Scan barcode
nowturtle's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
dasmidna's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
casia_w's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
dannyel's review
4.0
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.
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.
cassiedevay's review
3.0
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.
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.
writingonthewalls's review
5.0
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!
crownomancer's review
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
fieldofhats's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
“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.“
Spoilers ahead.
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.
Spoilers ahead.
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.