Happy Publication day!!! This story is a beautifully crafted homage to Bruce Lee's enduring legacy. Blending poetic insights with profound reflections, it captures the essence of martial arts philosophy and the human spirit. A must-read for fans of Lee's teachings and anyone seeking inspiration and an outstanding story!

This book was a pleasant surprise! It felt a little YA at times, but seeing as it is a YA novel, that isn’t a bad thing.

I don’t want to spoil things, but I do want to say that I loved how the author incorporated aspects of her father, Bruce Lee’s, life into the story.

Great book, can’t wait for the next one!

If you love trials and tournaments, fantasy, and training montages, you will love this! The authors did an amazing job building a world with special focus on martial arts and the training that goes into the mastery of it. I really enjoyed the character growth and am very excited for the next book to see what more our characters go through.

In typical Fonda Lee fashion, this has plenty of descriptive fight scenes that are both fast-paced and original. There are A LOT of fight scenes, and I think in a book this short, after a while since they occur so quickly back to back in a book this short, they, unfortunately, became a bit repetitive. I think I personally would have liked more of the magical abilities present in place of some of these scenes as well as a deeper understanding of the world's magic system.

There are a lot of characters, but they are easy to distinguish between. These particular characters might have worked better for me if I had read this when I was a bit younger, since unfortunately now I just found them all rather whiny, selfish, and bratty for the most part. I will say that they do experience growth in a way that is mostly satisfying, but the main character is still... not great.

My last complaint is about the presence of a love triangle. This trope rarely if ever works for me, and this book was no exception. It is just my preference when I say that it was REALLY unnecessary here in particular. Instead, I think this book could have benefited more from no "romance" at all and instead focused on diving deeper into character relationships like father/son or mentor/mentee as well as deeper friendships along the way in a way that made them feel real and believable, as opposed to adding the two guys crushing on the same girl bit.

I couldn't put this one down! I'm already a huge Fonda Lee fan after reading the Green Bone Saga twice and while this is young adult, it has Fonda Lee's usual great plotting and writing. I was a little skeptical going in knowing it would be a martial arts heavy book but the Green Bone Saga has such well-written fight scenes that I hoped the same would be true in Breath of the Dragon and I was not disappointed! I've been drifting away from reading young adult books in the last few years after all of them started to feel the same but I enjoyed Breath of the Dragon from start to finish and can't wait for the next book!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-arc!

I have had this book sitting in my TBR for a little while now. I have been patiently waiting to read it closer to release since I knew it was the first of a series and if I liked it... it would be a long wait until the next installment. I fully enjoyed book one and am so glad that I waited until right before release to give it a read.

This book captured my attention from the very first page and kept me hooked throughout. The political intrigue was masterfully woven, creating a compelling backdrop for the story. I especially appreciated the East/West conflict, which added layers of complexity and richness to the narrative. It was, in a way simple, but as most political conflicts go, not simple at all.

The magic system felt fresh and innovative, providing a unique twist that elevated the world-building. I liked the addition of dragons and the breathmarkings, while we don't get a lot of dragons overall - the fact that they are the religious system makes me hopeful that we will get more of that in book 2.

The plot was captivating and the pacing was spot-on, with action-packed sequences that kept the momentum going while still allowing room for character development. Jun’s determination to prove himself, despite the odds stacked against him, made him a relatable and inspiring MC.

The stakes felt real and high as the story unfolded, and the themes of honor, family, and resilience resonated deeply. The twists and turns were well done and I was on the edge of my seat as the book was wrapping up.

This book is a thrilling ride for anyone who loves fantasy filled with adventure, political intrigue, and a touch of magic. If you are into martial arts, I also think you will really enjoy this book, there is a lot of love for it and you can tell the care that was put into the explanations and fight scenes. Overall, this was a lovely start to this series, and I am excited for the next installment to be available.

Jun and his father were exiled from his home for knowing and practicing martial arts. Separated form his mother and dragon-marked twin, Jun dreams of winning the Guardian's Tournament and proving that he has great skills just like the brother he left behind. When his father is opposed to him being a martial artist, Jun decides to run away to fight in the tournament by stowing away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, two performers headed to capital. It soon becomes obvious that they're more than just performers and the tournament is more than just a battle of who's the fighter.

