Description: Sixteen-year-old Jun, determined to restore his father's honor despite not being breathmarked, secretly enters in the elite Guardian's Tournament, where he discovers he's fighting for the country's fate.
Brief description: FONDA LEE is the award-winning, New York Times-bestselling author of a dozen fantasy and science fiction books, including the science fiction novel The Last Contract of Isako and the modern epic fantasy Green Bone Saga, which has been translated into seventeen languages and named one of Time magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. She is also the author of the novella Untethered Sky and several young adult novels. Fonda is a winner of the World Fantasy Award and the Locus Award, as well as a six-time winner of the Aurora Award and a finalist for the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. Learn more about her work at fondalee.com.
Review Quotes:
The instant NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY bestseller!
Google's Favorite Reads of 2025!
B&N Reads, "Best YA Books of January 2025"
"A tale in equal turns powerful and gripping, inspiring and meaningful, and with vividly cinematic combat scenes that felt like movie sequences. Lee and Lee have forged a new classic born of legacy and show themselves to be grandmasters of the martial arts genre." -- Amélie Wen Zhao, New York Times and internationally bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom duology "A masterclass in cinematic action and riveting storytelling. From the first pages I was rooting for Jun and felt invested in his journey. Rare is the tale that thrives off nostalgia yet also offers something breathtakingly refreshing. Lee and Lee have succeeded in every measure." --Elizabeth Lim, New York Times bestselling author of Six Crimson Cranes
"A stirring and stunning novel of fascinating imagination and filled with a true warrior's spirit. A not to be missed adventure!" - S.A. Cosby, New York Times bestselling author of King of Ashes "Breath of the Dragon breathes the spirit of Bruce Lee on every page. The rite of passage/coming of age story moves fast, is compelling, and shows with deep emotionality the yin and yang in humans and in our relationships, politics and martial arts. I felt it. I loved it. It's explosive like Bruce Lee, and I can't wait to read the next book. This would be fantastic on screen!" - Mark Dacascos "Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee's Breath of the Dragon is a marvelous tale of war, family, and revolution told in the grand tradition of Suzanne Collins and Jin Yong. But this contemporary spin on the kung fu novel also features at its heart an unforgettable young fighter who is not a little like a young Bruce Lee. A riveting pulse-pounding story with lots to say about what it means to be a hero in these times. Can't wait for the next one!" -- Jeff Chang, author of Can't Stop Won't Stop and Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America "This is an exciting and compelling story centered around a young man's hope and determination to win a martial arts tournament which will give him the coveted title of 'Guardian of the Scroll'. We accompany him on his journey and are engaged from beginning to end with the characters, events and action. Jun's rich and eventful journey is thrilling and thought provoking. A very enjoyable and captivating read!" - Andrew Koji "A thrilling fantasy inspired by ancient China and martial arts and brimming with Bruce Lee magic. Lee and Lee's homage to wuxia classics is a freshly inventive tale of duty, ambition, love and growth that will captivate hearts and imaginations. A cracking page-turner and classic in-the-making. Magnificent." - A.Y. Chao, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Shanghai Immortal "For those interested in epic adventures, Fonda Lee and Shannon Lee have created a new magical universe that focuses on a high-stakes tournament." - Asia Blooming "With a colourful cast of compelling characters, a plot of steadily rising stakes, and martial arts action that flies off the page, this book catapulted me back to late nights sitting in front of the TV watching Hong Kong action flicks." - Rob Hayes, author of The Ties That Bind series "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." - YA Books Central "Sensory details plunge readers into the danger and splendor of the tournament as well as Jun's poignant inner conflicts. A page-turning adventure and coming-of-age tale steeped in fantastical myth." - Horn Book Magazine "Reading Breath of the Dragon was a total delight...I highly recommend this novel to anyone looking for an exciting, fast-paced fantasy novel with a martial-arts driven plot, and great character development." - Blogging with Dragons "There is great world building, slowly and steadily crafted...This novel contains the best fight scenes I've ever read." - Game of Tones