of the Dragon is an amazing work of fantasy, blending martial arts philosophy with dragon mythology in a way makes you hold your breath through every fight. For people who enjoy epic fantasy, complex characters, and intricate world-building, it’s a book worth diving into!

Set in a land divided in two, Breath of the Dragon follows Jun, a talented but stubborn young man who dreams of competing in the Guardian's Tournament. Every six years, martial artists participate in a week long tournament to gain the title of the Guardian, the protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. However, the rules are different this year, and as political unrest heightens throughout West Longhan, Jun learns that his fight might not only be to restore honor to his family, but maybe even his country.

Yall I will eat up anything that Fonda Lee writes. Like all of her books, she does such an amazing job creating such vibrant and immersive worlds. Not only is there the aspect of a brewing rebellion, but there's also so much history, mythology, and culture that is introduced in this book. And while it's very much YA, I felt like the way it was written can definitely be enjoyed by readers who tend to sway more towards adult fantasy. Also this is co-written by Shannon Lee, aka Bruce Lee's daughter?? And this book is based on the teachings of Bruce Lee?? Like how can you not want to pick this on up?!!

Aside from the superb worldbuilding, Breath of the Dragon is filled with action-packed scenes. The character develop for Jun is also great. I had a bit of a hard time liking Jun at the beginning but at the end of the book, he truly grew on me. He's this incredibly impulsive teenager, yet becomes the type of character that you can't help but root for as he matures and grows.

Overall, Breath of the Dragon is a super solid start. I'm so excited for what's to come in the next book and can't wait to see what the authors have in store for Jun!!

I wish I could say that I loved this but it feel flat for me. It took me a while to get into the story because I didn't connect with the MC. I'm also not the biggest martial arts fan so while that aspect was very well done, it wasn't for me. I love Fonda Lee's writing but I feel like it was too adult for this story.

I found this to be a strong debut to a new series! The world building is probably the strongest part - it is a nicely fleshed out world with political intrigue and some interesting magical elements that I really loved. This book largely revolves around martial arts and includes a fighting competition - I personally love a good fight scene and competition, but I realize this isn't everyone's cup of tea. I ended up listening to the audiobook for most of this book, and the narration was great, so I didn't mind all the fight scenes nor did I find them to drag. I enjoyed the character growth the MMC underwent through this first book. Some moments in the book were heart-wrenching 🥺. I did feel like the relationships in this book in general were a bit superficial but while the authors could have gone in deeper, I suspect this was perhaps by design and will occur more in the sequel based on the storyline.

All in all, I enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the sequel!

CW: Violence, gore, death/death of a loved one, xenophobia.

A big thank you to Wednesday books, St-Martin's Press, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books for this ARC Copy!

Though this is not my typical genre to read I knew that this would be a phenomenally written book and I was not wrong. The writing of the fight scenes were so descriptive and capitating that I really felt like I was watching a movie inside my brain. Personally there was more fighting than I am used to or prefer in a book but I knew that would be the case going into it and expected to just glaze over the scenes but that definitely never happened. If you have any interest in martial arts in any way at all you will enjoy this book. I wish that we had gotten deeper into the story and the politics in this book but I understand why we needed to be kept in the dark on some things but that just means that I can not wait for the next book to come out. I want to know more about the world and how everything will play out.

When I saw this was a Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee fantasy collaboration, I just had to get my hands on a copy of this book! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Breath of a Dragon ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shannon Lee brings her father, Bruce Lee's legacy into the fantasy literary world with Breath of a Dragon. As I was reading this book, I saw so many parallels to Bruce Lee's teachings, philosophy, and martial arts style. It felt like I was watching one of his movies as I was reading through the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with it's rich world building, political intrigue, lovable characters, and action packed fighting scenes.

Breath of a Dragon is a beautiful coming of age story, and it gave me a lot of nostalgia of my childhood watching Bruce Lee movies with my father. I am looking forward to the next book!

I was sent this book randomly and decided to read it on a whim and it was amazing!! I know Fonda Lee has written great books before (but I haven’t read them yet) so it was no surprise that this new YA book was excellent. Refreshing, fast-paced, with excellent action scenes. I'm really looking forward to reading this series as more books come out!

