THE ART OF PROPHECY

u003cbu003eA “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 u003ciu003eNew York Timesu003c/iu003e bestselling author of u003ciu003eThe Lives of Taou003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003cbru003e u003cbru003eu003cbu003e“An ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith, tradition, and family—a glorious reinvention of fantasy and wuxia tropes.”—Naomi Novik, u003ciu003eNew York Times u003c/iu003ebestselling author of u003ciu003eA Deadly Educationu003c/iu003eu003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eu003cbu003eONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: u003ciu003eGizmodo, Kirkus Reviews, u003c/iu003eThe Quill to Liveu003c/bu003eu003cbru003eu003cbru003eSo 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. u003cbru003e u003cbru003eBut this is not that kind of story. u003cbru003e u003cbru003eIt does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom. u003cbru003e u003cbru003eAnd that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury and splendor, and celebrated before he has won a single battle. u003cbru003e u003cbru003eBut that’s when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy is wrong. u003cbru003e u003cbru003eWhat 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.u003cbru003e u003cbru003eAnd Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer believes he can be—a hero after all.