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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gut wrenching as I knew it would be. Learning the lengths Ambessa went to to achieve her power. The competition of the Medarda clan and Noxus, and why Mel disliked her so much. I was very happily surprised for Rell being a main character in this book as well. Serving as a foil to Mel and bringing heart to the book. All of the side characters and the Medarda family was amazing. I don't want to spoil much but this book is fantastic. Unfortunately compared to "Ruination" this book requires an amount of knowledge of runeterra and a watch of arcane to truly feel and understand, but this is a book for fans so that's not egregious. I loved the way the "blood sweat and tears" mv was woven into the story. Highly reccomend for fans of arcane and LoL.
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I guess my main gripe with this story is just how battle-heavy this book is. It's action-packed, taking you through battle after battle. And while I see why CL Clark implements this framework for the novel, it just isn't my type of narrative. I'm more so into the politicking and intrigue rather than the bloody fight scenes of it all and those were the parts of the novel that I truly enjoyed. And it just bogged down my reading enjoyment at times.
However, there are a lot that I do appreciate: getting more insight into the world of Noxus and its contrast to Piltover; learning more about the Medardas as a family and a powerful house in the context of this world; seeing Mel in her youth and seeds of the woman she becomes later in Arcane; and most significantly how beautifully CL Clark captures Ambessa in her characterization. Because Ambessa is a complicated person, Clark renders her in a way that fully explains the kind of woman she is in all her flaws and strengths. You leave this book fully appreciating/understanding Ambessa for all she is, it doesn't make her all right-- in fact, the goes out of its way to show her pitfalls-- but you understand why she makes those decisions. Overall, a fascinating character exploration.
However, there are a lot that I do appreciate: getting more insight into the world of Noxus and its contrast to Piltover; learning more about the Medardas as a family and a powerful house in the context of this world; seeing Mel in her youth and seeds of the woman she becomes later in Arcane; and most significantly how beautifully CL Clark captures Ambessa in her characterization. Because Ambessa is a complicated person, Clark renders her in a way that fully explains the kind of woman she is in all her flaws and strengths. You leave this book fully appreciating/understanding Ambessa for all she is, it doesn't make her all right-- in fact, the goes out of its way to show her pitfalls-- but you understand why she makes those decisions. Overall, a fascinating character exploration.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
‘Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf’ is an Arcane prequel nov following Ambessa Merdarda’s rise to power to become the head of her clan. As someone who recently devoured all of Arcane AND is obsessed with the immense talent of CL Clark, I was incredibly hyped for this book.
Perhaps I was too hyped?
You don’t need to have watched Arcane or played LoL to read this, I’ve only seen the former and not played the latter. My watching of Arcane helped with the world building only slightly, but I do feel it helped understand some of the emotional weight behind the story.
So, what did I like?
Firstly, Ambessa was perfection. CL Clark nailed it there; she was strong, decisive, and the definition of morally grey. However, I feel we got to see a softer side - just glimpses - throughout which rounded her character well. The other prominent secondary characters of Mel, Kino, Rictus, and Rell were great, too. I know both Mel and Kino from Arcane, but I really fell in love with both Rictus and Rell, and their relationships with Ambessa as the novel progressed.
The plot followed Ambessa, mostly, with a few scattered other POVs from major characters, as the death of her grandfather leads to a power struggle between herself and her cousin as the Merdada clan are thrown into civil war. Both of them believe they should become the head of house Merdarda, and this fractures the clan into sides prepared to wage war. Combining bloody battles, political intrigue, and just a touch of magic, this was truly a story of how far should one go for power.
So, why did I not love it?
A few reasons. Firstly, the cast of characters is HUGE for a standalone (I know it’s part of a wider universe but still). The seemingly minor characters played pivotal roles and keeping track of them all was a bit of a task. The pacing was steady, but also a little jarring at times. Months passing in a sentence, almost casually, meant I felt out of sync at times with the story. There were a lot of threads being pulled and while I did feel pretty satisfied by the end, I also thought it a smidge anticlimactic, too.
Overall, this will probably hit for fans of Arcane and League, with plenty of Easter Eggs to feast on, but not sure those unfamiliar with the work it’s based on will get a huge amount out of it. CL Clark’s writing is fantastic as usual, but I felt their creative prowess was somewhat suffocated by the confines set for them.
3.5 🌟
Perhaps I was too hyped?
You don’t need to have watched Arcane or played LoL to read this, I’ve only seen the former and not played the latter. My watching of Arcane helped with the world building only slightly, but I do feel it helped understand some of the emotional weight behind the story.
So, what did I like?
Firstly, Ambessa was perfection. CL Clark nailed it there; she was strong, decisive, and the definition of morally grey. However, I feel we got to see a softer side - just glimpses - throughout which rounded her character well. The other prominent secondary characters of Mel, Kino, Rictus, and Rell were great, too. I know both Mel and Kino from Arcane, but I really fell in love with both Rictus and Rell, and their relationships with Ambessa as the novel progressed.
The plot followed Ambessa, mostly, with a few scattered other POVs from major characters, as the death of her grandfather leads to a power struggle between herself and her cousin as the Merdada clan are thrown into civil war. Both of them believe they should become the head of house Merdarda, and this fractures the clan into sides prepared to wage war. Combining bloody battles, political intrigue, and just a touch of magic, this was truly a story of how far should one go for power.
So, why did I not love it?
A few reasons. Firstly, the cast of characters is HUGE for a standalone (I know it’s part of a wider universe but still). The seemingly minor characters played pivotal roles and keeping track of them all was a bit of a task. The pacing was steady, but also a little jarring at times. Months passing in a sentence, almost casually, meant I felt out of sync at times with the story. There were a lot of threads being pulled and while I did feel pretty satisfied by the end, I also thought it a smidge anticlimactic, too.
Overall, this will probably hit for fans of Arcane and League, with plenty of Easter Eggs to feast on, but not sure those unfamiliar with the work it’s based on will get a huge amount out of it. CL Clark’s writing is fantastic as usual, but I felt their creative prowess was somewhat suffocated by the confines set for them.
3.5 🌟
The lore person in me is screaming incoherently.
Why was this SO GOOD.
The details, the nuances, the way it all tied up to set up Arcane.
I need more of these.
Also, it gave an actual backstory to one of my favourite champions to play.
Im so happy.
More, please.
Why was this SO GOOD.
The details, the nuances, the way it all tied up to set up Arcane.
I need more of these.
Also, it gave an actual backstory to one of my favourite champions to play.
Im so happy.
More, please.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
One doesn’t have to have watched Arcane prior to reading this book, but what caught me so off guard was how well the book expanded upon the social subtleties present in the show. I’m referring to the micro exchanges with facial expressions, eye contact, bodily gestures. You know, those details that make the show legendary from the ground up? ….Somehow the book was able to mirror and illuminate these subtleties in a totally different art form. That is ridiculously impressive to maintain the same tone across time and medium.
Side note, once established into the world, I felt as if I were a kid trying to stretch their entire mouth over the garden hose. I didn’t realize how much of a thirst I had to know more about why Ambessa is who she is, and this book DELIVERED.
Side note, once established into the world, I felt as if I were a kid trying to stretch their entire mouth over the garden hose. I didn’t realize how much of a thirst I had to know more about why Ambessa is who she is, and this book DELIVERED.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes