SWBC: Book recommendations for beginner Star Wars readers
Plus: Review of The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror #1-4 and a first look at the new Star Wars Unlimited TCG.
Where to start reading Star Wars books
Likely the most common question I get as a Star Wars book reviewer and content creator is “Where should I start reading Star Wars books?”
In a limited space on Instagram and TikTok, I usually say Lost Stars or Light of the Jedi — if they’re wanting to get into The High Republic. But my first love is writing and giving the why of those types of questions.
I’ve been meaning to do a recommendation list like this for a while. So, here you go — six books I suggest for beginner Star Wars book readers (in no particular order other than chronological).
The High Republic: Light of the Jedi: With so much hype for The High Republic publishing initiative — and the explosion of interest thanks to Jedi: Survivor — it’s no surprise more and more people want to start reading in this historic Star Wars era. No matter who you ask, the most popular recommendation is to start with Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. It is the introduction to the era, the Republic, the Jedi, the Nihil, and everything in between. Light of the Jedi is also a great beginner’s book for Star Wars reading in general — you don’t need to have read other books or watched all the recent TV shows and movies. The High Republic story isn’t about the Skywalkers, so if you know the basics of Star Wars, you’ll have a great time with this book.
Revenge of the Sith: This one goes along with the recommendation to read one of the film novelizations if you’re new to Star Wars books. If you’ve watched the movies, a great way to start reading more is to explore all the novelizations — better yet, read them via audiobook! The Revenge of the Sith novelization by Matthew Stover is more than just a rehash of the film. It’s one of the best Star Wars books out there.
Lost Stars: This young adult Claudia Gray novel is my go-to recommendation for new Star Wars readers. It spans much of the original trilogy and a good chunk of the decades between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. There are plenty of name drops and cameos by familiar Imperial and Rebel characters, but at its heart, Lost Stars is about what makes someone an Imperial and what makes someone want to rebel against the Imperial machine. It’s a coming-of-age, childhood friends-to-lovers story that adds so much depth to the stories of regular people who helped control and free the galaxy.
Star Wars: From A Certain Point of View: Really enjoyed A New Hope? With the FACPOV anthology, you can read the same story…but from different perspectives written by authors. Learn what it was like for the X-Wing pilots who helped Luke destroy the Death Star as well as the Stormtroopers on Tatooine who were looking for C-3PO and R2-D2. There are also really compelling stories told by the Jawas, Mouse Droids on the Death Star, and even Breha Organa in the moments before the destruction of Alderaan.
The Princess and the Scoundrel: This romantic story by Beth Revis is a love letter to the original trilogy and Han and Leia fans. Set immediately after Return of the Jedi, The Princess and the Scoundrel features Han and Leia’s beautiful Endor wedding and their adventurous honeymoon aboard the Halcyon Starcruiser. Some of the best parts of this book explore the trauma experienced by both Han and Leia in the aftermath of a years-long war and the knowledge of Leia’s relation to Darth Vader.
Heir to the Empire: Many veteran Star Wars book readers can claim their first Star Wars book was Timothy Zahn’s Heir to the Empire. That’s because this Thrawn-focused book (the first in a trilogy) was the catalyst to launch the Expanded Universe of the 1990s and early 2000s. And more than 30 years later, Heir to the Empire is still an excellent introduction to the world of Star Wars books — even if it’s no longer considered part of the main canon.
What other books or comics do you recommend for beginner Star Wars readers? Share them in the comments!
Review: The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror
In just four issues, The High Republic Phase 2 created a creeping dread Star Wars horror story with the perfect balance of light and darkness.
The fourth and final issue of The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror drops today — and wow, what a gut punch.
The overall story follows Phase 1’s Ty Yorrick, a self-proclaimed monster hunter, as she regales her droid KL-O3 with a legendary tale about her master’s master. In the story, Padawan Coron Solstus, his Master Sula, and their Pathfinder team become stranded on a mysterious planet after a run-in with the Path of the Open Hand.
It turns out, the Path crew is hauling a dozen or so eggs of the Nameless creature — also known as the Leveler when fully grown. As the Jedi and Path members face off in the halls of the wrecked ship, one of the eggs hatches, and a new terror begins stalking the ship and looking for Force-users to feed on.
Throughout the limited series, writer George Mann deftly balances the horror and death with the story’s hope-filled messages of bravery, selflessness, and legacy. The Adventures stories are geared toward a younger audience, but this series — in particular, the last issue — doesn’t pull any punches with dark themes and battle sequences.
While it’s a Phase 2 story, the real thread of The Nameless Terror is Ty revealing her master’s master’s story — setting up Ty’s adventures to come in Phase 3. The ending of The Nameless Terror really hits home if you’ve read the Ty Yorrick-focused Monster of Temple Peak series.
With a thrilling story and excellent art and visuals from Eduardo Mello and Ornella Savarese, The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror from Dark Horse Comics is a masterpiece in short-form, high-impact storytelling.
Star Wars Unlimited TCG: Coming in 2024
Trading card gamers and collectors, there’s a new Star Wars TCG coming soon.
Earlier this month, Fantasy Flight Games and Lucasfilm announced the upcoming Star Wars Unlimited trading card game, set to launch in 2024. The “fast-paced, dynamic game” is described as both easy to learn but still “strategically deep.”
There will be over 200 cards just in the first set — Spark of Rebellion. So, get those card sleeves and binders ready. And even better, these cards will feature heroes, villains, ships, planets, and locales from all across the Star Wars galaxy — from movies and TV shows to comics, video games, and books.
“Ensuring this game was accessible to all players was key for us, so whether you are a casual player, competitor, or collector, there’s something for everyone in this game,” Jim Cartwright, Product Strategy Director for Fantasy Flight Games, in a press release from May 9. “Straightforward mechanics are the driving force behind the design. It’s clean and concise with no gimmicks — a card game in its purest form.”
This week, Fantasy Flight Games also shared a first look at some of the cards and detailed the gameplay — with the goal of the game being to destroy the other person’s base before they destroy yours.
Of course, there will also be opportunities for Casual Play and Competitive Play, including chances for tournament points to be added to your profile on the game’s official website.
With Star Wars Unlimited being Fantasy Flight Games’ biggest game to date, there are more exciting card reveals to come. Keep up to date with the new TCG at StarWarsUnlimited.com.
Star Wars books and comics out this week
May 17
Bounty Hunters #34
The High Republic Adventures: The Nameless Terror #4
Giveaway reminder
Don’t forget — my Star Wars Day giveaway runs through May 24!
What’s included:
The High Republic t-shirt (logo is on the back)
Hardcover copy of Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton
A booklet of postcard-sized artwork from Star Wars Little Golden Books
How to enter:
Head over to my Star Wars Day Giveaway page, make sure you’re subscribed to the newsletter, and follow the prompt to comment.
Current reads
Thrawn: Treason: In the third book in Timothy Zahn’s new canon Thrawn trilogy, the Grand Admiral has to balance duty and loyalty to the Empire with that of his people in the Chiss Ascendancy.
A Gathering of Shadows: The second book in V.E. Schwab’s Shades of Magic trilogy chiefly follows Antari magician Kell and newly minted pirate Lila Bard months after the destruction of the sadistic Dane twins and the return of the dark magic-imbued stone back to Black London. But with all eyes on Red London’s famous Element Games, another London is coming back to life.
Ambrosia: C.N. Crawford’s Frost and Nectar series has become a new obsession. The first book, Frost, was a cross between fairytales and The Bachelor. The second book delves deeper into the fairy lore-steeped world of Seelie and Unseelie and turns the series into one about star-crossed love and family trauma.
The Chimera Bounty: Author Ember Holt graciously sent me a digital copy of the first book in her new series — one that mixes the action and thematic styles of video games with the world-building and romance of fae fantasy. As a reporter, I also love that the main character Maeve is also a journalist.
Recent reads
The Sinner and the Scholar: Fans of Supernatural, The Da Vinci Code, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer will want to add this book to their TBRs ASAP. It’s dark and packed with action and paranormal/supernatural activity, with a heartwarming and spicy love story. There are also plenty of found family shenanigans as two teams of Sinners and Saints (full of baggage and trauma) have to overcome their differences to save the world from demonic forces.
Araña and Spider-Man 2099: Dark Tomorrow: A great introduction to the Spider-Verse — in YA book form. Our main characters are Anya Corazon (Araña) and Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man 2099), and the two become the unlikely saviors of the universe in an epic, time-wobbling adventure. Can’t wait for Across the Spider-Verse? Give this book a read. Full review coming soon.
The Sun and the Star: While I was a few years too old for the height of the Percy Jackson boom, I’m so glad I discovered this universe now (even in my 30s). The Sun and the Star is an incredible book about love, acceptance, and embracing your dark parts instead of trying to “cure” them. The book is the latest in the world of PJO, but I still had such a fun time with it even though I’m far from caught up with the other books. Full review here.
Percy Jackson books: The Lightning Thief and The Sea of Monsters: Thanks to The Sun and the Star, I am in my middle-grade fantasy, Percy Jackson era. So far, I’ve read the first two books in the main series via audiobook. I enjoyed them both, but The Sea of Monsters didn’t hit as hard as The Lightning Thief. Next up: The Titan’s Curse.
Thanks to The Nerd Fam and author Lana Pecherczyk for the amazing PR box for The Sinner and the Scholar!