It's a really well-crafted world, where you can believe the division between the people and the micro-aggressios that those who come from another place have to face. The authors did a great job of making the characters relatable even as they're in a completely foreign situation. You want to cheer for Jun and the others and get pulled into the plight of the people of their world.

This would have been a five-star read if it weren't for the fact that it gets too wordy at times. It sometimes reminded me of having to hit a certain word number for an essay and using as many words as possible to express the simplest of things. I get where it's coming from and how an epic tale needs room to breathe in the expression of epicness. It's just not always something that works and it didn't work this time.

Other than that, it's a grand adventure with high stakes and some powerful points that makes for some very exciting reading.

Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the exciting read!

This one is tough to rate, because while the worldbuilding is great, and I liked the main characters, the story dragged on for far too long and ended on a cliffhanger. Seriously, it took forever to get to the main event, and then the reader is just left there. I don’t mind if the ending is left a little bit open, but I didn’t feel like there was much resolution at all. I was hoping for more, based on how much I liked the first part of the book. I’m not sure if I will continue with the series, to be honest.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

That was intense. I would never guess that this book was written by women if i hadn’t known. But again it’s co-written by Fonda Lee.

This is a story about a boy who had to struggle to get what he wanted. Being separated with his identical twin brother since he was 6, exiled with his father to live in the west for learning hereditary martial arts because its considered a crime in the East if one was not breathmarked by Dragon, never had the chance to return home to his mother and brother, and working with his father as an opera crew. His father wanted to lay low to avoid unwanted attention, but Jun refused to live in mediocrity. He knew he’s a good martial artist. He wanted to enter the Guardian’s Tournament and proved himself that he’s just a good and deserving as his brother.

But fate seemed like its never worked in his favor. So he made his own way, whatever it took, whatever the price. He travelled to the capital city with a blind man and his adoptive daughter who were also a traveling performers, collecting coins along the way to pay for the entry fee. Once he managed to join the tournament, it was revealed that the rules were just changed. So the stakes were much higher now because this could cost him his life.

The tournament was just 4 days but the fighting scenes was described in detail that made it felt cinematic in my head. Though i don’t have any fav character in particular, i like them well enough to enjoy the story. The plot was neat. I love that there are tough powerful women as side characters. I like the character dynamics, the found family and especially the development between Jun & Yin. Obviously will read the sequel and I hope the Aspects will be having more scenes because i’m quite intrigued by them.

Breath of the Dragon is a YA book that follows Jun, a teen separated from his twin and banished to the West. He dreams of becoming the next Guardian for the emperor. The Breathmarked, those blessed with gifts from Dragon, were interesting but Jun is an underdog with no magical abilities who dreams of becoming the Guardian to bring back respect to his father's name.
The character development and world-building were so well done and included history, myths, and political tension, all of which added more depth to the story. I also love found family and tournaments.
I don't know much about martial arts, but the action-packed fight scenes were so well described that any reader, martial arts fan or not, can visualize what's happening. This would make a great TV show. I recommend it to anyone who likes action-filled YA books.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC (ebook) to review.

A coming-of-age journey that celebrates martial arts, perseverance, and choosing to do what’s right, even when it’s hard. Raised in exile, Jun wants more than anything to prove himself as a skilled fighter at the Guardian tournament, where he encounters more trials than he could’ve imagined inside and outside the arena, including conniving bandits, an old rival, and rumbles of rebellion that threaten to upend the tournament and the life Jun wants to make for himself.

For me, this book was a slow starter. With the direct writing style and familiar beats, it felt appropriate for younger YA. Something about the style didn’t translate easily to images inside my head. Maybe I’m addicted to imagery? After a bit, I started treating it like a script, actively filling in stock images from consumed media past to break that immersion barrier and stop being aware of the words being just that, words on the page. Let’s call this cinematic reading? Whatever it was, it worked, and I started speeding through the story.

After many many chapters of youthful adventure - tournaments and street fights, mysterious masters, first love, meeting the villains - the conclusion upped the rating with a lightning fast maelstrom of blood, swears, and a pretty jaw-dropping set-up for the sequel. Riveting, but not so young YA friendly, so I’m still not sure how to interpret the style.

So, didn’t strike the right note for me, but there’s quite a bit to love, such as rivals becoming allies, cinematic storytelling, and an illustration of how seemingly minor government decisions can have life-changing impacts on ordinary people. I also really liked Ren, a performer and Jun’s travel companion. She’s more mature, less sheltered, the voice of reason that balances Jun’s impulsiveness, and their dynamic reminded me of Aang and Katara’s early relationship.

**Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC**

When I saw tournament style book, I will be honest and say that I got a little nervous. I feel like that has become a trope in YA that I don't enjoy as much anymore, but this book surprised me from the very beginning.

First: the tournament wasn't the main focus on the plot the way that I was expecting it to be. Instead, we focused more on Jun's training and what was going on politically behind the scenes. The tournament was a great way to showcase the fighting scenes, and for someone who doesn't know much about martial arts, I was still able to get fully immersed into the fight scenes.

Second: I really enjoyed all the characters. Jun made mistakes, which is what you would expect a 16 year old to make. Yin (the rival to bestie), Ren (childhood friend), and Chang (his trainer), all felt really important whenever they were on page. Li Hon, I wish I got to know you more (and that you didn't break my heart).

The ending made me happy and excited for book two. I am so glad that this is going to be a duology.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for an advance copy of BREATH OF THE DRAGON.

From page one, readers will not be able to put this incredible book down. Martial arts meets a compelling fantasy world filled with exciting characters and the vibes of old kung fu films. In a world where people can be breathmarked, given abilities from Dragon, there is a distinct differentiation in power between people who are not marked and those who are. Our hero, Jun, has been separated from his twin at age 6, forced to move to the West with his father after being caught doing the unforgivable—practicing martial arts. Years later, with the threat of war on the horizon with East and West unreconcilable, Jun is forced to decide what he wants his destiny to be as he enters the Guardian Tournament. With a love triangle, a lovable cast of characters, and a rivalry so compelling it keeps you reading late into the night, be sure to add this to your bookshelves.

Sixteen-year-old Jun can’t forgive himself for the childhood mistake that tore his family apart. Desperate to restore his father's honor, reunite with his twin brother, and prove himself as a warrior, he hatches a simple plan: compete in the Guardian tournament—and win. With no sponsorship or funds, Jun stows away with a blind flutist travelling to perform in the city, but as hostile political forces infiltrate the capital and breathmarked warriors with Dragon-gifted powers dominate in the arena, Jun must fight for more than personal victory. The fate of his divided country hangs in the balance.

Breath of the Dragon is a quintessential coming of age story, and Jun's development from child struggling to see beyond his own hardships to young adult able to empathize with others and fight for justice is engaging and well-crafted. Respect for martial arts and martial arts philosophy shine through the text, resulting in delightfully fun combat reminiscent of classic film and anime competitions like The Karate Kid or Yu Yu Hakusho. Lee & Lee's fight scenes are vivid and precise--each match leaps from the page with clarity and ease, switching masterfully between Jun's inner monologue and the tournament's explosive action. 

At times, though, BOTD feels almost too quintessential—Jun is the young prodigy determined to prove himself, Yin Yue is the disciplined rival he must defeat, and flutist Chang is the unconventional master with whom Jun trains to hone his skills. Though I kept waiting for Lee & Lee to breathe fresh life into each archetype, none are truly explored in any new or exciting ways. Jun has unexplained natural aptitude for martial arts that leave his victories feeling ever-so-slightly unearned, and although BOTD’s political undercurrent is poignant, it lacks the snap of urgency that other revolutionary YA fantasies achieve. 

Overall, BOTD is enjoyable, if not excellent. Adult readers should be prepared for a solidly YA narrative, but if you're a fan of martial arts, coming-of-age stories, and East-Asian inspired fantasy worlds, put your fists up, because the Guardian tournament is about to begin!

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (3.5 stars)

This book is a cross between Hunger Games and Bruce Lee. From the get-go the story sweeps you in and holds your attention. After he lost his twin brother and mother and ended up in exile with his father, all Jun wanted to do was to compete in the elite Guardians tournament and win the scroll of heaven. Despite his father's strict ban, he runs away to compete as an unknown warrior with no sponsorship. Its only after the loss of his father he realizes that he's fighting for a lot more than a simple honor and winning the scroll of heaven is only the first step in the face of the evil that has blanketed his country.
When the book ended, I was left in a state of disbelief. I cannot wait for the next chapter.

This was my first book with Fonda Lee's writing and I enjoyed it quite a bit, and enjoyed the faithfulness to all the different martial arts described throughout. I will say I was kind of bored through the first half of the book, but that's kind of my fault for reading tons of martial manhwas!

