Assassin’s Creed: Die goldene Stadt

Assassin's Creed

by Jaleigh Johnson, Helga Parmiter (Translator)

Das Leben eines jungen Kronprinzen steht auf dem Spiel, und nur die Bruderschaft der Assassinen kann ihn retten … Konstantinopel, 867: Ein schändliches Komplott ist im Gange. Unterstützt vom Orden der Ältesten will der Kaiser seinen Sohn ermorden lassen und die Stadt ins Chaos stürzen. Um das zu verhindern, haben die Verborgenen den Assassinen-Akolythen Hytham ausgesandt: Gemeinsam mit seinem Mentor Basim Ibn Ishaq soll er den Palast infiltrieren und den Plan des Kaisers vereiteln. Doch ist das nicht sein einziger Auftrag … Hythams Bruderschaft hat ihn damit betraut, zweierlei herauszufinden: Wem gilt Basims Treue wirklich? Und was überwiegt: die Besessenheit des Meisterassassinen oder sein Pflichtbewusstsein? Hytham wird äußerst vorsichtig vorgehen müssen, denn Konstantinopel ist eine Stadt voller düsterer Winkel, in denen sich mannigfache Gefahren verbergen …

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Adventure, Video Games

384 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2023

About the author

Jaleigh Johnson lives and writes in the wilds of the Midwest. Her middle grade debut novel The Mark of the Dragonfly is a New York Times bestseller. Her other books from Delacorte Press include The Secrets of Solace, The Quest to the Uncharted Lands, and The Door to the Lost. She has also written fiction for Dungeons and Dragons, Marvel, and Assassin's Creed. Johnson is an avid gamer and lifelong geek.

Reviews

[Bella Toric · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have a deep love for all things Assassin's Creed. From the historical aspects, to the lore, to the characters; this is a fandom I absolutely thrive in reading about. I was extremely excited to jump into The Golden City, because of where this story takes place and the historical pieces that the author integrated into the book.

Right off the bat, I was absolutely mesmerized by Jaleigh's ability to write out the scenery and complex characters in a way that made me feel like I was right alongside the Assassin's. The main character, Hytham, is a complex and brilliant character who really has to figure out and balance the idea of being overly protective while also trying to complete his task. The delicate balance of trying to both protect the child while at the same time do his job was an internal conflict that the author does a great job of showing.

After reading so many other Assassin's Creed books, I can definitely say that Golden City is ranked among the top three. These characters were overall extremely interesting, displayed complexities that have to be dealt with to move on, and a great adventure that was relatively easy to follow as a reader. This was a great book & great story!

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this novel!

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never played Assassin's Creed and never read a novel in this series. That said The Golden City is a well plotted and gripping mix of historical and alt-history fiction.
I had fun and liked the storytelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher Aconyte for the digital ARC, it has not affected my honest review.

TW: death, implied child abuse

I'm a huge fan of Assassin's Creed, particularly the most recent games so I was delighted to be approved for a book that follows two of the characters from it. This book is set before the Viking Valhalla game, in Constantinople during the reign of Basil I. Hytham, recently graduated as a member of the Assassins, has been sent alongside his new mentor Basim to discover who is trying to kill the heir to the throne, a sickly boy named Leo. When Hytham becomes Leo's protector he begins to struggle to be objective, while also following orders to check that Basim is still loyal to the cause. Anyone who has played Valhalla will know why Basim behaves a certain way but this wide reaching and adventurous book is easily readable for people who aren't fans. I loved the characterisation of the characters and the way that real history blends together to create an original narrative.

This is a must read for fans before the next game "Mirage" comes out if they want to know more about Basim.

[Kinga · Rating 3 out of 5]

„We work in the dark to serve the light.”

A bit slower-paced than most of the books in this series/world, but it was enjoyable. The ending for me didn’t make sense hence the lower rating. Why would Basil not want to get rid off his son just because people love him and think of him as a hero? I thought this’d push Basil even more to continue hiring people to assassinate Leo.

[Athina (booknotes_athina) · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's not a secret anymore that I love the Assassin's Creed novels and i do not miss the chance to read a new one.

Assassin's Creed: The Golden City by Jaleigh Johnson, takes place in ancient Constantinopole, where the Brotherhood of Assassins are the only ones who can save the life of the emperor's son.
It is action-packed with the correct pacing. As always I liked how it combines the historical with the fantasy/fiction elements.
I also really liked the author's writing style and how she wrote her characters.


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[Igor Veloso · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just two quick notes to put out of the way:

- There are some lines on Chapter Sixteen I’m sure they need to be in italic. The narration suddenly goes from third person to first person on regular font, and does not seem right. Would be better to confirm.
- On Chapter Twenty-Three, Hytham refuses to spar because he’s all beaten up, and crippled, yet on the following day he goes on an archery challenge with another character. Considering the (detailed) injuries he sustained not long ago at that time, he wouldn’t be capable of neither sparing nor archery. The posture and muscles required for him to be that effective are, in big part, the same he would use sparring. I know this sounds specially nitpicky considering they eagle jump from tall buildings, but this followup of events is just too close, in my opinion, to not notice.

I stopped with Assassin’s Creed after finishing Black Flag. Character wise it peaked on the Haytham family, granted they are my favorite clan of assassins. Ezio had great games, but as a character, I did no like him, except for Revelations. That said, the only books I've read were Forsaken and Black Flag, and I enjoyed them. The Golden City is a good time as any to check how the franchise has evolved, and this one seems a tie in novel to AC Valhalla, wish I definitely wishlisted for its soundtrack alone.

