The Reckoning of Roku Review

I am so glad I decided to continue reading the Avatar novels of the Avatars before Aang! I had mixed feelings about the Kyoshi novels (you can read the review for the first one here) and DNF'd the first Yangchen novel. I had a hunch it was because I didn't like the way the author of those books (FC Yee) writes. Luckily, Roku's books have a different author: Randy Ribay. I am glad to report this book was really good! I do prefer Ribay's writing style a lot more.

The Reckoning of Roku is about how Roku (he's the Avatar right before Aang as shown in the original TV show) discovers he is the Avatar. He began his training in one of the Air Nomad temples under Sister Disha, but he's been struggling with his airbending and overall Avatar duties. 

At the same time, Roku's friend Prince Sozin has plans to go to a reclusive island that is rumored to have very powerful benders who know rare forms of bending. Roku and his friend Gyatso end up exploring the island, too, but separate from Sozin's team. Some Earthbenders from an Earth Kingdom trading company are there exploring the island, too, much to their dismay. They all find out that a tribe of people from each of the four nations live on the reclusive island, and they are fiercely protective of their land. This is because they are trying to protect the cave spirit Yungib. 

Malaya, one of the tribe's guards, ends up forming an alliance with Gyatso and later Roku. This is largely because she doesn't completely trust the island's chief, Ulo. 

I'd love to get more into detail but it would get into spoilers. Let's just say I found Roku's beginnings as the Avatar really fascinating! I like all of the nods to the original TV series sprinkled throughout--it really does feel like a setup to what will eventually happen in the show (if you know you know). I gave this first book 5 stars. Lets hope the second book is great, too!