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Aug 14, 2023

Star Wars The High Republic Full Catalog Reading Order Guide

The High Republic has a ton of great stories and dozens of fantastic heroes and villains, but getting into it can be overwhelming or even intimidating. The purpose of this catalog and guide is to help

The High Republic has a ton of great stories and dozens of fantastic heroes and villains, but getting into it can be overwhelming or even intimidating. The purpose of this catalog and guide is to help you know what to read and in what order.

There is a small description of each book, comic, and manga to help you decide if it’s something you might want to spend your time on it or not. At the end of this guide you’ll find a list of essential reads for both Phase I and II.

Star Wars: The High Republic is a multi-platform publishing project with books and comics for all ages. This era lasted from 500 BBY to 100 BBY, it is a time of expansion, exploration, and prosperity. It is also said to be the golden age for the Jedi Order.

Why did the Jedi fall from grace and who’s responsible for it? If you want to find out, sit down, have patience, and get excited to get immersed in this previously unknown era of Star Wars!

The High Republic is divided into three phases. Phase I introduced the first stories of this era back in 2021. Phase II has recently finished with Path of Vengeance and we’re now just waiting for Phase III to begin with Tales of Light and Life.

Here’s some context to what the High Republic is all about.

This is a time of unprecedented peace and progress for the Republic. The Starlight Beacon stationed on the Outer Rim is the physical representation of everything the Republic and Jedi Order aspire to be. A symbol of hope, unity, and strength.

Despite this, the vast galaxy still remains mostly unexplored. There are dangerous creatures, mysterious planets, and a new enemy that could destroy everything the Republic has created.

Phase II takes place 150 years before Phase I (Star Wars being Star Wars). This is an era of hyperspace exploration and expansion, many hyperlanes haven’t been discovered and it’s hard to communicate between distant systems without communication buoys.

Pathfinder teams are sent all over the galaxy to establish relationships with new planets. An everlasting conflict between the Eiram and E’ronoh systems threatens to turn the galaxy upside down while a mysterious Force cult draws the attention of both the Jedi Order and the Galactic Republic.

With so many stories it can be difficult to know how to read them in “proper order”. Below this segment, you’ll find every novel, comic, and manga that has been released so far. They are already ordered in what I consider to be a coherent way to read the High Republic.

As you might have noticed, there is a ton of High Republic stories in all types of formats. Reading everything requires a considerable investment of both time and money, something that probably not everyone is able or wants to do.

The good news is that you can still get into the High Republic, enjoy and understand it by reading mostly young adult and adult novels. Comic books serve as a bridge between the main and minor stories, they are still relevant but skipping them won’t hurt your understanding of the whole story.

This is my High Republic essential readings list:

The following is a full catalog of all the content released during Phase I of The High Republic. Each title is briefly described without spoiling it.

The introductory Adult Novel to The High Republic, Light of the Jedi takes place 150 years after Path of Vengeance. This is a golden age of prosperity where the Republic continues to incorporate new worlds, there is peace without precedent and the Jedi Order is the face of this era of stability.

This time of tranquility is suddenly interrupted when a hyperspace disaster occurs, Jedi rush to the rescue but what they find will test their limits like nothing before. Death and destruction are coming, is the powerful Jedi Order strong enough to contain this threat?

The Great Jedi Rescue is the first of three High Republic children’s books. A hyperspace disaster puts the citizens of Hetzal Prime in great danger and only the brave Jedi can step in to save these people. This story takes place concurrent with Light of the Jedi.

A Middle-grade Novel tells the story of Vernestra Rwoh, a gifted Jedi that has just been knighted. In her first mission, she must escort a young scientist with the help of a Padawan and the ambassador of a planet that was of high importance during Phase II.

Fun fact, our young protagonist wields a different type of lightsaber, something that was previously seen only in the Expanded Universe AKA “Legends”.

A Test of Courage might be “just a middle-grade novel”, but I consider this one to be on the priority list because Vernestra will appear in The Acolyte series.

A Young Adult novel that begins right before Light of the Jedi and then catches up with it. The Starlight Beacon is one of the most ambitious projects the Republic has ever created and as such, it requires some of the best personnel.

