Breath of the Dragon (Breathmarked, #1)

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.

BREATH OF THE DRAGON was an entertaining YA fantasy with heavy martial arts themes. Jun's life was forever changed when he was 6 and his twin was taken to be trained as he was dragon-marked. Unwilling to be ignored, he showed off his martial arts skills - something forbidden for him to have learned. His father who had taught him in secret and he were instead exiled for a number of years to the West. In the intervening time, the East was walled off from the West, and none were allowed through.

Now, 16 years old, Jun has been training in the martial arts and wants to compete to be the Guardian of the West, a title held by whomever defeats their opponents in a martial arts competition and will guard the divine scroll for six years until the next competition. Against his father's wishes, Jun is determined to compete. However, his journey will change him and the competition will be fiercer than anyone could have anticipated.

What I loved: The pace was overall steady with the story moving through Jun's path to the competition, with much time spent on training and the lead up to the actual contest. The story is told from Jun's point-of-view, making it feel very character-driven.

Jun is an intriguing character. He constantly wants to prove himself, perhaps because his twin was breath marked and therefore had a magical ability. Although he does not have such an ability, he is able to train and develop his own connection with Breath that allows him to do the unexpected. He is often brash and headstrong, but he is learning. His coming-of-age arc was really strong as he begins to weigh what truly matters and understand the implications of everything happening in the broader context of their country and what is happening in the East. He is learning and developing all along the way, through little epiphanies (and some bigger ones). While he has sometimes been selfish and thoughtless, the implications of these actions are lessons that he is considering throughout the book.

Other characters, particularly Sifu, Ren, and Yue are also really compelling, each in their own way. Jun has his own feelings about each, but these are malleable and change as he begins to learn more about each and their beliefs and histories. They were each fascinating characters that I would be eager to continue to get to know in the next book.

Themes around politics, unity, rebellion, power/corruption, believing in yourself, mastering self-control, family, consequences, and thinking larger than oneself were all really thought-provoking. While Jun has been somewhat single-minded in his quest to just be the best fighter, there is a backdrop of politics and rebellion that underlie the story. As Jun begins to see and understand what is happening around him, the reader is likewise introduced to the complexity that underlies this world and the plots and machinations of those around him.

The story had a very cinematographic quality to it, where it felt as though it could be a movie. The build-up and the fighting sequences were certainly movie-worthy. It was an interesting style.

What left me wanting more: Because it was told from Jun's perspective, the story could be a bit frustrating at times, and the histories/world-building felt a bit lacking. While we get tidbits here and there, it was hard to understand the issues at stake, what had led to them, the significance of the scrolls, and the why for the rebellion/current state of affairs. These are all hinted at, but they did not feel fully realized. As Jun is just beginning to be aware of them, these may become clearer in the next book.

Final verdict: BREATH OF THE DRAGON is an interesting YA fantasy about martial arts, coming-of-age, and finding your path.