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War Arts #2
The Art of Destiny
A hero once believed to be the chosen one must find a new path with the help of a band of unlikely allies in the sequel to The Art of Prophecy, an epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic from the #1 New York Times bestselling author Wesley Chu.
Once there was a prophecy that a chosen one would rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, an immortal god-king.
But the prophecy was wrong.
Now Jian, the former chosen hero, is just an ordinary young man trying to find his own way. But he may yet have an extraordinary destiny, because he joins forces with Taishi, his grumpy grandmaster, who instructs him in the ways of her family's powerful war art. Jian still has a long way to go before he can become her heir, so she recruits a band of elderly grandmasters who come out of retirement to whip him into shape and help with this one last job.
And there are others who are also seeking their own destiny, like Qisami, an assassin on a secret mission to protect a powerful noblewoman from her enemies. But as Qisami goes undercover to complete her mission, she takes on a new identity that gives her something she never had before: friendship, found family, and new purpose.
Sali also thought her fate was laid before her. She was supposed to be looking for the next Eternal Khan and now finds her clan exiled from everything she's ever known. As she leads the survivors in search of a new home, Sali discovers that she's something she never thought she could be: a leader and a revolutionary.
Because sometimes destiny is grander than any prophecy can foresee. And the greatest destiny of all is the one you choose for yourself.
Once there was a prophecy that a chosen one would rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, an immortal god-king.
But the prophecy was wrong.
Now Jian, the former chosen hero, is just an ordinary young man trying to find his own way. But he may yet have an extraordinary destiny, because he joins forces with Taishi, his grumpy grandmaster, who instructs him in the ways of her family's powerful war art. Jian still has a long way to go before he can become her heir, so she recruits a band of elderly grandmasters who come out of retirement to whip him into shape and help with this one last job.
And there are others who are also seeking their own destiny, like Qisami, an assassin on a secret mission to protect a powerful noblewoman from her enemies. But as Qisami goes undercover to complete her mission, she takes on a new identity that gives her something she never had before: friendship, found family, and new purpose.
Sali also thought her fate was laid before her. She was supposed to be looking for the next Eternal Khan and now finds her clan exiled from everything she's ever known. As she leads the survivors in search of a new home, Sali discovers that she's something she never thought she could be: a leader and a revolutionary.
Because sometimes destiny is grander than any prophecy can foresee. And the greatest destiny of all is the one you choose for yourself.
656 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 10, 2023
185 people are currently reading
6575 people want to read
About the author
Wesley Chu
28 books2,144 followersWesley Chu is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of twelve published novels, including the Tao, Io, and Time Salvager series. He was the 2015 winner of the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. His debut, The Lives of Tao, won the American Library Association's Alex Award, and was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards for Best Science Fiction. He is the coauthor of the Eldest Curses series with Cassandra Clare. Robert Kirkman tapped Chu to write The Walking Dead: Typhoon, the first Walking Dead novel set in Asia.
Chu is an accomplished martial artist and a former member of the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in film and television, and has worked as a model and stuntman, and recently returned from summiting Kilimanjaro. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Paula, and two boys, Hunter and River.
Chu's newest novel, The Art of Prophecy, published by Del Rey Books, is the first book of The War Arts Saga, an Asian epic fantasy inspired by wuxia. The series is currently in development at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Chu is an accomplished martial artist and a former member of the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in film and television, and has worked as a model and stuntman, and recently returned from summiting Kilimanjaro. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Paula, and two boys, Hunter and River.
Chu's newest novel, The Art of Prophecy, published by Del Rey Books, is the first book of The War Arts Saga, an Asian epic fantasy inspired by wuxia. The series is currently in development at Sony Pictures Entertainment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 350 reviews
November 7, 2023
when i read ‘the art of prophecy,’ i could tell WC is just a cool person. only a cool person could create such a cool story. and while this sequel doesnt change that opinion, im walking away feeling a little ‘meh’ about it.
primarily because this feels like an over-extended filler sequel. i did enjoy that the master and student were finally together after being separated in the first book and that their POV chapters were often combined. but im pretty bummed that the other POVs dont intermix and entangle as much as they did in the first book. they feel very separate. most likely to set up the next book, but it made an already long book feel even longer.
that being said, this sequel maintains the action, humour, and soul i have come to associate with WCs storytelling and im looking forward to seeing it develop even more as the series continues.
↠ 3.5 stars
primarily because this feels like an over-extended filler sequel. i did enjoy that the master and student were finally together after being separated in the first book and that their POV chapters were often combined. but im pretty bummed that the other POVs dont intermix and entangle as much as they did in the first book. they feel very separate. most likely to set up the next book, but it made an already long book feel even longer.
that being said, this sequel maintains the action, humour, and soul i have come to associate with WCs storytelling and im looking forward to seeing it develop even more as the series continues.
↠ 3.5 stars
May 19, 2025
Before I will start my review, I want to point out that a three star rating is NOT a negative rating.
Okay, now. If I have to be honest, I have mixed feelings about this book. There were things that worked for me pretty well, but also things that didn't work at all. Let's dive in.
The Art of Destiny takes place three years after the events of the previous book, and deals with the consequences of the broken prophecy. The main cast of the story hadn't changed. There were four POV's in the previous book, and there are also four POV's in this one. What changed are the situation of all the heroes and the situation of their nations. Desperate times came when the prophecy broke and the Prophesied Hero of the Tiandi disappeared with the windwhispering master Ling Taishi. The five dukes suddenly decided that it's time to choose a new emperor and, because of that, caused a civil war.
What I liked in the story:
~ the expanded worldbuilding.
The worldbuilding shown in book one was already very interesting, but I ended up feeling unsatisfied. I'm glad that book two shown more of the world, its' laws, its' traditions, beliefs and, most of all, the various war arts of the people. I liked the introduction of the mindseers, and the stormchasers and the so-called Bone Clan. I liked the descriptions of various styles used by the war arts' masters and the various tests for their heirs. I will be looking forward to find out more in book three.
~ better sense of humour.
I haven't pointed it out my previous review, but the jokes placed in book one didn't work for me at all. During the reading of book two, however, I found myself chuckling quite a lot of times.
~ the relationships between Jian and Taishi, and Sali and Hampa:
These two relationships were the highlight of the story for me. I'm such a sucker for family feelings, and this book certainly delivered. I already fallen in love with Taishi and Jian while reading book one, but never felt anything strong for either Sali nor Hampa. I'm glad to say that book two changed that for the better. Taishi and Jian are a master and a student, officially, but unofficially, they are a mother and a son, no matter if they said that out loud or not. It's how they act, it shows how much they care for one another. Now, when it comes to the topic of Sali and Hampa, they are also a master and a student, officially, but unofficially they are siblings. I loved how they called each other 'sister' and 'brother', and how far they were both willing to go for the sake of the other. That's a found family, right there.
~ Qisami's growth.
I called it "growth", but maybe I should call it as "change". Anyways, I really, really liked the path that the author had choose for Qisami's character. It's not a secret that she was my least liked character in book one. I hated her. She was just a ruthless killer, who enjoyed taking lives and was looking for fame and money. Surprisingly, book two shown that she actually has a heart. She can actually care for somebody, so much so that she's ready to point blank refuse to make a kill. Overall, she went through a lot during this book. I liked that, and I wonder where book three will take her.
~ The prophecy change and the truth behind the Eternal Khan.
This was something I couldn't have predicted, no matter what. I really like the twists and turns that the author is making with the prophecy! It hurts the heroes, yes, and it forces them to change their path and their decisions, also yes, but it's necessary and makes the story more and more interesting for the reader who doesn't know where he will be taken next and what changes awaits their favorite characters.
~ The civil war between the dukes.
It was something that was obviously going to happen, considering the events of book one. I liked how the dukes, who were only briefly shown in book one, took more central stage in book two. I wonder how their conflict will grow now (or stop, maybe), considering how book two had ended.
~ The war arts masters.
They were such a colorful and bright addition to the story. Everyone were different, and everyone brought something unique with them, with all their strengths and their flaws. I liked that a lot. And I liked the shared histories between the masters and Taishi, and I liked their bonds with their chosen heirs. It was beautiful and inspiring.
~ The ending (Jian's decision).
That was something that caught me off guard, because what?? What does it mean?? Is the world ending??
