if you're a fan of martial arts, unique world building and a lot of action/fight scenes with a tournament, this is for you!

unfortunately long action scenes back to back aren't my cup of tea and I found it repetitive, but it had a strong beginning that made me intrigued to keep reading. I liked the world and wanted to know more about the magic system and the war going on. I also found the characters to be pretty undeveloped despite its potential which is a big drawback for me

this was also very much a YA book. while I love young adult books, I think this one was written for the younger side of that audience (early teens).

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Shannon Lee, Fonda Lee, and Eric Yang (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Breath of the Dragon in exchange for an honest review.

Breath of the Dragon is the first book in the exciting martial arts Breathmarked duology inspired by characters and teaching from Bruce Lee! Someone who is breathmarked is destined for greatness, as they have an enhanced ability in the world of martial arts.

Jun was trained in martial arts alongside his twin brother, though unlike his twin, he is not breahtmarked. Those who are are taken at their sixth birthday. because of their hiding a breathmarked child and training one who is not, Jun's family is split.

When he reaches age sixteen, he wants nothing more than to become the Guardian of the Scroll of Heaven, a magical artifice that keeps their emperor and country safe. A guardian's job is sacred, but they must win a deathly martial arts tournament to become one of such a high standing.

Jun's father doesn't want him to participate. With no breathmark, not only will he surely lose, but he will likely lose his life in the process, something definitely not worth the time. June has a determination of steel and makes his wat to the tournament on the wagon of a performer, where he meets Ren, a girl who will surely change his life in one way or another.

This book is not about friendship, family, or romance (though those elements are present). No, this novel is about the determination of an individual to become something great. There is a good amount of political intrigue involved when it comes to the Guardian and the Scrolls of Heaven and Earth. The novel is eloquent, fast-paced, and well-written.

There were definitely a few predictable aspects to this book, though about 75% of the way through, there's twist and turn after twist and turn, making an excellent set-up for the final installment to the series. While book one is more of a tournament-based plot, book two will surely be something involving war or uprising, leaving our beloved characters in a bit of a murky pool.

Breath of the Dragon is perfect for fans of Bruce Lee, martial arts, and tournament-based plots. It will keep the reader on their toes and eager for mor to the very end!

I really wanted to love this one but for about 60% of the story I was bored and uninterested in the characters or plot. There was lots of world building and character development in this book but the magic system while well thought out didn’t feel like it translated into the writing as well as it could have, and the ending wasn’t as impactful as I wish it had been to bump my rating up to 3 stars. If you enjoy martial arts and lots of action packed fight scenes this is definitely a book worth checking out!

➸ 4.5 stars

“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 :)

I really liked the concept and the world building that took place in this novel, there’s a lot of political strife that is really well done. You can also really tell that the authors wrote this with a lot of love and respect for the marital arts, the training and fight scenes are so well thought out and immersive. The whole book reads almost like a prequel, there a lot of build up and hints for the next book. It was almost too much though in that there wasn't much that actually was resolved in the books. A lot of the characters felt kind of surface level and not many of the relationships that were brought up were explored. Regardless, I got invested in the story pretty quickly once it got going and I'm interested to see what will happen in the next installment

Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley, Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee for this e-ARC that I chose to read and review

Breath of the Dragon is the first title in a new fast-paced YA fantasy duology.

In a world where being born with dragon skin can gift unique powers, Jun is born without, but still wants to win the Guardian's Tournament and become the Guardian of the Scroll of Heaven.

This would be a great read if you enjoy stories about:
- an underdog with big dreams
- political scheming and turmoil
- games and trials
- martial arts

I appreciated this story. I didn’t know how much was going to be based on martial arts so it kind of dragged on for me. I did however enjoy it for the most part. The narrator was ok, I didn’t love his voice. Overall for me, this was ok. I do think they set it up nicely for the next book.

When I heard about Breath of the Dragon, I was intrigued by the concept of being a fantasy inspired by old Bruce Lee films and took a chance. What I got was a fun action adventure battle tournament story with great character development and world building!

We follow Li Jun, a young man that’s been training in martial arts for some time, but feels guilt about an incident when he was a young boy that exiled him and his father and broke his family apart. His father would rather have him become a scholar or government worker, but he sees winning an upcoming prestigious martial arts tournament as his way to get ahead in life and save his father. But when the tournament turns more dangerous,

Jun feels like a 16 year old, making typical teen mistakes. He’s got an ego, but is determined to win the tournament. He learns and grows through the journey and my goodness, he goes through the ringer in more ways than one. But I love his persistence as he finds ways to overcome his obstacles. I also enjoyed the blind flutist and his daughter, his travel companions in the early parts of the book, and his rival from the school, each with their own story arcs, and loving how each character has their own distinct voice.

The setting and world building are handled well, with an immersive Asian inspired fantasy nation with plenty of lore and a magic system that feels like superpowers. It’s quite in depth and I loved the little details in between that make the world feel very lived in.

This is a fast paced story with many twists, and I was quite invested from start to finish. While the story does revolve around a tournament, there’s much more going on in the background. The action scenes were highly involved with tons of detail and the flow was perfect. There was a lot of effort on the action scenes.

If you’re looking for a Young Adult fantasy that’s more focused on action and adventure with a detailed world, great character development, and without a lot of romance (IMO, it’s barely there), this is a great pick. I will say this might appeal to teen boys and young men especially due to those elements, and it feels like a darker shonen battle manga/anime. There is some graphic violence and swearing, so it might detract younger readers. This book is a great pick for many teen boys especially.

I like that the story ends with a clear resolution of sorts, but hints at what’s to come. I’m really excited to see where the story continues from here in the second half of the duology.

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.

Breath of the Dragon is "a love letter to martial arts" (@Hiba on Goodreads) that takes you on a journey from humble beginnings to a tournament with life-altering stakes.

📖 I loved the plot. I found in intriguing and the short prologue had me hooked. It had twists, turns, and a shocking reveal that I didn't see coming.

Asking introspective questions like:
'Are you only trying to win the tournament, or to actually be the best fighter?'
Which the reader can, if they choose, to use as a means of questioning themselves now and in the future. Particularly with the addition of the follow up statement:
'As much as you'd like to believe otherwise, those are not necessarily the same thing.'

'It's complacent people like you who're the problem and need to be reminded to take danger seriously.'

⏳️ With the action scenes, it keeps the pace going fast and I didn't want to put it down. The fight scenes are exciting and fun, and with the high stakes they keep you on edge.

'Two strangers arrived on a mid-autumn morning, as if swept in by the cold wind rustling the drooping branches of the elm trees.'

✍️🏼 The ⬆️ line is the first sentence in the prologue, and gives a great example of the beautiful writing in this book. I enjoyed the rich descriptions that incorporate your senses without veering into purple.

I found the dialogue to read as natural and fit the characters.

🗺 The world building is exceptional. Immersive and expansive, rich with lore. This area truly shines, not unlike an iridescent dragon scale breathmark.

🔮 I love the unique spin on magic that visually presents itself in the form of birthmarks - or breathmarks, as they're referred to in this book. They look like patches of dragon scales in various colors, can appear anywhere on the body, and can present in innumerable ways. I appreciate that varying views people have of breathmarked people, as I feel it's an accurate depiction of how humans tend to see and judge anyone they see as "different." It's well developed and explained.

👥 I liked the characters, but this is where I didn't love it. I wanted more, a deeper connection to them. I had such a great time reading it I almost feel like this complaint is petty, but it's been a day and the lack of deep connection is still bugging me. I cared about them, but didn't quite love them. They're good, they're well developed. Maybe it is petty of me to say they're good, but I wanted great - I wanted to have a visceral reaction and I just wasn't quite there.

I do love that the MC is flawed (plus reverse chosen one). He starts off as quite annoying and impulsive with no self-control. To be fair, he's 5 in the prologue, so all of that is pretty common. But even when the book starts 10yrs later, he's still those things. You get to watch him learn to look inward and grow which I appreciated and enjoyed.

🥋 I wasn't aware until I opened the book that Shannon Lee is Bruce Lee's daughter. Nor was I aware that this duology is based on characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee. I think that's cool and interesting, but I don't think you have to be a Bruce Lee superfan or knowledgeable about martial arts to enjoy this (but you may enjoy it even more if you are).

The tie-ins to Bruce Lee are great, but don't require the reader to know any of it. I can appreciate that. Things like that Bruce was known as 'The Dragon' and a character in this story gets the nickname 'Little Dragon.' If you catch the reference or not has no impact on the plot or your enjoyment of the story.

✨️I struggled rating this because my enjoyment was 5 stars, I loved reading it and need book 2 immediately. However, because it didn't quite have the emotional punch I wanted to feel for the characters, I thought 4 was more accurate. So I split the difference, even though that means I have to round up/down and I don't love that.

