Have you ever wanted to read an actual book? If so then you're in luck for the first (and probably last, who knows) full-length Avatar Kyoshi novels from F.C. Yee.
Summary
After the untimely death of Avatar Kuruk, a shaky imbalance has shifted throughout the world. Villanous gangs called the daofei have run rampant across the Earth Kingdom, the Water Tribe is plagued by pirates and many of Kuruk's old friends have maintained peace through dirtied hands. The only thing keeping order from breaking at the seams is Kuruk's "replacement" Avatar Yun.
Taken in from the streets of a small village Yun's incredible charisma, skill in pai sho and prodigious earthbending skill put him in as a dead ringer for Kuruk's reincarnation. However, when is failure to use the other elements crop at the same time his close friend and servant Kyoshi started saying things only Kuruk would know, and doubts are cast.
Doubts that would send the young girl, picked from the streets and abandoned as a child, on a path of vengeance and tragedy. For while the world doesn't know it at the time, they will soon know firsthand, the legend of the oldest Avatar to ever live. The most feared woman of the Four Nations. The founder of an entire island of warrior women. The tale of Avatar Kyoshi.
Characters
Kyoshi: Our titular character Kyoshi's life starving in the streets left a profound impact on her mental state. Despite her large size and latent power her low self esteem often makes her very withdrawn and docile. However to her closer friends she's shows off a far more level-headed, stubborn, hard-working and considerate side. As her story shapes her though we see the mask she hides against her enemies, the merciless, aggressive and cold killer they fear.
Rangi: Serving as the daughter of Hei-Ran Kuruk's past fire-bending instructor, Rangi is a militratically passionate young woman and friend to Yun and Kyoshi. Talented and orderly she often serves as Kyoshi's voice of reason despite her aggressive pride. Still no matter how angry she is with her Rangi will always stand by her loved ones.
Yun: The current "Avatar", Yun is a man born from nothing who gained everything. His natural intelligence on people's matters and skill in Earthbending gives him a playfully confident demeanor. This doesn't mean he's arrogant though, as she takes his duties as Avatar incredibly seriously. So much so it leads to his tragedy.
Overview
So I don't if I've ever said this before but I love Avatar the Last Airbender. As someone who grew up with the show, revisited it consistently, and read the comics seeing the series rise back to prominence over this decade has been surprising. Though I think what's more surprising in retrospect is why we didn't get something like this like year earlier.
I know were are getting a live-action adaptation of the Last Airbender from Netflix but honestly instead of retreading perfect ground, I'm surprised no one has suggested an animated anthology series. The Avatar's been around for, like, 10,004 years, but we've focused mostly on stories following ATLA and Legend of Korra's end. There's so much more potential you have with this premise that the Kyoshi books pull off flawlessly.
With her previous appearances, one would imagine that Kyoshi came out of the womb an utter badass. But seeing her more humble beginnings contrast a harsh world of absurdity is great subversion. In fact both of these books kept me incredibly entranced with the consistent twists and callbacks.
This series doesn't rely very much on what you know about Kyoshi or even the other series, only really sharing themes brought from its predecessors in a production sense. Instead offering to introduce new lore and legends in the mix Poverty, government corruption, spirituality, found family, and classism aren't topics for the franchise, but the more grandiose and morally grey gives them a weight that couldn't be shown.
The grand scope doesn't detract from the story though. Once again the more harsher conditions (this is the first time I think blood has ever even been mentioned in Avatar) makes her instantly very gripping protagonist, earned in her infallibility but also justified towards her better nature. No matter how many obstacles makes her wish she didn't
The other side characters introduced also do amazing. While not the best Kyoshi's supporting cast is prominent enough to help her on her quest for vengeance at first while doing some solid worldbuilfing and interesting philosophies. They don't get the most screentime but whenever a case like this occurs, I look it like this. If I want to see more of you, then I think you did a good job at making me care.
The great cast also extends the villains cause holy fuck I don't understand why these books decided to go towards two back-to-back Goated villains. Avatar has never been the franchise where I'm actively looking for them but the fact each one perfectly challenges Kyoshi on a personal and spiritual level whilst giving us intensely dramatic encounters is a goddamn miracle.
Epilogue
In conclusion, while this isn't the meatiest spotlight, I highly recommend both Rise and Shadow of Kyoshi. At their core, I truly believe their stories of forgiveness, for both yourself and others. While vengeance and spite are great motivators at times, there always going to be a point where they just drag you down either way. Much like every person can only do what they believe is right so must the Avatar during their time on Earth.
Definitely one day I would like to cover the Yangchen books when the second book comes out and whatever else the Avatar franchise has coming out in the next few years, since I've heard some incredibly interesting material. Until then, let's see where the spotlight reincarnates us towards next.
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