When it comes to books that are based on video games, I am reluctant and overly cautious. Let’s face it, Paul W.S. Anderson didn’t exactly stick to the game’s plot with the Resident Evil franchise, but at least it’s better than Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which failed miserably in my opinion. Of course, those are movies based on games, but you get the idea, right? In the past, I’ve read quite a few books that were based on video games though (mostly the Magic: The Gathering books), and most of the time I was left feeling slightly deflated in the end. So when I got Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag by Oliver Bowden I rolled my eyes and sighed melodramatically, because I thought it would be pretty much the same as any other game-related novel. I was wrong.

Oliver Bowden, a veteran author and apparently a gamer too, has written six novelizations of the Assassin’s Creed game thus far (Black Flag being the newest one of the lot) and from what I gather, the books are quite close to following the game’s plot. Now, I’ve not played Assassin’s Creed, so I’m not really sure about whether this is true or not, but according to what I’ve read in Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, I must admit that I’m curious about the game and the I would really like to get my hands on the other books in the series.

What I found particularly surprising was how quickly the book drew me in. The beautiful descriptions and action-packed scenes will definitely attract a lot of readers, but it’s the adventure that sold me at the end of the day. You see, when it’s all been done before it’s difficult to keep your readership entertained from the beginning to the end and stick to a predetermined plot, but somehow Oliver Bowden did it and he was able to gain a new reader in the process. In fact, I’m starting to think that with the right director, even the Assassin’s Creed film (which is currently in the works) may not be too shabby either. Not that I’m holding my breath just yet, but if the books are this good, maybe the film won’t let gamers down as much as we thought.

So, yes. Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag was definitely worth a read, but it’s hard for me to recommend it to people, because some gamers may enjoy it whereas others will probably hate it. However, if you’re in the mood for a good adventure and just a cool read, then maybe this will be right up your alley. Forget that the book is based on a game and just read it for the hell of it and you’ll enjoy it, that much I am certain of…

(review originally posted on www.killeraphrodite.com) ( )

oh boy

1) Edward, this is not an appropriate story to tell to a child

2) trust me to fall in love with a character who barely even appears

3) Edward's story is way too tragic in so many ways and this book makes me sad, and it's not fair that she had to die for him to realise her words

4) they were in love, damnit! they were in love and they should have been Assassins together forever!

5) having quests in the game written down like this was a weird experience but I love it ( )

Descrizione
All'inizio del Settecento, nell'età dell'oro della pirateria, il Nuovo Mondo è una meta irresistibile per tutti. Per Edward Kenway - l'esuberante, giovane figlio di un mercante di lana che desidera con tutte le sue forze diventare molto ricco - rappresenta il coronamento di un sogno. Quello di conquistare la gloria in una vita avventurosa, solcando gli oceani su inaffondabili velieri. Il momento per andare incontro al suo destino, lasciandosi alle spalle un'esistenza troppo banale, arriva quando la tenuta della sua famiglia è attaccata da misteriosi nemici. Non passerà molto tempo prima che Kenway diventi uno dei più terribili corsari dei suoi tempi, una vera leggenda al pari del pirata Barbanera. Ma il successo, la fama e il potere risvegliano sempre avidità, ambizione e malvagità. Anche Kenway, allora, deve fare i conti con una viscida congiura ai suoi danni e, una volta ottenute le prove schiaccianti sui traditori che minacciano tutto ciò che gli è caro, non ha scelta. I colpevoli devono essere puniti. Per questo viene trascinato nella guerra che da secoli fa scorrere il sangue tra Assassini e Templari, e che potrebbe distruggere tutto ciò che i pirati hanno costruito. ( )

I guess I would have had a better opinion of this book if Forsaken had actually been written and released after it. I found it tedious to go back in time to read about Edward Kenway's escapades after enjoying to life of his descendants'. Because I already knew that he would be betrayed by Templars years after Black Flag ended, I had no real interest in reading about anything that he accomplished. There were other characters like James Kidd, Anne Bonney, and the few true assassins mentioned in the book that were actually interesting, but overall, I had to drag myself through the story from start to finish. As usual, the combat scenes were amazingly written and the plot was well done, but I just could not bring myself to really care about Edward Kenway. ( )