A Hero Born: Definitive Ed. brings martial arts mastery to life! Jin Yong's epic tale is a whirlwind of action, honor, and destiny. A must-read for kung fu fans!

I lovvveeedd this book! This book was so well written and the plot was so well done that I actually bought a physical copy of this book. The world building and story telling that the author does shines a bright light in this type of plot writing. I highly recommend this book!

A Hero Born, the first volume in Jin Yong's acclaimed Legends of the Condor Heroes series, invites readers into a rich, immersive world of martial arts, chivalry, and adventure. This Advanced Reader Copy, generously provided by NetGalley, introduces a diverse cast of characters as they navigate the complex political landscape of 13th-century China.

Jin Yong's storytelling prowess shines through as he weaves intricate plots and subplots, creating an epic tale that captures the imagination. The book's world-building is extensive, presenting a vividly detailed setting that transports readers to another time and place.

The character development is noteworthy, as each individual has their unique motivations, strengths, and weaknesses. However, the pacing can be challenging at times, and some readers may struggle with the multitude of names and historical references. Despite these minor drawbacks, A Hero Born remains a rewarding and engaging read.

A Hero Born is an excellent entry point for those interested in the wuxia genre and provides a solid foundation for the Legends of the Condor Heroes series. Thank you to NetGalley for providing the ARC of this captivating novel, a great read for fantasy and martial arts fans.

Score: 4.3/5

"A Hero Born" was an okay story overall. I think possibly the translation didn't convey the original story as well as it could.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book. A Hero Born is about a hero name Guo Jing in 13th-century China. I enjoyed the characters and the atmosphere. The book was a little too slow, and it took a while to get into the story. Overall though I liked learning about this world.

This book tried, but I just couldn't connect to it. It kept falling short in places I wanted it to succeed. I did my best, but this just isn't the story for me.

I was so excited for A Hero Born, the unique setting sounded like a “me read” but unfortunately, the writing just did not capture my attention. I’m giving the a three stars here because I ended up not finishing it.

I can only assume there was something literally lost in translation with this, as I’ve heard nothing but great things about the original work. It seemed like everything I would enjoy but fell flat. I do want to give credit to the translator, as it is a very difficult undertaking, even if I did not enjoy the end result. I’ll give it another try if there is a different translation in the future.

I enjoyed the basic story. Though it's advertised as a story of two boys, that is the sage overall. This one is particularly about one of the sons.
If you like Kung Fu this would be a good book for you. The translation is easy to understand, and the detail of the fighting is detailed.
My favorite part is that there are strong men AND women. I really liked that aspect.

This was a wonderful read. Upon finishing it, I had to go and get the next one. I think the translator did an excellent job. What was really great about this was, it was almost like watching it. I liked the third person omniscient story telling. I enjoyed the way it talked about kung fu and used some Chinese in it. I wish I had read it sooner!!

DNF @ 20%

I've been extremely excited to see this book translated for an American audience, but I absolutely loathe the fact that the translator decided the best approach to this translation was to literally translate some of the character's names into the literal English meanings while keeping the others in the Chinese pinyin. It screams of exotification and makes me extremely uncomfortable to see.

In order to understand the world in which we live, it is sometimes necessary to break away from one's every-day and venture into history known only in passing… if at all. Most of us know the name Genghis Khan, but do we know that he was also Temujin Kahn?

There is a reason that we see Asians as 'inscrutable.' In the west we are taught history from a European point of view; in the US, we are taught history from a white Anglo-Saxon point of view. Without learning the history and mythology of human beings who are not part of our circle, we are made less.

The translator of A HERO BORN, Anna Holmwood, starts with Chinese history in her Introduction, details the main Characters, and tells us this story takes place in 1205 in the Prologue. Reading these preliminary chapters removes some of the strangeness westerners may feel when reading outside their comfort zone. All three provide keys to understanding the history, the people, the places, and the time in which the events occur.

This is the story of two farmers, their wives, and ultimately their progeny. It is also the story of martial arts masters and kung fu moves. The beauty and grace of this form of fighting was integral to the morals of these people. To break the rules was to face shame and dishonor. It is a shame that these qualities are not valued in western society. It was a joy to read of men and women whose life was governed by standards lost to time. I quite literally found myself lost in the story.

Reading A HERO BORN is like watching a movie filmed with words.

DNF 40%
I had such high expectations for this book! Unfortunately it didn't live up to the "Chinese Lord of the Rings" hype. I really struggle to read the 40% I read.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed "A Hero Born". It took me some time to get used to the writing style and all the different characters were a little overwhelming in the beginning, but I really enjoyed the plot and how different this book is from my usual reading fare.

I'm definitely going to continue on with this series.

I thought I posted this here but I guess i didnt. I wasnt distracted nearly as much by thr supposed translation issues but there was times when it didnt come across right. I enjoyed the story and Im sure it is much better in its original language.

This is a good entertaining story although at times confusing.

It was certainly worth persevering with.

I felt the ending was rushed though which just seemed to spoil it for me.

My first foray into Chinese fantasy in translation (that isn't a webnovel) and WOW. Just, wow. I can see why this series is lauded and held up the way that it is within the fantasy community, and why the "Condor Heroes" are frequently referenced in Chinese media. This is definitely a series I look forward to continuing and eventually completing.

I wasn’t aware of what a devoted following this book had until I got it. I simply saw the beautiful cover and the fascinating synopsis and grabbed it. I can see why so many people have loved this story for years.

I had a difficult time getting into this book. I couldn't relate to the characters, felt that I was being told a story rather than being a part of one.

Wen I was a young girl my parents would take us to the movie theater to watch kungfu movies. I would also watch them on television. This novel reminded me soon much of my childhood that I thoroughly enjoyed it. I understand that this is a translation and parts might have gotten lost but it did not take away from the story. It made me smile and root for the characters. I also enjoyed the few illustrations that were found in the book as it enhanced the descriptions they pertained to. I was quite upset with the cliff hanger as I don't know about finding more books in this series. I really enjoyed reading this and am only sorry it took me so long to read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own and freely given.