Star Wars books, ranked by fans
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Star Wars canon, explained (a quick primer)
According to the fan forums we consulted while building this essay, every book on this list is part of the official Star Wars canon. The canon is the story timeline that includes the official Star Wars films, the Disney+ shows, and a number of novels. Canon books are written in close coordination with the Lucasfilm team, so their plots reflect the characters, ships, and plot points that we know and love from the movies and TV series. Some fans remember the older Expanded Universe stories, but those are now called Star Wars Legends and live in a whole separate continuity. Fans still love those characters, but they don't exist in the same timeline as the films anymore. For new readers, these fan-recommended canon books are a good place to start!How these 15 Star Wars books are ranked
Our list doesn't follow chronological reading order. We consulted several fan forums online, tallying their recommendations for books in the Star Wars canon. This list answers the question "What should I read first?" and includes recs from the Star Wars fan community.The best Star Wars canon books, ranked in order of popularity
1. “Bloodline” by Claudia Gray
Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. But a new enemy appears at the edges of the galaxy, and a mysterious threat is growing. . . .Fable reader Flo: "A great novel diving deeper into one of my childhood heroes, Princess Leia. It has everything I love about Star Wars: political intrigue, nuanced dilemmas about right and wrong, and, of course, space action! Written by one of my favorite tie-in writers and narrated by the great January Lavoy, this was a treat to listen to."2. “Catalyst (Star Wars): A Rogue One Novel” by James Luceno
War is tearing the galaxy apart. For years, the Republic and the Separatists have battled across the stars, each building increasingly deadly technology in an attempt to win the war. As a member of Chancellor Palpatine's top-secret Death Star project, Orson Krennic is determined to develop a superweapon before their enemies can.Everand reader Lucky: "A very different kind of Star Wars book, focusing not on action but rather on morals, motivations, interpersonal connections, and a years-long exercise of careful, unscrupulous behavioral manipulation."3. “Star Wars: Lost Stars” by Claudia Gray
This thrilling Young Adult novel gives readers a macro view of some of the most important events in the Star Wars universe, from the rise of the Rebellion to the fall of the Empire. Readers will experience these major moments through the eyes of two childhood friends—Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell—who have grown up to become an Imperial officer and a Rebel pilot.Fable reader Xavier L: "One of the best Star Wars novels ever written. Claudia Gray weaves a thrilling tale of a rebel pilot and an imperial officer bound by friendship through the scope of the entire rise and fall of the Galactic Empire."4. “Tarkin” by James Luceno
Groomed by the Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly. To bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader and Tarkin—whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire's supremacy . . . and its enemies' extinction.Fable reader Paul: "It's like a buddy cop movie! But one of the buddies is Vader. And the cops are honestly really evil. There is a good cop, bad cop scene, it's more like bad cop and actually Darth Vader. Overall, this was fun!"5. “Thrawn” by Timothy Zahn
One of the most cunning and ruthless warriors in the history of the Galactic Empire, Grand Admiral Thrawn is also one of the most captivating villains in the Star Wars universe.Fable reader Mewichigo: "I never expected to enjoy a book about military tactics so much, but here we are. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. Especially if you've seen Rebels or are currently watching it like I am!"6. “A New Dawn: Star Wars” by John Jackson Miller, Dave Filoni
Discover how Hera and Kanan, two of the lead characters from Star Wars Rebels, originally met in this thrilling novel set between Episodes III and IV. For a thousand generations, the Jedi Knights brought peace and order to the Galactic Republic, aided by their connection to the mystical energy field known as the Force. But they were betrayed—and the entire galaxy has paid the price.Fable reader Alex: "The book was a great read, really enjoyed it from start to finish. As a Star Wars fan, I found it easy to understand, but if you're not a Star Wars fan (or trying to get into it), it's still easy to understand. All in all, very good read."7. “Aftermath: Star Wars: Journey to Star Wars: The Force Awakens” by Chuck Wendig
As the Empire reels from its critical defeats at the Battle of Endor, the Rebel Alliance—now a fledgling New Republic—presses its advantage by hunting down the enemy's scattered forces before they can regroup and retaliate. But above the remote planet Akiva, an ominous show of the enemy's strength is unfolding. Out on a lone reconnaissance mission, pilot Wedge Antilles watches Imperial Star Destroyers gather like birds of prey circling for a kill, but he's taken captive before he can report back to the New Republic leaders.Fable reader Ronin: "Even though it focuses on new characters and minor Characters from the original trilogy, it was still totally Wizard! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the two sequels after, Life Debt and Empire's End. May the Force be with You all."8. “Ahsoka” by E.K. Johnston
Fans have long wondered what happened to Ahsoka after she left the Jedi Order near the end of the Clone Wars, and before she re-appeared as the mysterious Rebel operative Fulcrum in Rebels. Finally, her story will begin to be told. Everand reader Leandro: "Great book. Highly recommended for those who don't know where to start reading about Star Wars (and if Ahsoka is your favorite character, like in my case, the book is a must)."9. “Phasma (Star Wars): Journey to Star Wars: The Last Jedi” by Delilah S. Dawson
One of the most cunning and merciless officers of the First Order, Captain Phasma commands the favor of her superiors, the respect of her peers, and the terror of her enemies. But for all her renown, Phasma remains as virtually unknown as the impassive expression on her gleaming chrome helmet.Everand reader Ennuiprayer: "I rarely give five-star reviews, but Delilah S. Dawson knocked this one out of the park."10. “Dark Disciple: Star Wars” by Christie Golden, Katie Lucas
