5 Books to Read While Waiting for “Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender”
After nearly 20 years, a new movie by Avatar Studios, Avatar Aang: The Last Airbender, will be released on October 9th, 2026. This animated movie will follow the original Team Avatar characters now in their prime as young adults. While the movie has hit multiple road bumps along the way, many long time fans of the Avatar franchise eagerly await the return of the “Gaang” to the screen. Six months of waiting can make anyone pace with restlessness, so here are a few books EnVi recommends to curb the Avatar cravings while also expanding upon the ever-rich bending universe.
Avatar: The Last Airbender Comics
Picking up right after the end of the Hundred Years War, the comic series, published by Dark Horse Comics, has six books with 18 issues covering more Team Avatar adventures. The comic series retains the same lovable humor while also addressing some loose ends such as the backstory of Zuko’s mother Ursa, how Team Avatar deals with world politics along with the after effects of colonization, and the exploration into some of Aang’s past Avatar lives. While lighthearted and kid-friendly, much like the TV show, many adult themes are woven seamlessly into the graphic novels as well.
Chronicles of the Avatar: The Rise of Kyoshi; The Shadow of Kyoshi
Exploring the lives of previous avatars, Chronicles of the Avatar is a six-book series beginning with the life of Avatar Kyoshi, expanding on Avatar Yangchen, and finishes with Avatar Roku. The events of these books not only expand upon the Avatar universe, but also give us a deeper and more personal look into the people the past Avatars were. The Rise of Kyoshi, the first book of the series by F.C. Yee and Michael Dante DiMartino, was listed as a New York Times Bestseller instantly upon its release in 2019, receiving high praise from old and new Avatar fans for its emotional highs and lows and sapphic romance plot. The sequel to Kyoshi’s story, The Shadow of Kyoshi, published in 2020, continues the ruthless journey of Avatar Kyoshi, diving deeper into the personal struggles of the avatar as well as the expanding upon her relationship with her lover. The books are a fantastic duology about the duty, love, and grief felt by the most “merciless” Avatar.
The Ravance Trilogy
A departure from the Avatar universe, this series by Aparna Verma is cut from a similar cloth. Currently, two of the three-part series are out, the second book The Burning Queen having come out November 2025. With Indian-inspired world building, the series follows the Princess Elena of the fallen kingdom Ravance. As Verma puts it herself, “I wrote about an Indian FMC [(female main character)] who is a firebender and wears sari armor. If that excites you, I think you’ll love the books.” Including everything from sci-fi gadgets, ancient fire powers, high stakes world politics, and a complex romance with a badass female lead at the center of it all, The Ravance Trilogy is sure to keep you on your toes.
Six of Crows
Dive right into the Grishaverse, full of magic and political intrigue, with Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo. A rag tag team of six outlaws, each with specialized skills and mysterious pasts, work together to pull off an impossible heist. The book includes similar themes of found family and morally grey characters struggling with personal battles. Fans of Fire Prince Zuko’s iconic redemption arc may appreciate Six of Crow’s main protagonist Kaz Brekker, a criminal mastermind who, for all his strategic prowess, undergoes complex character development in the face of a challenge even too great for him. With a plot full of twists and turns as well as characters that worm their way into your heart, Bardugo’s story might charm those who enjoyed the character dynamics of Avatar the Last Airbender.
Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand
Coming out on July 28th, this graphic novel follows the adventures of Kya, daughter of Katara and Aang. The story picks up after the third season of Legend of Korra; as Korra is recovering from her battle injuries, Kya retells some of her travels during her youth. As the young waterbender travels through the Si Wong Desert, she encounters the community of Liyuan on the edges of a fractured Earth Kingdom. Though she hopes to teach the art of healing in order to provide aid to the community, she soon finds herself in over her head with challenges such as bandits and internal conflict that runs decades deep. Written by Kiku Hughs and drawn by Alexandria Monik (art) and Diana Sousa (colors), this graphic novel reveals more of the aftermath of the Hundred Year War as well as provides consolation through Kya who seeks direction and a deeper connection with her own purpose in life.
Looking for more books interwoven with Asian culture to read this summer? Check out EnVi’s book list for those who liked K-Pop Demon Hunters.