AC is one of those franchises that stuck to a formula for years before deciding to try something new. Personal tastes aside, Ezio was a marketing success and was a personality hard to come out off. After Ezio came Connor Kenway, bringing another personality and symbology with controversial results, but marked the first attempts at delivering something new. The consecutive attempts seem to have been generally successful game wise, also for technical reasons, but the book quality seems to have gone down towards an opposite fate.

The Golden City seems an odd title after reading the story, and the cover, while good, it does not match what I got from the text. The book does attempt to describe Constantinople as grand as it was in the day, and most of the plot happens at the Emperor’s Palace. The author did a great job at describing the environment and I quickly got immersed on the physical space, but what I related to most was the fatherhood theme.

These books are not made to be deep but they can convey some ideas. This one had a struggle between being overly protective towards the next generation, or showing tough love. Hytham goes from being a child bodyguard into kind of a “helicopter parent”, and that brings complications into his job. But he has competition: another guardian who is more than tough towards the child, a child with many enemies that want to kill him. This conflict ends up shaping the child one way or another. He is not stupid but lacks the freedom to learn and grow. The palace people want him to grow into a strong example of the people, making him learn various skills, but it’s an oppressive environment that punishes severely any kind of failure. Hytham, on the other hand, gives him freedom and emotional comfort, but makes the child too reliable on others for protection, risking not learning things by himself and becoming too soft in a culture of politics.

Sometimes I got frustrated by how the child was shoved and carried around like a puppet, but I assume that’s the idea. He is a pawn in the middle of a greater game, and despite being conscious of his powerlessness, he is not growing fast enough nor well enough to face life’s challenges. A big part of the plot is about figuring out how to solve this mystery. More than foiling the emperor’s plan, Hytham and Basim are figuring out how to bring a safe environment for a child to grow. I did enjoy the little twists and how they went about finding a solution. I was not expecting that ending either: it was masterful but ordinary in a way spy stories tend to be. Unlike previous AC stories, where everything is very overt, this one really showed how pieces moved in shadows can result in unremarkable but truly meaningful events. Was like a young adult CIA story but in Byzantium.

My main gripe was how Hytham seemed capable of fighting despite all the injuries he got. Requires a suspension of belief I can’t hold for long. I would prefer a more clever way of going about it while letting Basim and others do all the fighting. As for all the violence happening in the Palace, multiple times, and seemingly with little consequence overall, I can “forgive” considering the players involved. I just wish the Order was more complex and fearful than usually portrayed. The Golden City made them all around bad guys that lose a lot of people yet just keep throwing them like cannon fodder, and can get tiring, specially when the Assassins seem to get away with it with not very meaningful injuries. I know how the games work, but a novel could turn that down a notch.

Regardless, I enjoyed very much the read. Hytham internal conflict with the challenges of parenting and loyalty was something I could relate a lot, and earned points. Also bonus for not having more Ezio copies wandering around once more. Three Stars means I Liked It, Fours means I loved it but isn't a favourite. The Golden City is fun, immersive and themes I can relate to, but at the same time, some pet peeves.

Review from ARC at Netgalley

[Jason Lafontaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Powered through this in a single evening and I was pretty disappointed.

The author seems to have a shaky grasp on the historical aspect of the story. Some may say this is unimportant. To these people, I reply: I'm a history major and it is my right to be annoying about it. Besides, this is Assassin's Creed, the historical aspect is one of the main draws. For example, vikings were constantly referred to as a monolithic people rather than the specific term used to describe the scandinavians who went viking (raiding) as an activity. Besides, why is one of these norse characters named Justin!?!?!? Also there's the one part where the poorer side of Constantinople is described as if it was victorian-era London (mainly thinking about the use of the words "unfiltered smoke" here) I understand the imagery being conveyed but like... wrong vibe. These examples are only off the top of my head and to the best of my own limited historical knowledge. I'm sure a lot more could be said about it. The world building as a whole just felt very shallow. Was there even effort put into the research?

Also, this might be a nitpick, but I was perplexed (although amused) by the use of christian references in Hytham's P.O.V., such as employing the expression "sweet mother of christ", or comparing the palace's library to a church. I guess Hytham is a confirmed christian now. Don't get me wrong, it's possible to be from the middle east and christian, it's where christianity originated after all, but given the fact that the assassins were historically a muslim organization, it's pretty funny. Actually, I kind of like it. That's going to be my headcanon for Hytham from now on. He's christian.

Jokes aside, all of this would have been fine if the ethos of the assassin's creed franchise as a whole had been respected. Underdogs freeing a people from tyranny, restoring freedom to the common man, all that good stuff. Yet none of that is present in the story outside of passing references that hold no real thematic substance. The struggle of a single child against a father that despises him on the grounds that he may not be his, with a loose connection to the Order of the Ancients, isn't cutting it. The author even mentions at one point that the emperor Basil is a good ruler and that the people are satisfied with him. Where is the need for the assassins in that scenario? As for the Order of the Ancients, they are barely fleshed out at all in this story. Where is the oppression of the people motivated by greed and the hunger for power? What was the point of having the head of the Order in Constantinople be an unassuming shopkeeper? Especially given his connection to the literal emperor. It makes no sense. It's a cheap plot twist with incredibly low stakes. Also, I'm very annoyed by the fact that it's established that the Hidden One's presence in Constantinople begins and ends with Basim and Hytham. No need to bother with keeping an eye on the most important city of the Byzantine empire because "everything's fine and the Order of the Ancients are gonna behave now!!". Seriously?? They lived happily ever after??? There is no allusion to the eternal fight between freedom and order waged by two factions with a mission bigger than the individuals that comprise them???? Lame and boring.

