3.5/5

breath of the dragon is a love letter to martial arts, so much so that if you're not interested in martial arts or a plethora of fight scenes, this book is very much not for you.

the worldbuilding is easily the strongest aspect of this book - it's a fully realized world, with a rich history and mythos, built upon a compelling conflict and held up by well-written political intrigue. the plot is pretty straightforward and could've been so much better if it was carried out by more memorable characters and stronger relationships.

our protagonist jun starts off as a fairly infuriating, ungrateful, bratty kid but he does eventually face some harsh reality checks and undergoes much-needed growth and learning. i like seeing flawed characters grow and change. i also liked that the authors did a sort of reverse chosen one trope with him and actually stuck to it - jun isn't born with any special breathmarked abilities and doesn't somehow magically gain them over the course of his journey either (at least in this book). his triumphs are hard-won and i did feel for him, especially towards the end.

my major issues with this book are the lack of truly stand-out characters and the lack of genuine, strong relationships. i feel like the authors could've really delved into relationships like father/son, mentor/mentee, brothers, best friends/rivals that were only touched upon. this book needed strong emotional bonds to anchor the story and give more urgency and heft to some of the fight scenes.

there were points where the writing with all the fight scenes started feeling repetitive and tired - it just needed something more to it. when you have a generic plotline that's so full of fight scenes, you need great characters and relationships to make your story memorable. like this was a story that was crying out for a found family - i don't know how the authors missed that (and no, characters simply travelling together does not automatically make them a found family).

all in all, a fairly good young adult fantasy book with missed opportunities that could have made it something truly special. the ending does open up lots of potential for the story moving forward, so i'll definitely be checking out the sequel.

This was not what I was expecting at all, but it did not disappoint. The world amazing and I could picture absolutely everything.

Fantasy Bruce Lee was not what I was expecting. Overall a great read! Highlight: No romance. Tournament story. Again, NO ROMANCE!! Found family. Martial arts. Fast paced. Academic rivals. Male main character in a YA! I can’t wait to buy a physical copy. Thank you Netgalley for the arc.

Wonderfully descriptive world building and amazing lot this book will have you on the edge of your seat I couldn’t put it down!

Any fantasy fan will devour this!

Breath of the Dragon starts with the young Jun making a mistake that leeds to him and his father being exiled and separated from his twin and mother. Being foreign in the West he tries to prove himself by becoming the best fighter and winning the tournament that decides who will become the next Guardian, a high position only surpassed by the emperor. But along the way he has to reconsider what he really wants and what really is important.
While the concept of a ya novel where the MC has to go through a fighting contest to proof themselves isn’t exactly new, but this book did an excellent job at executing the idea. The characters were likable, the book easy to follow and well written.
I deduct one star as the characters were too black and white for me, which maybe is owed to the fact that it’s a ya novel but than again some of the fights were not for the faint of heart which lets me think it’s addressed to an audience capable of dealing with ambiguous characters.
Overall I would recommend it and will read part 2 when it’s available.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for providing me with the earc!

4/5 ✩✩✩✩

I had some trouble connecting to this book in the beginning, but after 40%-50%, I was pretty hooked. We follow martial artist Jun through his goal of becoming the Guardian of the Scroll and all his sacrifices to get there. He's sent away from his mother and brother at a young age because in the East, where he was born, fighting/violence is illegal unless you are "breathmarked" by Dragon and become an Aspect. He stows away with a childhood friend for a ride to the tournament to fight for the Guardian position where he faces incredible challenges but meets some good people on the way.

The fighting was exciting to follow, and it got so intense at times I had to cover the page so my eyes wouldn't wander ahead and spoil it for myself. This was a great first introduction to Fonda Lee's books, and I'm upset I have to wait so long for the next book when I'm sure it's going to be even better than this one.


Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

Great book! I have posted my review on goodreads and will be posting to Instagram shortly.