Jedi Padawan Reath Silas, Cohmac Vitus, Orla Jareni, Leox Gyasi, and Affie Hollow are part of the crew that will go to the new frontier station. Their travel is disrupted by a hyperspace disaster, making them seek refuge on a strange space station that is more than meets the eye.

This IDW-published comic book series is about a group of Padawans training under the supervision of Master Yoda himself. The Nihil is a threat to everyone and these younglings must learn as much as they can if they want to become powerful Jedi Knights that can protect the Republic and its people.

A comic book miniseries published by IWD. The four issues narrate the backstory of the remarkable monster hunter and former Jedi Ty Yorrick. Ty is tasked to track and eliminate a Gretalax that has been terrorizing the people of Loreth. She might not belong to the Jedi Order, but she can still feel the disturbance in the Force that grows closer and closer.

The Edge of Balance is the first High Republic manga. This is one of the few stories that show how Jedi used to live in their own communities long before the rise of the Galactic Empire.

Lily Tora-Asi, a Wookie Jedi Master called Arkoff, Padawan Keerin Fionn and Stellan Gios are in charge of protecting Baanchii, a frontier outpost that is about to get pulled into the chaos by the Nihil marauders.

The Rising Storm is Phase I second adult novel. The Starlight Beacon is the embodiment of what the Republic hopes to represent for the entire galaxy and to celebrate it, the Supreme Chancellor arranges a great event.

This great party gathers many people from all corners of the galaxy but it also catches the attention of the vicious Nihil pirates and its leader, Marchion Ro. What starts as a celebration soon turns into a bloodbath that even the Jedi struggle to handle, especially after the enemy reveals something that not even the Force can protect them against.

The Republic Fair is an event being hosted on Valo by the Republic to showcase some of the breakthrough innovations and celebrate the union of many systems. Showdown at the Fair is a book for Young Readers and what better character for this story than Burryaga the Wookie, a Jedi Padawan that will do everything in his power to stop an enemy that launched a surprise attack.

This story takes place concurrent with The Rising Storm.

This Middle-Grade novel happens concurrently with The Rising Storm. Before the fair gets attacked, an alarm security goes off on Crashpoint Peak and Jedi Padawan Ram Jomaram decides to investigate.

Valo communications have been turned off, the young Padawan attempts to warn the other Jedi at the fair but the enemy has already arrived. But not everything is lost, Ram will receive unexpected help from a new group of friends.

A five-issue comic miniseries that features one of the few detective stories in Star Wars. A Jedi Master has been murdered and there are no clues, evidence, or suspects. Jedi Investigator Emerick Caphtor and Private Detective Sian Holt will have to combine their experience and skills if they want to find the responsible for this crime.

A young Sylvestri Yarrow is in charge of her family’s cargo business after her mom passed away. With the constant attacks of the Nihil and other unlucky circumstances, she is at the edge of losing everything.

Sylvestri decides to go to Coruscant to try to improve her luck but ends up in the middle of a family conflict that could benefit her (or not). This Young Adult Novel has a lot of drama, characters with all types of personalities, and an entertaining story.

Tempest Runner is an adult novel that tells the story from Lourna Dee’s point of view. Lourna is part of the Nihil, a vicious, cunning, and very dangerous woman that was captured by the Jedi after her crew is defeated.

She manages to hide her identity and plans a way to escape the correctional ship where she’s held captive. Before escaping, Lourna establishes a bond that slowly looks like what many call friendship. The once-feared raider has the chance to choose a different path, but things aren’t so simple when it comes to the Nihil.

Avon Starros has been kidnapped and her friend Vernestra Rwoh will try to rescue her with the help of her Padawan Imri Cantaros. Meanwhile, the Republic believes that the Nihil have been defeated but what they’re really planning could put a definitive end to the civilization as everyone knows it. This is a Middle-grade Novel.

This adult novel shows how the war waged by the Nihil has taken its toll on the citizens of the Republic, and the Jedi that fight and die to protect it. The Starlight Beacon houses refugees and injured people that have been harmed during this conflict.

The Jedi resting at this station are finally catching a break after defending the Republic on the battlefield, too bad that the Nihil see this as the perfect opportunity to strike their unaware and relaxed enemy.

