Avatar, The Last Airbender: The Rise of Kyoshi (Chronicles of the Avatar Book 1)

F. C. Yee · Michael Dante DiMartino

Jul 2019 · Abrams

About this ebook

An instant USA Today and New York Times bestseller, F.C. Yee’s Avatar, the Last Airbender:The Rise of Kyoshi delves into the story of Kyoshi, the Earth Kingdom–born Avatar.

Written in consultation with Michael Dante DiMartino, the visionary cocreator and executive producer of Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra animated TV series.

The longest-living Avatar in this beloved world’s history, Avatar Kyoshi established the brave and respected Kyoshi Warriors, but she also founded the secretive Dai Li, which led to the corruption, decline, and fall of her own nation.

The first of two novels based on Avatar Kyoshi in the Chronicles of the Avatar series, The Rise of Kyoshi maps her journey from a girl of humble origins to the merciless pursuer of justice who is still feared and admired centuries after she became the Avatar.

“Yee artfully weaves in political entanglements as well as complex cultural identities to fully immerse readers in Kyoshi's world. . . . An action-packed tale that answers some long-awaited questions; fans will look forward to the promised sequel.”—Kirkus Reviews

Ratings and reviews

An Avatar story that needs a parental advisory warning. It was not written for children. Rise of Kyoshi is a darker, bloodier tale of murder and betrayal. Set around 400 years before the events of 'The Boy in the Iceberg' it shows Kyoshi's era as one of strife and loss, where bandits called daofei pillage and murder across the Earth Kingdom and beyond. The darker setting is appreciated myself and, I hope, the ageing fan base of this amazing series. Where Aang was for little kids and Korra was more for young adults, Kyoshi is very much aimed for us grown ups where this universe holds a special place in our hearts. It feels like this series grew up with us.

Great! This story opens up the Avatar world in a whole new way and explores it well. The book holds a much more adult and almost cynical view of a world so fundamentally broken it feels like even the Avatar can't fix it. The villains aren't entirely one dimensional and it's great to see young Kyoshi dealing with a world that isn't black and white. The whole setup for Kyoshi is also very unique and sets her apart from the other Avatars we have seen. Plus KyoshixRangi is amazing! All in all, this is a must read if you are a fan of Avatar the Last Airbender. Can't wait for book 2

It's difficult to put how I feel about this book into words, but I'll try nonetheless. I ripped through it in about a day, and, like most good novels, I finished the last page with a resounding "WHERE'S THE REST?" Taking a dive into a beloved, established world and weaving a story about a popular character is daunting. But I firmly believe it's been pulled off incredibly well. This book is filled with humor and wit and heart-breaking moments; unique characters that you'll love and love to hate. Beautiful symbolism, though the bending descriptions can be hard to follow if you're unfamilliar with martial arts. Regardless, The Rise of Kyoshi is an incredible journey into the beginnings of her story, and I cannot wait to read more. In the name of inclusivity, having another poweful bisexual woman as the Avatar is a joy to behold. Thank you for your beautifully written Kyoshi, and please be kind to Rangi in the next one, she deserves the world.

About the author

Outside of writing, F.C. Yee practices capoeira, a Brazilian form of martial arts, and has a day job mostly involving spreadsheets. In addition to the New York Times bestselling Chronicles of the Avatar series, he is the author of the critically acclaimed Genie Lo novels.