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blood-starved-beast · 2 years

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Did you finish Dawn of Yangchen yet👀? I just finished it yesterday and have THOUGHTS and FEELINGS was wondering if you did too

I DID IN FACT FINISH THE BOOK LAST NIGHT. And I had planned to write up about my thoughts about it today actually. Same mind!

Funnily enough, despite what I had said in my original mid-way review the book quickly picks up around half-way. Ended up reading it all in one night fairly quickly.

(Warning: Spoilers for Dawn of Yangchen below:)

One of the biggest strengths I think it has (and it really shines in the second half) is how expertly Yee weaves all the subterfuge into the narrative. Cleverly placing red herrings and also foreshadowing to ultimately reveal and tie everything back together into the finale.

The biggest shock to me was the outcome of the relationship between Yangchen and Kavik though like man I did not expect something like that occuring between an Avatar and their companion at all. Does it shock me that Kavik would do something like that for his brother? No, but at same time I was: Boy. I really felt bad for Yangchen here and especially at the end. She's so used to people playing her (especially after that traumatic reveal that she'd been spied on since she was a girl, like man) only to reveal that your growing friendship with this guy was for naught? Ow man. Don't blame her for being frank with him and not calling him her companion anymore but man that must hurt like a bitch to be metaphorically alone.

Which is what gets me about Yangchen, cause essentially that's what she is. Her big sister figure's dead (at least physically, but I suspect a twist next book), Boma cares for her but gives her too much respect as the Avatar to be like an Iroh figure, Kavik did that, she's not close with Junjinta (could change, but after the events of DoY, she's gonna start keeping people at a distance). She feels in a lot of ways alone caught in this wave of secrecy, spies, and corruption. My impression that's gonna be a legacy of hers for a long time, if the 2nd book doesn't change things up. Which it could, based on that ending with Kavik being followed.

Yangchen herself as a character is so interesting though. One thing that stood out to me (I will confirm/deny this interpretation with a reread later) is her relationship with her past lives. In that she doesn't have one? I never really read the comics that much maybe they'd say something different but the impression is that cause she has these PTSD trauma-like hallucinations and historic visions of her past lives she feels as though she doesn't have to communicate with them. She thinks cause she experiences their past, that she doesn't need their guidance or their interpretation/advice and that makes for an interesting character flaw. Which brings me to my next point.

I like that Yangchen's major flaw is that she's overconfident in some respects, but at the same time overwhelmed with her status. It's so nice to see this flaw done right without some heavy-handed moralization or flanderization. Her Girlbossing Kavik around, her confidence in handling the shangs only to realize that she messed up, thinking she had a read on Chaisee only to realize certain things. She's confident, knowledgable, but also inexperienced and Yee does a good job of balancing these things without making her overbearing, incompetent or arrogant. Also I really love that detail where she burns the letter in her hand lmao. So different from Aang (love them both though).

As for Chaisee, there was so many red herrings with her man. Yee does a good job of pulling the reader back and forth - is she a horrible tyrant? Is she misunderstood/just strict? Is she playing Yangchen? Is she on her side? Kinda all of that. If they don't kill her off next book I know she's gonna be prodding Yangchen for years to come. Heck, would be wild if she became a link in Yangchen's connection network. I could see Yee doing that. If anything, Yangchen would probably have to come back to her eventually given the Unanimity project.

I've still got so much to say but I think I've said enough for now but I do have some criticisms:

While I'm so happy that we're getting more about combustion benders and learning about how their bending works (I'm guessing we're getting some answers later on in Book 2, hopefully), I'm disappointed that we're still getting them as villains/antagonists. Might change next book if any of them are willing to work with Yangchen but still.

The book did drag a bit in the beginning. Wish it had been longer if anything to balance that. Heck, i'd want two more books cause really.

Kavik got a bit too much POV focus. I'm actually glad Yee shifted away from the protagonist-centered POV that he used in the Kyoshi novels but I think Kavik got a little too much. Especially without Yangchen. This is Yangchen's book, not his. I was left feeling like I wanted to know more about Yangchen, about what she thought and felt and her relationship with the spirits, her visions, with Jetsun (is she dead for real? Was she the spy?), etc. I hope the balance is better next book(s)?

I wish we got a lot more Air Nomad culture here. I mean, we've got an Air Nomad avatar and all. I do like the details we got though, and I like how much influence she has over them (compare with other Avatars we know who don't really have special sway over the people of their homelands). I think this might have less to do with her being the Avatar but as a testament to the closeness of the Air Nomads in general. That's some good food there.

Thanks for the ask!

#Avatar Yangchen #Kavik #Zongdu Chaisee #DoY #Dawn of Yangchen spoilers #Chronicles of the Avatar #Avatar!verse

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