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Charlotte (184 KP) rated The Assassin's Legacy (Minte and Magic Adventure #2) in Books
Dec 17, 2021 (Updated Dec 17, 2021)
Fun and engaging
Filled with fun, banter and cheeky assassins what's not to like?
The Assassin's Legacy is a good all around read. I love the different themes, monsters, family dynamics and folklore. Sasha is a charming man that just wants a peaceful life..... Don't we all? I really feel for him, trying to leave his past behind but being pulled back in and not in a good way!
A young adult plus read that will have you entertained from start to finish. Grab a cuppa, some biscuits and settle in for a cracking read.
@Merissa
Filled with fun, banter and cheeky assassins what's not to like?
The Assassin's Legacy is a good all around read. I love the different themes, monsters, family dynamics and folklore. Sasha is a charming man that just wants a peaceful life..... Don't we all? I really feel for him, trying to leave his past behind but being pulled back in and not in a good way!
A young adult plus read that will have you entertained from start to finish. Grab a cuppa, some biscuits and settle in for a cracking read.
@Merissa
David McK (3204 KP) rated The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard (2021) in Movies
Jan 30, 2022
Sequel to 2017s 'The Hitman's Bodyguard', in which Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L Jackson and Salma Hayek all reprise their roles from that earlier film as the Bodyguard Michael Bryce, the assassin Darius Kincaid and that assassin's wife Sonia Kincaid.
This picks up relatively soon after The Hitman's Bodyguard (in which time around Bryce had to protect and deliver Kincaid to the International Criminal Court where he was to testify), with Bryce on vacation until that rest is interrupted by Sonia.
Cue a quick (and foul mouthed) tour of Italy as the trio race to stop a Greek millionaire (played by the Spanish actor Antonio Banderas) from bringing the EU to its knees by crippling it's communications.
Forgettable dross, really.
This picks up relatively soon after The Hitman's Bodyguard (in which time around Bryce had to protect and deliver Kincaid to the International Criminal Court where he was to testify), with Bryce on vacation until that rest is interrupted by Sonia.
Cue a quick (and foul mouthed) tour of Italy as the trio race to stop a Greek millionaire (played by the Spanish actor Antonio Banderas) from bringing the EU to its knees by crippling it's communications.
Forgettable dross, really.
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: Renaissance in Books
May 15, 2017
Descriptive writing (2 more)
Delving deeper into the story
Reading about plot points that weren't told until the sequel game
I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze. And like my father before me I am an Assassin...
The story of the Assassin from Italy, who we followed for 3 of the 13 console games (9 in the main series, 4 other games on Xbox - 3 of which are the Assassins Creed Chronicles, and 1 being Assassin's Creed: Liberation). The story of Ezio Auditore is one of vengeance, and discovery.
We begin with the story following his father however, another great installment in this series that gives us more back story that you can only find fragments of within the game and other media such as the short film Assassin's Creed Lineage. Ezio's story begins shortly after, when his father and brothers are killed, due to a betrayal, leaving behind Ezio, his mother and his sister. Together they flee the city and Ezio's story begins to unfold as he learns more about his father's secret, and the order to which his father and their ancestors belonged to. The Assassins.
Set in the beautiful time of Renaissance Italy, we follow Ezio as he travels to and from multiple cities, including his home, Florence, but also to the famous cities of Venice, Tuscany, and Rome. Each city introduces him to new friends, new enemies and more secrets begin to reveal themselves to Ezio which allow the character to become wiser and more developed over the years.
Oliver Bowden let's his readers delve far deeper into the stories of the characters than the games. The games are enjoyed more so for their game play and the freedom of your actions as you run around these historical landscapes. The books that Bowden has written, let us enjoy the adventure and the twists and turns of each story, told to us as though we were in the animus ourselves watching over Ezio but with no control over what happens to him.
If you play the games, then you know that each video game, in each of the settings, you will meet a historical figure. One thing that makes the franchise so brilliant is that the historical settings, and some of the events that takes place are historically accurate to the dates they happen. For example in the first Assassin's Creed, you meet King Richard the Lionheart, during the crusades in Jerusalem. In Assassin's Creed 2, and this novel, we are introduced to none other than the famous painter and inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci. Yes, THAT Leonardo Da Vinci, the same man that painted some of the world's most famous works of art such as The Mona Lisa.
As always Bowden's descriptive writing lets the reader truly feel the events unfold within our minds, and experience everything that the characters experience. The great joy of reading a book, is the imagination it can place into one's mind. As said before in my review on The Secret Crusade, the story is familiar and yet there are unfamiliar moments, that make the familiar story make more sense, and gives the readers and video game players a brand new experience.
We begin with the story following his father however, another great installment in this series that gives us more back story that you can only find fragments of within the game and other media such as the short film Assassin's Creed Lineage. Ezio's story begins shortly after, when his father and brothers are killed, due to a betrayal, leaving behind Ezio, his mother and his sister. Together they flee the city and Ezio's story begins to unfold as he learns more about his father's secret, and the order to which his father and their ancestors belonged to. The Assassins.
Set in the beautiful time of Renaissance Italy, we follow Ezio as he travels to and from multiple cities, including his home, Florence, but also to the famous cities of Venice, Tuscany, and Rome. Each city introduces him to new friends, new enemies and more secrets begin to reveal themselves to Ezio which allow the character to become wiser and more developed over the years.
Oliver Bowden let's his readers delve far deeper into the stories of the characters than the games. The games are enjoyed more so for their game play and the freedom of your actions as you run around these historical landscapes. The books that Bowden has written, let us enjoy the adventure and the twists and turns of each story, told to us as though we were in the animus ourselves watching over Ezio but with no control over what happens to him.
If you play the games, then you know that each video game, in each of the settings, you will meet a historical figure. One thing that makes the franchise so brilliant is that the historical settings, and some of the events that takes place are historically accurate to the dates they happen. For example in the first Assassin's Creed, you meet King Richard the Lionheart, during the crusades in Jerusalem. In Assassin's Creed 2, and this novel, we are introduced to none other than the famous painter and inventor, Leonardo Da Vinci. Yes, THAT Leonardo Da Vinci, the same man that painted some of the world's most famous works of art such as The Mona Lisa.
As always Bowden's descriptive writing lets the reader truly feel the events unfold within our minds, and experience everything that the characters experience. The great joy of reading a book, is the imagination it can place into one's mind. As said before in my review on The Secret Crusade, the story is familiar and yet there are unfamiliar moments, that make the familiar story make more sense, and gives the readers and video game players a brand new experience.
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: Revelations in Books
May 15, 2017
No Den Defence to play (2 more)
A brilliant send off to Ezio
Combining Revelations with the Embers short film
The final journey of Ezio Auditore
Ezio Auditore is now old and frail in this final chapter of his life. Though he can still move and fight like an assassin, better than any civilized man, he is old and growing frail with each passing day.
Following the story of the third and final game in the Ezio story line, as seen in the Ezio Collection video game, and combining it with his final moments told in the 'Assassin's Creed: Embers' short film with more detail, as books do best.
The Revelations Novels offers us insight into the mind of an aging Ezio, as he journeys to Constantinople where the Templar Order are threatening to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Ezio meets new friends even after all these years, such as Yusuf. Ezio also discovers more about his ancestor Altaïr and the mystery behind what lies in Altaïr's tomb beneath Masyaf.
His journey began as a pilgrimage, but quickly turns into a battle with the Templar's once more. With help from his new friends, and allies, Ezio must help stop the rising Templar army in order to find the missing keys to the Masyaf tomb. Through letters to his sister Claudia, and through the same format as the previous two Ezio novels, we read about Ezio as though we were watching him in the animus, but unable to control what happens, unlike the video game.
As mentioned in my previous review, I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
Following the story of the third and final game in the Ezio story line, as seen in the Ezio Collection video game, and combining it with his final moments told in the 'Assassin's Creed: Embers' short film with more detail, as books do best.
The Revelations Novels offers us insight into the mind of an aging Ezio, as he journeys to Constantinople where the Templar Order are threatening to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Ezio meets new friends even after all these years, such as Yusuf. Ezio also discovers more about his ancestor Altaïr and the mystery behind what lies in Altaïr's tomb beneath Masyaf.
His journey began as a pilgrimage, but quickly turns into a battle with the Templar's once more. With help from his new friends, and allies, Ezio must help stop the rising Templar army in order to find the missing keys to the Masyaf tomb. Through letters to his sister Claudia, and through the same format as the previous two Ezio novels, we read about Ezio as though we were watching him in the animus, but unable to control what happens, unlike the video game.
As mentioned in my previous review, I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
David McK (3204 KP) rated Ghost of Tsushima in Video Games
Jan 27, 2023
Sucker Punch's open-world game, set during the 13th century Mongol invasion of Japan, and in which the player takes on the role of the samurai Jin Sakai, who must go against the way of his ancestors and his training to stop said invasion.
Think Assassin's Creed (though you're not an assassin. Not that the later entries in that series had you as being one anyway ...), but without the whole Animus concept, or the underpinning Assassin/Templar conflict or the modern day elements.
It's also quite immersive with the Guiding Wind concept leading you to whatever location you had set, instead of cluttering up the screen with a HUD, and the story itself is well told.
Now to try out the Iki Island expansion ...
Think Assassin's Creed (though you're not an assassin. Not that the later entries in that series had you as being one anyway ...), but without the whole Animus concept, or the underpinning Assassin/Templar conflict or the modern day elements.
It's also quite immersive with the Guiding Wind concept leading you to whatever location you had set, instead of cluttering up the screen with a HUD, and the story itself is well told.
Now to try out the Iki Island expansion ...
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Assassin's Creed (2016) in Movies
Nov 10, 2017 (Updated Nov 10, 2017)
Underwhelming
Assassin's Creed is filled with some great action scenes, especially whilst in the animus, and as per usual acting from the leads Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, and Jeremy Irons, is superb.
However, the film may have tried too hard to cater for both fans of the game and newcomers alike, which does not seem possible, and as a result, it failed to engage either audience. The story is a tapestry of old-world mysticism and sci-fi tech that hangs together but also proves hard to follow if you haven't played the games. Despite a high-class cast, it is disorienting, and makes very little sense.
Visually captivating but a paper thin and over blown premise which could have been the basis of a very interesting film.
However, the film may have tried too hard to cater for both fans of the game and newcomers alike, which does not seem possible, and as a result, it failed to engage either audience. The story is a tapestry of old-world mysticism and sci-fi tech that hangs together but also proves hard to follow if you haven't played the games. Despite a high-class cast, it is disorienting, and makes very little sense.
Visually captivating but a paper thin and over blown premise which could have been the basis of a very interesting film.
David McK (3204 KP) rated Warlord's Gold (Civil War Chronicles, #5) in Books
Jan 30, 2019
Book #5 in Michael Arnold's 'Civil War Chronicles', this picks up not long after then end of the previous ([b:Assassin's Reign|16281347|Assassin's Reign (Civil War Chronicles #4)|Michael Arnold|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373968716s/16281347.jpg|22383365]), with Stryker and his men off to retrieve a treasure from the Scilly Islands for the cause of King and Country.
Of course, agents of Parliament are also after the same treasure.
Meanwhile, Stryker's friend Capt Lancelot Forester is also sent deep into Parliamenterian held country in order to shore up the will of an outpost that is still holding out for the king ...
Surviving shipwreck, imprisonment and torture, the two distinct plot strands (Stryker and the treasure/Forester' mission) eventually mesh at the defense of Basing House, in another enjoyable entry in the series.
Of course, agents of Parliament are also after the same treasure.
Meanwhile, Stryker's friend Capt Lancelot Forester is also sent deep into Parliamenterian held country in order to shore up the will of an outpost that is still holding out for the king ...
Surviving shipwreck, imprisonment and torture, the two distinct plot strands (Stryker and the treasure/Forester' mission) eventually mesh at the defense of Basing House, in another enjoyable entry in the series.
David McK (3204 KP) rated Batman, Volume 2: The City of Owls in Books
Jan 30, 2019
The second set of New-52 Batman 'Owls' stories (after [b:Batman, Vol. 1: The Court of Owls|13223349|Batman, Vol. 1 The Court of Owls|Scott Snyder|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1342307351s/13223349.jpg|18412501], this is a more a collection of (Court of) Owl-related, stories rather than a direct continuation of the story in that previous collection. Well, that is, after the first entry or so, that sees the Court's undead assassin's (or Talon's) attacking Wayne Manor ...
As expected, and as a compilation, some of the stories contained herein are better than others: it's also interesting to see a different take on some of the villain and previously side-characters than, perhaps, they had been given before - I'm thinking, in particular, of Alfred Pennyworth, and of Viktor Fries.
As expected, and as a compilation, some of the stories contained herein are better than others: it's also interesting to see a different take on some of the villain and previously side-characters than, perhaps, they had been given before - I'm thinking, in particular, of Alfred Pennyworth, and of Viktor Fries.
David McK (3204 KP) rated Ava (2020) in Movies
Mar 14, 2021
Atomic Blonde? Mrs and Mrs Smith? The Long Kiss Goodnight? Not like any of them.
Over the last circa 5 years or so, I've noticed a growing trend of 'beautiful female assassin's' movie (think 'Atomic Blonde'. 'Anna'. 'Mr and Mrs Smith'. 'Red Sparrow').
While the poster for this 2020 production might lead you to think the same of this - as, indeed, did the inclusion of Geena Davis ('The Long Kiss Goodnight') in the cast list - this is actually a very different type of movie, more concerned with the lead character's family dysfunctions than with the action scenes (of which there are only a few).
Overall, I wasn't really that impressed with this - and I'd forgotten how annoying Colin Farrell was - and actually found myself 'tuning out' on more than one occasion.
While the poster for this 2020 production might lead you to think the same of this - as, indeed, did the inclusion of Geena Davis ('The Long Kiss Goodnight') in the cast list - this is actually a very different type of movie, more concerned with the lead character's family dysfunctions than with the action scenes (of which there are only a few).
Overall, I wasn't really that impressed with this - and I'd forgotten how annoying Colin Farrell was - and actually found myself 'tuning out' on more than one occasion.
Whatchareadin (174 KP) rated A Wanted Woman in Books
May 10, 2018
How many female assassin's have you come across in your lifetime. Probably not too many. And that is exactly what the Barbarians are expecting when they send MX-401 out in the field. The woman with a thousand faces. Beautiful enough to entice any man, but dangerous enough to handle herself. When MX-401 aka. Goldilocks Reaper is sent to Trinidad on a mission, she is forced to improvise, due to false intel. Unfortunately, this makes her targets and her bosses very upset. Sent to the island of Barbados to escape Trinidad, she is trapped on this island with no way out. Her company isn't paying her and the LKs from Trinidad are hunting her down. Will she make it out of Barbados? A gripping novel, that will leave you wanting to be a female assassin.