Scan barcode
gattolinos_nerdy_nook's review against another edition
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
binches's review against another edition
4.0
Since the respective game doesn't focus much on the story of the protagonist, this book does. It tells the story of Altaïr during the events of Assassin's Creed 1 in the first half, and what happened to him in the following decades in the second. I was afraid that the second part would be exhausting, just like the final pages of Brotherhood felt like, but while it did feel stretched-out sometimes (mostly due to the time span it was covering), I really enjoyed it and it added a lot to the world and its characters. One thing that bothered me was the motive for Abbas' hatred against Altaïr because I don't think it's realistic for someone to hold on to something like that from childhood until one's eighties.
paloma_sanchezh's review against another edition
3.0
Es un libro entretenido, aunque creo que más para fanáticos del juego de Assassin's Creed. Decidí leerlo como parte del Popsugar Reading Challenge, en la categoría de un género que nunca habia leído.
La Cruzada Secreta mezcla tanto novela histórica, como fantasía, y me decidí por esto último. Si bien la premisa de la trama es interesante -la vida de Altaïr, maestro Asesino y sus aventuras para encontrarse a sí mismo, así como salvar a la Hermandad, creo que el autor pudo haber sacado mucho más provecho del contexto así como ahondar más en la trama de los Asesinos.
Es decir, como lectora, lo que yo sé de los Asesinos -históricamente hablando- es por mis clases de historia y no por un conocimiento que me proporcionara el libro. Asimismo, la historia se lleva a cabo en diversas ciudades del Medio Oriente -Damasco, Jerusalén, Nicosia- y creo que hubiera sido muy enriquecedor si el autor se hubiera detenido en narrar y describir un poco más de los lugares, las costumbres, etc., considerando el contexto histórico en el que se sitúa. Considero que la ambientación, más que destacar, es solo un escenario en donde Altaïr realiza sus asesinatos.
Sin duda, tiene algunos momentos que sorprenden al lector, sobre todo cuando hay muertes de personajes o secretos que se develan, pero como obra narrativa, no resulta memorable.
La Cruzada Secreta mezcla tanto novela histórica, como fantasía, y me decidí por esto último. Si bien la premisa de la trama es interesante -la vida de Altaïr, maestro Asesino y sus aventuras para encontrarse a sí mismo, así como salvar a la Hermandad, creo que el autor pudo haber sacado mucho más provecho del contexto así como ahondar más en la trama de los Asesinos.
Es decir, como lectora, lo que yo sé de los Asesinos -históricamente hablando- es por mis clases de historia y no por un conocimiento que me proporcionara el libro. Asimismo, la historia se lleva a cabo en diversas ciudades del Medio Oriente -Damasco, Jerusalén, Nicosia- y creo que hubiera sido muy enriquecedor si el autor se hubiera detenido en narrar y describir un poco más de los lugares, las costumbres, etc., considerando el contexto histórico en el que se sitúa. Considero que la ambientación, más que destacar, es solo un escenario en donde Altaïr realiza sus asesinatos.
Sin duda, tiene algunos momentos que sorprenden al lector, sobre todo cuando hay muertes de personajes o secretos que se develan, pero como obra narrativa, no resulta memorable.
graymatter's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
voidslantern's review against another edition
4.0
I adore Altair, and he will always remain my most favourite Assassin. His book, though badly researched by the author, still has brought me a certain amount of pleasure and pain.
wandrew's review against another edition
2.0
Was very interested to read this, as the original novelisation was cancelled after the Aga Khan expressed displeasure at the depiction of his Ismaili order:
http://darkush.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/why-even-care.html
Still tempted to get Barnes' collection of short stories, which I think includes a rewritten version of his Invisible Imam.
For a videogame adaptation, it started out really well. The retelling of the first game was surprisingly well-written, which made the rest of the novel, from the novelisation of the PSP game onwards, that much more disappointing. Bizarrely, this was released after Revelations (the game) came out, and yet the depiction of the events of an old Altair often contradicts the story in the game. I can only imagine he wrote his novel before the game's story was firmed up, but it then begs the question: why bother with the novel?
http://darkush.blogspot.com.au/2007/10/why-even-care.html
Still tempted to get Barnes' collection of short stories, which I think includes a rewritten version of his Invisible Imam.
For a videogame adaptation, it started out really well. The retelling of the first game was surprisingly well-written, which made the rest of the novel, from the novelisation of the PSP game onwards, that much more disappointing. Bizarrely, this was released after Revelations (the game) came out, and yet the depiction of the events of an old Altair often contradicts the story in the game. I can only imagine he wrote his novel before the game's story was firmed up, but it then begs the question: why bother with the novel?
depleti's review against another edition
3.0
This was fun, plain and simple. A good chunk of the story just retells the events that occurred in the first Assassin's Creed game, but there were just as many parts that were new to me. It's obvious they wrote this to fill in gaps for people who haven't played the first game but perhaps did play the later ones, and it saves the reader/wannabe-player the trouble of slogging through a mostly tedious game (also Altair's kinda horrible voice actor). I still liked the game a lot but only played it for the story. This book has the story without the game (although it does not address the present time aspects), and a better resolution.
I was kinda surprised to realize there were other books based on the games before this one, but they all focused on Ezio, the current protagonist of the games (or I think they do, judging by the covers). I don't have any strong desire to read those, not because the writing is terrible or the story is boring, but just because I have a much better grasp of Ezio's personality from playing the games. Altair was always much more distant and disconnected from the player/audience, not just because of the flat voice acting, but because his hood is never down, his face is never shown. Ezio becomes a friend of the player, Altair is always a stranger.
Which is why I was curious to read this book. It delves into Altair's past as well as what happens to him over the years after the first game ended. Altair will probably always have a bit of a mythical aspect to him because he was the first Assassin from the games and still has mysteries about him, but after reading this he's less a standoffish recluse and more an old friend.
Okay that was incredibly sappy. SORRY.
Edit: After looking at some other reviews and remembering stuff from the game, a lot of the latter stuff in the book might not be canon to the series. It's hard to say, I don't know how much freedom Bowden was given with the characters toward the end. There might be conflicts, and the writing is clunky at times, but I still enjoyed it overall.
I was kinda surprised to realize there were other books based on the games before this one, but they all focused on Ezio, the current protagonist of the games (or I think they do, judging by the covers). I don't have any strong desire to read those, not because the writing is terrible or the story is boring, but just because I have a much better grasp of Ezio's personality from playing the games. Altair was always much more distant and disconnected from the player/audience, not just because of the flat voice acting, but because his hood is never down, his face is never shown. Ezio becomes a friend of the player, Altair is always a stranger.
Which is why I was curious to read this book. It delves into Altair's past as well as what happens to him over the years after the first game ended. Altair will probably always have a bit of a mythical aspect to him because he was the first Assassin from the games and still has mysteries about him, but after reading this he's less a standoffish recluse and more an old friend.
Okay that was incredibly sappy. SORRY.
Edit: After looking at some other reviews and remembering stuff from the game, a lot of the latter stuff in the book might not be canon to the series. It's hard to say, I don't know how much freedom Bowden was given with the characters toward the end. There might be conflicts, and the writing is clunky at times, but I still enjoyed it overall.
More...