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Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History #1
The Magus Conspiracy
The war between Assassins and Templars wreaks havoc in the Victorian era, in this breakneck thriller which opens up a whole new chapter of the Assassin’s Creed universe
London, 1851 – When Pierrette, a daring acrobat performing at the Great Exhibition, rescues the mathematician Ada Lovelace from a gang of thugs, she becomes immersed in an ancient feud between Assassins and Templars. But Lovelace is gravely ill, and shares her secrets with Pierrette, sending the acrobat in search of a terrible weapon which she’d been developing for a shadowy figure known as “the Magus”. Pierrette’s only ally is Simeon Price, Lovelace’s childhood friend, who belongs to a Brotherhood devoted to free will. With Simeon’s aid, they uncover a startling web of political assassinations destabilizing Europe. As they race to foil the Templars’ deadly plot, murders and bombs are everywhere they look, but hope is nowhere in sight.
London, 1851 – When Pierrette, a daring acrobat performing at the Great Exhibition, rescues the mathematician Ada Lovelace from a gang of thugs, she becomes immersed in an ancient feud between Assassins and Templars. But Lovelace is gravely ill, and shares her secrets with Pierrette, sending the acrobat in search of a terrible weapon which she’d been developing for a shadowy figure known as “the Magus”. Pierrette’s only ally is Simeon Price, Lovelace’s childhood friend, who belongs to a Brotherhood devoted to free will. With Simeon’s aid, they uncover a startling web of political assassinations destabilizing Europe. As they race to foil the Templars’ deadly plot, murders and bombs are everywhere they look, but hope is nowhere in sight.
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First published August 16, 2022
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About the author
Kate Heartfield
36 books377 followersKate Heartfield is the author of The Embroidered Book, a Sunday Times bestselling historical fantasy novel published in 2022, which was shortlisted for the Ottawa Book Award. The Valkyrie, published in 2023, is a retelling of Norse and Germanic legends. The Tapestry of Time, published in 2024, is about four clairvoyant sisters fighting the Nazis for control of the Bayeux Tapestry in 1944. Her Alice Payne time travel novellas were published in 2018 and 2019. Her debut novel Armed in Her Fashion (2018) was re-published in a revised edition in 2023 as The Chatelaine. She also writes interactive fiction, including The Road to Canterbury, and The Magician's Workshop, published by Choice of Games. She has published two Assassin's Creed tie-in novels: The Magus Conspiracy and The Resurrection Plot. She has won the Aurora Award for Best Novel three times, and her short fiction has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, Nebula, Locus, Aurora, Sunburst and Crawford awards, and her journalism for a National Newspaper Award. Her short stories have appeared in Strange Horizons, Lackington's, Podcastle and elsewhere. A former newspaper journalist, Kate lives near Ottawa, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 30, 2023
A good book. It was not as action-packed as I thought it would be but a very good story and great characters. The book takes a bit of a historical fiction route with a couple of real-world characters. This book is more of a setup, origin, and world building story.
The book centres around two main characters, Simeon and Peirrette. Both from different walks of life and backgrounds, but both following their own conscience to do the right thing. How will they fit into the war between the Assassins and the Templars, and who will be cought in the crossfire?
I would have liked more training in the techniques of the Assassin or even more fights, but this book is a story based and more about the mental aspects and philosophy of the Brotherhood. I hope the survivors of this book come out much more seasoned next time.
The book centres around two main characters, Simeon and Peirrette. Both from different walks of life and backgrounds, but both following their own conscience to do the right thing. How will they fit into the war between the Assassins and the Templars, and who will be cought in the crossfire?
I would have liked more training in the techniques of the Assassin or even more fights, but this book is a story based and more about the mental aspects and philosophy of the Brotherhood. I hope the survivors of this book come out much more seasoned next time.
March 27, 2023
Ciepła, gwieździsta noc. Czarny, może nawet trochę przerażający ocean. Jedyne co mogło zakłócić ten spokojny wieczór to wyrwa w dziobie i wdzierająca się lodowata woda. Krzyk i panika. Brytyjski okręt, znajdujący się aktualnie u wybrzeża Południowej Afryki, wpadł w niemałe kłopoty, dokładnie wpadł na skały, których w okolicy Kapsztadu nie brakuje. Załoga radzi sobie jak może, w tym wszystkim jest Simeon Prince, dla którego ten rejs to nic innego jak podróż ku wojnie, jego horror rozpoczął się już na statku, który idzie na dno, a kajuta w której się znajduje w ekspresowym tempie zapełnia się wodą. Pojawia się też On, zamaskowany mężczyzna, pomagający ocalałym. W krótkiej wymianie zdań Simeon dowiaduje się o bractwie, które może być dla niego lepszą opcją niż służba w wojsku, kuszące…
Przenosimy się do Anglii, na występ Pierrette – akrobatki cyrkowej. Przychodzi ona z pomocą pewnej kobiecie -Adzie, która jest na celowniku obserwujących ją zbirów. Kobietom udaje się uciec, lecz Ada jest chora. Zdążyła jej jednak opowiedzieć o pewnym człowieku - Magusie, dla którego opracowywała pewien wynalazek, jednak nie jest to dobry człowiek, a notatki odnośnie wynalazku nie mogą trafić w jego ręce, lecz w ręce Simeona. Tak naprawdę to jest dopiero początek niebezpiecznych przygód.
To było moje pierwsze spotkanie z uniwersum Assassin’s Creed, więc moja wiedza na jego temat była zerowa, jednak nie miałam żadnego problemu ze zrozumieniem fabuły, z wgryzieniem się w ten świat. Bawiłam się przy niej świetnie, to jest rozrywka na najwyższym poziomie, szczególnie dla osób które lubią połączenie sensacji z fantasy i sci-fi. Co muszę tutaj zaznaczyć to świetna kreacja bohaterów, szczególnie Pierrette, która jest fantastyczną i charyzmatyczną bohaterką, kibicowałam jej z całych sił.
Przenosimy się do Anglii, na występ Pierrette – akrobatki cyrkowej. Przychodzi ona z pomocą pewnej kobiecie -Adzie, która jest na celowniku obserwujących ją zbirów. Kobietom udaje się uciec, lecz Ada jest chora. Zdążyła jej jednak opowiedzieć o pewnym człowieku - Magusie, dla którego opracowywała pewien wynalazek, jednak nie jest to dobry człowiek, a notatki odnośnie wynalazku nie mogą trafić w jego ręce, lecz w ręce Simeona. Tak naprawdę to jest dopiero początek niebezpiecznych przygód.
To było moje pierwsze spotkanie z uniwersum Assassin’s Creed, więc moja wiedza na jego temat była zerowa, jednak nie miałam żadnego problemu ze zrozumieniem fabuły, z wgryzieniem się w ten świat. Bawiłam się przy niej świetnie, to jest rozrywka na najwyższym poziomie, szczególnie dla osób które lubią połączenie sensacji z fantasy i sci-fi. Co muszę tutaj zaznaczyć to świetna kreacja bohaterów, szczególnie Pierrette, która jest fantastyczną i charyzmatyczną bohaterką, kibicowałam jej z całych sił.
July 4, 2022
This is really a 4 1/2 stars review but there aren't actual halves so I was happy to round up.
First of all, I have never played Assassin's Creed, not because of any moral or philosophical stand about video games but rather as someone who peaked as a gamer in the late eighties and early nineties and didn't pick up again.
Second, knowing virtually nothing about the game made NO difference to my enjoyment of the novel. Kate Heartfield has written a gripping and fast-paced work. I really enjoyed it. The use of multiple viewpoints was as well done as anything I have read. The dialogue was delightful and natural. The characters were well-rounded and complex—the likable, very likable, and unlikeable ones well worth disliking.
Reading an uncorrected proof meant I encountered a couple of peculiarities but they didn't detract from my enjoyment.
My younger self disdained novels drawn from games or movies but I realize now it was because I hadn't encountered any good ones. If they had been as well-written and as enjoyable as this forty years ago . . . I would have had even more to read.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, I have never played Assassin's Creed, not because of any moral or philosophical stand about video games but rather as someone who peaked as a gamer in the late eighties and early nineties and didn't pick up again.
Second, knowing virtually nothing about the game made NO difference to my enjoyment of the novel. Kate Heartfield has written a gripping and fast-paced work. I really enjoyed it. The use of multiple viewpoints was as well done as anything I have read. The dialogue was delightful and natural. The characters were well-rounded and complex—the likable, very likable, and unlikeable ones well worth disliking.
Reading an uncorrected proof meant I encountered a couple of peculiarities but they didn't detract from my enjoyment.
My younger self disdained novels drawn from games or movies but I realize now it was because I hadn't encountered any good ones. If they had been as well-written and as enjoyable as this forty years ago . . . I would have had even more to read.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 22, 2023
Grę Assasins Creed znałam jedynie z opowieści synów, więc gdy trafiła do mnie powieść oparta na tym znanym uniwersum zajrzałam do niej z pewnym sceptycyzmem, ale i ciekawością. I tym razem okazała się ona nie pierwszym stopniem do piekła, a skokiem w fascynujący i wabiący tajemnicą świat rozgrywek asasynów z templariuszami. Fascynujący i porywający tak bardzo, że z radością objęłam „Spisek Maga” patronatem i będę Was gorąco zachęcać do jego przeczytania.
A co mnie tak zachwyciło? Przede wszystkim wiernie oddany klimat XIX-wiecznej Europy, której polityczne zawirowania autorka wplata w fabułę intrygującą nie tylko tajemniczym bractwem, którego członkowie od stuleci kształtują pod osłoną mroku losy ludzkości, ale i postacią Maga, którego tożsamości poszukujemy wraz z bohaterami. Ci z kolei są postaciami nietuzinkowymi i budzącymi naturalną sympatię, więc w ich losy splątane w dążeniu do wspólnego celu zaangażowałam się bez reszty.
Dezertera brytyjskiej armii Simeona Price’a poszukującego swojego miejsca w świecie i młodą akrobatkę trupy cyrkowej Pierrette Arnaud łączy niespodziewanie powierzone im przez umierającą geniuszkę zadanie, by zapobiec powstaniu straszliwej broni, która zmieni dzieje świata. Czy można jednak wierzyć słowom otumanionej bólem i laudanum kobiety? Tragiczne wydarzenia pokażą wkrótce, że z pewnością tkwi w nich ziarno prawdy.
Początki ich znajomości nie wróżą dobrze, ale z czasem honorowy, ceniący wyżej życie i wolność niż bezsensowne rozkazy Simeon i impulsywna, ale pomysłowa i odważna Pierrette zaczynają tworzyć zgrany duet. Wraz z nimi często będziemy przemykać dachami Londynu, Wiednia czy Paryża kryjąc twarz w cieniu kaptura. Nieraz zostaniemy zmuszeni podejmować błyskawiczne, choć trudne decyzje, by uchronić siebie i bliskich przed zakusami żądnych władzy wrogów.
Miałam wrażenie, że książka dostosowana jest dynamiką do czasów, które opisuje, gdzie naturalnie brak możliwości zdobycia w okamgnieniu informacji za pośrednictwem telefonu czy Internetu. To niespieszne tempo pozwala jednak w pełni docenić wszystkie niuanse i zrozumieć całą intrygę. Skupienie nie tylko na akcji i jej nagłych zwrotach, ale również na emocjach i dylematach bohaterów sprawiło, że ta opowieść tak bardzo zapadła w moje serce.
I na koniec zaznaczę, że to powieść historyczna, w której elementów fantastycznych praktycznie nie doświadczycie, ale za to dostarczy Wam znakomitej rozrywki na wysokim poziomie w uniwersum, które Was zachwyci.
A co mnie tak zachwyciło? Przede wszystkim wiernie oddany klimat XIX-wiecznej Europy, której polityczne zawirowania autorka wplata w fabułę intrygującą nie tylko tajemniczym bractwem, którego członkowie od stuleci kształtują pod osłoną mroku losy ludzkości, ale i postacią Maga, którego tożsamości poszukujemy wraz z bohaterami. Ci z kolei są postaciami nietuzinkowymi i budzącymi naturalną sympatię, więc w ich losy splątane w dążeniu do wspólnego celu zaangażowałam się bez reszty.
Dezertera brytyjskiej armii Simeona Price’a poszukującego swojego miejsca w świecie i młodą akrobatkę trupy cyrkowej Pierrette Arnaud łączy niespodziewanie powierzone im przez umierającą geniuszkę zadanie, by zapobiec powstaniu straszliwej broni, która zmieni dzieje świata. Czy można jednak wierzyć słowom otumanionej bólem i laudanum kobiety? Tragiczne wydarzenia pokażą wkrótce, że z pewnością tkwi w nich ziarno prawdy.
