Innocence Lost in Flames

Haytham Kenway's early years in 1730s London are marked by privilege, isolation, and a sense of being different. His world is upended when masked men attack his home, murder his father, and kidnap his beloved half-sister, Jenny. The violence is swift and senseless, leaving Haytham's family broken and his childhood innocence destroyed. In the aftermath, Haytham is left with questions about his family's secrets, his father's mysterious past, and the true nature of the world he inhabits—a world where trust is a rare commodity and danger lurks behind every familiar face.

The Sword and the Secret

Taken in by the enigmatic Reginald Birch, Haytham is trained in the art of swordsmanship and the ways of the Templars, though the truth of his father's affiliations remains murky. Birch becomes both mentor and manipulator, guiding Haytham's thirst for vengeance while subtly shaping his worldview. Haytham's education is not just martial but philosophical—he is taught to question, to see beyond surface truths, and to understand that power and knowledge are often hidden in plain sight. The trauma of his family's destruction becomes the crucible in which his identity is forged.

Shadows of Betrayal

As Haytham matures, he is drawn deeper into the Templar Order, even as he uncovers layers of betrayal within his own circle. The search for Jenny and the truth behind his father's murder takes him across Europe, where he learns that those closest to him—servants, friends, even Birch—may be complicit in the tragedies that shaped him. The lines between friend and foe blur, and Haytham's journey becomes as much about understanding the nature of betrayal as it is about seeking justice.

The Making of a Templar

Haytham's relentless pursuit of answers and vengeance transforms him from a traumatized boy into a formidable Templar. He adopts the Order's creed, believing in the necessity of order and control to prevent chaos. Yet, the lessons of his father—an Assassin who valued freedom and questioning—linger in his mind, creating a tension between the two philosophies. Haytham's rise within the Templar ranks is marked by both ruthless efficiency and a growing sense of doubt about the cost of his convictions.

Across Continents, Across Years

The search for Jenny and the shadowy enemies of his family takes Haytham from the streets of London to the courts of Europe, the deserts of the Ottoman Empire, and eventually to the New World. Along the way, he confronts the limits of loyalty, the pain of unhealed wounds, and the ever-present specter of betrayal. His journey is both physical and existential, as he grapples with the meaning of power, the burden of leadership, and the legacy of violence.

The Web of Lies

Haytham's world is a labyrinth of secrets—hidden rooms, coded diaries, and double agents. The Templar Order itself is rife with internal strife, and Haytham must navigate shifting alliances and deadly conspiracies. The revelation that his father was an Assassin, and that Birch orchestrated much of his suffering, forces Haytham to confront the lies that have defined his life. The pursuit of truth becomes a double-edged sword, threatening to destroy what little stability he has left.

The Assassin's Legacy

In the New World, Haytham's path crosses with Kaniehtí:io (Ziio), a Mohawk woman whose strength and spirit captivate him. Their brief union produces a son, Ratonhnhaké:ton (Connor), though Haytham is unaware of his existence for years. The legacy of the Assassins and Templars is now embodied in Connor—a child of two worlds, destined to inherit the conflict that has consumed his father. Haytham's love for Ziio is complicated by the demands of the Order and the impossibility of reconciling their worlds.

A Family Torn Apart

The fragile hope of family is shattered by war and ideology. Ziio's village is destroyed, and she is killed in the crossfire of the revolution. Connor grows up believing his father is the enemy, while Haytham, consumed by duty and regret, is unable to bridge the chasm between them. The sins of the past—betrayal, murder, and the pursuit of power—echo through generations, making reconciliation seem impossible.

The Templar's Creed

As the American Revolution erupts, Haytham and his Templar brethren seek to shape the outcome, believing that only order can prevent the chaos of unchecked liberty. Their efforts are met with resistance from the Assassins, now led by Connor. The philosophical divide between father and son mirrors the larger conflict tearing the colonies apart. Haytham's belief in the necessity of control is tested by the realities of war, the corruption of his allies, and the resilience of those who fight for freedom.

Love and War in the New World

Haytham's relationships—with allies, enemies, and his own son—are defined by shifting loyalties and the harsh demands of survival. The revolution exposes the flaws in both Templar and Assassin ideologies, as both sides commit atrocities in the name of their cause. Haytham's attempts to guide Connor, to find common ground, are thwarted by the weight of history and the scars of betrayal. The personal becomes political, and every choice carries a heavy price.

The Son of Two Worlds

Connor's emergence as an Assassin and a leader of his people brings him into direct conflict with Haytham. Their encounters are fraught with tension, misunderstanding, and a desperate longing for connection. Haytham sees in Connor both the hope of reconciliation and the inevitability of conflict. Their relationship is a microcosm of the larger war—a struggle between order and freedom, father and son, past and future.

Revolution's Bitter Price

The revolution grinds on, leaving devastation in its wake. Haytham's Templar Order is decimated, his allies dead or disgraced, and his vision for the New World in ruins. Connor, too, is left disillusioned, as the promises of liberty give way to new forms of oppression and betrayal. The cost of victory is measured in broken families, lost innocence, and the realization that neither side holds a monopoly on truth or justice.

Father and Son, Enemies

The inevitable confrontation between Haytham and Connor is both brutal and tragic. Each is the product of a lifetime of pain, shaped by forces beyond their control. Their final battle is not just a clash of blades, but a reckoning with the past—a desperate attempt to find meaning in the ruins of their lives. In the end, Haytham's death at Connor's hand is both a release and a condemnation, the last act in a tragedy that began with a boy's loss of innocence.

The Final Confrontation

With Haytham's death, the cycle of violence seems unbroken. Connor inherits both the burdens and the hopes of his parents, struggling to find a path forward in a world that resists easy answers. The Templar dream of order and the Assassin ideal of freedom are both revealed as flawed, and the true cost of their conflict is laid bare. The search for meaning continues, even as the past refuses to let go.

Hope Buried, Hope Renewed

In the aftermath, Connor buries the amulet—a symbol of both his parents' legacies and the endless struggle between order and freedom. He acknowledges his failures and the limits of his power, but refuses to surrender hope. The story ends not with triumph, but with the quiet determination to keep fighting for a better world, even in the face of overwhelming odds. The cycle may not be broken, but the possibility of change endures.

Characters

Haytham Kenway

Haytham is the central figure—a boy whose privileged life is shattered by violence, who grows into a man defined by both the trauma of his past and the ideals of the Templar Order. His psychological complexity is rooted in the tension between his Assassin heritage (from his father) and his Templar upbringing (under Birch). Haytham is intelligent, skeptical, and driven by a need for control, yet haunted by doubt and regret. His relationships—with mentors, lovers, and his son—are marked by both longing and betrayal. Over time, Haytham becomes both a master manipulator and a tragic figure, unable to reconcile the warring parts of his identity.

Reginald Birch

Birch is Haytham's guardian and the mastermind behind much of the story's intrigue. Outwardly a benefactor, he is in truth a Templar zealot who orchestrates the murder of Haytham's father and the destruction of the Kenway family to obtain a powerful artifact. Birch's psychological profile is that of a true believer—ruthless, cunning, and convinced of his own righteousness. His relationship with Haytham is both paternal and exploitative, shaping Haytham's worldview while ultimately betraying him. Birch embodies the dangers of ideology unchecked by empathy.

Edward Kenway

Edward is Haytham's father, whose secret life as an Assassin sets the stage for the entire narrative. Though killed early, his legacy looms large—his teachings about questioning authority and valuing freedom haunt Haytham throughout his life. Edward's duality as both a loving parent and a secretive warrior creates a psychological wound in Haytham, fueling his lifelong search for truth and belonging.

Jenny Kenway

Jenny is Haytham's older half-sister, whose kidnapping and subsequent suffering become a central trauma for Haytham. She is intelligent, proud, and deeply scarred by her experiences—first as a pawn in Birch's schemes, later as a concubine in the Ottoman Empire. Jenny's relationship with Haytham is fraught with resentment and unspoken pain; she represents both the cost of the Templar-Assassin conflict and the resilience required to survive it.

Kaniehtí:io (Ziio)

Ziio is a woman of strength, wisdom, and independence. Her brief relationship with Haytham is marked by mutual respect and tragic inevitability. As the mother of Connor, she embodies the possibility of reconciliation between Assassins and Templars, but her death at the hands of the revolutionaries underscores the futility of such hopes. Ziio's spirit and values live on in her son, shaping the next generation's struggle.

