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The Art of Prophecy: A Novel Spiral-Bound | May 9, 2023
Wesley Chu
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The Art of Prophecy: A Novel
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“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 on every page." —Helene Wecker, author of The Golem and the Jinni
An epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao
So 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.
But this is not that kind of story.
It does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom.
And that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury and splendor, and celebrated before he has won a single battle.
But that's when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy was wrong.
What follows is a story more wondrous than any prophecy can 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 she pledged her life to is gone; and Qisami, a chaotic assassin who takes a little too much pleasure in the kill.
And Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer believes he can be--a hero after all.
Book One of The War Arts Saga
Story Locale:Fantastical world
Publication History:Del Rey (08/22)Additional Key Selling Points:
Praise for The Art of Prophecy
Praise for Wesley Chu
The Lives of Tao
Nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards 2013 Finals for Best Science Fiction
Winner of the Alex Award for the American Library Association’s 2014 Youth Media Awards
“Filled with non-stop action and brilliant asides on the history of our species, the book is sure to thrill and amuse.”
—Ken Liu, Nebula Award-winning author of The Paper Menagerie
“Wesley Chu is my hero… he has to be the coolest science fiction writer in the world.”
—Lavie Tidhar, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Osama and The Bookman Histories
Time Salvager
"The story's intricate plotting, breathtaking battles, and hefty doses of cruelty, betrayal, sacrifice, courage, and hope culminate in a cliff-hanger that will leave readers longing for the next installment."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Red Scrolls of Magic (with Cassandra Clare):
"It’s hard to get more star-crossed than demon-spawn and angel-spawn, immortal and mortal, but this is Clare in her element, and Chu (Time Siege, 2016) brings his deft hand at writing thrilling action and combat as Clare’s newest coauthor."
—Booklist
An epic fantasy ode to martial arts and magic about what happens when a prophesied hero is not the chosen one after all, from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lives of Tao
So 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.
But this is not that kind of story.
It does begin with a prophecy: A child will rise to defeat the Eternal Khan, a cruel immortal god-king, and save the kingdom.
And that prophecy did anoint a hero, Jian, raised since birth in luxury and splendor, and celebrated before he has won a single battle.
But that's when the story hits its first twist: The prophecy was wrong.
What follows is a story more wondrous than any prophecy can 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 she pledged her life to is gone; and Qisami, a chaotic assassin who takes a little too much pleasure in the kill.
And Jian himself, who has to find a way to become what he no longer believes he can be--a hero after all.
Book One of The War Arts Saga
Story Locale:Fantastical world
Publication History:Del Rey (08/22)Additional Key Selling Points:
- IN DEVELOPMENT FOR TV: Sony Pictures has optioned the series for TV, with Jason Ning (Lucifer) and Uta Brieswitz (Westworld, Stranger Things) on the creative team.
- AN EPIC TRILOGY: Book 2 in the War Arts Saga pubs in 2023, and Book 3 in 2024.
- SNEAK PEAK AT WHAT'S TO COME: the trade paperback edition will include an excerpt of book 2 in the series.
Praise for The Art of Prophecy
- “Come for the awesome fight choreography, stay for the sly wit, worldbuilding, and a fresh and unexpected take on the hero’s journey!” —Jacqueline Carey, New York Times-bestselling author of Kushiel's Legacy
- "Electrifying and thrilling - a glorious, romantic ride. The Art of Prophecy is a true delight. Readers won't be able to put it down." —Robert Jackson Bennett, author of The Founders Trilogy
- "Wesley Chu has done it again - this time on an epic scale. The Art of Prophecy is a terrific and compelling story that plays off so many classic tales taken from our own world and re-invents it all in classic fashion." —Terry Brooks, New York Times-bestselling author of Child of Light
- “The Art of Prophecy is an ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith, tradition, and family, and but 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, New York Times-bestselling author of A Deadly Education
- "In The Art of Prophecy, Wesley Chu writes like a master war artist. The War Arts Saga introduces a lavish world or martial arts that transcend into the mystical, just as this grandiose epic fantasy adventure transcends the page and comes alive in your mind." —Peter V. Brett, New York Times-bestselling author of The Desert Prince
- "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, author of the Fitz & The Fool Trilogy
Praise for Wesley Chu
The Lives of Tao
Nominated for the Goodreads Choice Awards 2013 Finals for Best Science Fiction
Winner of the Alex Award for the American Library Association’s 2014 Youth Media Awards
“Filled with non-stop action and brilliant asides on the history of our species, the book is sure to thrill and amuse.”
—Ken Liu, Nebula Award-winning author of The Paper Menagerie
“Wesley Chu is my hero… he has to be the coolest science fiction writer in the world.”
—Lavie Tidhar, World Fantasy Award-winning author of Osama and The Bookman Histories
Time Salvager
"The story's intricate plotting, breathtaking battles, and hefty doses of cruelty, betrayal, sacrifice, courage, and hope culminate in a cliff-hanger that will leave readers longing for the next installment."
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
The Red Scrolls of Magic (with Cassandra Clare):
"It’s hard to get more star-crossed than demon-spawn and angel-spawn, immortal and mortal, but this is Clare in her element, and Chu (Time Siege, 2016) brings his deft hand at writing thrilling action and combat as Clare’s newest coauthor."
—Booklist
Publisher: Penguin Random House
Original Binding: Trade Paperback
Pages: 560 pages
ISBN-10: 059323765X
Item Weight: 0.8 lbs
Dimensions: 5.8 x 1.0 x 8.5 inches
“The Art of Prophecy is an ambitious and touching exploration of disillusionment in faith, tradition, and family, and but 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, New York Times bestselling author of A Deadly Education
“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 on every page. 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, author of The Golem and the Jinni and The Hidden Palace
“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, author of The Founders Trilogy
“Wesley Chu has done it again—this time on an epic scale. 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, New York Times bestselling author of Child of Light
“Come for the awesome fight choreography, stay for the sly wit, worldbuilding, and a fresh and unexpected take on the hero’s journey!”—Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Kushiel’s Legacy
“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, author of the Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
“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, New York Times bestselling author of The Desert Prince
“[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)
“Chu’s wry prose and characters are a delightful counterpoint to the physical and emotional demands undertaken by Jian and his allies, while the subplots build a vast panoramic view of this incredible world in the first of a new series.”—Library Journal
“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 on every page. 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, author of The Golem and the Jinni and The Hidden Palace
“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, author of The Founders Trilogy
“Wesley Chu has done it again—this time on an epic scale. 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, New York Times bestselling author of Child of Light
“Come for the awesome fight choreography, stay for the sly wit, worldbuilding, and a fresh and unexpected take on the hero’s journey!”—Jacqueline Carey, New York Times bestselling author of Kushiel’s Legacy
“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, author of the Fitz and the Fool Trilogy
“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, New York Times bestselling author of The Desert Prince
“[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)
“Chu’s wry prose and characters are a delightful counterpoint to the physical and emotional demands undertaken by Jian and his allies, while the subplots build a vast panoramic view of this incredible world in the first of a new series.”—Library Journal
Wesley Chu is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twelve published novels, including Time Salvager, The Rise of Io, and The Walking Dead: Typhoon. He won the Astounding Award for Best New Writer. His debut, The Lives of Tao, won the Young Adult Library Services Association Alex Award. Chu is an accomplished martial artist and a former member of the Screen Actors Guild. He has acted in film and television, worked as a model and stuntman, and summited Kilimanjaro. He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife, Paula, and two boys, Hunter and River.
Author Residence: Los Angeles, California
Author Residence: Los Angeles, California