🌈Queer rep: none

This book tells the story of Jun, a young man living in a world divided between East and West, where people are sometimes born with special powers called "breathmarks." However, the number of breathmarked individuals has been declining since the division. Jun, who isn't breathmarked, dreams of competing in the prestigious Guardian's Tournament ten years after being exiled to the West. The story follows his journey to become a warrior, which is complicated by political intrigue and betrayal.

Here's what I enjoyed about the book:

1. The Tournament: I'm a big fan of tournament storylines. They provide a clear structure, introduce new characters and challenges, and constantly raise the tension. Plus, they're just entertaining to read.
2. The Characters: Jun is a compelling character. He's a typical 16-year-old in some ways, displaying both naivety and arrogance, but he's also dedicated and has a strong sense of right and wrong. The way we see other characters changes as Jun's perspective evolves. I especially appreciated that Jun isn't breathmarked. His struggle to find his place and prove his worth without special abilities is a refreshing change from stories where the main character has overwhelming magical powers. It's inspiring to see him rely on hard work, skill, and training.
3. The World: I love stories with magic systems, especially when those powers are physically visible. The concept of twins, where one has magical abilities and the other doesn't, and their separation due to opposing ideologies, creates a lot of compelling drama.
4. The Ending: The ending left me eager for the next book! I won't give anything away, but it provided the payoff I was hoping for throughout the story.

Title: Breath of the Dragon: Breathmarked by Fonda Lee; Shannon Lee
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pub Date: January 7, 2025
📖 349 pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aspects of Virtue
Guardian Tournament
Epic Martial Arts
Unique Magic System
Ongoing Hostilities
Asian Literature
Devastating Betrayal

I loved this one! We follow Jun on his journey from eager young boy to determined teenager. His biggest dream in the world is to become the guardian of the scroll, second only to the emperor, and in order to win this prestigious honor he must compete in the Guardian Tournament. Despite his father's wishes, Jun travels to the city and takes part. Unbeknownst to Jun, there is much more at stake than just who will be the keeper of the scroll of Heaven, and there is deception and treachery around every corner.

If you enjoy martial arts, tons of action packed fighting scenes, and journeys of self discovery, you will love Breath of the Dragon! I can't wait to read the next book in this epic duology!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the gorgeous review copy!

This was spectacular. Its really a slow burn action novel about martial arts and human connection. I can get the Bruce Lee references and the magic being linked to the dragon breath and how even though our main protagonist doesn't have the special magic he is still a formidable foe in the guardianship rounds. I didn't really catch on about the whole political aspect of this book until Jun did as well even though there were hints sprinkled through, some of the hints later on in the book were obvious but still some things caught me off gaurd still. The martial arts in this book are where it really shines on Fonda and Shannon's writing, I was in the edge of my seat every time Jun was fighting. And the injuries themselves were very realistic as well which made everything more believable. A slow start but turns into a fireball brother end, this is one amazing read and I'm glad I was picked to read it early, highly recommend!

For years I’ve had friends telling me to read Fonda Lee, many of them even gifting me copies of her books. And yet it’s only now with Breath of the Dragon, her collaboration with Shannon Lee, that I finally got to see what the fuss is about. Now I can’t wait to jump into her other works. I also can’t wait for the second book in this series.

Believable characters, tremendous world building, and tons of action make Breath of the Dragon a must read. This might sound odd (or redundant given it’s a YA book) but this book is YA to the core and yet kind of anti-YA. Confused? Sorry. So many YA books lean heavy on a romance angle, but not here. We have a male lead, tons of action, and a wild story. Maybe it’s because I just finished watching the second half of the last season of Cobra Kai, but I get that same kind of vibe from this book. An absolute blast that you almost want to say has no right to be as enjoyable as it is. 4.5 stars. Hopefully it won’t be too long of a wait for Breathmarked 2. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Breath of the Dragon.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R107VG9LE5SIL5/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This 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!

Happy Publication day!!! This story is a beautifully crafted homage to Bruce Lee's enduring legacy. Blending poetic insights with profound reflections, it captures the essence of martial arts philosophy and the human spirit. A must-read for fans of Lee's teachings and anyone seeking inspiration and an outstanding story!

This book was a pleasant surprise! It felt a little YA at times, but seeing as it is a YA novel, that isn’t a bad thing.

I don’t want to spoil things, but I do want to say that I loved how the author incorporated aspects of her father, Bruce Lee’s, life into the story.

Great book, can’t wait for the next one!

