Ben Solo
A Youtini Collection

Star Wars books you should read if you like
Ben Solo

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Ben Solo
“The boy had seemed to light up the whole world when he'd first arrived: this simple, impossible sliver of hope amid so much death and destruction.” ― Daniel José Older, Last Shot
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efore he called himself Kylo Ren, Ben Solo was born into a family full of heroes.

Was he destined for trouble before joining his uncle’s Jedi academy? We may never know for sure. But we do know that Snoke’s influence sent him down a reckless path. Much of his descent into his dark persona is still clouded in mystery, but the more time that passes, the more we learn about the last Solo.

Perhaps now that you’ve seen The Rise of Skywalker, you’re desperate for more content that explains how Ben Solo stumbled into the path of darkness before finding his way back to the light. There’s still a lot we don’t know, but there is also a lot the movies don’t tell you.

Outside the sequel trilogy films, we’ve seen glimpses of a young Ben Solo throughout the post-Return of the Jedi timeline thanks to the expanded universe. From his youngest years to his final stand against Darth Sidious alongside Rey, here’s where you can find him at different points throughout Star Wars history.

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Books in this Collection

The Youtini Collections team has hand-selected the books in this collection
Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Written by
Alan Dean Foster
Artwork by

Alan Dean Foster brings his fantasy and sci-fi storytelling experience to Star Wars canon for the first time in his adaption of the highly-anticipated 2015 film The Force Awakens

The official novelization of the film expands upon the events shown onscreen, giving readers the chance to see the Resistance engage in battle with the First Order from the unique points of view of different characters. Whether you’re a fan of Rey, Poe, Finn, or a combination of figures old and new, this book will take you on a journey across the galaxy you’ll not soon forget.

More than thirty years ago, Star Wars burst onto the big screen and became a cultural phenomenon. Now the next adventures in this blockbuster saga are poised to captivate old and new fans alike—beginning with the highly anticipated Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And alongside the cinematic debut comes the thrilling novel adaptation by New York Times bestselling science fiction master Alan Dean Foster.

Set years after Return of the Jedi, this stunning new action-packed adventure rockets us back into the world of Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Luke Skywalker, while introducing a host of exciting new characters. Darth Vader may have been redeemed and the Emperor vanquished, but peace can be fleeting, and evil does not easily relent. Yet the simple belief in good can still empower ordinary individuals to rise and meet the greatest challenges.

So return to that galaxy far, far away, and prepare yourself for what happens when the Force awakens. . . .

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Bloodline

Written by
Claudia Gray
Artwork by

After the fall of the Empire, the Senate is split into the Populist and Centrist parties. Both profess the goal of restoring the Republic, though they are unable to set aside their opposing views. Tired of the pointless bickering within the Senate, Leia takes on one final mission before retiring. However, the mission proves to be bigger than she originally thought, inducing chaos and unveiling corruption.

Leave it to Claudia Gray to make politics exciting with action and drama! Bloodline is also an excellent gateway into the sequel trilogy, making this an essential read for fans interested in that era.

WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE RESISTANCE

When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.

Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.

As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing. . . .

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition

Written by
Jason Fry
Artwork by

Jason Fry gets the honor of continuing Star Wars’s rich history with novel adaptation. In particular, his novelization shines in adding additional material to enhance the story in written form, such as Luke’s Force vision introduction and re-insterting deleted scenes from the film–even Rey’s third lesson! The novel allows us to get an inside look at certain characters such as BB-8 during the space battle over D’qar. Reading the novel of Episode Eight will allow you to soak up the story like never before, taking your time with the characters and getting the story from all-new perspectives.

Written with input from director Rian Johnson, this official adaptation of Star Wars: The Last Jedi expands on the film to include scenes from alternate versions of the script and other additional content.