I also am dissatisfied with how Basim's character was handled. He is not very present in the story. It's as if the author didn't know what to do with him. This is flabbergasting, especially when the premise of the book is "Hytham is sent to Constantinople to investigate where Basim's true loyalty lies". This ends up being incredibly misleading, as the actual focus of the story is something completely different. In the end, all that Basim is good for is showing unexplained interest in the nordic character's culture and make veiled references to himself being the reincarnation of Loki. Unfortunately, this adds nothing to the story whatsoever. Of course, it makes sense if you've played Valhalla and I'm ready to bet that everyone who read this book has played Valhalla, but come on. A book should be self-contained, it's about the principle of it. This leaves Basim with a painfully minor role in the narrative. It would have barely changed anything if he hadn't been in the book.

However, I didn't give this book zero stars. This is mostly due to my enjoyment of the dynamic between Hytham and Leo (who is so endearing), as well as the exploration of Hytham's character as a whole. I enjoyed reading about his inner life and the conflict between his love for the boy he views as his son and his loyalty to the brotherhood. This gave him a conflict that mirrors Basim's in an unexpected, yet interesting way.

All-in-all, I wanted to enjoy this book more. Kind of bummed that it's considered canon, especially in regards to the historical implications regarding the presence of the Hidden Ones + the Order of the Ancients in the capital of the Byzantine empire (ie unconvincing + shallow exploration for that time period). I'm also very very sorry to be an annoying nerd about this. I promise I'm not always this joyless.

[Bree Hatfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Hytham had been in many street fights, and many of those had been knife fights. But it was rare he saw two people make it an art form the way Basim and the wounded man did. Bleeding, but still graceful. Basim’s enemy focused on long, sweeping movements to keep Bosim away. The edge of the blade catching the light but always in motion, never still, slashing rather than stabbing. A soft singing sound as the blade cut the air added an odd music to the deadly display.“

4.5 stars. I don’t play much Assassin’s Creed at all, but I love Jaleigh Johnson. I wasn’t quite sure how I would feel about this book at first because I’m so far removed from the source material, but those apprehensions were dashed immediately. I was drawn in instantly by Johnson’s familiar and lyrical prose.

Though, speaking of the lore of the franchise, Johnson never really explains what exactly the Hidden Order does or what their goals and creed are. I think it’s because most people reading this book already has that knowledge from playing the games, but I don’t. Still, I don’t see this as a bad thing. I understand the Hidden Order through Hytham and Basim — their goals and morals reflect the Hidden Order’s in the eyes of the story, and so it forms a very clear idea about the organization without having to spell it out.

Now, the first chapter sets up the tone and themes of the novel perfectly. Through the lyrical fight with our two main characters, we get the impression that there going to be a good amount of action in the story to come; and through the shifting and careful nature of the fight, we can tell that there will be a lot of intrigue.

That first scene also did an absolutely fantastic job of introducing and giving us a taste of who these characters are and what their goals are. They don’t fully trust each other, but they have a lot of respect for the other. Jaleigh Johnson is incredible at giving us a feel for a character immediately through descriptive language about their manner. Or, for the case of our POV characters, through the things they observe, think, and say about a situation. For example, when Basim is first introduced, Johnson writes, “Basim walked like a man aged far beyond his years. Not the stooped unsteady gate of infirmity, but the way a man walked when he had trod the same stretch of earth for decades or longer. Basim walked through the world as if he had done all of this before. As if he were a ghost, insubstantial as the mist.”

Speaking of the characters, Hytham is such a brilliant protagonist. He’s a staunch believer in the assassin’s cause, and believes in it with all his heart — so much so that he’s willing to investigate one of their own who may be out of line, and so much so that he lets his emotions cloud his judgement on the job. He gets attached to Leo, which is something the reader understands and sympathizes with, but is at odds with the goal of the story. Along the way, Johnson develops Leo and his relationship to Hytham. Thus, it’s easier to empathize with Hytham and we feel his dilemma on a very personal level.

The friendship and tension between our two main characters was executed so beautifully. Their last duel in the forest was one of the best scenes in the entire book and it really highlighted their shared values of fatherhood and how they manifest in conflicting ways. This was also the culmination of their relationship; it’s what cemented the love they have for each other and the limitations of their trust. The climax of the plot was fantastic, but this scene was particularly brilliant.

On a similar note, the fight scenes are amazing. I usually prefer to physically read fight scenes as opposed to listen to them via an audiobook, but I still kept up well and was very entertained! The choreography is dynamic, but easy to follow. And the stealth approach isn’t something I’m used to reading, so that was fun. And even though I don’t play much Assassin’s Creed, I’ve played enough to know the vibe of the combat and the unique moves and such, and Johnson weaves the combat mechanics and moves of the game perfectly within this novel.

Switching gears a little bit, Johnson has such a way of creating an environment that it’s so easy to imagine the scenery and world of Constantinople and all it’s intricacies. She uses the environment to set the tone in a really clever way as well, for example, when our two main characters are hurrying back to the palace: “Hytham and Basim raced through the city streets. Rain had soaked the world and cast everything in pale liquid-silver. The weather had driven many people inside, so they moved unimpeded, but it still seemed to Hytham like the palace was a hundred miles away.”

This story was so much deeper and had such a richness in environment and character development than I expected. I’m not sure why, Jaleigh Johnson always has fantastic character work — but she outdid herself with this one. If you like tight action-packed plots with beautiful characters and lyrical writing, please read this book. It will not disappoint.

