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A review by dontwritedown
The Rise of Kyoshi by F.C. Yee
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