Okay, now the not so good things. There aren't much, but for me felt significant, so much so that I couldn't give this book the high rating I wanted to. My biggest problem with The Art of Destiny was the fact that most of the events wouldn't have happened if the characters didn't act stupid. That was blatantly obvious, even for me who's not the brightest star in the universe. All the characters should've been smart enough to avoid the things that happened to them. Truly. But if they avoided it, the rest of the story wouldn't happened, or the events would simply change. I hope that book three will be constructed better than this.
The other problem I had with the book was the constant use of descriptions and dialogues, that didn't bring much to the story, being nothing more than fillers to make the story longer. So many events of this book could easily be merged with book three making this book a little useless. I'm sorry to say this, because I love this world and these characters.
My last problem was the ending. Yes, the ending. It was both a good thing and a bad thing for me. I liked the cliffhanger, but I didn't like the so-called "plot twist" that happened seconds before that. Things looked really serious, and I had tears in my eyes, just to turn the page to the "haha, it was just an act!". I should feel relieved, but, to be honest, all I feel is anger. I don't like to be played this way, it's unfair, no matter if it's necessary or not.
Anyways, despite all the issues, I'm still looking forward to read book three. I am eagerly anticipating it, I'm curious what will happen next, considering the events of book two. How many changes will they bring to the story now? I hope that I will have a chance to read it and even more, than I will give it a high rating and a positive review, because this series has a ton of potential.
The War Arts series - my rating:
The Art of Prophecy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
The Art of Destiny: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
Okay, now. If I have to be honest, I have mixed feelings about this book. There were things that worked for me pretty well, but also things that didn't work at all. Let's dive in.
The Art of Destiny takes place three years after the events of the previous book, and deals with the consequences of the broken prophecy. The main cast of the story hadn't changed. There were four POV's in the previous book, and there are also four POV's in this one. What changed are the situation of all the heroes and the situation of their nations. Desperate times came when the prophecy broke and the Prophesied Hero of the Tiandi disappeared with the windwhispering master Ling Taishi. The five dukes suddenly decided that it's time to choose a new emperor and, because of that, caused a civil war.
What I liked in the story:
~ the expanded worldbuilding.
The worldbuilding shown in book one was already very interesting, but I ended up feeling unsatisfied. I'm glad that book two shown more of the world, its' laws, its' traditions, beliefs and, most of all, the various war arts of the people. I liked the introduction of the mindseers, and the stormchasers and the so-called Bone Clan. I liked the descriptions of various styles used by the war arts' masters and the various tests for their heirs. I will be looking forward to find out more in book three.
~ better sense of humour.
I haven't pointed it out my previous review, but the jokes placed in book one didn't work for me at all. During the reading of book two, however, I found myself chuckling quite a lot of times.
~ the relationships between Jian and Taishi, and Sali and Hampa:
These two relationships were the highlight of the story for me. I'm such a sucker for family feelings, and this book certainly delivered. I already fallen in love with Taishi and Jian while reading book one, but never felt anything strong for either Sali nor Hampa. I'm glad to say that book two changed that for the better. Taishi and Jian are a master and a student, officially, but unofficially, they are a mother and a son, no matter if they said that out loud or not. It's how they act, it shows how much they care for one another. Now, when it comes to the topic of Sali and Hampa, they are also a master and a student, officially, but unofficially they are siblings. I loved how they called each other 'sister' and 'brother', and how far they were both willing to go for the sake of the other. That's a found family, right there.
~ Qisami's growth.
I called it "growth", but maybe I should call it as "change". Anyways, I really, really liked the path that the author had choose for Qisami's character. It's not a secret that she was my least liked character in book one. I hated her. She was just a ruthless killer, who enjoyed taking lives and was looking for fame and money. Surprisingly, book two shown that she actually has a heart. She can actually care for somebody, so much so that she's ready to point blank refuse to make a kill. Overall, she went through a lot during this book. I liked that, and I wonder where book three will take her.
~ The prophecy change and the truth behind the Eternal Khan.
This was something I couldn't have predicted, no matter what. I really like the twists and turns that the author is making with the prophecy! It hurts the heroes, yes, and it forces them to change their path and their decisions, also yes, but it's necessary and makes the story more and more interesting for the reader who doesn't know where he will be taken next and what changes awaits their favorite characters.
~ The civil war between the dukes.
It was something that was obviously going to happen, considering the events of book one. I liked how the dukes, who were only briefly shown in book one, took more central stage in book two. I wonder how their conflict will grow now (or stop, maybe), considering how book two had ended.
~ The war arts masters.
They were such a colorful and bright addition to the story. Everyone were different, and everyone brought something unique with them, with all their strengths and their flaws. I liked that a lot. And I liked the shared histories between the masters and Taishi, and I liked their bonds with their chosen heirs. It was beautiful and inspiring.
~ The ending (Jian's decision).
That was something that caught me off guard, because what?? What does it mean?? Is the world ending??
Okay, now the not so good things. There aren't much, but for me felt significant, so much so that I couldn't give this book the high rating I wanted to. My biggest problem with The Art of Destiny was the fact that most of the events wouldn't have happened if the characters didn't act stupid. That was blatantly obvious, even for me who's not the brightest star in the universe. All the characters should've been smart enough to avoid the things that happened to them. Truly. But if they avoided it, the rest of the story wouldn't happened, or the events would simply change. I hope that book three will be constructed better than this.
The other problem I had with the book was the constant use of descriptions and dialogues, that didn't bring much to the story, being nothing more than fillers to make the story longer. So many events of this book could easily be merged with book three making this book a little useless. I'm sorry to say this, because I love this world and these characters.
My last problem was the ending. Yes, the ending. It was both a good thing and a bad thing for me. I liked the cliffhanger, but I didn't like the so-called "plot twist" that happened seconds before that. Things looked really serious, and I had tears in my eyes, just to turn the page to the "haha, it was just an act!". I should feel relieved, but, to be honest, all I feel is anger. I don't like to be played this way, it's unfair, no matter if it's necessary or not.
Anyways, despite all the issues, I'm still looking forward to read book three. I am eagerly anticipating it, I'm curious what will happen next, considering the events of book two. How many changes will they bring to the story now? I hope that I will have a chance to read it and even more, than I will give it a high rating and a positive review, because this series has a ton of potential.
The War Arts series - my rating:
The Art of Prophecy: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
The Art of Destiny: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
March 18, 2024
7.72 on CAWPILE
March 17, 2024
3.0 Stars
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I found myself rather bored by this one. I liked parts of it, but found it too long for the amount of plot progression that happened. I'm not sure if I'll continue.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but I found myself rather bored by this one. I liked parts of it, but found it too long for the amount of plot progression that happened. I'm not sure if I'll continue.
July 7, 2023
4.8 stars! i adore this silly goofy heartfelt series so much that i am so grateful that i got an arc of the second book in this series! the first book charmed me, but this one was mesmerizing and explosive in its character-driven headassery and epic, wuxia-style battle scenes. no second book letdown syndrome here!
set after a couple of years after the end of the first book, wen jian is steadily (generously speaking) building his way towards being the master windwhisper, being the disciple of ling taishi, a grandmaster war artist and one of the most powerful women in the enlightened states. wen jian is so pathetic meow meow because mild spoiler: he tried to hug a wild cat. he is so "if not friend, why friend shaped?" coded. i adore this dumbass. no wonder taishi protects him (often from himself). she sees him as an orphaned puppy, and their stern mother-and-idiotic son relationship made me so soft. and seeing his development and growth throughout this book into a semi-competent, somewhat confident teenage boy makes me so proud of him (i'll say it because taishi won't).
this book, in particular, is strongly character-driven, which is excellent storytelling because the characters are the heart of this immersive world. i adored seeing old characters and getting to meet the new ones that i fell in love with. split into 3 story lines of jian and taishi, qisami, and sali, this story was packed back to back with humor, heartfelt growth, stunning realizations, and heroic (and not so heroic) deaths. even though some plot lines are memorable than others, there was still a purpose behind each character's motivations that flowed so well with the overarching plot (the lore building in sali's plot line was jaw-dropping) (and that last chapter? i demand a return on my sadness! that authorial decision was so good). admittedly, i didn't know how the second book could have topped the first one in my mind, but it did, and i am in awe.
