🥋 Book Review 🥋

Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee
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I enjoyed this book. It’s not my typical genre, but the premise was very intriguing. The worldbuilding was great. We got a fully developed world with history, a complex conflict, and political intrigue. The characters were interesting, and we got a wide variety of them. However, the book overall felt a little flat to me, because so much of the book was spent on talking about martial arts, and there were so many fight scenes that they began to feel redundant. I would’ve liked more character development, more about Jun’s family, especially his brother Sai, more focus on the relationships between characters overall, and I would’ve liked at least a little romance.
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 0 🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️martial arts
▫️rivals
▫️deadly tournament
▫️rebellion against a corrupt government
▫️found family
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Thank you to Wednesday Books, St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, Shannon Lee, Fonda Lee, and NetGalley for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was truly a love letter to martial arts with a sprinkle of fantasy. I loved the world building, plot and the characters. In this novel, sixteen year old Jun has dreamt of nothing else than to prove himself at the Guardians Tournament to win the honour of guarding the magical Scroll of Earth.
This seems to be the first installment in a series and I am really hoping it might as I was left with so many questions at the end of this book. The world building was spectacular and cannot wait to delve further into this world. However, I wish there were more emotional relationships between the characters as I felt the relationships weren't deep enough and it was more on the surface level. I would love to learn more about the twin brother and hope we read from his perspective eventually.

Overall, the concept of this was interesting. I liked the magic and the training for fighting. However, I didn’t love it as I was hoping to. It was mostly telling and straightforward. There was a number of scenes of info dumping that were a bit hard to follow at times. It could just be me though as it definitely has a lot of strong qualities of a fantasy. I’m not too sure if I’ll continue with this series.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, Shannon Lee, Fonda Lee, and Eric Yang (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of Breath of the Dragon in exchange for an honest review.

Breath of the Dragon is the first book in the exciting martial arts Breathmarked duology inspired by characters and teaching from Bruce Lee! Someone who is breathmarked is destined for greatness, as they have an enhanced ability in the world of martial arts.

Jun was trained in martial arts alongside his twin brother, though unlike his twin, he is not breahtmarked. Those who are are taken at their sixth birthday. because of their hiding a breathmarked child and training one who is not, Jun's family is split.

When he reaches age sixteen, he wants nothing more than to become the Guardian of the Scroll of Heaven, a magical artifice that keeps their emperor and country safe. A guardian's job is sacred, but they must win a deathly martial arts tournament to become one of such a high standing.

Jun's father doesn't want him to participate. With no breathmark, not only will he surely lose, but he will likely lose his life in the process, something definitely not worth the time. June has a determination of steel and makes his wat to the tournament on the wagon of a performer, where he meets Ren, a girl who will surely change his life in one way or another.

This book is not about friendship, family, or romance (though those elements are present). No, this novel is about the determination of an individual to become something great. There is a good amount of political intrigue involved when it comes to the Guardian and the Scrolls of Heaven and Earth. The novel is eloquent, fast-paced, and well-written.

There were definitely a few predictable aspects to this book, though about 75% of the way through, there's twist and turn after twist and turn, making an excellent set-up for the final installment to the series. While book one is more of a tournament-based plot, book two will surely be something involving war or uprising, leaving our beloved characters in a bit of a murky pool.

Breath of the Dragon is perfect for fans of Bruce Lee, martial arts, and tournament-based plots. It will keep the reader on their toes and eager for mor to the very end!

I would like to thank the publisher for sending me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review through NetGalley.

Jun has dreamed of entering the Guardian tournament, hoping a win would restore his and his father's honor and allow them to rejoin the rest of his family. After his father forbids him to go, Jun leaves home on his own, stowing away in the back of a cart belonging to Chang and his daughter Ren as they leave for the capital where the tournament is being held. Along the way, Jun finds a new teacher to train him, readying him for not only the competition, but for what essentially turns into a battle for the country itself.

Okay. Is it just me? Or was like the majority of this book just Kung Fu Panda? Like, the dragon scroll, the wise old master who is absolutely incredible... even a monster with a similar name to the villain in Kung Fu Panda.

