I was genuinely surprised by how much I liked this book. I bought it mostly because I am somewhat obsessed with the game, and I wanted more Ezio, now please! I expected that at best it would be bearable to read because I don't tend to think too highly of novelizations of either movies or video games. But this was really good and fun.

Most of the story in the book is in the game as well, so the plot wasn't particularly surprising. But there were a few additional details - like, say, Leonardo's homosexuality, which wasn't even alluded to in the game (or if it was, I missed it) - that were fun to read about. Overall it's solidly written, and I have to say that considering the amount of both climbing and fight scenes he had to cover, the author did a really good job with this, and apparently had fun with it too (the Machiavelli jokes are a bit silly, but *I* loved them!).

I can imagine parts of the story are a bit harder to follow for people who haven't played the game, and I wish the book had covered the parts involving the present tense as well, but as it is I really enjoyed it. Especially because Ezio spends a ridiculous amount of time thinking about Leonardo ;)

The best video game adaptations add to the world--Bioshock by John Shirley comes to mind, which successfully expanded the story of the rise and fall of Rapture, told in game via audio diaries, but expanded greatly by John Shirley in his adaptation.

This book, rather than asking "If Assassin's Creed 2 were based on a book, what might that book look like?" seems to ask "What if this video game were in book form?" which is a less interesting question.

There is no additional lore or world-building to be gained by this read--it is a bizarrely direct translation of the game to text, in a nearly mission by mission way. As in the game, Ezio even gets a tutorial teaching him the "climbing leap" around the half-way point. There are at least some unintentional moments of humor from this. The modern day/Desmond storyline is left out entirely--understandable due to the level of complexity it's conclusion would add to the narrative, however it also makes the climactic events feel less impactful.

Looking at the descriptions of future books, I have some hope that Bowden's later AC titles are not just direct adaptations of the games, but rather give added depth to off-screen events and characters from them. This one however offers almost nothing but the game's missions in narrative text form.

Pensé que me iba a gustar mucho, pero no lo hizo. La historia no está mal, pero el libro pasa muuuyy acelerado porque quieren abarcar demasiado en el mismo, aparte de eso considero que el libro está muy mal escrito y se hace muy largo, como será que estaba desesperado por terminarlo rápido!!

Assassin’s Creed Renaissance by Oliver Bowden was a book I absolutely couldn’t put down while reading it. I’m a huge fan of the entire Assassin’s Creed universe, owning all the novels and playing all the games (some of them multiple times). Even though I already knew the story inside and out, this book still managed to captivate me. The fact that I kept turning pages even though I knew exactly how the story would unfold speaks volumes about how engaging and well-crafted the story of Ezio Auditore da Firenze truly is.

As a novel, I give it 4 out of 5 stars instead of 5, mainly because about 95% of the plot mirrors that of the game Assassin’s Creed II and doesn't give us a different story or one from another perspective. However, even with that familiarity, the book still shines. Ezio’s journey from an unsuspecting young man to a skilled assassin seeking vengeance after the murder of his father and brothers is absolutely gripping. This story, following his hunt for the Templars and his path of growth, is, in my opinion, one of the best in the entire franchise, if not the best. Playing the game more than 10 times from beginning to end just reinforces how compelling this narrative is.

What sets the novel apart is how it dives deeper into Ezio’s inner thoughts, offering more emotional context and depth compared to the game. The reader gets to understand Ezio’s motivations on a more intimate level, and a few scenes unfold differently, adding a fresh perspective even for those who’ve experienced the game multiple times. The story spans over 30 years, allowing the character development to feel rich and impactful, making Ezio’s transformation from a young, reckless youth into a wise, hardened assassin even more powerful.

The characters in this book are as interesting and likeable as in the game, and the long timeline of the story enhances their growth. While I’m not 100% certain if this is my favorite Assassin’s Creed story overall, Ezio is undoubtedly my favorite assassin. His charm, depth, and humanity make him stand out, and I can’t wait to dive into the follow-up novels, Brotherhood and Revelations, to see how those expand on the games’ narratives and what they tell differently.

I know some reviews criticize Renaissance for being too similar to the game, with some even calling it one of the weaker Assassin’s Creed novels. I disagree completely. The story of Ezio is thrilling whether you’re playing it or reading it. The book captures the essence of what makes Assassin’s Creed II such a beloved entry in the series. If you’re a fan of the games or other novels, I highly recommend reading this. Even if you aren’t a gamer, if you enjoy stories of power, revenge, and conspiracy with a well-written protagonist, this is a must-read for you as well.

So like I already said, the only reason I give it 4 out of 5 stars instead of 5, is that it doesn’t stray far enough from the game. I love novels like Forsaken, which bring new perspectives to the Assassin’s Creed lore, and Renaissance sticks a bit too closely to the game’s plot for my liking. But that doesn’t detract from how fantastic this story is to experience. It’s still a MUST READ!

Finally, I’d like to give a little shoutout to my older cousin. When I was 13, he lent me the first three Assassin’s Creed games. I ended up starting with Assassin's Creed II, instead of Assassin's Creed, because the cover caught my eye, and it was my introduction to Ezio and the world of Assassin's Creed. Now, 13 years later, I’ve finally read the novel that goes with that game, and I regret not picking it up sooner. I plan to read Brotherhood and Revelations as soon as possible after writing this review.

Overall, Assassin’s Creed Renaissance is a fantastic read, especially if you love the game series or are interested in a compelling story filled with intrigue, action, and unforgettable characters.

Tedious - did not finish. It is very rare that I give up on a book but life is too short to persevere with this dross.

http://lolantaczyta.wordpress.com/2014/02/16/assassins-creed-renaissance-oliver-bowden/

Este libro lleva en mis estanterías años esperando a que lo lea, pero siempre lo pospongo porque el juego es uno de mis favoritos y, por eso, ya me sabía la historia que me iba a encontrar.
No hay en el libro grandes cambios con respecto a la trama del videojuego, sigue habiendo acción, conspiraciones, entrenamientos al más puro estilo tutorial... y por eso tampoco hay ninguna sorpresa.

Me ha gustado la ambientación, las descripciones de los lugares, porque la Italia renacentista es algo que siempre me va a gustar. Y no me ha gustado que uno de los cambios incluidos haya sido relegar a Claudia a un convento para después poner "ha salido y se ha casado", cuando es un pnj que siempre me ha gustado.

Sin más, cumple con lo que es y ya está.

actual rating: 3.5

I honestly don't know what some people were expecting with this book. Is it brilliant? No. Is it a decent video game adaptation novel if you take it at face value? Yes. I agree that it's kind of silly that it follows the game so directly, but I assume that is what Ubisoft asked the author to do and it's really pretty impressive how he manages to write all the video game logic and random missions into the story in a way that makes sense. There are also a few extended scenes with Leonardo, Christina, and Caterina so I thought those were nice. I listened to the audio version which is pretty good, something I am very glad for because I have played this game four times and probably wouldn't have the patience for the paper version lol.