C. L. Clark on her upcoming Ambessa novel: “In the book, I had a chance to peel all that armor away and show the woman beneath.”

Ambessa: Chosen of the Wolf is the newest book by C. L. Clark, following Ambessa's backstory in her quest to lead the clan — a necessary step toward claiming the Noxian throne. These events take place before Arcane and will show us who Ambessa Medarda is and how she got to where we know her. C. L. Clark sat down with esports.gg to talk about the book and how much she loved writing about such a powerful character.

Ambessa's novel is coming out on Feb. 18, but how can you pre-order your copy here.

How did you learn about Ambessa and her story? Did you know about Ambessa or Arcane before being approached to write the book?

"I met Ambessa, like many, when she strutted into Piltover in Season 1 of Arcane, and I fell in love with her immediately. The power, the hedonism, the lack of apology for who she was and what she wanted — she was perfect. She reminded me somewhat of a character from my Magic of the Lost trilogy, a woman called the Jackal. That’s largely why I said yes when offered the project."

Ambessa is a warrior. She has a whole legacy on her shoulders. How did you feel writing about such a powerful character?

"I love writing powerful characters, especially when we get a chance to see what their vulnerabilities are and how their power is actually compensating for those weaknesses — for better, or for worse. Getting a chance to dive into the backstory of a woman so powerful and self-assured as the Ambessa we meet in Season 1 and Season 2 of Arcane was especially rewarding. Especially in Season 2, where she seems invincible. In the book, I had a chance to peel all that armor away and show the woman beneath."

How different is it to write about a powerful woman who is also a powerful Black woman? Can Ambessa represent something much more meaningful?

"I don’t think she needs to be a representation of all Black women, and certainly, there are tropes about the powerful Black woman stereotype that should be interrogated. What I enjoyed most was that she is a Black woman who is unapologetic and, in fact, quite selfish. She is a mother who doesn’t fall into the “mammy” stereotype that Black women characters may be put into. Something I’ve studied in literature is violent women: when are women permitted to be physically violent, against whom, for what causes, etc. Often, it was only in defense of their own person or children. I’ve been exploring other ways of this in my own fiction, so extending it to Ambessa was natural."

How much creativity did the team at Riot and Fortiche allow you? Were there areas you were excited to explore about her character?

"They pretty much had her character personality and some of her backstory already worked out. I came in and helped flesh out some of the details and explicit scenes. I was definitely excited to explore her relationship with Mel, and honestly, with all the young women she keeps trying to mentor, to mold into another version of herself. It’s a very intriguing habit."

The Honorable Sheryl Lee Ralph sang "Blood, Sweat, and Tears" — Ambessa's anthem. What do you think about this additional insight into Ambessa as a character, and about the song itself?

"I loved this song. I loved it so much, I loved the music video so much. Sheryl Lee Ralph’s voice was perfect. I can’t imagine anything better. Because it was also intended to be the prologue to the book, I got to see it as it came together. I’ve never done a collaboration like that before."

According to your Amazon biography, when you do not imagine the fall of empires, you’re “trying not to throw your kettlebells through the walls.” I can totally see Ambessa doing the same thing! Do you identify with this character in some way?

"We both do enjoy the physical arts."

Arcane is known for its rich visuals and emotional storytelling. How did you translate its tone and depth into a written narrative?

"Arcane is so beautiful visually, and it’s hard to encompass that with text, especially in a way that a reader won’t just skim over. It took a lot of detail — I went back again and again to add more detail to characters and their settings, to animals, to differentiate different places — down to the architecture and the food so that each place felt unique."

What can the fans expect from this book?

"They can expect a deeper look into Ambessa and Mel, of course, and another champion who has a point of view in the novel. There will also be some cameos for a few others. We also wanted to share a bit more of the map of Noxus, diving deeper into a few locales."

How do you hope readers and fans of League of Legends will connect with this story?

"To be honest, I just want people to connect with it like a good story — if they’re a player and understand some connections to other characters’ lore, great. But if they’re not a player, I hope they enjoy it just as much."

If you could live as any League of Legends champion for a day, who would it be, and why?

"Honestly, I have a soft spot for Ambessa. And on a good day, she has a great life. Hot tubs, good drinks, good food, good company? A little sparring to get the blood flowing? Sign me up."

Without spoilers, can you share a single line or phrase from the book that you feel encapsulates its essence?

"It is yours — if you can take it."

C. L. Clark is an American award-winning editor and writer of The Unbroken and The Faithless, which are the first books of the Magic of the Lost trilogy. She graduated from Indiana University's creative writing MFA program.

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