New West Coast Tour Stops Announced
I wasn’t able to hit any west coast cities during my tour in May, but I’ll be rectifying that soon with four events in Puget Sound, Seattle, Portland, and Los Angeles! See the events page for details and to RSVP.
The Last Contract of Isako Is An Instant Bestseller
I dare say that even Isthmus Isako would be satisfied by her performance: USA Today bestseller, Indie Bestseller, a Best of the Month pick by Amazon and LitHub, named among Best of the Year so far by BookRiot and BookList, and an absolutely sublime review in The New York Times.
It’s been an incredibly busy summer for me, with travel across the US and Europe, and there’s more to come. I’m beyond grateful to all the booksellers, reviewers, and the readers new and old who’ve made these past couple of months so amazing.
Breath of the Dragon an Aurora Award Finalist
Breath of the Dragon is a finalist for the 2026 Aurora Award in the category of Best Young Adult Novel! This is my ninth Aurora Award nomination, and I’m honored to be nominated alongside several of Canada’s best speculative fiction writers. Read the announcement and the full ballot, and if you’re a CSFFA member, be sure to vote by July 12th. Winners will be announced on Sunday, August 9th.
North America and UK Tours for The Last Contract of Isako
I’m going on tour in North America and the UK to celebrate the release of The Last Contract of Isako!
North America tour: May 5-12. Get information and tickets here.
UK tour: June 6-15. Get information here.
Don’t live near a tour stop? Order a signed copy from Brookline Booksmith or Yu & Me Books.
Exclusive edition of The Last Contract of Isako from The Broken Binding
The Broken Binding has outdone themselves with their exclusive edition of The Last Contract of Isako. This stunning edition features wraparound hand painted art by Randy Vargas, case art by Daniel Kamarudin, endpapers by Peng Lu and Patricia Gutierrez, edges by Yara Abril and typography by Rachel St. Clair. All copies will be signed by yours truly and shipped in September. Thank you to art director Petrik Leo and the whole Broken Binding team for knocking it out of the park. I can’t wait to get this copy on my shelf.
Presale for subscribers will take place on April 10th and 11th at 12pm BST, with general sale to follow on April 12th at 12pm BST. Read the full announcement by the Broken Binding for information product specs, sale dates and times, prices, and shipping.
Starred reviews for The Last Contract of Isako
The Last Contract of Isako has garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Library Journal! Here’s a bit of what they had to say:
“Brilliant space opera from Lee instantly immerses readers.”
–Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“This complex space opera is a fast-paced ride of espionage and ruthless corporate samurai, featuring a delightful 50-something protagonist.”
–Library Journal (starred review)
“Lee’s layered world building and surprising twists in this unusual dystopian setting will keep readers on edge. … This stand-alone samurai sf stands out.”
–Booklist (starred review)
Cover reveal for Mark of the Warrior
The second book in the Breathmarked duology has a cover and a release date! Kiuyan Ran knocked it out of the park again with her incredible artwork. Mark of the Warrior will be released on October 27, 2026 and is now available to pre-order.
Release Date and Cover Reveal for The Last Contract of Isako
Thomas Walker did such a good job with the reissued Green Bone Saga covers that Orbit’s art director Lauren Panepinto tapped him again to create the cover for The Last Contract of Isako. I love Tommy’s style, and I think he knocked it out of the park yet again. Thank you to Goodreads for hosting today’s official cover reveal.
The Last Contract of Isako will be releasing from Orbit Books on May 5, 2026 in hardcover, trade paperback, ebook, and audiobook (yes, all the formats). You can preorder it now from the book retailer of your choice! More information about launch events, special editions, and signed copies will be forthcoming.
Breath of the Dragon on 2025 Best YA Fiction Lists
Thank you to the New York Public Library for naming Breath of the Dragon one of the Best Books for Teens in 2025 and the Chicago Public Library for naming it among the Best Teen Fiction of 2025!
Breath of the Dragon has also been nominated for the Goodreads Readers’ Favorite Books of 2025! Please cast your vote for this novel that Shannon and I wrote to honor her father, Bruce Lee.
Streets of Jade: the Green Bone Saga RPG
Sharp blades. Sharp suits. A sacred stone granting mythic martial prowess. Wǔxiá action meets gangster warfare in STREETS OF JADE: the Green Bone Saga RPG!
After years of development, I’m thrilled to share that the Green Bone Saga is being adapted into a tabletop roleplaying game by Evil Hat Productions, created by veteran game designer James Mendez Hodes (Avatar Legends, Thousand Arrows, and Scion) and myself, based on the Paragon system.
Contributors include Sen-Foong Lim (writer, systems consultant), Guangyao Un (writer), Carly Ho (writer), Lydia Suen (writer), Sophia Babai (writer), Mary Rose Valentine (writer), Lex Leone (writer, cultural consultant), Cris Viana (graphic design, layout), Jacky Leung (copy editor). Also credited are Hannah Elizabeth Baker (cover artist), Sean Nittner and John Harper (PARAGON System original design), Chris Hanrahan (business development), Tom Lommel (marketing manager), Sean Nittner (project manager), and Fred Hicks (product developer).
Read more about the game development process in the exclusive interview with Rascal, and sign up to playtest.
