I have good and bad news. The good news is, it’s only nine days into 2025, and I am holding myself to a goal I set in our QTL reflection. This year, I decided to DNF any book that I wasn’t enjoying at the 50% mark. So here’s the bad news. My first review of 2025 features one such book: Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee.

In East Longhan, only the Aspects are allowed to train and become the best fighters in the world. But when a young Jun accidentally exposes his knowledge of the forbidden art, the Aspects exile him and his father from the East. Desperate to reunite their family once again, Jun’s father renounces his love of fighting and tries to live a quiet, repentant life. But that’s not enough for Jun. Now a teenager with an aptitude for martial arts, Jun will do anything to enter the Guardian’s Tournament to display his skills and bring glory to his family name.

Breath of the Dragon is written in a style that is very matter-of-fact and does not leave much for the reader to learn or discover on their own. I felt as if an experienced communicator was relaying each moment, piece of history, or relationship standing to me in a way that could brook no argument. It stifled my curiosity, in both the way it was written and that the story doesn’t allow you to discover anything. There is no space for the reader to have anticipation, read between the lines, or collect drops of information to put together a connection on their own. The language is concise and clear, and it’s not very descriptive.

The same can be said for worldbuilding in this book. Again, there is no awe or discovery when it comes to learning about the world or the tension-filled history between the East and West. Everything is clearly laid out for the reader through info dumps that are as sterile as a textbook. This delivery, coupled with the simple, plain language, would easily break my immersion in the scenes. I didn’t feel like I was a part of the story, like there was no way for the reader to live and breathe in the world or events when everything is presented so plainly. This is not my preferred way to experience a story, and I didn’t enjoy being an unaffected observer of Jun’s journey.

My final reason for not continuing my adventure with Breath of the Dragon was the dialogue. This is not a dialogue-heavy story, and when it does appear, it’s very simple and juvenile. Again, the savvy communicator persona of this book appears and influences the way each character talks to one another. It’s very heavy-handed, and I’ll say this again, sterile. These rare conversations don’t allow the reader to parse out how the relationships are developing because it’s plainly laid out. I got tired of constantly being told how everyone was feeling and thinking.

I get the sense that Breath of the Dragon was not written for me. I can see how the story’s matter-of-fact style would benefit a younger reader. They could easily get swept up in the excitement of a fast-paced plot and enjoy the larger-than-life experiences the young protagonist is up against without wanting to explore deeper themes or character dynamics. I was not the target audience, so I am hesitant to condemn this as a bad book. It’s not, it’s just written for another reader at a different time in their reading journey.

Rating Breath of the Dragon - DNF
-Brandee

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The thoughts on this story are my own.

Jun has been training for years to compete in the Guardian's tournament. It only happens once every six years, so now is the time to show his skills as a warrior. If he wins, maybe he can right the wrong that got him and his father exiled from their homeland and separated from his mother and his twin.

Many think he will fail because he's not breathmarked. Breathmarked have the mark of the Dragon that gives them a gift. Everyone is different, it could be increased strength, or healing, etc. Little do they know, he has something even better.

This was really good. I thought the magic was unique, the characters great, and loved the political intrigue.

I will definitely continue the series.

In one breath I would describe Breath of the Dragon as Bruce Lee meets Dragonball Z meets Germany post Berlin Wall. First and foremost we should acknowledge that this book is a YA book. It is written about a 16 year old boy and carries the same level of maturity as the later HP books. It is the beginning of a story about a teenage boy finally finding his path in life. At 16 years old Jun has had his fair share of hardships and the story appropriately reflects that.
The story takes you on a journey through a country torn in half and exposes the groups of people both trying to bring it back together and further tear it apart. I’ve never read a book written quite like this. I’d be the first to say I have little to no interest in reading a book that breaks down fighting sequences and martial arts styles in such an in depth manner and Breath of the Dragon would have made a liar out of me. Slowing down and taking the time to truly appreciate the visuals that are painted across the pages is a must for this book. Give yourself the time to observe every weapon used, every punch thrown, every time a pair of legs is thrown off balance; and you will read an entirely different story than if you speed read through this.

