CONTENT WARNING: violence, gore, murder, death of a parent (off-page)

It wasn’t until just before I started reading this that I looked up who Shannon Lee is, because my first assumption was that she is related to Fonda Lee, one of my favorite authors. Thanks to the marvels of the internet, I discovered that Shannon Lee isn’t related to Fonda Lee, but she is the daughter of martial arts legend Bruce Lee. And it made perfect sense for these two authors to work together and create a story that gives me The Combat Codes x Jade City vibes.

I read this book primarily through audiobook, because the narrator, Eric Yang, is fantastic and made this story jump off the page with his narration. I really enjoyed his portrayal of the characters and how he told the story, making it the kind of audiobook that I couldn’t put down.

Initially, we get to meet Jun and Sai, twin brothers who are extremely enmeshed. Jun is a fast learner, extremely determined even at a young age to show that he is equally valuable despite not having the patch of dragon scales on his skin that his brother has, which indicates that they are breathmarked, blessed by Dragon, and have a special talent. Sai’s talent is that he can learn anything after seeing someone else do it, and without having to practice, he can excel. Jun, on the other hand, works hard and learns every skill before his brother, but is discounted because of his lack of a breathmark.

Jun also demonstrates some negative characteristics—he’s hyperactive, impulsive, and rarely thinks before he acts. Due to these flaws, he and his father are separated from his brother and mother, who are sent away so that Sai can train to be an Aspect, a person who keeps public and social order. It is Jun’s actions that lead to this, showing off the secret and forbidden martial arts that his father has taught them. Jun and his father are sent to a neighboring country for a five-year banishment period. In that time, Jun’s father got a job at an opera house, organizing the fight scenes and playing the villain, since martial arts aren’t forbidden in their new home. Jun trains at a local school, and is determined to participate in a tournament that is held every six years and determines who will be the newest Guardian, entrusted to keep the magical Scroll of Earth safe.

We don’t get to see much of Sai, since the story is told entirely through Jun’s perspective. He does maintain a connection to his twin by having imaginary conversations with him, even though the letters stopped passing through the border after the creation of a wall between the countries. Jun’s perspective is interesting, especially since we meet him at age 6, and then again ten years later. There’s obviously a lot of growth that he experiences in this book, and we start to see him changing once he impulsively stows away in Chang and Ren’s wagon. This transitions him from an overactive and honestly, kind of obnoxious child into a young man who is actively working on himself and trying not to keep making the same mistakes repeatedly.

One of the things that stood out the most to me about this book is the realistic nature of the martial arts in the story. I love Fonda Lee’s style of writing, especially her fight scenes, but when she paired up with Shannon Lee, another martial arts expert, the descriptions of the fight were so clear and well-choreographed that they were so easy to visualize, even without having any knowledge of martial arts. This is on display in Fonda Lee’s Greenbone Saga series, and it really made me think of The Combat Codes by Alexander Darwin, in how the fighting is depicted.

The way that Jun connects to the people around him is relatively abrasive. He’s great at the physical activity of martial arts, but the structure, discipline, and forethought is an area that he struggles with for a good portion of the book. I also liked seeing how much harder he works to get on even footing with someone who is breathmarked.

This book isn’t just about one young man who fights his way, literally, to the tournament, there’s also some political intrigue occurring in the book. It sets the tone for a duology so that I’m already excited for the next book before this one is even out yet. But I enjoyed seeing how all the different story threads intertwined and created a cohesive plot that was perfectly paced. I can’t say enough great things about the characters in the story, how they interact, and the complexity of the plot, which comes on slowly enough to grasp everything, even while reading the audiobook version. Sometimes I struggle to focus when listening to an audiobook, and have to reread certain chapters, or even switch to reading along in the ebook while I’m listening, but I never had to do that with this book, despite the complex and layered nature of the story.

Overall, this book is fantastic, and I want to just throw copies of it at people like I’m Oprah. You get a book, and *you* get a book, and everyone gets a book!

