Rise of Kyoshi - First thoughts (Chapters 1-22)

https://vimeo.com/471849676

Alex G

This video isn't working for me either. It says: "because of its privacy settings, this video cannot be played here." Can you please upload an alternative link?

madgod

"This is almost Aang's time." It depends with what you comparing. It's almost Aang's time if you think Avatar Wan era ten thousand years ago. But on the other hand, Kyoshi events described here still take place around 400 years before events in ATLA! Kyoshi lived very long, then Roku and then Aang was frozen for 100 years...

Therion

I'm so excited to see your reaction to the rest of this book and the next one. I won't say anything cause I don't want to spoil anything, but honestly there are a few moments that I wish you could just film your reaction for.

myownzinger

When I found out you were reading these I decided to read along, so I'm only a few chapters ahead of this video right now. The pirate fight with Tagaka was definitely the point that got me sucked in. One thought I had, I definitely don't think Lao Ge is a spirit. Remember what we know about Kyoshi, that she supposedly lived to be 230 years old. I'm thinking it's an earthbending technique, maybe something like affecting the minerals in your own body to slow aging? I'm also like 99% convinced Yun will be back as some spirit possessed villain either by the end of this book or in the next one. No way we've seen the last of him. No body = not dead.

R. Lewis

Uhhh is it bad that since Yee did sooo good writing these two books that I dont want an animated series anymore just give me more books. I want a Wan novel. Maybe the avatar after Wan would be amazing just think this all powerfull bender dies and the world has no clue the avatar can reincarnate so the wars intensify and all of a sudden a air nomad can bend more than air. I want that novel!!!

hays collins

I was dumb when i first got it a year ago and i just kinda lost interest but when the second one came out I picked it back up and I loved it ever since. My opinion I like the 2nd one better because of the INSANE ammount of Lore it gives you including lore about the fire nation. Im glad you are enjoying it second half of the book is crazy.

hays collins

I honestly agree. I mean I love the hell out of Rise. but I enjoyed Shadow just a little more for so many reasons, lore, some characters, etc, even if it was a bit shorter. There's just so many great things packed into it.

WolfWarrior623

The second book is quite good if not better, as well. looking forward to you final thoughts.

Drake Chuckle

Looking forward to it :)

Alex G

That's really interesting. I didn't know that Kyoshi had taken on such a huge life in the fandom. You're right, I've avoided exploring the Avatar universe outside of the shows in order to avoid spoilers.

Alex G

Yes i couldn't agree more about Yee. He is great and i really do trust him to expand the history and lore of the universe its really great stuff. But yeah the way the earth kingdom finds the avatar is so great!! And i never thought about how each nation would kind of do their own thing but it totally makes sense.

Cody Taylor

So glad you are enjoying the book!! The next books forward is so wonderful. It really cemented the writer for me as someone who i fully trust to do the universe right with these books. I mean obviously the first book did an amazing job of it but reading his thoughts on it all just really made me happy he took up this task. I think you are really going to enjoy the next book even more it has way more deep dives into the culture of the nations as well as way more lore dumps for kuruk which is just so wonderful

Cody Taylor

The interaction between her and Lek is also very interesting. How Kyoshi talks trash about her parents, and in the other hand Lek talking wonderful things about them. It really is like a pair of step-brother and sister.

Victor Daniel Pacheco

I really enjoy learning avatar Kurik and how he was perceived he reminds me a lot of early korra I feel like kurik is the kind of avatar korra would be if she didn’t have the guidance of people like tenzin or her father or katara and in a way I feel like korra redeems kurik as a water tribe avatar I think the proud sexy tough type is just something cultural with the water tribe so I feel like water tribe avatars seem to be very proud and arrogant but as the avatar thier hearts are in the right place

Elijah baker

I'm so happy you're enjoying it. The foreword really got me excited as well. What I absolutely love about this series is just how opposite Kyoshi is to what the fandom has turned her into. I love that we can at least kinda see where Kyoshi's already getting an and her sense of justice that we see in the show. It's equally interesting to see someone with a built up reputation like Kyoshi's, again with such a strong sense of justice, and an Avatar, be a criminal, and the child of criminals. I love everything about "that" story though. I won't comment on that much though because it's been a while and I don't want to accidentally spoil things. Honestly though my favorite parts of the book are probably Kyoshi & Rangi's relationship. I think Yee really did a fantastic job of handling it, both as a friendship and as a romance. Rangi's not just a love interest. She cares about & needs Kyoshi just as much as Kyoshi does her. They don't always agree and get along, but that doesn't get in the way of their relationship or friendship, they balance eachother out. Honestly though, Rangi is just one of my favorite characters in the book, and lowkey I just love that she exists to be an example of every single Fire Nation/Firebender stereotype that exists in this era. Just standing there, boiling with firebender rage. I also love how much Yee expanded on the existing lore, as well as the fact that he did not shy away from expanding on lore and ideas from both the original series AND Korra. How they find Earth Avatars was one of the coolest things. I also just love that Yee isn't afraid to throw memes in there too, like Kirima's "just gal's being pals" comment. As I said before, he's clearly a fan of the series, and I would be absolutely fine with him writing more books in the future for the Avatarverse.

WolfWarrior623

I'm excited for you to finish so I can speak more openly without worrying about spoilers. For now though, I think one of the most interesting things to me is how this book was kinda borne from the fandom in a sort of meta way. I don't know how much you've perused the fandom, or if you've mostly avoided it to avoid spoilers, but like... Fandom Kyoshi has basically become Chuck Norris in the years since ATLA ended. I don't know how or why, but fans turned her into this absurdly larger than life figure based on her very few appearances on the show. So to see Goddess Kyoshi introduced in this way, as an orphan child for whom becoming a servant was a step up in life, and didn't even know she was the Avatar... it's a much more drastic transformation than we've seen from any other Avatar to date. And yeah, I really love the awareness in the foreword about how Avatar is about the political journey as well as the personal. It's intrinsically a part of the franchise's DNA, no matter how much some people try to separate them.

Rachel Espiritu

I'm glad you are a Lao Ge fan as well, and I also got really excited at the mention of Laghima and even the fact that there were other, competing philosophies. I'd love more on that! And yeah, real credit goes to Yee for finding a way to novelize the Avatar universe in a way that feels both consistent and expansive. I like what you said about certain parts being stronger due to having to paint the picture in your head. I feel the same way. There are certain little touches that don't necessarily come across visually that make the universe feel more tangible in book form.

Alex G

It's interesting seeing her in this light after watching the show, where she seems like a confident leader and immovable force for justice. I think it was a good decision by the writer starting her off at this point where she is kind of helpless and confused, etc. As the foreword says, each avatar must have a unique journey and personal challenges, and that's part of what makes Kyoshi, Aang, and Kora compelling as characters - They're not these perfect godlike entities, they're people with relatable problems and huge challenges.

Alex G

Lao Ge is a super cool character, and he hints at some really cool little lore tidbits here and there (his mention of Laghima was a total fanboy moment for me). I am also a really huge fan of the Flying Opera Company. The dynamic between this band of outlaws is so fun and interesting, it kind of reminds me of how I felt about where the Red Lotus members could have headed had LoK been given more time. I think these books showed me that this universe lends itself really well to novel format, and that shocked me. I love all the little details and feelings that are conveyed through the medium (props to F.C. Yee for the writing). The emotions I felt in the books were just as strong, possibly stronger than parts of either show, because I was forced to paint my own picture in my head. There are funny moments, heartwarming ones, and downright chilling ones. I love how we get to explore the more gritty side of things. Not to mention it totally satisfies my lust for lore. I eat that stuff up like fire flakes! I can't wait to hear your thoughts on the rest of this book and then the next one so maybe I can speak more openly about things. Flameo Hitman, that was a long comment! :)

Aidan Pullen

Yay! I'm so glad you are enjoying this. My favourite quote in the novel is coming up for you so I'm excited to see if it resonates with you or you notice it. I love how... Kyoshi is not how a lot of the fandom portrays her and I see similarities to Aang that I never would have expected. Like they are not the same but what we get here goes against so much of what the fandom says about her.

Trisha

Yup, next week is going to be Shadow of Kyoshi, and then the week after I will start rewatching The Last Airbender.

Alex G

Does that mean Shadow of Kyoshi is next week? What are you gonna do after the novels for bonus videos?

Ana Andrade

It's a little earlier here. But still late 😅

Alex G

Ah I've been looking forward to this!

Damm man its 1 30 am lol

Ramon Cintron