My only “negative” feedback is that I had imagined where this book would end and therefore was sad when it ended earlier than I had seen it in my mind! I absolutely loved the world building, the character growth, the stark difference in fighting styles, and what I hope is just a glimpse in to the magic system that takes place within the book. I am anxiously waiting for book two to breathe (pun intended) more life in to me.

This book grabbed my full attention from the very beginning and really never lost it!

Breath of the Dragon is a new YA fantasy series by Fonda & Shannon Lee, and while Fonda Lee has been on my radar for ages, this was my first read by her and it won’t be my last. This follows Jun as he competes in a deadly competition to become his country’s Guardian, after being exiled from his original home as a child and forced to leave his mother and twin behind. The magic in this is really seamlessly built in, and I suspect we will see more of it later, but it really mostly read as a martial arts fantasy. Some folks in this tale are born with special abilities, and they are handled differently dependent on where you are in the world; and ultimately are used by both sides of the conflict in different ways. While this mostly focused on the tournament, a much larger issue has been brewing from the beginning and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

This is totally action packed, and the characters have really distinct and lovable voices. There were twists and connections to characters from different timelines in the story that I never saw coming, and and a really wonderful ongoing theme of staying connected to yourself and your center even in times of dire stress.

I will definitely be continuing this series as soon as I get the chance to, and this has moved Jade City to the top of my tbr in the meantime! Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for this eArc!

A massive shout out to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this title.

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee follows the main character Jun. Jun and his twin brother were separated when they were 6 years old. His twin had the mark of Dragon, which symbolises being divinely chosen in the West, but Jun is not so lucky. He demonstrates the ability to fight, and since knowledge of martial arts is forbidden, he and his father gets exiled to the East. But unfortunately before they could be reunited with their family, tension arises and the wall between the East and West gets sealed.

To help him with his excessive energy, Jun convinces his father to take up martial arts lessons. But his father does not know that he is taking these lessons in the hope of competing in the big competition to find the next Guardian of the Scroll of Heaven. As his chance gets close, his father forbids him to compete, believing that martial arts is still too dangerous to dabble with.

But Jun is determined, and stows away on a cart of a travelling musician and his daughter, hoping that they will be too far away before finding him. But things with the competition are not what Jun expects. And he might be in over his head, with political turmoil brewing and new rules being introduced. But maybe with some unlikely allies, he might just come out of this alive.

This was the fastest book I've read in a long time, and it was an epic whirlwind. Breath of the Dragon was a story that has been told multiple times, but Fonda Lee's explosive way of writing is one that draws you into the story and does not let go until the book is done - even then you are left wanting more.

I cannnot wait for more of this story! And I will definitely be a fast supporter of Fonda Lee's writing from here on out!

The best word I can think of to describe this book is: cinematic. The flow of it, especially during the martial arts combat, was so visual. I'm not normally a very visual person, but I could see this story like I was watching a movie, and it was so exciting! There are so many twists and turns and fantastic moments.

The character growth is also a strong feature of this story. Jun goes from pursuing his goal for not the best reasons to finding out why it was important and renouncing his more selfish ways. It was done very believably and I enjoyed the journey he went on.

The tournament was the true highlight. The fights were varied and exciting, and the introduction of the political aspect to it made things even more tense.

My main complaint was with the pacing. The beginning was slow and it took me a while to get into it. The middle was nonstop and exciting, and then the ending was a bit slower again. The middle was strong enough that it saved my enjoyment of it though.

I'm so excited to see where this story is heading.

Thank you to the author for the review copy

In a Chinese-inspired fantasy world, a teen is on the path to personal glory discovers his role in the complex world around him. It is a complex, hard-hitting, epic martial arts journey. The unpredictable twists and magic system, which incorporates religious elements are intriguing. Jun’s emotional development and reactions, creates a gripping novel. There is a romance between Ren and Jun that is low-key. The story focuses more on family and platonic relationships.

This novel is the first in a duology. I do think that if the reader likes martial arts, they should definitely read this novel. I did find it to be a novel that intrigued me. It is well written. I like Jun’s emotional development.

Years after his family is split up, Jun decides to take control of his destiny & fight in the competition to be the next Guardian. The stakes of the fights turn out to be more dire when a war mongering general wants to take control of the Emperor and the Guardian.

