F. C. Yee

Expansive Young Adult fantasy novels rooted in Asian mythology and martial arts offer readers immersive worldbuilding, high-stakes action, and sharp humor. Author F. C. Yee gained wide recognition in the genre through his breakout debut novel The Epic Crush of Genie Lo and his canonical contributions to the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe, starting with the bestselling Young Adult novel The Rise of Kyoshi.

Career & Background

F. C. Yee grew up in New Jersey and attended school in New England before establishing his residence in the San Francisco Bay Area, an event he humorously traces to shouting "That's how we do it in NorCal, baby!" after victory in a board game. Outside of his writing career, Yee maintains a day job primarily involving spreadsheets and practices capoeira, a Brazilian martial art that combines element of dance, acrobatics, and music. His experience with capoeira directly influences his physical fight choreography and energetic battle scenes.

Yee made his debut in Young Adult fiction with The Epic Crush of Genie Lo, introducing readers to a high-achieving Bay Area teenager tasked with battling Chinese demons alongside the legendary Monkey King. Following the success of the Genie Lo duology, Yee was selected to expand the official canonical lore of Nickelodeon's Avatar universe through novel prequels. His Chronicles of the Avatar books began with The Rise of Kyoshi and continued with The Shadow of Kyoshi, The Dawn of Yangchen, and The Legacy of Yangchen.

Writing Style & Themes

Blending folklore, high school pressures, and physical martial arts combat, Yee writes fast-paced adventures centered on reluctant heroes. His narratives balance humorous character dynamics and sharp dialogue with heavy moral dilemmas and political maneuvering. Drawing on his Chinese and Korean heritage, Yee integrates traditional mythological figures into modern urban settings and fantasy worldbuilding.

Major Works

• The Rise of Kyoshi — The first novel in the Chronicles of the Avatar series details the early origins and tragic rise of Avatar Kyoshi as she navigates corruption, betrayal, and mastery over earthbending.
• The Shadow of Kyoshi — The sequel to The Rise of Kyoshi follows Avatar Kyoshi as she endeavors to maintain peace across the nations while facing threats from her past and institutional corruption.
• The Epic Crush of Genie Lo — Yee's debut urban fantasy novel focuses on an ambitious Bay Area high school student who learns of her supernatural destiny and fights ancient demons alongside the Monkey King.
• The Iron Will of Genie Lo — The second installment in the Genie Lo series tracks Genie as she balances heavenly responsibilities, college applications, and demonic conflicts.
• The Dawn of Yangchen — This Avatar prequel novel explores the early career of Avatar Yangchen as she navigates international diplomacy, espionage, and political deceit.
• The Legacy of Yangchen — The continuation of Avatar Yangchen's story delves into covert intelligence and high-stakes political maneuvers to keep balance between human factions and the spirit world.