🪟 I wanted to participate in some form of martial arts growing up, but it wasn't an option for me ($). My husband enjoys Kung Fu movies, so I've watched some but not in years. All that to say, I have limited knowledge/experience with martial arts and Bruce Lee. While I still loved the book, I understand that may not be your experience if you aren't into martial arts.

Lexi (twitter.com/redemptionarcs) said "Imagine the first Throne of Glass book if it had a baby with Cobra Kai." I feel like that's pretty accurate. 😄

📚🎬 If you like: The Karate Kid, The Green Bone Safa (Fonda Lee), A Language of Dragons (S.F. Williamson), Blood of the Old Kings (Sung-Il Kim) or The Blood Orchid (Kylie Lee Baker) then I think you would enjoy this.

Thank you @therealshannonlee @fonda.lee @macmillanusa @wednesdaybooks and @netgalley for the opportunity to read this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.


‐-------

I ended up loving it and need book 2 immediately. I need to mull it over some, but at least 4 ⭐️ for me.

This is a good lower YA book for younger teens looking to get into fantasy with a historical feel. The writing was a little juvenile, with a 16 year old MMC who very much acted like a brash teenager. There is excessive use of adjectives and descriptive sentences, and very detailed fight scenes. It felt a lot like a martial arts movie.

This was my first book I have read with Fonda Lee as an author and it will certainly not be my last. I started the book on 1/2/25 and finished it same day. It easily captured my attention and kept my interest throughout. At no point did I feel like the story lagged or things were just happening to push the plot.

The magic in this series is really interesting and the belief that having gifts is not the end all be all is such a refreshing take.

The characters keep you rooting for them throughout and grow as the story progresses. I really enjoyed how the fighting was done it felt real without confusion on the possibility of each move occurring.

I will be purchasing this for my bookshelf because not only did I rate it 5 stars I think it will be something my partner will read and enjoy. And I already can’t wait for the next one. I will be recommending this to everyone.

I flew through this martial arts fantasy action read!
The first book in a planned duology, this story follows sixteen-year old Jun as he enters a martial arts tournament in the hopes of making a name for himself and reuniting his family, which was split due to a mistake he made when he was a child. Jun is a determined, but impulsive teen who loves martial arts and aches to prove that he is equally as strong as his breathmarked twin (in this world, the breathmarked are special abilities). I think that many young readers will be able to empathize with Jun's quest.

While the first book is very touranment focused, which I personally enjoyed, the plot twist at the end of the book promises that the sequel will expand into more traditional fantasy fare of political intrituge, which I am equally as excited for!

Breath of the Dragon is a high-octane action-packed journey set in a world where humans known as 'breathmarked' are imbued with the blessings of a dragon deity, granting them magical abilities and dragon scales. The story kicks off with explosive energy, quickly establishing a fractured land divided by a rebellion. In the East, only those who are breathmarked can become disciplines of combat and martial arts. Meanwhile, in the West, martial arts and combat training are open to all, regardless of magical ability. Both regions hold a sacred scroll gifted by their gods, key to their identities and power, that becomes central to the overall plot.

At the heart of the story is a young man separated from his family—a brother and mother he longs to reunite with. To do so, he must compete in a deadly tournament in the West and earn the prestigious title of Guardian. But as the narrative unfolds, so too does the depth of the world-building, and it's clear we’re in the hands of a master storyteller—Fonda Lee—whose skill with plot and character development elevates the entire experience.

Breath of the Dragon is an epic adventure that nails what it sets out to do, blending thrilling action with a complex, richly detailed world. Lee’s ability to weave in political intrigue, deep emotional characters, and a sense of high-stakes competition keeps the pages turning. My only real critique is that the magic system—something I found particularly intriguing at the outset—doesn't get the deep exploration I had hoped for within this first book. However, this is still an absolutely essential read for fans of action-driven fantasy and anyone who loves a story that keeps them on the edge of their seat.

2/5

I honestly just think this book wasn't for me. I found my thoughts wandering for 90% of the book - I thought the premise was fantastic, the execution for me was just a little boring. I think I just thought this book was going to be one thing and then it turned out to be another. It's fine just not for me.

After a slow start, this novel becomes non-stop martial arts action centered around a tournament for a position as Guardian of the Scroll of Earth.

