Assassins Read #13 - Desert Oath (Assassin's Creed Origins prequel)

Next month's assignment is Assassin's Creed: Reflections! Pick up a copy here: amzn.to/2Aka8en
In this episode of Assassins Read, we review and discuss "Desert Oath", the book prequel to Assassin's Creed Origins!
/ loomer979
/ loomer979

[@Zero-ELEC]

Honestly this is much better than the last Oliver Bowden _AC_ novel, _Underworld_ . That one suffered from dry prose and very short, almost unnatural scenes. This was way better at portraying the characters as people and having an actual plot. Bion was neat, though in the end inconsequential. Which is, I guess my problem with this book in general: nothing of consequence happens. And I know it's unreasonable to expect _Origins_ to call back to this book out of nowhere or whatever, hard to make something optional reading yet still important. I digress. Still an enjoyable read, tho. Still waiting for a _Rogue_ novelization, Ubi. >.>

[@huwpritchard4200]

I enjoyed Desert Oath. It was fun to see a young inexperienced Bayek go on his first adventure, seeing as he portrayed as more experienced in Origins. I thought Bion was a fantastic villain, and I'm honestly a little bit dissapointed that he was killed off, and didn't appear in Origins. My biggest gripe, however, is that I don't feel like I gained anything by reading it. There weren't really a lot of callbacks to it in Origins, and it didn't really give me any insight into the characters that I couldn't have gotten from the game. I guess it would've been hard to strike a balance between it being worth reading, but not essential to enjoying the game's story. But that being said, it was still an enjoyable thing to read whilst waiting for Origins to release.

[@Asram5]

Desert Oath was a really solid story. Bayek and Aya's relationship was strong, and I especially liked the dynamics between Bayek and Tuta. I felt what happened with Tuta - as well as Bayek's father - gave a strong foundation for endowing Bayek with that fierce determination and sense of purpose. I particularly enjoyed Bion. A complex, intimidating villain who really stood out. I do agree with you that there could have been a stronger link to the game. I finished Desert Oath just in time for Origins and was surprised how little of a connection there was. Still early in the game so it's hard to tell what other connections there may be, but what I will praise this book for is being entirely original, a standalone prequel. I like the suggestion of setting up aspects like Senu here, as I felt that would strengthen that link between novel and game, especially as Origins just thrusts you into Bayek's life with no explanation. There is that lingering feeling of something misssing, the absence of the Creed as you mentioned, however, a worthwhile read if you want to know more about Bayek and Aya, and follow a fun three act tale.

[@JoyedTara1657]

u rlly need to win an award for making the best vids

[@Smurfaliscous]

I enjoyed Desert Oath a lot, but I agree about wanting more things to tie into the game or explain some things, like meeting Senu and showing why he wears the eagle skull amulet. Hopefully, school will chill out a little bit for me so I can get into Reflections soon!

[@hughxmungus9252]

Brian Ford the eagle skull was khemus

[@malinhalia]

I intended to finish this book, I bought it and read the first few chapters but then I got a bit busy with moving business :/ hopefully I’ll be back here in late Dec to give an opinion of the book. Kolya (who didn’t read the book either) and I discussed both the feather ceremony and Senu when he was playing the game. We said that hopefully the book would explain the ’telepatic’ connection between Bayek and Senu, since the game didn’t touch it at all. Sad to hear she’s not covered in the book either, I think that’s a topic that needs covering considering (imo) how OP the ability to scan areas from above is.

[@dostwood5103]

I have not finished desert oath yet, but I so far I am really enjoying it.

[@JT-qq5is]

i think bayek might be using the feathers because of them being mahats feathers and with them trenched in the victims blood he wont have any problem with the weighin of his heart? Mayby just a thought tho would explain why he has them and wouldnt seem so random since they are connected with death and guilt ?

[@jeekey4]

Hey Loomer! I only really watched your response to my comment; I thought this month’s edition of assassin’s read would be spoilery and I’m not getting origins for a little while, so I didn’t do this month’s reading. So no essay from me this time lol. But yeah you make a good point that superhero-moviefying the comics does create disconnect from the tone of the rest of the ac canon, which is not ideal, especially if they are to remain relevant. And I definitely don’t think the solution is making the games more superhero-esque; that’s not really the tone that I want out of the series. There is definitely a way to have futuristic tech or fantastical powers without it being superhero-esque. (Of course this comment ends up longer than I meant it to lol) Catch you next month!

[@jrw3349]

I've not read the book but I've played the game and I would of like some sort of background on why bayek wears a hood or even a mention on it of some sort

[@TheAnarchistmediaHOG]

Hey loomer! Just wondering if you had any Assassins Den podcasts, or anymore interviews with the members of the Assassins Creed Origins team coming soon?

[@loomer]

+TheBrainwashedCommie yes, probably sometime in December and January!

[@TheAnarchistmediaHOG]

Loomer awsome! I'm really excited and can't wait

[@stackzz3rd]

i just finshed the book it was soo good

[@Mrshadowman460]

I thought Bayek was too obsessed with Aya particularly in part 1 and in part 1 his character was quite bland

[@caballuscollecting]

Heyo

[@jacobilton6879]

Did u get a job?