Jun will do anything to become the next Guardian, a position held by the best martial artist. A tournament is held once every 6 years, and Jun desperately wants to compete, even if it means running away from home against his father's wishes. But reality doesn't always live up to one's dreams. There are many who see the Guardian as more than just an honorable position, but also as a means to achieve their own goals. This isn't the honorable competition Jun always dreamed of, and winning may lead to death instead of honor.

This book was fun & easy to read. Unlike other books by this author, this one was a lighter read. It still retained a good amount of complex relationships, developed characters, and good world building, but I found it easier to read, even though I enjoyed the other series in its own way as well.

There's a nice amount of martial arts focus & plenty of fighting - competition & survival style. It keeps the action flowing. I like how Jun is constantly learning & growing in his skills.

While this book involves a lot of fighting & rivalry, it also has good friendships. I enjoyed watching the relationships build. The political situation & plot worked in nicely with all the fights.

A childish mistake forced Jun and his father into exile in another country, separated from his mother and twin brother. Jun can finally pursue his own dreams, but his dreams come with unexpected costs. When the competition ends, not only is the Guardian chosen, but dangerous truths come to light, and Jun will need to figure out what he's fighting for.

Unfortunately this was a fantasy really not for me. I think maybe my love for the Jade City trilogy set my expectations too high; but from the writing, to the dialogue to the plot, this felt nothing like F. Lee I’ve learned to love and is absolutely an auto buy author for me. I look forward to picking up her next work and continuing to support but it’s going to be no for me on this one.

Trying to go out of my comfort zone, but this is not my typical "type" of read. The beginning of the book has a lot of build up and storyline setup that seemed to be less important for how the story is going moving forward. I really enjoyed the competition portions and the second 50% of the book since it had more substance. The unlikely friendships that are happening makes my heart happy after all the hardships popping up for the main character. Like any good series should, hopefully the next book(s) pick up on the cliffhanger and stay high throughout.

I would like to thank Wednesday Books for providing a digital copy of this novel via NetGalley. This novel exceeded my expectations. Li Jun is separated from his brother when he was accused of bringing dishonor to his family. His twin brother has a "breath mark" which dons the individual with a special ability. Li Jun was born without one. His dad works at the opera house while Li Jun dreams of being a famous warrior and joining the Guardian tournament. He secretly trains and leaves for the tournament, unbeknownst to his father. What follows is similar to the film "Bloodsport" with political intrigue thrown in. There is even an anti-establishment activist group that plays a key role in the plot of the later part of the book. The tournament ends 3/4 of the way through and the rest of the novel deals with the aftermath. The matches were really well described. I also enjoyed the diverse breathmarks described in the book. They made each match interesting by introducing a unique dynamic. The events at the end of the book really set up a sequel quite well. This was a thoroughly entertaining novel and I'm looking forward to the sequel.

this was just a fun book to read! it had that classic YA/martial arts story feel to it- and it had nice writing to boot!

what I enjoyed most was our main character and his relationships. he felt around his age (which was 16-17 I believe?) and also had a relatable and flawed character who you could also root for. the relationships were flushed out and I also very much enjoyed them.

all of the nostalgic vibes were there, and it felt like a callback to a childhood ya book and that is always a nice thing. did it make the book a little cliché and predictable? yes, a little bit, but a lot of this was still interestingand intriguing.

the fight scenes were well written and interesting, no complaints there!

my biggest complaint was the pacing at the beginning- after ~40% mark things pick up a lot, but before that the pacing is a little stilted and the book is hard to get into.

other than that, very enjoyable read! can’t wait for the sequel, this book set it up well!

p.s. i also didn’t know shannon lee, one of the coauthors, is bruce lee’s daughter. very cool!

BREATH OF THE DRAGON was a solid first book in a new series. There were just a few plot elements that didn't quite pay off as well as I would've hoped. However, I will definitely be reading the sequel and purchasing a copy of BREATH OF THE DRAGON for myself when it releases.

Read BREATH OF THE DRAGON for:
+ a martial arts tournament
+ surprising friendships/found family
+ unique abilities
+ government conspiracies
+ rooting for the underdog

3.75/5 stars

This fast paced YA fantasy has a male main character that you will come to love and root for throughout this action packed story. Jun is a martial artist that enters the Guardian Tournament in a new realm. He quickly learns that he’s in a very dangerous position throughout this tournament. I really enjoyed the depth and attention to detail given to the fight scenes in this book, and I appreciated the found family Jun acquires throughout the story. The authors did a wonderful job of making every character memorable. I will definitely be recommending this to anyone who is looking for a great YA fantasy read!

I read a lot of fantasy, especially YA and new adult. I've always enjoyed the classic bildungsroman story archetype, especially when the characters face trials and opposition on their odyssey.

This story is indeed one of those.

"It is law that a breathmarked child must be presented to the Council by the time they are six years of age."

Jun is a Katniss-style character with so much to prove, both to his family and to himself. I liked how he learned so much about himself along the way (as an archetypal hero should).

This story also reminded me of another favorite YA fantasy - Eon by Alison Goodman. The dragon influence is strong here - but doesn't control the story.

"It was remarkable how a person could imagine something every day for years, and yet still have a hard time believing it when it happened."

I received an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Having read Jade City, I had high expectations going in. It's YA, so it's never going to be as complex as a series like Jade City, but it was still super enjoyable. It's extremely fast paced and hard to put down. I enjoyed the complex side characters and watching our hero grow as a person. The world was definitely interesting and I'm excited to see more of it.

The only thing I didn't love is that this felt younger than most YA I've read. A little more simplistic, the writing a little more straightforward, etc. It was still super fun to read and hopefully things will get more complex in book 2. I fully plan to continue the series.

Just wasn't a fan of this writing style. Didn't connect with the action. Have tried Fonda Lee before and while many are fan, it just hasn't worked for me yet.

Book: Breath of the Dragon
Author: Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee
Rating: 5 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for sending me an ARC. I know that Fonda Lee is a well-known author, but I have never read anything by her until now. I did enjoy this one a lot. It has action, a cool magic system, and very interesting characters. I had a lot of fun while reading this.

In this one, we follow Jun, who just wants to practice martial arts. He dreams of entering the Guardian’s Tournament and becoming the next Guardian of the scroll. He also hopes to restore his father’s honour, which was lost by a mistake Jun made as a child. You see Jun and his father were banished from their homeland when Jun was a child. Jun preformed martial arts in front of the wrong people, because it actually banned in their homeland. His mother and twin brother got to say, because his brother was marked by the dragon and, therefore, has special powers. Jun does not have this mark. As a result, Jun’s father does not allow him to practice martial arts. Jun decides to take matters into his own hand and quickly finds himself swept up into the political drama of the world he lives in.

I love the martial arts element of the book. These books came go either way for me, but I found this one to be highly engaging. It is quick paced and the stakes are high. Everyone who is involved in this competition wants to be the next Guardian. It is a highly valued position. Some will stop at nothing-even murder. We see Jun go through the ups and the downs that come along with this. He is one of the best at his school, but he does not know everything. He is arrogant. This all changes when he decides to stows away in Chang and Ren’s wagon. It is from Chang that he learns the most from. Chang is blind, but is fully intoned with his body and the skills needed to make it.

Jun’s character is a great lead. He is arrogant, but he knows what he wants. He does not let go of this goal. Now, his desire to be the Guardian is not for selfish reasons though. He wants to do it to bring honour back his father and to return home to his mother and brother. He blames himself for getting them in this situation. I mean, it is his fault, but he was a child and his father knows that. Yet, this drive to bring back his family name never leaves. Now, Jun is not perfect. He makes mistakes. We see him go against his father’s wishes, he runs away from home, and makes a lot of mistakes along the way. This is what makes him such a great character to follow. He is human and makes human mistakes. He also learns from his mistakes and grows along the way. I liked getting to him struggle along the way and have to make his own place in the world. It is not an easy journey and this is what makes it all that much more real.

