Explore Arcane's New Chapter: Ambessa's Epic Story Unveiled in First Tie-In Novel

The highly anticipated second season of Arcane is just weeks away and is expected to conclude the story as fans know it. However, the world of Arcane is far from over, as shown by the announcement of a new tie-in novel set to release soon.

Arcane is an acclaimed animated series that adapts Riot Games’ popular online video game, League of Legends. The story brings familiar League of Legends characters and settings to life, exploring the intense conflict between Piltover and its undercity, Zaun, as well as the champions who fight on both sides of the divide. Animated by the French studio Fortiche, the show has been widely praised for its unique and compelling style. The series’ success has extended beyond streaming, with the original soundtrack achieving popularity and the show being one of the few Netflix series to be released on DVD and Blu-ray. Fans have shown a strong appetite for more Arcane content—and soon, they’ll get it.

Arcane's First Tie-In Novel Introduces an Unexpected Protagonist

It has been revealed that Arcane will release its first tie-in novel in 2025, titled Ambessa: Chosen Of The Wolf. The announcement, made by Orbit Books, confirmed that the novel will be penned by renowned sci-fi and fantasy author C.L. Clark, known for the Magic of the Lost trilogy. The book will center around Ambessa Medarda, a character introduced at the end of Arcane’s first season and set to play a larger role in the second. Ambessa is the mother of Mel Medarda and a formidable warlord from Noxus.

The synopsis of Ambessa: Chosen Of The Wolf reveals that it will be a prequel chronicling Ambessa’s rise to power in Noxus and her relationship with her daughter before Mel’s disownment. The narrative will feature a power struggle within the Medarda family, as Ambessa faces her cousin Ta’Fik in a battle to become the clan’s leader:

Ambessa Medarda: Warrior, general, mother. A formidable figure, she commands fear and respect. The Medardas are unmatched in their quest for glory, and Ambessa has led conquests, commanded armies, and slain legendary beasts, sacrificing much to climb the ranks. Her ambitions are rewarded when she receives a vision of herself on the throne of the vast Noxian empire. But first, she must secure her position as head of the Medarda clan, contested by her cousin and former confidant, Ta’Fik, who knows the darkest secrets of her past and is determined to prevent her rise.

The battle for the Medarda legacy is not confined to battlefields alone. Ambessa’s daughter, Mel, has the uncanny ability to break down emotional barriers, and she will use this skill to support her mother. But Ambessa only sees a child lacking the ruthless instincts needed for survival. Mel believes she can prove herself to be the leader Ambessa desires, if only given time.

As betrayal, enemies, and unseen forces close in, every day becomes more perilous. But Ambessa refuses to bend. She will burn the world down to claim her destiny.

Ambessa: Chosen Of The Wolf is set to release on February 18, 2025, just months after the conclusion of Arcane Season 2. The book will be available in physical, eBook, and audiobook formats, with Ellen Thomas reprising her role as Ambessa to narrate the audiobook. Notably, this marks the first instance of an Arcane character being introduced into League of Legends rather than the other way around, as Ambessa recently debuted as a playable champion.

While Ambessa: Chosen Of The Wolf is the first novel in the Arcane universe, it likely won’t be the last. Although Season 2 will conclude the story of Jinx and Vi, co-creator Christian Linke has hinted that more stories from the world of Arcane are in the works, potentially exploring familiar characters and new adventures.

Arcane Season 2 will premiere on Netflix in three parts, starting on November 9, 2024.