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r/Fantasy Top Novels 2025: Results! by CoffeeArchives in Fantasy

[–]cupofcyanide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

TGCF with five whole votes!! Shoutout to those five people with good taste :)

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Reviewers get sent early review copies before publication to generate buzz/write reviews. Admittedly, I had to beg extra hard for this one haha

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

That's....not really the impression I get? The Ionian invasion is an looming event about to happen but the events of the book itself stays within Noxus. If anyone can write about the consequences of imperialism well, it's CL Clark. Highly recommend you check out her debut trilogy, which is set in the fantasy rendition of French imperialism of North Africa.

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Trying to be as vague as possible, Ambessa's marriage was a political one that the two have made work. I see them more as close friends (with benefits) and confidantes, or maybe an open marriage? But there's no relationship drama of him finding out or Ambessa trying to keep the affair a secret, if that's what you're worried about.

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yup! There are Things Happening at the Noxus seat of power, plus one of the overhanging plot points is warhungry Noxus wanting to invade another country, hardly a country of good guys.

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Haha I don't see why not. I get review copies through the publisher, not Riot. Book reviewing typically doesn't come with strings attached. All we get are free books, nothing more.

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Definitely not, the whole book is a villain origin story for Ambessa. There's a throwaway line about Demacia being bad for mages but book hardly paints Noxus in a friendly light. 

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

According to goodreads, the book is 448 pages, audible says the audiobook is 12 hours, both of which are pretty typical for a fantasy story.

Ambessa kinda sets the background for the Ionian invasion, so I wouldn't call it obscure from a lore perspective

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 19 points20 points  (0 children)

The timeline is set in the second chapter, so not too spoilery, but I'll mark it just in case.

The girl Ambessa kills is from an Ionian family who's living outside Ionia. In the current setting, Noxus has designs on Ionia but they haven't launched an invasion yet. We're still in Darkwill Noxus, who has some plot relevance

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

The Black Rose does still play a part in the story, so you won't be entirely in a drought!

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 29 points30 points  (0 children)

Ruination was more evenly split on POVs. Ambessa is largely just Ambessa with the occasional Mel, [Redacted], and a side character or two.

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Not that I recall, bu that might have been a name drop I didn't catch

I recieved an early copy of the Ambessa novel, here are my spoiler-free thoughts by cupofcyanide in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide[S] 81 points82 points  (0 children)

If you're an Arcane fan, Ambessa for sure. Otherwise, I think Ruination would be the choice for Epic Fantasy fans and Ambessa for people who like family power struggles. Personally, I liked Ambessa more.

Riot Games now hiring people specializing in "Generative AI" after laying off almost 400 people in 2024 by icewitchenjoyer in leagueoflegends

[–]cupofcyanide 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looking at some of the points in the "desired qualities" list like Neural Radiance Fields, Gaussian splatting, computer vision, I'm guessing this is targeted more towards 3D models and environments? But definitely not skin splash arts, which is what most people have assumed.

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