Reviews - Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf

259 reviews for:

Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf

C.L. Clark

3.87 AVERAGE

shadesofastra's review against another edition

3.5

slow-paced

thelilfrog's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous challenging 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

acogna's review against another edition

3.75

adventurous medium-paced

I expected much and man, this novel delivered more than that. I love the full extent of the exploration of Noxus and its politics, its dedication to war and glorious violence at the expense of everything else, its commentary on ambition, ruthlessness and honour. This also made me appreciate Ambessa so much more as a character (and Mel too)! Ah, Noxus, my favourite region; you'll never let me down.

But I really did kind of hate the

retcon of Rell's backstory; since she was a character already connected to the Black Rose, and I knew she would make an appearance, I was expecting her and Ambessa to come into an alliance through that connection instead, but no. And it works to the detriment of Rell's character, whose arc was about criticising both the Black Rose and Noxus instead of taking revenge on them for only being tangentially involved with kidnapping from Ambessa, who is now her adoptive mother in this version of the story, for some reason. Shame too, since I really did like the potential parallels between Rell's mother giving up her daughter to the Black Rose for power (as per Rell's original lore) and Ambessa having to give up Mel to flee from the Black Rose instead.

Missed potential moment, considering I really love Rell as a concept character who explores the abuse of Noxus and its outlook as destructive and inhumane, as compared to the Medardas, who (as seen here) clearly feel like they prosper from the same society.

This book doesn't expound on lore the way Ruination did, but I think that's the wrong metric to judge it by. It instead seeks to cut a path of its own to tell its own story, and I think a novel about Ambessa wouldn't settle for anything less.

rmb102's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

After watching Arcane, it’s good to get back into the world and see Ambessa and Rictus again. We see how she became the character she is at the beginning of Arcane. I think more detail could have been used for how relationships develop. I liked how it doesn’t seem like much time passes and then Ambessa asks somebody and it’s been like half a year, and it really shows how she just gets lost in focus while accomplishing a goal

Content Warnings

totaltank357's review against another edition

2.25

adventurous medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

vacciniummacrocarpon's review against another edition

4.5

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring sad tense 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

jambon's review against another edition

2.25

dark slow-paced

I was supposed to be an absolute fan of this book- as a fan of Arcane and the league lore.
The 1st half is very slow and it felt more like the characters kept being dragged from place to place, without much happening. It's a book about politics, a lot. I think it's trying to be game of thrones but for league.
The 2nd half is definitely better, more action, more characters getting involved.

This was almost more of Rell's book than Ambessa.

One thing they did really well is the depiction of Leblanc (called Pale woman) who is SO scary, we truly feel there's nothing we can do against her.

I liked Rictus, and his relationship with Ambessa.

Writing style was great, but the pace really lacked.