Cradle meets Game of Thrones (if GRRM wrote it in a lighthearted tone).
I have read hundreds of epic fantasy and Asian-inspired fantasy books; and up to now, nothing has been quite like Wesley Chu’s Wuxia story, The Art of Prophecy.
Like Game of Thrones (GoT), it features struggles between viewpoint characters that will determine the fate of the world. Just as in GoT, you can’t help but to root for all of these characters, even if their agendas clash, and one emerging victorious means others will fail, or even die. Add in unique, expansive, and logical worldbuilding, and GRRM’s classic becomes an apt comparison.
But whereas A Song of Ice and Fire feels dark and full of terrors, The Art of Prophecy has a lighthearted tone. That levity, combined with the variety of martial arts styles, training sequences, and combat scenes, it compares favorably to Will Wight’s beloved Cultivation series, Cradle.
The Art of Prophecy follows three main characters, plus a secondary antagonist. Curmudgeonly Taishi is a middle-aged retired master whose Windwalking style has made her one of the greatest fighters of the era. She’s brought out of retirement when the spoiled Jian—the prophesized hero of the five nations, destined to defeat the Eternal Khan of a nomad steampunk invaders—turns out to be receiving lousy training from several masters who only want to pad their pockets.
Meanwhile, out in the Grass Sea—marshes of giant reeds– the great Khan whom Jian is prophesized to defeat, has just died. Viper Strike warrior Sali, in whom part of the Khan’s soul resides, is returning home to sacrifice herself so the Khan’s essence may reconstitute itself into the body of a child. Upon arriving at one of the people’s trundling steampunk cities, she resists the inexorable call to die and instead sets out on a quest to free her enslaved people.
The setting is wondrous. From the Grass Sea to the Snake River (a desert where sand currents move like ocean waves), Chu creates a fantastical world that still feels real and lived in. Like Game of Thrones or The Greenbone Saga, the various cultures are a byproduct of the physical environment and interactions between civilizations. It’s easy to immerse and lose yourself in it.
Where The Art of Prophecy truly stands out is the prose. Each character has a unique internal narrative, from Taishi’s snark to Jian’s self-aggrandizement, from Sali’s practicality to assassin Kisami’s disparaging personality. Despite these differences, their narrative voices all have heart, making these characters feel textured and alive and easy to root for.
In all, I rate The Art of Prophecy 9.25 stars out of 10.
Julia Kitvaria Sarene
Jennie Ivins