Breaking the Cycle: the first novel about the Myanmar Spring Revolution
- Jak Bazino
- Dec 1, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Jan 21
SUMMARY
Title: Breaking the Cycle
Publisher: Chinthe House.
Publication Date: 1st February 2026
Genre: Historical Fiction / Political Fiction / War Fiction
Language: Available in English & French
SYNOPSIS
Burma, February 1942. As the Japanese army invades the country, Anthony Preston, a young British archaeologist, discovers an ancient tablet revealing the location of sacred relics of the Buddha in the ruins of the legendary Mon kingdom of Suvannabhumi. But this discovery, with its explosive political implications, becomes a deadly burden. Between betrayals, a desperate flight to Rangoon, and the collapse of the British Empire, Anthony must sacrifice everything he loves to survive and preserve this secret.
Eighty-two years later, in 2024, amid the Burmese civil war, Khin Yadanar, a doctor in the Chin resistance forces, finds the tablet in the wreckage of a missing aircraft. Determined to complete Anthony's quest despite the bombings and military repression, she sets out to cross the war-torn country.
Two eras, two wars, one shared quest for truth and freedom.
PRAISE FOR BREAKING THE CYCLE
"More than a war novel, this is a chilling exploration of legacy and liberation. Jak Bazino weaves together the parallel journeys of Anthony Preston and Khin Yadanar, showing that while the faces of conflict change, the struggle remains the same—until a new generation finally dares to break the cycle. Set against the harrowing frontlines of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution, Bazino finds a fragile thread of hope in the quiet resilience of those determined to change the future."
Esther Htusan, former Foreign Correspondent for the Associated Press, 2016 Pulitzer Prize Winner
"Breaking the Circle is a must-read for anyone interested in Myanmar’s affairs. Although it is classified as a novel, it is written based on true events and historical facts. It is a book that not only provides a deep understanding of contemporary Myanmar but also fosters a profound empathy for the feelings and experiences of its people.
It goes even further than that. While reading about the Myanmar people’s enduring struggle under colonialism, fascism, and military dictatorship, it prompts a reflection on the broader human condition. It is a book that vividly depicts the struggle of humanity as it remains caught in a recurring cycle of conflict."
Khin Maung Soe, News Director, Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB)
"Breaking the Cycle evoked a strong emotional response in me because it reflects the lived reality of people in Myanmar. It is deeply moving to learn how individuals in active war zones demonstrate remarkable resilience while carrying their own complex trauma. This book is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand what frontline responders in Myanmar are truly facing. Not reading this book would be a significant loss to one’s intellectual and moral growth."
Jue Jue Min Thu, Mental Health Leader, Lecturer at the University of Hawaii, Founder of Jue Jue's Safe Space
"A great read. Impeccably researched and wonderfully written, Jak Bazino's 'Breaking the Cycle' elegantly weaves important chapters from Myanmar's modern history into a captivating novel."
Dr Ronan Lee, Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow, Rohingya Futures Research Project, Loughborough University
VIDEO TEASER
Comments