What do you think?
Rate this book
Breathmarked #2
Mark of the Warrior
Not yet published
Expected 27 Oct 26In the explosive finale to the instant New York Times bestseller Breath of the Dragon, a young warrior fights to reunite his family and the realm.
Two brothers. Two nations. One destiny.
Exiled as a traitor after the Guardian’s Tournament, Li Jun has vowed to retrieve the stolen Scroll of Heaven and to honor his father’s dying find his mother and twin brother, Sai.
Fleeing into the East in search of their friend Ren, Jun and his longtime rival Yin Yue have no choice but to trust the two breathmarked women who saved their lives but who answer to the mysterious and draconian Council of Virtue that tore Jun’s family apart and banished him and his father a decade ago.
Recovering the Scrolls of Heaven or Earth in order to stop the brewing war that threatens to devastate East and West alike isn’t Jun’s only seemingly insurmountable challenge. The twin he was separated from in childhood is now the High Keeper who resides in the Sun Pagoda, protecting the precious Scroll of Earth from all potential enemies…including Jun.
The fate of the entire land hinges on an inevitable reckoning between brothers that will test their skills, their loyalties, and everything they thought they knew about themselves and the nature of destiny.
Two brothers. Two nations. One destiny.
Exiled as a traitor after the Guardian’s Tournament, Li Jun has vowed to retrieve the stolen Scroll of Heaven and to honor his father’s dying find his mother and twin brother, Sai.
Fleeing into the East in search of their friend Ren, Jun and his longtime rival Yin Yue have no choice but to trust the two breathmarked women who saved their lives but who answer to the mysterious and draconian Council of Virtue that tore Jun’s family apart and banished him and his father a decade ago.
Recovering the Scrolls of Heaven or Earth in order to stop the brewing war that threatens to devastate East and West alike isn’t Jun’s only seemingly insurmountable challenge. The twin he was separated from in childhood is now the High Keeper who resides in the Sun Pagoda, protecting the precious Scroll of Earth from all potential enemies…including Jun.
The fate of the entire land hinges on an inevitable reckoning between brothers that will test their skills, their loyalties, and everything they thought they knew about themselves and the nature of destiny.
352 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication October 27, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Want to Read
February 5, 2026criminally underrated duology!!!
May 8, 2026
I have checked just about every week since the announcement of this book to see if it was available for an ARC, and I have been patiently waiting to finish this captivating and exhilarating story ever since receiving and finishing my ARC of the first book.
Overall, I am very pleased with the second and final installment of the Breathmarked series, with a few pointed criticisms.
As for the story itself, I still found it captivating, compelling, and a real page turner, with all the right things a good story needs. The characters were relatable and real, and the setting vibrant and easy to visualize. Everything I loved about book 1 continued on seamlessly in book 2.
There were a few times where the dialogue didn’t land perfectly, and felt a bit more modern or out of place, but never so bad that I had to roll my eyes. There were also a few places where certain moderately uncommon words showed up several times close together that broke the flow for me a bit.
My main criticism is that the book was too short. I mean that both in the context that I wanted more, and in that several parts of the story felt rushed. Major losses, huge conflicts, or built-up moments seemed to fly by and be over too easily, or without what felt like proper decorum. This diminished the potential impact of some of these points in a meaningful way.
Despite these issues, the strength of the story, the relationships of the characters, and the richness of the story shouldered much of the weight and turned out a highly enjoyable sequel.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Overall, I am very pleased with the second and final installment of the Breathmarked series, with a few pointed criticisms.
As for the story itself, I still found it captivating, compelling, and a real page turner, with all the right things a good story needs. The characters were relatable and real, and the setting vibrant and easy to visualize. Everything I loved about book 1 continued on seamlessly in book 2.
There were a few times where the dialogue didn’t land perfectly, and felt a bit more modern or out of place, but never so bad that I had to roll my eyes. There were also a few places where certain moderately uncommon words showed up several times close together that broke the flow for me a bit.
My main criticism is that the book was too short. I mean that both in the context that I wanted more, and in that several parts of the story felt rushed. Major losses, huge conflicts, or built-up moments seemed to fly by and be over too easily, or without what felt like proper decorum. This diminished the potential impact of some of these points in a meaningful way.
Despite these issues, the strength of the story, the relationships of the characters, and the richness of the story shouldered much of the weight and turned out a highly enjoyable sequel.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
June 20, 2026
4 ⭐️
Overall I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Breathmarked Duology. Before I get to the things I enjoyed, I will say the first ~30% of this book felt like it should have been condensed and used as the conclusion to book 1. Due to this, there was a little bit of a disjointed feeling between the beginning of the book and where we went when things really took off. Besides that I really enjoyed the focus on familial relationships, both with blood relations and found family, that were central to this story. Too often we are hyper focused on romantic relationships in media and I found it refreshing for that to not be a focus. I also loved the richness Shannon Lee’s involvement brought to the martial arts in the story. If you want a fast paced political drama with a lot of martial arts and family drama…look no further.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review via NetGalley.
