Brief Synopsis
“The Dawn of Yangchen” is the third of the Avatar Chronicles novels, going far back into the Avatar Cycle of Yangchen, an Airbender. Though she is haunted with visions from her previous lives, they also prove to be a boon as she navigates a tumultuous era where city leaders vie for the power of kings.
Content Warnings: Death, Violence (PG-13)
What Do I Think?
“The Dawn of Yangchen” already had heavy boots to fill: in addition to the protagonist being an Airbending Avatar (much like Aang, the hero of Avatar: The Last Airbender), Avatar Yangchen was built up in the Kyoshi novels as an almost Christ-like figure, someone so holy and perfect that Avatar Kyoshi felt it impossible to live up to.
Thus, it shouldn’t come as any surprise that the novel struggles with what to do with her. There are some genuinely fascinating bits of character we learn about early on – such as how Yangchen is constantly reliving her past lives in a way that sometimes cripples her ability to actually act in the present – but it is obvious that the author found it difficult to write a character who could both be compelling but also become the legendary figure she is in the future. As a result, Yangchen is racked with insecurity, constantly second-guessing herself. True, no one in her position would automatically know what to do at all times, but when the story goes out of its way to note that she is already somewhat of an established Avatar (having already vanquished Old Iron, a mighty spirit who has appeared in previous Avatar media), it makes little sense for Yangchen to be as indecisive as she is.
To make up for this, the novel brings in a more interesting character: Kavik, a Waterbender who isn’t afraid of breaking the law. His entry into the story provides intrigue beyond the mighty bending of the Avatar, and indeed it is from his perspective that Yangchen’s character is written more coherently.
Also hurting this story is its ending. In addition to having multiple ‘ending’ chapters (in that the chapters feel as if they are the ending of the novel, but actually aren’t), the plot feels almost too-conveniently wrapped up when all is said and done. Lessons don’t feel learned and characters aren’t in that much different of a situation than they were before. This is where Yangchen’s lack of character development especially harms the novel, as she serves as the largest flaw in the whole system.
Don’t get me wrong, there are many things to love about this book. For the first quarter, I found myself grinning chapter-after-chapter by the fantastic world-building, the detailed descriptions, and the feeling of unfamiliar familiarity with a world set hundreds of years before the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender. Even despite its numerous flaws, I find myself looking back fondly at “Dawn of Yangchen” for some of the new ways it found to interpret the Avatar Cycle. It’s just a shame that it wasn’t more of a triumph.
Here’s to hoping the next novel (also set around Avatar Yangchen, I believe) will succeed where its predecessor failed.
Jacob Ryckman 