From the ashes of the Empire has arisen another threat to the galaxy's freedom: the ruthless First Order. Fortunately, new heroes have emerged to take up arms—and perhaps lay down their lives—for the cause. Rey, the orphan strong in the Force; Finn, the ex-stormtrooper who stands against his former masters; and Poe Dameron, the fearless X-wing pilot, have been drawn together to fight side-by-side with General Leia Organa and the Resistance. But the First Order's Supreme Leader Snoke and his merciless enforcer Kylo Ren are adversaries with superior numbers and devastating firepower at their command. Against this enemy, the champions of light may finally be facing their extinction. Their only hope rests with a lost legend: Jedi Master Luke Skywalker.

Where the action of Star Wars: The Force Awakens ended, Star Wars: The Last Jedi begins, as the battle between light and dark climbs to astonishing new heights.

Featuring thrilling photos from the hit movie.

Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Last Shot

Written by
Daniel José Older
Artwork by

When a common foe from Han and Lando's past shows up on the latter's doorstep, the recent hero of the Rebellion and new father to Ben Solo must rush off once more to save both his friend and possibly, the entire galaxy.

Last Shot uniquely employs a number of different eras throughout the novel, and while jumping between time periods, we get to experience Han, Lando, L3-37 and more at various points in time, allowing us to witness the maturation and evolution of our favorite characters right before our eyes.

With a host of new characters right alongside the classics, including a villain that can't help but terrify all those who encounter him, Last Shot is an essential addition to the Han Solo story.

THEN:

It’s one of the galaxy’s most dangerous secrets: a mysterious transmitter with unknown power and a reward for its discovery that most could only dream of claiming. But those who fly the Millennium Falcon throughout its infamous history aren’t your average scoundrels. Not once, but twice, the crew of the Falcon tries to claim the elusive prize—first, Lando Calrissian and the droid L3-37 at the dawn of an ambitious career, and later, a young and hungry Han Solo with the help of his copilot, Chewbacca. But the device’s creator, the volatile criminal Fyzen Gor, isn’t interested in sharing. And Gor knows how to hold a grudge. . . .

 

NOW:

It’s been ten years since the rebel hero Han Solo last encountered Fyzen Gor. After mounting a successful rebellion against the Empire and starting a family with an Alderaanian princess, Han hasn’t given much thought to the mad inventor. But when Lando turns up at Han’s doorstep in the middle of the night, it’s Fyzen’s assassins that he’s running from. And without Han’s help, Lando—and all life on Cloud City—will be annihilated.

With the assistance of a young hotshot pilot, an Ewok slicer prodigy, the woman who might be the love of Lando’s life, and Han’s best and furriest friend, the two most notorious scoundrels in the New Republic are working together once more. They’ll have to journey across the stars—and into the past—before Gor uses the device’s power to reshape the galaxy.


Canon
Canon
Single Issue Comic

Age Of Resistance: Kylo Ren

Written by
Tom Taylor
Artwork by
Leonard Kirk
The son of smuggler Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa, Ben Solo was once one of the most promising of the new generation of Jedi. That is, until his uncle, Jedi Master Luke Skywalker, sensed the dark side in Ben. Since then, Ben has abandoned the ways of the Jedi. As Kylo Ren of the villainous First Order, he now walks a new path....
Canon
Canon
Single Issue Comic

Age Of Resistance: Supreme Leader Snoke

Written by
Tom Taylor
Artwork by
Leonard Kirk
This exceptional one-shot serves as the one and only glimpse to date of Supreme Leader Snoke training a young Kylo Ren. They go to an infamous locale for Star Wars fans—the swamps of Dagobah—to a mysterious Force cave where Kylo must do battle with none other than Luke Skywalker. . .
THE DEVIL'S APPRENTICE! SUPREME LEADER SNOKE'S brutal training of KYLO REN begins. Will the sadistic Snoke break his tormented protégé? Or has he underestimated the son of HAN and LEIA?
Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Star Wars Episode IX: The Rise Of Skywalker - Expanded Edition