Connor (Ratonhnhaké:ton)

Connor is the product of two worlds—Assassin and Templar, Mohawk and English. His journey is one of self-discovery, as he seeks to protect his people and find his place in a world torn by war and ideology. Connor's relationship with Haytham is complex: he is both adversary and heir, shaped by the very conflict he seeks to end. Psychologically, Connor is driven by a fierce sense of justice, but also by the wounds of abandonment and loss.

Charles Lee

Lee is Haytham's protégé and later rival, a man whose ambition and sense of entitlement lead him down a path of bitterness and betrayal. His resentment at being passed over for command fuels his antagonism toward both Washington and Connor. Lee's psychological arc is one of decline—from eager disciple to embittered outcast, his fate a cautionary tale about the corrosive effects of pride and envy.

Benjamin Church

Church is a Templar whose initial pragmatism devolves into self-serving treachery. His willingness to betray both sides for personal gain makes him a symbol of the moral ambiguity at the heart of the conflict. Church's downfall is a reminder that ideology, when divorced from principle, leads to ruin.

Jim Holden

Holden is Haytham's most steadfast ally, a man of integrity and courage who suffers horribly for his loyalty. His fate—castrated and ultimately driven to suicide—serves as a stark illustration of the human cost of the Templar-Assassin war. Holden's unwavering support and tragic end highlight the story's themes of sacrifice and the limits of endurance.

Regret and Hope (Symbolic)

Though not a character in the traditional sense, the pervasive sense of regret, longing, and hope for reconciliation is a constant presence in the narrative. It shapes the actions and fates of all the main characters, driving them toward both destruction and the possibility of redemption.

Plot Devices

Framed Narrative and Diaries

The story is structured as a series of diary entries and recollections, allowing for deep psychological introspection and unreliable narration. This device blurs the line between past and present, truth and perception, and invites the reader to question the nature of memory and identity. The diary format also serves as a confession—a final attempt by Haytham to make sense of his life and to reach out to his son.

Duality and Inheritance

The central plot device is the dual inheritance of Assassin and Templar philosophies, embodied in Haytham and Connor. This duality is mirrored in the structure of the narrative, which constantly juxtaposes order and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, love and duty. The recurring motif of artifacts (the amulet, the diary, the hidden room) symbolizes the burden of legacy and the search for meaning.

Foreshadowing and Irony

The narrative is rich in foreshadowing—Haytham's early doubts, the unresolved mysteries of his family, the hints of Connor's existence—all point toward the inevitable tragedy of father and son as enemies. Irony pervades the story: the Templars' quest for order breeds chaos; the Assassins' fight for freedom leads to new forms of oppression. The ultimate futility of both sides' ambitions is both anticipated and realized.

Historical Backdrop and Real Figures

The plot is interwoven with real historical events and figures—the American Revolution, George Washington, the Boston Tea Party—lending authenticity and weight to the personal struggles of the characters. The use of history as both setting and plot device underscores the universality of the story's themes.

Symbolism of Artifacts and Burial

Artifacts such as the amulet, the diary, and the hidden room serve as symbols of both hope and the futility of the endless conflict. The act of burying the amulet at the end is a powerful metaphor for letting go of the past and the possibility of renewal.

Analysis

Forsaken is a sweeping, psychologically rich narrative that reimagines the Assassin's Creed mythos as a generational tragedy of fathers and sons, ideals and betrayals. Through Haytham Kenway's eyes, the book explores the corrosive effects of violence, the seductive power of ideology, and the impossibility of reconciling order and freedom in a world defined by conflict. The story's greatest strength lies in its refusal to offer easy answers: both Templar and Assassin philosophies are shown to be flawed, and the true cost of their war is measured in broken families, lost innocence, and the perpetuation of suffering. Yet, amid the darkness, Forsaken offers a glimmer of hope—the possibility that, by acknowledging the failures of the past and refusing to surrender to cynicism, a new generation might find a better way. The lesson is clear: history is a cycle of compromise and struggle, but hope endures as long as there are those willing to fight for it.

Last updated: May 14, 2025