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; however, rather than spanning a vast period of time, it is set only in the 15th century with no mention of the game's present-day events.

The novel was released in the United Kingdom on 26 November 2009, six days after the UK release of Assassin's Creed II, and was released in North America on 23 February 2010.

Plot

 * Main article: Assassin's Creed II storyline

''I will seek vengeance upon those who betrayed my family. I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze. And like my father before me 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 of Assassin's Creed II, there are several differences present in the novel, as well as things added into the book that were not included in the game. The following are details of the novel that differ from the game.

Characters

 * La Volpe's name is revealed to be Gilberto, although he still wishes Ezio to call him "La Volpe." In the game, it is revealed that "La Volpe" is only his pseudonym (according to the database files) but no real name is mentioned.
 * Dante Moro's ex-wife's name is changed from Carlotta to Gloria.
 * Cristina Vespucci's name is changed to Cristina Calfucci.
 * Mario Auditore has a thick beard and is stated to be twice Ezio's size. In the game, however, Mario has a small mustache, and is roughly the same size as Ezio's.
 * Antonio's full name is given as Antonio de Magianis.
 * Desmond and the other modern day assassins are not mentioned.

Relationships

 * A short account on how Ezio first met Cristina is provided.
 * It is revealed that Vieri de' Pazzi also liked Cristina and once tried to kiss her by force, until Ezio came to the scene and fought Vieri off.
 * Different parts of the book detail Ezio visiting Cristina's house several other times; such as after his father and brothers are executed to collect a pouch he left there, and before he meets La Volpe, wherein he helps Cristina's fiancé. The 3 moments of the story above are explored in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood as sequences called 'Cristina Memories'.
 * Ezio's relationship with Rosa is explored in more detail; whereas in the game they merely flirt with each other. In the novel, it is confirmed that they are lovers.
 * Claudia Auditore marries Mario's guard captain.
 * After The Battle of Forli, Ezio becomes intimate with Caterina for a few months during his recovery.

Equipment

 * Ezio frequently changes his clothes to blend in better, such as wearing monks' robes when going to the monastery, or wearing poor civilian clothes within the village outside Forlì. In the game, Ezio's outfit generally stays the same.
 * Ezio's first hidden blade is attached to his right forearm instead of his left.
 * Ezio's second hidden blade is a double-bladed wrist weapon, not just a single blade.
 * Ezio changes his hidden blade between the poison blade and the normal blade between missions. In-game, when Ezio gets the poison blade, he can change it on the fly.
 * The bullets for Ezio's hidden gun are provided by Leonardo, instead of the blacksmiths.
 * The hidden blade is more often referred to as the "Codex blade."
 * The Armour and Sword of Altair does not appear in the novel.
 * Ezio often wields both his sword and either a dagger or one of his hidden blades in combat. In the game, Ezio can only use one weapon at a time.
 * Mario is shown many times to be nervous of the fact that Ezio shares the knowledge of the Codex with Leonardo, because he is not sure if anyone can be trusted with it.
 * Ezio finds many Codex pages on the dead remains of his enemies; such as retrieving one page from Vieri de' Pazzi's pouch and another one from Francesco de' Pazzi's. In the game, Ezio finds most of the Codex Pages in Templar banks.
 * Leonardo discovers that the Codex hides a map, even without having all of the pages. Ezio also notices a map across the background in the novel. In the game, Ezio is the one to find out by using his Eagle Vision.

Assassinations

 * Ezio assassinates Uberto Alberti by stabbing him in the throat, while in the game, he angrily stabs him multiple times in the chest.
 * Ezio respectfully kisses Jacopo de' Pazzi on the forehead before his death. Additionally, instead of ending his slow suffering by stabbing him in the throat like in the game, Ezio instead stabs Jacopo's heart.
 * Ezio cuts a cross mark onto some of the corpses of his targets, such as Silvio Barbarigo's and Dante Moro's, likely as a symbol of the Templars.

