A review by pacinocorleone
The Secret Crusade by Oliver Bowden

4.0

4 stars. Oh my god. Although The Secret Crusade was fantastic, that epilogue really made reading this book worth it. Bowden's ability in portraying the conflicting philosophies and plight of Altaïr's hubris as he journeys from Novice to Master Assassin was beautiful. It made me feel as if I were growing and learning alongside him; from his brash and impulsive desire to arrogantly prove his mastery over his brothers, to being inquisitive of the world around him, having an open spirit to challenge the status quo and break the chain of dogmatic teachings (and that's just the tip of the iceberg!). Altaïr ascended from a life riddled with mistakes, resentment and unanswered questions, and matured into a man who appreciated the gift of hindsight, the power of friendship, curiosity and knowledge. I think we can all learn from Master Assassin Altaïr Ibn-LaʼAhad.

"I want to meet the best minds, explore the libraries of the world, and learn all the secrets of nature and the universe."

"All in one lifetime? It's a little ambitious..."

He chuckled. "Who can say? It could be that one life is just enough."