After fighting physical battles, Avatar Kyoshi faces new foes, this time in diplomacy.In order to fully appreciate this second installment of the Kyoshi Novels, readers must be familiar with the East-Asian–inspired culture of Avatar as well as the events that transpired in The Rise of Kyoshi (2019). Yun, abandoned after losing the title of Avatar, battles for survival against the malevolent spirit Father Glowworm, a struggle that hints at a gruesome ending. Meanwhile, Kyoshi avoids the social obligations of being Avatar by traveling across the land to personally subdue criminal activity, occasionally with violence. Unable to avoid politics any longer, she acquiesces to a small meeting with the Fire Lord. Upon her arrival she is dismayed to find that it is instead a well-attended feast riddled with political intrigue. The Fire Lord Zoryu asks for Kyoshi's support with his waning popularity among the fire clans, especially as his half brother Chaejin seeks to rule. As Kyoshi blunders through the court, Yun appears and promises revenge. Kyoshi and her allies now race to stop Yun and keep the Fire Clans from dissolving into war. While the narrative is gripping, multiple themes crowd the plot and occasionally disrupt the flow. Also, Kyoshi's ongoing defeats both on and off the battlefield may leave some fans frustrated.A sequel with a solid narrative that reveals the flawed beginnings of Avatar Kyoshi. (Fantasy. 12-16)

Gr 7 Up-Recently established as the Avatar, Kyoshi finds herself caught up in political power plays. While attempting to prevent a clan struggle from undercutting the vulnerable reign of the young Fire Lord, Kyoshi discovers that her friend Yun, thought devoured by a malevolent spirit, may have returned as a possessed, dangerous wild-card. Yee continues to explore the complexities of the fantastical Asian world underlying the popular Avatar: The Last Airbender cartoon series. The themes of revenge and the cost of violence return as well, and the book begins with horror and fear and further reinforces just how brutal control of the elements could be on the comparatively frail human form. These make for good stakes and keep Kyoshi relatable despite her almost deific potential. Ultimately, the book is about how being perceived as a godhead doesn't stop one from being human, nor does it prevent either making or inheriting mistakes. The payoffs are emotional and effective, but leave the plot, character threads, and the larger setting still in flux. More jumbled than the previous volume, and more weighted down with its continuity, this doesn't read as cleanly as its predecessor, but its themes are more complicated and don't deserve pat answers. VERDICT Fans of the previous book will enjoy the expansion of the reality of the Avatar world, but recent converts to the cartoon should be wary of the escalated mortal stakes and resistance to moral absolutes.Benjamin Russell, Belmont H.S., NH