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scarlettskyes's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Violence, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Blood, Death, and Injury/Injury detail
bookswithbrie's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
“The dawn of Yangchen” by F.C. Yee
Quote: "I bet you thought you held all your tiles... Funny thing about that. Once you play your tiles, you no longer hold them." p.285
Rating: 5/5
Review:
The first book of the year did not disappoint. Before going into this book I was not really that interesed in Yangchens story, but turns out she’s super badass and has a great story filled with political intrigue, betrayal and great lessons. I immediately feel in love with how clever Yangchen was and how it still was clear that she was young and just learning what it means to be avatar. Through Aangs and Kyoshis stories we see how companionship can make the avatarhood journey easier, but in Yangchens story we also get to see how isolating it can be at times and how it can affect a person to have so much pressure about doing the correct thing. There is not a moment in this book where Yangchen has any kind of peace, there’s always someone who needs help, or a spirit whos angry or cities on the verge of disruption.
Now, it’s not only Yangchen we follow in this book but also a potential companion, Kavik. I loved his and Yangchens banter. But Kaviks story is just as complicated as Yangchen and he has to make some dissions that changes the course of the plot for better or for worse.
So overall I loved this. Loved the writing that transports me back to the world of ATLA, loved the characters and their journeys and loved especially the ending and I cant wait for the next book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
tmkutawrites's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Mental illness
idksamiguess's review
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Classism, and Panic attacks/disorders
marigoldgem's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Vomit, Murder, Blood, and Death
fiveredhens's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
really good... pacing was kinda rushed at the end and unanamity is a silly name but overall, gucci
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Medical content
Minor: Alcohol, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Vomit
mothie_girlie's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, and Colonisation
miak2's review
adventurous
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
"I bet you thought you held all your tiles... Funny thing about that. Once you play your tiles, you no longer hold them." p.285
4.5 stars
This was not the story I expected but one that I'm incredibly glad to have gotten. Yangchen is a surprising change of pace from other Avatars that we've encountered. More proactive, more conniving, more political. Still an airbender at her core, naturally, but so very different not only from Aang but also from Korra and Kyoshi. This Team Avatar is also markedly different from others in the past. We spend a lot of time from Kavik's perspective too, but I found him to be a really fun character to follow as well, with a separate background that had me interested from the get-go.
In many ways, Yee had a fun task here, getting to write about an avatar whom we previously knew so little about, set in a time that we also hadn't yet experienced. As a whole, I'm such a fan of his writing. I said this when I read the Kyoshi novels last year, but he's the absolutely perfect person to expand this incredibly series into a book format. These books have all captured the emotional range of the original series, and similarly are able to tackle complex plot lines and mature themes.
For a bit here I felt like Yee got carried away with 'gotcha-ing' the readers, but I do think it fits the general mood of the book. Both Yangchen and Kavik are quick-witted and cunning, and their plays to one-up each other throughout the course of the book were reflected in Yee's delivery methods. Their relationship is one of the most interesting I've encountered in this universe (which is saying a lot) and I'm especially interested to see where it goes in the next book.
And, I have to say. With every new installment in the Avatar universe I find myself more and more dismayed at how dirty The Legend of Korra did The White Lotus.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Death
reclusivebookslug's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I usually don't start reading a series I know is unfinished, but I love these books so much I had to make an exception. There are a lot of loose ends for the second Yangchen book to play with and I'm excited to see how everything turns out. I'm especially interested to hear more about Yangchen's unusual connection to her past lives, which seens analogous to some kind of neurological or psychological condition. You'd think all these Avatar reincarnations would be similar enough that it would feel repetitive, but the opposite is true. Another great feature of the writing in this book and the Kyoshi books is how they manage to hold suspense and weight even though you more or less know how things turn out, based on their depictions in other Avatar works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Grief, Violence, Police brutality, and Death
Not exactly police, but...fran_buesa's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Death, and Violence