Początki ich znajomości nie wróżą dobrze, ale z czasem honorowy, ceniący wyżej życie i wolność niż bezsensowne rozkazy Simeon i impulsywna, ale pomysłowa i odważna Pierrette zaczynają tworzyć zgrany duet. Wraz z nimi często będziemy przemykać dachami Londynu, Wiednia czy Paryża kryjąc twarz w cieniu kaptura. Nieraz zostaniemy zmuszeni podejmować błyskawiczne, choć trudne decyzje, by uchronić siebie i bliskich przed zakusami żądnych władzy wrogów.
Miałam wrażenie, że książka dostosowana jest dynamiką do czasów, które opisuje, gdzie naturalnie brak możliwości zdobycia w okamgnieniu informacji za pośrednictwem telefonu czy Internetu. To niespieszne tempo pozwala jednak w pełni docenić wszystkie niuanse i zrozumieć całą intrygę. Skupienie nie tylko na akcji i jej nagłych zwrotach, ale również na emocjach i dylematach bohaterów sprawiło, że ta opowieść tak bardzo zapadła w moje serce.
I na koniec zaznaczę, że to powieść historyczna, w której elementów fantastycznych praktycznie nie doświadczycie, ale za to dostarczy Wam znakomitej rozrywki na wysokim poziomie w uniwersum, które Was zachwyci.
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April 3, 2023Thanks very much for reading! The sequel, The Resurrection Plot, will be published in July, 2023.
November 6, 2022
Not very impressive. Obvious bad guy is ovious. Hero is an idiot. Best characters either die or become ornaments to add colour. Could have been more generous if the book actually reflected the game it is based on but it barely acknowledges it outside of the basic set up and premise.
November 22, 2022
For those wondering if they need to play the game to enjoy this novel? Nope! It stands wonderfully on its own. It's fun, fast-paced, and with all the richness of world and character I've come to expect from Heartfield.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
October 2, 2022
I’d say this book is surprisingly well-written and enjoyable for a video game tie-in novel. It’s a standalone piece and doesn’t require knowledge of the games to be read. However, I do think going in blind can be a little jarring when the Templars and mythical exposition from the video games is dropped in at points. Luckily it’s very infrequent and I get the impression the author was either encouraged to include these parts or it was edited in. It was pretty refreshing to have the two main characters, Simeon and Pierrette, not be forced into a romance as their chemistry was a fun mix of sibling and mentor/student. I do wish Pierrette featured more.
Anyway, fun read.
Anyway, fun read.
July 30, 2023
Książka jest naprawdę fantastyczna. Bardzo wciąga i zaskakuje. Dla fanów uniwersum assassin's Creed to naprawdę świetny wybór, ale również dla osób pragnących zagłębić się w tą tematykę, gdyż książka dokładnie opisuje takie aspekty jak:
- kredo bractwa assassinów i templariuszy,
- szkolenie na assassina
- a także konflikt assassinów i templariuszy.
W dodatku bohaterowie byli wykreowani w tak świetny sposób, iż wiem że za niedługo zacznę za nimi tęsknić. Co być może skłoni mnie do ponownego przeczytania tej wspaniałej lektury.
Jak dla mnie nie widzę innej oceny jak 5 gwiazdek.
- kredo bractwa assassinów i templariuszy,
- szkolenie na assassina
- a także konflikt assassinów i templariuszy.
W dodatku bohaterowie byli wykreowani w tak świetny sposób, iż wiem że za niedługo zacznę za nimi tęsknić. Co być może skłoni mnie do ponownego przeczytania tej wspaniałej lektury.
Jak dla mnie nie widzę innej oceny jak 5 gwiazdek.
March 31, 2023
3.75
Nie sądziłam, że aż tak się wciągnę, a spędziłam z nią bardzo miłe dwa dni. Najbardziej podobał mi się klimat przedstawianych miast, ale i kreacje głównych bohaterów. Naprawdę da się ich lubić. Trochę żałuję, że książka nie jest dłuższa – tylko dlatego nie daję pełnych czterech gwiazdek.
Nie sądziłam, że aż tak się wciągnę, a spędziłam z nią bardzo miłe dwa dni. Najbardziej podobał mi się klimat przedstawianych miast, ale i kreacje głównych bohaterów. Naprawdę da się ich lubić. Trochę żałuję, że książka nie jest dłuższa – tylko dlatego nie daję pełnych czterech gwiazdek.
April 9, 2023
2.5
Nie było to złe, ale nie w moim stylu i dość mocno mnie nudziło. Dla osób zajaranych uniwersum Assassina pewnie będzie mega interesujące, ale dla mnie to totalnie nie było to. No takie meh
Nie było to złe, ale nie w moim stylu i dość mocno mnie nudziło. Dla osób zajaranych uniwersum Assassina pewnie będzie mega interesujące, ale dla mnie to totalnie nie było to. No takie meh
January 23, 2024
2.5 Jako osoba zaznajomiona z serią gier, jestem zawiedziona. Fabuła przewidywalna i mało wciągająca. Samych asasynów i bractwa jest tu niestety jak na lekarstwo.
September 4, 2022
Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy – Kate Heartfield
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Kate Heartfield is a Canadian author who has written fiction books such as “The Embroidered Book” and “Armed in Her Fashion”.
Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy follows the story of a young man, a Simeon Price, who was in His Majesty’s service when the ship he was on became shipwrecked. This is also the time when he became acquainted with a gentleman, he would later learn to be a member of an ancient order, a brotherhood known as Assassins.
Meanwhile on the other side of the world, a dear friend, Ada Lovelace, was passing from this life. But not before she entrusted a circus performer, a French lady named Pierrette, with a secret and a message to find a Simeon Price.
Together they would be thrust in the midst of an ancient battle that has been waging against Assassins and their enemies, known as The Templars. It would be a race for survival, to stop the impending doom the Templars planned, all the had to do was uncover the mystery of a person known only to Ada as the Magus.
This Magus was someone she had mistakenly entrusted certain secrets with and now is using for his own evil purposes. Yet when Simeon finds out who this Magus person really is – he will feel a keen betrayal.
Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy is a book set in the world of one of my favourite video games – the world of Assassin’s Creed. I do note that Kate Heartfield isn’t the original author of the Assassin Creed books but appears to be one of many writers that have written small spin off stories. That may be why, though I enjoyed the book, it didn’t have the feel and enjoyment of the originals. Don’t get me wrong it was a good book and was well written it just didn’t have the finesse of the original. Some aspects of the story weren’t answered properly or clearly in my opinion and honestly barely mentioned the creed and their lore. So, while it was a good read it wasn’t a true Assassin’s Creed story which would have elevated it.
I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.
Kate Heartfield is a Canadian author who has written fiction books such as “The Embroidered Book” and “Armed in Her Fashion”.
Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy follows the story of a young man, a Simeon Price, who was in His Majesty’s service when the ship he was on became shipwrecked. This is also the time when he became acquainted with a gentleman, he would later learn to be a member of an ancient order, a brotherhood known as Assassins.
Meanwhile on the other side of the world, a dear friend, Ada Lovelace, was passing from this life. But not before she entrusted a circus performer, a French lady named Pierrette, with a secret and a message to find a Simeon Price.
Together they would be thrust in the midst of an ancient battle that has been waging against Assassins and their enemies, known as The Templars. It would be a race for survival, to stop the impending doom the Templars planned, all the had to do was uncover the mystery of a person known only to Ada as the Magus.
This Magus was someone she had mistakenly entrusted certain secrets with and now is using for his own evil purposes. Yet when Simeon finds out who this Magus person really is – he will feel a keen betrayal.
Assassin’s Creed: The Magus Conspiracy is a book set in the world of one of my favourite video games – the world of Assassin’s Creed. I do note that Kate Heartfield isn’t the original author of the Assassin Creed books but appears to be one of many writers that have written small spin off stories. That may be why, though I enjoyed the book, it didn’t have the feel and enjoyment of the originals. Don’t get me wrong it was a good book and was well written it just didn’t have the finesse of the original. Some aspects of the story weren’t answered properly or clearly in my opinion and honestly barely mentioned the creed and their lore. So, while it was a good read it wasn’t a true Assassin’s Creed story which would have elevated it.
July 18, 2022
As always, I want to start by saying that this was given access to an early a copy of this title to review. My review is honest and left voluntarily.
The Magus Conspiracy is everything we didn’t know we needed for an Assassin’s Creed story. This fast paced thriller is sure to hook fans of the games, novels and hopefully new fans to the fandom. Set in Victorian London and grounded in historical fact we see the tension and battle between the Templars and Assassins reach new heights! (I’m sorry for the pun, I couldn’t resist).
London, 1851 – When Pierrette, a daring acrobat performing at the Great Exhibition, rescues the mathematician Ada Lovelace from a gang of thugs, she becomes immersed in an ancient feud between Assassins and Templars. But Lovelace is gravely ill, and shares her secrets with Pierrette, sending the acrobat in search of a terrible weapon which she’d been developing for a shadowy figure known as “the Magus”. Pierrette’s only ally is Simeon Price, Lovelace’s childhood friend, who belongs to a Brotherhood devoted to free will. With Simeon’s aid, they uncover a startling web of political assassinations destabilizing Europe. As they race to foil the Templars’ deadly plot, murders and bombs are everywhere they look, but hope is nowhere in sight.
Being a fan of the Assassin’s Creed (AC) universe I knew I would enjoy this book if not love it. I wasn’t prepared for how much. A punchy thriller with a daring herorine, witty banter and much more this was an amazing entry into the AC cannon. I also want to say I had a bit of geek/fangirl moment with other historical figures showing up, Ada Lovelace, Ruskin, Rossetti and William Morris to name a few. It was like one of my wildest dreams come true. AC and Historical figures interacting and being part of the narrative? You get one very happy reviewer.
On top of this the writing style and plot are top notch. Heartfield gives us a real sense of our surroundings and the people that inhabit them. The wonder of the Circus, the fight of the ‘innocent’ common man, the war between Templars and Assassin’s and many other wonderous things. You literally feel like you are transported to the 1800s and one thing I loved it was without the romanticism of the period. There’s dirt, there’s grim, there’s danger. In short it is perfection.
The characters are also amazing, Pierrette may have become one of my favourite heroines and I do hope we get to read more of her adventures in the future. It may sound a bit weird but I also loved how she wasn’t always on top, she got injured, she made wrong calls in short she was entirely human and so you end up loving her early on. The same can be said for Simeon (although I did take a little longer to like him). He has faults, he makes mistakes but he learns and grows for them. The banter between the two is just, perfection. I hope it isn’t the last we see of them. But despite this the other supporting cast all have a time to shine and show their growth and skills. Even the Historical figures have their moments (again this created a major fangirl moment for me!).
As always I don’t spoil books in my review but I will say although I had my suspicion who the Magus was the way we learn along with the characters and can start to piece together the evidence was brilliant. It built tension and suspense, it kept you guessing yourself and really helped immerse you in the world as if you were along side Pierrette and Simeon.
As a final note, despite the somewhat programmatic era the novel is set in Heartfield and Aconyte manage to do what they do best genuine inclusivity that does realistically reflect the time. It isn’t there for the sake of it, it isn’t in your face. It’s natural, normal and just how it should be.
In case you hadn’t guessed already I adored this book. Definitely a new favourite. I would recommend to any AC fan, new or old, or any fan of historical thrillers! You will not be disappointed!
The Magus Conspiracy is everything we didn’t know we needed for an Assassin’s Creed story. This fast paced thriller is sure to hook fans of the games, novels and hopefully new fans to the fandom. Set in Victorian London and grounded in historical fact we see the tension and battle between the Templars and Assassins reach new heights! (I’m sorry for the pun, I couldn’t resist).
London, 1851 – When Pierrette, a daring acrobat performing at the Great Exhibition, rescues the mathematician Ada Lovelace from a gang of thugs, she becomes immersed in an ancient feud between Assassins and Templars. But Lovelace is gravely ill, and shares her secrets with Pierrette, sending the acrobat in search of a terrible weapon which she’d been developing for a shadowy figure known as “the Magus”. Pierrette’s only ally is Simeon Price, Lovelace’s childhood friend, who belongs to a Brotherhood devoted to free will. With Simeon’s aid, they uncover a startling web of political assassinations destabilizing Europe. As they race to foil the Templars’ deadly plot, murders and bombs are everywhere they look, but hope is nowhere in sight.
