Where (and What) to Start Reading Star Wars: The High Republic

[@victoriapage4842]

haven't read any star wars books before but I love your videos & deeply appreciate your guides to the sw world. thanks so much!!!

[@triforcerb]

This is so helpful! I recently purchased all the adult novels and have been wanting to go through the series before "The Acolyte" TV show comes out. This is a good breakdown on which books to prioritize as I prepare for that.

[@mrgilamonyet]

Don't forget to read eye of the storm 1 and 2 of the marvel comic. These are epilogues to phase one

[@alonzor557]

Excited to begin my High Republic journey! As always thank you for the insight, Jonathan. Have a great day.

[@jonathankoan]

I hope you enjoy them!

[@jenovaoriginal]

My Star Wars Legends collection has already expanded quite a bit since I started watching your videos. Now it looks like my shelves will soon groan under canon novels as well! We won't even mention the Star Trek novels...🙂

[@jstilish]

I have so so many trek novels, there’s just too many of them released!

[@harrystanley7361]

This was super helpful! Thank you! Is there an updated video that includes Phase 3?

[@jonathankoan]

Once phase three is complete, yes!

[@ILoveManCity.]

I finally found you haha, i won't deny it's been really difficult to decide which books or in what order to read them, even "pro-Star Wars channels" make it confusing to understand, but you are amazingly clear. I consider myself a Star Wars fan but always felt guilty i wasn't a full fan because I've never read the books like i did with Harry Potter or ever Lord of the Rings (even the Silmarillion). Anyway, Thanks and ill follow and like.👍🏻

[@davidharperjr.7063]

The only books I am behind on are Path Of Vengeance and Tempest Runner. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed most of the books i’ve gotten to so far. There have been some weak points, but so far most have been great, especially Light Of The Jedi and The Fallen Star for me!

[@WretchedExcess]

Thank you! This video is a great resource. I loved most of the phase 1 books. Light of the Jedi, Test of Courage, Into the Dark, and The Rising Storm and The Fallen Star, were essential for me during this phase. I also really enjoyed Justina Ireland's book Out of Shadows, Mission To Disaster, as well as Cavan Scott's Tempest Runner, but I had difficulty engaging with the books by Daniel Jose Older.

[@aca99da]

Thanks this is very helpful! I've read Light of the Jedi (which I really enjoyed) and am currently halfway through Into the Dark (which is okay, but I'm not that keen on the plot). I'm still debating whether to read any of the middle school books.

[@Kharrotlol]

Lovely video! Thank you so much. I’ve read the three adult novels of phase 1 but after that I was kinda lost where to go next because phase 2 had a lot of different information online. Will definitely give your recommendations a shot!

[@davidallen346]

Hi Jonathan, in your honest opinion. What do you think about the Disney Acolyte series, does it followed truly to the writings of Star Wars High Republic books?

[@jonathankoan]

Other than the inclusion of Vernestra Rwoh, there is very little connection between the Books and the Show.

[@davidallen346]

@jonathankoan Also they show Ki-Adi-Mundi the conehead jedi master 100 yrs before the Phantom Meance timeline. I heard they changed his birthday in Wikipedia as well

[@franciscogrande884]

Thanks for this video. I want to start reading the books and this has given me a very good idea. Thanks a lot.

[@morgangilks]

thansk for being the only place to find this information thats actually clear

[@sashimizee1484]

Is there a follow-up video that covers Phase III books? Are those out yet?

[@jonathankoan]

@@sashimizee1484 some of the Phase 3 books are out, but not all of them. Once they’re all out I’ll do a follow up video.

[@sashimizee1484]

@@jonathankoan Thank you for your diligence. I find your videos very informative! I have already started by journey with "Light of the Jedi".

[@tonyt3638]

Thoughtful and detailed. Thank you, stranger-friend

[@kyrilson71]

*frantically takes notes* Great stuff, Jonathan, thanks!!

[@iAmDakotaKitteh]

Thank you!!!! Where would you recommend the short stories from Tales of Life and Light? Should I save them until after I finish Phase I and II?

[@jonathankoan]

Definitely save them until you read Phase 2 as well.

[@iAmDakotaKitteh]

Thank you so much! @@jonathankoan

[@TheLoc217]

Thank you❤❤

[@Rumeel12708]

Amazing video!!!! I'm going to need more book shelves!!!!! Just got into manga as well 😭. I'm literally taking out my bed and adding book shelves lol.