The political drama adds another layer to the story. On the outside, this seems like another coming of age story. It is, but it isn’t-if that makes sense. The tournament is a mask of the real political fallout that the world is dealing with. We have a land that has been divided and people who long to see the two countries reunited. We have a puppet emperor and general who will stop at nothing to get his way. We have everyday people who are trying to make the world a better place for all. All of this adds a depth to the story. If this was not there, I do not think the story would have worked as well as it did.

The stakes are high and you know that. Some of the fights are fights to the death. People are willing to lose everything for what they view as their one and only chance. Plus, this is a game to the onlookers and they are placing bets. It adds tension. You can feel it coming off the page. Again, this is another reason why I could not put this book down. I enjoyed all of it and I had to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next.

Overall, I did really enjoy this one a lot. I think it was a great start to this series.

This book comes out on January 7, 2025.

Youtube: https://youtu.be/7EdF65tZN2A

Thank you NetGalley for the arc copy in exchange for a honest review.

As a Fonda Lee fan, I was thrilled to say the least to see she had teamed up with Shannon Lee for a fantastical martial art master piece. Her world building and character development chops were on full display in this young adult tournament trails.

The target audience is obvious as we follow a 16 year old, Jun, who is exiled away from half of his family, one of those being his twin. His passion for martial arts is put to the test, proving himself in a tournament and rise up as his character grows along the way.

Right from the prologue I was intrigued, a gripping cross road that intersected along the lines of Jun’s family I had to know what would happen next as Fonda brings you into the world with her vibrant writing.

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys watching martial art movies, as well as reading Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series.

Solid YA perfect for younger readers who love martial arts and a tournament setting. Filled with found family, and an MC that works hard to accomplish his goals.

What’s to love…
- found family
- romance-free (not my fav. but I know others love this so I always included it here!)
- Tournament
- martial arts (epic fight scenes!)
- magic!

What I didn’t love…
- a bit of a slow start
- the characters and their connections to each other felt a little under-developed

Rating Details:
Intended Purpose/Audience (13-18): 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment/reading as an adult: 3⭐️

Occasionally I read a YA book that I didn’t particularly enjoy but I could see the merit as a good book for the intended audience, this is one of those times. While I didn’t love this book and had a hard time connecting with the characters, I could see this being well loved by the right audience. This is something I would recommend for advanced middle grade readers and younger teens.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins Press for sending this book (eARC) for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Li Jun's family is ripped apart when his twin brother, a Breathmarked, and his mother are sent to the Sun Pagoda while he and his father are exiled to the West for practicing martial arts. At first this seems like the worst thing ever but as Jun grows older he realizes he's finally able to practice martial arts freely and as that's the only thing he's good at he's found a goal: to become the next Guardian of the Scroll. The problem is his father has forbidden him from entering the tournament to even compete for the chance, so in a moment of recklessness Jun runs away to enter the tournament, knowing that if he can just prove that he's the greatest martial artist his and his family's fortunes will change. What Jun doesn't realize is that powerful men are using the tournament for their own selfis desires, and Jun will become not just their pawn but the catalyst to all out war.

Remember how Jackie Chan had a cartoon in like the later 90's, early 2000s, and it was actually pretty amazing? Breath of the Dragon is that but with Bruce Lee, and I'm not complaining in the least. It's an exceedingly well done martial arts novel that features one of the greatest martial artists of our time and I don't think I'm going out on a limb by saying it qualifies as a wuxia and as far as I'm concerned should be marketed as such. The fight scenes were well done, the plot and the world are fully realized, and the characters are extremely likable. However, the big thing here is that it's really just a dedication to this larger than life character that Bruce Lee really was, and I think it makes it that much more important that his daughter helped write it.

So why the four stars? I wish they hadn't cut back on the tournament it's literally a book that centers around a martial arts tournament, but there's not as much fighting as I was expecting. Not just centers around a martial arts tournament, but it is a book based on one of the most accomplished martial artists of our time at a martial arts tournament. And there's a plot twist to cut back on the fight scenes. I feel a bit betrayed. And I wish they had ended it at the end of the tournament. Without giving anything away, I just feel like ending it there and starting the second book with the day after would have been more effective. That being said I can see why they didn't, the way this ends gives it a clean break but I kinda felt like the only reason they added the few chapters they did was to give Li Jun a chance to pick up some nunchaku. Genuinely, there's like a ton of pivotal scenes in those final chapters, and yet the only thing that stood out to me was the acquisition of the nunchaku.


Overall, I'm calling this an excellent martial arts fantasy adventure novel with Bruce Lee as the hero. And not some "inspired by" Bruce Lee a Bruce Lee, Li Jun is so clearly Bruce Lee that when I was talking to my husband about the book, I called Jun Bruce several times. Whether you are a Bruce Lee fan or not, I think this would make an excellent addition to anyone's fantasy collection.


As always, thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the eArc!

I DNF this book at 49%.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read and review this book but this did not work for me.
It started strong as a story about a family separated because one of the sons is marked with dragon scales and taken to be trained by the elite fighting forces. The other son, our MMC Jun, is sent away with his father to live in another country.
Jun wants nothing more than to enter the Guardian contest to win with his fighting skills and bring his family together.
Honestly this book reads way too young for me even as a YA book and I didn’t enjoy any of the characters. By almost 50% I knew this wasn’t going to work out for me. I’m honestly disappointed because I really enjoyed the Green Bone Saga.

Overall a great story, loved the tournament and the signs of magic. The pacing was a bit slow at times, but I did enjoy the storyline. Looking forward to more from this author.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book was such a breath of fresh air. I have been .locked into a lot of romance books so to really switch it up was nice.

Fast paced with great detail and the action scenes were, chef's kiss. Jun drove me nuts at times but in a good way. He just felt really realistic and his attitude matched his age. Everything is so clear cut with him but the hints that he is starting to realize there is actual gray when it comes to life situations is great.

I can't wait for the sequel to see how his perspective continues to change and how he continues to grow up into an adult.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the e-arc

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Publishing Group for providing me with the ARC for this book for my honest review.

My Rating - 3/5

tl;dr - Age-appropriate YA that doesn't have much new to offer to the genre.

I'll start with the positives here - this is an actual age-appropriate YA book and I don't mean just the content. Many YA books have prose that aren't very accessible for adults, let alone the younger demographic. Breath of the Dragon has simplistic prose (arguably too simplistic at times) and content that, while it can get dark, seems more appropriate for this demographics than most YA. Also, unlike many YA books, it doesn't suffer from ridiculous pacing and knows when to take its time.

Unfortunately, I felt that it didn't have much else new to offer. It is an entertaining book but is filled with many tropes and seems to play it safe whenever possible. The characters were fine, but definitely not unique. The plot was slow for a while and then ramped up at the end but didn't have any huge twists and didn't delve too deep into its themes.

Overall it was a little bland and didn't offer too much character-, plot- or theme-wise for me but it was an enjoyable read, especially the last 10%.

wow this one was a dazzling arc in some very interesting vibes and i really enjoyed it. the worldbuilding, A++. the story, A++, the characters, A++. love it a lot! tysm for the arc. 5 stars

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for an e-galley in exchange for an honest review. WOW I LOVED this book. The story begins with East and West divided. Every year that passes, people are born less and less breathmarked which means you don't have a special power. Jun is banished to the west, but ultimately dreams of being the winner of the Guardian's Tournament.

My main reasons for loving this book are the tournament and magical powers. I love feeling the angst and the stakes of a tournament along with other competitors. I cannot wait for the second book along with release day because I will be securing a copy.