Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
3,5 stars
I liked this book more than I like the other Assassin's creed book series I liked.
I liked this book more than I like the other Assassin's creed book series I liked.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
3 out of 5 stars.
(spoilers)
I think I would have to describe this book as a slow burner. In the very beginning, I didn't really know what to expect when I picked this book up. The plot seemed very generic at first and I could describe very briefly in one sentence:
"Troubled boy wants to know why his father went to prison and died there."
I still mostly feel as though that could be the basic plot summary, but it altered slightly as the action finally kicked in because everything that was motivating the protagonist, Owen, was set aside in favour of a different adventure - and a more interesting one at that.
When the scenes started kicking in for the main adventure inside the Animus, that is when the story started to get really interesting. But it wasn't Owen's character that made it interesting - it was a side character named Grace and her ancestor, Eliza.
Grace is an African-American teenaged girl. She's super protective of her younger brother and very outspoken when it comes to her belief. Unfortunately, that is all that I really know about her character because when you are introduced to her, she's just there. There's no story as to why she was picked in the first place, what it was she wanted from Monroe (Owen wants to learn about his father, Javier is there for the ride at the same time as Owen). She and the other characters (David, Sean and Natalya) are just thrown at the reader with no explanation, no depth. There is no investment in them.
However, a lot of presidence is put on Grace's ancestor, Eliza, and her role in the discovery of a Piece of Eden. Eliza's development across the story is fantastic, and reminescent of a certain Italian Assassin's development. I honestly believe if Grace had been the main character from the beginning, if we'd learnt about her reasons for contacting Monroe, a full look into what she learns as Eliza, and most importantly Eliza's story, the book would have been so much more compelling. She has the groundworks to become a freaking amazing protagonist in her own rights!
The main bulk of the story is set during the American Civil War, mainly the riots that happened across New York City near the beginning. As a person of colour, a black woman, during that period, I was more invested in Eliza's story than I was with Owen or anyone else. What I saw was a young woman learning the darkness the world held, learning there was something that she could do about it, losing someone that she held dear to her and using that anger to fuel her.
It angered me so much when the story cut back to Owen waking up from the Animus, waiting for everyone else to come out and then the lot of them waiting even longer for Grace BECAUSE HER ADVENTURE WAS STILL GOING!
It is described in the briefest of ways how Eliza trained as an Assassin, how she fought in the Civil War and made her way to General Grant to deliever the winning weapon. INSTEAD OF GOING ON THAT JOURNEY WITH A BADASS WOMAN OF COLOUR WE'RE STUCK WAITING OUT IN THE REAL WORLD WITH THE MOST BORING CHARACTERS.
And then Grace's character is practically ruined when they're captured by Abstergo. She says she doesn't care what she learnt in the Animus, she's going to do whatever it takes to get her and her brother home safely. And I agree with that sentimentality a little, her character stuck to her guns and I admire that. I don't like her willingness to forget all of that experience. It felt completely out of character.
It was as though Matthew Kirby started writing an epic storyline for this wonderful female POC and then realised his protagonist was the Generic (probably white) Guy.
(I say 'probably white' because the guy on the front cover is white, Owen's race isn't explicitly stated, but his grandfather makes a comment towards Hispanic Javier that Owen says is kinda racist...)
This book was still interesting though. I just wished Grace was the protagonist.
(spoilers)
I think I would have to describe this book as a slow burner. In the very beginning, I didn't really know what to expect when I picked this book up. The plot seemed very generic at first and I could describe very briefly in one sentence:
"Troubled boy wants to know why his father went to prison and died there."
I still mostly feel as though that could be the basic plot summary, but it altered slightly as the action finally kicked in because everything that was motivating the protagonist, Owen, was set aside in favour of a different adventure - and a more interesting one at that.
When the scenes started kicking in for the main adventure inside the Animus, that is when the story started to get really interesting. But it wasn't Owen's character that made it interesting - it was a side character named Grace and her ancestor, Eliza.
Grace is an African-American teenaged girl. She's super protective of her younger brother and very outspoken when it comes to her belief. Unfortunately, that is all that I really know about her character because when you are introduced to her, she's just there. There's no story as to why she was picked in the first place, what it was she wanted from Monroe (Owen wants to learn about his father, Javier is there for the ride at the same time as Owen). She and the other characters (David, Sean and Natalya) are just thrown at the reader with no explanation, no depth. There is no investment in them.
