The first thing I want to say is that I am mad I didn't do my research and realize that the main character of this book was an extremely minor character in ATLA!
This book revolves around our main character Jin and takes place during the ATLA show. Jin's best friend Susu has signed a contract to pay off her father's gambling debts in the Upper Ring and Jin is determined to save her.
To be honest, this didn't feel like a book from the Avatar world as much as the books about the previous Avatars do at first. As we got towards the end though, things that I remembered from the show pulled me fully into that world.
Jin is a really likeable character. She was adorable and would do anything to help Susu pay off her contract so she could return to her family. She had such a tragic backstory and family meant a lot to her. There was even a cameo from Zuko and Uncle Iroh!
Like I said, it took a minute to get into the story as an Avatar story, but I still enjoyed it as a story. I really liked how it wove in with the things that happened in the show. We get mentions of Lake Laogai, things happen on the eclipse and the comet. By the end, it really had me hooked and wanting to watch the show again and then read the book again.
The audiobook narrator was also great. She sounded like someone who would be in this world even though she was not the voice of Jin in the show.
I would love to read more books about Jin, or more books about minor characters being brought to the forefront and learning their stories. I think this is a really cool idea!

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Audio for this advanced copy. You can pick up Avatar Legends: City of Echoes now.

As a huge Avatar: The Last Airbender fan and lover of the books and comics they've put out since, I couldn't wait to pick this one up! I love seeing stories of common folk dealing with the everyday repercussions of these fantasy worlds, struggles we may not see from the perspective of our hero protagonists.

Unfortunately, I had to put this audiobook down because the narrator sounded so unbelievably robotic to me. I had to look them up and ensure this book was voiced by a real person, which it was. I just do not gel with their narration style at all, and it completely distracted me from the book.

If you can look past the narration, I know you'll fall in love with Judy I. Lin's voice and depiction of a beloved character from the original animated series.

As an ATLA fan— This was everything and more.
The feeling when you get to revisit one of your favorite series? Priceless.

Esp since we get a different POV (Jin) to the story we all know and love— A Tale of Ba Sing Se.
The fountain scene? So cuuuute. We all love Zuko & his misunderstood bad boy moments.
Being able to see scenes like that, which we’ve previously saw on TV in a different light is so fun!!
Especially in the mind of a side character, which in this she’s not anymore— She’s the main!!

This had more than just nostalgic moments. This had grief (I literally started to tear up), struggles of the lower ring, found family, revolution, & so much that we all pulled from ATLA growing up.

I felt the burial was such a powerful moment. It really showed inner working of an Earth Nation village at the end of it all.

“They can burn us, but the Earth remains.”
*This line hit hard.

Overall, I enjoyed seeing some of the characters we know & love, literally ‘cause I ate this up the same day I downloaded it lol!!
Special thanks to Blackstone Pub for auto-approving me 🫶🏽 It’s always an honor reviewing your selection.
Nancy Wu did such a wonderful job narrating!!