This was a really nice read! I found it very well-written, and it kept my attention throughout the story.
However I would say that this would be best suited for maybe a teenaged boy. I typically still really love YA, but being in my 20’s now, I sometimes struggle to connect with the characters as I once did - and with Jun being a younger teenaged boy, it was a little hard to connect at times.
I found the world, history, and location very interesting to read about though!

Fonda Lee is a literary icon, and this book is an incredible mash-up that only she could write. Must read for fans of hers and fans of good books!

Breath of the Dragon is book one in the Breathmarked series by Fonda Lee; Shannon Lee.
Was so captivating. The character development was so well written. The character growth was amazing.
This was action packed and the writing was so well done.
Very descriptive and detailed.
A fast-paced and extremely exciting fantasy novel.

Thank You NetGalley and Wednesday Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Guardian’s Tournament is held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Heaven to a new protector. Jun is sixteen and eager to prove that he's a warrior. A mistake had banished them from his home, mother, and twin brother. But Jun isn't breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin, so his father forbids him from trying. He goes anyway, and soon realizes he may be fighting for the fate of the country and the very survival of everyone he cares about.

Shannon Lee is Bruce Lee's daughter, and Fonda Lee is known for her breathtakingly detailed and riveting novels. Those who are Breathmarked in this world have the blood of the dragon, which manifests as scales. Jun and Sai were twins, but only Sai was breathmarked. Martial arts were banned as a means of violence, though Jun was skilled in it and thought displaying his talent would lead him to be taken away for training along with his brother. Instead, he and his father were exiled rather than his father sent to a work camp for teaching Jun. Following the five years of exile, his father played villains and choreographed fights for the opera and Jun was an usher and security guard. His father wanted him to study to become a civil servant, but Jun would rather fight. It doesn't help that tensions between East and West Longhan had worsened, with no other way to see Sai again without that Guardian's Tournament.

The world-building for Longhan is subtle and gradually introduced. Jun isn't the type to pay attention, but his friend Ren is, and she instructs him. His various teachers approach his ability in different ways, setting up the varying styles of martial arts and views on its utility and purpose. Even the contest rules themselves have changed, turning lethal. The tournament isn't just about who is the best fighter to protect the nation. It becomes propaganda and a means to push for war between nations, setting up future novels. Jun progresses from trying to prove himself to his father and twin, to fighting for the purest expression of the art and his ability. He learns that rivalry and envy are a source of torment, keeping him from being his best self. It was great to see Jun grow, moving past tragedy, and know that he has the potential to be truly great.

Thank you to NetGalley, Fonda Lee, Shannon Lee, and St. Martin's Press for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Are you kidding me that I have to wait for another installment?! This was fantastic and I could not put it down-- imagine a politically charged, fantasy, Karate Kid. Fonda's fight sequences continue to blow me away, and her love of martial arts clearly shows through her writing. I know this book is tagged as a YA novel, but please don't let that stop you from picking it up. Breath of the Dragon does a fantastic of crossing boundaries between the young adult realm and the adult world with mature writing and themes. If you are a fan of Asian-inspired fantasies and martial arts, this is a must-read. I was captivated throughout and cannot wait for the announcement of book two!

I’ve only read one other Fonda Lee book, Untethered Sky. I loved it. When I love the first book I’ve read of a certain author, that book becomes the gateway book for the author’s backlist and anything the author touches, especially if the second book I’ve read from the author also proves awesome. Breath of the Dragon, with one exception, exceeded my expectations. Let us also not forget the co-author, Shannon Lee. I grew up on martial arts movies with fighting contests and high stakes, and oh, man, this book was nostalgia between two covers.

Jun, our MC, who is a young man—quite the anomaly, as so many YA fantasy main characters nowadays seem to be young women—and mostly predisposed toward vengeance or some other self-serving activity. Even better, Jun’s story starts out in the best way for a story like this. Jun’s father and grandfather have an incredible legacy of teaching martial arts, which the kingdom in which they reside forbids. The family is torn apart, and Jun and his father are exiled to another kingdom.