This was an intense! It was a little info dump heavy at times that brought the story to a halt, a lot of violence, and an unresolved ending, but also an intriguing examination of how propaganda works, the monetization of violence, with some really interesting characters!

Jun's character development throughout the book kept me completely hooked, even when I got a little bored with someone explaining how something else worked in the world. I was fascinated by Jun and Ren's combative friendship and their maybe romance. Jun's relationship with his father brought me to tears in the final third of the book, and his determination to redeem himself had me racing through to the end.

I would absolutely pick up the next book in this duology, and really, reading this book has made me realize I need to move Jade City up my to be read list immediately.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this arc.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(4.5 stars) I love finding new books with tournaments or arenas done right! The martial arts and one-on-one fights in Breath of the Dragon were STELLAR (which isn’t shocking, when I realized that Bobby Lee’s daughter co-wrote the story!).

The authors just did everything so well in this YA fantasy novel, from the world-building to the magic system to my personal favorite - the character growth. Jun’s self-discovery and growth was so palpable. I loved that he acted like a true teenager at the beginning, making naive, reckless decisions. This in turn made his realizations and epiphanies later in the story so satisfying. I can’t wait for the next book in the series and I highly recommend this to the fantasy audience out there!

I enjoyed the heck out of Breath of the Dragon. It had some Karate Kid vibes, I loved the political intrigue and Jun was such a complex character. His character journey from an angry and somewhat selfish boy to a warrior who fights for what’s right and good was so incredibly well done. I really loved his interactions with Sifu Chang, Ren and Yin. I’m so looking forward to seeing more of that in the next book. Also, I thought it was really interesting seeing Jun realize the stories of history he had been told were told differently in other parts of the land. I think that’s going to be such a cool plot point to dive into in book two. The fighting scenes were so exciting and very easy to follow along. It was just a great time reading this book and I can’t wait to read the next book!
CW: violence, death, injury

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for the ARC!

This book was great, though there were areas I didn't care for. I'll start with the positive:

I loved the diverse cast of characters, the exploration of the magic system, the set up of the politics of the world, the importance of brotherhood and male relationships, and the honesty of the feelings of jealousy, grief, and longing. The first chapter started strong, and at no point did I grow bored and stop wanting to pay attention. The main character is lovable and the plot believable.

What I didn't like:
The general (aka main villain) is pretty lack luster BUT it is only book 1, so perhaps his story becomes more flushed out. Regardless, this feels nitpicky on my part so I only took of .25 stars for it.

Overall, this book is an enjoyable fantasy with the vibes of a Korean drama and the atmosphere of a early 2000 YA fantasy. As someone who loves both, I really enjoyed the combination and can't wait for book 2!

A FULL FIVE STARS

Breath of the Dragon is a masterfully written martial arts fantasy. Bruce Lee’s philosophy and teaching being the base of this book makes this is a beautiful tribute to a great man and martial artist. With a tournament that is different than what you will see in novels today, this book brings in the nostalgia of a classic martial arts film blended perfectly with a fresh perspective of modern literature. Mixed in with a hint of romance and political intrigue, this book has it all. It will keep you hooked from the first page.

This is already feeling like one of my top reads of the year and we are still in January.

I was fully invested in this violent young adult martial arts fantasy. My biggest complaint is that it’s the first in a duology, and now I must wait for the second installment. The abrupt ending left me desperate to know what happens next! This book blends the feeling of a timeless folk tale with the sweeping scope of an epic fantasy. While some plot points were predictable, there are enough shocking twists to keep you on your toes. I gasped aloud more than once. Just when you think you’ve settled into the pace, a shift keeps it fresh and engaging. Jun, the main character, is headstrong and likable. He avoids being overly single-minded or irritating. His growth feels natural, and I loved learning alongside him. The story felt original, not like a direct commentary on current political events, which was refreshing. The fight scenes were so vivid and well-detailed that I was wincing and clutching parts of my body, fully in the tension. My heart raced with each battle. This book is suitable for younger audiences with its lack of spice but is rich and layered enough for older readers to enjoy as well, I certainly did. Pick this one up!

Wow, the best fantasy teen novel I've read in ages!

