Strengths: Embers is excellent at making interesting, fascinating additions to the Atl A worldbuilding that often fit seamlessly into the universe. The author appears to have an in-depth knowledge of history, military tactics and agriculture that she works into the fic to its advantage. It deals well with itty-bitty-but-important details of gritty realism that most works don't even think about, such as "what does it mean for the local grasslands if a herd of air bison hangs out there?" Some very inventive, creative uses of bending are featured that mesh quite well into canon. The fic adds depth to the airbenders and more nuance to the Fire Nation and even some villainous characters (such as Azula), and is big on the role cultural differences would realistically play in a world like At LA's. The fic also comes down HARD on some of the liberties the show took due to being a kid's show, such as the assumption that Aang has never killed anybody, or the collateral damage the characters leave in their wake. As such, the fic would be a delight to anyone who wants to see a version of the world the way it might have been imagined for a more adult audience. Last but not least, the fic features excellent and memorable OCs to fill out the world.
The weaknesses: That said, personally I was able to really whole-heartedly enjoy only the first half or so of the fic. The deeper it veers into alternative canon territory, the more prominent its flaws become. The features listed under "strengths" above are indeed gripping, but they affect the narrative in unbalanced ways. Specifically, they come out to the benefit of Team Zuko and to the detriment of the Gaang, and pretty much everyone else, effectively turning Zuko into an author's darling and undermining the attempt at careful, balanced and in-depth storytelling. (You can see a symptom of this early on: this is, after all, loosely based on the one-shot in which Zuko does not steal that dodo horse in Season 2. The author is uncomfortable with Zuko showcasing his genuine flaws, and it shows.) Some of the additions to the worldbuilding effectively add excuses for the Fire Nation's imperialism even if the author claims that they're not meant as such ("an explanation is not an excuse"). On top of that, the author sees fit to add certain... features to Zuko's character that make a character who's already pretty unique and incredible in-canon even more special, such as features of his bloodline, and they're just unnecessary. The Gaang gets some much-needed reality checks and examinations of their prejudices in a more satisfying way, IMHO, than was sometimes done in the canon, but with some of them, the author goes too far and crosses over into unforgiving character-bashing territory.
So roughly the part till the end of the Ba Sing Se arc is good or great. After that, it becomes a little more eyeroll-worthy despite the author's good intentions. Worth a read, but keep these things in mind when you progress further.
Spoiler-free review: bounces between awesome and guilty pleasure
Strengths: Embers is excellent at making interesting, fascinating additions to the Atl A worldbuilding that often fit seamlessly into the universe. The author appears to have an in-depth knowledge of history, military tactics and agriculture that she works into the fic to its advantage. It deals well with itty-bitty-but-important details of gritty realism that most works don't even think about, such as "what does it mean for the local grasslands if a herd of air bison hangs out there?" Some very inventive, creative uses of bending are featured that mesh quite well into canon. The fic adds depth to the airbenders and more nuance to the Fire Nation and even some villainous characters (such as Azula), and is big on the role cultural differences would realistically play in a world like At LA's. The fic also comes down HARD on some of the liberties the show took due to being a kid's show, such as the assumption that Aang has never killed anybody, or the collateral damage the characters leave in their wake. As such, the fic would be a delight to anyone who wants to see a version of the world the way it might have been imagined for a more adult audience. Last but not least, the fic features excellent and memorable OCs to fill out the world.
The weaknesses: That said, personally I was able to really whole-heartedly enjoy only the first half or so of the fic. The deeper it veers into alternative canon territory, the more prominent its flaws become. The features listed under "strengths" above are indeed gripping, but they affect the narrative in unbalanced ways. Specifically, they come out to the benefit of Team Zuko and to the detriment of the Gaang, and pretty much everyone else, effectively turning Zuko into an author's darling and undermining the attempt at careful, balanced and in-depth storytelling. (You can see a symptom of this early on: this is, after all, loosely based on the one-shot in which Zuko does not steal that dodo horse in Season 2. The author is uncomfortable with Zuko showcasing his genuine flaws, and it shows.) Some of the additions to the worldbuilding effectively add excuses for the Fire Nation's imperialism even if the author claims that they're not meant as such ("an explanation is not an excuse"). On top of that, the author sees fit to add certain... features to Zuko's character that make a character who's already pretty unique and incredible in-canon even more special, such as features of his bloodline, and they're just unnecessary. The Gaang gets some much-needed reality checks and examinations of their prejudices in a more satisfying way, IMHO, than was sometimes done in the canon, but with some of them, the author goes too far and crosses over into unforgiving character-bashing territory.
So roughly the part till the end of the Ba Sing Se arc is good or great. After that, it becomes a little more eyeroll-worthy despite the author's good intentions. Worth a read, but keep these things in mind when you progress further.