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qjbrown96's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay at best for me. Apparently I’m not that into Asian mythology and not familiar enough with martial arts to understand the lingo of things. There are some good parts that peak my interest and then dies off for me. A little disappointed after reading Time Salvager which is fantastic, his cover is cool and the world map is one of my favorites but there are so many instances in the book where it’s talking about a place but it is not on the map so the map is useless for the most part.
rwatkins's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked it. Overall: 4/5 (19.5/25)
If you like wuxia films, with Chinese inspirations and martial arts, this is that done well in book form. There are a lot of classic fantasy tropes blended in, including prophecy, a Chosen One, martial training school, mentors, a noble brat and found family. There is an odd clash between the humor and more serious moments and themes, but overall this is an excellent fantasy read reminiscent of movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, One-Armed Swordsman, Hero and others in that style.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3.5/5
A linear plot with some unexpected twists that didn't always serve the story well, but didn't actively harm it either.
The main plot involves a prophecy/religion centered around the belief that a destined chosen boy will one day kill the unkillable leader of an enemy people. Early on, this prophecy and religion are challenged to their core, when a nobody lucks into killing the unkillable, threatening the religion and the chosen one at its center. It doesn't help that the destined is not as prepared to become a warrior or leader as he should be.
With the breakdown of the prophecy and lack of training, the chosen is in peril from all ends and must hide while trying to train properly for his destiny, just in case.
Some promises made, such as a certain mentor-trainee relationship, are sharp-turned into something else, which may bother some readers. When these promises are broken with twists in the narrative, the trajectory the story does take is still entertaining.
Characters: 3.5/5
Many of the characters will feel familiar, fitting fantasy and wuxia staples.
Taishi, the elder grizzled veteran and war arts master, who watches over the chosen that reminds her so much of her son.
Jian, the sheltered and spoiled Chosen One, overly confident of his skills, now questioning his identity, his upbringing and his place in the world.
Qisami, the snarky but upbeat assassin sent after Jian and Taishi.
Sali, the gruff soldier trying to free her people from servitude after their unkillable leader is gone.
These character tropes and roles are all predictable but mostly enjoyable.
Setting: 4/5
The Chinese wuxia influences of martial arts as poetry in nature is evident with the descriptive names of fighting techniques. The actions and martial magic, such as dancing upon winds, leaping off leaves, stone-like skin, they are all so cool to me. Although nothing felt entirely new to me, I don't read much anime or manga, so I never feel an overabundance of these things in my reading, so it's refreshing when I do come across it, rather than the same bland Euro-medieval weapons, fighting and world.
Places like the Cloud Pillars, Sand Snake, and Grass Sea are all unique and flavorful. I hope to visit more of these memorable locations in future installments.
The map is one of the most beautiful, but it doesn't service the story very well. Many locations named in the story are not on the map. Kingdom borders are unclear. The Grass Sea is probably the eastern portion bordering the Blue Sea, but it isn't labeled or explained clearly through the writing. I'm relying on minimal context clues at times to follow along with the adventure on the map.
Style: 4.5/5
The pacing is good, with action scenes used throughout to break up training montages and mystery aspects so it never feels stalled or boring.
The writing is accessible and I never felt at a loss about what was going on. Some of the fight maneuvers are described only through their names, which may not be ideal, but I thought the titles of actions were descriptive enough to imagine what was happening.
Foreshadowing isn't the best, as some story promises do feel broken and some turns can be jarring. But I still had fun with wherever the story went, so this wasn't a huge negative for me.
Themes: 4/5
The Broken Prophecy and what that might mean for the zealots, the Chosen One, the commoner followers let down, the opportunists, the political competitors, the level-headed and patient who think beyond the immediate curfuffle - this is the driving theme for this novel and series. There are also aspects of revolution, seeking freedom, betrayal, found family, political and religious complications, difficulties of refugee life, and using violence as a tool to protect and hurt others.
I liked what was tackled here.
If you like wuxia films, with Chinese inspirations and martial arts, this is that done well in book form. There are a lot of classic fantasy tropes blended in, including prophecy, a Chosen One, martial training school, mentors, a noble brat and found family. There is an odd clash between the humor and more serious moments and themes, but overall this is an excellent fantasy read reminiscent of movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, One-Armed Swordsman, Hero and others in that style.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3.5/5
A linear plot with some unexpected twists that didn't always serve the story well, but didn't actively harm it either.