Being a fan of the Assassin’s Creed (AC) universe I knew I would enjoy this book if not love it. I wasn’t prepared for how much. A punchy thriller with a daring herorine, witty banter and much more this was an amazing entry into the AC cannon. I also want to say I had a bit of geek/fangirl moment with other historical figures showing up, Ada Lovelace, Ruskin, Rossetti and William Morris to name a few. It was like one of my wildest dreams come true. AC and Historical figures interacting and being part of the narrative? You get one very happy reviewer.
On top of this the writing style and plot are top notch. Heartfield gives us a real sense of our surroundings and the people that inhabit them. The wonder of the Circus, the fight of the ‘innocent’ common man, the war between Templars and Assassin’s and many other wonderous things. You literally feel like you are transported to the 1800s and one thing I loved it was without the romanticism of the period. There’s dirt, there’s grim, there’s danger. In short it is perfection.
The characters are also amazing, Pierrette may have become one of my favourite heroines and I do hope we get to read more of her adventures in the future. It may sound a bit weird but I also loved how she wasn’t always on top, she got injured, she made wrong calls in short she was entirely human and so you end up loving her early on. The same can be said for Simeon (although I did take a little longer to like him). He has faults, he makes mistakes but he learns and grows for them. The banter between the two is just, perfection. I hope it isn’t the last we see of them. But despite this the other supporting cast all have a time to shine and show their growth and skills. Even the Historical figures have their moments (again this created a major fangirl moment for me!).
As always I don’t spoil books in my review but I will say although I had my suspicion who the Magus was the way we learn along with the characters and can start to piece together the evidence was brilliant. It built tension and suspense, it kept you guessing yourself and really helped immerse you in the world as if you were along side Pierrette and Simeon.
As a final note, despite the somewhat programmatic era the novel is set in Heartfield and Aconyte manage to do what they do best genuine inclusivity that does realistically reflect the time. It isn’t there for the sake of it, it isn’t in your face. It’s natural, normal and just how it should be.
In case you hadn’t guessed already I adored this book. Definitely a new favourite. I would recommend to any AC fan, new or old, or any fan of historical thrillers! You will not be disappointed!
April 4, 2023
"Assassin's Creed. Spisek Maga" Kate Heartfield to jedna z niewielu powieści z tego uniwersum, której fabuła nie opiera się na grze komputerowej. Bardzo mnie to cieszy, ponieważ moim zdaniem świat Asasynów i Templariuszy zasługuje na więcej historii i ma ku temu predyspozycje. Żałuję tylko, że ponownie akcja osadzona jest głównie w Anglii i Francji, ponieważ jest jeszcze wiele niezbadanych państw przez te wojujące ze sobą frakcje.
Przechodząc do recenzji książki, "Spisek Maga" to przede wszystkim dobra powieść przygodowa i historyczna, ale dla mnie trochę za mało było elementów i wątków asasyńskich. Gdyby usunąć Asasynów i Templariuszy z tej książki to straciłaby ona niewiele.
Głównych bohaterów, czyli Pierette i Simeona polubiłem praktycznie od samego początku, ponieważ są osobami, których chyba nie da się nie lubić. Uważam, że pomysł na akrobatkę wśród asasynów to bardzo dobre rozwiązanie. Lili też postanowiła zostać akrobatką i ćwiczy na obręczy.
Co najbardziej wkurzało mnie w lekturze tej książki to brak dat. Myślę, że historia byłaby lepsza w odbiorze, gdyby przy przeskokach czasowych podano choćby datę roczną.
Uważam, za "Assassin's Creed. Spisek Maga" to książka całkiem dobra, ale tak jak wspomniałem, równie dobrze mogłaby nie dziać się w uniwersum AC i byłaby pewnie równa dobra.
Przechodząc do recenzji książki, "Spisek Maga" to przede wszystkim dobra powieść przygodowa i historyczna, ale dla mnie trochę za mało było elementów i wątków asasyńskich. Gdyby usunąć Asasynów i Templariuszy z tej książki to straciłaby ona niewiele.
Głównych bohaterów, czyli Pierette i Simeona polubiłem praktycznie od samego początku, ponieważ są osobami, których chyba nie da się nie lubić. Uważam, że pomysł na akrobatkę wśród asasynów to bardzo dobre rozwiązanie. Lili też postanowiła zostać akrobatką i ćwiczy na obręczy.
Co najbardziej wkurzało mnie w lekturze tej książki to brak dat. Myślę, że historia byłaby lepsza w odbiorze, gdyby przy przeskokach czasowych podano choćby datę roczną.
Uważam, za "Assassin's Creed. Spisek Maga" to książka całkiem dobra, ale tak jak wspomniałem, równie dobrze mogłaby nie dziać się w uniwersum AC i byłaby pewnie równa dobra.
June 25, 2022
Assassin's Creed: The Magus Conspiracy was a so-so read for me. I am not a gamer, so my knowledge of Assassin's Creed comes solely from the 2016 movie. I therefore approached this book with a few expectations, but not too many. The plot was interesting enough; however, the pacing felt a little all over the place. My main issue, though, was that I could not bring myself to fully engage with or care about any of the characters, so there was no tension for me as I was reading about what would happen to them. The prose was fine, and there was nothing 'wrong' per se; it simply didn't capture me in the way I would have liked for this kind of story. If you are a fan of the franchise I am sure you will find the book enjoyable, but for me it was only an okay read and not a book I'd rush to reread in the future. It gets 3.5 stars from me.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2022
Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy de Kate Heartfield pertenece a la franquicia de videojuegos y transmedia Assassin's Creed. The Magus Conspiracy es el primer capitulo de la trilogía denominada "The Engine of History".
Honestamente, desconocía de la existencia de esta novela, mucho menos que se trataba de la primera parte de una nueva trilogía planeada por la escritora Kate Heartfield, me enteré de esto en la transmisión que Ubisoft realizó para celebrar los 15 años de la saga y anunciar los planes a futuro de la misma.
No he tenido la oportunidad de leer alguna otra obra de la autora, sin embargo, por lo mostrado durante la mencionada trasmisión, es una persona que gusta manejar la historia universal dentro de sus relatos; algo que es notorio en The Magus Conspiracy.
La historia de la novela se sitúa en Londres de 1851. Es aquí donde conocemos a nuestros dos protagonistas, por un lado tenemos a la artista circense Pierrette Arnaud, la cual, durante su interpretación como protagonista del acto "Mazeppa" se percata que una mujer del publico esta siendo atacada por un grupo de hombres, por lo que decide ayudar a la mujer sin importar interrumpir el acto en el que actuaba. Después de esto, la mujer que se encontraba siendo atacada se presenta como Ada Lovelace; famosa matemática y escritora británica, la cual es considerada hasta el día de hoy como parte fundamental en el desarrollo de la computación moderna. Después de las correspondientes presentaciones, Ada le revela a Pierrette que una figura misteriosa, conocido como "The Magus" intenta robar sus investigaciones para desarrollar un "arma" que puede cambiar el curso de la historia.
Por otra parte, abordo del barco HMS Birkenhead, conocemos al cabo Simeon Price, nuestro segundo protagonista, el cual es parte de las misiones de expansionismo del imperio Británico en Sudáfrica. Durante su viaje, el HMS Birkenhead es impactado por una enorme roca y este comienza a hundirse, es entonces que Simeon Price intenta escapar del barco y en el proceso, ayudar a tantas personas como pueda, entre ellas a su compañero Sawyer Halford, sin embargo, el Teniente Grimes les da indicaciones a los hombres de calmar a los caballos y permanecer en la embarcación, Sabiendo que de no acatar las indicaciones se le puede juzgar de traición, decide desobedecer las instrucciones, es entonces cuando un misterioso hombre que porta capa y capucha decide ayudar a Price al percatarse que este tiene cierto potencial. Una vez a salvo en las costas, y al ver que fueron los únicos sobrevivientes del hundimiento del barco, el hombre de capa y capucha le dice a Price que, si el desea unirse a una causa mayor donde sus habilidades pueden utilizarse para el beneficio de la humanidad, entonces deberá dirigirse a Viena, en donde conocerá a su Hermandad.
Como se puede ver, ambas historias inician de una manera sumamente interesante y llenas de emociones. En un principio pareciese que no existe relación alguna entre Pierrette y Simeon, incluso, durante una porción de la novela, los caminos de ambos van en direcciones distintas, pero es en un punto clave donde todo comienza a unirse y los destinos de ambos entrecruzan sin darse cuenta de ello. La manera en que Kate Heartfield nos describe las locaciones, las vestimentas, el clima y el entorno en generar hace que la inmersión sea completa al grado que casi se puede sentir el frio de las calles llenas de neblina de Londres o las residencias con aromas a vino y perfume de las residencias de Viena. Es este tipo de cosas que agradezco y se de el tiempo de explicarse.
Legué a sentir cierto temor con el manejo de la época e historia, ya que recordemos que existe el videojuego Assassin's Creed: Syndcate, el cual también se desarrolla en Londres durante esa época, solo con un par de años mas tarde, sin embargo, me alegra decir que la novela no contradice nada al juego, incluso se llega a contar con un pequeño vinculo entre ambas historias, así como también con la novela Assassin's Creed Underworld.
Los personajes, la historia, el conflicto, las situaciones y el entorno, todo esta muy bien escrito y desarrollado. La trama principal es lo suficientemente interesante para que te importe lo que les puede llegar a suceder, a la vez que das vuelta a la hoja para no perderte ningún detalle.
No puedo dejar de recomendar Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy, todo seguidor de la saga encontrará elementos clásicos reconocibles, así como razones de peso para continuar leyendo hasta el final y esperar el lanzamiento de la segunda novela ya anunciada: The Resurrection Plot.
Honestamente, desconocía de la existencia de esta novela, mucho menos que se trataba de la primera parte de una nueva trilogía planeada por la escritora Kate Heartfield, me enteré de esto en la transmisión que Ubisoft realizó para celebrar los 15 años de la saga y anunciar los planes a futuro de la misma.
No he tenido la oportunidad de leer alguna otra obra de la autora, sin embargo, por lo mostrado durante la mencionada trasmisión, es una persona que gusta manejar la historia universal dentro de sus relatos; algo que es notorio en The Magus Conspiracy.
La historia de la novela se sitúa en Londres de 1851. Es aquí donde conocemos a nuestros dos protagonistas, por un lado tenemos a la artista circense Pierrette Arnaud, la cual, durante su interpretación como protagonista del acto "Mazeppa" se percata que una mujer del publico esta siendo atacada por un grupo de hombres, por lo que decide ayudar a la mujer sin importar interrumpir el acto en el que actuaba. Después de esto, la mujer que se encontraba siendo atacada se presenta como Ada Lovelace; famosa matemática y escritora británica, la cual es considerada hasta el día de hoy como parte fundamental en el desarrollo de la computación moderna. Después de las correspondientes presentaciones, Ada le revela a Pierrette que una figura misteriosa, conocido como "The Magus" intenta robar sus investigaciones para desarrollar un "arma" que puede cambiar el curso de la historia.
Por otra parte, abordo del barco HMS Birkenhead, conocemos al cabo Simeon Price, nuestro segundo protagonista, el cual es parte de las misiones de expansionismo del imperio Británico en Sudáfrica. Durante su viaje, el HMS Birkenhead es impactado por una enorme roca y este comienza a hundirse, es entonces que Simeon Price intenta escapar del barco y en el proceso, ayudar a tantas personas como pueda, entre ellas a su compañero Sawyer Halford, sin embargo, el Teniente Grimes les da indicaciones a los hombres de calmar a los caballos y permanecer en la embarcación, Sabiendo que de no acatar las indicaciones se le puede juzgar de traición, decide desobedecer las instrucciones, es entonces cuando un misterioso hombre que porta capa y capucha decide ayudar a Price al percatarse que este tiene cierto potencial. Una vez a salvo en las costas, y al ver que fueron los únicos sobrevivientes del hundimiento del barco, el hombre de capa y capucha le dice a Price que, si el desea unirse a una causa mayor donde sus habilidades pueden utilizarse para el beneficio de la humanidad, entonces deberá dirigirse a Viena, en donde conocerá a su Hermandad.
Como se puede ver, ambas historias inician de una manera sumamente interesante y llenas de emociones. En un principio pareciese que no existe relación alguna entre Pierrette y Simeon, incluso, durante una porción de la novela, los caminos de ambos van en direcciones distintas, pero es en un punto clave donde todo comienza a unirse y los destinos de ambos entrecruzan sin darse cuenta de ello. La manera en que Kate Heartfield nos describe las locaciones, las vestimentas, el clima y el entorno en generar hace que la inmersión sea completa al grado que casi se puede sentir el frio de las calles llenas de neblina de Londres o las residencias con aromas a vino y perfume de las residencias de Viena. Es este tipo de cosas que agradezco y se de el tiempo de explicarse.
