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emiserable's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Colonisation
Minor: Toxic relationship and Xenophobia
lesty_gibbs's review against another edition
adventurous
- 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
3.0
This one was a bit challenge to get through, but has a solid ending.
I really wanted to love this, I was sceptical of F.C Yee originally, since I haven’t loved the comic adaptations, but I ended up loving Yangchen (my favourite) and Kyoshi. So, when I found myself sceptical of Ribay, I very consciously put those thoughts aside, since it wasn’t the first time, and made the active choice to his book as much as I could.
It’s not my favourite, and definitely left me frustrated through the middle, but I found I had enough fun with it.
Ribay is a very dialogue focused author, and there’s nothing wrong with that. His dialogue is punchy and conversational, moves the plot forward quickly. But just as equally, I found it often felt flat and one-dimensional. Up until the latter section of the book, I don’t think anyone beyond the main antagonist has a distinct voice. Anything Roku said could have just as easily have been said by Gyatso, or Sozin, or etc. etc.
Ribay’s also a tell not show author, which is a personal gripe of mine that drives me mental. For example, Roku mediates a couple of times early on in the book - not surprising, all the avatars mediate. Contextually this isn’t significant, and Ribay doesn’t do anything to dissuade you into expecting otherwise. These instances are singular lines, thrown away as flavour to describe Roku’s going ons in a day.
Then halfway through, bam, it’s just as casually thrown in that he’s been meditating all this time to try to connect to Kyoshi because of plot reasons. It’s another thrown away line, with no build up, no additional context added, no indication either before or after of this, nothing.
And the thing is, the book is completely littered with moments like this, and in scenarios that are far more high stakes. About just over half way through it genuinely started to really frustrate me, because every chapter it seemed had moments like this. It felt like any additional items of world building that Rigbay added were shoehorned in, with no intention, and no forethought. It’s like when a kid learns storytelling for the first time, and goes “and then there was this, the end. oh and also this.”
This made Sozin’s chapters particularly aggravating, especially through the first two thirds. The book is split into three points of view, and Sozin’s were just… the worst. There’s a lot of really heavy handed moments, big neon signs going look! look at this thing that’s in the show! and his chapters were the worst offenders. I felt like I was getting beaten over with a stick. These moments could have been done well, but there was never any subtly or intention that leant for there to be a reason to include all of these things. It felt like it was there for an ‘I understood that reference’ moment.
I will say, Gyatso and Roku’s relationship, and the development of their friendship was really well done. It was a nice juxtaposition to the breakdown of Sozin and Roku’s friendship. Ribay wrote a pair that bounced off each other well, and really seemed to grow with one another, not in spite of one another. I was really excited (and nervous) to see how this would be done, and so I’m really glad that I enjoyed this.
It’s part of why the multiple points of view upsets me. There were a lot of moments that really could have explored these characters and their relationships to one another more in depth, but there just isn’t the space to do so. It’s really disjointed, there’s never enough time with anyone. I’d find moments where I’d start to get invested and then next chapter we’re doing something with someone I really don’t care about (namely Sozin).
I’ve seen others say this, but this book really just felt like it was filling in the gaps from the show. Why set a story so early in Roku’s avatar hood if you’re going to shoehorn references from the show (and therefore Roku’s later years in life) in? Why was that needed? I know the secret tunnel is there, I’ve seen the show - I’m fan enough that I’m reading this book. Why bludgeon me with it? It’s less foreshadowing and more… I hesitate to call it fan service, since that doesn’t seem to be the intent, but I don’t have the words to characterise it.
I will say there were moments where this was done right, and when it was, it was really enjoyable. The early scenes with Ta Min were especially fun, as were most of the references the show had to Roku’s early life which were incorporated here, since it felt natural to include. Ribay’s woven this in really well and is where Roku’s characterisation is strongest.
I really enjoyed the final quarter of the book too. Once we were no longer learning new information (or rather, just getting told information) I found I could just lean in and enjoy the story. The whiplash from earlier was gone, and all the disjointed parts of the book grew far more cohesive. Roku coming into his own was especially gratifying.
I’ll definitely be sat for the next book, I’m hoping the person Roku has become in this one will lead to a more compelling story in the next one. Given the ending, it’ll be interesting to see where this one goes.
I really wanted to love this, I was sceptical of F.C Yee originally, since I haven’t loved the comic adaptations, but I ended up loving Yangchen (my favourite) and Kyoshi. So, when I found myself sceptical of Ribay, I very consciously put those thoughts aside, since it wasn’t the first time, and made the active choice to his book as much as I could.
It’s not my favourite, and definitely left me frustrated through the middle, but I found I had enough fun with it.
Ribay is a very dialogue focused author, and there’s nothing wrong with that. His dialogue is punchy and conversational, moves the plot forward quickly. But just as equally, I found it often felt flat and one-dimensional. Up until the latter section of the book, I don’t think anyone beyond the main antagonist has a distinct voice. Anything Roku said could have just as easily have been said by Gyatso, or Sozin, or etc. etc.