Overall I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Breathmarked Duology. Before I get to the things I enjoyed, I will say the first ~30% of this book felt like it should have been condensed and used as the conclusion to book 1. Due to this, there was a little bit of a disjointed feeling between the beginning of the book and where we went when things really took off. Besides that I really enjoyed the focus on familial relationships, both with blood relations and found family, that were central to this story. Too often we are hyper focused on romantic relationships in media and I found it refreshing for that to not be a focus. I also loved the richness Shannon Lee’s involvement brought to the martial arts in the story. If you want a fast paced political drama with a lot of martial arts and family drama…look no further.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a copy to review via NetGalley.
Want to Read
July 6, 2026My oldest and I, will be reading and reviewing this together!
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books and the authors, Shannon & Fonda Lee for an early copy!
Publication date: October 27, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press/Wednesday Books and the authors, Shannon & Fonda Lee for an early copy!
Publication date: October 27, 2026
Want to Read
May 13, 2026The ARC is mine! I'm excited for this, I liked the first book more than I expected to.
May 20, 2026
My first ever ARC! Look ma, I’m a reviewer now! But it’s books like these that make me want to share reviews. This was a satisfying end to the Breathmarked duology. I never thought I (though Chinese) would be into Asian martial arts fantasy, yet here I am reading this and wanting more!
I loved Fonda Lee’s Greenbone Saga for its world of gang culture, family dynamics, and the potential of each person for change. I would say the gritty “intensity” from that series is toned down in this duology, it feels much more YA. The first book, Breath of the Dragon, has more action and an impactful plot line whereas this second book explores more of how the characters who shape the world are themselves shaped by differing dreams, disappointments, and an unspoken yearning for personal redemption.
I really loved reading from Jun’s perspective — it felt authentic to the pace at which people change their minds, revert to their former ways, regret everything, are finally open to consider other perspectives, etc. It felt a little rushed at the end, but I’m happy with where all the main characters ended up.
More from Fonda Lee, please!
I loved Fonda Lee’s Greenbone Saga for its world of gang culture, family dynamics, and the potential of each person for change. I would say the gritty “intensity” from that series is toned down in this duology, it feels much more YA. The first book, Breath of the Dragon, has more action and an impactful plot line whereas this second book explores more of how the characters who shape the world are themselves shaped by differing dreams, disappointments, and an unspoken yearning for personal redemption.
I really loved reading from Jun’s perspective — it felt authentic to the pace at which people change their minds, revert to their former ways, regret everything, are finally open to consider other perspectives, etc. It felt a little rushed at the end, but I’m happy with where all the main characters ended up.
More from Fonda Lee, please!
July 2, 2026
as a big fonda lee fan, i really wanted to love this duology! unfortunately, it just didn't really work for me, especially this installment.
i mean, it was okay. the fights were superbly choreographed (as expected) and there were some scenes that were genuinely impactful - . but other than that, it was just a lot of stuff happening as if plot points were being rattled off, and i didn't feel any of it. maybe because it's adapted for a YA audience, but all the large-scale politics (which should have been a narrative focus) weren't fleshed out enough. also, the ending felt rushed! we spent all this time getting there, with multiple chapters of fight scenes after fight scenes, only to reach a lukewarm climax that failed to wrap up all loose ends.
as a martial arts book, it was fantastic. but a fantasy novel - even one written for younger audiences - is held up by its lore/worldbuilding, and mark of the warrior ultimately failed at that for me.
i do think this book would have been better if there were more chapters with Sai POV! a more balanced narrative would help flesh out the nuances of the East vs West conflict and also provide more insight on their relationship.
i liked the first book better than this one and would still recommend giving it a shot if martial tournaments interest you.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
i mean, it was okay. the fights were superbly choreographed (as expected) and there were some scenes that were genuinely impactful - . but other than that, it was just a lot of stuff happening as if plot points were being rattled off, and i didn't feel any of it. maybe because it's adapted for a YA audience, but all the large-scale politics (which should have been a narrative focus) weren't fleshed out enough. also, the ending felt rushed! we spent all this time getting there, with multiple chapters of fight scenes after fight scenes, only to reach a lukewarm climax that failed to wrap up all loose ends.
as a martial arts book, it was fantastic. but a fantasy novel - even one written for younger audiences - is held up by its lore/worldbuilding, and mark of the warrior ultimately failed at that for me.
i do think this book would have been better if there were more chapters with Sai POV! a more balanced narrative would help flesh out the nuances of the East vs West conflict and also provide more insight on their relationship.
i liked the first book better than this one and would still recommend giving it a shot if martial tournaments interest you.
thank you netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
-Thank you Netgalley for the ebook ARC-
I didn't realize this was the second in a duology until I picked it up and started reading it. That said, I didn't feel like I was really lost. The world is easy to jump into, clearly laid out, and the events of the first book are flashed back to enough (succinctly), that I was able to jump right into book two without much confusion.
At first, I thought this was going to be a straight-forward action story with people fighting (which isn't a bad thing). The plot was relatively simple without any unexpected twists or turns. The right people usually showed up just in time, and the main character, Jun, didn't seem to have to do much fighting until the end. Then I realized that might have been intentional based on the themes.