Legué a sentir cierto temor con el manejo de la época e historia, ya que recordemos que existe el videojuego Assassin's Creed: Syndcate, el cual también se desarrolla en Londres durante esa época, solo con un par de años mas tarde, sin embargo, me alegra decir que la novela no contradice nada al juego, incluso se llega a contar con un pequeño vinculo entre ambas historias, así como también con la novela Assassin's Creed Underworld.
Los personajes, la historia, el conflicto, las situaciones y el entorno, todo esta muy bien escrito y desarrollado. La trama principal es lo suficientemente interesante para que te importe lo que les puede llegar a suceder, a la vez que das vuelta a la hoja para no perderte ningún detalle.
No puedo dejar de recomendar Assassin's Creed: The Engine of History – The Magus Conspiracy, todo seguidor de la saga encontrará elementos clásicos reconocibles, así como razones de peso para continuar leyendo hasta el final y esperar el lanzamiento de la segunda novela ya anunciada: The Resurrection Plot.
February 18, 2023
I have been provided with an advance copy of the new Assassins Creed book The Magus Conspiracy by the wonderful Kate Heartfield, published by Aconyte Books, so here is the honest review I promised in exchange for the book.
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
So let’s crack on with a review then!
What is Assassin Creed
Assassins Creed is an adventure game franchise published by Ubisoft (One of my Edge of Empire Co-hosts used to work there as well I should probably mention), and depicts a millennia-old conflict between the Assassins, who fight to preserve free will, and the Templars who desire to bring around peace by controlling people.
The games take place throughout various historical periods, the original 2007 game being set in the era of the 3rd Crusades, and the latest game Assassins Creed Valhalla, set in the Viking Invasion of Britain, and the next game Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age.
The Story
This book takes place over about a decade before Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, starting in 1851 with the passing of Ada Lovelace, the genius daughter of Lord Byron. Confessing to her friend, the 19 year old acrobat Pierrette Arnaud, her concerns over technology and ideas she may have passed onto a shadowy mysterious correspondent, known only as the Magus.
Meanwhile, Adas childhood friend Simeon Price, is shipwreaked when the troopship, HMS Birkenhead, carrying him and his regiment to the Cape Colony runs aground. After being saved by a mysterious cloaked stranger, he decides to take the strangers advice, and desert from the army, and seek out a new brotherhood in Vienna.
When Ada finally passes away, she leaves Pierrette with instructions to seek out Simeon, having received word that he survived, believing that he may be able to undo what she has done and stop the Magus.
And thus our characters are thrown into a decade spanning adventure, as they encounter the Assassin’s and learn that Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted.
Conclusion
Look, I am always gonna look on an Assassin’s Creed book with a fairly high opinion as its one of my favourite video game IPs, I am currently replaying Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, so I may be a bit biased in that regard.
The Magus Conspiracy weaves through a period of history that in the UK, we kind of look back on as being fairly stable and an era of massive industrial revolution, but on the continent it was an age of upheaval, revolution and brutal repression.
This particular story, as with many Assassin’s Creed games, takes us through historic events, such as the 1853 attempted assassination of Emperor Franz Joseph and the Orsini Affair and has us encounter historic characters, such as Julius Jacob von Haynau, the Habsburg Tiger, John Ruskin and Lizzie Siddal.
This book feels like a love letter to the period and gives us a fantastic trip through parts of Europe as events such as the unification of Italy are in full swing, the Crimean war is underway and Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself as Napoleon III.
Crack is this book, stands on its own quite well, knowing a bit about the games, will help ease you in, but its easy enough to grasp the key concepts.
The characters are nicely well rounded and feel like whole people, and I am very much looking forward to the publication of the rest of the trilogy, to encounter them some more.
Now the Magus, well, I clocked who he was pretty quickly, which was a bit of a shame, but sometimes that’s just the way things need to work, after all, I was holding more facts than the characters were.
There is plenty of action here, and I loved the little decision that Pierrette made that meshes up with the real history and is an obvious place for a sequel!
I came away from this book, kinda hoping that Ubisoft do something with the characters and put them in a game, oh and meeting Ethan Frye and Jayadeep Mir again was a nice little treat!
Easy 5 out of 5 Stars!
So here is an important disclaimer which is always important to put out there first. I have a casual work contact with Asmodee to demonstrate board games for them in stores and at conventions. Asmodee being the parent company of Aconyte the publisher.
I am going to try my best to not let that cloud my judgement in this review, but I accept that subconsciously it might.
So let’s crack on with a review then!
What is Assassin Creed
Assassins Creed is an adventure game franchise published by Ubisoft (One of my Edge of Empire Co-hosts used to work there as well I should probably mention), and depicts a millennia-old conflict between the Assassins, who fight to preserve free will, and the Templars who desire to bring around peace by controlling people.
The games take place throughout various historical periods, the original 2007 game being set in the era of the 3rd Crusades, and the latest game Assassins Creed Valhalla, set in the Viking Invasion of Britain, and the next game Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be set in Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age.
The Story
This book takes place over about a decade before Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, starting in 1851 with the passing of Ada Lovelace, the genius daughter of Lord Byron. Confessing to her friend, the 19 year old acrobat Pierrette Arnaud, her concerns over technology and ideas she may have passed onto a shadowy mysterious correspondent, known only as the Magus.
Meanwhile, Adas childhood friend Simeon Price, is shipwreaked when the troopship, HMS Birkenhead, carrying him and his regiment to the Cape Colony runs aground. After being saved by a mysterious cloaked stranger, he decides to take the strangers advice, and desert from the army, and seek out a new brotherhood in Vienna.
When Ada finally passes away, she leaves Pierrette with instructions to seek out Simeon, having received word that he survived, believing that he may be able to undo what she has done and stop the Magus.
And thus our characters are thrown into a decade spanning adventure, as they encounter the Assassin’s and learn that Nothing is True, Everything is Permitted.
Conclusion
Look, I am always gonna look on an Assassin’s Creed book with a fairly high opinion as its one of my favourite video game IPs, I am currently replaying Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, so I may be a bit biased in that regard.
The Magus Conspiracy weaves through a period of history that in the UK, we kind of look back on as being fairly stable and an era of massive industrial revolution, but on the continent it was an age of upheaval, revolution and brutal repression.
This particular story, as with many Assassin’s Creed games, takes us through historic events, such as the 1853 attempted assassination of Emperor Franz Joseph and the Orsini Affair and has us encounter historic characters, such as Julius Jacob von Haynau, the Habsburg Tiger, John Ruskin and Lizzie Siddal.
This book feels like a love letter to the period and gives us a fantastic trip through parts of Europe as events such as the unification of Italy are in full swing, the Crimean war is underway and Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte crowns himself as Napoleon III.
Crack is this book, stands on its own quite well, knowing a bit about the games, will help ease you in, but its easy enough to grasp the key concepts.
The characters are nicely well rounded and feel like whole people, and I am very much looking forward to the publication of the rest of the trilogy, to encounter them some more.
Now the Magus, well, I clocked who he was pretty quickly, which was a bit of a shame, but sometimes that’s just the way things need to work, after all, I was holding more facts than the characters were.
There is plenty of action here, and I loved the little decision that Pierrette made that meshes up with the real history and is an obvious place for a sequel!
I came away from this book, kinda hoping that Ubisoft do something with the characters and put them in a game, oh and meeting Ethan Frye and Jayadeep Mir again was a nice little treat!
Easy 5 out of 5 Stars!
July 13, 2023
I'd like to thank the publisher Aconyte, Asmodee and Kate Heartfield for sending me a review copy of this book! The Magus Conspiracy is a border-crossing epic set in the 1800s Europe of Assassins and Templars.
We are introduced to a young woman named Pierrette; a circus performer who is determined to make a name for herself by performing a trick only ever before performed by men. Mid-air, she notices a group of men surrounding a woman, and makes the split second decision to free the woman from them. Abandoning the act, Pierrette plucks the woman from her seat and they race across London dodging pursuers all the way. Pierrette learns that this woman is Ada Lovelace, the mathematician and scientist, and despite their different backgrounds the women become fast friends. As Pierrette begins to visit Ada, she learns that her friend is sick- Ada knows that she will die, and tells Pierrette of an invention she made for the unknown figure known as 'The Magus' that could be used for harm. She tells Pierrette to find her old friend Simeon Price- he is the only one who can understand Ada's notes and destroy this weapon before it can harm anyone.
We follow Simeon Price from his humble British Army beginnings on HMS Birkenhead as the ship runs onto the rocks. After being helped by a mysterious caped stranger who opens his eyes to a 'Brotherhood of choice', he decides to desert from the Army and travel to find this group the man speaks of. His journey takes him to Vienna, where he takes on a new name and becomes tutored by a gentleman named Oscar Kane in the ways of the Brotherhood. He learns of Assassins and Templars, and the age-old feud between the two. He becomes accustomed to blending in and disappearing; he learns to observe and listen to gain information. Despite the fact that Simeon has never spoken of his past since assuming his new role, the passing of his friend Ada saddened him. And he would never have expected to meet a woman claiming his late friend told her to go looking for him.
The two meet almost by accident: Pierrette's circus come to Vienna, and an acquaintance of Simeon's comes away from his evening out spouting tales of Simeon Price, the man he is sure the acrobat longs for. As an Army deserter, which is punishable by imprisonment and whipping, Simeon was none too happy to hear that his name was being spread about and so seeks Pierrette out. The two meet, dislike each other almost immediately and Simeon refuses to allow them to work together. They part after Pierrette tells Simeon that Ada was obviously wrong about him, and the two continue their investigations separately. But fate is obviously destined to bring them together, as they seem to come together in the same place at the same time. Seeing no other way to move forward, they agree to work in harmony, uncovering a huge web of political unrest and rebellion that threatens Europe. The two are quick to agree that this is the work of the Templars, and throw themselves into that same age-old feud, heedless of the consequences to themselves...
Everyone knows of Assassin's Creed, whether or not they've played the games or read the books, or even watched the film. So I went into this book with some manner of expectation, which was utterly thwarted by the excellent writing and new subject matter. There were odes to what I would call the 'original' series, which were placed so well that I have now got so many new theories around the identities of key characters and how this novel fits into the canon. Having the narrative follow two so distinctly separate characters was a very smart move as you spend so much time with each of them you become invested in their individual stories. When they meet, the clash of their personalities makes for some page-turning snark and action! The basic premise of the plot is very simple, and it is down to the fact pacing and established relationships the reader makes with the characters to drive the enjoyment of the novel. The author really uses those elements to play with plot twists and weaves in our known history in order to make a simple novel really stand out and become one that I have enjoyed immensely.
We are introduced to a young woman named Pierrette; a circus performer who is determined to make a name for herself by performing a trick only ever before performed by men. Mid-air, she notices a group of men surrounding a woman, and makes the split second decision to free the woman from them. Abandoning the act, Pierrette plucks the woman from her seat and they race across London dodging pursuers all the way. Pierrette learns that this woman is Ada Lovelace, the mathematician and scientist, and despite their different backgrounds the women become fast friends. As Pierrette begins to visit Ada, she learns that her friend is sick- Ada knows that she will die, and tells Pierrette of an invention she made for the unknown figure known as 'The Magus' that could be used for harm. She tells Pierrette to find her old friend Simeon Price- he is the only one who can understand Ada's notes and destroy this weapon before it can harm anyone.
We follow Simeon Price from his humble British Army beginnings on HMS Birkenhead as the ship runs onto the rocks. After being helped by a mysterious caped stranger who opens his eyes to a 'Brotherhood of choice', he decides to desert from the Army and travel to find this group the man speaks of. His journey takes him to Vienna, where he takes on a new name and becomes tutored by a gentleman named Oscar Kane in the ways of the Brotherhood. He learns of Assassins and Templars, and the age-old feud between the two. He becomes accustomed to blending in and disappearing; he learns to observe and listen to gain information. Despite the fact that Simeon has never spoken of his past since assuming his new role, the passing of his friend Ada saddened him. And he would never have expected to meet a woman claiming his late friend told her to go looking for him.