Li Jun is separated from half his family at the beginning of the book; fast forward 10 years and he is a teenager determined to participate in the tournament. Meanwhile, political and military factions have their own plans for the tournament and its results.

This YA novel has themes of family, honor, personal growth and dedication. I found the fantasy portion to be light and accessible - basically some are born with dragon scales indicating that they are breathmarked and have a magical ability. Jun is separated from his breathmarked twin at the beginning. I liked how the main character makes friendships and grows along the way. I am looking forward to the conclusion in the final installment of this duology.

Thank you St Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

YA Fantasy • Dragons Breath • Martial Arts
Pub Date • 7 January 2025

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 and was intrigued to see this co-authored with Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee.

Jun is that insecure teenager who suffers from an inferiority complex. Born without the dragon’s mark —no special abilities, unlike his twin 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 his path to fame and glory is through the Guardian’s tournament — an elite competition for warriors and martial artists of different fighting styles. If he can achieve that, he can bring honor to his family.

Along the way, Jun befriends several companions, mentors, and Ren. The political scheming between men in power added depth and complexity. Jun’s growth 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 and will recommend it to my YA reader. I will say the last quarter had more gratuitous f-bombing than was necessary. My biggest complaint: the cover isn’t doing it justice.

·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This book releases on Jan 7th! · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

HOLY MOLY!!!!!!! THIS WAS FANTASTIC!!! Easily one of the best YA fantasy I've ever read. Can't wait for book 2! And this comes from a reader who prefers female mcs!! I am so obsessed with this book that I fear my review will be just me SCREAMING WITH CAPITAL LETTERS about how awesome this book is....

This is my first Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee book, so I have no previous knowledge of their writing. I requested this title for the martial arts, the tournament, and abilities that stem from dragons! And I was NOT disappointed! It exceeded my expectations to the degree I'd say that it obliterated them like Jun obliterated his opponents lmao.

Jun has been trying to compensate for his one fateful mistake ten years ago. He has been trying to do what his father wants and stay out of trouble. He has also been training dutifully and with great dedication. Jun really appreciates and reveres martial arts, which I found to be so endearing. A young boy who has lost so much and yet has found solance in his training. He has this goal of becoming the greatest warrior in the country, and it was charming, so heart-warming. He has put the work in, and he has trained so hard for it. I respected him a lot for his dedication. He has a rivalry with another boy/young man who trains at the same School, and I found it to be authentic to his age. It didn't feel unreasonably petty, it felt like a genuine reaction of a 16 year old boy who wanted to be the best, who wanted to prove to everyone (including those who bullied him) that he was worthy, that he was capable, and that he was the best. My heart felt for Jun during the whole book and in so many ways. Everything that Jun did, including his mistakes, felt genuine like he was a real person. I loved Jun so much!! I sincerely hope that teens around the world discover this book and see the great role example that Jun is with his dedication, his mild jealousy, and his heart of gold. Because Jun has such a pure soul. His kindness knows no bounds, and even though it got the best out of him sometimes, it was also what makes him so great.

The plot followed Jun's goal and ambitions. It has great pacing. Something always happened, and yet, it didn't feel overwhelming. The reader joins Jun's journey to martial arts stardom and the aftermath. We feel his wounds, both emotionally and physically. We feel his pain and his void and his kindness. We feel his joy and his grief. And more than anything, we feel his deep desire to do well for himself and for his father.

I absolutely cannot wait for the second book because of THE HOLY MOLY PLOT TWISTS toward the end!!! I loved this book so much!!!!!! I will be pushing it to everyone's hands!! Fantastic worldbuilding, enthralling prose, and a superb YA mc you will root for from the bottom of your heart!

e-ARC from NetGalley.

This was a WOWzer of a book in a way I didn't see coming. While we're promised a brutal competition, the start of this book read more like a love letter to martial arts, and I found myself discouraged.

BUT it was so worth it to stick it out!

The Shannon Lee/Fonda Lee literary pairing is an absolute powerhouse! I laughed. I cried. I was shocked. I was horrified. I have no idea who to trust. I'm just as shaken up by simultaneous feelings of affection and betrayal as Jun is aaaaaand more than a little obsessed with Yin Yue in a way I haven't been with a protagonist's rival since Nezha in The Poppy War.

This book is what it promises. It's a brutal competition. It's a political thriller. It's a tale of war. It's a familial quest. It's a fantasy world of those with magic vs. those without.

Hiiiiiighly recommend!

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.