Sometimes stories with creative twists sacrifice depth. Mark of the Warrior banked on a straight-forwarded plot to instead deliver on its themes. The story focuses on division & reconciliation in both setting and characters. The land is divided after an uprising. This is mirrored in the characters, two twin brothers, who are separated at six years old. Jun, not being breathmarked, is banished to the West after performing forbidden martial arts. Sai, the breathmarked brother is brought up in the east to be an aspect. Both work their way to the top and become keepers of their land's respective dragon scrolls. (This is their backstory/ Book 1 where book 2 picks up from)
Setting:
This is an action-packed book set in a fantasy world that could easily be modeled off of our own (such as China). The land is divided by East and West and the people are separated by the snake wall. The West is ruled by a monarchy, but is more lenient. The East is ruled by a council, but is very strict, going so far as to outlaw any incivility, including martial arts being practiced by anyone other than trained aspects who are breathmarked with dragon scales, giving them extra abilities.
Characters:
The twin brothers separated on either side of the wall perfectly mirror the division in the land. We see more from Jun's perspective (the brother who isn't breathmarked, and banished to the West.) Jun doesn't do as much fighting in this book as what he seemed to have done in the first book. He's still reeling in the aftermath of losing the scroll and fleeing for his life now that he's a falsely accused traitor. Despite his many hardships and advanced fighting skills, Jun shows remarkable empathy for enemies, and is a very likeable character.
Themes:
division/reconciliation. Strength/weakness.
Content warnings: moderate language, including the use of the f-word, but overall, appropriate for the YA category it's being marketed to. (No sexual content, some violence, but not gory.)
Favorite quotes:
"Water smiled humorousely, 'What are hopes, if not whispers from the universe of what's possible, Yin Yue? I simply hear the hints more clearly.'"
"'What Yama doesn't understand is that our weaknesses are the sources of our strength. Our failures are the seeds of our triumph.'"
I didn't realize this was the second in a duology until I picked it up and started reading it. That said, I didn't feel like I was really lost. The world is easy to jump into, clearly laid out, and the events of the first book are flashed back to enough (succinctly), that I was able to jump right into book two without much confusion.
At first, I thought this was going to be a straight-forward action story with people fighting (which isn't a bad thing). The plot was relatively simple without any unexpected twists or turns. The right people usually showed up just in time, and the main character, Jun, didn't seem to have to do much fighting until the end. Then I realized that might have been intentional based on the themes.
Sometimes stories with creative twists sacrifice depth. Mark of the Warrior banked on a straight-forwarded plot to instead deliver on its themes. The story focuses on division & reconciliation in both setting and characters. The land is divided after an uprising. This is mirrored in the characters, two twin brothers, who are separated at six years old. Jun, not being breathmarked, is banished to the West after performing forbidden martial arts. Sai, the breathmarked brother is brought up in the east to be an aspect. Both work their way to the top and become keepers of their land's respective dragon scrolls. (This is their backstory/ Book 1 where book 2 picks up from)
Setting:
This is an action-packed book set in a fantasy world that could easily be modeled off of our own (such as China). The land is divided by East and West and the people are separated by the snake wall. The West is ruled by a monarchy, but is more lenient. The East is ruled by a council, but is very strict, going so far as to outlaw any incivility, including martial arts being practiced by anyone other than trained aspects who are breathmarked with dragon scales, giving them extra abilities.
Characters:
The twin brothers separated on either side of the wall perfectly mirror the division in the land. We see more from Jun's perspective (the brother who isn't breathmarked, and banished to the West.) Jun doesn't do as much fighting in this book as what he seemed to have done in the first book. He's still reeling in the aftermath of losing the scroll and fleeing for his life now that he's a falsely accused traitor. Despite his many hardships and advanced fighting skills, Jun shows remarkable empathy for enemies, and is a very likeable character.
Themes:
division/reconciliation. Strength/weakness.
Content warnings: moderate language, including the use of the f-word, but overall, appropriate for the YA category it's being marketed to. (No sexual content, some violence, but not gory.)
Favorite quotes:
"Water smiled humorousely, 'What are hopes, if not whispers from the universe of what's possible, Yin Yue? I simply hear the hints more clearly.'"
"'What Yama doesn't understand is that our weaknesses are the sources of our strength. Our failures are the seeds of our triumph.'"
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Firstly - what a gorgeous cover art.
I’m not very familiar with Shannon Lee, but I was drawn to this duology by Fonda Lee and the amazing work that is the greenbone saga. In both the first and the latest installation, that Fonda Lee quality writing is evident - which for me is what I appreciate.
And if anything, Fonda Lee is an absolute master on writing family dynamics. Mark of the Warrior is a brilliant conclusion to a very sweetly epic story. We follow Jun in the East and his much awaited meeting with his long lost twin brother Sai in the back drop of an East/West war. My rating is a 7/10 (3⭐️), and had I not been a stricter reviewer this would be a four star book.
Plot wise, the ending was not unpredictable, but I think how we got there was creative and really engaging, I was hooked and was able to finish this in one go. The pacing issues I found in book 1 did not exist here, primarily because we begin the book in the middle of the story - but also because of how the character work was structured.
I am a massive fan of character conflict especially when it would be more convenient to not have it - and both of these authors did not fail me on this at all. I felt uneasy, I felt on the edge of my seat, with the brotherly dynamics and the authors were not afraid to be risky with how they explored their interactions.
