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bikananjarrus · 2 months ago

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Do you want to start reading The High Republic books, but aren't sure where to start? This reading guide has you covered!

The High Republic era has given us so much material to explore and enjoy, but that also makes it a bit daunting knowing where to start and what order to follow.

This will serve as your, maybe not quite one-stop, but hopefully very comprehensive guide to getting into all things High Republic!

[Note: I say this isn't quite a "one-stop" reading guide, as I am certainly not the first person to have made such a list. The official Star Wars site has a reading guide (though it is out of order; so if you use it, pay close attention to the publication dates. Helpful, though, for seeing the covers of everything, if you're a more visual person). I personally have found the Wikipedia guide to be incredibly helpful. And (especially for the comics), please feel free to do some of your own research into other reading guides; I did my best to list everything, but there are more detailed comics reading guides out there.]

TL;DR: If you want the shortest answer possible of where to start, Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule. It was the very first book published in this project, and is the perfect entry point into The High Republic era.

For more details and the full reading guides, keep reading below the cut.

Let's get into it!

First things first, What is The High Republic?

The High Republic is a multimedia project, which includes books, comics, manga, and audiodramas (audiobooks but they have a full cast of voice actors + sound effects and music.) This era takes place hundreds of years before the prequel trilogy, during the golden age of the Jedi.

The High Republic has been published in three phases:

PHASE 1 (Light of the Jedi) takes place about 200 years before The Phantom Menace. [COMPLETE]

PHASE 2 (Quest of the Jedi) takes place roughly 150 years before that, so ~350 years before TPM. [COMPLETE]

PHASE 3 (Trials of the Jedi) goes back to the Phase 1 timeline, so ~200 years before TPM. [INCOMPLETE at time of posting. The final three novels and remaining comics are set to be published this year in 2025]

Do I need to read ALL the books, including YA and middle-grade?

Short answer: it depends! If 24 books is really daunting, or you just aren’t sure you’re going to have the time to dedicate to all of that, i would say no, you don’t have to read everything. You could read just the adult novels (which is the main-main storyline for everything), and be just fine!

However, if you are looking for a more well-rounded, full picture of this story, more characters to enjoy, or just want to read as much of this era as possible, than yes, i definitely recommend reading everything! the YA and middle-grade books have been just as well-written, and while you don’t need to read them to understand the main storyline, they fill some gaps in, introduce a lot of really fantastic characters, and make the story as a whole more full and fulfilling.

Now, where do I start?

I definitely recommend starting with Phase 1, Book 1: Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule.

This was the first book to be published, and is 1) a fantastic book, and 2) a great introduction to the galaxy at this time.

From there, I recommend going in order of the Phases, which would essentially be publishing order.

HOWEVER: this is not the only way to read the books; this is just my recommendation. I started with Light of the Jedi and it pulled me right into this era. But I know others have gone in timeline order (ie reading Phase 2 first, then Phase 1, then Phase 3) and really enjoyed that reading order as well.

(for more insight about starting with Phase 2, see this post.)

READING ORDERS

NOVELS ONLY READING ORDER

[*Though I did not include the dates, the following list has the books in publication order, and is the suggested reading order.]

READING OPTIONS

You for sure will want to read at least all the adult novels. At the very minimum you could read just the adult novels for Phase 1 & 3, and get a full story. I do really recommend reading the Phase 2 prequel novels, but reading is individual, so go with whatever reading amount and order will bring you the most enjoyment!

If you know you want to dedicate to more than just the adult books, you can add YA and Middle-Grade books into your reading order as it works best for you.

Level 0.5 - Phase 1 & 3 Adult Novels Only (TOTAL = 6 Books)

Level 1 – Adult Novels Only (TOTAL = 8 Books)

Level 2 – Adult Novels + YA Novels (TOTAL = 16 Books)

Level 3 – Adult Novels + YA Novels + Middle-Grade Novels (TOTAL = 24 Books)

PHASE 1

Light of the Jedi by Charles Soule (adult)

A Test of Courage by Justina Ireland (middle-grade)

Into the Dark by Claudia Gray (YA)

The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott (adult)

Race to Crashpoint Tower by Daniel José Older (MG)

Out of the Shadows by Justina Ireland (YA)

Mission to Disaster by Justina Ireland (MG)

The Fallen Star by Claudia Gray (adult)

Midnight Horizon by Daniel José Older (YA)

Phase 2

Path of Deceit by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton (YA)

Quest for the Hidden City by George Mann (MG)

Convergence by Zoraida Córdova (adult)

Quest for Planet X by Tessa Gratton (MG)

Cataclysm by Lydia Kang (adult)

Path of Vengeance by Cavan Scott (YA)

Phase 3

The Eye of Darkness by George Mann (adult)

Escape from Valo by Daniel José Older & Alyssa Wong (MG)

Defy the Storm by Justina Ireland & Tessa Gratton (YA)

Temptation of the Force by Tessa Gratton (adult)

Beware the Nameless by Zoraida Córdova (MG)

Tears of the Nameless by George Mann (YA)

Into the Light by Claudia Gray (YA) [Publishing April 1, 2025]

A Valiant Vow by Justina Ireland (MG) [Publishing May 6, 2025]

Trials of the Jedi by Charles Soule (adult) [Publishing June 17, 2025]

NOVELS + EVERYTHING ELSE READING ORDER

This list includes all novels, a short story volume, audiodramas, manga volumes, and comics.

If you have the time to dedicate to reading everything, the audiodramas are really well produced and the comics + mangas have been incredible. All these other publications typically follow characters that aren't in, or are featured very little, in the novels, so the stories remain fresh and new and aren't rehashing what's in the novels.

I know all of this additional material (especially the comics) can be a bit overwhelming. Here is a continuation of the reading levels above, based on what I will be easiest to add into your novels reading order:

Level 4 – Adult / YA / MG Novels + Audiodramas (TOTAL = Audio x3)

Level 5 – Adult / YA / MG Novels + Audiodramas + Manga (TOTAL = audio x3 + manga x6)

Level 6 – Adult / YA / MG Novels + Audiodramas + Manga + Comics (TOTAL = audio x3 + manga x6 + comic TPBs x27(ish))

[Note: for the comics, I divided them up based on trade paperback (TPB) volume, instead of individual issues, to keep things simpler. For the separate volumes, I placed them after the "wave" of books they coincide with. There are a few one-shot comics I didn't include, because most of the one-shots are included in the TPB volumes. So whether you buy the TPB or check it out from the library, those one-shots will likely be included and make it so you don't have to track it down separately. (and if you've got a library card, the Libby app has all the High Republic comics!)]

[Note #2: Star Wars: The High Republic and Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures are the main storyline comics that have run through every phase. To distinguish which Phase they are part of, the year of the first comic in that Phase's run has been included (Phase 1 = 2021 / Phase 2 = 2022 / Phase 3 = 2023). This does not mean all comics in that run have been published in that years, just the first one.]

Phase 1

Light of the Jedi

A Test of Courage

Into the Dark

Star Wars: The High Republic (2021), Volume 1 (issues #1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2021), Volume 1 (issues #1-5) (comics)

The Rising Storm

Race to Crashpoint Tower

Out of the Shadows

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – The Monster of Temple Peak (comics; mini-series)

Tempest Runner by Cavan Scott (audiodrama)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2021), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2021), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

The Edge of Balance Volume 1 by Shima Shinya and Justina Ireland (manga)

Mission to Disaster

The Fallen Star

Midnight Horizon

The Edge of Balance Volume 2 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older (manga)

Star Wars: The High Republic – Trail of Shadows (comics; mini-series)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2021), Volume 3 (#11-15) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2021), Volume 3 (#11-15) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic – The Eye of the Storm (comics; mini-series) [included in TPB of THR Vol. 3]

Phase 2

Path of Deceit

Quest for the Hidden City

Convergence

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2022), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2022), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic – The Blade (comics; mini-series)

The Battle of Jedha by George Mann (audiodrama)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2022), Volume 2 (#6-1 0) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2022), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Quest of the Jedi (comics; one-shot issue)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – The Nameless Terror (comics; mini-series)

Quest for Planet X

Cataclysm

Path of Vengeance

The Edge of Balance: Precedent by Daniel Jośe Older (manga)

Tales of Light and Life by Various Authors (short story collection; not technically part of Phase 2. Has spoilers for Phase 2, so recommended reading spot is between Phase 2 & 3)

Phase 3

Star Wars: The High Republic – Shadows of Starlight (comics; mini-series)

The Eye of Darkness

Escape from Valo

Defy the Storm

Star Wars: The High Republic (2023), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2023), Volume 1 (#1-5) (comics)

Temptation of the Force

Edge of Balance Volume 3 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older (manga)

Beware the Nameless

Tears of the Nameless

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Saber for Hire (comics; mini-series)

Star Wars: The High Republic (2023), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics; TPB also includes Star Wars: The Acolyte – Kelnacca one-shot comic issue)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures (2023), Volume 2 (#6-10) (comics)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – The Wedding Spectacular (comics; one-shot)

Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott (audiodrama)

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Dispatches from the Occlusion Zone (comics; mini-series) [TPB not publishing until July 1, 2025]

Star Wars: The High Republic – Fear of the Jedi (issue #1) (comics; mini-series. issue #1 publishing February 19, 2025. Release date of final issue #5 TBD. Release date of TPB is TBD)

Into the Light [Publishing April 1, 2025]

Edge of Balance: Premonition by Daniel José Older (manga) [Publishing April 8, 2025]

Edge of Balance Volume 4 by Shima Shinya and Daniel José Older (manga) [Publishing April 22, 2025]

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Echoes of Fear (comics; mini-series) [TPB Publishing April 22, 2025]

Star Wars: The High Republic Adventures – Crash Zone (comics; collecting Crash Landing one-shot, Crash and Burn one-shot, and THR: Adventures Phase III Annual one-shot) [TPB Publishing April 29, 2025]

A Valiant Vow [Publishing May 6, 2025]

Trials of the Jedi[Publishing June 17, 2025]

And that's all! I hope this helps you get started on your High Republic reading journey!

I know there's a lot here and it can get a bit confusing, so if there's anything you have questions or need clarification on, or if you simply want to share about your reading journey with these books, feel free to send me a message or an ask! :)

#the high republic #star wars the high republic #star wars #thr #seriously please don't be afraid to ask questions! my ask box is open!#i got a little confused just looking at all this and i've read everything! so i know it's a lot to get into!#also if anyone wants me to do a list of the supplemental books let me know #gonna stick this in my reading tag #mik reads the high republic #also guys look at my fun banner and divider :D #fun fact the collages of books in the banner are just straight up from my storygraph cover collages. bc i binged all these books lol

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