In a time that cannot be named, there rose a champion—a young son with fire in his heart and a will of iron. From his earliest days, he was a tempest, rebellious and wild, a force that could not be tamed. His choices, born of youthful defiance, struck hard against his family, shattering a piece of what was once whole, and from that moment, his life took a turn as sharp as a blade in the heat of battle.

Yet this champion did not enter the way of martial arts in secret; no, his path was forged in the open. Each setback, each rejection, each time he was told "no," became his forge. Instead of crumbling, he sharpened himself—body and mind—until he stood tall as the people's champion. Every lesson, every defeat, was a stepping stone on his ascent toward greatness, his fists growing stronger, his spirit unbreakable.

The story of this champion echoed that of David facing Goliath. Each fight was more than a battle of fists and feet; it was a clash of wills, with mystery swirling at its edges like smoke in the night. There were secrets hidden beneath every punch, every parry, every step forward. And with every strike, the intrigue deepened, pulling you further into a world where nothing was as it seemed.

BEWARE at the time of review this saga isn't complete. The wait will be torture, like a warrior denied the chance to fight. This series has the chance to be a book slump creator its that good because once this story had its grip on you, it doesn't let go. It wasn’t just good; it was a masterwork of tension, of skill, and of heart. The next chapter can't come soon enough. You needed it now, today—because this was the kind of story that is so well crafted the reader is immersed in every action I lived, breathed, and fought alongside our hero every step of the way. Don't leave this unread read it off the TBR !

Wow was this one fun. Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee knocked it out of the park. It's very hard to give details without spoiling the plot outside of the snopsyis. I can say that when this one comes out I will for SURE be reaching out to buy it just for the beautiful cover. Thank you to publisher for the ARC.

I'm not always keen on YA, but this one pulled it off well. Not the deep character study that Jade City is, but an enjoyable adventure in an interesting world.

A couple things that snagged my brain as I went through:
1) A lot of the events, good and bad, felt like they were leaning toward "we need the plot to move forward so let's have a character come in and give it a shove", but at least (view spoiler) Feels more earned that way.
2) the rubber-banding on power levels sometimes lands a bit flat.

Overall, though, I'm looking forward to the next. And I'm sure they *plan* a next, because this one sure didn't wrap up much.

This was pretty good book! I love a good training arc. It was a bit slow paced for my liking. I feel like it took me longer to settle into the book before I really got into the story. But once I did, I had so much fun with it.

Thank you Netgalley and St martins press for allowing me to read this in advance for my honest opinion.

Lets start by saying that I was named after Bruce Lee. My father was a 4th degree black belt amd obsessed with Bruce, his story, life and death. I love getting immersed in this story as I an a huge fan of the Lee family and it was so cool to read this amazing story. I could not put it down. I wanted more and more!!!! I need the rest!!!

The world-building was phenomenal, I loved everything about this book. the story telling was immersive like you were truly there, living the same life

I first want to thank NetGalley and the wonderful authors for allowing me to read this e-ARC.

Breath of the Dragon was a solid 5-star read. I was stuck between rating it 4.85 stars and 5, but I ended up going with 5. Shannon and Fonda Lee did an exquisite job authoring this novel. It delves into the life of a 16-year-old boy with the breath of a dragon.

Jun Li, the protagonist of this story, goes on an epic adventure to become the Guardian and prove his worth to his peers, father, and family. He is a likeable character with flaws, which puts him under the 'well-written' category.

This fantasy tale has a handful of likeable and unlikeable characters, each written with a crafted experience that adds to the story. For example, one of my personal favourites was Yin. He had an equal amount of likeableness and unlikeableness. I found myself ecstatic on some of his parts, and other times, I caught myself cursing his name. Overall, the characters were written exceptionally well, making the book easy to digest and enjoy.

As for the plot, I enjoyed it. I found it highly exciting and read it within three days. I could not put it down; I was sad when it was time to sleep. This book was excellent, and I look forward to its release because I will be buying a copy! So, would I recommend this fantastic novel when it comes out? Definitely. Would I reread it? Yes, yes, yes.

Firstly, I have to say I’m disappointed that the remainder of this series has not already been published, I am very excited to read what happens next!
This book is a good mix of fresh new ideas and comfortable territory, that make it an easy page turner. My only major criticism is that it should have ended several chapters before it did for pacing reasons, but I can’t really complain about having more story, can I?

This book walks the line between YA and adult pretty closely sometimes, especially some of the violence and occasional profanity, so definitely more suitable to older YA, and adults.

Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Okay wow I really enjoyed this. I could really picture the fight scenes in my head. It started out a bit slow, but once Jun was on his way to Xicheng with Sifu Chang and Ren, I started to race my way through the story. When I was that Shannon Lee was part of this book, I had to request to read this book. My dad is a huge Bruce Lee fan and my brother even trained Wing Chun. When Jun has to learn to break the wood with a close punch, it reminded me of that.

Okay on to spoilers so I remember the plot.

It is unfortunate that Jun and his father were separated from Sai and their mother due to Jun's overconfidence. Water saved them twice now. I had a feeling Jun would win the Guardian tournament, since he is the main character. I also liked Yin Yue as well. I loved the friendship that blossomed between Yin and Jun. I was shocked that the scroll ended up being a fake and Yama stole it. I hope Jun gets to see his mother and Sai again soon. General Cobu is too corrupt. I hope the war doesn't start between the East and the West. I hope they can resolve everything before a war breaks out.

I wonder if this will be a duology? Or maybe trilogy? I guess we will see!

This was such a fun and high stakes fantasy read! Didn’t read YA at all in my opinion, and having read a lot of YA recently, it was refreshing. I liked that there wasn’t any romance subplot in this and that the competition and fantasy elements could stand on their own. The different nods to different cultures was a nice take as well.

4 ⭐

"Breath of the Dragon" is absolutely incredible! Jun’s journey through the thrilling Guardian Tournament is packed with action and emotional depth. The martial arts scenes are so vivid, it felt like watching a movie. Jun’s growth as a character is amazing, and the supporting cast is fantastic. If you love epic battles and strong, engaging characters, this book is a must-read! I can’t wait for the next one!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Jun and Sai did absolutely everything together, until the government comes for Sai. Having a patch of dragon scales, called being breathmarked, makes Sai special and is the only physical difference between the twins. After Jun becomes jealous of the attention Sai receives and reveals a talent meant to be hidden, he and his father are banished.
Ten years later, Jun is determined to reunite his parents and get to know his twin again. However, with the gate separating the East and West being completely closed off, his only way to accomplish his goal is to become the Guardian. Not only must Jun compete against the best martial artists in the West, but he also find himself in the middle of a political stand-off he did not prepare for. Will Jun become the Guardian, or will other's secrets drag him down?

I seriously think this is in my top 5 books for this year. I love the mix between the magic of the breathmarked, the training and strategy of the tournament, and the politics at play. Lee and Lee have made such an amazing book, and I need the next book in my hands! As big of a fan as I am of romance, I LOVE fantasy that focuses on the magic and politics with the tiniest sliver of a hint of a possible romantic partner. And that is exactly what this accomplished.
Jun has a lot of typical 16 year old traits, like impulsivity and cockiness, but has the bravery and intelligence that makes a loveable fantasy hero. The supporting characters are all unique and important to the story. There are a lot of questions I have that I'm really hoping the next book will answer!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for the ARC! Projected publishing date: January 7th, 2025

I end up Dnf'ing this one. It just wasn't pulling me in. I wanted to love it, and may give it another chance at another time.

This book was amazing. One of the best YA novels I have read in a while. I loved the way it was written. It felt very mature and never dumbed anything down for "a younger audience" while having teen characters that felt like and acted like actual teens. I really enjoyed how the magic was incorporated. It was not overbearing in a way that made only those with magic automatically stronger. The training and fights felt easy to follow. I wonder if this is where Shannon Lee played a big part with the "Bruce Lee inspiration" for this novel. Either way it felt like you were watching it in real life (or how I pictured it; as an anime). Speaking of anime, this story would be great as an anime. From the cool magic with the dragon scale marks making someone "breathmarked" to the training Jun undergoes on his way to the tournament, the the actual fights in the tournament. So good and I am a huge sucker for a tournament arc! Throw in some political intrigue and what more could you ask for?
I am excited to see where the story goes. Both story and characters have me invested. I already own The Green Bone Saga by Fonda Lee, and "Breath of the Dragon" has just made me up its place on my TBR. I loved this combo of Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee and it would be cool to see them work on more projects in the future!

"Sometimes fate tore loved ones apart. Sometimes it turned rivals into brothers."


What do you get when you mix Henry VIII, Netflix's Cobra Kai, and Marvel's X-23? I would say you get a story pretty similar to this one.

I was a bit hesitant going into this book because although I have absolutely loved Fonda Lee's works in the past, some of the reviews for Breath of the Dragon didn't sound very promising. I am happy to report that any doubts I had as to the magnificence of this story were quashed by the time I finished reading this ARC.

When the story reached its apparent climax, far before its ending, I expected things to take a left turn but that is not what happened. Reading this felt like reading multiple books in one but without the plotholes.

Jun grew so much from the beginning of the book to the end. So did several characters. Although this is a coming-of-age story featuring a teenage protagonist, I would say this is a great YA book for those who tend not to enjoy YA. Do the young characters sometimes make you wish you could shake them? Certainly. However they aren't portrayed as typical teens to the point of being annoying which is not something that can usually be said about YA novels as a whole.

Looking forward to reading the finished version of this book.

Thank you NetGalley & Wednesday Books for this ARC.

I absolutely loved this one! After reading Jade City by Fonda Lee last year, I was thrilled to see her releasing a YA fantasy. If you're feeling a bit intimidated by the Jade City series due to its length and complex political landscape, Breath of the Dragon is a fantastic starting point.

Fonda Lee has a vivid way of crafting characters that you immediately fall in love with, making you truly care about their journeys from the very first page. Jun, the main character, is incredibly fun to follow—he's arrogant and impulsive yet lovable at the same time. Watching his character development throughout the book was a real treat, and it has made me even more excited for the rest of the series. I appreciate how Lee doesn’t make things easy for her characters; they fight, struggle, almost win, and then fight again. It keeps you on the edge of your seat!

Breath of the Dragon strikes the perfect balance between action and politics, featuring one of my favorite elements: a competition! The story masterfully weaves together key fantasy elements like fight scenes, training, competition, and political intrigue, which makes the book feel fast-paced and keeps you constantly engaged. While it’s obviously a fantasy novel, the magic system is straightforward and easy to grasp, so much so that you sometimes forget people have magical abilities at all.

I’m actually sad that I read this ARC because now I have to wait even longer for the next book in the series!

This was pretty darn good! I love a good training arc. It was a bit slow paced for my liking. I feel like I got about half way through the book before I really got into the story. But once I did, I had so much fun with it!

The writing style was nice, and flowed well for the reading experience.

This was so much fun and such a delight. I can’t wait to be able to recommend this to some of my students! It’ is definitely something to look out for.

Thank you to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for this eARC!

It has been quite a while since I've read a YA fantasy, and this book did not disappoint! I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and the story. The writing was clear, but I do think there could have been more subtext. There were certain instances where it felt like I was implying something or reading the threads laid out before me, only for the dialogue or explanation to spell it out anyways, so that was a little frustrating. I do think this has to do with the book being YA though!

The pacing in the beginning left a little to be desired, it did take until almost 40% for me to feel really into it, but I wouldn't say the pacing is bad by any means.

Personally, I love a good training arc, but I do wish the "Breath" component that Jun was being taught had a little but more to it, or harder rules I guess. The explanations were a little fluffy and vague, meaning I still am not exactly 100% sure why learning to control his Breath gave Jun such an advantage? It felt like his control was hanging by a thread for parts of his fighting as well.

Breath of the Dragon was excellent. I really enjoyed the growth of the main character and the immersive world the authors created. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy and look forward to seeing where this story will take us.