I honestly cannot find negative thing to said about this book… i love everything i had read from it… from writing style, worldbuiling, character development to the epic fighting scenes, it’s everything i love in Fantasy book *insert all the heart eyes emojis here* except there is NO ROMANCE in this book 😁 but maybe i can get it in the next book? who knows 🤔 There is an obvious similarity between Art of War and the War Arts Saga, but that isn’t where the inspiration came from. I spent many years training in “wushu” which is an alternate description for what we know as Kung Fu, which actually means to ‘work hard.’ I know, it gets a little confusing. The term “wu shu” has several meanings. The literal translation means “martial technique” or “military art”. I played these definitions and meanings to create the War Arts Saga for the series.

We always appreciate a beautiful book cover! How involved in the process were you? Was there a particular aesthetic you hoped they’d portray? It does begin with a prophecy- A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom. Wesley Chu is the #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of twelve published novels. Chu is an accomplished martial artist and a former member of the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in film and television, worked as a model and stuntman, and summited Kilimanjaro. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Paula, and their two boys, Hunter and River.

Engrossing worldbuilding, appealing characters, and a sense of humor make this a winning entry in the Sanderson canon. A prophecy is unexpectedly foiled and a chosen hero cast adrift in this first of a fantasy trilogy inspired by Chinese martial arts films.

To save the kingdom, an unlikely band of heroes rise: Taishi, an old grandmaster who swore her days of battle were over; Sali, a warrior re-evaluating her allegiances; and Qisami, an assassin with questionable values. Together, the four embark on a journey more wondrous than any prophecy could foresee. Can you tell us a little something about your sequel, The Art of Destiny? Where will the story lead us next? One could make the argument that it was one of the first epic fantasies, filled with great conflict and big personalities. It also showed that even though it was set almost two thousand years ago, the more things changed the more people stayed the same. Jian wasn’t based off a person, but more a feeling of what it’s like to grow up as a young person with heavy expectations and responsibilities with so many demands thrusted upon him that were out of his control. He’s in many ways the personification of the teenage experience. Many readers have pointed out that he’s a little annoying at first, and that’s very fair assessment. The way I see it, how would you feel if you were put in his situation carrying the weight of an entire religion on your shoulders, and then failing everyone’s expectations before you even had a chance to do anything about it? So there's a prophecy and the one chosen to fulfil it has been discovered and his training has begun with a cadre of amazing instructors in a lush and exotic setting.

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But as it turns out, Jian has more to fear than death at the hands of his own people. Out in the Grass Sea, Sali of the Katuia has taken on an important quest now that the khan and her dear friend whom she had pledged her life to is now gone. And then there’s the mysterious Qisami, a ruthless bounty hunter and assassin who has been tasked to kill Jian. This is such an epic read!! I wasn’t sure what to expect as I don’t usually read books centered around martial arts that don’t have romance in them… but this was amazing!!! Taishi is an especially awesome character, being a combination of epic martial arts master and hilarious comedic relief. She is by far my favorite character. Although Jian really grew on me too. A twisted tale that turns Jian upside down and inside out as he prepares to face a destiny he’s no longer sure about.

Many times it felt as if the author was just trying to hit a word count because there would be descriptions or comments that were repeated throughout the chapters for no reason or he would use certain words in an attempt to sound smart, but really it just took me out of the story so I could see what the word meant. The prophecy is considered wrong because the Eternal Khan dies, but through Sali’s point of view, it’s revealed that the Eternal Khan will be reincarnated, as has been the case for centuries. This may sound like a minor distinction since it doesn’t change the fact that Jian was set aside out of a belief that the prophecy was wrong, but I found the premise of the prophecy being incorrect more interesting than this—especially since it seems odd that no one from Jian’s homeland seems to have realized there have been multiple Eternal Khans throughout the ages. (Of course, that may be explained later in the series.)well, i also got an ARC of this and i desperately wish i could say i am also friends with WC because his storytelling makes him seem awesome! I’ve learned early on in my professional career inside and outside of publishing that I don’t know what I don’t know, so I am a huge fan of subject matter expertise. This is especially the case when it comes to artwork. I’ve learned early on in adulthood that I have pretty bad taste. from robin hobbs review: ‘wes chu is a friend of mine. and his editor sent me an advance reading copy of this book.’ Perhaps my favorite part of the book lies in the core of the story told: the growth of the characters. At its heart, this is the kind of story I really, really enjoy. It’s about people thrust into certain roles and archetypes, and then defying them, outgrowing them, pushing themselves past the limits they’ve had imposed upon them. As events get rolling, everyone grows and changes. Everyone challenges the structure and norms of the life they’ve been living. I’d dare say, this is a coming of age story that spans all age groups. At the end of the book, no one is who they were at the start, and it’s that journey that Chu portrays so incredibly well. He not only created this dynamic, vibrant world but he filled it full of people who are messily growing and pushing beyond the roles they’ve been thrust into. Perhaps Jian’s evolution is the most obvious, but Sali, Qisami, and Taishi are powerful characters, whose growth throughout the book is masterfully worked and impressively executed. There’s one other thing that bothered me related to the book’s premise that I want to mention for others who also thought it sounded promising. Some may not consider this a spoiler since why the prophecy went wrong is revealed in the third chapter, and the aforementioned specific part is 20% of the way in, but it’s behind spoiler tags for those who would rather not know.