[Chris The Lizard from Planet X · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assassins Creed: The Golden City By Jaleigh Johnson, is a tie-in novel based on the Ubisoft’s Assassins Creed video game franchise.

Some fans might expect "The Golden City" to be quite spoilery in relation to the newest Assassin's Creed game (Mirage) but they can relief. Actually, the book feels more like a prequel to AC: Valhalla because the author made the smart choice to tell a story from the point of view of Hytham, Basim's acolyte.

The book is primarily based in Constantinople in the year 867 AD, picking up the story of Hytham and Basim. As you will recall from the main game Assassin's Creed Valhalla, the two of them spent some time in the city, which has also been covered in some of the other transmedia as well, namely as it is where they ultimately originally meet Sigurd Styrbjornsson, shortly before the start of AC: Valhalla Moving back to this story though, the two Hidden Ones are tasked with investigating a murder plot, as the city's jealous Emperor Basil I secretly plans the assassination of his son Leo, helped by the machinations of the Order of the Ancients.

With Assassin's Creed Mirage the newest game, you might have heard that the primary protagonist of that story will be none other than a younger Basim Ibn Ishaq himself. In that respect, this story serves as a nice primer between the games, as he does appear in the novel a considerable amount. That being said, the main protagonist within the novel is actually Hytham, with the majority of the story focused from his perspective. The author does a good job in depicting the world of an acolyte within the Hidden Ones, as Hytham's own inexperience and mistrust of Basim test him constantly throughout the story.

I found this novel funnier than I imagined and it really worked building Hytham's personality. Every chapter made it feel like a real person, a young man eager to show his value to the Hidden Ones but still inexperienced and even unable to hide his feelings very well. All of that while he struggles to acomplish a not so easy mission: avoid the assassination of the child who could be the future emperor of Constantinople some day.

From the other side we have the always misterious Basim Ibn Ishaq, who feels more like a phamtom or an entity that a real man, just like he did in Valhalla. Jaleigh Johnson lets him show little pieces of his past which of course will be more explored in Assassin's Creed: Mirage, but in happens in a natural way without telling too much and without losing the focus of the story (Hytham and Leo).

“The Golden City” has everything an Assassin’s Creed fan could ask for: action, intrigue, danger around every corner, disturbing revelations, and more. Jaleigh Johnson has written Hytham in such a way that we root for him in each and every endeavor regardless of how ill-thought-out his adventures can be. Basim is the mysterious mentor who has much to teach and is quite observant, despite the distraction of his personal secret mission. And secret it is – if you believe you will discover what it is in this novel, you are mistaken.

Johnson’s descriptive writing transports you to the ancient city of Constantinople and the days of the Emperors’ reign over the people. The twists and turns of the storyline keep you guessing as to who the members of the Order of the Ancients and their associates truly are. Who can we trust? Who wants to kill Leo and how will they get close enough to do it? While Hytham and Basim are terrific characters, I have to say that I enjoyed the co-stars of the novel as well. Thyra, an axe-wielding Viking warrior who is the leader of the Varangian Guard, is a formidable woman and worthy opponent to all who threaten the life of the heir to the throne. Leo is also a well-formed character, fearful, yet quite intelligent and in need of a proper mentor.

For those who always ask, this is a dedicated historical story, with no Present Day or Isu content present. Whilst that is a bit of a shame, we do at least get a few hints here and there on Basim’s inner personality and the roots of his search for a certain Viking, along with an interesting overall narrative that holds true to the invisible war between the Hidden Ones and the Order of the Ancients, with both factions present throughout this tale providing foreshadowing for the stories told in Valhalla’s main game.

Nonetheless, if you always wondered what Hytham and Basim got up to prior to Assassin's Creed Valhalla, this at least fills a nice portion of their backstory in the overall lore. In that regard, it offers a solid story and remains an engaging novel within its own right.

[Cassie Devay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Aconyte for early access to the book for an honest review.
I went into this book not really expecting much from it and came out pleasantly surprised. The Golden City is surprisingly self-contained for a tie in novel that revolves around characters within the games, which I really appreciate, since it means that the book actually manages to feel like a complete story, while still setting up the events of the game that it’s tied to. That being said, if you don’t have much knowledge on Assassin’s Creed, I would recommend against the book, since I don’t think there’s much here for you.

Having more intimate knowledge of the series, I found myself reading this quite compulsively, finishing it in just 3 days, while also reading other books. Seeing the little hints at plot points for the game this is a prequel to (Valhalla) was really engaging, and the hints towards Mirage’s plot were also really enticing, and have me very excited to experience the game now.

The plot was alright. It was set up as a potentially interesting political plot, but had the depth of a burst kiddie pool, with no real twists or turns put into the story. Almost every revelation was something extremely obvious, even without any foreshadowing. Hytham would regularly guess something that was treated as a big reveal, yet was constantly portrayed as fairly inept when it came to running an investigation.

The actually engaging part of the plot was Hytham trying to understand what Basim’s goals were. Seeing him try to parse everything Basim said or did for hidden meanings was really engaging, however, I have to point out that this isn’t where you’re going to get any answers to that mystery. For that you need to play a game, so in the long run, I can see this being a negative for people who haven’t played Valhalla. Since I’ve completed Valhalla, it enhanced my experience though, so I really appreciated it.

