The Art of Legend is the finale of the War Arts series. It’s been a whirlwind and this multiple POV story is thrilling. I’ve enjoyed being back in this expansive and intriguing world. Keep reading this book review of The Art of Legend for my full thoughts.
Summary
Once in a faraway kingdom there was a man prophesied to be the chosen one, who would defeat a great villain, the Eternal Khan, and save the kingdom.
But then the Eternal Khan died . . . and the prophecy was broken.
For Jian, the fated hero, this could have been a moment to succumb to despair. But instead, he chose to create his own destiny. He studied under Taishi, his curmudgeonly but beloved mentor, to become a great warrior.
With war on the horizon—and rumors of the Khan’s return brewing—a band of unlikely allies are also on their own missions. There’s Sali, a gruff warrior who is also forging a path different from the one her culture created for her, and Qisami, an assassin whose cold heart might actually be made of gold. And Taishi has gathered a band of other elderly grandmasters to help Jian live up to his destiny.
Because some heroes aren’t simply born legends—they choose to become legendary. And great heroes do not stand alone but are stronger together.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Art of Legend is an action packed finale. There’s a bit more scope to the world and the legendary hero. We are asked how important a legacy is and what we would do to honor it. Would we sacrifice our pride, our ego, our ethics to pursue or fulfill our legacy? Jian’s story is very much center stage. While I liked the addition of some of the side characters, at various points I felt like I lost Jian. I wanted to see their stories, but the balance between the perspectives made it a bit hard at various times. Because of this, I feel like fewer of them might have made it a bit tighter. Don’t get me wrong, they do have some great moments – especially as they all explore legacy differently.
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But I just wish it felt more focused at various points. There’s plenty of action to fill the pages, but it loses steam at a few places. I feel like The Art of Legend is a solid finale. Chu examines how we can choose and what our actions say about us. If these sacrifices, if these ‘bad choices’, are the things which define us. This is still a series I’d recommend, because of how much it bites off and I love a good story about a prophesied hero! Find The Art of Legend on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.