Sali, our point of view character in the Grass Sea, is fantastic. With a very “takes-no-shit” attitude, Sali has a way with walking into a room and just owning it (she also has one of the coolest weapons I’ve ever read in fantasy). Sali is one of those characters I could sink into so easily, and yet while she has a hard edge and she’s prone to uh… hurting people who cross her, she has a spine crafted of loyalty and love to her people and those she cares about. She has her own moral core, and her raw humanity is what makes the Grass Sea, this incredible, strange place that Chu created, so intensely captivating and immersive. I highly recommend this to everyone. Trust me, just give it a chance. It’s too hilarious and brilliant to pass up. Watch out for all the murder and blood though. Lots of that if that sort of thing bothers you. If you ever want to read a story written with heavy influence of toxic masculinity, this is the book for you. In the beginning it did make sense, our main character Jian was trained by several different masters and had the world catered to him because he was the Hero of Prophecy. He wasn't even allowed to be scratched, so yeah it makes sense that there is going to be extreme levels of arrogance when you think the entire world is below you. But there comes a certain point where you should see a change and some growth from the characters and you don't. The characters fell flat. The women could only be strong or damsels in distress, no in between. Everyone was the best and the strongest, until they weren't. And even when they weren't, they still somehow were? An epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao. In addition to the first two characters introduced, there are two other viewpoints, also written in third person. Sali is a mighty warrior and close friend of the Eternal Khan’s, and I did enjoy having the perspective of someone from the other side of the conflict. However, I found the first few chapters focusing on her role among her people more compelling than her later adventures, after she decides to search for someone. It probably didn’t help that the further I got into her story, the more she ran into the one character I did not like at all: Qisami, an assassin seeking Jian.An ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith, tradition, and family-a glorious reinvention of fantasy and wuxia tropes."-Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education The fantasy world depicted in The Art of Prophecy is vivid and fascinating. Based on familiar and expected, it adds unique worldbuilding (from the setting and the creatures that inhabit it to the weapons and techniques used by War Masters). Take the Grass Sea and its harsh ecosystem, for example. An endless plain of indestructible plants, each as tall as a tree. Katuia children inhabiting the area practice blade jumping, which is as exhilarating as dangerous because of the risk of the fall or being eaten by the whale-birds or other creatures. Ah, this year has been a thing that’s happened. I’m going to try to get in the habit of writing at least one review a week from now on, but I’ve been extremely busy and I just haven’t had time. So, here I am. Disgusted, Taishi decides to take the boy on as her apprentice, determined to transform him into the hero that the prophecy promised. Having been doted on and spoiled his entire life, Jian initially rebels against her harsh training, but then the two of them eventually reach a point of mutual respect—just in time to receive the news that the Eternal Khan has died. In a single moment, Jian’s entire world is turned upside down. For if the nemesis that he was fated to kill is already dead, then where does that leave him? Sensing that the boy will be in great danger now that the entire prophecy has crumbled around him, Taishi escapes the palace with Jian and takes him to a warrior arts school, where she plans to hide him until the danger has passed. Wuxia is a genre that has kept reinventing itself over millennia of Chinese history. I recollect reading that a literary critic and scholar bitterly complained about its hoary cliches and the rotten public taste for such tales--and that was a couple centuries BC.