Okay I waited way too long to jump on the Arcane train. Reading this between seasons 1 and 2 was a great way to get a bit more information about Ambessa before getting to know her more. For fans of the series, this is a must read. Keep reading this book review of Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf for my full thoughts.
Summary
Ambessa Medarda: Warrior, general, mother. She is a woman to be feared, and the Medardas are unrivaled in their pursuit of glory. She has led conquests and armies. She has slain legendary beasts. She has made grave sacrifices in her ascent up the ranks. And for this she was rewarded: She entered the realm of death and was granted a vision of herself upon the throne of the vast Noxian empire.
But before she can lead her empire, she must become head of her own clan. Yet the title is contested by her cousin and former confidante, Ta’Fik. He knows the bloody sins of Ambessa’s past. And he knows he cannot allow her to rise.
They will fight a war for the very soul of the Medardas.
But the war won’t be fought on battlefields alone. Ambessa’s daughter, Mel, can deftly break through the walls around anyone’s heart, and she’ll put her talents to use for her mother. Yet despite Mel’s strength, Ambessa sees only a child who lacks her killer instincts. Mel knows she can be the leader Ambessa wants her to be, if only she gives her time.
With her family betraying her, enemies closing in on all sides, and unseen forces moving in the shadows, every day proves more dangerous than the last. But Ambessa will not bow. She will burn the world down to claim her place in it.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf is a story about sacrifice. It’s a question of what we would sacrifice for our family, our beliefs, the ones we love. For Ambessa, her life has been about her family. What she can do to keep her family in power and safe. While Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf is about Ambessa, we also get insights into Mel and other side characters which become crucial to the series especially in Season 2. C.L. Clark has written a fabulously immersive introduction which is a must read for fans of the series.
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Like many books which explore the complexities of war, Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf explores the intersection of conquest, mercy, and compromise. When we treat every problem we encounter as one that requires violence, it often results in retribution, battles of blood, and allies bound by fear. Is this the only way to continue? When we always sacrifice for the next vision, often those who we love end up paying the price. Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf is a story about war, but it’s also about family.
Find Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon (US)(UK), Bookshop.org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.