After being separated from his family for practicing martial arts, sixteen year old Jun sets off on an adventure to prove his fighting skills and win the elite Guardian Tournament. This book is so filled with fantastic training montages, tournament style fighting scenes, and with a hint of political intrigue on the side. Its been so long since a new fantasy series has caught my interest. Excited for the next in series!

Fonda Lee has been on my list of authors to read for years. When the publisher offered me the NetGalley widget for the first book in a new series, I immediately downloaded it.

In this world breathmarked people are born with a patch of dragon scales and possess various special abilities. At a young age, those who are blessed with a breathmark are sent away for special training. Jun's twin is one of the gifted, but when Jun reveals that their father also trained him in martial arts, he and his father are banished from their homeland while his brother and mother are taken to court. Years later, Jun has made it his life's purpose to become the next Guardian and prove himself. Seeing a reverse chosen one trope is a refreshing change. Jun has no special abilities, and it's an angle I really enjoyed.

Deadly competitions are always a draw for me, so I was excited to get to the Guardian's Tournament. Action fans will delight in the intricately choreographed martial arts scenes. I gasped more than once over unexpected outcomes. Before long Jun learns there's more to the tournament than he could ever have imagined and winning isn't all that's at stake.

The found family trope gets me every time, and it's a big part of this story. Not being a big romance fan, I appreciated that it's a very small part of the plot - and really only the potential of one. Jun's character arc is extremely well done and seeing him grow and learn is one of my favorite things about the novel.

I'll definitely be continuing with this series, and I'm anxious to see where the next book goes. Recommended for fans of strong character arcs, a main character who's not the chosen one, and novels with crossover appeal.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

In a world where honor, strength and integrity are prized above all, contestants will battle using skilled martial arts to win the honor of protecting their home and community. A clear plot line in this first book of a planned duology introduces us to twin brothers who must find their individual ways to the truth and find the way to each other to win this battle.

I loved this! The story was beautiful and I'm so excited to read the sequel - I have a feeling it's going to be emotional.

Happy release week to Breath of Dragon by @shannonlee & @fondalee!

Breath of the Dragon is the first installment in a YA duology. It's a fast-packed and action-packed release. This was a highly anticipated release for me I ate it up in a little over a day. Especially once I really got into it - I did not rest until I was finished.

This story is a love letter to the martial art philosophy and prowess of Bruce Lee in a fantastical world filled with political schemes. The main character Jun goes through it from the first page, and I would like to stay. I'm formally submitting a request to adopt him - no more suffering for my sweet summer child, please!

Jun chooses to compete in this diabolical fighting tournament in order to become the Guardian of the West and restore his honor. The action choreography during the tournament is so beautifully written and feels like you're seeing it play out in your mind (from someone who actually struggles a lot to picture things). Each scene was so exciting, and I was holding my breath everytime things got rough. And it did get rough and bloody!

The last 5 chapters have me already excited for the characters and all the different relationships I would like to see expanded on. I'm respectfully demanding the second book now, please! 🤲🏾

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for a digital ARC!

I liked this book but didn't love it, but I don't think I'm really the target audience for books like this. I think people who love martial arts in general, and Bruce Lee in particular, will love reading a story about an underdog martial artist trying to save his people from a tyrant. It sounds like it could be a plot line from one of Bruce Lee's movies!

So, I think fans of action-oriented, martial arts stories & Bruce Lee will probably love this story, but it just wasn't for me.

Such a fun read! I used to love watch Bruce Lee movies, so this action and fight scenes filled book was a treat. Ambitious character, with a very much YA attitude - I'll do whatever I want, no matter the consequences. The growth of him, and finally understanding that there's more than himself in this world. And of course a friendship that keeps growing. I loved that the villain in this case wasn't the main character in the story, and it is more of a happy ending type of book. I feel like in the second book everything will be resolved, and it gives me hope.

There was once scene in the end that I thought was just overdone and too extended. I just wanted it all to wrap up faster, and be done. But it took such a long time, that if I would have skipped like 40 pages, I would still have understood what have happened.

Otherwise, the fighting scenes were fun. The fact that it wasn't focused on a romance, or a girl interest brought a different angle to a fantasy tale - sometimes things happen for one's own ambitions, and not for the love interest.

Excited to see what happens in the second book.