The Art of Legend

A Novel

By: Wesley Chu

Narrated by: Natalie Naudus

A humbled prince, a grumpy grandmaster, and a ragtag band of heroes find out what it takes to become truly legendary, in the conclusion to the epic fantasy trilogy lauded as “dramatic, fun, thoughtful, clever, and (literally) punchy” (Kirkus Reviews).

“Electrifying, thrilling, and a glorious, romantic ride.”—Robert Jackson Bennett on The Art of Prophecy

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.

Look for all the novels of the War Arts Saga:
THE ART OF PROPHECY • THE ART OF DESTINY • THE ART OF LEGEND


* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF featuring a map and the Dramatis Personae included in the book.

Critic reviews

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 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

The story tied up nicely

Original concept. Narration was perfect and the characters developed nicely. I wish there had been more development for the main protagonist

The Art of Legend

Author: Wesley Chu. Book 3 of the War Arts Saga ended the series. A series I will miss because of the fascinating characters. Atop that list of characters is Taishi. Really great character, mentor, teacher and curmudgeon. While end was surprisingly different from what I GUESSED, it certainly wrapped things nicely. Again, going to miss this series. DRmz 9-25-25.

Satisfying ending

Really enjoyed the journey everyone took through the trilogy. I hope he Wesley writes more in this world. I grew up watching TVB wuxai serials, I could visualize all the great scenes in my mind. So memorable.

Rushed ending to a great series

I love this series. The entire notion of an incompetent chosen one is amazing. Unfortunately the ending falls very flat. Journey is amazing but in the end it is held down by an incomplete and rushed ending.

Man, Taishi does Jian dirty (But still want more)

The conclusion to a long, raucous American-grown wuxia series. The audio performance is as skilled as the previous two books. However, the story suffers somewhat from perhaps an overdose of setting shifts and strange characterization choices for the service of the greater narrative. It's not bad in the least, but the Eternal Khan feels a little too shortsighted to be treated with the gravitas he supposedly has. The approach to the final battle is fantastic however, but then hamstrung by the Epilogue.
Ling Taishi ultimately makes an impulsive last-minute choice that, while in line with her motivations, feels like it will screw up Jian's final characterization and leave him and his overly-sentimental softie heart with an unfulfilled lack of closure for the rest of his life regarding all the two have been through together? This feels so out of left field for tying up her own storyline.
If you've gotten through the War Arts Saga this far, it would be silly and not worth it to NOT finish this. It's still a heartfelt and fun end to an epic journey. Your mileage may vary with how much you like the chatacter-specific endings, but is ABSOLUTELY worth the time to get there and see what you see. (Qisami is probably the strongest character arc and best personal growth.)

I ultimately hope Wesley Chu continues using the War Arts Saga's wonderfully creative world for future stories! I don't want to leave the Enlightened States! Not while there feels like so much more of such a rich and colorful setting to explore!