Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (novel)

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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. This template should be removed from the article three months after release.

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a novel based on the game of the same name, released on November 25, 2010. Written once again by Oliver Bowden, it is a direct sequel to Assassin's Creed: Renaissance.

Description

"I will journey to the black heart of a corrupt Empire to root out my foes. But Rome wasn't built in a day and it won't be restored by a lone assassin. I am Ezio Auditore da Firenze. This is my brotherhood."

Rome, once mighty, lies in ruins. The city swarms with suffering and degradation, her citizens living in the shadow of the ruthless Borgia family. Only one man can free the people from the Borgia tyranny - Ezio Auditore, the Master Assassin. Ezio's quest will test him to his limits. Cesare Borgia, a man more villainous and dangerous than his father the Pope, will not rest until he has conquered Italy. And in such treacherous times, conspiracy is everywhere, even within the ranks of the brotherhood itself...

Differences in the Novel

Characters

• Mario Auditore was said to be the Grand Master of the Assassin Order prior to his death during the Siege of Monteriggioni.
• Cesare's face had been mutilated by the "New Disease" (which is a reference to the recent outbreak of syphilis), leading him to wear a mask. In the game, however, his face is always fully shown without any signs of such deformities.
• According to the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood novel, Cesare excelled at bullfighting. Machiavelli believed he showed such an interest in the sport due to his aggressive nature and partly being Spanish, where the sport originated.
• In the book, Ezio is a Christian while in the games he is nonreligious.
• Leonardo is offered to join the Assassins, though he declines.
• The traitorous thief from Monteriggioni was said to be named Paganino and had once served Antonio in Venice, before being recruited by the Borgia.
• Some of Ezio's recruits are said to be wanting to get back to the normal life they once had, after the defeat of the Borgia.
• Maria Auditore passes away due to a long-time illness sometime between 1504 and 1505.
• Despite that none of the events in The Da Vinci Disappearance are not mentioned at all in the book, Salai is mentioned as Leonardo's boyfriend, but not Ezio nor Machiavelli and not even Pope Julius II show much liking for him.

Relationships

• In the novel it goes into more detail regarding Ezio's relationship with Caterina Sforza.
• At the start of the book Mario Auditore makes reference to Claudia being married and then widowed; where as in the game this doesn't happen, or at least is not mentioned.
• Giuliano della Rovere is said to be allied with the assassins upon Ezio's arrival in Rome and after the fall of the Borgia in Rome, Ezio becomes his counsellor.

Equipment

• Ezio is said to have lost all of his codex inventions at the Siege of Monteriggioni. After reuniting with Leonardo in Rome, Leonardo rebuilds them for Ezio, as well as some additional inventions. In the game, Ezio claims that he had lost all of the codex inventions Leonardo once fashioned for him, while only having lost his second hidden blade.
• Pistols are used much more frequently by enemies in the novel; in the game they are only used by arquebusiers, Papal Guards and Cesare Borgia.
• The poison darts given to Ezio by Leonardo are not fired from Ezio's pistol like in the game, but instead they are tossed as ordinary darts.
• In the novel it is Leonardo who constructs Ezio's crossbow for him, and Ezio only uses it in one mission - while escorting Bartolomeo to 'surrender' to the French Army.
• Leonardo reveals that he used the Apple to locate Ezio in Rome, similarly to how Ezio discovers where Cesare is headed after his escape from prison.
• Ezio does not use the Apple as a weapon against Cesare.

Assassinations

• Il Carnefice, Malfatto and Silvestro Sabbatini are not mentioned at all, and Ezio do not use his recruits to assassinate any targets.
• Juan Borgia's party is not held outdoors in the Trastavere, but instead in his own palazzo in the Vatican. Ezio does not assassinate him from a bench, but corners him and a guard in a small room before finishing them both off.
• In the game Ezio can either air assassinate the Baron de Valois or shoot him from above; in the novel Ezio corners him and kills him with his sword.

Other Events

• Mario Auditore is both shot and beheaded during the defense of Monteriggioni. Cesare then waves Mario's head at Ezio when he catches up to their escape under the tunnels, shouting "Yours next!" after him.
• Ezio and Cesare meet during the Siege of Monteriggioni and Ezio is shot by Octavian de Valois. In the game, Ezio and Cesare don't meet until later, and Ezio is shot by an arquebusier.
• Leonardo da Vinci is present and stands with Cesare at the Siege of Monteriggioni, against his will.
• Ezio uses his Apprentices to destroy Leonardo's inventions, and to guard Leonardo from the Borgia. In the game, Ezio himself destroys the war machines, and he doesn't leave Leonardo with any protection.
• The fall of the Borgia loyalists is covered in more detail.
• Between 1504 and 1506, Claudia Auditore da Firenze steps down as the Madam of the Rosa in Fiore, after being kidnapped by Borgia loyalists, and Rosa replaces her.
• Machiavelli is present when Ezio hides the Apple under the Colosseo.
• None of the events in The Da Vinci Disappearance are mentioned.
• A more detailed account of Ezio's hunt for Cesare after he escapes from prison is given. It details Micheletto being killed, and has Ezio in Spain with Leonardo and Machiavelli trying to find Cesare.