Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee

Breath of the Dragon by Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee
Publisher:  Wednesday Books
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   352 pages
Publishing:   January 7th, 2025
Source:  St. Martin's Publishing Group

Opening Line:  "Two strangers arrived on a mid-autumn morning, as if swept in by the cold wind rustling the drooping branches of the elm trees."

At the age of six, identical twins Sai and Jun were separated when their father, Li Hon broke the law by teaching them martial arts, something strictly forbidden in the East.  Jun and his father were banished to West Longhan, forced to work at the Cheon Opera Company, separating them from Sai and his mother.    

Every six years an elite Guardian's Tournament is held to entrust the Scroll of Earth to its new protector.  For the past ten years, Jun has done nothing but dreamed of competing, but his father has forbidden him from entering.  Instead, he wants Jun to take the imperial exam and get a respectable job.  However, Jun's desire to become a Guardian is too strong, even though he isn't breathmarked like his brother Sai.  Jun lacks the scales, dragon's blood and special abilities that are associated with the mark. Determined to not let that stop him, Jun secretly steals aboard a carriage heading East, defying his father's wishes.

During the tournament, Jun encounters numerous setbacks. First, his registration fee is stolen and then he faces more experienced opponents.   General Cobu of the Imperial Army even changes the rules of the tournament to favor his own fighter.  Jun has much at stake in the outcome of the tournament, but can he survive long enough to make it to the finals while the fate of the country is resting on him winning?

Breath of the Dragon is a fast paced, action-packed fantasy set in a Chinese inspired world.   It's a story with political intrigue, lovely fight scenes, and a country that has been divided into two opposing sides over their differing views on the practice of martial arts.  Reunification hasn't been possible for many years as they have taken different paths and continue to be divided over this complex issue.

Jun is a sympathetic and generally well-intentioned character.   At first, I was thrown off by his over confidence in his skills and ego, he is kind of portrayed as a jerk.  However, I began to warmup to him by the end of the book as his motivations for wanting to enter the tournament came more to light.  Also, he shows a lot of growth despite facing some challenging opponents.  Eventually even coming to understand what the weight of being a Guardian really entails.   I found myself absorbed with his journey to enter the tournament, and enjoyed how the story kept me guessing with all of its twists and turns.  The corrupt General even raised the tension nicely and the stakes kept getting higher and higher.  This is the first book in what is meant to be a duology and is said to be based off of the characters and teachings of Bruce Lee, it is written by Bruce Lee's sister, Shannon and author Fonda Lee.  Overall, I enjoyed reading this YA fantasy and am eagerly awaiting the sequel.    

The Hunt for the Nightingale by Sarah Ann Juckes , illustrated by Sharon King-Chai

The Hunt for the Nightingale by Sarah Ann Juckes, illustrated by Sharon King-Chai
Publisher:  Kane Miller Publishing
Format:  Paperback
Number of pages:   272 pages
Published:   December 1st, 2024 (1st published 1/1/22 in UK) 
Source:  Publisher

Opening Line: "My big sister Rosie says that the first thing you need to do when you're feeling lost, is get your bearings."

Each year, Jasper and his older sister Rosie eagerly await the arrival of their beloved nightingale, who appears every spring in their garden gracing them with its song.  However, this year the nightingale hasn't yet returned.  Rosie promised to help Jasper to find it over the weekend but then she didn't come home either.  Jasper's parents then tell him the sad news that Rosie has gone on to "a better place," which he understands to mean that she has disappeared.  Jasper concludes that Rosie must have gone to search for the nightingale at the gas station where she spotted it last year, and all he has to do is walk there to find them both.  

The Hunt for the Nightingale is a beautiful story that explores themes of sadness, grief, loss, and is a journey towards acceptance.  It highlights the importance of parents communicating openly and in clear terms that kids can understand, rather than trying to deliver simplified messages.  Phrases like "being in a better place" were too abstract for Jasper, leading him to focus on where is Rosie?  Jasper also would have benefitted from parents who weren't so preoccupied with their work.  One's who didn't forget his birthday.  Or parents that weren't dismissive of Jasper and Rosie's passion for bird watching by making comments like it's "only a bird."  It minimized the importance of Rosie having taught Jasper facts about birds and that they had been writing Rosie and Jasper's Book of Birds together.  Jasper and his sister were obsessed with birds and it's something that their parents should have been more encouraging about.   

On his way to the gas station, Jasper encountered many wonderful people, each leaving a lasting impression on him. There was Lulu, an older girl from his school with visual difficulties, who's searching for her lost dog.  Madge who helps Jasper to navigate through a field of cows, Gan Tran Stevens and Ibrahim who help him to push through the tough questions and suggest breathing exercises for those panicky feelings he's been experiencing.  Each offered him valuable advice, guiding him to come to terms with his loss.  Jasper's raw emotions of anger, sorrow and denial are relatable and heartwarming for the reader.  I must admit that it brought me to tears. Yet, there's also a tenderness and heartwarming sentiment in knowing that there were people who took the time to listen and cared for Jasper while he was in so much pain. Jasper changed following each interaction he made, becoming more courageous and gaining insight into his panic attacks.  The book features Sharon King-Chai's exquisite bird illustrations and each chapter is punctuated with fascinating facts about birds.  Overall, this is a beautiful story filled with emotion, warmth and lovely messaging. 

  **A huge thank you to Kane Miller Publishing for the paperback in exchange for an honest review. **       

SPOTLIGHT on UNRAVELED Newest Installment in the Bestselling KEEPER OF THE LOST CITIES Series by Shannon Messenger (out:12/3)

Unraveled (Keeper of the Lost Cities #9.5) by Shannon Messenger
Publisher:  Aladdin
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 432 pages
Publishing:   December 3rd, 2024
Find It:  Goodreads, Amazon ,

 YouTube Trailer for Unraveled

  About the Book:

The past and present unravel into staggering truths in this can’t-miss installment of the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series told entirely from Keefe’s point of view.

Please be careful. Please be happy. And PLEASE forget all about me. It’ll be better for everyone that way.

Those were the last words Keefe Sencen wrote to Sophie Foster before he ran away to the Forbidden Cities. He didn’t want to leave, but it was the only way to keep his friends safe while he figured out how to control his scary new powers and searched for answers about his past.

What he found was so much more than adventures in Humanland.

Where did he go? What did he do? And who did he meet while the rest of his friends worked to solve the mystery of Stellarlune? The answers go far beyond anything anyone could have ever imagined and give Keefe the power to change his destiny.

Unraveled makes for the perfect holiday gift idea for fans of the series! And everyone waiting to finally get Keefe's perspective.   

**Of Special Note:  Warner Bros Pictures has acquired Keeper of the Lost Cities, with Emma Watts set to produce.**

                                  About the Author

Shannon Messenger graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts, where she learned—among other things—that she liked watching movies much better than making them. She studied art, screenwriting, and television production but realized her real passion was writing for kids and teens. She’s the internationally, New York Times, and USA TODAY bestselling author of the award-winning middle grade series Keeper of the Lost Cities, as well as the Sky Fall young adult series. Her books have been featured on multiple state reading lists, published in numerous countries, and translated into many languages. She lives in Southern California with her family and an embarrassing number of cats. Visit her online at ShannonMessenger.com /X / Instagram / Facebook / and for fun Keeper of Lost Cities Themed Receipes