The Art of Destiny, Wesley Chu
The Art of Destiny, Wesley Chu
List: $27.50 | Sale: $19.25
Club: $13.75

The Art of Destiny

Author: Wesley Chu

Narrator: Natalie Naudus

Unabridged: 23 hr 11 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/10/2023


Synopsis

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 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.

About Wesley Chu

Wesley Chu won the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. His debut novel, The Lives of Tao, earned him a Young Adult Library Services Association Alex Award and a Science Fiction Goodreads Choice Award Top 10 slot. He is also the coauthor of the Eldest Curses series with Cassandra Clare, the first book of which debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list.


Reviews

Goodreads review by jessica on November 07, 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 enjo......more

Goodreads review by Jade on March 18, 2024

7.72 on CAWPILE......more

Goodreads review by Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) on 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.......more

Goodreads review by thea ♡ on July 07, 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......more

Goodreads review by Margaret on March 08, 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 immedia......more


Quotes

Praise for The Art of Prophecy

“[The Art of Prophecy] is squarely directed at kung fu, wuxia, and wire-fu fans who adore Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon; Hero; The Legend of Drunken Master; Kung Fu Hustle, and the like, providing a story with an epic sweep punctuated with dashes of humor and sharp-edged banter. . . . Dramatic, fun, thoughtful, clever, and (literally) punchy.”Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

The Art of Prophecy is an ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith, tradition, and family, but it’s also unexpectedly funny. I loved following Wesley Chu’s intricate narrative through this sprawling universe full of glorious reinvention of fantasy and wuxia tropes.”—Naomi Novik

“In this superb fantasy saga of tough old martial-arts masters and inexperienced young heroes, Wesley Chu has given us a richly inventive page-turner that delights throughout. The Art of Prophecy is Wesley Chu at the height of his imaginative powers, and I can’t wait for the next installment!”—Helene Wecker

“Electrifying, thrilling, and a glorious, romantic ride, The Art of Prophecy is a true delight. Readers won’t be able to put it down.”—Robert Jackson Bennett

The Art of Prophecy is a terrific and compelling story that plays off so many classic tales taken from our own world and reinvents them all in classic fashion.”—Terry Brooks

“Come for the awesome fight choreography, stay for the sly wit, the worldbuilding, and a fresh and unexpected take on the hero’s journey!”—Jacqueline Carey

“A whirlwind tale rich with politics and fantastical martial arts . . . Chu tells a refreshing coming-of-age story with a ‘chosen one’ who faces real challenges to become a hero.”—Robin Hobb

“In The Art of Prophecy, Wesley Chu writes like a master war artist. The War Arts Saga introduces a lavish world of martial arts that transcends into the mystical, just as this grandiose epic fantasy adventure transcends the page and comes alive in your mind.”—Peter V. Brett