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Assassin’s Creed Books in Order

11 Books
2009 – 2017 Published
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Reading order

Where Should You Start Reading Assassin’s Creed Books?

With over two dozen books spanning different eras from ancient Egypt to Victorian London, finding a starting point can seem daunting. Fortunately, you don't need to read everything to enjoy the series. Here are the two best ways to start:

  • The Ezio Auditore Trilogy (Recommended): Start with Renaissance, followed by Brotherhood and Revelations. Written by Oliver Bowden, this trilogy follows the fan-favorite Italian Assassin Ezio Auditore. It is the most cohesive story arc in the franchise and offers the perfect introduction to the lore of the Assassins and Templars.
  • The Historical Era of Your Choice: Because most of the novels function as standalone historical thrillers tied to specific settings, you can simply pick up the book that matches your favorite time period. Love pirate history? Start with Black Flag. Intrigued by Victorian London? Try Underworld.

Assassin’s Creed Books in Publication Order

Reading in publication order allows you to experience the expansion of the universe just as it happened for fans. Here is the complete list of core novels and major prose releases in order of publication:

  1. Renaissance (2009) by Oliver Bowden
  2. Brotherhood (2010) by Oliver Bowden
  3. The Secret Crusade (2011) by Oliver Bowden
  4. Revelations (2011) by Oliver Bowden
  5. Forsaken (2012) by Oliver Bowden
  6. Black Flag (2013) by Oliver Bowden
  7. Blackbeard: The Lost Journal (2014) by Christie Golden
  8. Unity (2014) by Oliver Bowden
  9. Underworld (2015) by Oliver Bowden
  10. Heresy (2016) by Christie Golden
  11. Last Descendants (2016) by Matthew J. Kirby
  12. Tomb of the Khan (2016) by Matthew J. Kirby
  13. Desert Oath (2017) by Oliver Bowden
  14. Fate of the Gods (2017) by Matthew J. Kirby
  15. Odyssey (2018) by Gordon Doherty
  16. Valhalla: Geirmund's Saga (2020) by Matthew J. Kirby
  17. The Ming Storm (2021) by Yan Leisheng
  18. Fragments: The Blade of Aizu (2021) by Olivier Gay
  19. Fragments: The Highlands Children (2021) by Alain T. Puysségur
  20. Valhalla: Sword of the White Horse (2022) by Elsa Sjunneson
  21. The Magus Conspiracy (2022) by Kate Heartfield
  22. The Desert Threat (2022) by Yan Leisheng
  23. Fragments: The Witches of the Moors (2022) by Adrien Tomas
  24. The Golden City (2023) by Jaleigh Johnson
  25. The Resurrection Plot (2023) by Kate Heartfield
  26. Mirage: Daughter of No One (2023) by Maria Lewis

Understanding the Subseries and Imprints

To help you organize your reading, the books can be grouped into distinct categories based on their publishers, target audiences, and story structures:

The Classic Game Novelizations (Penguin Books era)

Most of the early novels published by Penguin Books and written by Oliver Bowden (a pseudonym for Anton Gill and Andrew Holmes) directly adapt or expand upon the main video games. They closely follow the games' protagonists like Altaïr, Ezio, Connor, Edward, Arno, and Jacob Frye.

The Young Adult Trilogies

If you prefer YA pacing, there are two distinct series to check out:

  • Last Descendants Trilogy: Written by Matthew J. Kirby, this trilogy (Last Descendants, Tomb of the Khan, and Fate of the Gods) follows a group of teenagers using the Animus to find pieces of Eden.
  • Fragments Trilogy: A series of young adult novels (The Blade of Aizu, The Highlands Children, and The Witches of the Moors) focusing on siblings caught in conflicts across historical Japan, Scotland, and France.

Aconyte Books and Modern Lore Expansion

Since taking over the prose publishing license in 2020, Aconyte Books has focused on original standalone stories and new trilogies that expand the universe rather than direct game novelizations:

  • The Shao Jun Duology: Comprising The Ming Storm and The Desert Threat, these books follow the Chinese Assassin Shao Jun.
  • The Engine of History Trilogy: Written by Kate Heartfield, this includes The Magus Conspiracy and The Resurrection Plot, exploring the Assassin-Templar conflict in the Victorian era.

Chronological Order vs. Publication Order

Should you read chronologically? While you can read the books based on the historical era they are set in, it isn't highly recommended. The frame stories involving the modern-day Animus technology will feel disjointed, and the writing style varies significantly between early game tie-ins and modern original novels. Stick to publication order or read by subseries for the best experience.

Frequently Asked

QDo I need to play the Assassin’s Creed games to understand the books?

No. While the books are set in the same universe and some directly adapt the games, they are written as fully standalone historical adventure novels. You can enjoy them even if you have never played the games.

QWho is Oliver Bowden?

Oliver Bowden is a collective pen name used by British novelist and Renaissance historian Anton Gill (who wrote the earlier books and Desert Oath) and writer Andrew Holmes (who wrote Forsaken, Black Flag, Unity, and Underworld).

QAre the Assassin’s Creed books canon?

Yes. The novels, particularly the classic game novelizations and the newer expansions from Aconyte Books, are considered part of the official Assassin's Creed transmedia canon and are developed in close collaboration with Ubisoft.

QWhat is the correct order for the Last Descendants series?

The Last Descendants young adult series by Matthew J. Kirby should be read in order: Last Descendants (2016), Tomb of the Khan (2016), and Fate of the Gods (2017).

QIs The Ming Storm series a trilogy?

Although originally planned as a trilogy, only two books focusing on Shao Jun—The Ming Storm and The Desert Threat—have been published. A third book has not been released.

QWhere does Desert Oath fit in the reading order?

Desert Oath by Oliver Bowden is a prequel to the game Assassin's Creed Origins, taking place in ancient Egypt. While it is chronologically the earliest story in the main line, it is best read after you are familiar with the basic lore of the Assassins.