Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee. I’m a huge fan of Fonda Lee’s work. The Green Bone Saga is possibly my favorite series ever. So, to say I had high expectations for this book would be an understatement. Did it live up to them? Read on to find out!

The first novel in a sweeping YA fantasy duology based on characters and teachings created by Bruce Lee!

Sixteen-year-old Jun dreams of proving his worth as a warrior in the elite Guardian’s Tournament, held every six years to entrust the magical Scroll of Earth to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s honor—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.

But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. There is no future in honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breathmarked, born with a patch of dragon scales and blessed with special abilities like his twin. Determined to be the next Guardian, Jun stows away in the wagon of Chang and his daughter, Ren, performers on their way to the capital where the tournament will take place.

As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life, but the fate of the country itself.

***Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley. My review contains my honest thoughts on my reading experience with the finished hardcover book, which I purchased.***

My expectations for Breath of the Dragon were through the roof. Luckily, this book definitely delivered. The writing was incredible, and Fonda Lee’s voice, which I love so much, was present and brilliant as ever. The plot was straightforward but paced exquisitely. I struggled between wanting to read the entire thing in one sitting and my desire to savor every word.

The world-building in Breath of the Dragon was intricate yet easily consumed. It felt like a living, breathing world with a great deal of history. Bits of the culture and its background were revealed at a digestible pace. So, the experience of exploring this world never became overwhelming. I loved the focus on martial arts. If you don’t like fight scenes, this probably isn’t the book for you. However, all of the fights in each round of the competition were extremely well-written and had me on the edge of my seat, even when I was already pretty sure of the outcome.

I was almost instantly attached to Jun, the main character in Breath of the Dragon. The prologue was an absolute gut punch to the feels, and afterward I wanted so badly to see him succeed and overcome the obstacles he faced. That being said, he was quite obnoxious in the beginning. He was hot-headed, overconfident, and selfish. I did always admire his drive and ambition to make something of himself, though. This was a great coming-of-age story for him, and he grew from a cocky, naive adolescent into a young man who cared for those around him and wanted to make his realm a better place.

The rest of the characters in Breath of the Dragon were all really great, too. They had distinct personalities and enough depth to make them stand out. The bones of a great found family were there, as well. Unfortunately, I didn’t think the relationships between the characters had enough depth. There just wasn’t enough intimacy between them to make me believe they were super close. I did like the constellation of characters, though, and could see them becoming a tighter knit found family in the next book. I did find one exception, the relationship between Jun and his father. That one made me feel things, and their bond, and squabbles, stood out to me as the emotional core of the book.

There’s plenty more I could talk about, but I’ll wrap my thoughts up with this… Breath of the Dragon was a great coming-of-age story with a vibrant cast of characters, exquisite world-building, and stunning martial arts sequences. It was an incredible blend of political intrigue, personal growth, and just a hint of romance. I’m already waiting impatiently for the next book. Therefore, I rate Breath of the Dragon 4.5 out of 5 stars.

There you have it! My thoughts on Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee. Does this book sound like something you would enjoy? Is it on your TBR? Let me know down in the comments! Happy reading!