This was not as martial arts heavy nor was it more action heavy than the first book, but what Mark of the Warrior brings to the table best is its tangents and short deep dives into diverse philosophies. Im a reader who enjoys reading about characters being conflicted with identity, grasping how propaganda operates and how that defines actions - and I think Jun’s character was right up my niche corner of this level of analysis. Weirdly enough I don’t love Jun as much as the breakdowns of how he perceives others, and I think that is a brilliant thing to have accomplished by itself.
All the build up was paid off really well with Yin’s character - just love him and Jun.
My only qualm is Ren - yeah pretty disappointed in where her character is, but ultimately I didn’t care much for it anyway because June really did eat.
All in all, it’s a very entertaining read, it’s nostalgic of the brilliant ya/middle grade I read growing up and I think this beats quite a lot of the slop that exists now.
Thanks to e-arc from Netgalley!
I’m not very familiar with Shannon Lee, but I was drawn to this duology by Fonda Lee and the amazing work that is the greenbone saga. In both the first and the latest installation, that Fonda Lee quality writing is evident - which for me is what I appreciate.
And if anything, Fonda Lee is an absolute master on writing family dynamics. Mark of the Warrior is a brilliant conclusion to a very sweetly epic story. We follow Jun in the East and his much awaited meeting with his long lost twin brother Sai in the back drop of an East/West war. My rating is a 7/10 (3⭐️), and had I not been a stricter reviewer this would be a four star book.
Plot wise, the ending was not unpredictable, but I think how we got there was creative and really engaging, I was hooked and was able to finish this in one go. The pacing issues I found in book 1 did not exist here, primarily because we begin the book in the middle of the story - but also because of how the character work was structured.
I am a massive fan of character conflict especially when it would be more convenient to not have it - and both of these authors did not fail me on this at all. I felt uneasy, I felt on the edge of my seat, with the brotherly dynamics and the authors were not afraid to be risky with how they explored their interactions.
This was not as martial arts heavy nor was it more action heavy than the first book, but what Mark of the Warrior brings to the table best is its tangents and short deep dives into diverse philosophies. Im a reader who enjoys reading about characters being conflicted with identity, grasping how propaganda operates and how that defines actions - and I think Jun’s character was right up my niche corner of this level of analysis. Weirdly enough I don’t love Jun as much as the breakdowns of how he perceives others, and I think that is a brilliant thing to have accomplished by itself.
All the build up was paid off really well with Yin’s character - just love him and Jun.
My only qualm is Ren - yeah pretty disappointed in where her character is, but ultimately I didn’t care much for it anyway because June really did eat.
All in all, it’s a very entertaining read, it’s nostalgic of the brilliant ya/middle grade I read growing up and I think this beats quite a lot of the slop that exists now.
Thanks to e-arc from Netgalley!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mark of the Warrior
by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
First of all, thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read Mark of the Warrior.
The ARC is mine (insert evil laugh here). After loving my time with the first book in the Breathmarked series, I have been eagerly waiting to return to this world, and I was so excited to finally see how this story would come to an end.
Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to the duology. It had everything I enjoyed from the first book—the immersive world, the political tension, the martial arts, and most importantly, characters who feel like real people navigating impossible circumstances.
One of my favorite aspects of this series continues to be the relationships. While romance often dominates fantasy stories, I really appreciated the focus on family, loyalty, friendship, and found family. Those connections felt meaningful and grounded, and they gave the story an emotional core that went beyond the larger conflicts happening around the characters.
The world-building remains a highlight. The setting is vivid and easy to picture, and the martial arts elements bring such a unique energy to the story. Shannon Lee’s involvement adds an extra layer of authenticity and appreciation for the discipline, philosophy, and movement woven throughout the book.
I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven at times. The beginning took some time to find its footing, and there were moments where I wished certain emotional beats and major events had more room to breathe. Some of the bigger moments happened quickly, and I would have loved more time with the characters as they processed those experiences.
That being said, the strength of the characters and the richness of the world carried the story through. I was invested in these people and genuinely wanted to see where their journeys would take them.
If you enjoy fantasy filled with political intrigue, martial arts, complicated family dynamics, and characters who are willing to fight for what they believe in, Mark of the Warrior is a strong conclusion to the Breathmarked duology.
I'm very glad I got the chance to finish this journey, and I hope Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee know there are readers who will happily follow wherever they take us next.
by Shannon Lee & Fonda Lee
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub Date: Oct. 27, 2026
First of all, thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to ARC read Mark of the Warrior.
The ARC is mine (insert evil laugh here). After loving my time with the first book in the Breathmarked series, I have been eagerly waiting to return to this world, and I was so excited to finally see how this story would come to an end.
Overall, this was a satisfying conclusion to the duology. It had everything I enjoyed from the first book—the immersive world, the political tension, the martial arts, and most importantly, characters who feel like real people navigating impossible circumstances.
One of my favorite aspects of this series continues to be the relationships. While romance often dominates fantasy stories, I really appreciated the focus on family, loyalty, friendship, and found family. Those connections felt meaningful and grounded, and they gave the story an emotional core that went beyond the larger conflicts happening around the characters.
