AN ABRUPT Dawn by Goran Powell

I had the chance to read an advanced copy of "A Sudden Dawn," the martial arts novel by Goran Powell, and I found it to be an exceptionally enjoyable read. It's an epic historical novel that brings the legend of Da Mo, the Buddhist monk that brought Buddhism to China and established the Shaolin Temple as the birthplace of Zen and the martial arts, alive in a beautifully crafted action adventure.

I eagerly turned each page to see how the adventure would unfold, while at the same time was glad the book was fairly long because I did not need the story to get rid of. Powell's interpretation of the legendary characters weaves fact and fiction together in a fashion that is easy to trust the entire story is really true and not simply a novel. It truly is a fascinating tale of the mythical origins of the style known to many as kung fu.

I shared the book with one of my top students and he explained he couldn't put it down and enjoyed the book immensely. He particularly enjoyed the philosophy and lessons found within the story. The primary character is really a teacher after all, and the lessons he teaches those within the pages of the book are equally applicable in our modern times. I personally really enjoyed those elements of the book aswell.

I don't know any martial artist that wouldn't enjoy this adventure, and I'm sure many who don't practice the arts, but like good historical action novels may also read this book and connect to the genuine characters and be captivated through the entire entire tale.

I'd like to share here the endorsement I provided for the novel:

Goran Powell brings the legend of Da Mo and the Shaolin Temple alive in this sweeping epic tale that is exceptionally well-paced and engaging to the very end. "A Sudden Dawn" can be an adventurous story that blends history, myth, and legend into a remarkable and enjoyable tale that's seamlessly woven right into a fascinating and moving book. As a martial artist and someone who's studied Asian ways for over twenty years, I found "AN ABRUPT Dawn" to have just the right mix of fighting techinques action, history, romance, and philosophy to engage and entertain throughout the entire text. It is just a gripping story that I didn't desire to finish. Powell's interpretation of the legendary characters draws you into the story from the first page and goes along for an unbelievable adventure spanning the Asian continent. It's the most enjoyable books I've read in quite a while.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is really a performance and personal development expert who teaches how exactly to live, take action, and get things done through the Warrior's Edge. Alain combines his military, martial art, and Asian experiences along with his business, law, and conflict resolution education into a powerful way of living with balance, honor, and integrity. He teaches how exactly to utilize the Warrior's Edge to Take Action and Achieve Remarkable Results. Alain is the writer of Hard-Won Wisdom From The School Of Hard Knocks, the DVDs Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking series, and numerous articles and reviews. You can read more articles and reviews and see clips of his DVDs and much more at