Series: Breathmarked (#1)
Format: Hardcover, 352 pages
Release Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Epic
A young warrior dreams of proving his worth in the elite Guardian Tournament, fighting not only for himself but the fate of everything he loves in 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 Heaven to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s pride—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.
But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. He believes there is no future in Jun honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breath-marked, 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 country's fate and the very survival of everyone he cares about.
Breath of the Dragon is the first installment in authors Shannon Lee, daughter of legendary Bruce Lee, and Fonda Lee's Breathmarked series. Inspired by ancient China, this secondary-world setting draws on Bruce Lee's teachings. Ten years ago, 6-year-old Jun made a terrible, boastful mistake when he was a child, one that forced him and his father into exile, while his mother and his incredibly blessed twin went on to a life of privilege. A war and wall soon created a permanent divide between Eastern and Western Longhan.
Jun is now sixteen, an arrogant young martial artist determined to compete in the brutal championship to become the Guardian of the realm. 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 Heaven to a new protector. Eager to prove his skills, Jun hopes that a win will restore his father’s pride—righting a horrible mistake that caused their banishment from his home, mother, and twin brother.
But Jun’s father strictly forbids him from participating. He believes there is no future in Jun honing his skills as a warrior, especially considering Jun is not breath-marked, 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. Little does he know that this year's tournament is not what he was expecting.
As Jun competes, he quickly realizes he may be fighting for not just a better life but the fate of the country and the very survival of everyone he cares about. Jun becomes aware of a rebellion against the current military leader (who controls the child emperor in the West). A fascist leader who changes the rules of the Challenges before they even begin, which sends many of the hopefuls home without a chance to fight. Jun and his former classmate Yin Yue fight for their lives with the winner likely to become the new guardian, while the losers face death.
Jun is not breathmarked. He struggles to find a way to be important and carve out a place for himself without a special ability. In fact, every year since the East and West divided, there have been fewer breathmarked those born with a special power. Jun is irritating and definitely arrogant. Because of his arrogance, he doesn't seem to understand that everything he does has consequences. Consequences like having his twin brother excel while he and his father struggle.
The best parts of this book were the fight scenes because I have always loved martial arts movies. I loved Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li. Heck, even Chuck Norris, David Carradine, and Jean-Claude Van Damme were good. The book ends on a stunning cliffhanger, and I hear the good news is that this is actually a duology, not a series, which means the next book should be capable of wrapping up things and giving answers to readers.
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