Star Wars Canon Books In Chronological 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?

However, we realize that some folks are interested in checking out chronological order or picking out books by era and that's what this page is for!

Note that this page only contains novels and young adult novels. To view every type of Star Wars literature, check out our interactive and gorgeous timeline pages.

Reading Star Wars Books In Chronological Order

Chronological order, meaning simply in the order of the Star Wars Timeline, is probably the most commonly recommended reading order out there.

Reading in chronological order means locating a timeline somewhere, for example the excellent timelines over at Yoda’s Datapad, [Insert other timeline], or even ours here at Youtini - which is gorgeous - but I suppose we are a little biased.

Then, you follow the timeline book-by-book, reading each new entry on the timeline in the order that it occurs in the Star Wars chronology.

You’ll start with books many millennia before the films and progress all the way through the films and several decades after.

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 Reading Order
  4. Pick books based on what you like (use our reading collections)

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I read Star Wars books in chronological order?
Should I start with the first book on the timeline?
Should I read Star Wars books in publishing order?

The High Republic Era

Set around 200 years before The Phantom Menace, this timeline features the Jedi at the height of their power and glory. But peace is a prize to be won, and this era is full of challenges for the Republic to overcome.


Released
Jan 4, 2022
Adult Novel
Takes place in
231 BBY
The High Republic: The Fallen Star
By
Claudia Gray
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
17
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Feb 1, 2022
YA Novel
Takes place in
231 BBY
The High Republic: Midnight Horizon
By
Daniel Jose Older
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
59
in the
Youtini Reading Order

Fall of the Jedi Era

A time of confusion and strife, the Clone Wars loom over this era, clouding the machinations of the Sith as plots long-hidden doom the Galactic Republic. 


Released
Apr 16, 2019
Adult Novel
Takes place in
39 BBY
Master & Apprentice
By
Claudia Gray
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
4
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Jun 2, 2020
YA Novel
Takes place in
32 BBY
Queen's Peril
By
E. K. Johnston
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
40
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Mar 5, 2019
YA Novel
Takes place in
28 BBY
Queen's Shadow
By
E. K. Johnston
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
39
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Apr 30, 2019
Audio Drama
Takes place in
92 BBY - 24 BBY
Dooku: Jedi Lost
By
Cavan Scott
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
11
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Aug 25, 2020
YA Novel
Takes place in
22 BBY - 20 BBY
The Clone Wars Anthology: Stories of Light and Dark
By
Various Authors
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
131
in the
Youtini Reading Order

Reign of the Empire Era

Set between the Prequel and Original trilogies, a new aggressive Empire flexes the iron will of Darth Vader and the Emperor over a weary galaxy. But seeds of hope are sown far and wide as a Rebellion is born.


Released
Apr 27, 2021
Adult Novel
Takes place in
19 BBY
Thrawn Ascendancy: Greater Good
By
Timothy Zahn
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
26
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Nov 16, 2021
Adult Novel
Takes place in
19 BBY
Thrawn Ascendancy: Lesser Evil
By
Timothy Zahn
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
27
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Oct 11, 2016
YA Novel
Takes place in
18 BBY
Ahsoka
By
E.K. Johnston
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
44
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Nov 15, 2016
Adult Novel
Takes place in
22 - 17 BBY
Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel
By
James Luceno
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
21
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Apr 28, 2015
Adult Novel
Takes place in
14 BBY
Lords of the Sith
By
Paul S. Kemp
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
50
in the
Youtini Reading Order

Age of Rebellion Era

During the Original Trilogy of movies, the Galactic Civil War rages. The Empire tries to quash the sparks of hope, but a tide of heroes rises to meet their threat and counter the machines of war poised against them.


Released
Sep 1, 2017
YA Novel
Takes place in
3 BBY
Leia: Princess of Alderaan
By
Claudia Gray
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
10
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Apr 11, 2017
Adult Novel
Takes place in
11 - 2 BBY
Thrawn
By
Timothy Zahn
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
9
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Jul 24, 2018
Adult Novel
Takes place in
19 BBY - 2 BBY
Thrawn: Alliances
By
Timothy Zahn
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
37
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Jul 23, 2019
Adult Novel
Takes place in
1 BBY
Thrawn: Treason
By
Timothy Zahn
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
38
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
May 2, 2017
YA Novel
Takes place in
0 BBY
Guardians of the Whills
By
Greg Rucka
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
141
in the
Youtini Reading Order

The New Republic Era

Peace at last. With the fall of the Empire and the death of Vader, the Galaxy begins to mend its wounds, but some scars are deep, and this new calm lays the groundwork for many hidden villains.


Released
Jun 11, 2019
Adult Novel
Takes place in
4 ABY
Alphabet Squadron
By
Alexander Freed
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
22
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Sep 4, 2015
Adult Novel
Takes place in
4 ABY
Aftermath
By
Chuck Wendig
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
31
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Jun 23, 2020
Adult Novel
Takes place in
5 ABY
Alphabet Squadron: Shadow Fall
By
Alexander Freed
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
23
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Jul 12, 2016
Adult Novel
Takes place in
5 ABY
Aftermath: Life Debt
By
Chuck Wendig
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
32
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Feb 21, 2017
Adult Novel
Takes place in
5 ABY
Aftermath: Empire's End
By
Chuck Wendig
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
33
in the
Youtini Reading Order

Rise of the First Order Era

After years of buildup, the First Order strikes out of its dark corner of the Galaxy and imposes its shackles; only the Heroic Resistance stands up against the rebirth of tyranny. 


Released
Nov 19, 2019
YA Novel
Takes place in
32 ABY
Force Collector
By
Kevin Shinick
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
81
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Sep 1, 2017
Adult Novel
Takes place in
28 - 33 ABY
Phasma
By
Delilah S. Dawson
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
34
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Apr 5, 2016
YA Novel
Takes place in
33 ABY
Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away: Aliens
By
Landry Q. Walker
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
153
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Dec 18, 2015
YA Novel
Takes place in
33 ABY
Before the Awakening
By
Greg Rucka
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
152
in the
Youtini Reading Order
Released
Oct 31, 2017
YA Novel
Takes place in
34 ABY
The Legends of Luke Skywalker
By
Ken Liu
Masterpiece
Incredible
Good
Fair
Mediocre
#
142
in the
Youtini Reading Order
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