The Dawn of Yangchen: Avatar Series / F. C. Yee / 2022
It took me about ⅓ of the book to sink into the grooves of the characters, but ultimately I really appreciated this addition to the Avatar universe for its exploration of cynicism, politics, and power, and the uselessness of the Avatar in solving the world's crises. Yangchen is forced repeatedly to coerce, get her hands dirty and confront characters who implicate her in their own cynical schemes. Her relationship to Kavik, a young scrappy criminal with dreams of securing a more stable and dignified life for his family, really quickly manages to shake away her calculating decorum and show faults in her armor. A worthy addition to the book series. 3/5