Of course, as all these stories go, the one banished for learning to fight becomes the ultimate fighter, and joins a contest to fight for a great reward or position of authority that allows him to to rectify the wrong of his youth. Take back the kingdom. Fight for the downtrodden. Sounds cliche, but the story isn’t old in the telling. All classic tales of heroes fighting empires and reuniting with their lost loved ones offer an appealing story that never gets old no matter the way they’re told.

Lee and Lee write fantastic characters, complicated relationships, gut-wrenching reunions (more authors for the list of those who won’t leave my darlings in peace), and awesome action. I’m surprised, yet again, that this book did not get picked up by a box or a bookstore for a special edition.

With one exception for way too much adult language in a YA book, I give this book high marks. I can’t recommend it for its marketed audience, because of content, but an adult who doesn’t mind language and likes similar books in this genre will love this one.

My thanks to NetGalley, and Wednesday Books for the eARC, for which I willingly give my own, honest opinion.

3.75 stars

I enjoyed this book and thought that the plot flowed smoothly. We start out the book with the main character as a kid and then explore the rest of the story when he is a teenager taking part in a tournament. The tournament’s purpose is to become the Guardian who helps protect the Scroll of Earth and this is a very sought after job.

The book was very combat heavy so if you like fight sequences, you will love this book and if you don’t, this might not be the book for you. The combat style was martial arts with many different styles you encounter during the tournament that the main character was a part of.

Some people have abilities (this is called breathmarked) that they use during the tournament which brought a lot of excitement to the fight sequences because you never knew what kind of fight it would be. The main character was a twin and his twin had an ability but he did not so it made it exciting to see how he would go through these fights because he had a clear disadvantage.

There was a small cast of side characters and I wish there was more time spent building them up because I would have liked to know more about them. They were important to the story and I just wanted to have that explored a bit more.

The main character seemed a little flawed at times and I felt like they could have used some development but then he was also a 16 year old so it was realistic with some of the decisions he made.

Overall, it was a fun read and I look forward to finding out what happens in the next book in this duology.

A fun action packed read that I wished I could have consumed as a movie.

I wish there was more I could say about the book but it was pretty standard. Some political intrigue, an interesting world setup, and plenty of action. The characters were fine but I never really got attached to them to care what happened to them. But I didn't mind following Jun and company around on their journey and discoveries.

I started this book when I initially had access to the book months ago but I did put it down in wanting to read other things. But when I came back to it I found that I still remembered what I had read despite so much time passing between reads. The book is sort of heavy on the action/martial arts descriptions and if you're not into that sort of thing then the story may feel a little boring and repetitive. Overall, it was a decent coming-of-age story.

Breath of the Dragon is an amazing work of fantasy, blending martial arts philosophy with dragon mythology in a way makes you hold your breath through every fight. For people who enjoy epic fantasy, complex characters, and intricate world-building, it’s a book worth diving into!

Set in a land divided in two, Breath of the Dragon follows Jun, a talented but stubborn young man who dreams of competing in the Guardian's Tournament. Every six years, martial artists participate in a week long tournament to gain the title of the Guardian, the protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. However, the rules are different this year, and as political unrest heightens throughout West Longhan, Jun learns that his fight might not only be to restore honor to his family, but maybe even his country.

Yall I will eat up anything that Fonda Lee writes. Like all of her books, she does such an amazing job creating such vibrant and immersive worlds. Not only is there the aspect of a brewing rebellion, but there's also so much history, mythology, and culture that is introduced in this book. And while it's very much YA, I felt like the way it was written can definitely be enjoyed by readers who tend to sway more towards adult fantasy. Also this is co-written by Shannon Lee, aka Bruce Lee's daughter?? And this book is based on the teachings of Bruce Lee?? Like how can you not want to pick this on up?!!

Aside from the superb worldbuilding, Breath of the Dragon is filled with action-packed scenes. The character develop for Jun is also great. I had a bit of a hard time liking Jun at the beginning but at the end of the book, he truly grew on me. He's this incredibly impulsive teenager, yet becomes the type of character that you can't help but root for as he matures and grows.

Overall, Breath of the Dragon is a super solid start. I'm so excited for what's to come in the next book and can't wait to see what the authors have in store for Jun!!

