It’s always a delight to return to the world of the Four Nations and the Avatar that keeps them in balance. Here, Ribay delves into one of the most well-known of them all, at least if you watched the original series. Roku, Aang’s predescessor whose friendship with Fire Lord Sozin is a bond turned tragic.

But we are only a year into Roku’s journey, and is having immense doubts. He has never been special nor particularly talented like his twin brother, Yasu or his friend, the Crown Prince. Nor did he ever aspire to such power. So he can’t help but feel like him being the Avatar is some mistake. Another False Avatar like Yun and Kyoshi two hundred years ago. It doesn’t help that he hasn’t been able to bend the other elements and has no spiritual connection to Avatar Kyoshi.

He wishes things could go back as they were because he fears the responsibility. It’s an interesting contrast to Aang who also did not want the responsibility placed on him. But while Aang ran away, Roku follows the advice of his best friend and fakes the confidence he doesn’t have, plowing through in hopes that he looks like he knows what he’s doing.

Which is what leads to him trying to broker peace on a secluded island covered by mists from the Earth Kingdom that wants to exploit resources, the Fire Nation that have already claimed it as theirs and the secretive natives who manage a peaceful tribe of four nation benders and non-benders by executing outsiders. Yeah, it’s not the best situation to stumble into especially when he doesn’t have all the information.

Ribay does well in balancing the multiple POVS because one cannot have roku’s story with Sozin and we see that the cracks in their friendship are starting on the surface. Sozin has his own troubles with an overbearing father that has no faith in his son’s leadership abilities so Sozin overcompensates by trying to find power and unnamed islands.

Ribay manages to extract sympathy for him as one can tell he’s unbalanced by the paternal/societal pressures and low self-esteem. Still, Sozin’s flaws are edging out his good points such as his friendship with Sozin. He treasures that friendship because Roku is the only one he can drop his mask around. Yet he resents Roku’s new role when he knows his friend is gullible, and unable to make hard decisions like he would.

Of course, Sozin’s hard decisions include murder anyone that gets in his way alongside paranoia that everyone’s out to get him so take that with a grain of salt. This is compounded by how he sees Roku’s role as one of Fire National first and Avatar second.

This is also Roku’s primary problem. He is still puttig his attachments back home first, the Fire Nation first and that clouds his judgement and his ability to airbend that relies on evasion and preparation rather than aggressive proactiveness. But during this journey, his mind is opened to how maybe the ways of the Fire Nation is not the only way to live nor the only way to solve problems.

Although he does get a little help from Gyatso.

Yes, Gyatso’s here! A very young airbender around 13 or so who Roku sees as a annoying pest with his tendency to make fun and talk constantly. They form a sweet sibling relationship bolstered by Gyatso’s own arc of confronting the grief of his sister that is currently blocking his chi.

Ribay does a great job in continuing Yee’s worldbuilding, creating a fascinating new island of the Lambek tribe and their specific legends imparted by the third protagonist, Malaya, while harkening back to fan-favorite spots like the Spirit Library, the Southern Air Temple and the Sandbender’s Oasis. He also builds on sub-styles of bending and the spiritual practices attatched to them which is always interesting to read.

Additionally, I admire how Ribay uses the different protagonists to build and explore the various themes of his story, tolerance, the temptation of power, progress vs isolationism, respecting indigenous land, nationalism, grief and leadership. Avatar is one of the top-tier shows because it tries to discuss the complexities in the world and Ribay continues in this vein.

The only nitpick I would have is the lack of Sozin’s sister, Zeisan. Considering the fact that Sozin chooses her ex-girlfriend to be his evil scientist companion on this island-hopping adventure I expected her to have more of a presence. If only because the little we learn of her, that their father believes she’d be a better leader than Sozin because she’s smarter yet her non-bending/female status prevents her from ruling. It would make a formidable ally and/or enemy. Is it another Azula/Zuko situation? Does she also feed into Sozin’s insecurities or does she resent that her lack of firebending/gender prevents her opportunity so she tries to vicariously rule through her brother? Or does she hide from court all otgether, not wanting to get involved? Perhaps, she’ll have more of a role in the sequel.

Until then, The Reckoning of Roku is another worthy installment in the Avatar Chronicles. Ribay delves deeper into Roku’s story without treading ground already explored in the show yet keeps everyone true to their character. I can’t wait for the sequel.

Also can we finally get a Kuruk duology please!

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