the only things that were missing for me in this one was grammar (easy to fix, but it was noticeable at some parts but that's what editing is for) and continuity issues (zofi not being mentioned at all during one scene (so i thought they left her behind) and then suddenly showing up out of nowhere (which threw me for a loop)). other than that, i had a fantastic time reading.
i have so many notes and annotations that i'm shaking with anticipation to share once this book comes out, but all i have left to say is that this book got me out of my months-long reading slump, so not only do i have adoration for this story but also gratitude for making me literate again. please add this series to your tbr - it's just too good. happy reading!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc for an honest review!
set after a couple of years after the end of the first book, wen jian is steadily (generously speaking) building his way towards being the master windwhisper, being the disciple of ling taishi, a grandmaster war artist and one of the most powerful women in the enlightened states. wen jian is so pathetic meow meow because mild spoiler: he tried to hug a wild cat. he is so "if not friend, why friend shaped?" coded. i adore this dumbass. no wonder taishi protects him (often from himself). she sees him as an orphaned puppy, and their stern mother-and-idiotic son relationship made me so soft. and seeing his development and growth throughout this book into a semi-competent, somewhat confident teenage boy makes me so proud of him (i'll say it because taishi won't).
this book, in particular, is strongly character-driven, which is excellent storytelling because the characters are the heart of this immersive world. i adored seeing old characters and getting to meet the new ones that i fell in love with. split into 3 story lines of jian and taishi, qisami, and sali, this story was packed back to back with humor, heartfelt growth, stunning realizations, and heroic (and not so heroic) deaths. even though some plot lines are memorable than others, there was still a purpose behind each character's motivations that flowed so well with the overarching plot (the lore building in sali's plot line was jaw-dropping) (and that last chapter? i demand a return on my sadness! that authorial decision was so good). admittedly, i didn't know how the second book could have topped the first one in my mind, but it did, and i am in awe.
the only things that were missing for me in this one was grammar (easy to fix, but it was noticeable at some parts but that's what editing is for) and continuity issues (zofi not being mentioned at all during one scene (so i thought they left her behind) and then suddenly showing up out of nowhere (which threw me for a loop)). other than that, i had a fantastic time reading.
i have so many notes and annotations that i'm shaking with anticipation to share once this book comes out, but all i have left to say is that this book got me out of my months-long reading slump, so not only do i have adoration for this story but also gratitude for making me literate again. please add this series to your tbr - it's just too good. happy reading!
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for providing me an arc for an honest review!
Read
January 1, 2024I had a BLAST reading this - what a way to start 2024. A love letter to wuxia and the prophesised hero trope while also turning it on its head, making it so much fun and interesting.
Given that I loved all of the characters in the first book, I felt rewarded when The Art of Destiny was pretty much a character-driven story that delves deeper into the world, the conflict, the lore, and, most importantly, the characters and their own challenges. Jian is the definition of failing upwards, but he is so earnest and real that I couldn't help but adore him. Qisami was the character that surprised me the most; I particularly loved her chapters.
For better or for worse, I do feel that The Art of Destiny is building up to an explosive final installment to the series. The pace isn't as quick as the first book, but I didn't mind at all; this book has so much humour and silliness, balanced with soul and love that I couldn't help but enjoy myself.
Given that I loved all of the characters in the first book, I felt rewarded when The Art of Destiny was pretty much a character-driven story that delves deeper into the world, the conflict, the lore, and, most importantly, the characters and their own challenges. Jian is the definition of failing upwards, but he is so earnest and real that I couldn't help but adore him. Qisami was the character that surprised me the most; I particularly loved her chapters.
For better or for worse, I do feel that The Art of Destiny is building up to an explosive final installment to the series. The pace isn't as quick as the first book, but I didn't mind at all; this book has so much humour and silliness, balanced with soul and love that I couldn't help but enjoy myself.
March 8, 2024
I THOUGHT THIS WAS A DUOLOGY ITS A TRILOGY
im honestly so annoyed i thought that because what took away from my enjoyment at parts was feeling like the author was taking too long with certain parts and i was Iike come on??? We have to close up the story?? But its a middle book 🤦♀️
Tempted to immediately reread because this had 5⭐️ moments and I didn’t appreciate them because I was so concerned about the pacing.
im honestly so annoyed i thought that because what took away from my enjoyment at parts was feeling like the author was taking too long with certain parts and i was Iike come on??? We have to close up the story?? But its a middle book 🤦♀️
Tempted to immediately reread because this had 5⭐️ moments and I didn’t appreciate them because I was so concerned about the pacing.
July 15, 2023
Wesley Chu’s “The Art of Prophecy” was one of my favorite reads of 2022. It’s phenomenal. I was thrilled to dive back into the world of The War Arts Saga.
Set a few years after the events of the first book, the story shows the main players changed, both physically and emotionally. It’s fascinating to see someone like Maza Quisami express genuine human emotions. You might even expect her to embark on a redemption arc of sorts, but Chu shatters those dreams.
“The Art of Destiny” is emotionally engaging, imaginative, and filled with excellent character arcs. The vivid descriptions of the world and the intense battles between the War Arts Masters are truly spectacular. Some of the fight scenes run for several pages. They're vivid, and kinetic, and made me think of visually stunning fight sequences from kung fu movies (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
On the flip side, I felt that this sequel was a bit too long and contained scenes that contributed little to the overall story. They lengthened it without adding impact. Did it diminish my enjoyment? Absolutely not. It’s still a wonderful and heartfelt tale, featuring larger-than-life characters with strong emotional journeys. Chu has created the world I love returning to, and characters I adore.
I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!
Set a few years after the events of the first book, the story shows the main players changed, both physically and emotionally. It’s fascinating to see someone like Maza Quisami express genuine human emotions. You might even expect her to embark on a redemption arc of sorts, but Chu shatters those dreams.
“The Art of Destiny” is emotionally engaging, imaginative, and filled with excellent character arcs. The vivid descriptions of the world and the intense battles between the War Arts Masters are truly spectacular. Some of the fight scenes run for several pages. They're vivid, and kinetic, and made me think of visually stunning fight sequences from kung fu movies (think Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon).
On the flip side, I felt that this sequel was a bit too long and contained scenes that contributed little to the overall story. They lengthened it without adding impact. Did it diminish my enjoyment? Absolutely not. It’s still a wonderful and heartfelt tale, featuring larger-than-life characters with strong emotional journeys. Chu has created the world I love returning to, and characters I adore.
I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!
March 18, 2024
so much fun. such cool characters. fight scenes 10/10. the arrow to the knee joke was excellent.
November 8, 2023
Jian - Prophesied Hero of the Tiandi, the Champion of the Five under the Heaven, the Saviour of the Zhuun, and also probably the most wanted man in all the Enlightened
States; his begrudging mentor Tashi - Grandmaster of the Windwhispering School; and the tenacious mapmaker’s daughter Zofi are living in hiding, avoiding notice, and capture, from the Dukes as Jian completes his training. Hopefully before Tashi dies.
Qisami is taking low-paid jobs with her cell as a Shadowkill assassin, disgraced after failing to take out Jian.
Finally, there’s Sali who is dying from soul rot, but if she is cured, then the last of the Khan's soul would be returned and he would be free to reenter this world and bring ruin.
Thank you to Tor for providing the physical arc in exchange for a review.
Wesley Chu has such an addictive writing style that reminds me of Ken Liu. Honestly, I’m both sad and happy I don’t annotate my books because this probably would have had highlights every few pages!
I think Chu has now established himself as an auto-read author.
Character development and personalities are vibrant and the centre of this book. Yes, there’s fighting arts and magic; spies and secrets; prophecies and destinies - yet it’s the characters that are the most interesting and endearing part and make this book so special, unique, and compelling.
”Listen closely, girl. Men tend to erase women from history. We do not do that for them.”
War seems inevitable - half of the Enlightened States is built for waging war, and the other half is built for supporting it. The financial potential relies on having someone to fight. Therefore, expect politics, alliances, and lots of backstabbing.
This depicts the power of publicity, favour, controlling the narrative, and the true role of history. How the dominant actors can define issues by controlling ideology, belief, and yes, even prophecy.
Also, at the forefront of this book is who are the good guys? Who is on the right side of history?
I would recommend this if you liked The Poppy War, the Dandelion Dynasty, Sword of Kaigen, or The Water Outlaws.