Written by
Rae Carson
Artwork by
The larger-than-life conclusion to the Skywalker Saga sees the return of the infamous Emperor Palpatine as he looks to complete his ultimate goal - absolute, uncontested control of the galaxy. He recruits Kylo Ren to aid his conquest and to defeat the Jedi one last time by eliminating the powerful scavenger, Rey. The Rise of Skywalker is a blisteringly-fast-paced team-up adventure of epic proportions, with plot twists and breathtaking action at every turn. At its heart is a story of legacy, bloodline, and found family. Written by Most Wanted’s Rae Carson (a Youtini favorite), we expect a thrilling and personal perspective as she takes the movie from the big screen to the page.
The Skywalker saga reaches its epic conclusion in this expanded novelization of Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker.
Canon
Canon
Graphic Novel

The Rise of Kylo Ren: (Trade Paperback)

Written by
Charles Soule
Artwork by
Will Sliney
In one of the most game-changing stories to hit the shelves in the Sequel Trilogy era, Charles Soule chronicles Ben Solo's descent into the dark. Described as "From Ben to Ren," this series begins with the burning of Luke's Jedi Academy and shows Ben being manipulated by Snoke, grappling with his Skywalker/Solo legacy, and encountering the Knights of Ren. It's got gravitas, gut-wrenching twists, and absolutely masterful storytelling that will deepen your love-hate relationship with the man we come to know as Kylo Ren.
With Ben Solo's fall…comes Kylo Ren's rise! As the son of Rebel Alliance heroes Leia Organa and Han Solo, as well as Jedi knight Luke Skywalker's own nephew and protégé, Ben Solo has the potential to be a great force for light in the galaxy. But the Skywalker legacy casts a long shadow, the currents of the dark side run deep…and Darth Vader's blood runs in Ben's veins. Voices call from both his past and his future, telling him who he must be. He will shatter, he will be reforged, and his destiny will be revealed. Snoke awaits. The Knights of Ren await. Ben Solo's path to his true self begins here…
Canon
Canon
Adult Novel

Aftermath: Empire's End

Written by
Chuck Wendig
Artwork by
In this, the final volume of Chuck Wendig’s Aftermath trilogy, we find the epic conclusion to the journey of Nora, Temmin, Mr. Bones, Jas, Jom, and Sinjir, in the events following the destruction of the second Death Star. The book focuses on the Battle of Jakku one year after Return of the Jedi. It deals with the master plan of Gallius Rax, the trilogy’s mysterious villain, and the future of the galaxy. This book also tells the story of the birth of Ben Solo and the early days of Han and Leia’s family. Wendig weaves a complex plot to its culmination through a diverse cast of compelling and mostly original characters.

As the final showdown between the New Republic and the Empire draws near, all eyes turn to a once-isolated planet: Jakku.

The Battle of Endor shattered the Empire, scattering its remaining forces across the galaxy. But the months following the Rebellion's victory have not been easy. The fledgling New Republic has suffered a devastating attack from the Imperial remnant, forcing the new democracy to escalate their hunt for the hidden enemy.

For her role in the deadly ambush, Grand Admiral Rae Sloane is the most wanted Imperial war criminal—and one-time rebel pilot Norra Wexley, back in service at Leia's urgent request, is leading the hunt. But more than just loyalty to the New Republic drives Norra forward: Her husband was turned into a murderous pawn in Sloane's assassination plot, and now she wants vengeance as much as justice.

But Sloane, too, is on a furious quest: pursuing the treacherous Gallius Rax to the barren planet Jakku. As the true mastermind behind the Empire's devastating attack, Rax has led the Empire to its defining moment. The cunning strategist has gathered the powerful remnants of the Empire's war machine, preparing to execute the late Emperor Palpatine's final plan. As the Imperial fleet orbits Jakku, an armada of Republic fighters closes in to finish what began at Endor. Norra and her crew soar into the heart of an apocalyptic clash that will leave land and sky alike scorched. And the future of the galaxy will finally be decided.

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