Ribay’s also a tell not show author, which is a personal gripe of mine that drives me mental. For example, Roku mediates a couple of times early on in the book - not surprising, all the avatars mediate. Contextually this isn’t significant, and Ribay doesn’t do anything to dissuade you into expecting otherwise. These instances are singular lines, thrown away as flavour to describe Roku’s going ons in a day.
Then halfway through, bam, it’s just as casually thrown in that he’s been meditating all this time to try to connect to Kyoshi because of plot reasons. It’s another thrown away line, with no build up, no additional context added, no indication either before or after of this, nothing.
And the thing is, the book is completely littered with moments like this, and in scenarios that are far more high stakes. About just over half way through it genuinely started to really frustrate me, because every chapter it seemed had moments like this. It felt like any additional items of world building that Rigbay added were shoehorned in, with no intention, and no forethought. It’s like when a kid learns storytelling for the first time, and goes “and then there was this, the end. oh and also this.”
This made Sozin’s chapters particularly aggravating, especially through the first two thirds. The book is split into three points of view, and Sozin’s were just… the worst. There’s a lot of really heavy handed moments, big neon signs going look! look at this thing that’s in the show! and his chapters were the worst offenders. I felt like I was getting beaten over with a stick. These moments could have been done well, but there was never any subtly or intention that leant for there to be a reason to include all of these things. It felt like it was there for an ‘I understood that reference’ moment.
I will say, Gyatso and Roku’s relationship, and the development of their friendship was really well done. It was a nice juxtaposition to the breakdown of Sozin and Roku’s friendship. Ribay wrote a pair that bounced off each other well, and really seemed to grow with one another, not in spite of one another. I was really excited (and nervous) to see how this would be done, and so I’m really glad that I enjoyed this.
It’s part of why the multiple points of view upsets me. There were a lot of moments that really could have explored these characters and their relationships to one another more in depth, but there just isn’t the space to do so. It’s really disjointed, there’s never enough time with anyone. I’d find moments where I’d start to get invested and then next chapter we’re doing something with someone I really don’t care about (namely Sozin).
I’ve seen others say this, but this book really just felt like it was filling in the gaps from the show. Why set a story so early in Roku’s avatar hood if you’re going to shoehorn references from the show (and therefore Roku’s later years in life) in? Why was that needed? I know the secret tunnel is there, I’ve seen the show - I’m fan enough that I’m reading this book. Why bludgeon me with it? It’s less foreshadowing and more… I hesitate to call it fan service, since that doesn’t seem to be the intent, but I don’t have the words to characterise it.
I will say there were moments where this was done right, and when it was, it was really enjoyable. The early scenes with Ta Min were especially fun, as were most of the references the show had to Roku’s early life which were incorporated here, since it felt natural to include. Ribay’s woven this in really well and is where Roku’s characterisation is strongest.
I really enjoyed the final quarter of the book too. Once we were no longer learning new information (or rather, just getting told information) I found I could just lean in and enjoy the story. The whiplash from earlier was gone, and all the disjointed parts of the book grew far more cohesive. Roku coming into his own was especially gratifying.
I’ll definitely be sat for the next book, I’m hoping the person Roku has become in this one will lead to a more compelling story in the next one. Given the ending, it’ll be interesting to see where this one goes.
moonwood's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
frenchleigh's review against another edition
3.0
This book is still engaging and I think Ribay’s writing and dialogue seems comparable to the precedent set by F.C. Yee—but I don’t think it’d be as accessible to someone who doesn’t know the show as F.C. Yee’s books were. I agree with other reviewers that some of the references to the show are a bit heavy handed. My main issue was the plot line and the characters. Overall the way these characters act and how it shapes the plot makes no sense. I was ready for a Suzanne Collins-style slow descent into madness for Sozin but instead of his moral line slowly being pushed back, he just doesn’t seem to do any moral wrestling at all, and at 16 acts exactly like we know his adult self becomes. A new character, a girl on a mysterious island, seems to have literally no relationships or positive feelings about anybody in her entire clan and immediately decides to side with some random exploitative earthbenders over them. People in her clan are also very one dimensional, cartoonish villains and I was disappointed by the lack of thoughtfulness about colonization.
pinkgraco's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
isabelle_mary's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Overall I thought this book was good, but not as good a the others in the series. It felt like I was reading a lot but nothing was really happening. Once I got to the end it picked up and the storyline was good. It just takes awhile to get to the good part, which I don’t know if it is really worth it. Quick read, kyoshi is still my favorite.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, and Fire/Fire injury
vwall007st's review against another edition
5.0
As a long-time fan of the Avatar universe, I have to say that The Reckoning of Roku is one of the best entries in the Chronicles of the Avatar series so far. While the previous four books, particularly the Kyoshi novels, have been excellent, this one holds a special place for me because of its nostalgic appeal. We were given glimpses of Avatar Roku's life in the original TV show, Avatar: The Last Airbender, but Randy Ribay has masterfully expanded on that with new and compelling details.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is the deeper dive into Roku’s relationship with Fire Prince Sozin. While the TV series hinted at the friendship between Roku and Sozin, this book adds a new layer to it. For example by revealing that the Crown Prince's headpiece, which was given to Roku by Sozin, wasn’t just a symbol of their bond. It also carried a significant, undisclosed meaning.