As a PoV, Hytham is pretty good, but is definitely held back by the lack of anything going on in the story, since there’s no points where he really gets to shine as a character due to the extremely obvious story beats that go on. I feel like if there had been a bit of a murkier air to the investigation, he would have had more opportunity to shine, however for the most part he just fucks up and eventually stumbles to the correct conclusion. Where he shines is in his interpersonal relationships.
You can’t help but like Hytham, because he cares a lot about the people around him. Of particular note is Leo, the young emperor that he’s tasked to defend with his life. The father/son relationship the pair have is genuinely very cute, and you get to see both of them grow together throughout the story. Watching how that clashed against his oaths was a super compelling aspect of the book, especially with Basim's bits of advice about forming attachments riddled throughout (if YKYK)

The combat scenes are also awesome. The hidden blade is something that will always be fun to have included in combat scenes, since it’s such a rare type of weapon in books, but the swordfights are also of note, since the author does a really good job of making you feel like you’re experiencing the fights, with really vivid descriptions of not just combat, but how the opponent moves, the noise they make etc. It transports you to the fights every time.

The big criticism I have is that Constantinople is pretty boring in the book, which is a shame, since the Byzantine empire is really cool. This is definitely caused in part by the lack of mystery around the assassination attempts. It doesn’t allow the setting to grow any form of atmosphere that’s unique to itself, instead the city would be entirely interchangeable if not for the story’s reliance on the historical figures of Basil I and Leo.

The pacing of the book is a bit off as well in my opinion, as there are really long stretches where very little happens, with short bursts of progress for the story. This isn’t too much of a problem, since the book is relatively short, but it’s still of note in my opinion.

All in all, I had a pretty decent time with this book, but it won’t be at the top of my list of recommendations for people. I’d wholeheartedly recommend this for people who enjoyed AC Valhalla, as it enhances that game by no end. It’s a solid 3.5 stars, you could do far worse for video game tie ins.

[JL · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a very quick read for me. I basically devoured it within a couple days (it only took me that long because I had to work and sleep lol).

THE PLOT:

The plot itself is very straightforward, and it's ok overall, very enjoyable. It did feel like the author was trying to make the mystery of who the head of this branch of the Order of Ancients was, as well as who the attempted assassin of Prince Leo was, more of a surprise, but it wasn't to me personally. I also wasn't expecting it to, and I don't hold it against the book.

THE CHARACTERS:

Except for Hytham, Basim and Leo, most of the other side characters were rather plain in my opinion. Thyra, Anna and Eudokia Ingerina were cool. I was hoping we were going to get more insight into Thyra and the Varangian Guard due to Hytham masquerading as a member, but there really wasn't much except for Basim asking a couple questions here or there.

It was pretty disappointing as I was hoping to learn more about his story, but at least we got to see through his eyes, which was great. I love Hytham, definitely still one of my favorite characters in the Assassin's Creed series. His relationship with Leo was very sweet, and it was touching to see how quickly they bonded.

It was nice to get a book with Hytham's POV. We get to see some of that rash, desperate to prove, but still calculating and dangerous individual we meet in AC: Valhalla. Unfortunately we don't get like, ANY backstory from him other than he used to want to be a father, until he became a Hidden One and further realized how dangerous his world was.

After Hytham makes a mistake that gets him captured by the Order of the Ancients, Basim risks the mission in order to rescue Hytham, despite not even knowing if Hytham is still alive. By the end of the book Hytham fully trusts Basim and is willing to help him search for whatever (or whomever) it is that Basim is searching for amongst the Norse.

Hytham's relationship with Basim was very fun to read! The sparring scenes were some of my favorite parts of the book. It's very obvious from the get-go that Basim has some vaguely parental feelings about Hytham, where as Hytham is constantly torn between liking Basim, being unnerved by him, and struggling to trust him after Master Rayhan tells him that Basim is untrustworthy.

This brings me to Basim. I loved how Jaleigh Johnson wrote him. It was perfect blend of arrogant asshole, incredibly smart, and almost supernaturally unnerving.

I do wish that his and Hytham's relationship had more time spent on it. We know that Basim thinks of Hytham as a son, that he cares deeply about him despite not wanting to (he's still haunted by the trauma of his own son's death), but we don't really get to see why. The book starts with Hytham and Basim only having known each other for a very short period of time, and the events of the book take place over what, a couple weeks? Their relationship, and Basim in general, was done very well, it just felt a little rushed at times.

Unlike with Hytham, we did get to learn more about Basim. His father was apparently abusive (whether this was before or after his father was exiled is unclear), he has a affinity with wolves, is terrified of Loki, and whatever happened to cause the loss of Enkidu has left him scarred mentally.

So all in all, I did enjoy the book and will definitely reread it! Here's to hoping that Ubi continues to put out Hytham content 🤞

[Xerxes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best Assassin's Creed novels I've read. It is a story of assassinations (lots of them!), triumphs, defeat, and glory. The worldbuilding is thoroughly immersed in giving you an idea of the Byzantine World. Or in reality, what the Roman World was. Some believe that Rome fell after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, but it didn't. The Eastern part of the Empire survived and became the Byzantines. But the Byzantines saw themselves as Romans above all else. Moving onwards, this story made me emotional often between the bonds of characters, the testing of loyalties, and ties to each other.

It is a strange world, where one must be commanded to do the things that one would never do. That is the work of the Assassins and the Templars, locked in an ever-eternal struggle to fight over who controls the power of the day. And I really like that Jaleigh expanded Hytham's character and gave us more, for which I felt he was an underrated character in Assassin's Creed Valhalla. Basim is a character that you would never be able to trust, and at the same time has this omnipresence throughout the entire novel.

There is not a moment where you will feel that Basim isn't at your side. And Hytham is struggling to trust Basim, for this mentor of his has hidden secrets. Love, loyalty, and protecting Leo are the three themes I would make for this novel. And you will begin to like Leo and Hytham's relationship, for you will see Hytham caring for a boy that is surrounded by threats, and by an arrogant father that does not respect his son. You will experience the drums and roars of the Hippodrome, the powerful presence of the Varangian Guard, and the deadly Order of the Ancients. The combat is so well written, that I felt I was an Assassin within that very world.

You cannot trust barkeeps after all, nor can you trust what goes on in the palace. Nor can you trust those who are your friends either. For that dark presence has its eyes and ears everywhere. One thing that Jaleigh really did excellently was humanizing the royalty of Byzantium, and I liked Leo's mother, Empress Eudocia Ingerina. One should not underestimate her ability to wield power behind the scenes, and she was more secretive than I would have bargained for. The story is excellently paced and extremely well written. I would love to see Jaleigh write more Assassin's Creed novels in the future. I really am a fan of her writing, and her historical research shows throughout the entire novel. This is a 10/10 from me.

As of note, this novel made me really wish that we would one day explore the city of Roman Constantinople in Assassin's Creed. In the future, Assassin's Creed as a series will go to many settings in the future. India, the Aztec Empire, Japan, Infinity, 16th century Germany, the Abbasid Realm, etc. It is an exciting time now to be an Assassin Creed fan, irrespective of anything else in my opinion. Mirage will prove to be an excellent game, and I think the novel did an excellent job showcasing what could happen within it.

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Aconyte for the advanced copy.

I would've rated this book five stars even if I weren't a fan of the Assassin's Creed games/world, because author Jaleigh Johnson does a phenomenal job at crafting an engaging, exciting story of action and intrigue.

This story follows Assassin's Creed: Valhalla side characters, Basim and Hytham, on an adventure from before they traveled to England and met Eivor (the viking protagonist of Valhalla). While I knew the both of them would feature in this book, I had expected Basim to have more a leading role but that actually went to Hytham. I was a bit upset at first as Basim is a fascinating character and I was hoping to learn more about his earlier days and how he came to realize who he is. Tantalizingly, there are several asides he has in the novel, when speaking with Hytham, that hint towards this revelation (which was a big twist in the game so I don't want to out and out spoil it here).

But I didn't mind a book from Hytham's pov. He's an interesting character himself, and you don't really get to know much about him in the game. I actually went down a bit of a wiki rabbit-hole to learn more and refresh my memory about him and learned that he actually features quite a bit more in the other Valhalla tie-in novels as well, which I clearly will need to read now because I have a small crush on him after reading this book lol

More seriously, this was just a very, very good book and it felt a LOT like following your assassin through one of the games. There were lots of twists and turns (though not as many as you'd encounter in the games, which honestly made it feel more true to real life), fantastic action sequences, and a great mystery with plenty of red herrings to keep you on your toes, but not to the point of the antagonist reveals being out of left field.

It's just a super fun adventure story, set in a time and place I feel you don't often see in fiction (and it's also cool returning to Constantinople if you've played/read Assassin's Creed: Revelations, a game I personally quite liked). One of my favorite things about the Assassin's Creed series is that they put you in the middle of these well-known historical figures and events but from the pov of, basically, just another citizen. Hytham and Basim and their associates bleed and sweat and get dirty and thanks to Johnson's adept writing, you feel it. You smell the spice, sweat, and dust of Constantinople, and you feel the fear, pain, longing, and hope of its characters - it's just so vibrant.

I'm definitely reading the rest of the Valhalla tie-in novels, though I'll admit I am disappointed they're not also written by Jaleigh Johnson. If they're anywhere near as good The Golden City, then I have high hopes!

[EL Sorrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up as i ran out of things to read about hytham and basim as my obsession with the AC universe creeps up.
Wasn't excepting much in regards to what it would be about but knew it was more from Hythams point of view. This is a book that grew on me as i continued to read it and couldn't put it down.
The author, for me at least, definitely got basims annoying and cocky character down that i felt from Valhalla and Mirage and played into his slipery nature. But Hythams character? im not so sure if i liked how he was portrayed in certain parts of the book, but i liked the dynamic of him vs. basims personalities.

The author could have gone darker in some aspects of the book and added more other assassins creed themes into it.

However, that's just me nick picking little areas cause all in all, i really enjoyed the book, and as stated, i couldn't put it down, which made me finish it in 2 days. It reminded me of how much i wanted to just slap basim when i was playing the games for his cocky behaviour, and this book made me want to do the same while reading it, for putting hytham through the story.

[Patricio Gualda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and fast read, "The Golden City" is set far beyond Assassin's Creed Mirage and nearer to the beginning of Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
The story is set in Costantinople, which is a beautiful thing for me, a big fan the setting during the last chapter of Ezio Auditore's story.
Costantinople, 700 years before Ezio, is still a busy city with different plots, and Basim and Hytham go there to put an end to one.
The book really does give a great personality to Hytham; while not the charming Ezio or Edward, Hytham believes in the Creed yet is tempted to go against it because of his ties with the boy he needs to protect during the mission.
The characterization of Basim is great and by far my favourite part: Hytham suspects, FEELS the otherworldly nature of Basim and yet cannot put a finger on it; their relationship and Basim himself are incredibly well written and I loved seeing both the Mirage and Valhalla aspects of Basim.

Highly recommend the book to everyone, not just fans, as the setting is fun and the reading a breeze.

[Brannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on NetGalley.com. I was given an ebook freely by NetGalley and the book’s publisher in return for a voluntary and honest review.

This is only the second Assassin’s Creed book I’ve read. After reading this book I plan to hunt down more.

As a father I really lost myself in the story. There are multiple father figures in this book all taking different approaches towards a prince.

Jaleigh Johnson does a wonderful job creating characters and settings you want to explore. I was fully engaged with the characters as we explore the palace in Constantinople. The action and intrigue is top notch. The protagonist does at times take on the action hero cliche of getting a ton of wounds but still surviving/shrugging of the pain very quickly. I don’t really mind this as that’s why I read these types of action stories but for those of you that get annoyed by such unrealistic scenarios.

For those that love the games and action fiction check it out.

[Thomas Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK so I initially put this book down for over a month as I didn't feel it was going anywhere. Picked it back up and have now finished it. The main thing that kept me goign through this was the relationship between Hytham and Basim and the tension between them. However, I must admit that I found most of the chapters/sections that did not feature Basim to be a bit of a drag, he is by far the more interesting character of the pair. The story was solid to keep me going but I don't feel like I learned much about the setting or the period beyond surface level details. My main issue with the story is the lack of pay-offs: since the start of the story we learn that Basim is being secretive and obsessed with a personal matter that involves the Vikings clans, however, by the epilogue thats still all the reader knows. It's as if another story has been waved in front of the reader and there is no pay off.

[Daniel Mcardle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in one sitting - very uncommon for me!

It's a great story between AC Mirage and AC Valhalla. It focuses on Hytham - the apprentice to Basim, and offered a deeper insight to the characters. There's also a sense of familiarity for longtime fans, as it's a return to Constantinople, the setting for AC Revelations.

That said, it's also a good read for people not familiar with the games. No prior knowledge is needed of the lore. It's a good story about loyalty to causes, the desire to help people and how human emotions can hinder allegiances. Throw that in with some espionage and suspense and you've got a good time I reckon.

[MKat · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Hytham in AC Valhalla, I was delighted to know he had a book! I was not disappointed. Johnson’s writing style was gorgeous, balancing personal narrative pieces with description beautifully. Even though the clear intention of the book was to add to Basim’s character in addition to the upcoming Mirage game, Hytham as a protagonist was not left behind. His interactions with all of the characters, especially Leo, Basim, and Justin, were well-done. The plot was well-paced and tense, and I loved reading this book!

[JournalsTLY]

"Hide in the shadows now, and one day, we will see to it that you never have to hide again" - says Hytham ( assassin/protector guardian) to young prince, Leo.

Will Leo survive the murder attempts?
Will the vast palace in Constantinople be his death cage?

This is an action packed novel of swords, spies and poisonous snakes as Basim and Hytham fight to keep Leo alive. It is also about the courage of a mother and a maid who defends the prince with their wits and the axe-wielding lady Viking warrior Thyra.

[GrandMaster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifuly crafted sequel to ac mirage and prequel to Valhalla,I really loved the main characters basim and haytham,the side characters were also amusing,the plot was very good,and the events are intriguing,basim is of course the best character in the novel in my opinion.

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hytham and Basimare sent to Constantinople to uncover the killers in the palace thing to kill the emperor's son. Has non stop action just like any assassins creed book. Really enjoyed it!

[Tyler Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome. Update 314 pages

[La librairie de Charron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Et bien, ce fut un tome assez intéressant je dois avouer. Autant le personnage de Basim m'avait laissé une mauvaise impression vers la fin du jeu « Assassin's Creed Valhalla » mais dans ce roman, j'ai plutôt de l'empathie pour ce personnage.

L'histoire commence donc en 867 à Constantinople. Hytham est toujours un acolyte et est envoyé par la Confrérie pour assister Basim mais aussi pour enquêter sur ce dernier. L'empereur en place dans cette « Nouvelle Rome » est Basile 1er, qui y règne d'un air assez absent sur le trône et sur les affaires communes. Il a succédé à l'empereur Michel III, dit l'Ivrogne, suite à des machinations personnelles mais aussi grâce à l'aide de l'Ordre. Il y a aussi l'impératrice Eudocie Ingérina, l'épouse de Basile 1er et mère de Léon VI et nous avons aussi pour finir Thyra du clan des Aigles, cheffe de la garde varègue et d'origine viking. Je tiens aussi à faire la mention particulière de Justin, le garde personnel du jeune et futur empereur Léon VI.

Bref, lorsque nous deux assassins arrivent en ville, suite à un plan pré-établi, Hytham se voit intégrer la garde varègue à l'aide de l'impératrice, d'une personne de confiance de l'Impératrice et de Thyra. Pendant qu'il veillera sur Léon VI, le protégera ainsi que d'autres tâches, Basim, quant à lui, mènera son enquête dans la ville et suivra certains personnages que lui indique Hytham. L'histoire est assez prenante car le palais a ses propres secrets, on ne sait à quoi s'attendre avec toutes ces intrigues mais surtout à cause des tentatives d'assassinats sur Léon VI de la part de son « père » l'empereur car certaines rumeurs racontent que Léon VI ne serait pas le fils de Basile 1er mais le fils de Michel III, dit l'ivrogne, fils né d'une relation entre cet empereur et Eudocie qui était une « concubine ». On peut voit que l'empereur n'hésite pas à employer tous les moyens via des intermédiaires pour toujours (ou tenter) d'avoir les mains « propres » et l'Ordre en profite aussi du coup. Hytham et Basim sont aussi dans leur viseur et les choses s'enveniment rapidement. De plus, Hytham commence à douter de Basim et il s'attache de plus en plus au jeune Léon.

Au début, comme Hytham et Basim durant une bonne partie du roman, j'avais déjà des doutes sur certains personnages présents au palais, autant les traîtres que le maître potentiel de l'Ordre à Constantinople. Tout est bien mené pour que l'on croit qu'il s'agit bien de ce personnage en question ou qu'il est haut placé dans l'Ordre. Le personnage d'Hytham est vraiment fascinant, on s'attache vite à lui, à Léon ainsi qu'à Thyra, une viking très féroce, très forte au combat mais qui a tout de même un côté tendre, même si elle ne le montre pas souvent. Ce tome est vraiment bien écrit, l'histoire et les personnages sont prenants et le personnage de Basile 1er est vraiment détestable. En tous les cas, j'ai hâte de voir la suite dans le jeu vidéo Assassin's Creed Mirage vu que ce tome-ci sert de préquel au jeu. D'ailleurs, vers la fin du tome, Basim se dit qu'il ferait bien route vers les territoires vikings pour trouver des candidats potentiels si vous voyez ce que je veux dire. Cela me fait penser au jeu Assassin's Creed Valhalla du coup avec leur rencontre avec le frère adoptif d'Eivor. En conclusion, si vous souhaitez en savoir plus sur nos deux personnages, je vous conseiller ce tome vraiment super.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this from NetGalley and as a huge fan of the series, I was stoked.

Some checks for the game fans:
Leap of Faith: Yes, but they didn’t name it!
Assassinations: Yes, but not a huge amount!
Stealth: Yes, but only for small bits or mentioned outside of the main character’s movements.

This novel follows Hytham and Basim before the events of Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla. They are sent as representatives of The Hidden Ones to Constantinople in hopes of disrupting the Order of the Ancients grab for control. The Emperor, Basil I, has recently found reason to distrust his son Leo’s lineage. The problem is that he’s already announced him to be his co-emperor. So, what is there to do but try to have him killed?

As a huge fan of Roman history, I was excited for the setting. The story gives lush descriptions of an ancient place we could never visit. As with recent works from Ubisoft, the story felt very historic in its setting with big names from people that actually lived.

I enjoyed that this book sought to make a more realistic approach to the assassins, as we know with the games that the 1vs30 odds are never really a problem. Where that fell flat for me though, was a scene where Hytham is almost overcome in a fight that only features two enemies. I know he’s an initiate in this, but he is a trained assassin, and not for nothing, you play an initial in 90% of the games. Failing against two enemies seemed too few for me. Otherwise, the minimal gripes I have is that Basim was not the main, and as the master, he ended up pulling a lot of the strings from the background. Which in turn ended up feeling a little cheapened.

Loads of fun still, but I was a bit surprised there was nothing modern day/animus wise! Personally a 4/5* for me.

https://fanfiaddict.com/review-assass...

[Nahyan Ameen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I have read a book as soon as it hit shelves thanks to technology having the book delivered on my Kindle as soon as it released. Technology has allowed to me to kill any sense of ennui and that's mostly thanks to the Assassin's Creed games which has become part of my education and one of the key sources of entertainment allowing me to indulge in my fantasy of travelling through time to historical places. Politics, history and literature are all explored in what is fertile ground for fiction as demonstrated by Johnson's novel which is a real action packed page turner. I found this book to be entertaining with short chapters that burst with life often showing the side of being an assassin that is not as sexy or glamorous as in the video games. The book did not seem as canonical as a book like say "Alamut" by Vladamir Bartol which is absolutely fantastic and inspired the Assassin's Creed series at the beginning but it is a book I genuinely enjoyed that shows empathy and humanity while still being full of action. Life was difficult a thousand years ago, even for royalty, and back then war and death was just a big part of it.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**review of the audiobook version**

I’ve had this on my TBR forever, but was never able to find a copy of it. My library didn’t have it as physical or digital book, but I saw that it had been added to my library’s Hoopla as an audiobook recently, so I checked it out there.

I really enjoyed this one. While I thought the prologue was unnecessarily long, the story quickly gripped me.

This follows Hytham (the main character) and his relationship with Basim, a fellow Assassin that Hytham isn’t entirely sure he can trust. Of course, these are two characters from AC: Valhalla and it was nice to learn more about them and see other sides to them.

I really liked seeing Hytham’s relationship with Leo, the young boy he is in charge of protecting. The book also had many twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I’ve always liked Hytham, but I liked seeing more dimension to his personality.

Overall, I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it to fans of Assassin’s Creed.

[Joshua · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fun read for information on established characters but bot much else.

If you're a fan of the game Assassins Creed Valhalla and want to learn more about Basim and Hythams life and their relationship prior too the game this book has you covered. But if you're expecting much mors you're going to be disappointed.
Most of the characters are one dimensional and one note villiand plus Hytham is not that interesting as a main character. Infact I think the book would've worked better if Basim was the sole protagonist as he has a much more interesting life and characterization than Hytham. But I bet with the upcoming AC Mirage that was not possible.

Still though I'm not going to be to harsh on this book. There are some good elements here that kept me engaged long enough to read through this.

[Sander · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great addition to the lore of the Assassin's Creed Universe.

It made me more curious how Basim turned from a master thief and devoted Hidden One to the person we know he is in the game Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. I guess the game Assassin’s Creed Mirage will give those answers.

And for Hytham who’s the main character in this book, he also gets a great backstory. He’s tasked by the Hidden Ones to keep an eye on Basim and he gets into a relationship he never could have imagined.

Overall the book felt really short, but maybe that means it’s a good story. I’m ready now to play Assassin's Creed Mirage.

[Onefoxkai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Très chouette et prenant. J'aurais juste aimé que le livre prenne le temps d'approfondir encore plus le personnage de Hytham, à défaut que le livre tourne autour de Basim.