Assassin's Creed: Renaissance

"While I thought that I was learning to live, I have been learning how to die."

- Leonardo da Vinci

Assassin's Creed: Renaissance is a novel based on the Assassin's Creed series written by Oliver Bowden and published by Penguin Books. It is a novelized version of the game Assassin's Creed II, except it is set only in the 15th century; present day does not come into account. The novel was released in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2009, six days after the UK release of Assassin's Creed II, and will be released in the United States on 23 February 2010.

Plot

 * See Assassin's Creed II storyline

"'I will seek vengeance upon those who betrayed my family. I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze. I am an assassin...'"

Betrayed by the ruling families of Italy, a young man embarks upon an epic quest for vengeance. To eradicate corruption and restore his family's honor, he will learn the art of the assassin.

Along the way, Ezio will call upon the wisdom of such great minds as Leonardo da Vinci and Niccolò Machiavelli - knowing that survival is bound to the skills by which he must live.

To his allies, he will become a force for change - fighting for freedom and justice. To his enemies, he will become a threat dedicated to the destruction of the tyrants abusing the people of Italy.

So begins an epic story of power, revenge and conspiracy.

TRUTH WILL BE WRITTEN IN BLOOD

Differences and Extras
Despite being a textual version, between the novel version and the game version, there are some mild differences between them. There have also been things that were added into the book that was not included in the game.


 * In the novel, Vieri de' Pazzi throws a rock at Ezio and it hits him in the forehead. In the game, it hits him on the right side of his lip.
 * When Ezio heads over to the pigeon coop to receive a note for his father, he found some graffiti behind the coop that read: "HE THAT INCREASETH KNOWLEDGE INCREASETH SORROW" and "WHERE IS THE PROPHET?". This was only mentioned in the novel.
 * In the novel, Cristina Vespucci's name is changed to Cristina Calfucci. The novel also provides a short account to how Ezio met Cristina.
 * Ezio heads over to Cristina's to spend the night after his father and brothers were taken to prison. In the game, we did not know where he went. He supposedly went to his mother and sisters hideout. Other parts of the book includes him going to Cristina's house - where Cristina meets with him in her room - hours after his father and brothers are executed, to collect his pouch he left there; and before Ezio meets La Volpe, he sees her again where he helps her fiancé. Both events were also not in the game.
 * In the game, Ezio's father and brothers are executed simultaneously. In the novel, Petruccio is executed first shortly followed by the execution of Federico and then finally Giovanni.
 * Ezio gives his father and brothers a proper burial by placing them in torched boats set a-drift into the sea. In the game, Ezio only mentions they were given a proper burial.
 * In the game, Ezio receives Paola's training after he sees his mother and sister. In the book, he receives training before he sees them.
 * In the novel, La Volpe's name is revealed to be Gilberto (although he wishes Ezio to call him 'La Volpe'). In the game, La Volpe's name is only his pseudonym (according to the database files) and no real name is mentioned.
 * The events that cover the Battle of Forli and the Bonfire of the Vanities are told in the novel. In the game, those two events were inaccessable due to corrupt memories and only available through downloadable contents.

Terminology

 * "See Assassin's Creed: Renaissance/Terminology"

The novel uses Italian and Latin terminology, just like the game, but instead, releases the terms between numbered pages 509-516.

Release
The novel was released in the United Kingdom six days after the release of Assassin's Creed II on 26 November, 2009. The novel, however, won't be released in the United States until 23 February, 2010. However, a Kindle Edition can be purchased from Amazon.com which was released November 26, 2009.

Pricing

 * United Kingdom
 * Amazon.co.uk: £3.86
 * Waterstones: £5.59
 * WH Smith: £5.17


 * United States
 * Amazon.com (Paperback): $9.99
 * Amazon.com (Kindle): $8.18