The world-building remains a highlight. The setting is vivid and easy to picture, and the martial arts elements bring such a unique energy to the story. Shannon Lee’s involvement adds an extra layer of authenticity and appreciation for the discipline, philosophy, and movement woven throughout the book.
I did feel like the pacing was a little uneven at times. The beginning took some time to find its footing, and there were moments where I wished certain emotional beats and major events had more room to breathe. Some of the bigger moments happened quickly, and I would have loved more time with the characters as they processed those experiences.
That being said, the strength of the characters and the richness of the world carried the story through. I was invested in these people and genuinely wanted to see where their journeys would take them.
If you enjoy fantasy filled with political intrigue, martial arts, complicated family dynamics, and characters who are willing to fight for what they believe in, Mark of the Warrior is a strong conclusion to the Breathmarked duology.
I'm very glad I got the chance to finish this journey, and I hope Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee know there are readers who will happily follow wherever they take us next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I signed up for a Netgalley account specifically to get this book. I loved the original. I already had plans to read the sequel. And I couldn't have been more delighted to receive an ARC for Mark of the Dragon.
This book was absolutely stunning. The character work was just as rewarding to follow as it was in the first one. This book checked so many boxes for me: family reunification and healing, so many cultural and historical elements I recognize from all over East Asia, and so many martial arts styles that represent those areas. Taekwondo, kung fu, karate, muy tai, kali, and so many other styles feature here in a true love letter to mixed martial arts. I loved that aspect of this book so much. I also loved the disability representation. I couldn't have asked for a better representation of my experience as a martial artist and why training in the styles I studied under was one of the highlights of my life.
The cultural and historical elements give depth to this book in the subgenre of Asian fantasy that is still deeply rooted in our world. The reunification plot line speaks to the reunification of Korea. The Snake Wall and the complexities of living under a controlled populace in China. The Sun Pagoda and the Emperor's council that both derive so much inspiration from samurai and feudal Japan. The composite of elements here gives visibility to Asian lived experience through the fantasy elements, which was such a joy for me to experience. I love Asian culture and have for many years as a student of taekwondo, and this is exactly the kind of book that makes me excited to read Asian fantasy and deepen that cultural appreciation.
A must read for martial artists and lovers of fantasy. Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee are amazing together and I would love to see more projects from them. And if this becomes a movie or a tv series, I will watch it without question.
This book was absolutely stunning. The character work was just as rewarding to follow as it was in the first one. This book checked so many boxes for me: family reunification and healing, so many cultural and historical elements I recognize from all over East Asia, and so many martial arts styles that represent those areas. Taekwondo, kung fu, karate, muy tai, kali, and so many other styles feature here in a true love letter to mixed martial arts. I loved that aspect of this book so much. I also loved the disability representation. I couldn't have asked for a better representation of my experience as a martial artist and why training in the styles I studied under was one of the highlights of my life.
The cultural and historical elements give depth to this book in the subgenre of Asian fantasy that is still deeply rooted in our world. The reunification plot line speaks to the reunification of Korea. The Snake Wall and the complexities of living under a controlled populace in China. The Sun Pagoda and the Emperor's council that both derive so much inspiration from samurai and feudal Japan. The composite of elements here gives visibility to Asian lived experience through the fantasy elements, which was such a joy for me to experience. I love Asian culture and have for many years as a student of taekwondo, and this is exactly the kind of book that makes me excited to read Asian fantasy and deepen that cultural appreciation.
A must read for martial artists and lovers of fantasy. Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee are amazing together and I would love to see more projects from them. And if this becomes a movie or a tv series, I will watch it without question.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I’ve been sitting on my thoughts for a few days, but honestly, I ended up inhaling this so fast. If the first book was about setting the stage, this one is about the house catching fire in the best way possible.
The Vibe:
The pacing here is a massive step up from book one. It drops you right into the middle of the story, so there’s no "sequel slump." It’s less of a straight-up martial arts tournament book and more of a psychological deep dive into how propaganda and identity mess with your head during a war.
What I Loved:
The tension between Jun and Sai is top-tier. It made me feel genuinely uneasy and on edge. The authors weren’t afraid to make their interactions risky and messy rather than just giving us a clean "hero vs. villain" fight.
I actually preferred the tangents into different philosophies over the actual action scenes. Seeing how Jun perceives the world and struggles with who he’s supposed to be vs. who he actually is felt really grounded.
The buildup from the first book really pays off here. His character arc and his relationship with Jun were highlights for me.
Even though I kind of guessed where the ending was headed, the way we got there was super creative and kept me hooked.
What Missed the Mark:
If you’re coming into this purely for the fight scenes, there’s actually a bit less martial art than the first book. It’s more about the internal conflict, which I loved, but it might surprise some people.
The Vibe:
The pacing here is a massive step up from book one. It drops you right into the middle of the story, so there’s no "sequel slump." It’s less of a straight-up martial arts tournament book and more of a psychological deep dive into how propaganda and identity mess with your head during a war.
What I Loved:
The tension between Jun and Sai is top-tier. It made me feel genuinely uneasy and on edge. The authors weren’t afraid to make their interactions risky and messy rather than just giving us a clean "hero vs. villain" fight.