However, a lot of presidence is put on Grace's ancestor, Eliza, and her role in the discovery of a Piece of Eden. Eliza's development across the story is fantastic, and reminescent of a certain Italian Assassin's development. I honestly believe if Grace had been the main character from the beginning, if we'd learnt about her reasons for contacting Monroe, a full look into what she learns as Eliza, and most importantly Eliza's story, the book would have been so much more compelling. She has the groundworks to become a freaking amazing protagonist in her own rights!
The main bulk of the story is set during the American Civil War, mainly the riots that happened across New York City near the beginning. As a person of colour, a black woman, during that period, I was more invested in Eliza's story than I was with Owen or anyone else. What I saw was a young woman learning the darkness the world held, learning there was something that she could do about it, losing someone that she held dear to her and using that anger to fuel her.
It angered me so much when the story cut back to Owen waking up from the Animus, waiting for everyone else to come out and then the lot of them waiting even longer for Grace BECAUSE HER ADVENTURE WAS STILL GOING!
It is described in the briefest of ways how Eliza trained as an Assassin, how she fought in the Civil War and made her way to General Grant to deliever the winning weapon. INSTEAD OF GOING ON THAT JOURNEY WITH A BADASS WOMAN OF COLOUR WE'RE STUCK WAITING OUT IN THE REAL WORLD WITH THE MOST BORING CHARACTERS.
And then Grace's character is practically ruined when they're captured by Abstergo. She says she doesn't care what she learnt in the Animus, she's going to do whatever it takes to get her and her brother home safely. And I agree with that sentimentality a little, her character stuck to her guns and I admire that. I don't like her willingness to forget all of that experience. It felt completely out of character.
It was as though Matthew Kirby started writing an epic storyline for this wonderful female POC and then realised his protagonist was the Generic (probably white) Guy.
(I say 'probably white' because the guy on the front cover is white, Owen's race isn't explicitly stated, but his grandfather makes a comment towards Hispanic Javier that Owen says is kinda racist...)
This book was still interesting though. I just wished Grace was the protagonist.
Reading challenge category: A book in a genre you usually avoid (video game adaptation)
I've never played Assassin's Creed, but I am obsessed with the idea. Two factions who want the same result while fundamentally disagreeing on the means to that end, warring through history. Man, that's got some potential. But there was too little of that for me in this book. There could be more in later books in the series (this is very obviously the first in a series), but I don't care enough about these characters to follow them any longer.
I've never played Assassin's Creed, but I am obsessed with the idea. Two factions who want the same result while fundamentally disagreeing on the means to that end, warring through history. Man, that's got some potential. But there was too little of that for me in this book. There could be more in later books in the series (this is very obviously the first in a series), but I don't care enough about these characters to follow them any longer.
adventurous
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a long time fan of the AC series, for years now, I was excited that there was a series coming out. A little disappointed that its a young adult series, but still gave it a chance.
It sets up a basic understanding to the animus in the beginning for those who have never played the games, and a cliff notes version of Templars vs Assassins history.
Most of the twists were semi predictable. I was excited about a multiple users at once in the simulation which is good, but with so many characters it felt like your being yanked back and forth between everyones whereabouts and what each other is doing at the same time.
Will read the next one to see how this progresses, but if you're looking for a more adult and fast paced alternative like the video games read Trial By Fire series.
It sets up a basic understanding to the animus in the beginning for those who have never played the games, and a cliff notes version of Templars vs Assassins history.
Most of the twists were semi predictable. I was excited about a multiple users at once in the simulation which is good, but with so many characters it felt like your being yanked back and forth between everyones whereabouts and what each other is doing at the same time.
Will read the next one to see how this progresses, but if you're looking for a more adult and fast paced alternative like the video games read Trial By Fire series.
adventurous
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
it's not very long and it's pretty fast-paced, so i finished it in one day. this book has characters of color and (one) gay character but also has the N word mentioned multiple times. even though the author is white. 2.5/5 stars, not very interesting but not completely boring either.