If you love trials and tournaments, fantasy, and training montages, you will love this! The authors did an amazing job building a world with special focus on martial arts and the training that goes into the mastery of it. I really enjoyed the character growth and am very excited for the next book to see what more our characters go through.

In typical Fonda Lee fashion, this has plenty of descriptive fight scenes that are both fast-paced and original. There are A LOT of fight scenes, and I think in a book this short, after a while since they occur so quickly back to back in a book this short, they, unfortunately, became a bit repetitive. I think I personally would have liked more of the magical abilities present in place of some of these scenes as well as a deeper understanding of the world's magic system.

There are a lot of characters, but they are easy to distinguish between. These particular characters might have worked better for me if I had read this when I was a bit younger, since unfortunately now I just found them all rather whiny, selfish, and bratty for the most part. I will say that they do experience growth in a way that is mostly satisfying, but the main character is still... not great.

My last complaint is about the presence of a love triangle. This trope rarely if ever works for me, and this book was no exception. It is just my preference when I say that it was REALLY unnecessary here in particular. Instead, I think this book could have benefited more from no "romance" at all and instead focused on diving deeper into character relationships like father/son or mentor/mentee as well as deeper friendships along the way in a way that made them feel real and believable, as opposed to adding the two guys crushing on the same girl bit.

I couldn't put this one down! I'm already a huge Fonda Lee fan after reading the Green Bone Saga twice and while this is young adult, it has Fonda Lee's usual great plotting and writing. I was a little skeptical going in knowing it would be a martial arts heavy book but the Green Bone Saga has such well-written fight scenes that I hoped the same would be true in Breath of the Dragon and I was not disappointed! I've been drifting away from reading young adult books in the last few years after all of them started to feel the same but I enjoyed Breath of the Dragon from start to finish and can't wait for the next book!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

I have had this book sitting in my TBR for a little while now. I have been patiently waiting to read it closer to release since I knew it was the first of a series and if I liked it... it would be a long wait until the next installment. I fully enjoyed book one and am so glad that I waited until right before release to give it a read.

This book captured my attention from the very first page and kept me hooked throughout. The political intrigue was masterfully woven, creating a compelling backdrop for the story. I especially appreciated the East/West conflict, which added layers of complexity and richness to the narrative. It was, in a way simple, but as most political conflicts go, not simple at all.

The magic system felt fresh and innovative, providing a unique twist that elevated the world-building. I liked the addition of dragons and the breathmarkings, while we don't get a lot of dragons overall - the fact that they are the religious system makes me hopeful that we will get more of that in book 2.

The plot was captivating and the pacing was spot-on, with action-packed sequences that kept the momentum going while still allowing room for character development. Jun’s determination to prove himself, despite the odds stacked against him, made him a relatable and inspiring MC.

The stakes felt real and high as the story unfolded, and the themes of honor, family, and resilience resonated deeply. The twists and turns were well done and I was on the edge of my seat as the book was wrapping up.

This book is a thrilling ride for anyone who loves fantasy filled with adventure, political intrigue, and a touch of magic. If you are into martial arts, I also think you will really enjoy this book, there is a lot of love for it and you can tell the care that was put into the explanations and fight scenes. Overall, this was a lovely start to this series, and I am excited for the next installment to be available.

Jun and his father were exiled from his home for knowing and practicing martial arts. Separated form his mother and dragon-marked twin, Jun dreams of winning the Guardian's Tournament and proving that he has great skills just like the brother he left behind. When his father is opposed to him being a martial artist, Jun decides to run away to fight in the tournament by stowing away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, two performers headed to capital. It soon becomes obvious that they're more than just performers and the tournament is more than just a battle of who's the fighter.

It's a really well-crafted world, where you can believe the division between the people and the micro-aggressios that those who come from another place have to face. The authors did a great job of making the characters relatable even as they're in a completely foreign situation. You want to cheer for Jun and the others and get pulled into the plight of the people of their world.

This would have been a five-star read if it weren't for the fact that it gets too wordy at times. It sometimes reminded me of having to hit a certain word number for an essay and using as many words as possible to express the simplest of things. I get where it's coming from and how an epic tale needs room to breathe in the expression of epicness. It's just not always something that works and it didn't work this time.

Other than that, it's a grand adventure with high stakes and some powerful points that makes for some very exciting reading.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the exciting read!

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.