”He can find his own purpose in life instead of being led by a leash. Life continues even after destiny ends."
Bookstagram
States; his begrudging mentor Tashi - Grandmaster of the Windwhispering School; and the tenacious mapmaker’s daughter Zofi are living in hiding, avoiding notice, and capture, from the Dukes as Jian completes his training. Hopefully before Tashi dies.
Qisami is taking low-paid jobs with her cell as a Shadowkill assassin, disgraced after failing to take out Jian.
Finally, there’s Sali who is dying from soul rot, but if she is cured, then the last of the Khan's soul would be returned and he would be free to reenter this world and bring ruin.
Thank you to Tor for providing the physical arc in exchange for a review.
Wesley Chu has such an addictive writing style that reminds me of Ken Liu. Honestly, I’m both sad and happy I don’t annotate my books because this probably would have had highlights every few pages!
I think Chu has now established himself as an auto-read author.
Character development and personalities are vibrant and the centre of this book. Yes, there’s fighting arts and magic; spies and secrets; prophecies and destinies - yet it’s the characters that are the most interesting and endearing part and make this book so special, unique, and compelling.
”Listen closely, girl. Men tend to erase women from history. We do not do that for them.”
War seems inevitable - half of the Enlightened States is built for waging war, and the other half is built for supporting it. The financial potential relies on having someone to fight. Therefore, expect politics, alliances, and lots of backstabbing.
This depicts the power of publicity, favour, controlling the narrative, and the true role of history. How the dominant actors can define issues by controlling ideology, belief, and yes, even prophecy.
Also, at the forefront of this book is who are the good guys? Who is on the right side of history?
I would recommend this if you liked The Poppy War, the Dandelion Dynasty, Sword of Kaigen, or The Water Outlaws.
”He can find his own purpose in life instead of being led by a leash. Life continues even after destiny ends."
Bookstagram
April 23, 2024
The Art Of Prophecy was one of my favorite read last year, it was all around a fantasy book that checked all my favorite things : Good Characterization, Asian Inspired, Lush worldbuilding, fun adventure, easy to follow plot and of course great writing style!!
I have high hope for The Art Of Destiny and i didn’t disappointed 😍 Wesley Chu did it again!
This story took 3 years after the event in The Art Of Prophecy, we still follow the same POVS in book 1 (Jian, Tiashi, Salminde & Qisami) and the story still gave me the same experience like in book 1, i love every single page i had read! the humor is everything… it wasn’t too much and make me chuckled so many times.
While in book 1 my favorite POV is Jian, this time Qisami POV really shone for me 😍 i love Chu gave her more layer and humane side rather than just some crazy heartless b*tch, her POV i think is the most funny one and the most intense, Qisami is definetly one of my fav grey area character!
Yes this book suffered the second book syndrom, it really felt like bridge for book 3 and took a bit too long but i enjoyed it nevertheless
I cannot wait for book 3 AHHHHHH, this series became one of my favorite series of all time now
I have high hope for The Art Of Destiny and i didn’t disappointed 😍 Wesley Chu did it again!
This story took 3 years after the event in The Art Of Prophecy, we still follow the same POVS in book 1 (Jian, Tiashi, Salminde & Qisami) and the story still gave me the same experience like in book 1, i love every single page i had read! the humor is everything… it wasn’t too much and make me chuckled so many times.
While in book 1 my favorite POV is Jian, this time Qisami POV really shone for me 😍 i love Chu gave her more layer and humane side rather than just some crazy heartless b*tch, her POV i think is the most funny one and the most intense, Qisami is definetly one of my fav grey area character!
Yes this book suffered the second book syndrom, it really felt like bridge for book 3 and took a bit too long but i enjoyed it nevertheless
I cannot wait for book 3 AHHHHHH, this series became one of my favorite series of all time now
August 21, 2023
Mildly belated arc review.
Everything I loved about the first book I also enjoyed in this one. It’s funny, the characters are original and fresh, the world-building is lush. I had a good time reading it. Unfortunately it also didn’t introduce anything new that I found particularly interesting or that justified the time it took to read it. Much of the book felt very slice of life to me. For a good chuck of the book we slow down, and just look at how the characters live, which is nice, but becomes repetitive.
In book 1, the separate POVs play really well off each other, but in this one they feel more disparate. We’re clearly setting them all up for a big things in book 3, but because it never comes together here, the pay-off is underwhelming. I was also, notably more invested in Taishi and Jian’s portions of the book, despite my carry-over interest in the characters, Sali’s chapters in particular just left me unengaged.
It was a fun time. I’m genuinely excited to see how things go in the next book, it just wasn’t a fave in the same way The Art of Prophecy was for me.
Everything I loved about the first book I also enjoyed in this one. It’s funny, the characters are original and fresh, the world-building is lush. I had a good time reading it. Unfortunately it also didn’t introduce anything new that I found particularly interesting or that justified the time it took to read it. Much of the book felt very slice of life to me. For a good chuck of the book we slow down, and just look at how the characters live, which is nice, but becomes repetitive.
In book 1, the separate POVs play really well off each other, but in this one they feel more disparate. We’re clearly setting them all up for a big things in book 3, but because it never comes together here, the pay-off is underwhelming. I was also, notably more invested in Taishi and Jian’s portions of the book, despite my carry-over interest in the characters, Sali’s chapters in particular just left me unengaged.
It was a fun time. I’m genuinely excited to see how things go in the next book, it just wasn’t a fave in the same way The Art of Prophecy was for me.
December 30, 2023
I really liked it. Overall: 4/5 (19.5/25)
If you liked the first book in The War Arts Saga, I think you will enjoy the second. Inspired by wuxia films, with Chinese inspirations and martial arts. Some of the same fantasy tropes are used again, including a spin on Prophecy, the Chosen One, martial training school, mentors and found family. There is a lack of description for some action scenes, relying on naming martial moves to paint the picture, which may work for some readers but not others. This is another excellent fantasy read reminiscent of movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, One-Armed Swordsman, and Hero.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3.5/5
A promise made in Book 1 finally comes to fruition as Taishi trains Jian, until she is called away on a mission. The irresponsible mentor is left in charge of the trainees and an Uncle Buck situation ensues. Meanwhile, Taishi investigates a shift in the prophecy and faces pressure to enter the dangerous world of politics.
The third plotline follows a fallen assassin forced into a job pretending to be domesticated. She finds the life suits her, and the inkling of a betrayal/redemption arc is seeded.
Last, the stoic soldier fends off the effects of her looming cursed bond.
Much of the book is establishing the sides, setting the stage and moving the pieces into place for the next book. It did a decent job of accomplishing this without being obvious about it.
Characters: 4.5/5
Taishi is facing her mortality as her age and illness work together against her. Jian remains mostly clueless and inept. Their wider found family, the new mentors and trainees brought in to help with Jian's training, were all-stars and brought a much needed fullness to the characterization of side characters. There is some depth given to each, with their own external or internal arcs, distinct personalities and capabilities. This added a new level to Chu's characterization I felt was missing in TAoP.
Quisami is shown to have layers. It's interesting to see her establish limits and boundaries to her craft, glimpse into who and what she could have been, but her undeserved arrogance despite her situation is still there.
Sali has a very similar external story arc as before, with a different motivation of curing her illness in place of finding her sister. She has the least growth in this book, even less than many of the side characters.
Chu does a great job in rounding out most of his characters, showing them in different angles, lenses, and lights, so that they become more rich and full. They feel like the same people, but with many sides to them, making them really come alive and feel realistic.
Setting: 3.5/5
With the setting already established, there isn't a whole lot built upon the earlier foundations. The biggest change is a shift in the religion as the prophecy is updated. This is only seen through some confused monk fanatics though, with wider world implications are mostly ignored, so there isn't a lot of depth to this change.
The Cloud Pillars are more developed and new set pieces are added in, including a ducal palace. I didn't get a solid mental image of the palace grounds or the palace itself from my reading, unfortunately.
There are some sparkles of culture through food and drink, gambling games and teahouses.
There isn't anything bad here, but I think more could have been done.
Style: 4/5
All the things great in the previous book are still great, including pacing and writing. Description was a little uneven, great in some points and lacking at others. I think the foreshadowing is improved upon.
The pg version of action scenes, through naming martial techniques versus more actively describing the blow-by-blow, is more noticeable in this installment and I liked it less. I like to be able to visualize every punch and kick, and without an extensive understanding of Chu's martial inspirations, I'm not sure that's possible. Flying Crane meets Slithering Snake doesn't do the same thing for my mind as more vivid and detailed description would. This is a personal taste thing - everything else is still great as far as style choices go.
Themes: 4/5
There were some missed opportunities with the shift in religion/prophecy not having a lot of depth to it. But fantasy staples like war, betrayal, revenge, found family, trust, revolution, oppression and so much more are on display.
Chu likes to play with alternate possibilities based on conditions - in Book 1, the Chosen One is forced into an alternate self as he must hide his identity, while in this book Quisami is forced into an alternate domesticated self as she becomes a servant. This acting in different roles, how characters handle these roles, how their acting latches onto and evolves their identity, is now an underlying thread through this series and one done well.
If you liked the first book in The War Arts Saga, I think you will enjoy the second. Inspired by wuxia films, with Chinese inspirations and martial arts. Some of the same fantasy tropes are used again, including a spin on Prophecy, the Chosen One, martial training school, mentors and found family. There is a lack of description for some action scenes, relying on naming martial moves to paint the picture, which may work for some readers but not others. This is another excellent fantasy read reminiscent of movies like Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, One-Armed Swordsman, and Hero.
Minor Spoilers Below.
Plot: 3.5/5
A promise made in Book 1 finally comes to fruition as Taishi trains Jian, until she is called away on a mission. The irresponsible mentor is left in charge of the trainees and an Uncle Buck situation ensues. Meanwhile, Taishi investigates a shift in the prophecy and faces pressure to enter the dangerous world of politics.
The third plotline follows a fallen assassin forced into a job pretending to be domesticated. She finds the life suits her, and the inkling of a betrayal/redemption arc is seeded.
Last, the stoic soldier fends off the effects of her looming cursed bond.
Much of the book is establishing the sides, setting the stage and moving the pieces into place for the next book. It did a decent job of accomplishing this without being obvious about it.
Characters: 4.5/5
Taishi is facing her mortality as her age and illness work together against her. Jian remains mostly clueless and inept. Their wider found family, the new mentors and trainees brought in to help with Jian's training, were all-stars and brought a much needed fullness to the characterization of side characters. There is some depth given to each, with their own external or internal arcs, distinct personalities and capabilities. This added a new level to Chu's characterization I felt was missing in TAoP.
Quisami is shown to have layers. It's interesting to see her establish limits and boundaries to her craft, glimpse into who and what she could have been, but her undeserved arrogance despite her situation is still there.
Sali has a very similar external story arc as before, with a different motivation of curing her illness in place of finding her sister. She has the least growth in this book, even less than many of the side characters.
Chu does a great job in rounding out most of his characters, showing them in different angles, lenses, and lights, so that they become more rich and full. They feel like the same people, but with many sides to them, making them really come alive and feel realistic.
Setting: 3.5/5
With the setting already established, there isn't a whole lot built upon the earlier foundations. The biggest change is a shift in the religion as the prophecy is updated. This is only seen through some confused monk fanatics though, with wider world implications are mostly ignored, so there isn't a lot of depth to this change.
The Cloud Pillars are more developed and new set pieces are added in, including a ducal palace. I didn't get a solid mental image of the palace grounds or the palace itself from my reading, unfortunately.
There are some sparkles of culture through food and drink, gambling games and teahouses.
There isn't anything bad here, but I think more could have been done.
Style: 4/5
All the things great in the previous book are still great, including pacing and writing. Description was a little uneven, great in some points and lacking at others. I think the foreshadowing is improved upon.
The pg version of action scenes, through naming martial techniques versus more actively describing the blow-by-blow, is more noticeable in this installment and I liked it less. I like to be able to visualize every punch and kick, and without an extensive understanding of Chu's martial inspirations, I'm not sure that's possible. Flying Crane meets Slithering Snake doesn't do the same thing for my mind as more vivid and detailed description would. This is a personal taste thing - everything else is still great as far as style choices go.
Themes: 4/5
There were some missed opportunities with the shift in religion/prophecy not having a lot of depth to it. But fantasy staples like war, betrayal, revenge, found family, trust, revolution, oppression and so much more are on display.
Chu likes to play with alternate possibilities based on conditions - in Book 1, the Chosen One is forced into an alternate self as he must hide his identity, while in this book Quisami is forced into an alternate domesticated self as she becomes a servant. This acting in different roles, how characters handle these roles, how their acting latches onto and evolves their identity, is now an underlying thread through this series and one done well.
July 10, 2023
Thanks to Random House Worlds and NetGalley for the ARC. I have been eagerly anticipating the second installment in The War Arts Saga, so I jumped at the chance to review it early--and it did not disappoint.
Anyone who has read The Art of Prophecy should have a pretty good idea of what to expect for book 2, in terms of overall vibes. Don't take that to mean that the book is predictable--just that there's no wild tonal shift for the second volume. It's still a character-driven action-comedy and a martial arts fantasy with some of the wildest worldbuilding outside of The Stormlight Archive.
I found myself dwelling a lot on "second book syndrome" as I read this volume. It turned out that Wesley Chu was thinking about it too--he says so in the acknowledgements at the end of the book--and I think it shows in the text. It's a particular issue for this series because of just how transitional this section of the story is. Whereas the various divergent POVs in book 1 all come together at the end of that volume, The Art of Destiny's plot allows for no such convergence. It could almost be split into 3 separate books, and they could each stand on their own without the other two plotlines. They're definitely set for a collision course in book 3, but it doesn't happen here--the very definition of that thorny second book problem.
It seems like Chu solves the problem by leaning into it. Especially in the first half of the book, chapters tend to drop us into the middle of things, circumstances already established. Any event to shake up the status quo comes as a mini-cliffhanger at the end of a chapter. When we come back to that POV, the new status quo has already established itself, and we are once again dealing with character interactions right in the middle of things. Besides underscoring the fact that this is a middle book by always telling us the middle portion of every little mini-arc, this serves to emphasize just how character-driven the series really is.
It may not seem like the first choice for a fantasy martial arts comedy--you might think it would be all action, with plot point after plot point--but War Arts really is all about the characters. The plot isn't moving any faster than it did in the first book, which wasn't exactly slow, but it isn't fast-paced, either. I think that's more noticeable in the second book, as it lacks the momentum of plotlines moving towards one another.
The second book is particularly perilous for character-driven trilogies, in general, with slow-moving transitional plot threads losing some readers altogether. It can seem like nothing is happening at all. Chu has an advantage here, though, in that his character interactions are unfailingly hilarious. Not every character-driven story has to be a tortured meditation on the darkness that lurks within the human soul. They can also be full of wisecracks and over-the-top slapstick comedy, such that--even if you do lose the plot and feel like things aren't really progressing--you'll be too busy laughing to be overly concerned.
Ultimately, though, every character interaction happens for a reason--never just because Chu wanted an excuse for a gag. Besides advancing the plot, they do a lot of heavy lifting with the worldbuilding, which is pretty out there. You can learn a lot from scenes that are mostly just characters hanging out on a ship--a ship which just happens to be an entire iceberg, rigged up with machinery to make it move under its crew's command. Chu does not, however, make us read everything between the lines in people's conversations. He has a deft hand with exposition, explaining little tidbits as they become relevant, without ever feeling like he's infodumping.
Also, this is still a series with a magic system based in martial arts. There is plenty of action, and by the end, it's a thrill-a-minute pageturner. There's no jarring change of pace as that happens, either. All of the pieces are set in place such that, even when things descend into chaos, it is perfectly in tune with the flow of the story.
I'm giving this book 5 stars because I love the series, and I think it deserves the kind of precedence that the algorithm gives to books with a lot of 5-star reviews. I don't think it's the greatest book ever written, and I could knock off stars for one thing or another to try to honestly reflect minor criticisms, but the way that the algorithm treated that rating would not be an honest reflection of my opinion of the book. It gets the highest of recommendations from me, with many high hopes for the conclusion.
Anyone who has read The Art of Prophecy should have a pretty good idea of what to expect for book 2, in terms of overall vibes. Don't take that to mean that the book is predictable--just that there's no wild tonal shift for the second volume. It's still a character-driven action-comedy and a martial arts fantasy with some of the wildest worldbuilding outside of The Stormlight Archive.