The two meet almost by accident: Pierrette's circus come to Vienna, and an acquaintance of Simeon's comes away from his evening out spouting tales of Simeon Price, the man he is sure the acrobat longs for. As an Army deserter, which is punishable by imprisonment and whipping, Simeon was none too happy to hear that his name was being spread about and so seeks Pierrette out. The two meet, dislike each other almost immediately and Simeon refuses to allow them to work together. They part after Pierrette tells Simeon that Ada was obviously wrong about him, and the two continue their investigations separately. But fate is obviously destined to bring them together, as they seem to come together in the same place at the same time. Seeing no other way to move forward, they agree to work in harmony, uncovering a huge web of political unrest and rebellion that threatens Europe. The two are quick to agree that this is the work of the Templars, and throw themselves into that same age-old feud, heedless of the consequences to themselves...
Everyone knows of Assassin's Creed, whether or not they've played the games or read the books, or even watched the film. So I went into this book with some manner of expectation, which was utterly thwarted by the excellent writing and new subject matter. There were odes to what I would call the 'original' series, which were placed so well that I have now got so many new theories around the identities of key characters and how this novel fits into the canon. Having the narrative follow two so distinctly separate characters was a very smart move as you spend so much time with each of them you become invested in their individual stories. When they meet, the clash of their personalities makes for some page-turning snark and action! The basic premise of the plot is very simple, and it is down to the fact pacing and established relationships the reader makes with the characters to drive the enjoyment of the novel. The author really uses those elements to play with plot twists and weaves in our known history in order to make a simple novel really stand out and become one that I have enjoyed immensely.
March 6, 2023
Kiedy honor i sumienie są dla Ciebie ważniejsze niż rozkazy, prędzej czy później przyjdzie Ci stawić czoła konsekwencjom swoich czynów.
W Londynie w roku 1851 Pierrette, zapalczywa akrobatka o niezwykłym talencie przerywa swój występ by uratować kobietę z rąk porywaczy. W 1852 na pokładzie tonącego HMS „Birkenhead” Simeon sprzeciwia się bezsensownym rozkazom i za namową tajemniczego nieznajomego postanawia ratować się dezercją.
Jakie przeznaczenie splącze drogi tych dwojga?
Assassins Creed Spisek Maga to historia nie tylko o wojnie toczącej się między mitycznymi zakonami asasynów i templariuszy ale przede wszystkim o „robieniu tego co właściwe”. Simeon porzuca wszystko co zna i niemal jako żebrak przemierza pół Europy w poszukiwani tajemniczego bractwa, które odrzuca zastane dzieje świata i pragnie tworzyć go na nowo – w równowadze. Pierrette po śmierci Ady, którą tak brawurowo niegdyś uratowała, pragnie spełnić jej ostatnie życzenie i odnaleźć jej przyjaciela z dzieciństwa, by razem z nim unicestwić broń, która może zagrozić ludzkości.
Ta książka przynajmniej dla mnie to dość ciekawe zjawisko, mam wrażenie, że przywykliśmy do tego, że to gry i filmy tworzy się na podstawie książek a nie na odwrót. A tutaj mamy do czynienia z powieścią, która powstała w oparciu o dziś już kultową grę Assassins Creed. Muszę się przyznać, że mnie całkowicie ominął szał tej gry i nigdy nie miałam okazji w nią zagrać, tym bardziej zaciekawiła mnie pozycja tak mocno związana ze światem wykreowanym na potrzeby wirtualnej rozrywki.
Co zatem znalazłam w środku?
Spisek maga to dość wciągająca pozycja, z wartką historią i ciekawymi zwrotami akcji. W tej książce dużo się dzieje, bohaterowie nie tkwią w miejscu, wręcz przeciwnie, w pogoni za Magiem – głównym czarnym charakterem – przemierzają pół Europy sukcesywnie powiększając grono tak przyjaciół jak i wrogów. Nie brak tu oczywiście - jak można się spodziewać – scen pościgów i niebezpiecznych wypadków. A także licznych wybuchów, zdrad i krwawych zabójstw. Drogi byłego żołnierza i akrobatki przeplatają się wielokrotnie, by w końcu splątać się na dłużej w próbach pojmania Maga, który wciąż wydaje się być o jeden krok do przodu.
Do zalet tej książki niewątpliwie należy wartka akcja, która nie pozwala czytelnikowi popaść w znudzenie. Bohaterowie bezustannie pakują się w pozornie bezsensowne i niepowiązane ze sobą sytuacje, nadstawiając karku i ryzykując przedwczesnym zgonem. Jednak jak to zwykle bywa, perspektywa zmienia wszystko. Z czasem sami protagoniści zaczynają dostrzegać dziwny wzór łączący wszystko co ich spotyka, prowadzący wprost pod drzwi Maga - naukowca, geniusza i szaleńca.
Jednak mimo tej całkiem sprawnie stworzonej historii, książka ma jedną zasadniczą wadę. Brak jej oryginalności. Nie jest opowieścią tak świeżą i nową, że zachwyca niczym powiew ciepłego wiosennego wiatru. Nie jest tak skomplikowana i splątana jak węzeł gordyjski. W końcu nie jest też wielką opowieścią o miłości, która mogłaby zostać z czytelnikiem na dłużej. To nie jest zła książka, wręcz przeciwnie czyta się ją całkiem przyjemnie, jednak zaraz po przeczytaniu ta opowieść przestaje mieć znaczenie. Nie zostaje z czytaczem na dłużej, nie funduje kaca książkowego i tygodniowych rozmyślań co by było gdyby… Ot, książka, która po prostu jest.
Być może ten mój brak zachwytu jest spowodowany faktem, że powieść opiera się na uniwersum znanym z gier i żeby w pełni ją docenić trzeba by przejść jakąś ich część.
Być może oddani fani Assassins Creed czytając ją doznają znacznie inne wrażeń i dla nich ta pozycja stanie się literackim świętym gralem.
Tego nie mogę przewidzieć :D
Ja choć czytając bawiłam się dobrze, to jednak nie zostanę fanem numerem jeden. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że jeśli marzą się Wam niebezpieczne pościgi, ukryci w cieniu zabójcy i tajne stowarzyszenia z drugiego rzędu władające światem to Spisek Maga jest pozycją dla Was.
Za egzemplarz recenzencki dziękuję Domowi Wydawniczemu Rebis
#współracabarterowa
#współpracarecenzencka
W Londynie w roku 1851 Pierrette, zapalczywa akrobatka o niezwykłym talencie przerywa swój występ by uratować kobietę z rąk porywaczy. W 1852 na pokładzie tonącego HMS „Birkenhead” Simeon sprzeciwia się bezsensownym rozkazom i za namową tajemniczego nieznajomego postanawia ratować się dezercją.
Jakie przeznaczenie splącze drogi tych dwojga?
Assassins Creed Spisek Maga to historia nie tylko o wojnie toczącej się między mitycznymi zakonami asasynów i templariuszy ale przede wszystkim o „robieniu tego co właściwe”. Simeon porzuca wszystko co zna i niemal jako żebrak przemierza pół Europy w poszukiwani tajemniczego bractwa, które odrzuca zastane dzieje świata i pragnie tworzyć go na nowo – w równowadze. Pierrette po śmierci Ady, którą tak brawurowo niegdyś uratowała, pragnie spełnić jej ostatnie życzenie i odnaleźć jej przyjaciela z dzieciństwa, by razem z nim unicestwić broń, która może zagrozić ludzkości.
Ta książka przynajmniej dla mnie to dość ciekawe zjawisko, mam wrażenie, że przywykliśmy do tego, że to gry i filmy tworzy się na podstawie książek a nie na odwrót. A tutaj mamy do czynienia z powieścią, która powstała w oparciu o dziś już kultową grę Assassins Creed. Muszę się przyznać, że mnie całkowicie ominął szał tej gry i nigdy nie miałam okazji w nią zagrać, tym bardziej zaciekawiła mnie pozycja tak mocno związana ze światem wykreowanym na potrzeby wirtualnej rozrywki.
Co zatem znalazłam w środku?
Spisek maga to dość wciągająca pozycja, z wartką historią i ciekawymi zwrotami akcji. W tej książce dużo się dzieje, bohaterowie nie tkwią w miejscu, wręcz przeciwnie, w pogoni za Magiem – głównym czarnym charakterem – przemierzają pół Europy sukcesywnie powiększając grono tak przyjaciół jak i wrogów. Nie brak tu oczywiście - jak można się spodziewać – scen pościgów i niebezpiecznych wypadków. A także licznych wybuchów, zdrad i krwawych zabójstw. Drogi byłego żołnierza i akrobatki przeplatają się wielokrotnie, by w końcu splątać się na dłużej w próbach pojmania Maga, który wciąż wydaje się być o jeden krok do przodu.
Do zalet tej książki niewątpliwie należy wartka akcja, która nie pozwala czytelnikowi popaść w znudzenie. Bohaterowie bezustannie pakują się w pozornie bezsensowne i niepowiązane ze sobą sytuacje, nadstawiając karku i ryzykując przedwczesnym zgonem. Jednak jak to zwykle bywa, perspektywa zmienia wszystko. Z czasem sami protagoniści zaczynają dostrzegać dziwny wzór łączący wszystko co ich spotyka, prowadzący wprost pod drzwi Maga - naukowca, geniusza i szaleńca.
Jednak mimo tej całkiem sprawnie stworzonej historii, książka ma jedną zasadniczą wadę. Brak jej oryginalności. Nie jest opowieścią tak świeżą i nową, że zachwyca niczym powiew ciepłego wiosennego wiatru. Nie jest tak skomplikowana i splątana jak węzeł gordyjski. W końcu nie jest też wielką opowieścią o miłości, która mogłaby zostać z czytelnikiem na dłużej. To nie jest zła książka, wręcz przeciwnie czyta się ją całkiem przyjemnie, jednak zaraz po przeczytaniu ta opowieść przestaje mieć znaczenie. Nie zostaje z czytaczem na dłużej, nie funduje kaca książkowego i tygodniowych rozmyślań co by było gdyby… Ot, książka, która po prostu jest.
Być może ten mój brak zachwytu jest spowodowany faktem, że powieść opiera się na uniwersum znanym z gier i żeby w pełni ją docenić trzeba by przejść jakąś ich część.
Być może oddani fani Assassins Creed czytając ją doznają znacznie inne wrażeń i dla nich ta pozycja stanie się literackim świętym gralem.
Tego nie mogę przewidzieć :D
Ja choć czytając bawiłam się dobrze, to jednak nie zostanę fanem numerem jeden. Nie zmienia to jednak faktu, że jeśli marzą się Wam niebezpieczne pościgi, ukryci w cieniu zabójcy i tajne stowarzyszenia z drugiego rzędu władające światem to Spisek Maga jest pozycją dla Was.
Za egzemplarz recenzencki dziękuję Domowi Wydawniczemu Rebis
#współracabarterowa
#współpracarecenzencka
February 3, 2023
Assassins Creed: The Magus Conspiracy By Kate Heartfield, is a media tie-in novel based on Ubisoft’s Assassins Creed video game Franchise.
Set in the 1850s, the story of The Magus Conspiracy follows two main characters, Simeon Price a British army deserter and Pierette, a member of a traveling circus. A chance encounter with famed mathematician Ada Lovelace wraps Pierette and Simeon into the ever growing war between the Assassin's and the Templars. From there the book travels across various parts of Europe, mostly London and Paris, but with brief sidetrips elsewhere.
The set-up for The Magus Conspiracy is a pretty basic kind of plot, the villain wants the secret plans. It's nicely succinct, and simple, with everyone's motivations easy to see. But where this book really shines is how it takes this simple set-up and turns it into a layered and complex mystery that spans multiple countries and years as our two heroes find their lives being drawn inexorably closer and closer to this shadowy figure.
There are sections of this book that don't really deal much with the main plot, and it takes a while for Pierette and Simeon to even meet for the first time. During these sections of the book we get to spend time getting to know them, watching as they're set on this important path. Pierette's story here is the more basic of the two, as she realises that she needs to deliver these documents to a missing man, and develops a pretty interesting way of contacting him as she and her circus travels across Europe. Simeon's story is much more eventful, however, as we get to watch him being inducted into the Assassin order, learning the skills that most of the characters in this franchise take for granted, and we get to explore Vienna and this part of history with him.
These moments are quite nice, and make for enjoyable character and world building. By the time the two characters do actually meet you've almost forgotten that their stories were due to connect, and you'd fallen into reading about these two people and their lives rather than the big story.
However, this isn't just a story of two people and their journeys around Europe, as there's something important that they need to stop. The central plot, the Magus and his plans, is one of the more enjoyable Assassin's Creed stories for sure, and like all good tales set in this universe it touches upon real world events, and features some appearances from notable figures. I won't go into who the Magus is or what they want, because I don't want to give any clues away to the big mystery, but I really enjoyed them as a character. They made for an interesting opponent for Pierette and Simeon, always being one step ahead, always knowing what moves their enemies were going to make. The Magus uses their intelligence more than physical violence in order to achieve their goals, and this makes them incredibly dangerous.
