The Art of Prophecy
A Novel
Readers rate it 4.0 (67 on Hardcover)
606 pages · Released Aug 9, 2022 · Del Rey
Content report card
The Art of Prophecy parent’s guide: what’s inside
LGBTQ+ themes
Substance use
What it offers
Educational value
A note for parents
This is a character-driven fantasy epic centered on martial arts and magic that deconstructs prophecy and chosen-one tropes. The story features complex protagonists—including an assassin, older woman warrior, and disillusioned hero—working together despite their flaws, which offers meaningful themes about resilience and found family. Violence is present but not graphic, and the book tackles mature themes like disillusionment and faith without excessive sexual content or language; it's best suited for mid-to-older teens who enjoy layered fantasy.
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From the publisher
A “superb fantasy saga” (Helene Wecker) of martial arts and magic, about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all—but has to work with a band of unlikely allies to save the kingdom anyway, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao “An ambitious and touching exploration... A “superb fantasy saga” (Helene Wecker) of martial arts and magic, about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all—but has to work with a band of unlikely allies to save the kingdom anyway, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao “An ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith, tradition, and family—a glorious reinvention of fantasy and wuxia tropes.”—Naomi Novik, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Gizmodo, Kirkus Reviews, The Quill to Live So many stories begin the same way: With a prophecy. A chosen one. And the inevitable quest to slay a villain, save the kingdom, and fulfill a grand destiny. But this is not that kind of story. It does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom. And that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury and splendor, and celebrated before he has won a single battle. But that’s when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy is wrong. What follows is a story more wondrous than any prophecy could foresee, and with many unexpected heroes: Taishi, an older woman who is the greatest grandmaster of magical martial arts in the kingdom but who thought her adventuring days were all behind her; Sali, a straitlaced warrior who learns the rules may no longer apply when the leader to whom she pledged her life is gone; and Qisami, a chaotic assassin who takes a little too much pleasure in the kill. And Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer believes he can be—a hero after all.
Shelved under
- Fiction
- Strong Character Development
- Diverse Characters
- A mix driven
- Unloveable Characters
- Loveable Characters
- Character driven
- Adventurous
- funny
- dark
- challenging
- emotional
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ISBN 9780593237649 · Del Rey