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gummifrog's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
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
4.0
This was my first time reading an Avatar novel, and I didn't know what to expect, but I'm so glad I gave it a try. Kyoshi is a delightful character, and it's so nice to see this world from a new perspective during a new time period, and the fantasy elements of bending and strange creatures blend seamlessly into the novel format.
It was a pleasant, lighthearted read, and I'll probably grab the sequel at some point!
It was a pleasant, lighthearted read, and I'll probably grab the sequel at some point!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Abandonment
philippmk's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
Written in a YA style, this book definitely has a different vibe to it than the cartoons set in the same universe, yet it definitely still belongs in it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Violence, Death of parent, Torture, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Abandonment, Fire/Fire injury, and Murder
plume_de_renarde's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Bullying and Sexual harassment
mostlyvoidpartiallystars's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The narrative being somewhat nonlinear was slightly confusing at times, but ultimately effective.
I don't know why, but I didn't expect so much death in an ATLA book!
Overall, an exciting book that managed to surprise, delight, and horrify me by turns. Filled with interesting characters and worldbuilding that fills out the world ATLA paints for us, I loved this both on its own as a story, AND as an addition to the ATLA universe.
I don't know why, but I didn't expect so much death in an ATLA book!
Overall, an exciting book that managed to surprise, delight, and horrify me by turns. Filled with interesting characters and worldbuilding that fills out the world ATLA paints for us, I loved this both on its own as a story, AND as an addition to the ATLA universe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child death, Child abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism, Kidnapping, Stalking, Xenophobia, Violence, and Body shaming
Minor: Homophobia, War, and Sexual harassment
reclusivebookslug's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
Based on the ATLA show, I wasn't particularly interested in Kyoshi, but that immediately changed as soon as I opened up this book. This is an excellent expansion of the universe and brings a more mature tone that makes the world feel more believable. I've actually read this once before years ago and started reading the sequel but never finished, so now I'm rereading both of them in preparation for Yangchen's book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Abandonment, and Child death
There's a scene about Yun's training that makes my stomach turn. It's not super graphic I suppose, but it hit me really hard.razorfangz's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Not all that attached to Avatar as a series, but I really enjoyed this one! Kyoshi's an interesting protagonist (very refreshing to see an angry and cold female protagonist that's allowed to be angry) and I was invested in seeing her overcome Jianzhu and his forces. Speaking of Jianzhu, an avatar villain that's a rich government man who was friends with the previous avatar, tried to take on said avatar's duties, who's now trying to contain the new avatar with his influence that could easily kill her and has become a broken man trying to do so is a FANTASTIC concept. He was one of my favorite characters from how well he was written and how angry he made me in a lot of his scenes. Probably one of my favorite villains in recent memory.
Also the book is gay. I appreciate that :) I love seeing gay people in fantasy novels and Kyoshi and Rangi's relationship was absolutely precious to watch unfold throughout the book.
Also the book is gay. I appreciate that :) I love seeing gay people in fantasy novels and Kyoshi and Rangi's relationship was absolutely precious to watch unfold throughout the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Violence, Classism, Child death, Abandonment, Child abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood and Body horror
Minor: Homophobia
hayleyvem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Child abuse, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Kidnapping, Murder, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Bullying, Death, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Medical content, and Gaslighting
fiveredhens's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-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
4.0
favorite quotes:
She'd taken her own gear off and was only wearing a thin cotton shift that exposed her arms and legs. Her streamlined figure belied the solidness of her muscles. Kyoshi caught herself gawking, having never seen her friend out of uniform before. It was hard for her to comprehend that the spiky bits weren't a natural part of Rangi's body.
Rangi shifted, pressing closer to Kyoshi's body, rubbing the soft bouquet of her hair against Kyoshi's lips. The startling contact felt like a transgression, the mistake of a girl exhausted and drowsy. The more noble Fire Nation families, like the one Rangi descended from, would never let just anyone touch their hair like this.
The faint, flowery scent that filled Kyoshi's lungs made her head swim and her pulse quicken. Kyoshi kept still like it was her life's calling, unwilling to make any motion that might disturb her friend's fitful slumber.
Eventually Rangi fell into a deep sleep, radiating warmth like a little glowing coal in the hearth. Kyoshi realized that comforting her throughout the night was both an honor and a torture she wouldn't have traded for anything in the world.
Kyoshi closed her eyes. She did her best to ignore the pain of her arm losing circulation and her heart falling into a pile of ribbons.
Despite how tired they were, Rangi only dozed fitfully, shivering though it was no longer cold. Watching her from a distance, Kyoshi had an answer regarding the little snips of breath she'd listened to for so long in their shared tent on the iceberg. It was how Rangi cried in her sleep. Every so often, she would burrow her face into her shoulders to wipe her tears.
With their eyes on each other, it was easy to be brave. Maybe that's the only way we get through this, Kyoshi thought. Just never look away.
The faint, flowery scent that filled Kyoshi's lungs made her head swim and her pulse quicken. Kyoshi kept still like it was her life's calling, unwilling to make any motion that might disturb her friend's fitful slumber.
Eventually Rangi fell into a deep sleep, radiating warmth like a little glowing coal in the hearth. Kyoshi realized that comforting her throughout the night was both an honor and a torture she wouldn't have traded for anything in the world.
Kyoshi closed her eyes. She did her best to ignore the pain of her arm losing circulation and her heart falling into a pile of ribbons.
With their eyes on each other, it was easy to be brave. Maybe that's the only way we get through this, Kyoshi thought. Just never look away.
Relief came like a monsoon. She did not have to meet them. She didn't have to discover what kind of person she was when the past unearthed itself and took solid form.
"Survival training at the academy," Rangi said, breaking a bone with her fingers to get at the marrow. "We learned to accept whatever food we could find in the wild."
"I used to eat garbage," Kyoshi said.
They look at themselves like forces of nature, as inevitable ends, but they're not. Their depth is as false as the shoals at low tide. They twist the meaning of justice to absolve themselves of conscience. ...
They're humans like us, made of skin and guts and pain. They need to be reminded of that fact.
this could get a little boring and too gritty for me but it was definitely the first post-a:tla canon work that i've really enjoyed. i think it did the setting justice
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Gore, Murder, and Violence
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Fatphobia, Grief, and Racism
minty_3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Abandonment, and Child abuse
creatingavery's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Violence, and Child abuse
Minor: Sexual violence