I actually preferred the tangents into different philosophies over the actual action scenes. Seeing how Jun perceives the world and struggles with who he’s supposed to be vs. who he actually is felt really grounded.
The buildup from the first book really pays off here. His character arc and his relationship with Jun were highlights for me.
Even though I kind of guessed where the ending was headed, the way we got there was super creative and kept me hooked.
What Missed the Mark:
If you’re coming into this purely for the fight scenes, there’s actually a bit less martial art than the first book. It’s more about the internal conflict, which I loved, but it might surprise some people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Shannon Lee and Fonda Lee for a copy of the eARC!
The second of the Breathemarked series did not disappoint. This book was fantastic. There were still good fighting scenes/martial arts throughout the book even though the tournament has long ended, and Jun, our newly appointed guardian has been deemed a traitor. I love the buildup of friendship and found family in this book. Again, this book was a very easy read. There's not much to be confused about in regards to the worldbuilding. It does do a deeper dive into government corruption, which was suspected. I did find that the "villains" may have went down a little way too quickly and smoothly. However, as this is a YA novel, I guess it's fine.
I love how the authors played into the theme of family. We have characters who were separated from their family since young. We also get characters where they've grown up with their family, but very much had different opinions. I find it so ironic that the family that was stuck together this whole time did not end up having a happy ending. However, that's how life is. You have to learn when to cut off family that isn't respectful of your boundaries and morals.
I will most likely be picking this series up for my student, who is currently going into grade 9, in hopes that I will find a book that interests him. I highly recommend other parents to pick this book up if your child shows interest in martial arts/fighting tournaments.
The second of the Breathemarked series did not disappoint. This book was fantastic. There were still good fighting scenes/martial arts throughout the book even though the tournament has long ended, and Jun, our newly appointed guardian has been deemed a traitor. I love the buildup of friendship and found family in this book. Again, this book was a very easy read. There's not much to be confused about in regards to the worldbuilding. It does do a deeper dive into government corruption, which was suspected. I did find that the "villains" may have went down a little way too quickly and smoothly. However, as this is a YA novel, I guess it's fine.
I love how the authors played into the theme of family. We have characters who were separated from their family since young. We also get characters where they've grown up with their family, but very much had different opinions. I find it so ironic that the family that was stuck together this whole time did not end up having a happy ending. However, that's how life is. You have to learn when to cut off family that isn't respectful of your boundaries and morals.
I will most likely be picking this series up for my student, who is currently going into grade 9, in hopes that I will find a book that interests him. I highly recommend other parents to pick this book up if your child shows interest in martial arts/fighting tournaments.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book rather hurriedly wrapped up the series, or so it feels. It starts off with a lot of travel in the East, with Jun and Yue needing to work together in order to survive. Eventually the two of them reach the temple that houses the Council of Virtue, where Jun's long lost brother guards the Scroll of Earth.
Jun's reunion with his brother was one of the things that felt rushed. The two of them complement each other in martial and Breathmarked abilities but this isn't really explored. Nor are the emotions around their long separation and children, their father's death, their mother's retreat into a nunnery. In general, it felt like this book was very focused on moving the plot along and the emotional moments didn't get time to breathe.
The action was fun though! Eventually, Jun and his allies must fighte their way through all five floors of the famous Sun Pagoda in order to achieve their goals. The martial powers of their enemies are interesting and make for very imaginative combat.
The book also ends abruptly. I really wonder if this was intended to be a trilogy but then had to be cut down to two books. I enjoyed the read but felt like there was a lot left unexplored.
Jun's reunion with his brother was one of the things that felt rushed. The two of them complement each other in martial and Breathmarked abilities but this isn't really explored. Nor are the emotions around their long separation and children, their father's death, their mother's retreat into a nunnery. In general, it felt like this book was very focused on moving the plot along and the emotional moments didn't get time to breathe.
The action was fun though! Eventually, Jun and his allies must fighte their way through all five floors of the famous Sun Pagoda in order to achieve their goals. The martial powers of their enemies are interesting and make for very imaginative combat.
The book also ends abruptly. I really wonder if this was intended to be a trilogy but then had to be cut down to two books. I enjoyed the read but felt like there was a lot left unexplored.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC!
Part two of the Breathmarked duology follows on from the first book seamlessly. This book is action-packed with excellently written combat scenes whilst retaining character development and emotional beats, finalising the story with a satisfying conclusion. I thought this was an impressive feat given the relatively short page count.
Mark of the Warrior builds on from the themes established in Breath of the Dragon and does a great job at showing sibling dynamics and grappling with both familial love and twin envy. The characters feel grounded and real, possessing a mix of qualities that make them feel distinctly human. This duology explores identity and what it’s like to find belonging after feeling ‘other’.
I honestly just want MORE. I could read several other books in this series! I loved the worldbuilding so much and specifically enjoyed the different levels of the Sun Pagoda. This duology is so underrated! The story of the hero’s journey feels classic, but this was refreshing and so much fun.
Part two of the Breathmarked duology follows on from the first book seamlessly. This book is action-packed with excellently written combat scenes whilst retaining character development and emotional beats, finalising the story with a satisfying conclusion. I thought this was an impressive feat given the relatively short page count.