It’s the best kind of underdog story, in my opinion, and there’s so many positives about the book that I didn’t even notice any negatives. If you enjoy books featuring martial arts, Bruce Lee’s style and teachings, stories with lots of action, YA books with characters who are morally gray in what they’ll do to succeed, and fantasy novels with excellent world building, then you’ll love this book!

Breath of the Dragon, the first of the Breathmarked duology, introduces a well created world on martial arts, intrigue and honor.
Jun, torn away from his twin and mother, and banished with his father at a young age because of illicit martial arts training, has one dream... to fight in the tournament and become the guardian of the scroll. Despite going against his father's wishes, he is determined and skilled. But he is also young, arrogant and a bit foolish.
I really enjoyed his journey to the capital, where he traveled with Chang and Ren, it was fun to see the different ways Change trained Jun and the friendship between Ren and Jun progressing.
Upon reaching the Capitol, the tournament is not precisely as expected, as there is a lot more political intrigue and possible corruption than Jun had expected, but it was interesting to watch it all unfold.

Can't wait to see where book two takes Jun.

Jun lives in a divided world - and because of an incautious word when he was 6 years old, his family is divided as well; he and his father were exiled to the western side of the Snake Wall, while his mother and twin brother stayed on the east side. Jun and his father struggled for years until they found a place in their new community. Prior to the splitting of their country several decades previously, martial arts were widespread throughout the nation, but after the split, only the breathmarked - people born with special abilities indicated by patches of scales somewhere on their skin - were allowed to practice martial arts on the eastern side of the wall. Jun's father, who learned a martial art from his own father, taught his sons, and it was Jun's enthusiasm to show off what he learned that caused their family to be split. Despite that, Jun's dream is to become the next Guardian of the Scroll, the greatest warrior on the western side of the wall. The first half of the novel deals with Jun's desire to enter the tournament that will determine the next Guardian, and the second half with the tournament itself.

This is an underdog story; Jun (unlike his twin) is not breathmarked, and has no special abilities - unlike many of the entrants in the tournament, who use their abilities to bolster their performance in the tournament. But he is dedicated and determined, and willing to learn from those he encounters along the way. The portrayal of various martial arts and the similarities and differences between them is well done, detailed enough to satisfy those who know a martial art, and not so detailed as to bore those who don't. Jun is an engaging and real character, with doubts and fears and dreams.

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

DNF at 20%. While there’s nothing especially wrong with this, the coming of age YA feel was not working for me at all. From the reviews I have seen this may get better later, but I didn’t make it that far.

Note: ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

5 stars! This book is if Kungfu Panda and Game of Thrones had an adult baby. It was so entertaining all the way through and I'm looking forward to the next installment! The politics of the East and the West areas of the landscape was intriguing and you couldn't always tell what the twists were until they started to reveal themselves. The main character was written well and had a great flow to his arc throughout. Loved this book.

Breath of the Dragon is the first book in the Breathmarked duology. I wanted this to be my first read of 2025 to kick off the year with a bang, but I couldn't wait. I love everything Fonda Lee writes, and this duo did an amazing job. The worldbuilding was detailed and rich, and the action scenes were fantastic. I highly recommend this book to every fantasy reader. I can't wait to read the final installment. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC of Breath of the Dragon. Listen, I will read anything that Fonda Lee writes. I am head over heels in love with The Green Bone Saga and I was so excited when I heard she was writing this YA book with Bruce Lee vibes. I loved it. Her writing translates so seamlessly into YA and what I loved about her adult books—the grittiness and the heart—were both here as well, and in spades.

Jun is a very likeable protagonist, especially as an underdog determined to prove himself. Being a teenager, he's a little hotheaded at times but has a good heart. Jun's choices drive his journey and I loved following his growth throughout the story as well as the relationships he develops with other characters.

