How to Start Reading Star Wars Books in 2024

There are hundreds of Star Wars books out there. How do you know which to read if you want to start in 2024? Here is a guide with a handful of jumping off points.

Subscribe for more Star Wars videos every day!
Join this channel to get access to perks:

Mailing Address
Star Wars Explained
1227 Rockbridge Rd SW
Ste 208 PMB 264
Stone Mountain, GA 30087

This channel is not affiliated in any way with Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC, The Walt Disney Company, or any of their affiliates or subsidiaries.

[shadowsentry]

I actually started reading the new canon books in chronological order; it actually worked pretty well in some areas, like how the Alphabet Squadron books tied nicely with the Aftermath trilogy, which then tied great to Shadow of the Sith. The books having these kinds of connections are pretty rare since new releases are so often scattered throughout the timeline, but when it works, it really really works imo

[sinistercinemareviews]

I’ve been on top of the Disney Era canon since it started which I’m so thankful for cause trying to catch up now would be DAUNTING.

[B_vagabond]

I credit your author interviews and your general excitement about what is being written as to getting me back into the novels. 👍

[ScottyHolidaySW]

Dark Disciple is THE book that not only got me into Star Wars books, but reading in genera! I can't recommend it enough & I'm so happy to see it included on this list ☺️🖤

[betaich]

I have just finished Thrawn alliances and now I know why thrawn was like nah we don't fight Ahsoka after he heard who her master was. Thank you Alex for bringing me into reading star wars

[alexgood]

I got into the High Republic novels from hearing you & Molly talk about them. I am currently on The Rising Strom and really enjoying it so far 😄

[kaleighellis]

If you like Padme and want more exposition about the prequel era, I would highly recommend the Padme trilogy! Queens Shadow, Queens Peril, and Queens Hope by E.K. Johnston. They were excellent reads and told the stories of all the handmaidens. I loved reading more about women’s experiences in the Star Wars story.

[NightDocs]

It’s hard for me to get through entire books in general but I have read and re-read the Darth Bane series probably half a dozen times. Stories about the villain are so much more interesting than the alternative to me

[matthewmurdick]

I read the original Timothy Zahn trilogy and followed most of the legends up until about the time of news of the prequels being developed came up. I never got back in... now I've gotten interested in reading books again, so this was very helpful! Thanks!

[piercebuckley]

I just got back into reading the Republic Commando series after recently listening to the Bane, Vader/ROTS, and Thrawn trilogies, and the first 4 X-Wing books again, and I plan to read the the Jedi Academy trilogy soon after. Soon enough I’ll have to give my young cousin some recommendations too.

[Kari-SF]

Lost Stars is one of my favorite books from Claudia Gray. It's a great recommendation, I think people who like Andor will definitely enjoy it.

[CharlieHepp]

I credit your author interviews and your general excitement about what is being written to get me back into the novels. 👍I have just finished Thrawn alliances and now I know why Thrawn was like nah we don't fight Ahsoka after he heard who her master was. Thank you Alex for bringing me into reading Star Wars This is so helpful, for a very exciting but daunting new area of Star Wars for me. Thank you!
I just got back into reading the Republic Commando series after recently listening to the Bane, Vader/ROTS, and Thrawn trilogies, and the first 4 X-Wing books again, and I plan to read the Jedi Academy trilogy soon after. Soon enough I’ll have to give my young cousin some recommendations too. get Lost Stars is one of my favorite books by Claudia Gray. It's a great recommendation, I think people who like Andor will definitely enjoy it. If you like Padme and want more exposition about the prequel era, I would highly recommend the Padme trilogy! Queens Shadow, Queens Peril, and Queens Hope by E.K. Johnston. They were excellent reads and told the stories of all the handmaidens. I loved reading more about women’s experiences in the Star Wars story. Lost Stars was incredible. It was the first book I had read for pleasure in years. It reignited my love of reading for fun and made me a huge fan of Claudia Gray. Her book Leia Princess of Alderaan is also fantastic. The first Star Wars book I ever read was Shadows of the Empire at 13, I read the novelization of A New Hope and never got around to Empire and Jedi and I did read Phantom Menace, and I really enjoyed that. Not to mention the fact that I recently got some Star Wars e-books, specifically Dark Discs all three Thrawn trilogies, And the novel involving Zhare trying to find his sister which expands on his introduction in Star Wars Rebels. There’s so much more, I picked up also, not to mention Ahsoka which is the first novel I want to get reading to get myself back into reading Star Wars books. After all these years, I’m 38 this year. You inspired me to try the audiobooks years ago and I can't thank you enough! Hundreds of hours of entertainment from them!
You guys got me into the High Republic books! I'm badly dyslexic, so I tend to put off reading as much as I can, but I picked up the audiobooks over the past few months, and wow! This series might just be my favorite in SW history, I got the Heir to the Empire trilogy for Christmas. Already finished the first book and I'm a little over halfway through Dark Force Rising. Biggest takeaway so far: I already knew from Rebels that Thrawn was smart, but he's on a whole other level in these books. I love Brotherhood, Lost Stars, and Shadow of the Sith. They were so good. I picked up the new High Republic book (The Eye of Darkness) today because the way you talked about the book series made it seem super interesting!!
Aftermath, Rise of The Red Blade, Thrawn, and Dark Disciple would be my top picks for books from the current canon. I’ve been on top of the Disney Era canon since it started which I’m so thankful for cause trying to catch up now would be DAUNTING. Currently reading The Rise of the Red Blade. I started reading SW books last year only. Going back and forth between canon and legend, basically reading what interests me. I have to thank your channel for getting me into it. I think Light of the Jedi will be my next read. Hoping for more novels from Alexander Freed in general but if it's Alphabet Squadron then that would be amazing. Oh, and Lost Stars 2! I'm reading the Thrawn Ascendency for the first time but I'm struggling to get into it because of all the new complicated names Love how informative you are, love you guys so much Just a few fun facts, but the Star Destroyer on the cover of Lost Stars, The Inflictor is the same In The Force Awakens when Rey is using her speeder and driving past the desert of Jakku. And again near the end of Rise of Skywalker. Great vid! Just about finished with Phase One of THR and need something like this on where to start with canon comics 👍 Disney has dropped the ball with Star Wars in a lot of ways, but the novels and comics have been incredible! I love to read and the High Republic stories and characters have been especially well-written. The old legends stuff is dope too! I seriously encourage everyone to just pick up one of the books and go Add the Aftermath books to the list from Chuck Wendig. Book 1 is good, books 2 and 3 are excellent. They form a bridge between Ep 6 and 7. I’ve been wanting more sequel stories while waiting for the Rey movie, so (in addition to some small Age of Resistance comics) I’m considering borrowing Shadows of the Sith from my local library to catch up. During this winter I really got back to High Republic and today I will receive Mission to Disaster which is the last story I need to read before getting to phase 2 which I'm really excited about. I guess I’m pretty sort of experienced. Thanks, Alex! I am about to read all of the EU novels in chronological order, and then I’ll move on to the canon novels. Wish me luck! The Aftermath trilogy is also great if you want to bridge the gap between episodes 6 and 7 Reading Bloodline rn and can confirm it’s very good I was just thinking about this question yesterday and was looking for a video in your channel that could help and this video comes out today hahaha thanks for that ❤ Star Wars books have always been good and I love them all!! Question for the Q&A or another video: I have a friend who has not seen anything Star Wars? What is the best movie to start with and why? Yeah, reading Star Wars books can feel a bit overwhelming at times. Just listen to anything Narrated by Marc Thompson. I'm listening to Eye of Darkness right now and he really is adding so much to the book. Dark Disciple is THE book that not only got me into Star Wars books but also reading in general! I can't recommend it enough & I'm so happy to see it included on this list name it.

[Flettwin]

A New Dawn is great recommend for new fans of Hera after the Ahsoka show. Hugely fun underrated read that also digs into the Andor themes of early Rebellion and working under the Empire.

[nowayok_]

It might not be canon, but I have to recommend Republic Commando as a great series to read if you want to get into SW books, legends or canon. Karen Traviss is a phenomenal writer, and if you like TCW, you will love this. Personally, I also think that since TBB has begun to implement Scorch into the story, reading the Rep Comm series gives you a totally unique perspective on him that makes his involvement that much more intriguing. I wouldn't be surprised if they further his character in season 3 by pulling from Traviss' novels.

[thargoff]

The Aftermath trilogy is underrated. Great characters and stories.

[platypusfox]

Aftermath, Rise of The Red Blade, Thrawn, and Dark Disciple would be my top picks for books from the current cannon.

[nerdybirdbricks]

Just finished commenting on a video from 2 years ago on the "business on Cato Neimoidia" continued my hunt and found at 4:13 in this video my answer, thank you!!! :D ( currently almost done Brotherhood)

[GuardianKyle]

4:14

Just a little fun facts, but the Star Destroyer on the cover of Lost Stars, The Inflictor is the same In The Force Awakens when Rey is using her speeder and driving past the desert of Jakku. And again near the end of Rise of Skywalker.

[amaranthpaean]

I got back into the novels by reading (well, listening to) the From a Certain Point of View series. They are short stories in honor of the 40th anniversary of the original trilogy, written and read by various people, and dive into the backstories and side-quests from those movies. Things that took place just off camera. They’re mostly lighthearted, although a few will make you cry…

[x-xsharkix-x]

ive picked up the new high republic book (the eye of darkness) today because the way you talked about the book series made it seem super interesting!!