As you'd expect from an Assassin's Creed book, there's ample action and moments of adventure spread throughout the story too, and there are some interesting moments where you're not sure if your heroes are going to make it out alive or not.
Overall, it's a really great addition to the Assassin's Creed lore as a whole and has some ties to the video games, Syndicate in particular, and is worth checking out if you're a fan of the franchise and want to immerse yourself further in that world.
Set in the 1850s, the story of The Magus Conspiracy follows two main characters, Simeon Price a British army deserter and Pierette, a member of a traveling circus. A chance encounter with famed mathematician Ada Lovelace wraps Pierette and Simeon into the ever growing war between the Assassin's and the Templars. From there the book travels across various parts of Europe, mostly London and Paris, but with brief sidetrips elsewhere.
The set-up for The Magus Conspiracy is a pretty basic kind of plot, the villain wants the secret plans. It's nicely succinct, and simple, with everyone's motivations easy to see. But where this book really shines is how it takes this simple set-up and turns it into a layered and complex mystery that spans multiple countries and years as our two heroes find their lives being drawn inexorably closer and closer to this shadowy figure.
There are sections of this book that don't really deal much with the main plot, and it takes a while for Pierette and Simeon to even meet for the first time. During these sections of the book we get to spend time getting to know them, watching as they're set on this important path. Pierette's story here is the more basic of the two, as she realises that she needs to deliver these documents to a missing man, and develops a pretty interesting way of contacting him as she and her circus travels across Europe. Simeon's story is much more eventful, however, as we get to watch him being inducted into the Assassin order, learning the skills that most of the characters in this franchise take for granted, and we get to explore Vienna and this part of history with him.
These moments are quite nice, and make for enjoyable character and world building. By the time the two characters do actually meet you've almost forgotten that their stories were due to connect, and you'd fallen into reading about these two people and their lives rather than the big story.
However, this isn't just a story of two people and their journeys around Europe, as there's something important that they need to stop. The central plot, the Magus and his plans, is one of the more enjoyable Assassin's Creed stories for sure, and like all good tales set in this universe it touches upon real world events, and features some appearances from notable figures. I won't go into who the Magus is or what they want, because I don't want to give any clues away to the big mystery, but I really enjoyed them as a character. They made for an interesting opponent for Pierette and Simeon, always being one step ahead, always knowing what moves their enemies were going to make. The Magus uses their intelligence more than physical violence in order to achieve their goals, and this makes them incredibly dangerous.
As you'd expect from an Assassin's Creed book, there's ample action and moments of adventure spread throughout the story too, and there are some interesting moments where you're not sure if your heroes are going to make it out alive or not.
Overall, it's a really great addition to the Assassin's Creed lore as a whole and has some ties to the video games, Syndicate in particular, and is worth checking out if you're a fan of the franchise and want to immerse yourself further in that world.
November 15, 2024
Et bien, une autre aventure d'Assassin's Creed en plein milieu du 19ème siècle. On est en plein règne de Louis XIV en France et en pleine exposition universelle de Londres. J'avoue que je n'ai pas encore joué à Assassin's Creed Unity où l'on jouait le personnage d'Arno avec la révolution française et la prise de la Bastille mais on sent bien l'atmosphère de ce milieu du 19ème siècle avec les évènements qui s'annoncent.
L'histoire débute avec Pierette, une acrobate qui fait partie d'un cirque qui se produit un peu partout et Londres est à ce moment-là le meilleur endroit où se produire avec le cirque car avec l'exposition universelle quasi juste à côté, ça amène plein de monde ; toutes et tous viennent voir les différents tours, acrobaties et numéros spectaculaires de la troupe. Lors d'une représentation de la troupe, Pierette voit dans la foule venue les voir une femme qui se fait agressée dans une ruelle et part l'aider. Heureusement, elle arrive à sauver la dame et chacune se présente : Pierette et Ada Lovelace.
Bref, au fur et à mesure du temps, elles sympathisent et malgré qu'Ada Lovelace soit de la haute société, elle n'a cure de la situation de Pierette et l'invite chez elle régulièrement ainsi qu'à des évènements et Ada lui révèle ses passions dont l'invention de diverses machines. Avant sa mort, Ada lui confie une dernière tâche : rechercher le fameux Mage et faire en sorte que sa machine ne tombe pas entre de mauvaises mains. Malheureusement, elle ne sait dans quoi elle est embarquée la jeune Pierette. De son côté, Simeon Price est un ancien soldat britannique qui a profité que son navire s'est échoué pour « disparaître » car il n'est pas censé y avoir de survivants et change de nom. Ce dernier rencontre alors Kane, un Assassin, qu'un autre Assassin d'Afrique a recommandé à Simeon de trouver car Simeon semblait correspondre à leur idéologie et ces deux-là viennent à sympathiser. Ce dernier est également embarqué dans une histoire sinistre et les apparences sont souvent bien trompeuses, même parmi ses ami(e)s. Pierette et Simeon vont devoir s'allier pour défier encore une fois les Templiers.
L'histoire était fort bien écrite et comme je le disais précédemment, on sent bien toute l'atmosphère du 19ème siècle, l'arrivée de l'exposition universelle, toutes les nouvelles expériences, les nouvelles découvertes pour l'électricité par exemple, les différentes innovations, c'est vraiment prenant. On a aussi tout ce qui est mystique avec ce fameux Mage car on pense avoir une piste de qui est ce fameux Mage mais c'est tout le contraire. Concernant les personnages, à un moment, on voit bien que Simeon Price, qui a changé de nom pour ne pas se faire repéré, se cherche ; il tente d'oublier sa vie passée, ses anciennes connaissances, ce qu'il a fait dans l'armée mais c'est pas facile, il se cherche et il a besoin de s'aérer et que tant qu'il n'a pas fait une mise au point dans sa vie, Simeon ne peut pas boucler son cercle si on veut. En conclusion, ce fut une très bonne surprise, un très bon roman qu'on pourrait insérer facilement un peu avant Assassin's Creed Unity avec Arno et la période couverte par ce jeu. Des rues de Paris aux rues de Londres, si vous aimez ou si vous avez aimé l'atmosphère de Unity, plongez dans l'univers d'Assassin's Creed : La conspiration du Mage !
L'histoire débute avec Pierette, une acrobate qui fait partie d'un cirque qui se produit un peu partout et Londres est à ce moment-là le meilleur endroit où se produire avec le cirque car avec l'exposition universelle quasi juste à côté, ça amène plein de monde ; toutes et tous viennent voir les différents tours, acrobaties et numéros spectaculaires de la troupe. Lors d'une représentation de la troupe, Pierette voit dans la foule venue les voir une femme qui se fait agressée dans une ruelle et part l'aider. Heureusement, elle arrive à sauver la dame et chacune se présente : Pierette et Ada Lovelace.
Bref, au fur et à mesure du temps, elles sympathisent et malgré qu'Ada Lovelace soit de la haute société, elle n'a cure de la situation de Pierette et l'invite chez elle régulièrement ainsi qu'à des évènements et Ada lui révèle ses passions dont l'invention de diverses machines. Avant sa mort, Ada lui confie une dernière tâche : rechercher le fameux Mage et faire en sorte que sa machine ne tombe pas entre de mauvaises mains. Malheureusement, elle ne sait dans quoi elle est embarquée la jeune Pierette. De son côté, Simeon Price est un ancien soldat britannique qui a profité que son navire s'est échoué pour « disparaître » car il n'est pas censé y avoir de survivants et change de nom. Ce dernier rencontre alors Kane, un Assassin, qu'un autre Assassin d'Afrique a recommandé à Simeon de trouver car Simeon semblait correspondre à leur idéologie et ces deux-là viennent à sympathiser. Ce dernier est également embarqué dans une histoire sinistre et les apparences sont souvent bien trompeuses, même parmi ses ami(e)s. Pierette et Simeon vont devoir s'allier pour défier encore une fois les Templiers.
L'histoire était fort bien écrite et comme je le disais précédemment, on sent bien toute l'atmosphère du 19ème siècle, l'arrivée de l'exposition universelle, toutes les nouvelles expériences, les nouvelles découvertes pour l'électricité par exemple, les différentes innovations, c'est vraiment prenant. On a aussi tout ce qui est mystique avec ce fameux Mage car on pense avoir une piste de qui est ce fameux Mage mais c'est tout le contraire. Concernant les personnages, à un moment, on voit bien que Simeon Price, qui a changé de nom pour ne pas se faire repéré, se cherche ; il tente d'oublier sa vie passée, ses anciennes connaissances, ce qu'il a fait dans l'armée mais c'est pas facile, il se cherche et il a besoin de s'aérer et que tant qu'il n'a pas fait une mise au point dans sa vie, Simeon ne peut pas boucler son cercle si on veut. En conclusion, ce fut une très bonne surprise, un très bon roman qu'on pourrait insérer facilement un peu avant Assassin's Creed Unity avec Arno et la période couverte par ce jeu. Des rues de Paris aux rues de Londres, si vous aimez ou si vous avez aimé l'atmosphère de Unity, plongez dans l'univers d'Assassin's Creed : La conspiration du Mage !
November 30, 2024
Review of The Magnus Conspiracy
I’d give this book closer to 2.5 stars than a full 3. It wasn’t necessarily bad, and I do have several positive things to say. Kate Heartfield clearly put a lot of research into the various locations featured in the story, and I couldn’t help but look up the real historical events behind the many assassinations mentioned in the book. I truly admire her for this effort and offer my sincere compliments.
The plot of The Magnus Conspiracy was interesting enough. Two seemingly ordinary people get caught up in the mysterious war between the Templars and Assassins, slowly unraveling the conspiracy behind several assassination attempts across Europe.
I also appreciated the focus on British officers and the ruthless way their captains and generals treated them. This is a point of fascination for me, especially since I had read The Republic of Pirates, and I would have liked to see even more emphasis on this aspect.
However, where the book really falls short is in its characters. They felt rather one-dimensional, and I struggled to believe that Pierette Arnaud and Simeon went through any real character development, despite the story spanning a period of ten years. In fact, I had trouble pinpointing a distinct personality for some of the characters altogether.
Another issue was the lack of depth in the locations. Places like Vienna, Paris, and Italy felt flat, and I found that they blended together in my mind, despite the potentially fascinating settings. It was hard to feel, smell, or touch what made each location unique.
The editing was also a bit confusing. While the story spans ten years, the way the characters travel through Europe and how quickly they move through the holidays makes it feel as though everything happens in a span of just one or two years. To improve this, why couldn’t Simeon have stayed in Paris to celebrate Christmas with the Parisian Assassins? a smaller side story could have added a lot to the realism and flow of the story.
Additional Thoughts:
One thing I’d like to add is that by the final 50 pages, I found myself no longer invested in the plot. What I mean is that, towards the end, it felt like I was just reading to finish the book rather than enjoying it. I wasn’t eager to see how it would end or to keep turning the pages, and that’s always a bit of a letdown when you’re nearing the finish line.
While The Magnus Conspiracy had its moments, I didn’t feel as invested in the story or characters as I hoped I would be. I admire the author’s research and the ambitious scope of the plot, but the execution left a lot to be desired. It’s a series that has potential, but I’m not certain I’ll be continuing with the next book unless the issues with pacing, character depth, and the narrative payoff are addressed.
I’d give this book closer to 2.5 stars than a full 3. It wasn’t necessarily bad, and I do have several positive things to say. Kate Heartfield clearly put a lot of research into the various locations featured in the story, and I couldn’t help but look up the real historical events behind the many assassinations mentioned in the book. I truly admire her for this effort and offer my sincere compliments.
The plot of The Magnus Conspiracy was interesting enough. Two seemingly ordinary people get caught up in the mysterious war between the Templars and Assassins, slowly unraveling the conspiracy behind several assassination attempts across Europe.
I also appreciated the focus on British officers and the ruthless way their captains and generals treated them. This is a point of fascination for me, especially since I had read The Republic of Pirates, and I would have liked to see even more emphasis on this aspect.
However, where the book really falls short is in its characters. They felt rather one-dimensional, and I struggled to believe that Pierette Arnaud and Simeon went through any real character development, despite the story spanning a period of ten years. In fact, I had trouble pinpointing a distinct personality for some of the characters altogether.
