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kymberly's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
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
it took me so long to finally finish this book, but I finally did it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Classism and Gaslighting
loveyoulike's review
adventurous
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
4.0
best avatar actually
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Death, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Bullying, and Abandonment
destynee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This is a perfect book for those who enjoyed ATLA and are apart of the fandom. It’s a perfect way to start off a prequel and to showcase just how Kyoshi became the icon that she is. I already knew she was amazing but seeing her journey solidifies that even more. This was a great book to start the year off with and I can’t wait to start book 2.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Abandonment, and Violence
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Death of parent, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Bullying, Child death, and Fire/Fire injury
michaelanormand's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
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
simareading's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
fast-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
4.5
For what it is, this book is fantastic. If it was for a different demographic I may lower my rating a bit, but the story was actually very wonderful. It made me angry, and sad, and kept me coming back after every short break. Excited for the second!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, and Abandonment
Moderate: Colonisation, Grief, Death, Death of parent, War, Xenophobia, and Child death
xolobooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Murder
dontwritedown's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.75
So many people have issues with The Legend of Korra. Once issue being that critics think it's too dark for the original audience of Avatar the Last Airbender. And I think they might have the same issue with this book as well.
At the beginning, we meet Avatar Kyoshi. The problem? This Kyoshi is a complete 180 from the Kyoshi that didn't take any crap from anyone in the original series. Kyoshi is known for being the most brutal of the recent Avatar reincarnations, so it makes the first half of the book a slog to get through, until she drops Mary Sue part of her personality. But that's also part of what co-creator of AtLA DiMartino mentions during his foreword, it's hard getting into a prequel when you know how their story ends.
Side note: can we talk about how the Avatar Spirit Raava is pretty much canonically female and gay af? I love that for a kids show/series.
I love how this series makes callbacks to the original, but in a less in your face way than TLoK.
Onwards to the next book!
Edit: I also like how they really reinterpret things we saw in the show and moved it forward in this book. For example: Kyoshi is only ever seen bending big items in the original series, from creating Kyoshi Island to that montage of her with other Avatar's creating a volcano eruption. That is translated into her struggling to do more minute, detailed bending via her fans, thus giving her a reason to have them. Same with the headdress and makeup. Just *chef's kiss*.
At the beginning, we meet Avatar Kyoshi. The problem? This Kyoshi is a complete 180 from the Kyoshi that didn't take any crap from anyone in the original series. Kyoshi is known for being the most brutal of the recent Avatar reincarnations, so it makes the first half of the book a slog to get through, until she drops Mary Sue part of her personality. But that's also part of what co-creator of AtLA DiMartino mentions during his foreword, it's hard getting into a prequel when you know how their story ends.
Side note: can we talk about how the Avatar Spirit Raava is pretty much canonically female and gay af? I love that for a kids show/series.
I love how this series makes callbacks to the original, but in a less in your face way than TLoK.
Onwards to the next book!
Edit: I also like how they really reinterpret things we saw in the show and moved it forward in this book. For example: Kyoshi is only ever seen bending big items in the original series, from creating Kyoshi Island to that montage of her with other Avatar's creating a volcano eruption. That is translated into her struggling to do more minute, detailed bending via her fans, thus giving her a reason to have them. Same with the headdress and makeup. Just *chef's kiss*.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Death, and Violence
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
liteartha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
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
4.0
this was great! really impressed with the prose, particularly as i wasn't sure what to expect from a novel tied to a tv franchise. the writing is compelling and the character work with kyoshi is fantastic. this novel delivers on the emotional front and engages meaningfully with ethics, particularly in the realm of justice and corruption. darker and more mature in tone than most other entries into the canon, which i really appreciate. also absolutely love the romantic relationship at the core of this novel. bi rights, baby
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, and Death
Moderate: Abandonment