4/5 stars, there were some sections that were just a bit too long for me and I was starting to lose interest. I feel like this could have been a 200 page book, but I do appreciate the world building and character’s progression throughout the book.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6698075668

The lure of a story of political conspiracies, a nation divided, teenagers maturing, families lost and found, all set against the backdrop of a martial arts tournament got my attention. Adding to the draw, a magic system that marked its possessors with dragon scales and my interest was piqued. I will start with my first impression of the main character was that he needed to grow up, but through the progress of this book, two things occurred: first, Jun did mature some, or maybe the events of the book matured him; and second, the events of the book softened my perception of him. The supporting characters also round out the story, with the young woman, Ren, and the flutist, Chang, that help Jun diverting my interest. These characters held up a plot of political machination and fighting for a cause that made this more than a story about competing in a sports competition. The narrative really got interesting just as the book reached its end and I am curious to see what is to come. Though there are definite elements that suggest that this book is targeted at a YA audience, I think that the story can appeal to anyone who enjoys a fantasy tale filled with political intrigue.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

This was an enjoyable read. The world was similar enough to Asian culture to be understandable but different enough to be fantasy. I was rooting for the protagonist in his “quest.” My only issue was the descriptions of the tournament. It was set as a typical elimination tournament, but the main character didn’t seem to participate enough for it to be believable. And he randomly showed up for matches; there was nothing in the writing to show how he knew when and where to be. I think my sons (18 & 15) will enjoy this book.

Fonda Lee, the reigning queen of fantasy, has joined forces with Shannon Lee to venture into the captivating realm of Young Adult fiction—and she’s nailed it once again.

Jun, a fervent martial artist, has been exiled from his homeland while his magically gifted twin is brought to the royal court. Determined to prove his worth, Jun enters the Guardian Tournament, aiming to climb the ranks of his new kingdom.

This year, however, the tournament is more perilous and corrupt than ever, and Jun is beginning to uncover the unsettling reasons behind it.

Let’s set the record straight: this is a genuine YA adventure featuring a 16-year-old who actually behaves like one. Despite the grand scale of the adventure, it’s refreshing to read a book where the prose and narrative are crafted to suit a younger audience, rather than an adult novel masquerading as YA. It’s the kind of book I’d be excited to hand over to my teens. For comparison, it evokes the thrilling and darker elements of the later Harry Potter books.

Jun is an engaging protagonist—fiery, brash, and full of bravado, yet he evolves meaningfully throughout the story. His character development is achieved through his own journey and interactions with a dynamic cast of supporting characters.

Jun interacts with a musical martial arts master and his teen sidekick duo, a revolutionary army, a corrupt general and his monstrous ally, a scheming doctor, a diverse group of fierce fighters, and, notably, his academic rival Yin. Though Jun initially views Yin as a competitor, their evolving relationship hints at a deeper bond akin to brotherhood.

These characters infuse the world with vibrancy and depth, making every moment memorable. Even minor characters are distinctive and well-crafted. The dialogue is crisp and engaging, making it easy to follow each character’s motives throughout the plot.

The storyline seamlessly blends court intrigue with exhilarating, epic fight scenes. Imagine the first Throne of Glass book crossed with Cobra Kai—it’s a fast-paced, addictive read that compels you to keep turning the pages. Reading it felt like watching a high-quality CW show from 2010: entertaining, yet crafted with care and skill.

Readers expecting Jade City will be disappointed, but this book showcases Fonda Lee’s sharp writing, wit, and her remarkable ability to draw readers into the story. It’s tailored for its teen audience, with considerable appeal for adults who appreciate excellent writing. I eagerly anticipate the release of the second book and am excited for others to discover Breath of the Dragon.

Fonda Lee is one of my favorite authors and I so wanted to love this but I couldn't get into it. The fighting took too much of the book and the world building was so limited as to be uninteresting. I know this is YA and a co-written work but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday books for the arc. Um, what a strong premise and mess of an execution. In short, we started out strong, but soon ran into pacing issues. We needed more time with Chang and Jun training. Then the tournament happens and… things just go off the rails for the worse. If you’re just looking for martial arts action, you will find it here. If you’re looking for well-executed political intrigue and a subverting of martial arts tropes, you will be disappointed. I came for the political intrigue, and then it went sideways, so it personally lost my interest.

Jun has one goal... to win the tournament and become the Guardian. Second only to the emperor, becoming Guardian is the only way to win the emperor's ear and heal the rift between East and West. Banished, along with his father, as a child for the "crime" of learning martial arts, Jun longs to be reunited with his mother and twin brother. But when the tournament is filled with contestants who are breathmarked (who have a variety of enhanced skills) can he, who is not so blessed, overcome the odds? If you loved The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, you'll love this. No dragons and more of an Eastern tinge (what do you expect from a book that was highly inspired by the story of Bruce Lee?), Fonda, and Shannon, weave a story that deftly leads you from the expected "chosen one" storyline, while also throwing just enough curveballs to keep you on your toes. Expertly setting up a book 2, I can't wait to see what happens next.

