4,5 stars rounded up!

Fonda Lee became an easy favorite of mine after I flew through every book in her Jade Saga series. She has such an amazing talent for creating characters that you adore, even at their most frustrating, and putting them in unique environments with such fascinating magic systems. So of course I was thrilled to get my hands on an early copy of her newest book, this time a YA story completely unlike the Jade Saga. And Shannon Lee brings such a unique perspective to this story as the daughter of Bruce Lee!

After a careless mistake at a young age causes Jun and his father to be banished and separated from his magically-gifted brother and their mother, he has dedicated his life to learning how to fight and prove himself the best warrior in the upcoming Guardian's Tournament. If he wins, he can finally prove to his father that fighting isn't a waste of his time, and maybe, reconnect with the rest of his family. But when Jun's father forbids him from participating, he'll have to sneak a wagon ride from the blind man and renowned flutist, Chang, and his daughter, Ren, to the capital. But there's more to the tournament and being guardian than just protecting the Scroll of Heaven - the fate of both his new nation and his old might depend on him winning.

This is such a stunning homage to martial arts. I'm a sucker for a good tournament storyline, and the authors have created such a fascinating mythos that lends itself well to a magical battle. The stakes do feel genuinely high for Jun and the allies he collects along the way, with a clear antagonist you want to root for Jun to defeat. The idea of "breathmarked" individuals, or those chosen by the Dragon to have special gifts and abilities, and certainly of a brother and his twin not both inheriting those gifts, is a fascinating one. There are so many different layers to the overall plot that, while I could guess where the story was headed, I wasn't always sure how we would get there - and the ending certainly caught me off guard!

As a teacher, one of the the things that have been a noted struggle the past few years is how few GOOD YA books there have been for teenage boys - it's like everything for them just stops after middle grade. I genuinely cannot wait to have this book on my shelves at school: while there is romance, it is in the background and not a serious part of the story at all. I just know my students will devour this book.

Eric Yang is a lovely narrator who brings so much uniqueness to each character and their emotions. He was the perfect narrator for this story!

I just pre-ordered my signed copy of this one due out in less than a month. (Get yours from @signedpage ) This book is unlike any I've read yet, and I'm here for more. I was listening to it, and my parents were intrigued by it, so I let them know it was like a kick ass Bruce Lee movie playing in my head. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Shannon Lee is actually his daughter! What!? I loved the martial arts, the journey, the magic, and overcoming obstacles. The politics and world building were top notch.

The MMC is determined to write his own destiny in a nation that is divided and has literally divided his family. Living in exile with his father, he is determined to reunite with his dragon marked brother and their mother. He spends his days training in the martial arts and has a goal to win the trials that will gain him immense power and political say-so. When he is presented with the opportunity to turn his dream into reality, he must decide whether to go against his father's wishes or forge his own path and make his dreams come true.

Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook and offer my honest review. @macmillan.audio

@therealshannonlee @fonda.lee @wednesdaybooks

#BreathOfTheDragon #BruceLeeFoundation #ARC #AudioBookARC #ARCreader #FiveStars #PreOrder #MartialArts #YA #DragonMarked #AsianFantasy #ReadingMakesMeHappy #ReadWhatYouLove

I loved this book SO MUCH. This is such a strong first book in the series, and I can’t wait for the next one. It’s action packed, the writing is fantastic, and I loved the tournament part. There is so much depth to this book… I couldn’t get enough.

This was my first experience reading a book by any of these authors, and it was enjoyable."Breath of the Dragon" by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee is a beautifully crafted homage to martial arts. This young adult fantasy stands out as it doesn't include any romantic elements. While I usually enjoy romantasy, it was a refreshing change to dive into a fantasy narrative without romance. The plot was captivating and kept me engaged throughout. The world-building was incredibly detailed and vivid, making it easy to get lost in the narrative. The characters were rich and multi-dimensional, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about them as the story unfolded.

The audiobook was also exceptionally produced, enhancing the overall experience.

Breath of the Dragon by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee was a beautifully written love letter to martial arts. This is a YA fantasy with no romance. I love romantasy but there was something really refreshing about reading a fantasy book with no romance. The plot was really interesting and engaging. I love a good tournament plot. The world building was so detailed and descriptive. It was easy to immerse myself in the story. The characters were all so complex and dynamic. I enjoyed getting to know them as the story progressed.

The audiobook well really well done. Eric Yang did a wonderful job bringing the characters and their emotions to life. It added so much depth to the story.

Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Breath of the Dragon is all about this guy named Jun, and how his flaws don't just affect him, but also have a big impact on the people around him. Jun often ends up in tricky situations due to his impulsive and self-centered tendencies, which frequently causes conflict and tension in his relationships. Even though he had his flaws, there was something compelling about him that made me want to continue reading. The writing in Breath of the Dragon is super cinematic, which made it really hard for me to put down. The storyline is super interesting and packed with unexpected surprises, which really kept me hooked. The book delves into themes of redemption and the ominous start of war, giving more depth to Jun's journey and the difficulties he encounters. It's a really engaging book that does a great job of developing the characters while also delivering an exciting story.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing the ARC.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
This book had my attention from the very beginning. Banished from his home and separated from his mother and twin at a young age, Jun has been training to participate in a tournament, but does not realize that there is more on the line then he thought. The world building, character development and writing style were all perfect. The only thing that I am not okay with is that I now have to wait for book 2.

This was a super enjoyable and action packed story!

We’ve got a high stakes martial arts tournament, political intrigues and plots, a bit of found family, and the promise of more in the next book. Jun is as arrogant and impulsive as any 16 year old boy, but he’s a compelling MMC, especially as he grows and matures. I liked Jin and Ren, and I liked how the three of them came to work together and trust each other.

Fight scenes have always been Fonda Lee’s strong suit, and this is no exception. Each match in the tournament was so vivid and kept me on the edge of my seat. It’s a brutal world, and no punches are pulled with the violence.

I’m excited to continue the story with the next book, which I’ll definitely be picking up.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the preview. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars! Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy! You can pick up Breath of the Dragon on January 7, 2025.

Wow! What an explosive, action-packed story full of heart. I love how Fonda and Shannon Lee wove martial arts into this imaginative fantasy world full of people with special abilities. It was refreshing for our main character to not necessarily be the immediate and magical "chosen one," but someone who's had to work and earn their abilities. In fact, the Lees took the chosen one and turned it on its head by making our main character, Jun, watch his brother become the sought after one instead,

We see Jun grow so much over the course of the story. Even though he's not breathmarked (born with Dragon's blood), he's still arrogant and prideful because of his martial arts abilities, with a short-sightedness that feels all too real for young teenage boys. But that's what makes his growth so satisfying! We see him grow up before our eyes, first by accepting lessons from a blind flutist Chang, then by competing against better martial artists in the Guardians Tournament, before eventually losing everything he didn't realize he held dear.

I love the direction this story is going, the way we learn so much about the lore of this world, and how all-too-real the villains feel. I can't wait to see where the Lees take us next!