Minimal romance? Found family? Tournaments (that may or may not be fought to the death)? Selective magic? Academic rivals? This book checked off, like, half of the tropes I really enjoy.

Breath of the Dragon is a YA fantasy story that focuses heavily on martial arts and one stubborn boy's journey to rise to the top. It reminded me a bit of The First Binding by R.R. Virdi and Mel Torrefranca's Nightshade Academy, but it had its own unique elements too.
We meet Jun, a young boy determined to enter a tournament to become the country's next Guardian - essentially the master warrior guy who gets special wisdom. He flees home and embarks on a journey that leaves him entangled in politics, rebellions, and magic he never knew existed. The story was relatively fast-paced, and although I managed to predict most of the main plot twists, I still enjoyed them. Admittedly, it took me a while to get into the story, but I also read a book in less than 6 hours right before I started this one, so it might have been a mini-book slump. The cliffhanger left me intrigued for book two, and I'm excited to see where the story goes next.
I think the biggest issue for me was the lack of true depth and complexity of the characters. Jun himself was well-developed, as we got to see his journey from stubborn, egotistical teenage guy to stubborn, noble-ish teenage guy. Ren was probably my favorite character, as she's the only main female lead (but hopefully, she gets more page time in the sequel). I liked Yin as well, especially as he grew to be a part of the found family despite being Jun's rival. The rest of the cast wasn't incredibly large, so I can't really blame them for being a bit flat. This is, really, Jun's story, so we don't necessarily need a lot of information about other characters.
Breath of the Dragon is the start of a new YA fantasy series perfect for readers who love martial arts, found families and rival arcs, and deadly tournaments.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.75/5

Fonda Lee is a master of fantasy. I love her action scenes and the way she tells a story. Breath of the Dragon is a well-crafted story of politics and cunning

Fonda Lee is amazing and I will read anything she writes - Jade City trilogy is amazing. This one is more YA but is trials and asian-inspired fantasy, and I just ate it up and cannot wait for more!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

"Breath of a Dragon" delivers an enthralling tale that immerses readers in a world where dragons and magic reign supreme. From the very beginning, the novel captivates with its imaginative world-building and compelling storyline, making it a must-read for fantasy enthusiasts.

The story follows a protagonist whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about battling external forces. The character development is well-executed, allowing readers to connect deeply with the hero's struggles, triumphs, and growth. Supporting characters are equally well-crafted, each adding depth and intrigue to the narrative.

One of the standout features of "Breath of a Dragon" is its vibrant and detailed world-building. The author masterfully creates a realm rich with history, lore, and breathtaking landscapes. The magical elements are seamlessly integrated into the plot, making the world feel both fantastical and believable.

The plot is well-paced, balancing intense action scenes with quieter moments of reflection and character interaction. Twists and turns keep the reader engaged, and the stakes feel real and significant. The climactic moments are particularly well-handled, delivering satisfying resolutions without feeling rushed.

What an amazing journey and searching for his purpose! Jun was a bad fighter. This book reminded me of Karate Kid and Bloodsport and it also felt like Bruce Lee should have been the starring role. It was dramatic and action packed from start to finish. Lots of surprises and hold your breath moments. I couldn’t put it down. Even though it was fantasy, it felt so real. Great read, and I highly recommend if

I really enjoyed this book a lot.

With a lot of Asian/Chinese cultural aspects it kind of reminded me of the Earth Kingdom in Avatar the Last Airbender.

The main character is insufferable and gets on my nerves, but for the sake of character growth, I understand lol

The Dragon system and the magic could use more explanation, or at least a little more history. I felt that the main character's lack of knowledge really made things confusing at times, but the abilities were unique and very interesting!

I will be checking out the next when it comes out!

3.5 Stars Thank you to netgalley for the arc!

Jun was pretty unlikable at the beginning of this book but he becomes more bearable as the book progresses. This book is pretty YA and has lots of training and martial art scenes. It wasn't something I personally was into but the writing was still amazing.

If you are looking for a coming to age martial arts story then I would recommend this book!

I’m giving this book five stars, because although it’s a tad slow to get going, once it does, it is a wild ride to the end. Character development was fantastic, the fight scenes were exciting, and the end made me devastated I have to wait for the next one!

4.5 stars ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee, and the publishers for providing me with the e-ARC!

This was absolutely PHENOMENAL! It took me about 30% in to really connect with the characters and the world, but once I did I was absolutely hooked.

This story follows Jun on his journey to become win the Guardian Tournament and restore respect for his father. Through martial arts tournaments, Jun must fight his way to become the most highly regarded. There’s one catch - he must try and fight against those with special powers (the breathmarked).

Jun’s character development was so well written. I could not stand him in the beginning but his journey throughout the story was amazing and I felt so many emotions for him towards the end, a few tears were even shed.

This was action packed and the writing was so amazing that I felt like I could see a movie playing while I was reading. The martial arts scenes were so descriptive and detailed, completely immersive. I would absolutely love to see a movie or tv adaptation of this one day.

Absolutely cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy of this!! This was one of my favourite reads of the year!

The first book in a martial arts duology by the author of The Green Bone Saga and Bruce Lee’s daughter. I was instantly sold and I wasn’t disappointed.

Years after being banished from the East and separated from his mother and twin brother, Jun dreams of winning the Guardian’s Tournament. As the Guardian of the Scroll of Earth, he hopes to gain fame, status, and to restore his father’s honor. On his journey to the tournament, he learns more about the state of the country and his reasons for competing in the tournament change.

I found this to be an enjoyable read. The pacing was good. The character development of Jun was well done (he starts out as a selfish brat but finds his way as the story goes on). It would’ve been nice to dig a bit deeper into some of the characters but I still enjoyed the story. If you’re interested in martial arts then this might be a good read for you.

I am not exaggerating when I say that I live for Fonda Lee's books, and I can say with the utmost confidence I am her biggest fan. As one of my favorite authors of all time, I was over the moon when I saw that my arc request was approved, and literally sat down right then and there to read this book. I maybe took 3 breaks during that period, to get a drink and to go to the washroom, and even those breaks were done at breakneck speed so I could get back to reading. Now, putting down the book, all I can say is thank you, from the bottom of my heart to the arc gods for letting this drop into my lap exactly when I needed a book to break my slump because this was everything I needed and wanted and I had a blast reading it.
My friends and anyone who follows my book taste knows that I don't love romance, I'm obsessed with family dynamics and kick ass main characters, and nothing gets me happier than a well thought out and executed fight sequence, and this book delivered everything in the perfect dose. Needless to say, I'll be waiting for the day book 2 comes out, and I'll most definitely be first in line to buy it bright and early that day. Fonda Lee, you have my heart and soul in a firm grasp and no matter what you write, know that I'll always be counting down the days and hours until I can consume it at breakneck speed.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. Everything in this review is my own opinion and has in no way been influenced by the writer, publisher, or Netgalley.

The characters in this story were well thought out and relatable. Jun was an easy character to route for, and I loved that his biggest asset (confidence) was also his problem. The book was fast paced and engaging from the beginning. Easy to read and packed full of fighting scenes that for me, were easy to picture. I will definitely be looking out for the next installment.

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.