Reviews with content warning for Violence - The Rise of Kyoshi

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

philippmk's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

nixieba25f's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous 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

4.5

Content Warnings

plume_de_renarde's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

mostlyvoidpartiallystars's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

dontwritedown's review against another edition

Go to review page

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*.

Content Warnings

More...