I found myself dwelling a lot on "second book syndrome" as I read this volume. It turned out that Wesley Chu was thinking about it too--he says so in the acknowledgements at the end of the book--and I think it shows in the text. It's a particular issue for this series because of just how transitional this section of the story is. Whereas the various divergent POVs in book 1 all come together at the end of that volume, The Art of Destiny's plot allows for no such convergence. It could almost be split into 3 separate books, and they could each stand on their own without the other two plotlines. They're definitely set for a collision course in book 3, but it doesn't happen here--the very definition of that thorny second book problem.
It seems like Chu solves the problem by leaning into it. Especially in the first half of the book, chapters tend to drop us into the middle of things, circumstances already established. Any event to shake up the status quo comes as a mini-cliffhanger at the end of a chapter. When we come back to that POV, the new status quo has already established itself, and we are once again dealing with character interactions right in the middle of things. Besides underscoring the fact that this is a middle book by always telling us the middle portion of every little mini-arc, this serves to emphasize just how character-driven the series really is.
It may not seem like the first choice for a fantasy martial arts comedy--you might think it would be all action, with plot point after plot point--but War Arts really is all about the characters. The plot isn't moving any faster than it did in the first book, which wasn't exactly slow, but it isn't fast-paced, either. I think that's more noticeable in the second book, as it lacks the momentum of plotlines moving towards one another.
The second book is particularly perilous for character-driven trilogies, in general, with slow-moving transitional plot threads losing some readers altogether. It can seem like nothing is happening at all. Chu has an advantage here, though, in that his character interactions are unfailingly hilarious. Not every character-driven story has to be a tortured meditation on the darkness that lurks within the human soul. They can also be full of wisecracks and over-the-top slapstick comedy, such that--even if you do lose the plot and feel like things aren't really progressing--you'll be too busy laughing to be overly concerned.
Ultimately, though, every character interaction happens for a reason--never just because Chu wanted an excuse for a gag. Besides advancing the plot, they do a lot of heavy lifting with the worldbuilding, which is pretty out there. You can learn a lot from scenes that are mostly just characters hanging out on a ship--a ship which just happens to be an entire iceberg, rigged up with machinery to make it move under its crew's command. Chu does not, however, make us read everything between the lines in people's conversations. He has a deft hand with exposition, explaining little tidbits as they become relevant, without ever feeling like he's infodumping.
Also, this is still a series with a magic system based in martial arts. There is plenty of action, and by the end, it's a thrill-a-minute pageturner. There's no jarring change of pace as that happens, either. All of the pieces are set in place such that, even when things descend into chaos, it is perfectly in tune with the flow of the story.
I'm giving this book 5 stars because I love the series, and I think it deserves the kind of precedence that the algorithm gives to books with a lot of 5-star reviews. I don't think it's the greatest book ever written, and I could knock off stars for one thing or another to try to honestly reflect minor criticisms, but the way that the algorithm treated that rating would not be an honest reflection of my opinion of the book. It gets the highest of recommendations from me, with many high hopes for the conclusion.
January 21, 2024
My god.
What a good series. Everything from the characters, to battles and lore was so on point and hit everything I was looking for in a book or a new adventure. I constantly found myself rooting for everyone regardless of what side they’re on!
I love all the characters so so much, and honestly I thought the void of Poppy War would never be filled, but I think it has now.
I’m so so excited to see if we get a next instalment, I really hope we do, I want to see where this adventure goes.
What a good series. Everything from the characters, to battles and lore was so on point and hit everything I was looking for in a book or a new adventure. I constantly found myself rooting for everyone regardless of what side they’re on!
I love all the characters so so much, and honestly I thought the void of Poppy War would never be filled, but I think it has now.
I’m so so excited to see if we get a next instalment, I really hope we do, I want to see where this adventure goes.
November 9, 2023
I loved the first book, even though as an epic fantasy, it had both its lulls and strong points in equal measure.
But I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It's a direct continuation of the first book, but it feels very aimless. Like the first one, there are three distinct stories happening: Taishi and Jian, Qisami, and Sali, but they all seem too disconnected to actually tie into one cohesive story.
I liked each story separately, but as a whole, I don't understand what the main plotline is supposed to be. Events happen, each character experiences various degrees of character development, and that's about it.
Unlike the first one, I felt really detached from both the characters and the story. I still loved each character (Taishi is still a badass; Jian is unintentionally funny, but goodhearted; Qisami can be my bestie with her sarcastic bad bitch self; and Sali is the epitome of a rebel with a cause). There were funny moments that I highlighted, and the writing is still just as witty as the first one.
But other than that, the entire novel feels like a drawn-out TV drama with too many episodes when things could've been wrapped up in half the number of episodes. Each separate plotline kept dragging and dragging with no ending in sight. There are huge battle scenes in the climax, but I was so bored to the point where they weren't even exciting at all.
I'll still read the third novel, but I won't be preordering any special editions. I did consider preordering a special edition for this one, but I'm glad I didn't.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
But I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It's a direct continuation of the first book, but it feels very aimless. Like the first one, there are three distinct stories happening: Taishi and Jian, Qisami, and Sali, but they all seem too disconnected to actually tie into one cohesive story.
I liked each story separately, but as a whole, I don't understand what the main plotline is supposed to be. Events happen, each character experiences various degrees of character development, and that's about it.
Unlike the first one, I felt really detached from both the characters and the story. I still loved each character (Taishi is still a badass; Jian is unintentionally funny, but goodhearted; Qisami can be my bestie with her sarcastic bad bitch self; and Sali is the epitome of a rebel with a cause). There were funny moments that I highlighted, and the writing is still just as witty as the first one.
But other than that, the entire novel feels like a drawn-out TV drama with too many episodes when things could've been wrapped up in half the number of episodes. Each separate plotline kept dragging and dragging with no ending in sight. There are huge battle scenes in the climax, but I was so bored to the point where they weren't even exciting at all.
I'll still read the third novel, but I won't be preordering any special editions. I did consider preordering a special edition for this one, but I'm glad I didn't.
Thank you to Del Rey and NetGalley for this arc.
August 26, 2023
The Art of Destiny is the second book in the War Arts Saga series. I loved the Art of Prophecy (1st in series), and was very excited to be approved for this arc!
The Art of Destiny starts a few years after the end of Art of Prophecy. The writing style continues with the three different narrative perspectives: Jian and Taishi, Sali, and more prominently, Quisami. New characters are introduced that add to the story and adventure, while others take on more depth (Hampa and Quisami). Chu continues with writing all the female characters as strong, independent, leaders in their own right.
Things to enjoy:
Character driven narrative
Adventure
Found family/friends
Names of the fighting techniques ( I loved them)
The writing style
The humor
Beautiful cover art
For those who are not into romance, this is a great series for you. No sex, love triangles, ect. I think maybe one kiss happened after a fight, but no pining for love happening here:-)
I loved this just as much as the first.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, del Rey.
The Art of Destiny starts a few years after the end of Art of Prophecy. The writing style continues with the three different narrative perspectives: Jian and Taishi, Sali, and more prominently, Quisami. New characters are introduced that add to the story and adventure, while others take on more depth (Hampa and Quisami). Chu continues with writing all the female characters as strong, independent, leaders in their own right.
Things to enjoy:
Character driven narrative
Adventure
Found family/friends
Names of the fighting techniques ( I loved them)
The writing style
The humor
Beautiful cover art
For those who are not into romance, this is a great series for you. No sex, love triangles, ect. I think maybe one kiss happened after a fight, but no pining for love happening here:-)
I loved this just as much as the first.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, del Rey.
October 18, 2023
This was awesome!! Gosh I like these books.
I had no idea what to expect coming into this trilogy--the first book, The Art of Prophecy, was my first encounter with Wesley Chu's work, and I've had relatively little exposure to wuxia. I came in expecting: some version of China or a China-analogue, some amount of martial arts and larger-than-life heroes, and probably epic battles and derring-do. I expected that even if the story was not overtly "fantasy" in the western genre sense, the heroes would display the fantasy elements typically associated with wuxia and kung fu in fiction: master martial artists who can leap buildings or run lightly across the tops of trees, that kind of thing.