Mark of the Warrior builds on from the themes established in Breath of the Dragon and does a great job at showing sibling dynamics and grappling with both familial love and twin envy. The characters feel grounded and real, possessing a mix of qualities that make them feel distinctly human. This duology explores identity and what it’s like to find belonging after feeling ‘other’.
I honestly just want MORE. I could read several other books in this series! I loved the worldbuilding so much and specifically enjoyed the different levels of the Sun Pagoda. This duology is so underrated! The story of the hero’s journey feels classic, but this was refreshing and so much fun.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mark of the Warrior picks up the story after Breath of the Dragon's dramatic ending, catching readers up to where we last saw Jun seamlessly so anyone who is reading the second book after some time is on the same page as those that are reading them back to back. The pacing and tone match the prior book and several favorite supporting characters return to accompany Jun on his continued adventure. Jun's quest takes him back East for a reunion with his brother, but his mission to recover the scroll and stop impending war is his ultimate goal. Readers who enjoyed the first book and became invested in the characters should appreciate this sequel and the way that it wraps up the story.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
I received access to this eARC thru NetGalley (for which I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press and Wednesday Books) for an honest review. The opinion expressed here is my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was such a wonderful end to the Breathmarked duology! While still filled with plenty of exciting physical combat moments, this one dove a little more into our characters and emotions. I especially loved reading about the tension and competition that can exist with siblings/twins and how these brothers grew up apart for most of their lives but were still so deeply connected to each other in ways.
Fonda Lee will surprise me with plot structure every single time (in the best way), and it seems the trend exists even when co-writing a YA novel... I love it so much.
The only thing I crave just a bit more of is honestly more pages. I would have loved seeing the resolution drawn out just a little bit, and even MORE moments between Jun and Sai.
Overall, this is a highly underrated duology and deserves more love!
Fonda Lee will surprise me with plot structure every single time (in the best way), and it seems the trend exists even when co-writing a YA novel... I love it so much.
The only thing I crave just a bit more of is honestly more pages. I would have loved seeing the resolution drawn out just a little bit, and even MORE moments between Jun and Sai.
Overall, this is a highly underrated duology and deserves more love!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Mark of the Warrior delves a lot more into the inner workings of a rebellion for peace, while our main character copes with finally meeting his twin after years of separation. While I loved the overall plot, I felt that there were too many philosophical dives done here that weren't explored too much or deeply, in my opinion. The book is mainly YA so I wished it stuck to a few dives and really dived into them.
I like how the story explored Jun and Sai's relationship and how they eventually made it up while 'saving' the East and West (aka a Happy for Now ending). I also unexpectedly liked Yin Yue's character despite him being a side/minor character, from being this seemingly perfect fighter to someone who adapted and got used to his new disability.
I like how the story explored Jun and Sai's relationship and how they eventually made it up while 'saving' the East and West (aka a Happy for Now ending). I also unexpectedly liked Yin Yue's character despite him being a side/minor character, from being this seemingly perfect fighter to someone who adapted and got used to his new disability.
May 31, 2026
NOTE: This is an arc review
I loved this book and can’t believe how under hyped this series is. I do think both books have a slow start but only for 50 pages and then it gets really good. I love the wisdom in the book, really makes me think and learn important things. I love how they describe combat scenes and talk about how things take practice and discipline. I would really recommend this book to any type of reader and really hope it gets more hype at some point.
Overall rating: 9.0/10
Unputdownable (pace): 4/5
Writing style 4/5
World building/ Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Type: Fantasy/ Martial arts
Romance level: 1/5
Bloodshed level: 3/5
Funny/laughter level: 1/5
Spice level: 0/5
Cry/tears level: 3/5
I loved this book and can’t believe how under hyped this series is. I do think both books have a slow start but only for 50 pages and then it gets really good. I love the wisdom in the book, really makes me think and learn important things. I love how they describe combat scenes and talk about how things take practice and discipline. I would really recommend this book to any type of reader and really hope it gets more hype at some point.
Overall rating: 9.0/10
Unputdownable (pace): 4/5
Writing style 4/5
World building/ Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Type: Fantasy/ Martial arts
Romance level: 1/5
Bloodshed level: 3/5
Funny/laughter level: 1/5
Spice level: 0/5
Cry/tears level: 3/5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed this final installment of the Breathmarked series. It kept everything I loved about the first book—the characters felt real, the setting was easy to picture, and the writing was solid throughout.
I did have a couple of small issues, though. Some of the dialogue felt a bit too modern for the setting, and there were a few spots where the word choice felt repetitive, which broke the flow for me. That said, the length was perfect. A lot of people thought it was too short, but I liked that it didn't drag or over-explain things. It had just the right amount of action and talk. Definitely a great end to the series.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
I did have a couple of small issues, though. Some of the dialogue felt a bit too modern for the setting, and there were a few spots where the word choice felt repetitive, which broke the flow for me. That said, the length was perfect. A lot of people thought it was too short, but I liked that it didn't drag or over-explain things. It had just the right amount of action and talk. Definitely a great end to the series.
