10 Great Books That Are Perfect for Fans of Assassin’s Creed

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The rich historical worlds and rewarding stealth gameplay sequences from the Assassin’s Creed games are immensely satisfying, and have given the franchise continuing appeal for more than 17 years. If you like the shadowy lore and iconic parkour from this series, then you’ll also enjoy the ten books for fans of Assassin’s Creed that we’ve gathered together in this list. Each title either tells the story of a fascinating fantasy assassin or explores the history behind the franchise’s most iconic settings and characters.

1. The Way of Shadows (Brent Weeks)

The Way of Shadows tracks an orphan boy named Azoth as he goes from living on the streets to becoming the most dangerous killer in Cenaria City. Developing his magical powers and combat abilities starts with proving his intentions to an assassin named Durzo Blint. To do this, he must dispatch one of the leaders of Azoth’s guild who has badly mistreated his friends. This dark and often twisted tale has solid pacing, a well drawn world, and a handful of excellent surprises in store. It’s the first novel in the Night Angel series, which is collectively a great read for Assassin’s Creed enthusiasts who don’t mind exploring a darker fantasy setting.

2. Alamut (Vladimir Bartol)

Fans of the original Assassin’s Creed game will find much to enjoy in Vladimir Bartol’s Alamut, a novel that directly inspired the story of Altaïr and his fateful showdown against his master, Al Mualim. In the book, one of the main characters, ibn Tahir, joins a group of highly skilled soldiers during the 11th century Crusades that are willing to sacrifice themselves for their leader’s cause. The soldiers defend the Alamut fortress, which also appears in 2023’s Assassin’s Creed: Mirage, against an invading Seljuk army. The book was originally published in 1938 in Slovenian, and notably did not get an English translation until 2004.

3. Assassin’s Apprentice (Robin Hobbs)

Assassin’s Apprentice is the first book in Robin Hobbs’ Farseer Trilogy, and does a fantastic job of introducing us to an immersive fantasy landscape that’s full of deadly secrets. The story follows the early life of Fitz, a bastard son of the royal household who trains in the art of assassination and can secretly talk to animals. The virtue-based naming of high born characters is an interesting concept, and the limits and uses of magic in this world are equally fascinating. While the book’s length might seem daunting at first, you’ll likely find yourself wanting to immediately dive into the rest of the author’s works the moment you reach the back cover.

4. The Republic of Pirates (Colin Woodard)

If you’d like to dive deeper into the golden age of piracy from Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, then The Republic of Pirates might be the perfect book for you to pick up next. The Caribbean seas were full of fascinating people during the 18th century, but few of them were more interesting than the individuals who governed Nassau from 1706-1718. These anti-colonialist pirates, who included the likes of Benjamin Hornigold and Charles Vane, actively fought against slavery and worked to establish a democratic government with fair elections and free trade. The fascinating tale that this book delivers has tons of drama and action, and every single word of it is a true story.

5. Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas)

The immensely popular Throne of Glass series from Sarah J. Maas starts off with a bang when its protagonist, Caleana Sardothien, enters what appears to be a deadly dueling tournament. The winner of the competition will become the king’s champion for four years, and afterwards will supposedly be free to go. Since Caleana is an assassin, she hopes to use her skills in the contest to escape the salt mines where she works. However, there’s more waiting for her in this story besides a few good fights. The novel’s central mystery and unexpectedly funny moments make it a page-turner that just about anyone can enjoy.

6. Nevernight (Jay Kristoff)

Nevernight is a relentless revenge thriller with an engaging lead character and a premise that’s guaranteed to keep you hooked from start to finish. The book follows the journey of Mia Corvere as she learns to master both blades and shadows as a member of the Red Church. This mysterious organization is a school for assassins that’s vaguely reminiscent of Hogwarts, but significantly more sinister since everyone within its walls worships a goddess known as the Lady of Blessed Murder. The writing style here is somewhat ornate, especially in its use of footnotes. However, once you’re used to them, the author’s artistic flourishes simply add another layer of atmospheric depth to what becomes a truly dark and gruesome tale.

7. London (Edward Rutherford)

Learn more about the historical development of England’s great capital city in Edward Rutherford’s London for a more complete understanding of just how amazing the setting is from Assassin’s Creed: Syndicate. This novel perfectly blends fact with traditional narrative stories to tell the tale of the city itself, through the eyes of five influential families that lived there across the eras. These characters witness some of the most famous moments in history, from the Roman invasion to the signing of the Magna Carta and the industrial revolution. In addition to covering the Victorian age from Syndicate, the book also passes through the viking-era rendition of the city that players can explore in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla.

8. A Clean Kill in Tokyo (Barry Eisler)

Fans of Assassin’s Creed who are interesting in exploring a more modern story will love the John Rain series by Barry Eisler. The first book, A Clean Kill in Tokyo, creatively explores the psyche of its lead character and raises plenty of interesting questions about what it means to be an assassin in the first place. After Rain makes his latest kill, he finds himself involved with the daughter of the man he’s just dispatched, which forces him to confront the realities of his employment. Eisler’s descriptions of Tokyo create an atmosphere for the novel that’s neatly akin to a 1940’s noir film, which makes the book even more engaging.

9. The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia (C. W. Gortner)

C. W. Gortner’s The Vatican Princess details the life of Lucrezia Borgia and her attempts to free herself the blood-stained influence of her family’s rule over Rome. While Lucrezia appears in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood as a fairly straightforward villain, Gortner’s depiction of her uses a more complex shade of grey. The book does not excuse or exonerate her, but better explains why history remembers her as a poisoning seductress. The characters of Cesare and Rodrigo Borgia appear often, and play key roles in the story. It’s a fascinating look into the lives of Ezio Auditore’s most infamous adversaries.

10. Assassin’s Creed: The Secret Crusade (Oliver Bowden)

The official Assassin’s Creed books and novelizations are, of course, all great reads for fans of the franchise who want to delve into its lesser known lore. However, The Secret Crusade is arguably the most essential entry in the series because it properly details the life of Altaïr, the legendary protagonist from the first game. The stories from Altair’s Chronicles on the Nintendo DS and Assassin’s Creed: Bloodlines on the PSP are woven into the larger narrative, which eventually connects to the reclaiming of Masyaf and the creation of the memory seals that Ezio is looking for in Assassin’s Creed: Revelations.

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