The first half of the book definitely felt like it was written for a teenage reader, however during the second half it felt more adult. I will be eagerly waiting for the sequel as I'm curious what happens next!

The quick cut: A sixteen year old runs from home to compete in the Guardian's tournament and become the next Guardian of the magical scroll of Heaven.

A real review:
Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing the arc for an honest review.

There are a few roles in life that are difficult to achieve, but come with great responsibility and rewards. For sixteen year old Jun, that role is one he's willing to do anything for.

At a young age, Jun's life was changed forever when his family was split in half: his twin brother and Mom went to training as a Breathmarked while his father and him were banished. Since then, they've only had each other as they make ends meet. When the Guardian's tournament comes up and provides an opportunity to bring something good to his family, he's excited to compete. However, his father forbids him from doing so. Can he win the tournament? Or will it be more dangerous than expected?

This novel does an excellent job of creating a unique world while using story elements we've seen before. There are plenty of deadly competition books out there, but this one stands out. The family dynamic, along with Jun's desire to prove himself, adds a personal twist to this plot type.

Jun feels like he needs to prove himself due to the past. He's very aware that his pride and wounded ego is what got his family split apart in the first place. Unfortunately, he still hasn't learned that sometimes doing things for the wrong reasons only digs the hole deeper. Seeing him live with the consequences and how he reacts to those is a significant element to his character development.

I did at moments find it difficult to keep track of what was happening. The competition itself was well placed, but the aftermath seemingly went at a breakneck pace. It left me feeling a significant amount of reader's whiplash.

A fun competition fantasy with plenty of character focus added.

My rating: 4.25 out of 5

Characters: 5/5
Story/Plot: 4/5
Writing: 5/5

This incredible action packed YA novel has magic, a page turning tournament plot, well crafted fight scenes and really shines in its passionate characters. Jun reads like a 16 year old boy, but also has believable motivations driving him. I found the martial arts captivating even though I am not familiar with it at all. I also enjoyed the world building and the two divided sides clashing in ideals. All said this was a fantastic novel and I would recommend it to anyone who loves action packed novels!


Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

A love letter to martial arts and coming-of-age stories. This was my first book by Fonda Lee and she did not disappoint. The way she writes makes you feel like you’re right there with the characters. You know in movies when there’s a fight scene and everything slows down, that’s what it feels like to read from Jun’s perspective. He’s such a lovable character and you can’t help but root for him. My favorite part of this book were the training scenes and they reminded me a lot demon slayer to be honest. I also loved how the plot expanded and where we left off. I’m eager to see where the story goes in the next installment.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a 4.5 star read for me - I was constantly surprised and it also did not hold back (please check out the TWs!)

From the prologue to the end, the story and plot changed and took turns that I did not see or expect at all. The plot does have some tropes that are to be expected but written in ways that are not conventional from my experience. I do wish we had a little more of the found family trope that I sensed happening during one of the journeys for Li Yun. However, I wish it was fleshed out a little more. My favorite character arcs are Li Yun and Yi Yue’s journeys the most, their growth was very aligned with the experiences they had. There were no superficial transformations within the characters.

At the 80% mark of the book, I was not sure where the plot within this book was going to go as the main events of which we were building up to had completed. Of course I was completed shocked that there was *more*: from about 80-90%, I felt as though the book became monotonous and a bit flat before it picked up again, and so I wish that part had been written a little shorter as it felt less intentional. After the 90% mark, we met some characters that we hadn’t seen in a while and my interest picked right back up! Thankfully, this first book did not end on a cliffhanger but still kept me wanting more! I really look forward to what book 2 will bring for us in this series.

The writing style was great. Anything Fonda Lee touches and writes is among my favorite books. Since the book is action packed, it moves quickly, and it does not have a lot of prose or flowery language during those parts. However, during the more emotional parts, there is appropriately more prose or philosophical language, which I really enjoyed.

The worldbuilding is ongoing and I think will be a main portion for book 2, as this series has a lot of political intrigue between a warring country that has been split in two. Of course, I would have loved more world building in the first book but I think it will lend itself more in the second book.

Overall, I enjoyed this even with some of the harsher scenes (again check the TWs) and one of the slower parts. But from the Prologue I knew I had to read this!