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heatherpageone's review
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
If you’re a fan of wuxia stories mixed with a twist on the Chosen One trope, The Art of Prophecy delivers a fresh take that feels both familiar and inventive. The premise is exciting—what happens when the "Chosen One" doesn't quite live up to expectations? Wesley Chu's world-building is simply breathtaking, with layers of history, politics, and culture that you can easily get lost in. Every corner of this world feels alive, and the action sequences are some of the best I've read in a while. The fight scenes had me gripping my Kindle, hanging onto every move.
However, not everything landed perfectly for me. I found myself drawn only to Taishi’s POV, while the others felt flat and didn’t pull me in the same way. I also loved the humor at times—it was witty and on point—but some jokes felt forced and awkward, which threw me out of the moment.
One of the biggest issues I had was with the timeline. At times, it was hard to tell how much time had passed between events, leaving me confused about the story’s progression. And while there are a lot of fascinating plot threads, many of them remain unresolved, leaving the book on a frustrating cliffhanger.
Acts 2 and 3 dragged a bit, but luckily the fantastic action scenes saved the pacing here. I do wish the conflict between the Zhuun and Khan people had been explored more deeply—it felt like a missed opportunity to flesh out a central part of the story.
Overall, The Art of Prophecy is an enjoyable read with excellent action and a unique premise, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me in terms of characters and pacing.
However, not everything landed perfectly for me. I found myself drawn only to Taishi’s POV, while the others felt flat and didn’t pull me in the same way. I also loved the humor at times—it was witty and on point—but some jokes felt forced and awkward, which threw me out of the moment.
One of the biggest issues I had was with the timeline. At times, it was hard to tell how much time had passed between events, leaving me confused about the story’s progression. And while there are a lot of fascinating plot threads, many of them remain unresolved, leaving the book on a frustrating cliffhanger.
Acts 2 and 3 dragged a bit, but luckily the fantastic action scenes saved the pacing here. I do wish the conflict between the Zhuun and Khan people had been explored more deeply—it felt like a missed opportunity to flesh out a central part of the story.
Overall, The Art of Prophecy is an enjoyable read with excellent action and a unique premise, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me in terms of characters and pacing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Murder, and War
seforana's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Death, Gore, Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
ehmannky's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
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
Every once in a while I'll have a couple DNF books in a row and I start wondering if I'm heading into a reading rut or if I am losing my love of reading and then I pull a book as well-written and fun as The Art of Prophecy and realize no, I just haven't been choosing good books. Everything about this was a delight--the characters were so compelling and delightful, the plot moves forward without any snags, it's genuinely funny, and the world is so interestingly built. The book took a turn early on that I wasn't expecting, and it just led to a really fun Old Lady Wuxia read. The book follows multiple POV characters as they navigate a seemingly broken Chosen One Prophecy and a world radically shifting after the end of a centuries' long war. I am so excited to read book 2.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Colonisation
Minor: Slavery and War
niamhyjay's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Xenophobia, Murder, and War
Moderate: Slavery, Torture, and Death of parent
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
Thank you Black Crow PR for sending this my way and including my participation in the Book Tour.
I knew this was going to be my cup of tea as soon as I read the line about the prophetic hero not being the hero after all and the motley cast of characters that we'd be introduced to.
This felt like such a jovial poke fun at old school martial arts movies (it had me in mind of crouching tiger, hidden dragon) and it really felt like it was playing out like a movie in my head.
The humour in this made me physically laugh out loud, whilst the action scenes had my belly feeling clenched and my teeth grinding in anticipation.
Act I was a great introduction to our main cast of characters. My favourite was definitely grandmaster Taishi. I feel like she delivered so much humour in her dead pan personality and just natural epic legendary...ness.
I really disliked Jian. He was written so perfectly as this spoiled child hero that really hadn't done anything to deserve all the praise and godship he was freely given, so when the two ultimately met, I loved to see how their different ways clashed and hoped to see some humble traits rise from within Jian.
Act I was also the beginning of the end for Jian in many ways. Finding out that the procephy was false was one of the biggest plot points of the first act and it was interesting to see how everyone reacted to the news. The balance of how everyone felt about the procephy before vs after was so perfectly tuned. Chu really knew how to enchance emotions in perfect timing for a big drop. It was looking to be a great set up for the second Act.
Act II was interesting in the fact that we met a new substantial character - Qisami - up until then I was racking my brain thinking this character had maybe been using an alias. Her whole sect of Shadowkills gave me serious Fire Nation vibes and I throughly enjoyed that.
I enjoyed exploring the war art school with Jian and seeing how he feared in his own two feet after the crumble of the world as he knew it.
I also loved that we had a constant narrative of Sali of the Katuia people, which at times was often every other chapter. I think sympathising with her people and being fascinated by their way of life in these moving citites and among the Grass Sea, is what made my loyalties get pretty tangled by Act III.
Act III was fantastic. There were multiple epic battles all leading up to the final boss and I couldn't begin to imagine which way events would pan out. Also, because I got to enjoy every narrative, I was incredibly stumped on where my loyalties lay. Which made this particularly hard to decide on was that even in battle there was so much honor and respect. It was so inspiring to see rivals admire eachothers techniques and skill during the fights.
I feel like this would be even more incredible via audio. Imagining how rich in character, how distinct each voice was and how hilarious or action packed scenes were by physically reading... this would surely be amplified tenfold in a listening experience.
By the end, my tear ducts was prickling and I was sad to leave these characters behind, but as a saga, there is bound to be more from this world, and I cannot wait to find out what comes next!
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu is a new favourite, for sure!
