Mid-year check-in: Star Wars book edition
Plus: Reading and writing updates, and Star Wars books coming out the rest of the year.
It’s been a hot minute since I’ve done one of these — a casual newsletter where I drop a bunch of reading updates and pretty photos of books. All for good reason, of course. I’ve been busy — and busy being…not busy.
There have been a lot of Star Wars book reviews and announcements over the last few months. In April, Into the Light was released, Master of Evil was announced, and Star Wars Celebration dropped a bunch of manga and comic news. In May, I reviewed three Star Wars books — The Acolyte: Wayseeker, Tempest Breaker, and A Valiant Vow — and did a super fun live stream for May the 4th with Jason at This Dad Reads. And June has been consumed by Trials of the Jedi and the end of The High Republic. I’ve been in a reading slump ever since finishing the book, which was about a month ago.
Since then, I’ve been dipping my toes into thrillers and horror, bingeing fun and spicy romance, and working my way through the rest of the Red Rising series. I’ve got a couple of fanfics on my Kindle, too. I’ve got a bunch of fantasy ARCs to catch up on, but I’m trying to get over this reading slump first. Oh, and Random House Worlds sent out digital ARCs of Star Wars: Sanctuary (A Bad Batch Novel) this week. I also hope to get The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown soon. Stay tuned.
On the writing front, summer so far has been slow. With multiple projects and teaching wrapped up in May, I’m sort of in between deadline-based projects. Because of who I am as a person (eldest, only daughter, overachiever, former gifted kid, currently in therapy), it is very hard for me to just…relax. Spending days enjoying my new hobbies (crocheting and Labubu hunting) and reading feels like such a luxury. It is, but I deserve it. And I’m determined to enjoy these days as much as I can, while I have them.
My nonfiction space history book is still coming along, albeit little by little, when I get a spark of motivation. And my other super secret project is going great. TBD on when I can elaborate. In the meantime, I’m daydreaming about possible next Star Wars Insider stories and ideas for maybe something, maybe not, in the future. The life of a full-time writer, I guess?
My biggest release lately is Star Wars Insider #232, which features my favorite story I’ve written so far — A love letter to The High Republic with interviews with nearly all of the authors, plus Lucasfilm publishing director Michael Siglain. You can pick up a copy at bookstores, your local comic shop, and online through Titan Comics and Libby.
Star Wars books of 2025, so far
Essential Legends Collection:
Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
The Force Unleashed II
Rogue Planet
Shadows of the Empire
Scoundrels
Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear
The Acolyte: The Visual Guide
Complete Locations: New Edition
The High Republic books:
Into the Light
The Edge of Balance: Premonition
A Valiant Vow
Tempest Breaker
Trials of the Jedi
Women of the Galaxy: Updated and Expanded
The Acolyte: Wayseeker
Star Wars books coming soon
July 16
The High Republic Adventures (2023) #20 — last issue
July 29
The Acolyte: The Crystal Crown by Tessa Gratton
July 30
The High Republic: The Finale: The Beacon #1 — last issue
August 5
Sanctuary: A Bad Batch Novel by Lamar Giles
August 19
The Art of Star Wars: Outlaws
The Art of Star Wars: The High Republic Vol. 2
September 9
The Phantom Menace: A Visual Archive
September 16
Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles
October 7
Star Wars: The Blueprints
October 14
Revenge of the Sith: Episode III (Deluxe Edition)
October 21
The Last Order by Kwame Mbalia
November 4
Essential Legends Collection:
Choices of One
Razor’s Edge
Honor Among Thieves
November 11
Master of Evil by Adam Christopher
Path of the Lightsaber Vol. 1
What’s been your favorite Star Wars book of 2025 so far? Which ones are you most looking forward to reading? Let me know in the comments!