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Embers
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
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Dragon's fire is not so easily extinguished; when Zuko rediscovers a lost firebending technique, shifting flames can shift the world... Follows "Theft Absolute".
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Dragon's fire is not so easily extinguished; when Zuko rediscovers a lost firebending technique, shifting flames can shift the world... Follows "Theft Absolute".
3031 pages, ebook
First published January 18, 2014
6 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 23, 2020
I started reading this because my husband and I had finished re-watching Avatar: the Last Airbender, and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to all the characters. Vathara did a phenomenal job capturing the voice and perspective of every single character. Beyond that, the world-building and plot were stellar, really well grounded in appropriate mythologies and histories. The portrayal of politics and diplomacy rang true, and I especially appreciated the exploration of differing cultures' value systems. Surprise: ideas have consequences.
November 7, 2023
An exceptionally creative and intriguing twist on the classic Avatar The Last Airbender show. It not only directly builds upon the existing worldbuilding, it improves the source material considerably. Combining diligent and thorough research on a plethora of topics such as Western and Eastern cultures.
It features a considerable amount of OCs. Despite this, most OCs are multidimensional and endearing characters who slowly grow onto the reader.
However, as others have pointed out, a lot of liberties were taken. Some dialogue and character actions from the original series seem OOC, and sometimes it seems that the main character can do no wrong.
Despite these shortcomings, I'd recommend this to anyone stepping into the Avatar fandom as it had a great impact on the Avatar fandom as a whole. Influencing works and literature more than 10 years after its initial release.
It features a considerable amount of OCs. Despite this, most OCs are multidimensional and endearing characters who slowly grow onto the reader.
However, as others have pointed out, a lot of liberties were taken. Some dialogue and character actions from the original series seem OOC, and sometimes it seems that the main character can do no wrong.
Despite these shortcomings, I'd recommend this to anyone stepping into the Avatar fandom as it had a great impact on the Avatar fandom as a whole. Influencing works and literature more than 10 years after its initial release.
January 16, 2018
So I kind of knew you could add fanfic on here... wasn't sure I want to start. lol. That would take SO LONG to add them all, honestly... I have no idea when I found a lot of them, either.
I love this one though. It's based on the Avatar the Last Airbender series, and the detail the author put into the world building is amazing, even with building off the original series. and I love the research the author talks about that they used, basing the various Avatar cultures on our real-life societies. Lots of interesting book recommends!
The character portrayals are really well done - the kids come across as kids, not mini-adults, though Zuko has entirely too much responsibility placed on his shoulders. As it's largely based through his eyes, it's hard not to be a little biased in his favour, as well. So Aang and Katara might be a little more annoying than you usually find them to be, but if it was your plans they were ruining all the time, even with the best-of-(un-informed) intentions... well, it's understandable.
The plot is exciting and engrossing, as well - it sucked me right in the first time i read it, and I couldn't wait for updates. I did find the ending... not quite up to the rest of the story? I enjoyed it, and was content with the resolution, but it seemed a bit abrupt. I would've liked to see it wound down a bit more, perhaps.
Fair warning to anyone intersted, this is a LONG story. 91 chapters, and as the author got more into it, each chapter got longer as well. I'm a fast reader. I read Order of the Phoenix in one day (not bragging, this is kind of my yard-stick/unit of measurement, is all. If a 766 page book takes me a day...) This? Takes me a couple of weeks to get through, generally. Not doing anything else, just reading when I have a time at break, lunch, or after work. I'd honestly love to know how long this actually measure out to, in comparison.
I love this one though. It's based on the Avatar the Last Airbender series, and the detail the author put into the world building is amazing, even with building off the original series. and I love the research the author talks about that they used, basing the various Avatar cultures on our real-life societies. Lots of interesting book recommends!
The character portrayals are really well done - the kids come across as kids, not mini-adults, though Zuko has entirely too much responsibility placed on his shoulders. As it's largely based through his eyes, it's hard not to be a little biased in his favour, as well. So Aang and Katara might be a little more annoying than you usually find them to be, but if it was your plans they were ruining all the time, even with the best-of-(un-informed) intentions... well, it's understandable.
The plot is exciting and engrossing, as well - it sucked me right in the first time i read it, and I couldn't wait for updates. I did find the ending... not quite up to the rest of the story? I enjoyed it, and was content with the resolution, but it seemed a bit abrupt. I would've liked to see it wound down a bit more, perhaps.
Fair warning to anyone intersted, this is a LONG story. 91 chapters, and as the author got more into it, each chapter got longer as well. I'm a fast reader. I read Order of the Phoenix in one day (not bragging, this is kind of my yard-stick/unit of measurement, is all. If a 766 page book takes me a day...) This? Takes me a couple of weeks to get through, generally. Not doing anything else, just reading when I have a time at break, lunch, or after work. I'd honestly love to know how long this actually measure out to, in comparison.
February 25, 2021
It’s definetly a respectful story with lots of world building, creativity and flashy strategy talk, but sincerely it lacks emotional depth. There is a lot to be explored in the universe of Avatar and this fanfic shows a great focus on the spiritual and bending aspect of it. Which is great, totally cool. The Ba sing se arc is definitely my favored part of the story as we get to explore water bending and some interesting concepts. It shows Iroh’s and Zuko’s strive for a next step and let them just be and interact with the world and characters around that. It is beautifully done including the battle with Azula and Zuko healing Aang. Awesome set for great interactions. (Although I am still confused on how powerful Zuko really is. Regular marine or royal firebending master? How can’t this not be clear until the end?)
Still it flattens most characters, give them motivations that are set in stone and never really explore their relationships with each other. And the final battle is really really frustrating. There is no way to convince me that Sokka can fight the fire lord with Sozin’s comet just there. Nope. Not happening. One lightning strike and you’re gone. This was a pure deus ex machina ending and it’s just disappointing. There was no confrontation between Zuko and his father and not even a glint of the emotional tumult that would his eminent death means to him. I enjoyed this story. I really did. I respect the immense amount of research that was put into it and 91 chapters is a lot of work with a lot of strings to tie over and over. But it lacks dimension and realism, most importantly, it lacks development and with that all solutions and not sufficiently credible at the end.
Still it flattens most characters, give them motivations that are set in stone and never really explore their relationships with each other. And the final battle is really really frustrating. There is no way to convince me that Sokka can fight the fire lord with Sozin’s comet just there. Nope. Not happening. One lightning strike and you’re gone. This was a pure deus ex machina ending and it’s just disappointing. There was no confrontation between Zuko and his father and not even a glint of the emotional tumult that would his eminent death means to him. I enjoyed this story. I really did. I respect the immense amount of research that was put into it and 91 chapters is a lot of work with a lot of strings to tie over and over. But it lacks dimension and realism, most importantly, it lacks development and with that all solutions and not sufficiently credible at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 6, 2023
By far one of the best pieces of fanfiction I have read. Expands beautifully on the existing world and takes some concepts in a different direction. Exceedingly well thaught out and detailed plot and really good character development, as well as really detailed and complex characters and interactions in general.
August 13, 2021
Simply incredible, the writing is breathtaking beautiful and every character is so well developed it definitely deserves it’s place as one of the top three atla fics
August 23, 2023
Wow this was the longest fic I've ever consumed I listened to Opalsong's podfic (total length: 89:48:28) amazing 👏 👏👏
💖💖💖
💖💖💖
August 9, 2025
REALLY long read, but it's Worth It!
(Seriously, I restarted it seven or eight times over a period of two?three? years before I was finally able to read it all.)
The WORLDBUILDING and the SHEER AMOUNT of research put into this fic astounds me Every Time.
Everything feels naturally woven into the canon, even the OCs!
I love how Zuko takes a longer, but arguably more beneficial, road to redemption.
Yes, I made fanart. No, you may not see it.
...unless you ask nicely.
(Seriously, I restarted it seven or eight times over a period of two?three? years before I was finally able to read it all.)
The WORLDBUILDING and the SHEER AMOUNT of research put into this fic astounds me Every Time.
Everything feels naturally woven into the canon, even the OCs!
I love how Zuko takes a longer, but arguably more beneficial, road to redemption.
Yes, I made fanart. No, you may not see it.
...unless you ask nicely.
June 14, 2020
Amazing, I dare say it outdoes many of the books that I have on my bookshelf:
You can read it at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/359...
You can read it at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/359...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews