“The Rise of Kyoshi” by F.C. Yee
8.5
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8.5 •
The first of the Kyoshi duology develops a most-loved character within the Avatar universe, demonstrates meaningful LGBTQ+ representation, and delivers a lore-rich, action-packed story of responsibility and heartbreak.
The Avatar: The Last Airbender franchise (not to be confused with the Avatar entailing blue aliens) is undeniably a modern-day cultural phenomenon, the cartoon’s original release garnering much attention and praise, and its recent resurgence establishing it as a modern classic. So, of course, it was no surprise that stories on another Avatar—namely Kyoshi, a justice-bound woman with ironclad determination and an ever-intimidating presence—were in the works. The first of the Kyoshi novel duology, The Rise of Kyoshi, delivers on many fronts, both 1) developing the story of where Kyoshi’s characteristic appearance and personality originated from and 2) enriching the Avatar universe as a satisfying whole.
For any avid Avatar fan, the original impression of Kyoshi was a ruthless woman who would stop at nothing to achieve justice and peace—even if this meant bringing death upon her opponents. While many mischaracterized her as an unhinged killer, it was never a point of debate that Kyoshi was one of the most powerful Avatars in history (she quite literally created her own island). Hence why it was so surprising to find that Kyoshi’s origins were ones of physical weakness, social ostracization, and personal insecurity.
Kyoshi’s beginnings are defined by abandonment, loneliness, and social rejection. From her parents leaving her stranded in a village stricken by famine and riddled with people who look down on her as if she were a bug to squash, to her forced servitude under a collection of wealthy people who have no care for her, to her ultimate loss of two-thirds of the only people who loved her—there is no denying that Kyoshi’s childhood and adolescence were the furthest from easy. Her ongoing experiences with loss and running away from her problems only build with each turn of the page, until we follow her and a Fire Nation girl named Rangi as they flee from imminent danger: that being Jianzhu, presumed-Avatar Yun’s earthbending instructor and past-Avatar Kuruk’s best friend.
In Kyoshi’s escape, we are gradually introduced to both her complex romantic feelings for Rangi, her failed attempts to run from the past as it looms over her head, and her ultimate induction into a bandit group that her parents led before their deaths. What makes Kyoshi’s central character theme in this novel, that being escapism, so profound is the fact that there is only one person who refuses to let her run: Rangi. The interlocked development between Kyoshi and Rangi as a love interest are what makes The Rise of Kyoshi such a profound demonstration of LGBTQ+ storylines, where these two characters are forced to endure indescribable hardships together, those which the reader couldn’t even imagine.
As we follow Kyoshi through her journey with the bandit group, The Flying Opera Company, we are shown the inner workings of more underground groups that escape the overarching and antagonistic dynasties, officials, and royals of the Earth Kingdom. These sociopolitical niches are conveyed in a way that is dichotomously digestible and overwhelming, which can be chalked up to F.C. Yee’s masterful methods of building on the existing lore within the Avatar franchise. But, what makes Kyoshi’s interactions with such drastically polar ends of the legal and social structures is how they define her developing philosophies. Through fighting the queen of the pirates, watching her girlfriend get violently pummeled by presumed enemies, and defeating gang leader Xu Ping An with the assistance of the Avatar State, Yee implicitly builds up the teen Avatar’s outlook on life: “only justice will bring peace.” Each and every one of Kyoshi’s experiences hint at this, from her decisive nature in the heat of battle, her weighing of life versus death, and her final encounter with a foreign iteration of former friend Yun. Yee’s work in The Rise of Kyoshi rivals the franchise’s original animated series in both character development and meaningful themes and messages.
Despite its profound commentaries and perfect display of Kyoshi as a multifaceted character, The Rise of Kyoshi does occasionally falter in both pacing and historical contextualization. There are times within the novel where the climactic build-ups are so drawn out that the apexes of the story sometimes feel underwhelming (ex: Kyoshi’s revelation as the Avatar, Kyoshi’s final encounter with Jianzhu), and other times where Yee leans too far into informational explanation that the plot feels as though it’s fleeting. However, neither of these things detracts too greatly from the gratifying conclusion and ultimate origin story of such a significant figure within the Avatar franchise.
Ultimately, within just one novel, Kyoshi cannot be defined as anything other than an iconic figure within the Avatar chronology with a taste for justice and an eye for excellence. F.C. Yee’s writing in The Rise of Kyoshi is commendable beyond articulation, not only due to his excellent portrayal of a sapphic relationship in such a meaningful way, but in his conscious storytelling, connection to existing Avatar work, and invigorating development that leaves the reader yearning for more.