Other Events

 * Annetta contributes more to Ezio, but in the game, she is never heard from again after Ezio visits Paola.
 * Eagle Vision is not mentioned at all during the events of the book.
 * 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, giving him the characteristic scar also shared with Altaïr and Desmond.
 * During the first fight with Vieri, Ezio (including his allies and Vieri's thugs) is said to have a dagger with him; though in the game, Ezio gets his first weapon only when he finds his father's Assassin robe. Also, the fight scene in the novel takes place late at night, while in the game, it is set in the afternoon.
 * When Ezio heads over to the pigeon coop to receive the note for his father, he finds some graffiti behind the coop that reads: "HE THAT INCREASETH KNOWLEDGE INCREASETH SORROW" and "WHERE IS THE PROPHET?" This message is not mentioned in the game.
 * During the Auditore execution, Petruccio is executed first, shortly followed by Federico, and then finally, Giovanni. In the game, they are executed simultaneously. Also there are only 3 nooses, while in the game, there are 4 which 1 was supposed to be for Ezio.
 * Ezio receives Paola's training before he sees his mother and sister. In the game, he receives it after.
 * Ezio gives his father and brothers their final rites by placing them in torched boats set adrift at sea.
 * The Sanctuary is never shown in the book. However, it makes an appearance in the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel, as an escape route for the villagers.
 * Maria and Claudia Auditore stay in a convent after leaving Florence, where Claudia becomes a nun (although she later changes her mind and stays at the Villa Auditore). In the game, they stay in Mario's villa.
 * Ezio rides a single horse and slays Borgia's men during his trip to Venice with Leonardo da Vinci. In the game, he drives Leonardo's wagon.
 * Additionally, Leonardo has a group of wagon riders and bodyguards with him before the attack, all of whom run away at the first sign of trouble.
 * When the other Assassins allow Ezio to join their Order, they are all wearing the iconic Assassin hood; but in the game they are wearing what they normally wear.
 * The events that cover the Battle of Forlì and the Bonfire of the Vanities are told in the novel. In the game, the two events are only accessible through downloadable content, unless on PC or the "game of the year" limited edition
 * The fight with Checco Orsi differs in the novel. In the game, Checco flees on foot, in the novel, he rides a wagon accompanied by guards until Ezio kills them and ends up fighting Checco. Also, Checco does not stab Ezio in the side, instead he slashes Ezio's arm.
 * Ezio does not throw the knife that disarms Savonarola, instead it is Machiavelli. In the game, Ezio will only throw the knife if the player presses the displayed button and Machiavelli will only throw the knife if the player does not press it.
 * To end Savonarola's suffering, Ezio shoots him with the Hidden Gun. In the game, he lunges forward and stabs Savonarola with his regular Hidden Blade.
 * Some citizens leave Florence during the Bonfire of the Vanities. In the game, they are still seen walking around.
 * While Ezio is speaking to Minerva in The Vault, there is no mention of Desmond or the modern day Assassins. However, Minerva still mentions that Ezio only anchors the one for whom the message is intended, hence the message is still not meant for Ezio.
 * Ezio walks out of the Vault to witness Rodrigo Borgia die after drinking poison, believing that he had failed his life's purpose of getting into the Vault. In the game, Ezio spares his life.
 * This final scene takes place in 1503, unlike in the game, where it took place in 1499.
 * This scene is reverted in the new novel, wherein Ezio sees Rodrigo as he leaves, but when he comes back to check if Rodrigo is dead, he has gone; leaving only the Papal Cape behind.

Terminology
The novel uses Italian and Latin terminology just like the game, but instead, releases the translations of 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 and was released in the United States until 23 February 2010. A Kindle Edition can be purchased from Amazon.com, which was released 26 November 2009.

Pricing

 * United Kingdom
 * Amazon.co.uk: £3.49
 * Waterstones: £3.49
 * WH Smith: £3.49


 * United States
 * Amazon.com (Paperback): $9.99
 * Amazon.com (Kindle): $6.87