Another issue was the lack of depth in the locations. Places like Vienna, Paris, and Italy felt flat, and I found that they blended together in my mind, despite the potentially fascinating settings. It was hard to feel, smell, or touch what made each location unique.
The editing was also a bit confusing. While the story spans ten years, the way the characters travel through Europe and how quickly they move through the holidays makes it feel as though everything happens in a span of just one or two years. To improve this, why couldn’t Simeon have stayed in Paris to celebrate Christmas with the Parisian Assassins? a smaller side story could have added a lot to the realism and flow of the story.
Additional Thoughts:
One thing I’d like to add is that by the final 50 pages, I found myself no longer invested in the plot. What I mean is that, towards the end, it felt like I was just reading to finish the book rather than enjoying it. I wasn’t eager to see how it would end or to keep turning the pages, and that’s always a bit of a letdown when you’re nearing the finish line.
While The Magnus Conspiracy had its moments, I didn’t feel as invested in the story or characters as I hoped I would be. I admire the author’s research and the ambitious scope of the plot, but the execution left a lot to be desired. It’s a series that has potential, but I’m not certain I’ll be continuing with the next book unless the issues with pacing, character depth, and the narrative payoff are addressed.
December 9, 2022
I was so excited to get an ARC of this book, as someone who plays Assassin's Creed religiously (Arno is my favourite), I couldn't wait to read more about the history of the Creed, and the Assassin's who are a part of it.
The Magus Conspiracy follows Simeon Price in 1851, part of the 74th regiment and whom we initially meet on a sinking ship. Rather than protect the soldiers on board, Simeon soon realises that the lieutenants are more interested in saving the ship and it's cargo, rather the soldiers who are trapped below deck, which is rapidly filling up with water. Whilst actively defying his lieutenants orders, and trying to save as many soldiers below deck as he can, Simeon comes face to face with an assassin who, after helping Simeon save the soldiers, suggests that when he's willing to leave this controlled and dictated life behind, there's a brotherhood in Vienna, that would allow him to make decisions based on his own conscience and protect innocents. Thus starts Simeon Price's journey into the Assassin's Creed brotherhood. Meanwhile in London, during a circus event in Hyde Park's Hippodrome, Ada Byron is almost kidnapped by several men, Pierrette uses her act to save Ada and they become firm friends, but as Ada's health deteriorates, she asks Pierette to find Simeon to help stop Magus and save innocents lives.
I loved reading about the complexity of the brotherhood and Simeon's journey in not only reaching them, and avoiding being captured for but the heavy training that is involved in becoming recruited into said brotherhood. This was a really engaging story with many twists and I enjoyed seeing Pierette and Simon's personalities shine through, and their stories develop leading to some really incredible development with the two main characters. Seeing the bond develop between the two was also a real joy to read, two people with completely different lives and personalities coming together to defeat a common threat.
As is always that way with Assassin's Creed games and books, there was a big twist, but I have to say I did guess it early on in the book, but this is something I do even with the games so I think that's more of a mew problem than an issue with the writing here. The ending tied up a few loose ends but there were a few things that still left me with questions.
Overall, this was a really engaging and fun read, especially for anyone who loves the games. It really shows the intricacies and complexity of the brotherhood, and how much training the initiates go through to become fully recruited. I loved the two main characters and watching their journeys and personalities change and develop with all they face. Just a very solid Assassin's creed novel with twists and lots of action.
The Magus Conspiracy follows Simeon Price in 1851, part of the 74th regiment and whom we initially meet on a sinking ship. Rather than protect the soldiers on board, Simeon soon realises that the lieutenants are more interested in saving the ship and it's cargo, rather the soldiers who are trapped below deck, which is rapidly filling up with water. Whilst actively defying his lieutenants orders, and trying to save as many soldiers below deck as he can, Simeon comes face to face with an assassin who, after helping Simeon save the soldiers, suggests that when he's willing to leave this controlled and dictated life behind, there's a brotherhood in Vienna, that would allow him to make decisions based on his own conscience and protect innocents. Thus starts Simeon Price's journey into the Assassin's Creed brotherhood. Meanwhile in London, during a circus event in Hyde Park's Hippodrome, Ada Byron is almost kidnapped by several men, Pierrette uses her act to save Ada and they become firm friends, but as Ada's health deteriorates, she asks Pierette to find Simeon to help stop Magus and save innocents lives.
I loved reading about the complexity of the brotherhood and Simeon's journey in not only reaching them, and avoiding being captured for but the heavy training that is involved in becoming recruited into said brotherhood. This was a really engaging story with many twists and I enjoyed seeing Pierette and Simon's personalities shine through, and their stories develop leading to some really incredible development with the two main characters. Seeing the bond develop between the two was also a real joy to read, two people with completely different lives and personalities coming together to defeat a common threat.
As is always that way with Assassin's Creed games and books, there was a big twist, but I have to say I did guess it early on in the book, but this is something I do even with the games so I think that's more of a mew problem than an issue with the writing here. The ending tied up a few loose ends but there were a few things that still left me with questions.
Overall, this was a really engaging and fun read, especially for anyone who loves the games. It really shows the intricacies and complexity of the brotherhood, and how much training the initiates go through to become fully recruited. I loved the two main characters and watching their journeys and personalities change and develop with all they face. Just a very solid Assassin's creed novel with twists and lots of action.
December 30, 2022
Book Summary:
The war between the Assassins and the Templars has been tearing through history, destroying families and leaving nothing but havoc. The Victorian era is full of these tales, as evidenced by the many stories stemming from the famous video game franchise. And now, a novel.
The year is 1851, and Pierrette is about to do something to put her squarely in the center of this battle. She saves the life of Ada Lovelace, a famous mathematician. Only Ada is extremely ill and needs more help from Pierette if she hopes to complete her goals.
My Review:
So, I'm going to start this review with a touch of honesty: I've never played any Assassin's Creed games. I've never even watched anybody play them. However! I adore Kate Heartfield, so I wanted to take the risk and try The Magus Conspiracy because I couldn't resist. So when I say that this novel is perfect, even those that know nothing about the franchise understand the weight of that claim.
The Magus Conspiracy is set in an established world. Even so, Kate Heartfield took the time to help readers understand current events. This also gave us time to get to know the characters – and the stakes at play. It's an essential foundation for new readers, and I don't think too much for long-running fans.
This novel consists of two main perspectives: Pierrette (as mentioned in the summary) and Simeon. Both have drastically different views of the world, which helps to flesh out the situation quite nicely. I love how their story unfolded as such. However, I'll confess that Pierrette quickly became my favorite.
I would read more novels in the Assassin's Creed franchise, especially if they are anything like this! I'll admit that I took the risk mostly because of the author, but now I'm more invested than expected.
Highlights:
Tie-in novel
Assassin's Creed
Thriller
Video Game world
Multiple POV
Thanks to Aconyte and Podium for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
The war between the Assassins and the Templars has been tearing through history, destroying families and leaving nothing but havoc. The Victorian era is full of these tales, as evidenced by the many stories stemming from the famous video game franchise. And now, a novel.
The year is 1851, and Pierrette is about to do something to put her squarely in the center of this battle. She saves the life of Ada Lovelace, a famous mathematician. Only Ada is extremely ill and needs more help from Pierette if she hopes to complete her goals.
My Review:
So, I'm going to start this review with a touch of honesty: I've never played any Assassin's Creed games. I've never even watched anybody play them. However! I adore Kate Heartfield, so I wanted to take the risk and try The Magus Conspiracy because I couldn't resist. So when I say that this novel is perfect, even those that know nothing about the franchise understand the weight of that claim.
The Magus Conspiracy is set in an established world. Even so, Kate Heartfield took the time to help readers understand current events. This also gave us time to get to know the characters – and the stakes at play. It's an essential foundation for new readers, and I don't think too much for long-running fans.
This novel consists of two main perspectives: Pierrette (as mentioned in the summary) and Simeon. Both have drastically different views of the world, which helps to flesh out the situation quite nicely. I love how their story unfolded as such. However, I'll confess that Pierrette quickly became my favorite.
I would read more novels in the Assassin's Creed franchise, especially if they are anything like this! I'll admit that I took the risk mostly because of the author, but now I'm more invested than expected.
Highlights:
Tie-in novel
Assassin's Creed
Thriller
Video Game world
Multiple POV
Thanks to Aconyte and Podium for making this book available for review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Quirky Cat's Fat Stacks | Quirky Cat's Comics | The Book Review Crew | Monkeys Fighting Robots | Storygraph | Bookhype | Bookstagram | Twitter | Tumblr | Reedsy
March 23, 2023
Kate Heartfiled stworzyła powieść, osadzoną w uniwersum Asasynów, która będzie niezwykle przyjemna w czytaniu, nawet dla osób niezaznajomionych z tym światem.
Londyn, 1851 rok – Pierrette, śmiała akrobatka prezentująca swoje umiejętności na Wielkiej Wystawie, ratuje matematyczkę Adę Lovelace przed porywaczami i zostaje wciągnięta w wieczny spór między asasynami a templariuszami. Ada, cierpiąca na nieuleczalną chorobę, przekazuje swoje tajemnice Pierrette i każe jej odnaleźć straszliwą broń, którą projektowała dla tajemniczego naukowca o pseudonimie „Mag”. Jedynym wsparcie dla młodej dziewczyny jest Simeon Price, przyjaciel matematyczki z dzieciństwa oraz członek bractwa, uważający wolną wolę za najważniejszą wartość.
Razem odkrywają zaskakującą intrygę mającą na celu destabilizację Europy poprzez polityczne zamachy. Ścigając się z czasem, śledzą trop zabójców i bomb, aby zniszczyć krwawy plan templariuszy.
Assassins Creed. Spisek maga to kolejna odsłona popularnej powieści na podstawie serii gier akcji, której fabuła została osadzona w świecie tajemniczych bractw rywalizujących o kontrolę nad światem. Od samego początku książka w jakiś sposób mnie do siebie przekonała. Autorka stworzyła płynną i bardzo dobrze poprowadzoną akcję z ciekawie napisanymi bohaterami. Wszystkie te elementy pozwalają z łatwością wczuć się w ich historię. Z wielką uwagą śledziłem dalsze poczynania Simeona i Pierrette w szukaniu tajemniczego naukowca pod pseudonimem Mag.
Chciałbym powiedzieć, że lektura napisana przez Kate Heartfield w jakimś stopniu wyróżnia się swoim klimatem, ale nie. Nie poświęcono zbyt dużo uwagi nowej zurbanizowanej klasie średniej, rozwoju technologii czy jej znaczenie w codziennym życiu. W większości akcja skupiała się na znalezieniu Maga. Mimo to niektórym może zabraknąć drobiazgowości w opisach epoki wiktoriańskiej, chociaż autorka stara się oddać klimat tamtego czasu. Styl pisarski jest prosty i przystępny, co czyni książkę łatwą do zrozumienia nawet dla osób, które nie są zaznajomione z uniwersum Assassins Creed.
Cała recenzja na https://czasostrefa.pl/
Londyn, 1851 rok – Pierrette, śmiała akrobatka prezentująca swoje umiejętności na Wielkiej Wystawie, ratuje matematyczkę Adę Lovelace przed porywaczami i zostaje wciągnięta w wieczny spór między asasynami a templariuszami. Ada, cierpiąca na nieuleczalną chorobę, przekazuje swoje tajemnice Pierrette i każe jej odnaleźć straszliwą broń, którą projektowała dla tajemniczego naukowca o pseudonimie „Mag”. Jedynym wsparcie dla młodej dziewczyny jest Simeon Price, przyjaciel matematyczki z dzieciństwa oraz członek bractwa, uważający wolną wolę za najważniejszą wartość.
Razem odkrywają zaskakującą intrygę mającą na celu destabilizację Europy poprzez polityczne zamachy. Ścigając się z czasem, śledzą trop zabójców i bomb, aby zniszczyć krwawy plan templariuszy.
Assassins Creed. Spisek maga to kolejna odsłona popularnej powieści na podstawie serii gier akcji, której fabuła została osadzona w świecie tajemniczych bractw rywalizujących o kontrolę nad światem. Od samego początku książka w jakiś sposób mnie do siebie przekonała. Autorka stworzyła płynną i bardzo dobrze poprowadzoną akcję z ciekawie napisanymi bohaterami. Wszystkie te elementy pozwalają z łatwością wczuć się w ich historię. Z wielką uwagą śledziłem dalsze poczynania Simeona i Pierrette w szukaniu tajemniczego naukowca pod pseudonimem Mag.