I wish I could say that I loved this but it feel flat for me. It took me a while to get into the story because I didn't connect with the MC. I'm also not the biggest martial arts fan so while that aspect was very well done, it wasn't for me. I love Fonda Lee's writing but I feel like it was too adult for this story.

I found this to be a strong debut to a new series! The world building is probably the strongest part - it is a nicely fleshed out world with political intrigue and some interesting magical elements that I really loved. This book largely revolves around martial arts and includes a fighting competition - I personally love a good fight scene and competition, but I realize this isn't everyone's cup of tea. I ended up listening to the audiobook for most of this book, and the narration was great, so I didn't mind all the fight scenes nor did I find them to drag. I enjoyed the character growth the MMC underwent through this first book. Some moments in the book were heart-wrenching 🥺. I did feel like the relationships in this book in general were a bit superficial but while the authors could have gone in deeper, I suspect this was perhaps by design and will occur more in the sequel based on the storyline.

All in all, I enjoyed it and am very much looking forward to the sequel!

CW: Violence, gore, death/death of a loved one, xenophobia.

A big thank you to Wednesday books, St-Martin's Press, MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and Wednesday Books for this ARC Copy!

Though this is not my typical genre to read I knew that this would be a phenomenally written book and I was not wrong. The writing of the fight scenes were so descriptive and capitating that I really felt like I was watching a movie inside my brain. Personally there was more fighting than I am used to or prefer in a book but I knew that would be the case going into it and expected to just glaze over the scenes but that definitely never happened. If you have any interest in martial arts in any way at all you will enjoy this book. I wish that we had gotten deeper into the story and the politics in this book but I understand why we needed to be kept in the dark on some things but that just means that I can not wait for the next book to come out. I want to know more about the world and how everything will play out.

When I saw this was a Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee fantasy collaboration, I just had to get my hands on a copy of this book! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the Breath of a Dragon ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shannon Lee brings her father, Bruce Lee's legacy into the fantasy literary world with Breath of a Dragon. As I was reading this book, I saw so many parallels to Bruce Lee's teachings, philosophy, and martial arts style. It felt like I was watching one of his movies as I was reading through the story.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book with it's rich world building, political intrigue, lovable characters, and action packed fighting scenes.

Breath of a Dragon is a beautiful coming of age story, and it gave me a lot of nostalgia of my childhood watching Bruce Lee movies with my father. I am looking forward to the next book!

I was sent this book randomly and decided to read it on a whim and it was amazing!! I know Fonda Lee has written great books before (but I haven’t read them yet) so it was no surprise that this new YA book was excellent. Refreshing, fast-paced, with excellent action scenes. I'm really looking forward to reading this series as more books come out!

🌈Queer rep: none

This book tells the story of Jun, a young man living in a world divided between East and West, where people are sometimes born with special powers called "breathmarks." However, the number of breathmarked individuals has been declining since the division. Jun, who isn't breathmarked, dreams of competing in the prestigious Guardian's Tournament ten years after being exiled to the West. The story follows his journey to become a warrior, which is complicated by political intrigue and betrayal.

Here's what I enjoyed about the book:

1. The Tournament: I'm a big fan of tournament storylines. They provide a clear structure, introduce new characters and challenges, and constantly raise the tension. Plus, they're just entertaining to read.
2. The Characters: Jun is a compelling character. He's a typical 16-year-old in some ways, displaying both naivety and arrogance, but he's also dedicated and has a strong sense of right and wrong. The way we see other characters changes as Jun's perspective evolves. I especially appreciated that Jun isn't breathmarked. His struggle to find his place and prove his worth without special abilities is a refreshing change from stories where the main character has overwhelming magical powers. It's inspiring to see him rely on hard work, skill, and training.
3. The World: I love stories with magic systems, especially when those powers are physically visible. The concept of twins, where one has magical abilities and the other doesn't, and their separation due to opposing ideologies, creates a lot of compelling drama.
4. The Ending: The ending left me eager for the next book! I won't give anything away, but it provided the payoff I was hoping for throughout the story.