That all sounded neat, but I wondered if there would be enough there to really hook me. These are thick books, and I like fantastically improbable fight scenes as well as the next reader, but what I really wanted to know was whether Chu would stick to coloring within the lines of epic fantasy and wuxia or surprise me.
I was so surprised.
And thrilled. Let me tell you why I absolutely love this trilogy and want everyone I know to read it. I'm going to do my best to review this without spoilers for either book.
This both is and isn't exactly wuxia--the elements are definitely there, and they're great, but it's much more than that. There's a prophesied hero--standard fare, right?--but that is... well, it's absolutely not going as planned.
The world-building: one of the main cultures we encounter can certainly be counted as either a fantasy analogue of historical China or heavily China-influenced, but we are definitely not on Earth. Another society, one of nomadic raiders, that comes into conflict with the former could almost be the Mongols if you squint (they do have a Khan)... if the Mongols had traveled across a terrifying grass ocean wilderness in steampunk-esque mobile city pods. Right? I was surprised too. The religions and magic at work are deeply neat and well-realized.
There is plenty of action and derring-do, epic fights between war artists, and narrow escapes--and they're truly great!--but the characters are what make these books shine for me. I've even ended up deeply invested in what happens to characters whom I loathed upon meeting and who are still pretty terrible people. I don't know how that works either.
And the women. Be still my heart! The Prophesied Hero is a young man, but overwhelmingly the star characters of this trilogy are women. They're layered, interesting characters who get to be whole people. Ling Taishi, in the space of two books, has become one of my all-time favorite characters. Legendary war artist with a hard-drinking, hard-fighting, and cheerfully promiscuous past now gets mistaken for a harmless little old lady and basically is beginning to feel she's too old for this sh*t. I'm pretty sure she'd hate the term heroine but might grudgingly accept "badass."
There is political intrigue, which normally I tolerate at best, but Chu made me care about the outcomes, probably because of how invested I've become in the people.
Two standout qualities that I didn't expect and was beyond thrilled by:
The first is that I had no notion going into this of just how *funny* it would be. The humor never takes you out of the story or reduces the stakes, which is impressive, but I laughed out loud more than a few times. Ling Taishi's sarcasm is part of it, but Chu also walks this neat line wherein he both includes the conventions of wuxia and playfully avoids taking them too seriously; at one point one master war artist tells another that Eternal Bright Light was a dumb name for a family war arts lineage.
See also:
"The Emperor’s Mighty Cleave met Fireflies Rake the Night followed by Evil Twins Cheat at Dice countered by Baby Goat, the Dumb Jerk."*
The second is that there are no book-end cliffhangers, which is even more impressive. I've often felt like I want to recommend a book I've loved but _only after_ the series is complete; not here. At the ends of both the first and second books, the reader knows there's still a wider story arc that's under way, but they each feel like complete books with satisfactory endings. The immediate crises are resolved instead of trying to hook you with a last-minute emergency, and I really appreciate that.
tl;dr: I loved it, I'll 100% be reading the 3rd book when it comes out, and I'm now a big fan of Wesley Chu. I received an ARC from Netgalley but that has no impact on how I feel about the book.
*That line was absolutely written by someone who has met baby goats.
I had no idea what to expect coming into this trilogy--the first book, The Art of Prophecy, was my first encounter with Wesley Chu's work, and I've had relatively little exposure to wuxia. I came in expecting: some version of China or a China-analogue, some amount of martial arts and larger-than-life heroes, and probably epic battles and derring-do. I expected that even if the story was not overtly "fantasy" in the western genre sense, the heroes would display the fantasy elements typically associated with wuxia and kung fu in fiction: master martial artists who can leap buildings or run lightly across the tops of trees, that kind of thing.
That all sounded neat, but I wondered if there would be enough there to really hook me. These are thick books, and I like fantastically improbable fight scenes as well as the next reader, but what I really wanted to know was whether Chu would stick to coloring within the lines of epic fantasy and wuxia or surprise me.
I was so surprised.
And thrilled. Let me tell you why I absolutely love this trilogy and want everyone I know to read it. I'm going to do my best to review this without spoilers for either book.
This both is and isn't exactly wuxia--the elements are definitely there, and they're great, but it's much more than that. There's a prophesied hero--standard fare, right?--but that is... well, it's absolutely not going as planned.
The world-building: one of the main cultures we encounter can certainly be counted as either a fantasy analogue of historical China or heavily China-influenced, but we are definitely not on Earth. Another society, one of nomadic raiders, that comes into conflict with the former could almost be the Mongols if you squint (they do have a Khan)... if the Mongols had traveled across a terrifying grass ocean wilderness in steampunk-esque mobile city pods. Right? I was surprised too. The religions and magic at work are deeply neat and well-realized.
There is plenty of action and derring-do, epic fights between war artists, and narrow escapes--and they're truly great!--but the characters are what make these books shine for me. I've even ended up deeply invested in what happens to characters whom I loathed upon meeting and who are still pretty terrible people. I don't know how that works either.
And the women. Be still my heart! The Prophesied Hero is a young man, but overwhelmingly the star characters of this trilogy are women. They're layered, interesting characters who get to be whole people. Ling Taishi, in the space of two books, has become one of my all-time favorite characters. Legendary war artist with a hard-drinking, hard-fighting, and cheerfully promiscuous past now gets mistaken for a harmless little old lady and basically is beginning to feel she's too old for this sh*t. I'm pretty sure she'd hate the term heroine but might grudgingly accept "badass."
There is political intrigue, which normally I tolerate at best, but Chu made me care about the outcomes, probably because of how invested I've become in the people.
Two standout qualities that I didn't expect and was beyond thrilled by:
The first is that I had no notion going into this of just how *funny* it would be. The humor never takes you out of the story or reduces the stakes, which is impressive, but I laughed out loud more than a few times. Ling Taishi's sarcasm is part of it, but Chu also walks this neat line wherein he both includes the conventions of wuxia and playfully avoids taking them too seriously; at one point one master war artist tells another that Eternal Bright Light was a dumb name for a family war arts lineage.
See also:
"The Emperor’s Mighty Cleave met Fireflies Rake the Night followed by Evil Twins Cheat at Dice countered by Baby Goat, the Dumb Jerk."*
The second is that there are no book-end cliffhangers, which is even more impressive. I've often felt like I want to recommend a book I've loved but _only after_ the series is complete; not here. At the ends of both the first and second books, the reader knows there's still a wider story arc that's under way, but they each feel like complete books with satisfactory endings. The immediate crises are resolved instead of trying to hook you with a last-minute emergency, and I really appreciate that.
tl;dr: I loved it, I'll 100% be reading the 3rd book when it comes out, and I'm now a big fan of Wesley Chu. I received an ARC from Netgalley but that has no impact on how I feel about the book.
*That line was absolutely written by someone who has met baby goats.
April 29, 2025
This is the second instalment in the War Arts series.
Jian was once the prophesised hero who would defeat the Eternal Khan and save his people, but now he lives a life in hiding, a villain of the kingdom with enemies seeking his destruction from all angles. In his heart he remains a hero and continues his training to save his people, regardless of it they want it or not!
I adore these characters! Jian started this series as a petulant child and his character growth has been perhaps the greatest thing to witness, throughout the course of this story arc so far. He shows great strength and quick wit but moments of hilarity also punctuate his interactions making him an extremely loveable individual.
Taishi is another beloved character. She can be just as hard-headed and quick so snap as Jian but her past was explored in this instalment and the reader became privy to the soft core she aimed to keep hidden and also the history that made her this way. Events at the close of this book, that threatened her safety, had me stricken with tears so absolutely did I adore every fibre of her fictional being!
I'm eager to see where the storyline will continue, in the third series instalment, as Chu left this open to many directions with the explosive finale. A small early portion dragged slightly but I should never have doubted that this author would pull his narrative strings taut at the close of this book and set us up for a thrilling third act.
Jian was once the prophesised hero who would defeat the Eternal Khan and save his people, but now he lives a life in hiding, a villain of the kingdom with enemies seeking his destruction from all angles. In his heart he remains a hero and continues his training to save his people, regardless of it they want it or not!
I adore these characters! Jian started this series as a petulant child and his character growth has been perhaps the greatest thing to witness, throughout the course of this story arc so far. He shows great strength and quick wit but moments of hilarity also punctuate his interactions making him an extremely loveable individual.