Chciałbym powiedzieć, że lektura napisana przez Kate Heartfield w jakimś stopniu wyróżnia się swoim klimatem, ale nie. Nie poświęcono zbyt dużo uwagi nowej zurbanizowanej klasie średniej, rozwoju technologii czy jej znaczenie w codziennym życiu. W większości akcja skupiała się na znalezieniu Maga. Mimo to niektórym może zabraknąć drobiazgowości w opisach epoki wiktoriańskiej, chociaż autorka stara się oddać klimat tamtego czasu. Styl pisarski jest prosty i przystępny, co czyni książkę łatwą do zrozumienia nawet dla osób, które nie są zaznajomione z uniwersum Assassins Creed.
Cała recenzja na https://czasostrefa.pl/
July 20, 2022
Sometimes in the war between the Templars and the Assassin's you need some downtime and that's what this novel felt like. If you're a fan of the games and have read the novelizations of said games many times it feels like world changing, history altering events that will shape the future of humanity. The Magus Conspiracy felt more like the times between those huge, universe shifting events, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Beginning in the early 1850s the story of The Magus Conspiracy follows two main characters, Simeon Price and Pierette, a member of a traveling circus. A chance encounter with famed mathematician Ada Lovelace wraps Pierette into the ever growing war between the Assassin's and the Templars. From there the book travels across various parts of Europe, mostly London and Paris, but with brief sidetrips elsewhere.
Conspiracy, betrayal and the usual narrative twists and turns follow both characters as they try to track down the mysterious character known as the Magus who is trying to get their hands on the Analytical Engine, a computer being designed by Lovelace and Charles Babbage. The book has the familiar ties to the real world and blend historical with fantasy in a way that has become very familiar to fans of the Assassin's Creed series.
There is plenty of action and political intrigue that is all very well written and keeps pushing you forward to find out what happens next. The two main characters, while not fully fledged members of the Assassin's Order, spend plenty of time on the rooftops hiding and watching events unfold. It doesn't feel, necessarily, like the main course of an Assassin's Creed plot, but more like a side story that's going on at the same time with plenty of direct and indirect links to the main story.
Overall, it's a really great addition to the Assassin's Creed lore as a whole and has some ties to the video games, Syndicate in particular, and is worth checking out if you're a fan of the franchise and want to immerse yourself further in that world.
Beginning in the early 1850s the story of The Magus Conspiracy follows two main characters, Simeon Price and Pierette, a member of a traveling circus. A chance encounter with famed mathematician Ada Lovelace wraps Pierette into the ever growing war between the Assassin's and the Templars. From there the book travels across various parts of Europe, mostly London and Paris, but with brief sidetrips elsewhere.
Conspiracy, betrayal and the usual narrative twists and turns follow both characters as they try to track down the mysterious character known as the Magus who is trying to get their hands on the Analytical Engine, a computer being designed by Lovelace and Charles Babbage. The book has the familiar ties to the real world and blend historical with fantasy in a way that has become very familiar to fans of the Assassin's Creed series.
There is plenty of action and political intrigue that is all very well written and keeps pushing you forward to find out what happens next. The two main characters, while not fully fledged members of the Assassin's Order, spend plenty of time on the rooftops hiding and watching events unfold. It doesn't feel, necessarily, like the main course of an Assassin's Creed plot, but more like a side story that's going on at the same time with plenty of direct and indirect links to the main story.
Overall, it's a really great addition to the Assassin's Creed lore as a whole and has some ties to the video games, Syndicate in particular, and is worth checking out if you're a fan of the franchise and want to immerse yourself further in that world.
June 18, 2022
In 1851 Simeon Price is aboard the HMS Birkenhead when the ship goes down and after trying to rescue his friends and shipmates from below decks he abandons ship and absconds from the army.
Meanwhile in England Pirrette is performing the closing act for the Aurora Troupe circus, an honour that has been afforded to against the gut feelings of the circus owner, Major Wallin. The amazing piece of action is going well until Pirrette sees three men attacking a woman in the audience and changes the act so she can rescue the woman. Thus our two major characters are set on a path that will bring them together to hunt for a shadowy character known as The Magus, who is searching for a weapon developed by Ada Lovelace, the woman Pirrette has rescued.
I had no idea that this book had a tie in with gaming and would say it can be read entirely as a stand alone - as I did. I loved the setting. The details of the ship, the Birkenhead, the worldwide developments like the Irish famine and the Indian mutinies, the descriptions of London at a time of horrendous pollution and poverty are all wonderful and very evocative.
I liked the characters - Pirrette is strong willed and fiesty, whilst Simeon is more principled and Kane is elusive and shadowy - they are well drawn and fitting.
The story moves along at a reasonable pace, with a fair amount of detailed action and keeps the reader engaged right to the end, with a couple of twists and turns as the characters wriggle themselves out of difficult situations.
Although there is no real magic the book has an other worldly air to it.
With thanks to Netgalley and Aconyte Books for the chance to read an arc copy in return for an honest review.
Meanwhile in England Pirrette is performing the closing act for the Aurora Troupe circus, an honour that has been afforded to against the gut feelings of the circus owner, Major Wallin. The amazing piece of action is going well until Pirrette sees three men attacking a woman in the audience and changes the act so she can rescue the woman. Thus our two major characters are set on a path that will bring them together to hunt for a shadowy character known as The Magus, who is searching for a weapon developed by Ada Lovelace, the woman Pirrette has rescued.
I had no idea that this book had a tie in with gaming and would say it can be read entirely as a stand alone - as I did. I loved the setting. The details of the ship, the Birkenhead, the worldwide developments like the Irish famine and the Indian mutinies, the descriptions of London at a time of horrendous pollution and poverty are all wonderful and very evocative.
I liked the characters - Pirrette is strong willed and fiesty, whilst Simeon is more principled and Kane is elusive and shadowy - they are well drawn and fitting.
The story moves along at a reasonable pace, with a fair amount of detailed action and keeps the reader engaged right to the end, with a couple of twists and turns as the characters wriggle themselves out of difficult situations.
Although there is no real magic the book has an other worldly air to it.
With thanks to Netgalley and Aconyte Books for the chance to read an arc copy in return for an honest review.
Read
April 17, 2023"Spisek maga" to powieść z serii Assassin's Creed, w której śledzimy poczynania dwójki bohaterów - dezertera Simeona i akrobatki cyrkowej Pierrette, których losy ostatecznie zostają połączone przez pewną tajemnicę i zagadki.
Dobrze mi się czytało o losach tych postaci, choć może autorka nie skupiła się na szczególnym rozwoju ich charakterów, to mogę powiedzieć, że oboje wzbudzili moją sympatię i nie byli mi obojętni.
Fabuła nie jest przesadnie skomplikowana, ale bardzo fajnie mi się płynęło przez kolejne etapy tej historii. Pojawiło się trochę przeskoków czasowych, które pojawiały się nie zawsze spodziewanie, ale były dość istotne dla wiarygodności tej opowieści.
To co urzekło mnie najbardziej to klimat w tej książce - Europa XIX wieku, różne podróże, spojrzenie na różne warstwy społeczne i ich problemy.
Mamy też dwa tajemnicze zakony, będące trzonem tego uniwersum - asasynów i templariuszy. Bardzo lubię klimat jaki wokół siebie roztaczają, chociaż żałuję, że w trakcie tej powieści nie mogliśmy lepiej się w nie zagłębić i lepiej poznać jak funkcjonujących.
Nie jest to lektura jakoś specjalnie wymagająca, ale niesie ze sobą naprawdę fajną rozrywkę. Nie miałam konkretnych oczekiwań wobec tej powieści, ale w sumie dała mi wszystko czego potrzebowałam w danej chwili i naprawdę czytałam ją z czystą przyjemnością, co w ostatnich miesiącach nie zdarzało mi się często 😅
Nie wiem czy to książka dla każdego, mi się spodobała, zachęciła do kolejnych powieści z serii AC i od siebie szczerze mogę ją polecić ❤️
Przyznaję, że świetnie się bawiłam czytając tę książkę, dała mi sporo rozrywki w świetnym klimacie, fabuła łatwo mnie wkręciła i lekko mi się ją czytało. Na pewno będę ją wspominać bardzo pozytywnie 😍
Dobrze mi się czytało o losach tych postaci, choć może autorka nie skupiła się na szczególnym rozwoju ich charakterów, to mogę powiedzieć, że oboje wzbudzili moją sympatię i nie byli mi obojętni.
Fabuła nie jest przesadnie skomplikowana, ale bardzo fajnie mi się płynęło przez kolejne etapy tej historii. Pojawiło się trochę przeskoków czasowych, które pojawiały się nie zawsze spodziewanie, ale były dość istotne dla wiarygodności tej opowieści.
To co urzekło mnie najbardziej to klimat w tej książce - Europa XIX wieku, różne podróże, spojrzenie na różne warstwy społeczne i ich problemy.
Mamy też dwa tajemnicze zakony, będące trzonem tego uniwersum - asasynów i templariuszy. Bardzo lubię klimat jaki wokół siebie roztaczają, chociaż żałuję, że w trakcie tej powieści nie mogliśmy lepiej się w nie zagłębić i lepiej poznać jak funkcjonujących.
Nie jest to lektura jakoś specjalnie wymagająca, ale niesie ze sobą naprawdę fajną rozrywkę. Nie miałam konkretnych oczekiwań wobec tej powieści, ale w sumie dała mi wszystko czego potrzebowałam w danej chwili i naprawdę czytałam ją z czystą przyjemnością, co w ostatnich miesiącach nie zdarzało mi się często 😅
Nie wiem czy to książka dla każdego, mi się spodobała, zachęciła do kolejnych powieści z serii AC i od siebie szczerze mogę ją polecić ❤️
Przyznaję, że świetnie się bawiłam czytając tę książkę, dała mi sporo rozrywki w świetnym klimacie, fabuła łatwo mnie wkręciła i lekko mi się ją czytało. Na pewno będę ją wspominać bardzo pozytywnie 😍
August 17, 2022
Thank you to the publisher Aconyte and to NetGalley for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.
As a huge Assassin's Creed fan, I was thrilled to be given an ARC for this book and even more delighted to find that it's such a fun read. The highlight of Assassin's Creed for me has always been the immersion into history, and the crossing of the games with real-life events; here in the "Magus Conspiracy", this is done brilliantly. Kate Heartfeld introduces us to Pierette, an acrobat in a performing troupe based in 1851 London, who befriends Ada Lovelace after the woman is attacked after a performance. The two women grow close, and before Ada dies of long term illness, she confides in Pierette that she created a weapon that could be used to destroy Europe. On the other side of the story is Simeon, an English Army deserter who falls into the life of an Assassin after witnessing the brutality of the English Army in Ireland. Simeon wanders to Vienna where he befriends a man named Oscar Kane, who aims to bring Simeon into the fold in the Assassins' war against the Templars.
This was a thrilling and enjoyable addition to the Assassin's Creed universe, without the reliance of characters from the games. I loved how Kate Heartfeld has wound the tensions of Europe at the time into the storytelling, and taken the reader from Vienna to Paris to London. I especially loved the inclusion of real life historical figures like Dante Gabriel and Elizabeth Rosetti, Ada Lovelace and Fanny Eaton as well. "The Magus Conspiracy" can be read by anyone, not just a fan of the series but the easter eggs and nods to the games made this all the more enjoyable for.
As a huge Assassin's Creed fan, I was thrilled to be given an ARC for this book and even more delighted to find that it's such a fun read. The highlight of Assassin's Creed for me has always been the immersion into history, and the crossing of the games with real-life events; here in the "Magus Conspiracy", this is done brilliantly. Kate Heartfeld introduces us to Pierette, an acrobat in a performing troupe based in 1851 London, who befriends Ada Lovelace after the woman is attacked after a performance. The two women grow close, and before Ada dies of long term illness, she confides in Pierette that she created a weapon that could be used to destroy Europe. On the other side of the story is Simeon, an English Army deserter who falls into the life of an Assassin after witnessing the brutality of the English Army in Ireland. Simeon wanders to Vienna where he befriends a man named Oscar Kane, who aims to bring Simeon into the fold in the Assassins' war against the Templars.
This was a thrilling and enjoyable addition to the Assassin's Creed universe, without the reliance of characters from the games. I loved how Kate Heartfeld has wound the tensions of Europe at the time into the storytelling, and taken the reader from Vienna to Paris to London. I especially loved the inclusion of real life historical figures like Dante Gabriel and Elizabeth Rosetti, Ada Lovelace and Fanny Eaton as well. "The Magus Conspiracy" can be read by anyone, not just a fan of the series but the easter eggs and nods to the games made this all the more enjoyable for.
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