I normally don't like novelizations of video games (which is why I consciously avoid them altogether), but "Assassin's Creed: Forsaken" is a very interesting read as it sheds some light on the life and personality of the most intriguing villain of the Assassin's Creed series, a character who is also very dear to me. The games where Haytham Kenway appears ("Assassin's Creed III", the finale of "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" & "Assassin's Creed: Rogue") deal with only certain periods of his life, and this novel serves as an extensive backstory, in the form of a journal, covering, among other things, his childhood and his loving relationship with Edward, his training years under Reginald Birch, his long quest for Jenny with his good friend Jim Holden in later times and his complex connection with the other Templars of the Colonies (especially Charles Lee, although most parts that concern the latter are depicted in "Assassin's Creed III" in a much more powerful way). The parts that are common both in the novel and the game are pretty similar (even the dialogues are mostly alike) but those that offer additional insight are engaging and closely follow Haytham's development as the merciless and murderous Templar Grand Master that he eventually became. Τhe narration is captivating and can get deeply emotional, highlighting the good elements that Haytham originally had which were corrupted irreversibly under Birch's influence, but still they would come to the surface for a few precious moments throughout his later life. I only wish there was at least a mention of Shay Cormac, who was Haytham's most trusted ally for a certain period of time in North America, and with whom he has this insane chemistry in "Assassin's Creed: Rogue".
Δημοσιεύτηκε στο Goodreads τον Ιούνιο του 2025
Assassin's Creed: Forsaken by Oliver BowdenMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