Taishi is another beloved character. She can be just as hard-headed and quick so snap as Jian but her past was explored in this instalment and the reader became privy to the soft core she aimed to keep hidden and also the history that made her this way. Events at the close of this book, that threatened her safety, had me stricken with tears so absolutely did I adore every fibre of her fictional being!
I'm eager to see where the storyline will continue, in the third series instalment, as Chu left this open to many directions with the explosive finale. A small early portion dragged slightly but I should never have doubted that this author would pull his narrative strings taut at the close of this book and set us up for a thrilling third act.
October 4, 2023
As with The Art of Prophecy, the first book in the The War Arts Saga, I couldn't put down The Art of Destiny. In the Art of Destiny, Wesley Chu continues his epic wuxia with even more beautiful world-building, deeper characterization, a storyline that continues to twist and turn and get more awesome, and incredibly well-written action sequences. This series continues to be wildly underrated and, as I wrote in my review for the first book, someone please option this and give it the epic movie trilogy or TV series it deserves!
This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. Thanks go to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for providing the ARC.
This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. Thanks go to NetGalley and Del Rey Books for providing the ARC.
July 8, 2023
For a while I was taking exception with book series. I just wanted a tale that had an ending of some sort, not another never ending story, which I felt was de rigueur for authors and publishers. Then I stumbled upon a couple of authors who have created worlds and characters so large they deserve further exploration. Wesley Chu is one of them.
Book two of The War Arts Saga opens a couple of years after the close of “The Art of Prophecy.” This is great, because having time pass between books gives the sense of separation I want in a series with the scope of a saga. Chu continues to develop his truly larger than life characters, imbuing them with sometimes fatal flaws and allowing complex relationships to form and grow. His writing style reminds me of the best old Chinese kung fu movies, with a little spaghetti western thrown in for seasoning.
Obviously five stars. This is a must read for any fantasy lover. After reading book one, of course. My thanks to Del Rey via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#TheArtofDestiny #TheWarArtsSaga #DelRey #NetGalley #IfCatsCouldRead #RescuedIsMyFavoriteBreed #Bookstagram #Catstagram #BooksAndCats #CatsAndBooks
Book two of The War Arts Saga opens a couple of years after the close of “The Art of Prophecy.” This is great, because having time pass between books gives the sense of separation I want in a series with the scope of a saga. Chu continues to develop his truly larger than life characters, imbuing them with sometimes fatal flaws and allowing complex relationships to form and grow. His writing style reminds me of the best old Chinese kung fu movies, with a little spaghetti western thrown in for seasoning.
Obviously five stars. This is a must read for any fantasy lover. After reading book one, of course. My thanks to Del Rey via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are strictly my own.
#TheArtofDestiny #TheWarArtsSaga #DelRey #NetGalley #IfCatsCouldRead #RescuedIsMyFavoriteBreed #Bookstagram #Catstagram #BooksAndCats #CatsAndBooks
January 28, 2024
CHARACTERS
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
✅ well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
✅ nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
✅ nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
✅ fine
🔲 immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
✅ inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
🔲 page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
Such a disappointment. I loved the first book, but this one had the worst middle-book syndrome :\
🔲 mary-sue party
🔲 mostly 2D
🔲 great main cast, forgettable side characters
✅ well-written
🔲 complex and fascinating
🔲 hard to believe they are fictional
PLOT
🔲 you've already heard this exact story a thousand times
✅ nothing memorable
🔲 gripping
🔲 exceptional
🔲 mind=blown
WORLDBUILDING
🔲 takes place in our world
🔲 incoherent
🔲 OK
✅ nicely detailed
🔲 meticulous
🔲 even the last tree in the forest has its own story
ATMOSPHERE
🔲 nonexistent
✅ fine
🔲 immersive
🔲 you forget you are reading a book
PACING
🔲 dragging
✅ inconsistent
🔲 picks up with time
🔲 page-turner
🔲 impossible to put down
Such a disappointment. I loved the first book, but this one had the worst middle-book syndrome :\
January 31, 2024
So much I loved about this book but a few niggles meant I couldn’t give it 5 stars.
It’s funny, well written, the fighting scenes are awesome and all seem unique. an awesome twist and a not so awesome twist. The end of act 2 and most of act 3 were incredible.
I laughed, I cried and i was shocked.
Few niggles, it felt too much like a filler book, the end, and for the most part it all seemed a bit too nice.
It’s funny, well written, the fighting scenes are awesome and all seem unique. an awesome twist and a not so awesome twist. The end of act 2 and most of act 3 were incredible.
I laughed, I cried and i was shocked.
Few niggles, it felt too much like a filler book, the end, and for the most part it all seemed a bit too nice.
January 6, 2025
At first, I had a bit of trouble finding back into the story. There is a significant time jump compared to book 1 and the plot starts out slow. I love many of the characters, so I also enjoyed some quieter moments, especially with Sali.
About half way through, the pace picks up and I got really excited. There is some phenomenal action, but also new alliances are formed. I am now excited for the next book.
About half way through, the pace picks up and I got really excited. There is some phenomenal action, but also new alliances are formed. I am now excited for the next book.
Want to read
April 8, 2024cover so sick i’m dead
June 25, 2024
Can't wait for the next one. Ending was a little weird.
October 21, 2023
I loved it! I am so utterly entranced with these characters and this world that Wesley Chu has created and I feel the need to shout it from the rooftops and tell everyone I know about it.
Here, we get a book that, while a tiny bit slower in the beginning of Act II, gives us a unique experience with every single storyline and character. My favorite storyline was by far Qisami’s. She has carved her mark onto my soul and become one of my favorite characters of all time. I love how we see a different side of her in this narrative. She’s not just an assassin; she has morals, values, and she still loves killing. She’s also not afraid to do some dirty work. She is the epitome of a morally grey character!
I also really enjoyed Jian and Taishi in this one. Particularly, Jian’s plot of the “villain of the Tiandi.” He’s really becoming his own man and I so enjoy him. ❤️ Taishi had some majorly delightful scenes as well, especially in the middle / end of Act II!
Where there was some weakness in this book was in Sali’s plot. While necessary, it felt a bit slower and didn’t keep pace well with the other plotlines. When I got to her chapters, I was a bit sad. Her plot did however amp up in Act III!
Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While reading the entire third act, I just couldn’t wait for the next book. 🙈 I can’t believe I have to wait so long for it. I really hope it gives us a nice conclusion to this trilogy!
Here, we get a book that, while a tiny bit slower in the beginning of Act II, gives us a unique experience with every single storyline and character. My favorite storyline was by far Qisami’s. She has carved her mark onto my soul and become one of my favorite characters of all time. I love how we see a different side of her in this narrative. She’s not just an assassin; she has morals, values, and she still loves killing. She’s also not afraid to do some dirty work. She is the epitome of a morally grey character!
I also really enjoyed Jian and Taishi in this one. Particularly, Jian’s plot of the “villain of the Tiandi.” He’s really becoming his own man and I so enjoy him. ❤️ Taishi had some majorly delightful scenes as well, especially in the middle / end of Act II!
Where there was some weakness in this book was in Sali’s plot. While necessary, it felt a bit slower and didn’t keep pace well with the other plotlines. When I got to her chapters, I was a bit sad. Her plot did however amp up in Act III!
Overall though, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. While reading the entire third act, I just couldn’t wait for the next book. 🙈 I can’t believe I have to wait so long for it. I really hope it gives us a nice conclusion to this trilogy!
July 31, 2023
wow!! book 2 was even better than book 1, which was a high bar to begin with. chu made me fall even more in love with every character in this series, especially qisami and sali. despite the many different pov’s in this story, chu made sure to spend time fleshing out each character and it paid off.
my only complaint about the art of destiny was that it started out a bit slow, but the last third of this book was absolutely insane. i loved every page of it.
thank you netgalley for the arc <3
my only complaint about the art of destiny was that it started out a bit slow, but the last third of this book was absolutely insane. i loved every page of it.
thank you netgalley for the arc <3
March 3, 2025
As much fun as the first with, if possible, even higher stakes. A new cast of secondary characters really added to the depth, and the last couple of chapters were hugely emotional and enjoyable.
That last line was killer!
Can't wait for the last book.
That last line was killer!
Can't wait for the last book.
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