I knew this was going to be my cup of tea as soon as I read the line about the prophetic hero not being the hero after all and the motley cast of characters that we'd be introduced to.
This felt like such a jovial poke fun at old school martial arts movies (it had me in mind of crouching tiger, hidden dragon) and it really felt like it was playing out like a movie in my head.
The humour in this made me physically laugh out loud, whilst the action scenes had my belly feeling clenched and my teeth grinding in anticipation.
Act I was a great introduction to our main cast of characters. My favourite was definitely grandmaster Taishi. I feel like she delivered so much humour in her dead pan personality and just natural epic legendary...ness.
I really disliked Jian. He was written so perfectly as this spoiled child hero that really hadn't done anything to deserve all the praise and godship he was freely given, so when the two ultimately met, I loved to see how their different ways clashed and hoped to see some humble traits rise from within Jian.
Act I was also the beginning of the end for Jian in many ways. Finding out that the procephy was false was one of the biggest plot points of the first act and it was interesting to see how everyone reacted to the news. The balance of how everyone felt about the procephy before vs after was so perfectly tuned. Chu really knew how to enchance emotions in perfect timing for a big drop. It was looking to be a great set up for the second Act.
Act II was interesting in the fact that we met a new substantial character - Qisami - up until then I was racking my brain thinking this character had maybe been using an alias. Her whole sect of Shadowkills gave me serious Fire Nation vibes and I throughly enjoyed that.
I enjoyed exploring the war art school with Jian and seeing how he feared in his own two feet after the crumble of the world as he knew it.
I also loved that we had a constant narrative of Sali of the Katuia people, which at times was often every other chapter. I think sympathising with her people and being fascinated by their way of life in these moving citites and among the Grass Sea, is what made my loyalties get pretty tangled by Act III.
Act III was fantastic. There were multiple epic battles all leading up to the final boss and I couldn't begin to imagine which way events would pan out. Also, because I got to enjoy every narrative, I was incredibly stumped on where my loyalties lay. Which made this particularly hard to decide on was that even in battle there was so much honor and respect. It was so inspiring to see rivals admire eachothers techniques and skill during the fights.
I feel like this would be even more incredible via audio. Imagining how rich in character, how distinct each voice was and how hilarious or action packed scenes were by physically reading... this would surely be amplified tenfold in a listening experience.
By the end, my tear ducts was prickling and I was sad to leave these characters behind, but as a saga, there is bound to be more from this world, and I cannot wait to find out what comes next!
The Art of Prophecy by Wesley Chu is a new favourite, for sure!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
jessereadsthings's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A really good dense fantasy with a deeply interesting world and fascinating characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Slavery
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*I received a free review copy in exchange for an honest review of this book.
Jian is the Hero of Prophecy, the central figure of an entire religion. But the prophecy was wrong, a new master says he's not ready to fight, and it seems like everyone wants him dead.
I savored this, I genuinely didn't want it to be over because it does so many things so well. Jian starts out as a kind of annoying kid and then gradually transforms into a less annoying young person who has finally had to make hard decisions and live with the consequences. Taishi is a war artist who teaches Jian because his former teachers were mucking it up and she couldn't stand for it. She's curmudgeonly and extremely competent in that way that fits her character, and her dynamic with Jian is what he needs without being what he wants.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, with an immersive style where things are only explained as the characters have reason to think of that specific detail, and even more is conveyed through their interactions. The various factions are introduced gradually and it was pretty easy to keep track of everyone because they have distinct and memorable backgrounds and goals which are shown when they first appear. I generally have a lot of trouble keeping track of character names but I did much better this time because of how they were handled.
The explanation for how the prophecy could go wrong is nuanced and fits the world so well, it's really well done. The plot has slower times of travel or hiding, punctuated by violence when the various factions run into each other. They have different things they want which all center on a couple of people, and some of those goals are fundamentally incompatible. The pacing is good, the calm times are usually filled with smaller bits of character growth (something Jian sorely needs).
This is fantastic, a must-read for lovers of fantasy, revolution, and assassins. I'm looking forward to the sequel!
Jian is the Hero of Prophecy, the central figure of an entire religion. But the prophecy was wrong, a new master says he's not ready to fight, and it seems like everyone wants him dead.
I savored this, I genuinely didn't want it to be over because it does so many things so well. Jian starts out as a kind of annoying kid and then gradually transforms into a less annoying young person who has finally had to make hard decisions and live with the consequences. Taishi is a war artist who teaches Jian because his former teachers were mucking it up and she couldn't stand for it. She's curmudgeonly and extremely competent in that way that fits her character, and her dynamic with Jian is what he needs without being what he wants.
The worldbuilding is rich and detailed, with an immersive style where things are only explained as the characters have reason to think of that specific detail, and even more is conveyed through their interactions. The various factions are introduced gradually and it was pretty easy to keep track of everyone because they have distinct and memorable backgrounds and goals which are shown when they first appear. I generally have a lot of trouble keeping track of character names but I did much better this time because of how they were handled.
The explanation for how the prophecy could go wrong is nuanced and fits the world so well, it's really well done. The plot has slower times of travel or hiding, punctuated by violence when the various factions run into each other. They have different things they want which all center on a couple of people, and some of those goals are fundamentally incompatible. The pacing is good, the calm times are usually filled with smaller bits of character growth (something Jian sorely needs).
This is fantastic, a must-read for lovers of fantasy, revolution, and assassins. I'm looking forward to the sequel!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Grief, and Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Drug abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Minor: Ableism, Self harm, Slavery, and Cannibalism
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