*I received a digital copy from St. Martin's Press and an audio copy from MacMillian Audio via Netgalley. All reviews are my own.
Have you ever read a title where you know the text has a strong inspiration or deeper meaning but can't catch what it is? This is how I felt reading Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee's newest novel, Breath of the Dragon. BOTD is my first novel from Fonda Lee. I've heard so many positive things about her Green Bone Saga series, so I wanted to check out her shared work with Shannon Lee, the only daughter of the legendary Bruce Lee. I finished this book a few weeks ago, and I'm still having trouble processing my thoughts on this title, so I'll try my best to give a concise review.
"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."
I checked this title via audio, with Eric Yang narrating for 11 hours and 54 minutes. Whew, that's a lot of talking! He guided me through the story, filled with martial arts competitions and a stubborn, bullheaded main character who just does not know when to quit while he's ahead.
After being separated from his mother and twin brother at a young age, the story follows 16-year-old Jun, who dreams of becoming the Guardian in an elite tournament to protect the magical Scroll of Earth. Except, he isn't Breathmarked. Jun's father forbids him from participating, but Jun stows away on a wagon to the capital, where the tournament will take place. If you're an anime fan, think of the Heavens Arena arc in the HunterxHunter series.
The story was alright. It didn't wow me, but I followed along and stuck around for the fight scenes. It was interesting to interpret certain fighting styles through text when we usually view them on film. I also like a good underdog story, and this tale was the epitome of a good fight. There were times when the story lagged and became typical. The characters didn't do it for me, but I stuck it out, and I'm curious to see what happens with the unfinished plots that will wrap up in Book 2.
The most intriguing aspect I found difficult to process was the underlying purpose of this book. What was the driving force behind it? It turns out this tale was the manifestation of Bruce Lee's imagination, a reflection of his teachings and the characters he created. I don't know much about Bruce Lee's history and his non-martial arts or acting hobbies. But it must have been something he played with for his daughter to later collaborate with Lee to bring his vision to life in a book. It could be a nod to Lee's legacy or a nostalgic tribute, but the exact purpose of this story being here remains a mystery to me.
Overall, I've rated this book 3-stars. It's a decent read, with some loose ends that I hope will be tied up in the sequel. I'm particularly interested in seeing how Jun's story unfolds and whether he can reunite with his family and fulfill his destiny. I plan to delve into Bruce Lee's life and inspirations, as I believe it will provide valuable context for my review.
Breath of the Dragon debuts January 7, 2025
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