Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Rise of Kyoshi

Lore & Background

The story begins seven years after the death of 33-year-old Avatar Kuruk of the Northern Water Tribe. His companions Jianzhu, a powerful Earth Kingdom sage, and Kelsang, an Air Nomad, search the Earth Kingdom for the next Avatar. They come to Yokoya village, where Kyoshi, a homeless outcast child left by her outlaw parents, briefly participates in their test but runs off. She is later taken in by Kelsang, who becomes a father figure to her. Nine years later, Kyoshi works as a servant in a mansion built for Yun, an Earth Kingdom teenager identified as the Avatar by Jianzhu. After Kyoshi performs a feat of Avatar-level earthbending during a confrontation with pirates, a spirit confirms Kyoshi is the true Avatar. Jianzhu abandons Yun to die and murders Kelsang; Kyoshi enters the Avatar State and nearly kills Jianzhu, then flees with her friend Rangi, a teenage firebender. Kyoshi enlists the aid of the Flying Opera Company, her parents' former outlaw gang, and learns to master the four elements. She eventually kills the gang lord Xu Ping An in a duel. Jianzhu is killed by a surviving Yun. Kyoshi travels to the Southern Air Temple to reveal herself as the Avatar, where she is approached by the spirit of Avatar Kuruk.

Reader's Guide

The Rise of Kyoshi expands the lore of the Avatar universe by exploring the life of an Avatar centuries before the events of the original animated series. The novel provides a deeper look into the Earth Kingdom's political and cultural complexities, as well as the personal struggles of a young Avatar who was initially overlooked. Its status as a New York Times bestseller indicates significant readership and commercial success. The book's prose format allowed for more detailed worldbuilding than the animated medium, and it was noted for its political entanglements and complex cultural identities. The novel also introduces characters and conflicts that set the stage for its sequel, The Shadow of Kyoshi, released in July 2020. By focusing on Kyoshi's journey from an outcast to a powerful Avatar, the book adds depth to the franchise's history and offers a standalone story that enriches the overall narrative of the Avatar world.

Did You Know?

• The novel was written by F.C. Yee and Avatar co-creator Michael Dante DiMartino.
• The sequel, The Shadow of Kyoshi, was released on July 21, 2020.