In addition to expanding on familiar characters and events, Ribay introduces entirely new elements that give Roku’s story added depth. For example, Roku’s twin brother Yasu, a character previously unknown to us, plays a crucial role in shaping Roku’s early life and his bond with Sozin. The grief over Yasu’s death strengthens the connection between Roku and Sozin, making their later conflict even more tragic.
We also gain fresh insights into Roku’s friendship with Monk Gyatso, another beloved character from the TV series. The book reveals that Gyatso also suffered a great loss, his older sister Yama, which drew him closer to Roku. Watching Gyatso struggle with airbending due to his grief and then finding solace in his friendship with Roku was particularly moving. The foreshadowing of Gyatso’s future through a vision or dream was a clever touch, adding an eerie sense of inevitability to his fate.
The main plot of the book revolves around Sozin reaching out to Roku for help with a mysterious issue involving the Earth Kingdom on a remote Fire Nation island. This island, shrouded in constant fog and rich in spiritual energy, serves as the story’s enigmatic centerpiece. Sozin’s research, which even takes him to Wan Shi Tong’s Library, adds a thrilling layer of intrigue. Seeing Sozin in the Library and his interaction with Wan Shi Tong was a nostalgic highlight, especially with the subtle foreshadowing that the Library would one day be buried deeper in the desert, as we see in the original series.
The events that unfold on the island are intense and gripping, setting the stage for the next book, The Awakening of Roku. The hints dropped throughout the story about future conflicts and the evolution of relationships have me eagerly anticipating what comes next.
For fans of the Avatar universe, especially those who have followed it from The Last Airbender to The Legend of Korra and through the various Avatar Chronicles, this book is a must-read. It’s rich with references to past Avatars like Yangchen and Kyoshi and ties back beautifully to the lore established in the TV series. The Reckoning of Roku is both a nostalgic trip and a fresh adventure, combining the best of what we love about the Avatar world with new stories that keep us hooked. I read it in just a few days because I couldn’t put it down. If you’re a fan of Randy Ribay’s writing or the world created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, I highly recommend diving into this book.
One of the most fascinating aspects of this book is the deeper dive into Roku’s relationship with Fire Prince Sozin. While the TV series hinted at the friendship between Roku and Sozin, this book adds a new layer to it. For example by revealing that the Crown Prince's headpiece, which was given to Roku by Sozin, wasn’t just a symbol of their bond. It also carried a significant, undisclosed meaning.
In addition to expanding on familiar characters and events, Ribay introduces entirely new elements that give Roku’s story added depth. For example, Roku’s twin brother Yasu, a character previously unknown to us, plays a crucial role in shaping Roku’s early life and his bond with Sozin. The grief over Yasu’s death strengthens the connection between Roku and Sozin, making their later conflict even more tragic.
We also gain fresh insights into Roku’s friendship with Monk Gyatso, another beloved character from the TV series. The book reveals that Gyatso also suffered a great loss, his older sister Yama, which drew him closer to Roku. Watching Gyatso struggle with airbending due to his grief and then finding solace in his friendship with Roku was particularly moving. The foreshadowing of Gyatso’s future through a vision or dream was a clever touch, adding an eerie sense of inevitability to his fate.
The main plot of the book revolves around Sozin reaching out to Roku for help with a mysterious issue involving the Earth Kingdom on a remote Fire Nation island. This island, shrouded in constant fog and rich in spiritual energy, serves as the story’s enigmatic centerpiece. Sozin’s research, which even takes him to Wan Shi Tong’s Library, adds a thrilling layer of intrigue. Seeing Sozin in the Library and his interaction with Wan Shi Tong was a nostalgic highlight, especially with the subtle foreshadowing that the Library would one day be buried deeper in the desert, as we see in the original series.
The events that unfold on the island are intense and gripping, setting the stage for the next book, The Awakening of Roku. The hints dropped throughout the story about future conflicts and the evolution of relationships have me eagerly anticipating what comes next.
For fans of the Avatar universe, especially those who have followed it from The Last Airbender to The Legend of Korra and through the various Avatar Chronicles, this book is a must-read. It’s rich with references to past Avatars like Yangchen and Kyoshi and ties back beautifully to the lore established in the TV series. The Reckoning of Roku is both a nostalgic trip and a fresh adventure, combining the best of what we love about the Avatar world with new stories that keep us hooked. I read it in just a few days because I couldn’t put it down. If you’re a fan of Randy Ribay’s writing or the world created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, I highly recommend diving into this book.
alesia_karch's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
meganfuhr's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Oh man, I LOVED this!
Roku has always been such an interesting Avatar, and I adored getting a glimpse into his life. I hope there will be another novel furthering his story becausethat ending was NOT for the weak! And what happened with Gatsu's girl, like, that ripped my heart out, I want my boy to heal😭 over all, 5/5 I adored every part of this
Roku has always been such an interesting Avatar, and I adored getting a glimpse into his life. I hope there will be another novel furthering his story because