Based on unproduced episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, this thrilling novel features Asajj Ventress, a former Sith apprentice turned bounty hunter and one of the galaxy's great antiheroes.Fable reader Cosmo: "Even if you aren't a Star Wars fan, you should read this book. Asajj Ventress was always one of my favorite characters, but this book solidified her into my top 3 Star Wars characters of all time."11. “Heir to the Jedi: Star Wars” by Kevin Hearne
A thrilling new adventure set between A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, and—for the first time ever—written entirely from Luke Skywalker's first-person point of view. Luke Skywalker's game-changing destruction of the Death Star has made him not only a hero of the Rebel Alliance but a valuable asset in the ongoing battle against the Empire. Though he's a long way from mastering the power of the Force, there's no denying his phenomenal skills as a pilot.Fable reader Wdw_bee: "I liked hearing about this time period and how Luke was experiencing life off the farm, a love interest, and his first encounters with trying to use the force after Ben died."12. “Battlefront: Twilight Company (Star Wars)” by Alexander Freed
A companion novel inspired by Star Wars: Battlefront, this action-packed adventure follows a squad of soldiers caught in the trenches of the ultimate galactic war between good and evil. The bravest soldiers. The toughest warriors. The ultimate survivors.Fable reader Eva: "Loved the characters, all had their own personality, and all their actions fit them. Very well written and a very good parallel story to the Empire Strikes Back!"13. “Last Shot (Star Wars): A Han and Lando Novel” by Daniel José Older
Han Solo and Lando Calrissian are reunited on the Millennium Falcon in a galaxy-spanning novel inspired by Solo: A Star Wars Story. But even the fastest ship in the universe can't outrun the past. . . .Everand reader Nicole: "I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the complex issues it brought up concerning artificial intelligence. It's also fun to see Han and Lando work together again. It's also pretty cool to read about Lando and L3 and Han and Sana, two very different relationships, yet quite complicated in their own way. This book is a great read and a real adventure. I highly recommend this book."14. “Star Wars Rebel Rising” by Beth Revis
When Jyn Erso was five years old, her mother was murdered and her father taken from her to serve the Empire. But despite the loss of her parents, she is not completely alone—Saw Gerrera, a man willing to go to any extremes necessary in order to resist Imperial tyranny, takes her in as his own, and gives her not only a home but all the abilities and resources she needs to become a rebel herself. Jyn dedicates herself to the cause—and the man.Fable reader Daniel: "Perfectly fulfills its reason for existence by keeping the development of Jyn completely in line with the character we meet at the beginning of Rogue One - jumping from mission to mission and touching on all the major moments we would want to see, starting from the moment she's rescued by Saw Gerrera to her eventual rescuing by K-2SO.”15. “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” by Alexander Freed
Go beyond the film that introduced Star Wars fans to Cassian Andor with this novelization featuring new scenes and expanded material. As Rebel spies race toward their dangerous goal, the specter of their ultimate enemy—a monstrous world unto itself—darkens the skies, waiting to herald the Empire's brutal reign with a burst of annihilation worthy of its dreaded name: Death Star.Fable reader Kami_reads9: "I will never not be over this movie. This is one of the best movies in my opinion, and all of the characters are just 🤌🏼 seeing every moment that they have towards the end utterly destroys me, but adds more depth to what we have seen in the movie. Rogue One, I will always love you the most 🫰🏼"What about the Star Wars TV shows?
Chris Gallello, Fable's head of product and resident "Star Wars" fan, made a list of the best Star Wars TV shows a few years ago, and he updated his list this year:- Andor
- The Mandalorian
- The Bad Batch
- Obi-Wan Kenobi
- Rebels
- Ahsoka
- Tales of the Jedi
- The Clone Wars
- The Book of Boba Fett
- The Acolyte
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best Star Wars book of all time?
Among the many fan recommendations we looked at, "Bloodline" by Claudia Gray is the most popular Star Wars canon novel — a political thriller that follows Princess Leia decades after Return of the Jedi. Other top picks include "Catalyst" (the prequel to Rogue One), "Lost Stars," and "Thrawn."What is the difference between Star Wars canon and Legends?
Canon books are written in close coordination with the Lucasfilm team, so their plots reflect the characters, ships, and plot points that we know and love from the movies and TV series. The older Expanded Universe stories, now called Star Wars Legends, are a separate continuity — wonderful, but not the same timeline as the films.In what order should I read Star Wars books?
There are two ways! One is to read by popularity, reading from 1 down to 15 on our list (beginning with "Bloodline"). That way, you'll be reading the most-loved stories first. The second way is to read in chronological order following the in-universe timeline. Wookieepedia has your complete list, starting with The High Republic: Quest for the Hidden City.Which Star Wars book should I read first?
If you’re a fan of the original trilogy, start with "Bloodline" or "Lost Stars" to learn more about your favorite characters. If you love the prequels, start with "Catalyst" or "Tarkin" for a deep-dive into the history before the original trilogy. If the Disney+ shows are your favorite, start with "A New Dawn" to see some great Star Wars Rebels characters.Are Star Wars audiobooks worth listening to?
Yes! Star Wars audiobooks feature special musical cues from a dedicated archive of music and sound effects. "Bloodline" (narrated by January LaVoy) and "Thrawn" have both received high marks from fans. You can read more about the sound design in this Nick Peck essay.How many Star Wars canon books are there?
There are well over 100 canon novels, all listed in chronological order at Wookieepedia. That number can seem daunting for new readers, so we made this list of the highest-ranked novels to get you started!Keep reading on Everand
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