YMMV / The Fall of the Fire Empire

• Anti-Climax Boss: The Mistress of the Chosen is killed by being poisoned and dies without much of a fight. The author explains this due to the fact that none of the main characters could have beaten her in a straight fight, so it would have to be done by poison.
• Complete Monster: Dragon Empress Azula, shedding all her canon redeeming qualities, assisted in the murder of her brother, Zuko; killed her "friend", Mai, when Mai confronted her; and helped her father, Ozai, kill her uncle, Iroh, by poisoning Iroh's tea. Helping the Fire Empire on a genocidal, brutal conquest, Azula ascends to the throne where she promotes slavery and ethnic cleansing, having entire villages in the Earth Kingdom annihilated for not giving up people to be slaves. Upon learning her mortality cannot be staved off, Azula massacres the Fire Sage order and plots to spark a war after her death, intending on plunging her kingdom into a titanic, horrific conflict to kill countless innocents and secure her bloody legacy.
• Magnificent Bastard:
  • High Minister Qing Xi is the head of the Fire Empire's bureaucracy and its Secret Police, the Hidden Flame, whose long years as Minister coincide with his effectiveness. Tasked with finding an heir for Dragon Empress Azula, Qing Xi falsifies evidence of a government coup just to test the mettle of the young protagonist Jiazin. Discovering that Azula intends to drag the entire world into a Civil War of titanic proportions, Qing Xi betrays Azula by teaming with High General Xia, poisons Azula's head bodyguard, and has an agent trick another bodyguard into killing Azula herself, accepting his forced retirement with only a declaration that he will be needed one day.
  • High General Xia is the commander of the Fire Empire's military, having spent his life serving the Fire Empire he believed in through triumphs and atrocities while climbing Up Through the Ranks. Teaming with High Minister Qing Xi when he hears Azula's plans, Xia is ordered to retake the city of Long Du Shi from rebels, but turns on Azula and allies with them instead. Persuading Jiazin to accept the title of Fire Lord to prevent a Succession Crisis, Xia leads the defense of the city and holds out long enough for Azula to be defeated.