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3.36 AVERAGE
3.36 AVERAGE
A book based on a computer game, kudos to the author, the research put into the book was evident. So much so the book could have been the script for the computer game it was so accurate...which was great at first, it's been a while since I played the game so I loved being reminded of all the missions. But after a while it became too predictable, I knew exactly what was going to happen, when and where it was going to happen (I've completed the game).
This was a fun read, I'm glad I read it as Assassin's Creed is my favourite computer game, however, if you haven't played the game, I don't know if you'd find this book enjoyable. This is one to borrow from the library for a fun past-time read.
This was a fun read, I'm glad I read it as Assassin's Creed is my favourite computer game, however, if you haven't played the game, I don't know if you'd find this book enjoyable. This is one to borrow from the library for a fun past-time read.
Some wholly inaccurate use of phrases such as "greased lightening" and so on, considering the time period, but overall a quick, enjoyable read.
keďže dôverne poznám hry, tak inak ako so štyrmi hviezdičkami to nejde, hoci pár nedokonalostí sa tu nájde :)
A true page turner and significantly better than the games. No time is wasted in this book and every minute (quite literally) counts. Ezio's development throughout the book makes for a truely gripping storyline without giving too much away until the last few pages. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!
I have not rated this book at all because I could not get past the first chapter. If you play the game or is familiar with it, you will probably agree with me that the book is very boring and adds nothing to its game counterpart. Unfortunately, it is just like reading the game, except you do not even get to have the thrill of actually playing it or being the character.
Quite a disappointment.
Quite a disappointment.
Read my full review on my blog, Final Frontier Books!
So, why should you read this book?
I suppose that if you have already played the game, this book will give you further insight into the storyline. I read this book as someone who has never played the game, and in this way was able to learn what happens in the game without having to play it so that I could talk about it with a friend.
My opinion
I have to admit that I read this book for a friend. I wasn't really expecting great things from a video game to book adaptation, but I would have put it down after the first chapter, which was a bit ridiculous and seemingly pointless, anyway if I weren't reading it for her.
This book's biggest problem is that I could not bring myself to care about what Ezio was up to at any point because Bowden doesn't follow the "show, don't tell" rule. I understand that at times it is more practical to simply deliver information and move on with the story, but when this consistently happens in the place of creating tension by describing action, it just makes for a boring read. For example, let's analyse this paragraph, which could have instead been a tense scene where Ezio and his men had to sneak up on a well-defended target and do battle with the enemy:
- "Ezio selected a dozen of Gambalto's best hand-to-hand combat fighters..."
At this point, the reader has only heard of Gambalto's men in passing. What stake do they have in this fight, and how did Ezio know they were the best men for the job? Does he trust them? Do they trust him?
- "...and led them on foot across the fields that separated them from the mansion where Salviati had taken refuge. He had his men fanned out, but within calling distance of one another..."
Imagine the tension as these men try to approach their target in absolute silence or risk death or worse, and seeing the camaraderie between them as they know what to do with only a nod. (Did Ezio plan most of this ahead of time?)
- "...and the Pazzi outposts were easily either avoided or neutralized. But Ezio lost two of his own men in the approach." (p. 220)
And... just like that, all their problems were solved. In fact, the mission wasn't only successful, but it was "easy". And oh yes, as an afterthought, two of the men the reader never got to meet also died. How devastating.
As I said, I wasn't expecting great things. But being able to adhere to writing basics surrounding description and the passive voice would have been a great starting point for a fun read.
So, why should you read this book?
I suppose that if you have already played the game, this book will give you further insight into the storyline. I read this book as someone who has never played the game, and in this way was able to learn what happens in the game without having to play it so that I could talk about it with a friend.
My opinion
I have to admit that I read this book for a friend. I wasn't really expecting great things from a video game to book adaptation, but I would have put it down after the first chapter, which was a bit ridiculous and seemingly pointless, anyway if I weren't reading it for her.
This book's biggest problem is that I could not bring myself to care about what Ezio was up to at any point because Bowden doesn't follow the "show, don't tell" rule. I understand that at times it is more practical to simply deliver information and move on with the story, but when this consistently happens in the place of creating tension by describing action, it just makes for a boring read. For example, let's analyse this paragraph, which could have instead been a tense scene where Ezio and his men had to sneak up on a well-defended target and do battle with the enemy:
- "Ezio selected a dozen of Gambalto's best hand-to-hand combat fighters..."
At this point, the reader has only heard of Gambalto's men in passing. What stake do they have in this fight, and how did Ezio know they were the best men for the job? Does he trust them? Do they trust him?
- "...and led them on foot across the fields that separated them from the mansion where Salviati had taken refuge. He had his men fanned out, but within calling distance of one another..."
Imagine the tension as these men try to approach their target in absolute silence or risk death or worse, and seeing the camaraderie between them as they know what to do with only a nod. (Did Ezio plan most of this ahead of time?)
- "...and the Pazzi outposts were easily either avoided or neutralized. But Ezio lost two of his own men in the approach." (p. 220)
And... just like that, all their problems were solved. In fact, the mission wasn't only successful, but it was "easy". And oh yes, as an afterthought, two of the men the reader never got to meet also died. How devastating.
As I said, I wasn't expecting great things. But being able to adhere to writing basics surrounding description and the passive voice would have been a great starting point for a fun read.
Some well done ideas here, but the whole sub-[b:The Da Vinci Code|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1303252999s/968.jpg|2982101] side of the plot drags it down. Never played the game, so have no idea whether this would have been required in the novelisation, but it would have been better as a more straightforward tale of Renaissance Italy.
Je maintiens ma note de 3/5.
Ça a été une lecture agréable et qui m'a rappelé de bons souvenirs de mon expérience de jeu. Certes, ce n'est pas une oeuvre littéraire, loin de là, mais il faut prendre ce livre pour ce qu'il est : un livre d'action basé sur un jeu vidéo.
Ça a été une lecture agréable et qui m'a rappelé de bons souvenirs de mon expérience de jeu. Certes, ce n'est pas une oeuvre littéraire, loin de là, mais il faut prendre ce livre pour ce qu'il est : un livre d'action basé sur un jeu vidéo.
I’ve never read a more boring book in my life. Reading Oliver Bowden’s Assassin’s Creed: Renaissance is very much like watching somebody else play the game whilst an old, grating voice narrates the gameplay in your ear. Never has a story about vengeance, conspiracies and death been so sleep-inducingly boring!
This book almost ruined Assassin’s Creed for me. I can barely stand playing as Ezio now, I always end up running into guards or jumping of buildings hoping the little bastard would just die! Altair is definitely my man.
This book almost ruined Assassin’s Creed for me. I can barely stand playing as Ezio now, I always end up running into guards or jumping of buildings hoping the little bastard would just die! Altair is definitely my man.
Found this really easy to read, I picked it up because my daughter is obsessed with the games and I thought i'd better understand more what she was playing and talking about at the dinner table and I have to say I am surprised at how easily I got into this and enjoyed it. The story is easy to follow and a relatively well known one, the characters are a little confusing at times, the names seemed to blend together so I had to check the character list in the back pages occasionally to remind myself who certain people were but all in all this was a pleasant surprise. I'll definitely read the others in the series.