What was really cool about this, was the reason Jun trains as hard as he does -- he is not one of the birthmarked, blessed with dragon scales and special abilities. But as he trains and hones his skills, he begins to realize that you don't need to be born with magic to be a badass fighter -- you just need patience and dedication. And a really good master.

I enjoyed the way the martial arts was written, so even if you literally know nothing about any sort of martial art, you can still follow along and keep up. Jun really grows up in his way of thinking, and by the end of the book he really is thinking like a master vs the kid who left home. There wasn't a lot of moments that really fleshed out what was happening in the world outside of the tournament. I still enjoyed this. The world building with the dragon scales and the magic and the divided country was really interesting. But what I really enjoyed were the moments when we get to see Jun really step up and be incredible despite not being the "chosen one" like in all of these YA books.

I'm excited to see where the sequel will take us. Great audio narration, great plot... I recommend it.

Actual Rating: 4.5 stars

I really liked the concept and the world building that took place in this novel, there’s a lot of political strife that is really well done. You can also really tell that the authors wrote this with a lot of love and respect for the marital arts, the training and fight scenes are so well thought out and immersive. I thought the narrator did a great job keeping me engaged and brining life to all of the characters. The whole book reads almost like a prequel, there a lot of build up and hints for the next book. It was almost too much though in that there wasn't much that actually was resolved in the books. A lot of the characters felt kind of surface level and not many of the relationships that were brought up were explored. Regardless, I got invested in the story pretty quickly once it got going and I'm interested to see what will happen in the next installment.

Thanks to St. Martins Press, NetGalley, Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee for this ALC that I chose to read and review

I appreciated this story. I didn’t know how much was going to be based on martial arts so it kind of dragged on for me. I did however enjoy it for the most part. The narrator was ok, I didn’t love his voice. Overall for me, this was ok. I do think they set it up nicely for the next book.

When I heard about Breath of the Dragon, I was intrigued by the concept of being a fantasy inspired by old Bruce Lee films and took a chance. What I got was a fun action adventure battle tournament story with great character development and world building!

We follow Li Jun, a young man that’s been training in martial arts for some time, but feels guilt about an incident when he was a young boy that exiled him and his father and broke his family apart. His father would rather have him become a scholar or government worker, but he sees winning an upcoming prestigious martial arts tournament as his way to get ahead in life and save his father. But when the tournament turns more dangerous,

Jun feels like a 16 year old, making typical teen mistakes. He’s got an ego, but is determined to win the tournament. He learns and grows through the journey and my goodness, he goes through the ringer in more ways than one. But I love his persistence as he finds ways to overcome his obstacles. I also enjoyed the blind flutist and his daughter, his travel companions in the early parts of the book, and his rival from the school, each with their own story arcs, and loving how each character has their own distinct voice.

The setting and world building are handled well, with an immersive Asian inspired fantasy nation with plenty of lore and a magic system that feels like superpowers. It’s quite in depth and I loved the little details in between that make the world feel very lived in.

This is a fast paced story with many twists, and I was quite invested from start to finish. While the story does revolve around a tournament, there’s much more going on in the background. The action scenes were highly involved with tons of detail and the flow was perfect. The narration by Eric Yang was easy on the ears and captures the intensity of the battles, great for a story that puts a lot of effort into the action scenes.

If you’re looking for a Young Adult fantasy that’s more focused on action and adventure with a detailed world, great character development, and without a lot of romance (IMO, it’s barely there), this is a great pick. I will say this might appeal to teen boys and young men especially due to those elements, and it feels like a darker shonen battle manga/anime. There is some graphic violence and swearing, so it might detract younger readers. This book is a great pick for many teen boys especially.

I like that the story ends with a clear resolution of sorts, but hints at what’s to come. I’m really excited to see where the story continues from here in the second half of the duology.

4.25 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook ARC! All opinions are my own.

Karate Kid meets fantasy in The Breath of the Dragon, a fast paced YA fantasy imbued with Bruce Lee’s martial arts teaching co-written by fantasy veteran Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee’s daughter.

