RATING BREAKDOWNCharacters: 4⭐️Setting: 5⭐️Plot: 4⭐️Themes: 4⭐️Emotional Impact: 3⭐️Personal Enjoyment: 4⭐️Total Rounded Average: 4⭐️The setting is the absolute star of Shannon Lee's *Breath of the Dragon*. The plot weaves itself through a complex political system, religion, culture, and magic system, immediately capturing my imagination. The plot itself is well-paced and uses a narrative structure that's stood the test of time – and it works! Adult readers might find it a touch predictable, but...

Dragon's arse, indeed! "Breath of the Dragon" was such a blast and seriously inspiring. Being a fan of Fonda Lee's exquisite writing and Bruce Lee's charismatic, free-flowing fighting style, this book was a total knockout for me! I loved the characters. I really identified with Jun and his family struggles. Much like the Snake Wall that separates Jun from his mother and twin brother, Sai, the Pacific Ocean separated my older sisters from my mother and me. Being a child of immigrant parents a...

4.25 stars!“The first one to show doubt loses.”I'm so glad I started my Fonda Lee journey with *Breath of the Dragon* because it gave me such a good feel for her writing. It was so addicting and fun to read – not mindblowing, but the concept was very well thought out, and the writing style made it easy to get invested. I found the story itself very unique. It's a series, so I won't be overly critical about the world-building, but it was definitely lacking in this book. There were occasional glim...

"Breath of the Dragon" is a young adult fantasy novel that follows Li Jun, a young boy learning martial arts from his father in a quest to grow stronger and prove himself. His twin brother is Birthmarked, a status that seems to signify greatness, but Jun isn’t, which fuels his desire to carve out his own path as a warrior. This was such a fun, lighthearted read. I picked it up partly because Fonda Lee was listed as a co-writer, and I think that raised my expectations a little too high. Don’t ge...

➸ 4.5 stars “The abilities that matter the most don’t come from Dragon’s blood. They’re gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being.”— thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!Okay, but *Breath of the Dragon* by Shannon Lee was genuinely amazing?! I seriously couldn't put it down; reading it was so much fun!I loved all the martial arts/fighting scenes, the tournament, and especially the characters! I...

“Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being.”I really wanted to love *Breath of the Dragon* by Shannon Lee, because the concept was intriguing and the world-building was incredibly well thought out and realized. Unfortunately, I just didn’t connect with the characters, so I felt detached throughout the entire read. The fight scenes were entertaining, but there were almost too many, which made them feel repetitive, and I started to lose interest halfway th...

I love tournaments. Throw in a couple magical abilities too, and I'm so in! Rating: 4 ⭐️ "The abilities that matter the most don't come from Dragon's blood. They're gained day by day, through sweat and tears. Marked or not, every one of us has Breath enough to will our own destiny into being."Every year since the East and West divided, there have been less breathmarked, those born with a special power. 10 years after being banished to the West, Jun dreams of winning the elite Guardian's Tourname...

Breath of the Dragon is a love letter to martial arts, so much so that if you're not into martial arts or tons of fight scenes, this book definitely isn't for you. Think of it as a martial arts fantasy novel.The worldbuilding is easily the strongest part of this book. It's a fully realized world, with a rich history and mythology, built on a compelling conflict and supported by well-written political intrigue. The plot is pretty straightforward and could have been so much better if more memorabl...

Overview: 👊 Tournament story 🚫 No romance 👨‍👩‍👦 Found family 🥋 Martial arts ⏩ Fast-paced 👥 Academic rivals 👦 Male main character in a YA Fonda Lee, queen of fantasy, has teamed up with Shannon Lee to break into the wonderful world of Young Adult, and now she's conquered this too. Jun is a passionate martial artist, exiled from his homeland while his magic-endowed twin is brought to court. Living a life desperate to prove himself, Jun enters the Guardian Tournament, where he can fight ...

﹙started﹚ㅤ𓈒ㅤׂ 06/09/24 ⊹
౨ৎ Got my ARC secured!!! Ready to devour whatever Shannon Lee has been cooking up in "Breath of the Dragon."


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