Midnight Horizon is a Young Adult Novel that occurs simultaneously with The Fallen Star. Things seem to finally be turning in favor of the Republic but an unsettling rumor of an imminent attack on one of the core worlds force the Jedi Order to send Jedi Masters Cohmac Vitus and Kantam Sy and their Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram to investigate.

The two Padawans will team up with people that have also suffered at the hands of the Nihil, an elaborate plan is designed to infiltrate the planet but what they’re going to discover is something that no one could have anticipated.

The Battle for Starlight is a children’s book that retells the events of The Fallen Star in a way that maintains the essence of the story while removing some of the scariest elements. The illustrations are very good and perfectly match the tone of this book.

In the second manga of The High Republic, Lily Tora-asi learns that the Drengir attack on her outpost was something planned. Master Arkoff is called off the planet and Lily stays in charge of the rebuilding and protection of everyone. But it won’t be so easy when an uninvited guest shows up.

Another comic mini-series by Marvel. This one finally reveals some of the reasons why Marchion Ro hates the Jedi so much. Could it be related to what happened in Phase II?

Charles Soule, author of this and many other High Republic stories mentioned that the first issue of this mini-series can be read before The Fallen Star, while the second one is suggested to be the last thing to read in Phase I.

The following is a full catalog of all the content released during Phase II of The High Republic. Each title is briefly described without spoiling it.

A quick reminder: Phase II is a prequel to Phase I. You can start your High Republic reading endeavor with Phase II if you wish to.

If you keep true to the release order, you will be consuming the content the creators have intended, despite the jump to an earlier timeline in Phase II.

A full list of dedicated reviews of individual books from the Star Wars The High Republic project's Phase II. Each review contains an in-depth look at the story and characters and how they fit into the larger scope of the multi-media project.

Phase I of the High Republic multimedia project has already been finished and Path of Deceit is the opening novel of Phase II, let’s see how high (or low) it sets the bar for the upcoming books.

The High Republic media project continues to expand. Convergence is the first adult novel in Phase II of the High republic. It takes place 150 years before the Great Disaster aka Phase I.

The High Republic media project keeps growing. The Battle of Jedha is the second adult novel in Phase II of the High republic. It takes place 150 years before the Great Disaster aka Phase I.

The High Republic continues to expand with Cataclysm, the last Adult Novel in Phase II of the High Republic. The events of Phase II happen 150 years before Phase I.

Phase II of The High Republic comes to a dramatic end with Path of Vengeance, the last Young Adult Novel and final book of this period that takes place 150 years before Phase I.

Path of Deceit is the first Young Adult novel of Phase II. This book introduces the Path of the Open Hand, a strange group of refugees that have established a settlement on the planet Dalna.

Jedi Master Zallah Macri and her Padawan Kevmo Zink end up on Dalna and their fates change forever when they meet The Mother, leader of the Path of the Open Hahd, and Marda Ro, a young devotee of the path.

I remember very clearly when I started to write my review of Path of Deceit immediately after finishing the book. What first appeared to be a “standard” Star Wars novel turned out to be a shocking and very refreshing story.

The first Adult Novel of Phase II of the High Republic. Eiram and E’ronoh have been at war for years and the everlasting conflict has taken its toll on both planet’s populations.

Old grudges and prejudices prevent Queen Adrialla and The Patriarch from reaching an agreement but not everything is lost. Phan-tu Zenn and Xiri A’lbaran, the future rulers of Eiram and E’ronoh, can still make it work if they leave their differences behind and find out who benefits from the war.

My review of Convergence includes a more in-depth look into the awesome characters that are introduced. At first, they might not look like something special, but they all really grow and evolve throughout this and the following stories.

This is the first Middle-Grade novel of Phase II. Pathfinder teams are tasked with finding new planets so the Republic can map new hyperlanes to improve hyperspace travel.

A Pathfinder team goes missing and Jedi Master Silandra Sho and her Padawan Rooper Nitani are sent to find out what happened. Their investigation leads to Gloam, a planet that was devastated long ago by a plague as a result of mining operations. So much time has passed that the mining has resumed and the monsters are no longer around, or so they thought…

The High Republic Adventures is a series of comic books published by Dark Horse. This series is focused on Sav Malagán, she was first introduced appears on Phase but in this story, we see her growing and developing as a young Padawan right before chaos is unleashed in Jedha.