Jun is a martial arts prodigy, 10-years separated from his breathmarked (born of dragon’s blood with powers) twin and banished from his home country of which outlaws martial arts. Now residing in the western country which celebrates his abilities, he wants compete in the renown tournament to win the honors of becoming the next guardian of the Scroll of Heaven. As Jun prepares though, turmoil is brewing civilly and internationally; Jun may be fighting for more than just glory and honor.

I appreciate the character development our main character goes through. As non-breathmarked, Jun has spent his whole life life living under the metaphorical shadow of his brother and scrutiny of people from both countries. He is stubborn, cocky, and naive, but in the weeks outside his home, he becomes acquainted with realities, beliefs, and teachings beyond his own. It sets up growth that I want to see continue within the next series. World-building wise, we get Fonda Lee’s sharp writing and action sequences but adapted for a younger target audience. Paired with Shannon’s Lee’s knowledge of her father’s skill, it results in fluidly choreographed fight scenes and teachings (to my knowledge, I’m not familiar with martial arts). The tournament does take up the majority of the second half of this book and I wish we got to see a bit more of the secondary characters, especially Yin and Ren in the second half because some dynamics felt rushed since we only get Jun’s perspective and he is singularly focused on the fights in front of him. I liked Ren and Yin and I hope they continue to find their path in the next book. The politics of this world is simple to understand since it’s given to you, but since we spend this book in the West, I’m excited to see how the second book reintegrates the East and the impending conflicts and reunions.

I enjoyed listening to the audiobook. Eric Yang does a fine job narration with clear articulation and characterization. I did listen to half this book on 2x (which I almost never do-blame a very late train delay-my standard is 1.25x) and I could still understand what was going on.

YA Fantasy • Dragons Breath • Martial Arts
Pub Date • 7 January 2025

Thank you @wednesdaybooks and @macmillan.audio for the complimentary e-book and ALC!

▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|•˚ A love letter to martial arts, with compelling fantasy elements + hints of romance.

I knew I loved Fonda Lee and was intrigued to see this co-authored with Shannon Lee, daughter of Bruce Lee.

Jun is that insecure teenager who suffers from an inferiority complex. Born without the dragon’s mark —no special abilities, unlike his twin Sai who can mimic anything he witnesses. [I imagined Neo when he learns Kung Fu in the Matrix...]

When Jun and Sai become separated by civil war between East and West regions of the country, Jun decides his path to fame and glory is through the Guardian’s tournament — an elite competition for warriors and martial artists of different fighting styles. If he can achieve that, he can bring honor to his family.

Along the way, Jun befriends several companions, mentors, and Ren. The political scheming between men in power added depth and complexity. Jun’s growth beginning to end belies a maturity beyond his sixteen years.

This is a duology, but book 1 is complete on its own. I loved this book and will recommend it to my YA reader. I will say the last quarter had more gratuitous f-bombing than was necessary. My biggest complaint: the cover isn’t doing it justice.

🎧 Eric Yang narrated the audiobook and did a nice job as Jun.

·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ This book releases on Jan 7th! · ←˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀

A YA novel based on characters and teachings of Bruce Lee? Yes, please! The main character, Jun, is 16 years-old and experiences a coming-of-age story that I appreciated. Jun wants to participate in the Guardian’s Tournament even though the odds are stacked against him. The concept of dragon breath and being breath-marked was very interesting to me as I enjoyed seeing the different skills and abilities that came about in pivotal situations and multiple fighting sequences. The competition aspect is something I enjoy in books so honestly it is no surprise that this really worked for me. The setting was well described and there are many intriguing characters. The political unrest as well as ideas of honor and respect were compelling. The idea of family and the stories of how so many have been broken up added a deeper, emotional element. Narration by Eric Yang was well matched for this story. Already eagerly anticipating the next book in this series.

