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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
I wavered a bit on this one, but I think the overall effect and impact of this book was really strong, and that it’s an excellent addition to the ATLA canon.
Ever since I started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, I’ve been drawn in by Kyoshi’s story and character, and the legacy she left behind. From her veneration to the existence of the Kyoshi warriors, she left a long shadow. This novel (the first in a duology) tells the story behind the legend, back when Kyoshi was a child barely surviving on the streets of Yokoya, before she was taken in by Jianzhu and Kelsang, two sages seeking out the next incarnation of the Avatar after the early death of Kuruk, to whom they were companions and advisors. I think the choice to have there be Yun, the “mistaken” Avatar that Kyoshi serves was a great idea — it helps have her more focused on the role and pressures of the Avatar while also letting her come into her own skills and confidence, while also adding some drama as they must vie for the attention and guidance of their teachers. This was also a great way for Rangi, a Firebender and bodyguard to the Avatar, to get some depth as she struggles with balancing her friendships with her sense of duty.
The feel of this novel is quite a departure from the show and comics, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. While I’ve always loved the goofy humor and vibe of the series and sequel comics, they never shied away from the real and painful struggles of their characters. Whether it is loss or lack of confidence or grappling with their role in the larger world, Kyoshi’s problems aren’t as divergent from Aang’s as they might seem initially. Both questioned what they could bring to the role of the Avatar, both were fiercely loyal to their friends and allies, and both had to grapple with shifting their values as the Avatar, especially when it came the choice between forgiveness and revenge. That’s not to say that these novels are entirely humorless. Yes is a great writer and I think he strikes a good balance of letting the natural humor and fun of these teenage characters come through despite their rough and restricted lives. And the addition of a love story for Kyoshi was beautiful and really helps shape her sense of devotion and loyalty.
Where this novel faltered for me a bit was just how much it tried to cover, and the large cast that never felt 100% realized for me. The story zips through multiple settings and phases as Kyoshi finds her powers and comes into her own, but from the staff at the estate to the Water Tribes and daofei to bandits and emperors and councils (oh my!), there were a lot of moving pieces, and while an admirable job was done to make Kyoshi’s Team Avatar engaging and sympathetic, I didn’t feel like I had the chance to really get to know them well enough for some plot points and twists to have the impact they should have. It also takes a while for Kyoshi’s motivations to be realized, but while this is a long book that perhaps could have been streamlined a little, in the end, each part of Kyoshi’s journey is important to shaping her into the Avatar she has to become.
You don’t have to have seen the show or read the comics to understand this story, as most of the necessary information and context is explained in one way or another, but I found some wider knowledge of the world and the role of the Avatar helped ground me in the story. You could certainly start with this book and move forward if you really wanted to take in the story chronologically!
I am definitely keen to get to the next installment to see the completion of Kyoshi’s story arc, and would definitely like to see more novelizations in this world. This story could have made a great (but long!) graphic novel, but I think given Kyoshi’s interiority and the complexity of the story that a novel was the right call. There’s so much more to be expanded upon in this world, and I’d gladly read about the history of just about any incarnation of the Avatar.
Ever since I started watching Avatar: The Last Airbender, I’ve been drawn in by Kyoshi’s story and character, and the legacy she left behind. From her veneration to the existence of the Kyoshi warriors, she left a long shadow. This novel (the first in a duology) tells the story behind the legend, back when Kyoshi was a child barely surviving on the streets of Yokoya, before she was taken in by Jianzhu and Kelsang, two sages seeking out the next incarnation of the Avatar after the early death of Kuruk, to whom they were companions and advisors. I think the choice to have there be Yun, the “mistaken” Avatar that Kyoshi serves was a great idea — it helps have her more focused on the role and pressures of the Avatar while also letting her come into her own skills and confidence, while also adding some drama as they must vie for the attention and guidance of their teachers. This was also a great way for Rangi, a Firebender and bodyguard to the Avatar, to get some depth as she struggles with balancing her friendships with her sense of duty.
The feel of this novel is quite a departure from the show and comics, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. While I’ve always loved the goofy humor and vibe of the series and sequel comics, they never shied away from the real and painful struggles of their characters. Whether it is loss or lack of confidence or grappling with their role in the larger world, Kyoshi’s problems aren’t as divergent from Aang’s as they might seem initially. Both questioned what they could bring to the role of the Avatar, both were fiercely loyal to their friends and allies, and both had to grapple with shifting their values as the Avatar, especially when it came the choice between forgiveness and revenge. That’s not to say that these novels are entirely humorless. Yes is a great writer and I think he strikes a good balance of letting the natural humor and fun of these teenage characters come through despite their rough and restricted lives. And the addition of a love story for Kyoshi was beautiful and really helps shape her sense of devotion and loyalty.
Where this novel faltered for me a bit was just how much it tried to cover, and the large cast that never felt 100% realized for me. The story zips through multiple settings and phases as Kyoshi finds her powers and comes into her own, but from the staff at the estate to the Water Tribes and daofei to bandits and emperors and councils (oh my!), there were a lot of moving pieces, and while an admirable job was done to make Kyoshi’s Team Avatar engaging and sympathetic, I didn’t feel like I had the chance to really get to know them well enough for some plot points and twists to have the impact they should have. It also takes a while for Kyoshi’s motivations to be realized, but while this is a long book that perhaps could have been streamlined a little, in the end, each part of Kyoshi’s journey is important to shaping her into the Avatar she has to become.
You don’t have to have seen the show or read the comics to understand this story, as most of the necessary information and context is explained in one way or another, but I found some wider knowledge of the world and the role of the Avatar helped ground me in the story. You could certainly start with this book and move forward if you really wanted to take in the story chronologically!
I am definitely keen to get to the next installment to see the completion of Kyoshi’s story arc, and would definitely like to see more novelizations in this world. This story could have made a great (but long!) graphic novel, but I think given Kyoshi’s interiority and the complexity of the story that a novel was the right call. There’s so much more to be expanded upon in this world, and I’d gladly read about the history of just about any incarnation of the Avatar.
Most of what you would expect: a continuation of the world-building of the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe focused on Kyoshi’s early years. It was a fun and compelling story with a lot of political discussion and fun set up to briefly mentioned locations and factions mentioned in the show. Overall, a very fun and captivating story to digest.
THROUGH THE MOUNTAINNNNNN. SECRET SECRET SECRET hidden passage :|
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Rise of Kyoshi was everything ATLA should have realistically been. Bending is as brutal as it is beautiful and had the show not been targeted at younger audiences, there would have been far more death than the Air Nomads and Jet. The Rise of Kyoshi not only builds on the lore of the universe, but it tackles this brutality and the political nuances behind the Avatar's power in a stunning way. Watching Kyoshi gradually shift from the girl at the beginning of the story to the Avatar we thought we knew beforehand was fun and realistic. Seeing her struggle with the knowledge that nearly everyone, good or bad, is simply mimicking the actions of those that came before them keeps you wondering who she'll meet next, and how she'll handle them. Watching the way that the world and the four nations interacted before the 100-Year War and the loss of an entire race is entertaining and heartbreaking all at once.
that was super fun. kyoshi is my absolute favorite and it was so nice to see more development of her character. our values line up nicely and i really wish there was a whole tv series just for her. i also appreciated the relationship between kyoshi and rangi. they’re adorable