Title: Breath of the Dragon: Breathmarked by Fonda Lee; Shannon Lee
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Pub Date: January 7, 2025
📖 349 pages

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Aspects of Virtue
Guardian Tournament
Epic Martial Arts
Unique Magic System
Ongoing Hostilities
Asian Literature
Devastating Betrayal

I loved this one! We follow Jun on his journey from eager young boy to determined teenager. His biggest dream in the world is to become the guardian of the scroll, second only to the emperor, and in order to win this prestigious honor he must compete in the Guardian Tournament. Despite his father's wishes, Jun travels to the city and takes part. Unbeknownst to Jun, there is much more at stake than just who will be the keeper of the scroll of Heaven, and there is deception and treachery around every corner.

If you enjoy martial arts, tons of action packed fighting scenes, and journeys of self discovery, you will love Breath of the Dragon! I can't wait to read the next book in this epic duology!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, for the gorgeous review copy!

This was spectacular. Its really a slow burn action novel about martial arts and human connection. I can get the Bruce Lee references and the magic being linked to the dragon breath and how even though our main protagonist doesn't have the special magic he is still a formidable foe in the guardianship rounds. I didn't really catch on about the whole political aspect of this book until Jun did as well even though there were hints sprinkled through, some of the hints later on in the book were obvious but still some things caught me off gaurd still. The martial arts in this book are where it really shines on Fonda and Shannon's writing, I was in the edge of my seat every time Jun was fighting. And the injuries themselves were very realistic as well which made everything more believable. A slow start but turns into a fireball brother end, this is one amazing read and I'm glad I was picked to read it early, highly recommend!

For years I’ve had friends telling me to read Fonda Lee, many of them even gifting me copies of her books. And yet it’s only now with Breath of the Dragon, her collaboration with Shannon Lee, that I finally got to see what the fuss is about. Now I can’t wait to jump into her other works. I also can’t wait for the second book in this series.

Believable characters, tremendous world building, and tons of action make Breath of the Dragon a must read. This might sound odd (or redundant given it’s a YA book) but this book is YA to the core and yet kind of anti-YA. Confused? Sorry. So many YA books lean heavy on a romance angle, but not here. We have a male lead, tons of action, and a wild story. Maybe it’s because I just finished watching the second half of the last season of Cobra Kai, but I get that same kind of vibe from this book. An absolute blast that you almost want to say has no right to be as enjoyable as it is. 4.5 stars. Hopefully it won’t be too long of a wait for Breathmarked 2. I’d like to thank St. Martin's Press | Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Breath of the Dragon.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R107VG9LE5SIL5/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

This fast-paced, engaging xianxia adventure is aimed at the teenage audience, but anyone could enjoy it.

The story centers around teenage Jun, who aims to redeem his family’s honor by winning the prestigious Guardian’s Tournament. This tournament, held every six years, chooses the new protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. Winning it will net Jun the prestige to restore his father's good name--or so he believes. A hunt of the twisted road to come is that it was his father who stictly forbade Jun from going, due to the fact that Jun is not breathmarked by the Dragon god—born with a patch of dragon scales that grants magical skills. Unlike his twin brother. Oh, the rivalry there!

That's the beginning of the tough obstacles facing Jun, but he's going for the gold. He stows away with some performers led by blind Chang and his daughter Ren. These two are not as simple as they appear, and Jun gladly opts for whatever training he can get. Even if it sounds weird, at first.

When they reach the capital, Jun signs up for the Tournament, again, not without personal cost. Here he begins facing tough competitors, each the hero of their own story. Slowly Jun begins widening his awareness away from his personal problems to those besetting the entire country.

This is a vivid, detail-rich xianxia world. Everything, from the food to the lore of the breathmarked create a lived-in feel for the world. Add to that the tension from the martial arts battles, and the pacing never lets up.

The characters are sympathetic, interesting, complex. Jun's tough struggle toward growth and awareness is complemented by the multi-dimensional side characters, who have their own stories and quests.

The themes of honor, sacrifice, and the pursuit of greatness typical of xianxia tales are balanced by the upward path toward understanding--cultivation in the oldest sense.

I can hardly wait for book two!