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Caught in a secret war between the Templar Order and the Assassin Brotherhood, feudal Japan becomes a battleground for Assassins and shinobi alike!

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 20, 2025

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Regujie

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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Profile Image for Jessica (Odd and Bookish).
747 reviews864 followers
June 26, 2026
I received a copy of this book for free for promotional purposes.

Going into this, I knew very little about Assassin’s Creed. I knew the general premise of the game but never played it. Since I was unfamiliar with it, I didn’t go into the book with any set expectations. That being said, I was very surprised by how much I loved this one!

Because I wasn’t that familiar with Assassin’s Creed, I was a little worried that I was going to have a hard time with the world. That was not the case. The world was very easy to understand and didn’t seem to require any knowledge from the game.

I was instantly pulled into the story. It immediately gets right into the action and from there becomes a real page turner.

I loved the three main characters, Masayasu, Tsuyu, and Hanzo. They were all so different which made the dynamic between them very interesting. I am very curious to see how their relationships with each other change as the series progresses.

The book ends in a very intriguing cliffhanger which makes me super excited for the next installment.

Lastly, I have to talk about the art style. It was gorgeous and captured the action very well.

Overall, I was thoroughly impressed by this book! If you like manga with a ton of action and fighting you’ll enjoy this one.

Profile Image for Sunread26.
1,585 reviews2 followers
August 12, 2026
Chronique complète :
https://sunread26.wordpress.com/2026/...

Extrait :
Cela fait un petit moment que je souhaitais commencer ce titre, j’ai donc profité de le trouver d’occasion pour le prendre. J’apprécie grandement la franchise et cette dernière se décline aussi régulièrement sous d’autres formats comme le livre. Une manière d’enrichir l’histoire de certains jeux, personnages, via une nouvelle aventure. Le plus souvent, celle-ci reste assez courte en longueur.

L’intrigue de la série se déroule avant celle du jeu, quant aux personnages que l’on suit, ils sont assez simples à deviner… Il s’agit tout simplement des parents de Naoe, l’une des protagonistes du jeu. Ce n’est en rien un spoil, puisque Tsuyu, sa mère, est l’une des rares assassins sur place. Découvrir sa jeunesse, c’est aussi découvrir comment sa relation avec son futur époux est apparue. Pour les enjeux, ils sont sensiblement similaires à ceux du jeu. Les templiers sont là et tentent de mettre la main sur les trésors nippon afin d’asservir sa population. Rien de nouveau sous le soleil concernant ses derniers (et je trouve le rapprochement avec certains parti politique de plus en plus similaire). Ce n’est pas Tsuyu en particulier que l’on suit, mais trois personnages au total dont elle. Masayasu est aussi un personnage important, même s’il est le fils du seigneur d’un village, il n’a aucune expérience en combat. Il a suivi un entraînement physique, mais c’est tout. Ainsi, lorsque le village est attaqué et qu’il se retrouve impuissant, il refuse de rester ainsi. Impressionné par les capacités des shinobis, il souhaite alors rejoindre leur rang pour apprendre à se battre, afin de défendre le village. Une tâche qui se présente rapidement, mais qui se révèle également très compliquée. Il a déjà un certain âge, rien avoir avec quelqu’un qui s’entraîne depuis l’enfance (notamment pour la souplesse). Il est donc difficilement pris au sérieux, mais sa détermination et surtout, sa ténacité, feront qu’il sera accepté même par le pire réfractaire. Les assassins finissent par se rapprocher d’eux pour former une alliance afin de protéger le Japon des templiers. Malgré une apparente similitude entre les deux groupes, il y a tout de même de grandes différences, notamment dans l’art du combat. Ce n’est pas expliqué en détail, mais des entraînements ont lieu pour que chacun apprenne de l’autre. Dans le cas des shinobis, seuls deux personnages sont choisis en plus du maître. Ce qui fait qu’ils seront cinq au total, contre les templiers et les mercenaires qu’ils paient… Je comprends toutefois le choix de ne pas impliquer tout le monde.

J’ignore pourquoi les templiers s’en prennent à Iga plusieurs fois et directement. J’imagine qu’ils ont eu vent de la présence des shinobis, qui pourraient savoir où se trouvent les reliques. Ils sont même très bien informés, puisqu’ils apprennent qu’elles se trouvent dans les Kofun. Il s’agit de monument funéraire, réalisé sous terre et qui forme à la surface un talus. On peut retrouver ce style de sépulture dans plusieurs pays et région du monde. Leur construction interne ressemble un peu aux sépultures égyptiennes, avec plusieurs pièces. Pour ma part, je ne comprends pas pourquoi ceux ayant connaissance de leur lieu ne les retirent pas pour les mettre ailleurs… Vous me direz, mais comment les protéger durablement ? Bah, déjà en les retirant de là où elles sont depuis longtemps, en mettant le moins de gens possible au courant. Pour le lieu suivant, pleins d’endroits pourraient faire l’affaire, le mieux étant qu’il n’y ait toujours qu’une personne ou deux au courant. Les assassins ne sont pas les seuls à obtenir des informations, et ils sont peu nombreux, ils ne pourront pas être sur tous les fronts. Pour moi, la série s’attarde plus sur le côté relationnel et le développement des personnages, que sur la mission en elle-même. J’espère qu’elle continuera ainsi, car le jeu suffit pour moi concernant le contexte et la situation du pays. Ce titre doit être vu comme un complément et c’est bien les personnages qui en ont le plus besoin. Tout ce qui est titre lié à un jeu vidéo est pour moi, surtout un complément. Je ne peux pas juger le titre comme je juge les jeux, ce n’est pas le même format. Pareillement, à moins d’un titre purement original, dès que le titre est lié à un jeu, je ne m’attends pas à ce qu’il soit complet non plus. Je dirais même que l’on peut facilement tomber dans le piège dans un titre lié à un jeu, qu’un titre original, car on aura tendance à comparer les deux formats.

[...]
Profile Image for William Thompson.
10 reviews
August 19, 2026
Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Tales of Iga, Vol. 1 is exactly the kind of story that reminds me why Shadows became such a turning point for me. For years, I had a real hesitation with new AC releases — a mix of fatigue, uncertainty, and worry that the series had drifted too far from what made me fall in love with it. Shadows shattered that fear. I’ve gone back to it more than any Assassin’s Creed game in the last 5–8 years, and this manga captures the same energy that pulled me back into the franchise.

Vol. 1 tells a story only hinted at in the game, expanding on the world of Iga with the kind of depth and clarity that AC manga does best. It fills in the quiet spaces between missions, the motivations behind characters who appear briefly in the main narrative, and the cultural and emotional weight of the era. It doesn’t retell the game’s story but expands it, giving a fuller picture Naoe's history with her mother and the Creed. Which all casts a shadow over Naoe and Yasuke in the main game.

The illustrations are sharp, atmospheric, and unmistakably AC. Every panel feels like a moment you could imagine playing through, with that blend of stealth, tension, and historical detail that defines the series. And because Shadows already reignited my excitement for Assassin’s Creed, this manga feels like a natural extension — a companion piece that deepens the lore and strengthens the emotional impact of the game.

If Shadows brought you back to the Brotherhood the way it did for me, Tales of Iga, Vol. 1 is absolutely worth reading. It’s a powerful expansion of a world that already hooked me harder than any AC entry in nearly a decade, and it proves once again how rich the series becomes when it explores the stories living just outside the main path.

This book was received as an ARC from VIZ Media LLC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.
Profile Image for Melissa (Nissa_the.bookworm).
1,245 reviews98 followers
June 29, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
❤️ love the Assassin’s Creed games
📕 like to read graphic novels
🫡 want an honorable MMC
📚 are looking for a new series

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

Through its devious machinations, the Templar Order has increased its influence all over Japan, but hope has come to Iga. An Assassin and his young apprentice have come to the birthplace of ninjutsu seeking aid from legendary shinobi like Hattori Hanzo and Momochi Sandayu in their fight for justice.

There is one way to stem the tide of the Templars: one must live in the darkness but serve the light. Assassin’s Creed Shadows: Tales of Iga is the story of the ninja who protect Japan.

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was my first foray into the Assassin’s Creed universe, and it wasn’t disappointing! We are thrown right into the action when we meet Masayasu, a strong but lowly peasant. I loved seeing how honorable he was right from the start, when evil people invade his town. He immediately springs into action to do whatever he can to protect the townspeople, and I commended him for that. While he ultimately needs help, I liked him from the very start. The graphics are incredibly well done, literally showing the action of each scene. I only wished they were in color, but I was still able to fully understand what was going on. The story does slow a bit in the middle, but once the assassin’s came into play, it sped up again. The story ends on a cliff hanger that has me excited for volume 2! If you’re a fan of Assassin’s Creed, definitely pick this up!
451 reviews7 followers
July 20, 2026
I don't know much about any of the Assassin's Creed games but Assassin's Creed Shadows looks the most interesting to me out of all of them. When I saw this book available on NetGalley, I knew I had to check it out. Tales of Iga is a prequel to the main game, although I'm not sure where the overlap is, so I will only be discussing the book. The amount of violence shocked me a bit, even though it's literally called Assassin's Creed, I just wasn't expecting such a gory book. Also, the characters were really interesting, there's like three main characters, one being an Assassin, two shinobi. I'm definitely curious to see if there will be more to this series and if so, I really want to see the character growth and relationship dynamic of the three main characters.

I recommend this to any Assassin's Creed fans, and also fans of manga and feudal Japan.
Profile Image for Kris.
801 reviews11 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
June 7, 2026
A handsome manga adaptation of the game, set in feudal Japan with dynamic and beautiful artwork. The landscapes, characters, and animals are all rendered with care, and the little shiba inu is a delight. The cast has promise: Hanzu is a seasoned nobleman-fighter, Tsuyu is a formidable female warrior, and Masayasu is a new recruit with an compelling presence. The story itself is straightforward, and the dialogue can feel stiff. Lines like "I have no need of friends" land with a thud. Worth a look if you enjoy the setting or the game, but the art is the main draw here. I give the story 3.5 stars but the art rounds it up to 4 stars.

Many thanks to #NetGalley for the advance copy of the book
Profile Image for Nashia Darling.
179 reviews
August 8, 2026
I did not get to finish this before it was archived (I've been really busy 😬) but what I had managed to read was great!

I love assassin's creed, it's one of my favorite game franchises. So any material set in that world is a win for me.

I love the aesthetics in this one, it being set in a completely different culture is just a nice fresh take!

I hope to get this when it comes out and see where the story goes in future books!
Profile Image for Cristian Marrero.
1,043 reviews9 followers
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
May 23, 2026
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

A new story line in the Assassin Creed world. A new tale from the land of IGA. Young characters being recruited. A little backstory on 2 of the 3 warriors. Training. More training. Two small challenges. Shinobi and Mercenary meet and learn to practice skills and work together. This is the 1st volume with a very bland start. I hope the 2nd volume is stronger.
622 reviews2 followers
July 15, 2026
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. Assassin’s Creed is one of my favorite games; so was excited to see another graphic novel.This time, they’re in Japan and trying to get ahead of The Templars. I like that the story takes place during feudal Japan and samurai.
275 reviews
December 20, 2025
Tout d'abord je tiens à remercier Babelio et les éditions Mana Books pour ce livre que j'ai reçu pour la dernière Masse Critique de Babelio.

J'aime beaucoup la licence de jeu "Assassin's Creed" même si je n'ai pas encore joué aux plus récents et ce qui m'a attiré pour faire la demande de ce livre.

Nous suivons donc les aventures de Masayasu qui veut apprendre à être un shinobi, suite à un combat remporté face à Hanzo, Sandayu accepte et Hanzo va devenir le partenaire de Masayasu. Le duo va être notamment entrainé par Catarribera et sa disciple Tsuyu qui sont des assassins.

J'ai aimé ce manga qui se lit vite, les planches sont magnifiques et nous plongent dans l'univers d'Assassin's Creed.

Si vous aimez cette licence, n'hésitez pas!

First of all, I'd like to thank Babelio and Mana Books for this book, which I received for Babelio's latest Mass Critique program.

I really enjoy the "Assassin's Creed" game series, even though I haven't played the most recent ones yet, and that's what drew me to request this book.

We follow the adventures of Masayasu, who wants to learn to be a shinobi. After winning a fight against Hanzo, Sandayu accepts his offer, and Hanzo becomes Masayasu's partner. The duo will be trained by Catarribera and her disciple Tsuyu, both assassins.

I enjoyed this manga, which is a quick read. The artwork is beautiful and immerses you in the world of Assassin's Creed.

If you like this series, don't hesitate!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews