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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
i reaf this in 2012 and i actually eally did love it it was really awesome
Super happy that this book was through Haytham's point of view. It was a nice change and we finally got to see how and why he even became a Templar.
This book hit me right in the feels. It is clear that Haytham loves his son, even envies him for the life that Haytham was robbed of.
This book hit me right in the feels. It is clear that Haytham loves his son, even envies him for the life that Haytham was robbed of.
Now that I'm finished, I'm asking myself why I wanted to read this. I've never wanted to read any of the other AC novelisations, so I'm sure I had a good reason. I think it was because the game made Haytham Kenway, the character that is the focus of this book, possibly one of the most complex and likable antagonists/support characters I've ever seen in any game anywhere. I think it was because I thought the messy, contentious relationship Haytham has with his estranged son would make for incredibly gripping, heart-wrenching reading, or that, the man being a god damn master spy, the character would have been swashbuckling from front to back cover and up to his eyeballs in plots and politics and assassinations and struggling the whole time with right and wrong and the futility and inevitability of his decisions regardless of what public face he presented...
Kudos have to go to Mr Bowden, because it has to take talent to turn all that great potential, all that ready-made narrative tension, into what was instead a fairly remote and bloodless read with very little passion and even less impact. It was, putting it bluntly, pretty bloody boring. I was reading to get it done, not because I was thrilled and fascinated with how the story was developing, and that is, as far as I'm concerned, a sign that something is really, intrinsically wrong. Possibly with me, since I apparently can't just abandon a book no matter how little I'm truly enjoying it.
I'm sure the story had it's moments - the attack on Haytham's family perhaps, or the early stages of his friendship with Birch - but honestly I'm having trouble picturing them. If Bowden had perhaps developed his story more there and turned it into a murder mystery or period spy thriller instead of diluting it with stuff from the game that we quite frankly already know and inspired us to read the book in the first place, he might have had a real ripper on his hands. If this is what all game-tie-in books are like, I won't be reading another and consider myself forewarned the next time I think a cool character can be made cooler outside of his home environment.
Kudos have to go to Mr Bowden, because it has to take talent to turn all that great potential, all that ready-made narrative tension, into what was instead a fairly remote and bloodless read with very little passion and even less impact. It was, putting it bluntly, pretty bloody boring. I was reading to get it done, not because I was thrilled and fascinated with how the story was developing, and that is, as far as I'm concerned, a sign that something is really, intrinsically wrong. Possibly with me, since I apparently can't just abandon a book no matter how little I'm truly enjoying it.
I'm sure the story had it's moments - the attack on Haytham's family perhaps, or the early stages of his friendship with Birch - but honestly I'm having trouble picturing them. If Bowden had perhaps developed his story more there and turned it into a murder mystery or period spy thriller instead of diluting it with stuff from the game that we quite frankly already know and inspired us to read the book in the first place, he might have had a real ripper on his hands. If this is what all game-tie-in books are like, I won't be reading another and consider myself forewarned the next time I think a cool character can be made cooler outside of his home environment.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I liked learning more about Haytham - including the fact that we share a birthday! He’s a complex character and interesting to read about. I wish Connor had his charm; he’s quite dull by comparison.
3.5 stars
It was fun to read and get deeper look in Haytham character, considering how small screen time he has in the game (for me it's not enough xD) and how he felt about all that is happening and about Ziio and Connor.
But it was a bit slow sometimes. Still, worth the read.
It was fun to read and get deeper look in Haytham character, considering how small screen time he has in the game (for me it's not enough xD) and how he felt about all that is happening and about Ziio and Connor.
But it was a bit slow sometimes. Still, worth the read.
I had been ridiculously excited about reading this book since Haytham is such a compelling character and one of the highlights of the entire AC series for me. Although I appreciated the peek into Haytham's head, the changes to his personality (or the inability to bring it across) irritated and bored me. I feel the book pays too much attention to the parts of Haytham's life that don't particularly matter, while sidelining the ones I truly wanted the author to explore.
Die hard AC3 fans may appreciate this, but the main character just isn't interesting enough for me to recommend it to anyone else.
Die hard AC3 fans may appreciate this, but the main character just isn't interesting enough for me to recommend it to anyone else.
This book are rubbish, many like most books based on games, like with Baldur's Gate.
This one is about Templar who is also assassin in time of America gaining independence.
Games are good for they're surroundings, actual accurate maps that are joy to history lovers.
Books doesn't have that, and only with hint of games plot. With I struggled with as its pure fiction.
I will stop now reading these books from this series, as I'm to tired of this.
This one is about Templar who is also assassin in time of America gaining independence.
Games are good for they're surroundings, actual accurate maps that are joy to history lovers.
Books doesn't have that, and only with hint of games plot. With I struggled with as its pure fiction.
I will stop now reading these books from this series, as I'm to tired of this.
All and all this was a good book. It should only be read by those familiar with the franchise and/or AC 3, but given you are you should enjoy the novel. From my first minute of experiencing the game I fell in love with Hayham. He's a charming, old-fashioned gentleman raised by the wrong people. Forsaken introduces his inner thoughts without retrodding the events of the game. However, they are briefly mentioned. Thank god the godawful ship tutorial is glossed over. Haytham is made a more sympathetic character by having light shed on his side of things. I was kept engaged through his personality, which shined through despite the fact it is he writing these journals. The epilogue was a nice yet necessary touch. My one quibble with Forsaken: A TEN YEAR OLD SHOULD NOT AOUND LIKE A PHILOSOPHY MAJOR! The first few entries, written while Haytham was still a child, sound like his grown up self wrote them. This is quite jarring when trying to get initially engrossed in a book. Overall though, Forsaken is a highly enjoyable romp.