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.

How was it?

I picked up Breath of the Dragon partly because Fonda Lee is listed as a co-author (I’ve been meaning to read one of her books forever), and this felt like a good place to start. A YA fantasy inspired by Bruce Lee’s philosophy? Sounds interesting.

Right away, the prologue sets a tragic and intense tone packed with a lot of emotional weight. It’s the kind of opening that makes you brace yourself for a deep, transformative character journey. Except… that transformation takes its sweet time.

So let’s talk about Jun. He’s impulsive, stubborn, and frustratingly oblivious. He’s got drive and ambition, sure, but self-awareness? Not so much. Even when the universe is practically screaming at him to wake up, he remains, well… a bit of a brat. I kept waiting for him to grow into a more nuanced character, but even over halfway through this book, I was still struggling to root for him. It takes a major loss – the fridge adjacent kind – for him to even start seeing himself clearly.

That said, the world-building? Solid. Easily the strongest part of the book. The tournament, the fantasy elements, the martial arts influences, the political intrigue, it all feels richly developed and immersive. The action sequences are effective, though they didn’t have quite the oomph I was hoping for.

Overall, Breath of the Dragon is a fun, fast-paced read, especially if you love martial arts films, training montages, and a coming-of-age journey (even if the hero is slow to actually come of age). It’s not a book that will shake your world, but it’s an entertaining adventure worth checking out if you’re into action fantasy adventures with anime vibes.

What do you think? Have you read this one? Did Jun grow on you more than he did for me? Let’s chat!

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