The Youtini Star Wars Book Reading Order

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here are a number of Star Wars Book reading orders including chronological order and publishing order.

However, there are a number of issues with those reading styles which we completely break down in our articles The Best Star Wars Book Reading Order and Should You Read Star Wars Books in Chronological Order?

Since we are so dissatisfied with existing reading orders, we decided to create our own.

The Best Star Wars Book Reading Order

We have a full breakdown of our recommended reading order and why we so frequently recommend it on our post The Best Star Wars Book Reading Order. But here is the short version:

  1. Start with the Youtini Foundational Five
  2. Read all the newest novels within 30 days of their release (use our release schedule)
  3. Use the Youtini Ideal Reading Order (see below)
  4. Pick books based on what you like (use our reading collections)

How We Created the Youtini Star Wars Book Reading Order

Our staff has individually analyzed every Star Wars novel ever written and placed it in our reading order based on the following criteria:

  • Reading ease and required prior knowledge
  • The memorability of the characters and their importance in Star Wars
  • The comfort of the writing style and the flow of the book
  • The relative importance of the book in the grand scheme of the EU
  • Perhaps most importantly: the fun, entertainment, and likelihood to keep you hooked

How to Use the Youtini Star Wars Book Reading Order

Based on these factors, we have sorted books into 4 levels that you can peruse at your pleasure, and unlike other reading orders, you have a lot of freedom with ours.

You can read everything in the exact order that we present if you’d like, but you can also skip around as much as you want as long as you loosely stick to the same level before moving on to the next.

Here's a breakdown of each level:


Level 1: Must Read

These books are some of the best books to read first. They are the highest quality, important to the EU, and are an absolute blast to read. If you’re trying to find the best parts of Canon and Legends alike, Level 1 books should be your first priority.

Level 2: Should Read

These books are good, and there’s nothing wrong with being good! These books may not be as perfect as those in the level above them, but they all still maintain a high level of quality and can promise a lot of fun for the reader. Once you’ve finished Level 1, Level 2 should be your next goal if you are seeking the most well-rounded experience.

Level 3: Could Read

Get to these books when you’ve finished off the gems in Levels 1 and 2. A lot of these books vary dramatically in quality and often offer an average to mediocre experience. Get to them if you like, because sometimes, you don’t have to be too picky when Star Wars is on the cover.

Level 4: Can Skip

These books are controversial, occasionally just plain bad, and generally disliked by the community. That doesn’t mean that you won’t enjoy them, but consider this the level of diminishing returns.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to read the Youtini Ideal Reading Order in order?
How can I use Youtini Collections in combination with the reading order?
What order should I read comics?

Level 1: Must Read

These books are some of the best books to read first. They are the highest quality, important to the EU, and are an absolute blast to read. If you’re trying to find the best parts of Canon and Legends alike, Level 1 books should be your first priority.

Released
Sep 4, 2015
#
1
in the
Youtini Reading Order
YA Novel
Takes place in
11 BBY - 5 ABY
Lost Stars
By
Claudia Gray
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Released
Apr 2, 2005
#
2
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
19 BBY
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
By
Matthew Stover
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Released
Aug 27, 2013
#
3
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
19 BBY
Kenobi
By
John Jackson Miller
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Released
Apr 16, 2019
#
4
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
40 BBY
Master & Apprentice
By
Claudia Gray
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Masterpiece
Released
May 3, 2016
#
5
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
28 ABY
Bloodline
By
Claudia Gray
Incredible
Incredible
Incredible
Incredible
Incredible

Level 2: Should Read

These books are good, and there’s nothing wrong with being good! These books may not be as perfect as those in the level above them, but they all still maintain a high level of quality and can promise a lot of fun for the reader. Once you’ve finished Level 1, Level 2 should be your next goal if you are seeking the most well-rounded experience.

Released
May 2, 2017
#
66
in the
Youtini Reading Order
YA Novel
Takes place in
13 BBY - 1 BBY
Rebel Rising
By
Beth Revis
Incredible
Incredible
Incredible
Incredible
Incredible
Released
Apr 17, 2018
#
67
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
13 BBY - 7 ABY
Last Shot
By
Daniel José Older
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Released
Nov 4, 2014
#
68
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
14 BBY
Tarkin
By
James Luceno
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Released
Sep 4, 2018
#
69
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
13 BBY - 10 BBY
Solo: A Star Wars Story: Expanded Edition
By
Mur Lafferty
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good
Released
Oct 10, 2023
#
70
in the
Youtini Reading Order
YA Novel
Takes place in
13 BBY - 10 BBY
Crimson Climb
By
E.K.Johnston
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good

Level 3: Could Read

Get to these books when you’ve finished off the gems in Levels 1 and 2. A lot of these books vary dramatically in quality and often offer an average to mediocre experience. Get to them if you like, because sometimes, you don’t have to be too picky when Star Wars is on the cover.

Released
Jan 5, 2016
#
161
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
34 ABY
Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
By
Alan Dean Foster
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Released
Mar 6, 2018
#
162
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
34 ABY
Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi: Expanded Edition
By
Jason Fry
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Released
Dec 5, 2017
#
163
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
34 ABY
Canto Bight
By
Jackson Miller, Saladin Ahmed, Rae Carson, and Mira Grant
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Released
Nov 3, 2015
#
164
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
6 BBY - 3 ABY
Battlefront: Twilight Company
By
Alexander Freed
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Released
Apr 21, 1999
#
165
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
32 BBY
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
By
Terry Brooks
Good
Good
Good
Good
Good

Level 4: Can Skip

These books are controversial, occasionally just plain bad, and generally disliked by the community. That doesn’t mean that you won’t enjoy them, but consider this the level of diminishing returns.

Released
Feb 12, 1978
#
230
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
2 ABY
Splinter of the Mind's Eye
By
Alan Dean Foster
Mediocre
Mediocre
Mediocre
Mediocre
Mediocre
Released
Mar 3, 2015
#
231
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
0 ABY
Heir to the Jedi
By
Kevin Hearne
Mediocre
Mediocre
Mediocre
Mediocre
Mediocre
Released
Apr 1, 1995
#
232
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
12 ABY
Children of the Jedi
By
Barbara Hambly
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Released
Oct 1, 1995
#
233
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
12 ABY
Darksaber
By
Kevin J. Anderson
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Released
Mar 31, 1997
#
234
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Adult Novel
Takes place in
13 ABY
Planet of Twilight
By
Barbara Hambly
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair
Fair