This is Marvel’s contribution to Phase II of the High Republic. Jedi Master Vildar Mac, Padawan Matthea Cathley, and Tey Sirrek, a former Guardian of the Whills. The trio is between the sword and the wall when the Path of the Open Hand and other Force religions gather on the moon of Jedha.

A Marvel comic miniseries that tells how Porter Engle, a charismatic character that first appeared in Phase I, got the infamous title of the “Blade of Bardotta”. Witness one of the greatest lightsaber combatants of this era fight in his prime.

The Battle of Jedha is an audio drama that describes the events after Convergence. Eiram and E’ronoh have agreed to sign a peace treaty that will put an end to the war.

As the title suggests, things don’t go as planned and chaos is unleashed on the peaceful moon. In this battle no one is safe: Eiram or E’ronoh troops, the Path of the Open Hand, Jedi, Guardians of the Whills, and other force believers.

The Battle of Jedha audio version is the first and only audio drama of Phase II. Every character is voiced by a different person which gives it a completely new level of immersion. My review of The Battle of Jedha gives more details about this great experience.

This is a one-off comic published by Dark Horse. After the events of Path of Deceit, Jedi Knight Azlin Rell tries to find out what happened on the planet Dalna. When investigating the Jedi Archives, he learns about a story that mentions a Sith artifact. This might be the clue that Azlin needs to learn what is this mysterious weapon that the Path of the Open Hand seems to possess.

The second and last middle-grade novel of Phase II of the High Republic. Rooper Nitani, Dass, and Sky Graf go on an adventure that goes south when they encounter some members of the Path of the Open Hand.

Another comic book series that is published by Dark Horse. Ty Yorrick is a former Jedi from Phase I, in this comic series she narrates a story about her Jedi Master during his padawan days. After crashing on an unknown planet, he and other members of a Pathfinder team find a terrifying creature capable of incapacitating Force users. The same creature that has been used on multiple occasions by the Mother.

Cataclysm is the last adult novel of Phase II. This book picks up right after The Battle of Jedha, the chaos caused destruction and death on an event that was supposed to celebrate peace between two planets.

Different groups conclude that the Path of the Open Hand is more than just a peaceful group of devotees and it’s time to find out what their true intentions are. Members of the Jedi Order, representatives of the Republic, and the heirs of both Eiram and E’ronoh go on a diplomatic mission that goes wrong almost as soon as they lay foot on Dalna.

My favorite thing about Phase II is how stories that seem isolated eventually converge with each other. It’s so fun to see how the pieces slowly move until chaos is inevitable.

My Cataclysm review contains spoiler-free segments where you can learn a little bit about it without ruining your reading experience with the book. It also contains a spoiler-full segment at the end.

The last Young Adult novel of Phase II and what I think could be considered its culmination for everyone who isn’t able to every book or “minor” story that takes place after it. The Battle of Jedha and Cataclysm are narrated from the “good guys” point of view. Path of Vengeance re-tells a portion of those events from Marda and Yana Ro’s perspective.

Marda Ro is still the blind follower that we met on Path of Deceit, but the actions of The Mother will make her see that not everything she was told happens to be accurate and Marda is forced to make a decision that will change the direction of the Path forever, for better or worse.

It’s always great when Star Wars stories “rhyme”. Path of Vengeance ends Phase II in a very similar way to how it began with Path of Deceit, from the personal point of view of a character that doesn’t fit the traditional hero archetype. You can read my spoiler-free Path of Vengeance book review.

Tales of Light and Life will officially start Phase III: Trials of the Jedi. This book is a compilation of short stories that feature multiple characters from this era. It releases on September 5, 2023.

Tales of Light and Life is an anthology so maybe that’s not what many would consider as an “opening story”. Don’t worry, the following novels will be more of what we’ve grown used to. This is the schedule for the upcoming Phase III releases.

I will continue to update this catalog and add new titles to the reading order guide as Phase III releases begin.

Adrian