I really enjoyed this book. I will admit when I first saw this book, I just saw it was written by Fonda Lee and said yes please. But then once I realized it was Shannon Lee and the story behind it all, I'm so glad I picked it up. If you've seen any of Bruce Lee's movies then you can easily imagine this cinematic telling. The blurb says that they took inspiration from Bruce Lee and his movies and life and it shows. The story begins with just wanting to prove to be the best fighter but it evolves to so much more. I was so engaged in the plot and the sequence of events. Everything unfolded so fast and it worked.

Jun was definitely a main character to root for! He starts off very one dimensional in the fact that he wants to prove he's the best fighter. And he'll do anything to prove that. Along the way, he learns what it means to be a martial artist and the importance behind truly being an honorable fighter. The depth of his character grows and it's amazing to read. I really liked the direction his character took and I cannot wait to continue this series.

Overall, Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee is a clear winner. If you are a fan of Bruce Lee, martial artists, character growth and overall great story telling - then pick up this book. The story is cinematically written where you can easily imagine everything happening. Jun was a very well written charger with at much growth within just one book. I absolutely recommend this book and am eagerly anticipating the end of this story.

AUDIO REVIEW
This was my first time listening to Eric Yang but I thought he did an amazing job. He was able to bring Jun's character to life and a great performance. It easy to follow and I think novice and experienced learners will enjoy this on audio.

Breath of the Dragon is a fantastic young adult tribute to Bruce Lee and martial arts. Young readers who enjoy epic fight scenes, tournaments, and main characters who fight against the odds will love this. This has a vivid world that is easy to imagine and with interesting political conflicts. I think it would be great for young teens who don't enjoy reading but enjoy action movies or fighting games, and it might be what inspires them to read more! 

For me, I think I was a little too old to enjoy this, as it does read on the younger ya side. Some parts are repetitive, and the lessons it wants to convey are almost too simple. I also found I wanted more from the character relationships, finding them not in-depth or developed enough.

The audiobook is easy to follow and well produced.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc.

I absolutely enjoyed this story from beginning to end. It reminded me so much of watching the movie Enter The Dragon, and I loved all the nostalgic feels it gave me! Just like the movie, everything is not as it first seems.

In this story, we meet Jun, a young man who, along with his father, has been banished and separated from his mother and twin brother. While in banishment, Jun starts a new life and eventually hons his warrior fighting skills, a skill which he hopes to use to enter the Guardian tournament in order to restore honor and pride to his father. There's only one problem, Jun is not breathmarked like the other competitors and is therefore at a disadvantage. Thankfully, he finds a new martial arts teacher along the way to the tournament, and I am able to enhance the abilities that he does have.

While the tournament is a huge part of this story, their are also other things happening in the social and political fabric of this world. These elements serve to deepen the significance of the tournament and also create more intrigue for the reader. I loved the found family aspect of this story as well as the magical elements. The last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat, and coupled with the other little hint we got earlier in the story, it has me very excited to continue Jun's story in book 2.

Beautifully written and woven with the beliefs and writings of the infamous Bruce Lee it was like being enveloped in a world of mystery and magic. This is an ode to martial arts, so much so that if you're not interested in martial arts the lengthy and very detailed fight scenes will feel bored some.

The world-building made it easy to feel as if you were there, gazing at the very cities or landscapes before you. The characters, for the most part, were well written, but I didn’t find any attachments to any of them, and the character connections felt held at arm’s length. I honestly feel like the story is intended for a young male audience and not adult women who mainly read fantasy romance. Steeped in political turmoil, historical events, and mythology, the plot has the makings for a really cool storyline. However, I felt that part of it gets sidelined by all the fight scenes. I appreciate the gifted Audio ARC From NetGalley and St. Martins Press. I may still be on the fence here, but I am excited to see where the next book leads us.

I'd give this 4.25 stars

This was an action packed story clearly inspired by the classics of martial arts. I loved the nods to these popular plots. I found myself invested in the action sequences. The character work was good but not up to the level of the Green Bone Saga. However it's tough to compare to some of the best characters I have found in fantasy.

While this is categorized as young adult, I was pleased to find it avoided many of the tropes I dislike. The novel does not have any adult subject matter but it doesn't dumb down the actual story. The characters felt the right level of maturity which made an enjoyable read.