The problem with reading an ARC of a book from an author you like is that you have to wait *extra long* for the series to be finished.

This story follows Li Jun, exiled from the East with his father for practicing martial arts, as he balances his martial arts goals and dreams with his obligations towards his family and the friends he meets along the way.

I want to say that this is definitely YA (and that's okay!). People expecting young characters who act and speak as adults will be disappointed. Li Jun is overconfident, arrogant, and sometimes just flat out wrong in his actions and words. And fun. And loyal, and kind. Unfortunately I have to wait god knows how long to see how his story continues, but this book is an incredibly fun journey full of feeling and characters that you can love. And hate. Lots of that too.

Five stars. Five freaking stars. I was so excited to get this e-arc. The story is incredible. Just when I thought I knew what was going to happen, the story changed. So incredibly good. Watching Jun and his rival, Yin Yue, grow and change and learn to think for themselves, not just what they are taught, and to see their friendship develop from their rivalry is something special. I absolutely loved this story. I already had this book pre-ordered and I can't wait to have a physical copy in my hands. This is going to be an epically good series and I don't know what I'm going to do until book 2 comes out.

I loved it. Jun was a bit annoying but he started to grow on me. He has a big ego but as you read on he starts to grow up more. Loved each character. Thank you net galley.

This YA fantasy starts off a bit slow, but it’s worth sticking with it. The first quarter dragged a little for me, but once it got going, I was hooked. The fight scenes in this book are incredible – it felt like watching a well-choreographed action movie.

Jun, the main character, took a while to grow on me. At first, he seemed impulsive and sort of selfish, but by the end I was fully invested in his journey. The authors did a fantastic job of showing his growth throughout the story. The book’s emotional depth also took me by surprise – I didn’t expect to cry, but it happened!

The tournament rounds were some of my favorite parts. The tension and excitement of the fights had me on the edge of my seat. I thought I’d miss having a romantic subplot, but I ended up appreciating the focus on Jun’s personal journey and his complex relationship with his father. I do wish there had been a bit more development in that father-son relationship, though.

I’m dying to know when the next book comes out, because this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger and I’m eager to pick the story back up. This is a fantastic read for anyone who loves martial arts, rich world-building, and emotional storytelling. I give it a solid 4.25 out of 5, rounding down because NetGalley doesn’t allow fractions. If you enjoy action-packed stories with a lot of heart, you’ll love this book.

I enjoyed this book. I loved the characters and all their complexities; I loved the overall as well.
But the pacing lagged.

The fights were described in a way that I could actually visualize what was happening, something a lot of books that have hand-to-hand fighting scenes in them struggle with.
I'm still looking forward to the next book and how this duology ends.

For me, this book was a breath of fresh air, no pun intended! The beginning was a bit slow but definitely kicked up the speed around 1/4 of the way through. I usually have trouble visualizing fighting scenes but, man, can these women paint an amazing picture. I love the writing style of this book. Relatable characters and heartfelt movements of "growing up"
This one is definitely work the read!

This was surprisingly moving. I cried several times. I literally laughed out loud. An excellent start to a series I’m ready to go all in on.

There is great world building, slowly and steadily crafted the way a great storyteller starts a series with a narrowly focused character or incident, only to build it out into an epic tale.

This novel contains the best fight scenes I’ve ever read. The descriptions amp up tension, emphasize the importance of martial arts in this world, and really show the characters earning the reward of victory. They really become an essential element, like setting or characterization. Other authors should learn from this example. Undoubtedly Shannon Lee’s knowledge of her father Bruce Lee’s masterful martial arts skills blended with acclaimed author Fonda Lee’s (no relation) precise writing to let the fight scenes take center stage.

I should note that Li Jun is an infuriating protagonist. But stick with this kid, know that it’s just a starting point for his journey. In a true tragic fashion, near to gaining one goal he loses what he realizes too late was what really matters.

I read this while suffering from some bad flares of nerve pain, but I still felt compelled to keep reading. I’ve read a lot of great books this year, but I’d still rank Breath of the Dragon near the top. It’s just so fun. I could imagine the ends of certain chapters being the end of a tv episode, so cinematic.

9/10 not objectively a 5 star read, but subjectively a 5/5 for me.