While this falls into the fantasy genre, it's really more wuxia: the story focuses on martial arts and the Guardian Tournament, and as Jun isn't breathmarked most fights do not involve special abilities. I really enjoyed Jun's martial arts training and the Dragon's Breath element. Every fight was well detailed and easy to visualize, and despite their being so many fights each one was differentiated based on each opponent's style and weapons.

The story is well paced, ramping up when the tournament begins, and entirely engrossing. The world building is fantastic, with an intriguing history, dragon lore, and an impending war that impacts every aspect of the story.I'm incredibly excited to find out what happens next!

If you enjoyed The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu or The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, you will love this one!

Thank you St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books for the digital copy of Breath of the Dragon.

Review posted on Goodreads (link provided).
Review to be posted on Instagram on December 26th.
Review to be posted to Amazon after publication.

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. Breath of the Dragon is unlike anything I have ever previously read. At first I really had trouble getting into it because the main character is just so unlikable, but eventually you see his character change (for the better), and then I felt like the story got so much better when I was invested in the MC. I loved that this was a collaborative story, and I feel like Shannon Lee's contributions blended well with Fonda's into one cohesive story. A more formal review will be available on my IG/TikTok and Goodreads for release.

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

eArc received from Netgalley for an honest review

3.5 Stars

I was extremely excited to get the Arc for Breath of the Dragon and was hoping it would be a favourite of the year. Unfortunately, it wasn't something I had a easy time getting sucked into, and I had trouble feeling motivated to read it once I began.

For me, the pacing at the start was a bit slow. I had trouble with being invested enough to continue despite the intrigue and concepts that felt really strong throughout. The characters didn't interest me enough either, so I had a hard time caring about them for the majority of the book.

It takes half the book to get to the tournament, and this is when things get a little stronger. The combat is incredibly well written and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The slight found family aspect, and the friendships really warmed my heart as well.
I may not have loved this book, but I think there are huge reasons to try it. There are incredible ideas in this book, and many of them are executed well. For me, it just wasn't enough to hold my interest but I appreciated the cultural themes and ideas throughout. They were beautifully incorporated and well done.

If you like slower paced fantasy with really good fighting scenes, tournaments, and strong family ties, then pick this up and give it a try yourself.

"Marked or not, every one of us has breath enough to will our own destiny into being."

Twin brothers Jun and Sai—one is born marked and thus has a destiny, while the other is not. Jun always had to work twice as hard to earn anything his brother did. Due to an unfortunate series of events, Jun and his father are banished to the West, while his mother and brother are sent to the town where his brother will become something great. Jun is determined to make something of himself, despite his father's wishes. After being forbidden to compete in a martial arts tournament, Jun sneaks out and hitchhikes a ride there.

Along the way, he meets an unexpected teacher and begins to learn there is much more to the world than he thought. The tournament is not what anyone expected, thanks to a war-hungry general. Jun must face many trials and learns that maybe who he thought he was and what he thought he wanted wasn't what he was destined for at all.

This book was gorgeously written, and I greatly appreciated that the MMC actually felt young, because he is. He's impulsive and gets angry, jealous, and prideful. He learns along the way. Also, the ending has me feeling. I need book two immediately. A huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to receive an ARC of this one.

This series is about to become my whole personality. Like I literally put down Wind and Truth to finish this, it was that good!!

I didn't know I needed a fantasy martial arts book in my life but this was amazing-- a great coming-of-age, trial by fire, tournament story. Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee made the genre very accessible to newcomers and their worldbuilding was very compelling. There's such an interesting underlying plot of political conspiracies and intrigue that makes me so excited for book 2. I loved the bigger implications that will be addressed later in the duology and thought this was the perfect set up for the larger story at hand.

I really enjoyed Fonda Lee’s Green Bone Saga so I was very excited to pick this book up. I don’t typically like stories with competitions or trials, but this one really worked for me. The actual competition was important but also moved quickly. The plot was really interesting and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes in the next book.

I received an advance copy via NetGalley.

I greatly enjoyed this collaboration between Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee, and Fonda Lee, one of my favorite authors. This secondary-world setting, inspired by ancient China, draws on Bruce Lee's teachings.

Jun made a terrible, boastful mistake when he was a child, one that forced him and his father into exile, while his mother and his incredibly blessed twin went on to a life of privilege. A war and wall soon create a permanent divide. Jun is now sixteen, an arrogant young martial artist who is determined to compete in the brutal championship to become the Guardian of the realm. After his sickly father forbids Jun entry, Jun stows away in a flutist's wagon, determined to enter the bout on his own. Nothing goes as he expects.

In many ways, this book is a celebration of the martial arts and the ways in which discipline can help a person. To be blunt, Jun is an insufferable jerk at first, but if you're reading reviews and wondering if you should keep reading, I say, please do. Jun's character arc and maturation are incredibly satisfying, so stick with it!

There are many major twists and turns in the story. The end in particular went places I never anticipated. I am already eager to read the second book in this duology, and I hate that I probably have a long wait!

In "Breath of the Dragon," Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee have crafted a riveting fantasy tale that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. This action-packed narrative seamlessly weaves together elements of political unrest, rebellion, and mythical intrigue, creating a rich tapestry that fantasy enthusiasts will find irresistible.

At the heart of this gripping story is Jun, an underdog protagonist whose character arc is both compelling and relatable. The authors have skillfully developed Jun's journey, allowing readers to connect with his struggles and root for his success as he navigates a world fraught with danger and uncertainty.

One of the novel's standout features is its meticulously choreographed action sequences. The authors' expertise in martial arts shines through, lending an authenticity and visceral quality to the fight scenes that will leave readers breathless. These moments of intense action are balanced perfectly with the book's intricate plot, ensuring that the pacing never falters.

"Breath of the Dragon" excels in its ability to subvert expectations. Just when readers think they've got a handle on the story's direction, the authors introduce unexpected twists that keep the narrative fresh and engaging. The complex interplay between three factions adds layers of intrigue, leaving both Jun and the reader questioning allegiances and motivations. This element of unpredictability elevates the story, making it a truly immersive experience.

For those who revel in stories featuring high-stakes competitions, political machinations, and mythological elements, "Breath of the Dragon" is a must-read.

Thank you, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley, for my free book for review.

Thank you net gallery for the advanced copy of this book. I enjoyed the story and adventure and hope to see more books in this series. The tournament was exciting, and I definitely would recommend.

Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee put together an incredibly fun tale inspired by Bruce Lee with this opener, giving us the tale of a brash young martial artist determined to become the best in the land. But as the story unfolds we find far more than a YA-targeted action adventure, as we delve into an incredibly rich story of the human cost of political division, of family taken for granted, family lost and family found, of ambition and drive but the need to temper it with morality and responsibility. Such an incredible read. A richly realized, nuanced world, and a story that becomes so much more as the MC realizes that nothing he assumed is as it seems when he sets out on the path he's determined to follow. If you're a fan of Fonda Lee, you absolutely need to read this book.
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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read and loved Fonda Lee's Greenbone Saga a few years ago, I also picked up her novella Untethered Sky earlier this year. I'm a big fan of her writing and was curious to see how it would translate into the Young Adult space. Shannon Lee as a co-writer really added such richness to this story as Jun navigated the deadly martial arts competition to try and become the Guardian of the West. Overall I had a lot of fun with this! I always love books with a competition.

I will say I think the book had some pacing issues. The start is incredibly interesting where we see Jun and his twin, Sai torn apart and the family broken. Jun and his father are banished to the West for practicing forbidden martial arts while Sai and their mother are sent to the capital where Sai will learn to master his breathmarked ability and become an Aspect, protector of the East. Even when we time skip to see where Jun is now there's still a high level of interest trying to figure out what's happened over the last 10 years. Where the book started to lose me was when Jun strikes out on his own and begins training under someone new. This section of the book just really started to drag and got a bit repetitive. However, we do eventually get to the competition and the action picks back up in the best way. I'm really excited to see where book two goes and I can't wait for the sequel.