Thank you to the author, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I liked this one. The brothers’ relationship is wonderfully wrought and intertwined, despite their distance apart. In this sense, the story reads as expansive, deep, and epic, with family, duty, honor, and promises kept becoming apparent in short order (definitely in the first book and even more so in this conclusion). I didn’t love all of the characters or their arcs, but the plot overall came across as thoughtful and complex, leaving me wondering how everything could come together. Will be passing along the paperback ARC of this title that I won in a Goodreads Giveaway, but will be recommending it to folks who are particularly interested in YA fantasy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Like the first installment, Mark of the Warrior is full of martial arts action. There are fewer opportunities for character development, so it's possibly more difficult and less satisfying to read as a standalone. To me, the more creative parts of the novel have to do with the different kinds of breathmarked abilities among the Aspects and the different methods of fighting that develop in response to that. In the final scenes, kung fu almost seems more cerebral (akin to problem-solving) than physical (fitness or breath). The worlds of and the relationships between the characters seem thinner here, so four stars instead of five. But generally held my interest as a Fonda Lee fan.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Mark of the Warrior was a satisfying conclusion to the duology!
The writing, action, world-building, and pacing are reminiscent of the first book, which is a plus for me. I also loved the engaging plot and that the story starts off immediately where the last book left off. My favorite parts were definitely the character development and the ending.
Overall, if you loved the last book, I highly recommend the sequel!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review
The writing, action, world-building, and pacing are reminiscent of the first book, which is a plus for me. I also loved the engaging plot and that the story starts off immediately where the last book left off. My favorite parts were definitely the character development and the ending.
Overall, if you loved the last book, I highly recommend the sequel!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC(advanced reader copy) in return for an honest review
June 26, 2026
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a good conclusion to the duology. The writing is strong, which is extremely impressive with multiple authors working together. I do feel the story was stretched to make two separate books. A lot of additional things happened that did not really add to the story, but also did not take away from it. I think it would have been a better single standalone novel with some things removed. I still enjoyed the story and characters and overall.
This is a good conclusion to the duology. The writing is strong, which is extremely impressive with multiple authors working together. I do feel the story was stretched to make two separate books. A lot of additional things happened that did not really add to the story, but also did not take away from it. I think it would have been a better single standalone novel with some things removed. I still enjoyed the story and characters and overall.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
2.5 stars ⭐⭐
i liked the first book of this duology a lot but i fear the sequel fell sooooo flat. it felt like the first half of it quite honestly should’ve just happened at the end of book one in a much shorter amount of pages, and it dragged in this. also wasn’t completely obsessed with the way it ended and wish we would’ve gotten a different route. so.
★ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!! all opinions are my own <3
i liked the first book of this duology a lot but i fear the sequel fell sooooo flat. it felt like the first half of it quite honestly should’ve just happened at the end of book one in a much shorter amount of pages, and it dragged in this. also wasn’t completely obsessed with the way it ended and wish we would’ve gotten a different route. so.
★ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an arc!! all opinions are my own <3
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for this ARC!
A solid YA duology ending for fans of martial arts in media. What I felt lacked in plotline and character development in the first book was addressed in here. The internal conflicts experienced by the cast and political nuances were as engaging as the tournament brawls. Overall, a fun and entertaining take on the hero's journey.
A solid YA duology ending for fans of martial arts in media. What I felt lacked in plotline and character development in the first book was addressed in here. The internal conflicts experienced by the cast and political nuances were as engaging as the tournament brawls. Overall, a fun and entertaining take on the hero's journey.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you so much for the ARC. What a perfect conclusion to an amazing coming of age story! There are so many good messages for people all ages to be found in this duology.... I think master Bruce Lee would be so proud. What hit my emotions especially , was the story of perseverance and unexpected friendships. This is gentle poetic beauty at it's finest.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book, all opinions are my own.
This was a good continuation of the story, although it took me until about 35% in to get really invested. Here we are following Jun on his hunt for the Scroll of Heaven that was stolen from him. We also get to meet Sai, his twin brother. Loved the story overall, but the pacing felt a bit off.
This was a good continuation of the story, although it took me until about 35% in to get really invested. Here we are following Jun on his hunt for the Scroll of Heaven that was stolen from him. We also get to meet Sai, his twin brother. Loved the story overall, but the pacing felt a bit off.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
Loved the second book of the duo!
We follow the further adventures of Jun and Sai as they try to find a way to bring the East and West together again. Ren, Yin Yue and Sifu Chang are also back to play their important roles in the story. It is interesting to find out more about Jun and Sai and their story and abilities. A well told story that I enjoyed a lot!
Loved the second book of the duo!
We follow the further adventures of Jun and Sai as they try to find a way to bring the East and West together again. Ren, Yin Yue and Sifu Chang are also back to play their important roles in the story. It is interesting to find out more about Jun and Sai and their story and abilities. A well told story that I enjoyed a lot!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is full of martial arts action and a bit of mystery. I really appreciate that it didn’t have the ending that I wasn’t expecting. If you’ve read book one, you’ll love how it all comes together in this book.
I really enjoyed this book. The story is full of martial arts action and a bit of mystery. I really appreciate that it didn’t have the ending that I wasn’t expecting. If you’ve read book one, you’ll love how it all comes together in this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews