SWBC: Star Wars books of 2023
Plus: A review of The High Republic Adventures (2023) #1 and an updated High Republic reading guide.
All the Star Wars books of 2023
There were 14 (!) new Star Wars books published in 2023. That’s not counting the new and continuing comics, art and reference books, or the Essential Legends Collection.
Still, what an impressive stack. And they’re all absolute bangers.
Here’s the full list in publication order:
The Battle of Jedha script book
Jedi: Battle Scars
Hunters: Battle for the Arena
The High Republic: Cataclysm
Chronicles of the Jedi
The High Republic: Quest for Planet X
The High Republic: Path of Vengeance
The Edge of Balance: Precedent
Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade
From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi
The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life
The Mandalorian: The Manga
Crimson Climb
The High Republic: The Eye of Darkness
A numbers-forward breakdown:
6 adult books
3 young adult books
2 middle-grade books
2 manga volumes
2 short story collections
8 High Republic books
2 books based on video games
1 script book
1 in-universe history book
And, drumroll, please…
My favorite Star Wars book of the year is Inquisitor: Rise of the Red Blade!
I’ll have an upcoming newsletter dedicated to waxing poetic about Rise of the Red Blade and sharing my rankings of all the other Star Wars books this year. In the meantime, check out my review of the book — one of the most important Star Wars stories ever told.
What are your favorite Star Wars reads (new and not) of 2023? Share them in the comments!
More: Star Wars books coming in 2024
So far, there are five new Star Wars novels announced for next year. That includes four High Republic books and the much-anticipated The Living Force by John Jackson Miller.
I’m also particularly excited for the release of Thrawn: Alliances in comic form. There are so many gorgeous variant covers just for the first issue, and I need to request them all from my local comic book store.
And there are sure to be more Star Wars books announced and cover reveals soon. In the meantime, check out the link below for my top picks for Star Wars books and comics arriving in 2024.
The High Republic Adventures in Phase 3
My initial review of The High Republic Adventures (2023) #1:
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
What I messaged writer Daniel José Older immediately upon finishing my review copy:
But in all seriousness, if you care about the Jedi Padawans of The High Republic, pick up this issue ASAP.
It’s been a year since the fall of Starlight Beacon, and many of the Jedi and Padawans aboard the space station are dead or missing and presumed dead. That includes Lula Talisola, whom Zee Mrala refuses to give up on.
Mikkian Zeen and Jedi Knight Qort hide out and wait for the next steps on the planet of Eriadu. At night, the Force-sensitive Zeen performs a beautifully heartbreaking tribute to all those lost with Starlight Beacon. But when she sees a holo of Lula, she loses it.
Then, Zeen and Qort — along with cynical droid 5A-G3 — get an intriguing transmission from a warlord on a remote moon. It just might lead them to the answer they’ve been searching for, along with big steps to reunite their fractured family.
The High Republic Adventures (2023) #1 by Daniel José Older and artist Harvey Tolibao is available now from Dark Horse.
Updated: How to read The High Republic books
Can you believe that come January it will be three years of The High Republic?
This era holds such a special place in my heart because these books are the ones that got me into professional book reviewing, content creation, and this newsletter. I wouldn’t be where I am now without The High Republic books.
Funny enough, my guide to reading The High Republic is also the most-viewed post on the Space Wizards Book Club. If you Google “how to read The High Republic,” you’ll see me in the first result. How cool is that?
And since Phase 3 is fully underway, it was about time to update that guide.
What you’ll find in How to read Star Wars: The High Republic books:
FAQs about this era of Star Wars, a recommended reading guide, timeline order, info about the differences in adult, YA, and middle-grade stories, and links to my reviews.
I’ve also updated the section on Phase 3, which includes the first three books in the first wave as well as the three main comics so far.
What other questions do you have about The High Republic? Let me know in the comments and I’ll try to answer them!
Etsy shop updates: New totes and a mug!
Name a more icon, quotable conversation from a Star Wars movie than the one between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Revenge of the Sith. Well, I turned that charged back-and-forth chat into a mug and a tote bag.
So, if you’re interested in sipping from or carrying around the acronym for “I have brought peace, freedom, justice, and stability to my new empire,” grab one of my new mugs or totes from the Space Wizards Book Club Etsy shop.
Also new to the shop is another tote bag (I love totes, okay) with “My favorite stories begin with a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.” Plus, there’s a cute Life Day 2023 holiday ornament.
All your favorite bookmarks and stickers are there, too, and I’m eagerly awaiting a restock of several popular bookmarks.
New Millennium Falcon candle from Homesick
Did you know that the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy is also the best smelling? Well, Homesick believes so, and it just came out with a new Millennium Falcon-inspired candle to prove it.
The three-wick candle is a mix of leather, dark bourbon, and rusted steel scents. There are also hints of brushed suede, smoked tobacco, and cashmere musk.
Like Homesick’s other Star Wars candles I’ve had the privilege of reviewing, the Millennium Falcon one smells almost too good to burn. But at a whopping 26 ounces, it’s bound to last for a while.
Seriously, this is one heavy candle, and I love that.
The Millennium Falcon candle arrived back on Nov. 20 and is available to purchase now at Homesick.com.
Other candles in the Star Wars collection — like The Death Star, Endor, and ones from The Mandalorian — are also available.
Star Wars books and comics out this week
Dec. 5
Legends Epic Collection: The New Republic Vol. 7
The High Republic Character Encyclopedia
Star Wars Dawn of Rebellion: The Visual Guide
The High Republic Adventures (2022): Volume 2
Dec. 6
The High Republic Adventures #1
Star Wars (2020) #41
Dark Droids: D-Squad #4
I'm always a bit behind on new releases, snd have been reading other stuff for quite a lot of this year. I think Shadow of the Sith may be my favourite of the ones I've read this year