The main plot involves a prophecy/religion centered around the belief that a destined chosen boy will one day kill the unkillable leader of an enemy people. Early on, this prophecy and religion are challenged to their core, when a nobody lucks into killing the unkillable, threatening the religion and the chosen one at its center. It doesn't help that the destined is not as prepared to become a warrior or leader as he should be.
With the breakdown of the prophecy and lack of training, the chosen is in peril from all ends and must hide while trying to train properly for his destiny, just in case.
Some promises made, such as a certain mentor-trainee relationship, are sharp-turned into something else, which may bother some readers. When these promises are broken with twists in the narrative, the trajectory the story does take is still entertaining.
Characters: 3.5/5
Many of the characters will feel familiar, fitting fantasy and wuxia staples.
Taishi, the elder grizzled veteran and war arts master, who watches over the chosen that reminds her so much of her son.
Jian, the sheltered and spoiled Chosen One, overly confident of his skills, now questioning his identity, his upbringing and his place in the world.
Qisami, the snarky but upbeat assassin sent after Jian and Taishi.
Sali, the gruff soldier trying to free her people from servitude after their unkillable leader is gone.
These character tropes and roles are all predictable but mostly enjoyable.
Setting: 4/5
The Chinese wuxia influences of martial arts as poetry in nature is evident with the descriptive names of fighting techniques. The actions and martial magic, such as dancing upon winds, leaping off leaves, stone-like skin, they are all so cool to me. Although nothing felt entirely new to me, I don't read much anime or manga, so I never feel an overabundance of these things in my reading, so it's refreshing when I do come across it, rather than the same bland Euro-medieval weapons, fighting and world.
Places like the Cloud Pillars, Sand Snake, and Grass Sea are all unique and flavorful. I hope to visit more of these memorable locations in future installments.
The map is one of the most beautiful, but it doesn't service the story very well. Many locations named in the story are not on the map. Kingdom borders are unclear. The Grass Sea is probably the eastern portion bordering the Blue Sea, but it isn't labeled or explained clearly through the writing. I'm relying on minimal context clues at times to follow along with the adventure on the map.
Style: 4.5/5
The pacing is good, with action scenes used throughout to break up training montages and mystery aspects so it never feels stalled or boring.
The writing is accessible and I never felt at a loss about what was going on. Some of the fight maneuvers are described only through their names, which may not be ideal, but I thought the titles of actions were descriptive enough to imagine what was happening.
Foreshadowing isn't the best, as some story promises do feel broken and some turns can be jarring. But I still had fun with wherever the story went, so this wasn't a huge negative for me.
Themes: 4/5
The Broken Prophecy and what that might mean for the zealots, the Chosen One, the commoner followers let down, the opportunists, the political competitors, the level-headed and patient who think beyond the immediate curfuffle - this is the driving theme for this novel and series. There are also aspects of revolution, seeking freedom, betrayal, found family, political and religious complications, difficulties of refugee life, and using violence as a tool to protect and hurt others.
I liked what was tackled here.
poppyredshy999's review against another edition
4.0
overall: enjoyed first chapters, for some reason didn't so much after that.
halynah's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what a fun journey that was!! Taishi is just one of the best characters ever, such a badass, charismatic lady!! Loved the other characters too, totally enjoyed the humour!! Can't recommend it enough!!
literarydependent's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
milili's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dawn_marie's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu was a bit of a mixed bag for me. I liked the premise, taking the “chosen one” trope and twisting it – asking what if the prophecy about the chosen one is wrong – but thought it failed in execution.
The story centers on a prophecy claiming that a Hero/Champion of the Five will rise and defeat the Eternal Khan, the godlike figure who threatens the empire. Jian, the prophesized hero, lives a pampered life in the Celestial Palace spending his days training for the day he will meet the Khan. When Taishi, a war artist master determines that Jian’s skills are lacking, she decides to oversee his training. As things are wont to happen, things go badly wrong forcing Taishi and Jian to go on the run.
The story is told through four POVs: (1) Jian the spoiled, pampered prophesized hero forced into hiding, (2) Taishi, the grizzled, shape-tongued war art master, (3) Sali a “viperstrike” in service of the Khan, and (4) Qisami, the insane assassin (called shadowkill). Of the four main characters, I enjoyed Taishi’s POV the most. I appreciate that the author made this fearless, independent, irreverent, fight master an older woman (whom I pictured as Michelle Yeoh). I enjoyed her acerbic wit and her disregard for rules and traditions. I found Jian a bit whiny, but then again when you’ve spent your entire life being told you are the literal “chosen one”, having every whim catered to by an army of servants, and never wanting for anything I imagine you’d be a bit whiny when all that is taken away from you. I did get a small chuckle from the scene where Jian goes to investigate something, thinking he is acting the hero, only to come across as a bad cosplayer.
I have mixed feeling regarding Sali, on one hand I thought her journey of dealing with lost – through the quest to find her sister – interesting. On the other hand, the entire subplot surrounding herdesire and actions to murder Jian tedious. Really, why was she so bent on murdering Jian if the Khan can reincarnate? I found Qisami an extremely unlikeable character – not unlikeable as she’s an awful person but fun to read, but unlikeable in that she’s a poorly written character. The character is supposed to be quirky, making witty quips as she toys with those she is sent to murder. Unfortunately, that’s not what we get, we get a character where the author tries entirely too hard to be clever and completely fails. It got to the point where I started skimming chapters and scenes with Qisami.
The pacing was problematic. There were huge information dumps interspersed action sequences. While the information dumps were clunky and sometimes painful to read, they did provide useful details regarding the world and its history (you just had to shift through the awkward writing to find it). Despite the problematic info dumps, the fight scenes were detailed, well-choregraphed, and entertaining.
The biggest issue for me is that nothing is really resolved and the novel ends on a cliffhanger (one that was telegraphed). While I understand that this is the first novel in a series, I would think that at least one plot point would be resolved.
The Art of Prophecy has an interesting premise with problematic execution. Hopefully many of the flaws will be rectified in the second installment.
The story centers on a prophecy claiming that a Hero/Champion of the Five will rise and defeat the Eternal Khan, the godlike figure who threatens the empire. Jian, the prophesized hero, lives a pampered life in the Celestial Palace spending his days training for the day he will meet the Khan. When Taishi, a war artist master determines that Jian’s skills are lacking, she decides to oversee his training. As things are wont to happen, things go badly wrong forcing Taishi and Jian to go on the run.
The story is told through four POVs: (1) Jian the spoiled, pampered prophesized hero forced into hiding, (2) Taishi, the grizzled, shape-tongued war art master, (3) Sali a “viperstrike” in service of the Khan, and (4) Qisami, the insane assassin (called shadowkill). Of the four main characters, I enjoyed Taishi’s POV the most. I appreciate that the author made this fearless, independent, irreverent, fight master an older woman (whom I pictured as Michelle Yeoh). I enjoyed her acerbic wit and her disregard for rules and traditions. I found Jian a bit whiny, but then again when you’ve spent your entire life being told you are the literal “chosen one”, having every whim catered to by an army of servants, and never wanting for anything I imagine you’d be a bit whiny when all that is taken away from you. I did get a small chuckle from the scene where Jian goes to investigate something, thinking he is acting the hero, only to come across as a bad cosplayer.
I have mixed feeling regarding Sali, on one hand I thought her journey of dealing with lost – through the quest to find her sister – interesting. On the other hand, the entire subplot surrounding her
The pacing was problematic. There were huge information dumps interspersed action sequences. While the information dumps were clunky and sometimes painful to read, they did provide useful details regarding the world and its history (you just had to shift through the awkward writing to find it). Despite the problematic info dumps, the fight scenes were detailed, well-choregraphed, and entertaining.
The biggest issue for me is that nothing is really resolved and the novel ends on a cliffhanger (one that was telegraphed). While I understand that this is the first novel in a series, I would think that at least one plot point would be resolved.
The Art of Prophecy has an interesting premise with problematic execution. Hopefully many of the flaws will be rectified in the second installment.
dragon_64's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kvsreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bexsters's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75