Needless to say, if you enjoy Fonda Lee's adult fantasy or are simply interested in a new martial arts fantasy series, this is an excellent option. I highly recommend it. I got to the audiobook version and the narrator helped to uplift the story.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

A great YA first-in-series that will keep you on the edge of your seat!

I read 70% of this in one day, and if I wasn't home with family I likely would have finished it. It was almost immediately engaging, and I was so excited to into the tournament! (I love a good tournament in my books) I read this thinking that Shannon was Fonda's daughter or niece, thanks to the shared last name, and I later learned she is actually the daughter of Bruce Lee. This shifted my opinion, because I thought it was more of Fonda helping a younger author get her start. I'm assuming, however, that the descriptions of martial arts comes from Shannon. I, myself, am not knowledgeable of martial arts in any way, so I can't explain if they were done well or not, but as an uninformed reader I really enjoyed it. I was able to visualize the many fight scenes in this book fairly easily, and I really enjoyed it.

The book does feel YA in that the main character is 16 and he feels so. However, I didn't think he felt underdeveloped as a character, just one with an underdeveloped frontal lobe. While it felt YA, I thoroughly enjoyed it as an adult.

I would highly recommend this book to people who like action, though I am not an action-driven reader myself and I still loved it!

The narrator was really great, and I read the entire book with him. I have no complaints - it's a great version to read!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for an audio arc in exchange for an honest review.

After showing off his knowledge of forbidden martial arts when he was a child, Jun and his father have spent years banished and separated from Jun's twin brother and mother. Jun is desperate to be chosen to compete in the upcoming Guardians' Tournament so he can win and become Guardian, and hopefully make up for his youthful mistake. Though he wins, his father will not allow him to compete so Jun hitches a ride with a couple of traveling actors. Joining the tournament, Jun finds himself in the midst of a rebellion and war he never expected.

Though this story was slow to start, it was interesting enough to keep the pages turning. This book was clearly setting the stage for the sequel, and spent a good amount of time outlining the world in which Jun lives. The magic system was interesting, and it would have been interesting to spend more time with the magic. Jun shows some growth at the story goes on. Some secondary characters felt less developed. Overall, an intense read that will leave readers excited for the second book.

"Breath of the Dragon" by Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee was an exciting and immersive read, and the audiobook elevated the experience even further.

The story follows Jun, an underdog with big dreams of becoming the Guardian of the Scroll, navigating a journey filled with martial arts, political intrigue, and self-discovery. The audiobook narration by Eric Yang was fantastic. His ability to bring each character to life with distinct voices and pacing made the action-packed fight scenes and emotional moments even more vivid. The martial arts sequences were incredibly well written and choreographed, clearly influenced by the authors' expertise and passion for the subject. Jun's growth from an impulsive teenager to a more disciplined and determined young man was engaging to follow. I also appreciated the focus on friendships and rivalries instead of just throwing in a low effort romance subplot.

I would recommend this to anyone who is into more action-focused fantasy. I cannot wait for the next installment in this duology. If you love martial arts, intricate plots, and a touch of political intrigue, this is worth picking up.

Shannon Lee, daughter of martial artist Bruce Lee and co-writers with acclaimed fantasy writer, Fonda Lee, conjures a new young adult fantasy in which Jun, a teenaged warrior aspires to win the Guardian Tournament to attain the elite status of the Guardian, protector of the magical Scroll of Heaven. Jun embarks on a journey to prove his worth as a warrior and to become great in the eyes of his father and himself. In pursuit of this dream, Jun encounters challenges and people, kind souls as well as devious ones with twists aplenty!

Will Jun manage to become the next Guardian or will whatever threatens the realm, get to him first?

This story is for a younger audience in the YA Fantasy genre. The fighting scenes are interesting and descriptive and the backdrop of political intrigue is just complex enough for a young audience. I preferred the audio for the fighting scenes!

Read this if you enjoyed Spin the Dawn minus the romance!

Thank you to @wednesdaybooks @macmillian for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!