[@eurotriper]

Such a helpful video! Thank you!!!

[@michaelfreestone8184]

I just bought light of the Jedi to add to my collection, unknowingly that it was the first book lol lucky me

[@knoober3756]

How do you laminate your books? Just recently got into getting physical books and don’t wanna ruin em. Thanks for the great content!

[@jonathankoan]

For hardcovers I use Demco Book Covers.

[@lisadw499]

Thanks Jonathan! This was super helpful!

[@DanTheMeek]

Does Light of the Jedi pick up at some point, or is the high republic just not for me and my wife? We started there but its been a bit of a confusing slog so far, I think my wife would have already DNF it if I wasn't still pressing forward, but I'm only really pressing forward because I'd heard good things about it so keep waiting/hoping it starts to get better. I'm not sure where she is, likely not as far as me, but I'm chapter 19 if that helps give context for where we are at, at all. For context, right before this book my wife and I read Lost Stars and Master and Apprentice (or first introduction to Star Wars books) and pretty much could not put down either book till they were finished and loved both, so we're not anti-disney star wars books, both both of those books had compelling characters, so far this book doesn't stay with anyone character long enough for us to even know who they are, let alone care about them. The only thing that keeps me hopeful is I felt similarly about The Way of Kings in the first part, it had too many perspectives and was a slow burn right out of the gate, but I stuck with it and it ended up being one of my all time favorite books (only behind its sequel, Words of Radiance) so I know some times an overwhelming number of perspectives and slow build up can end up paying off, its just not yet clear to me if that's going to happen here, or if as Jonathan stated in this video, I should view Light of the Jedi as a barometer of if the book series is for us, and its just telling us its not?

[@jonathankoan]

The books aren’t particularly character based, although you do start to see the character journeys bit by bit. The books are much more plot based. I’m sorry they haven’t worked for you. I think the plot alone is really what keeps me going. But if you finish the book and it doesn’t pick up for you than I’d say leave the High Republic for a while at least and maybe revisit it. I’d still consider other Star Wars books, maybe ones with smaller casts and more of a balance between character journey and plot.

[@johannyman9822]

Thanks Jonathan. But how about the short stories? Where do you put them?

[@jonathankoan]

That’s a little more difficult. I haven’t read the short stories yet, but they are all over the timeline, so I’d try to read based on release order, but I’m not the best to answer those, sorry.

[@Beebubzz]

What clear covers do you use for your books?

[@jonathankoan]

Demco Book Covers

[@TheCameoKid82]

@@jonathankoanlink? To the size

[@randywilliams5628]

I loved Light of the Jedi AND The Rising Storm. I loved them both. I am looking forward to the next one in order of release.

[@Hebrew_hammer52]

Am I correct that Young Adult novels are meant for an older audience than middle grade novels? Just from the cover art it seems that way. Also, great video! Thank you!

[@jonathankoan]

They definitely are. I think the Middle Grade are meant for ages like 8-12 while the YA are like 13+. However, I think the Middle Grade ones are better, but not by a ton. And neither hold a candle to the Adult books.

[@Hebrew_hammer52]

@@jonathankoan got it, thank you!

[@bradley8867]

Great vid just finished Light of the Jedi,I needed to be steered in the right direction 😂

[@TheSunStudio1]

What about the comics? Are they essentials?

[@jonathankoan]

I’m not really a comics reader. Some of the comics tie into the novels more (both of Daniel Jose Older’s books feature comics characters). However, I think you can also focus on the novels if you are interested.

[@MyMephedrone]

i started with fallen star all adult books are damn good currently enjoying battle of jedha

[@samkn4162]

Can I skip phase 2 completely ? Is it essential? Or can I go from phase 1 straight to phase 3?

[@jonathankoan]

It’s a little hard to answer that one as I haven’t read Phase 3 yet so I don’t know exactly everything that will be important. From what I currently know, you could possibly skip phase 2 and go straight into phase 3 after phase 1. However, you run the risk of missing information and nuances in the storytelling. At minimum, you might want to look up some info on Wookieepedia from Phase 2 if you skip it.

[@samkn4162]

@@jonathankoan Thanks for the reply, It was very helpful! Also , love your videos !

[@larryankenmanjr1719]

What Book has the Acolyte Story Line in the High Republic, Is there a Phase 2 book is a e book

[@jonathankoan]

The Acolyte will take place after the events of the High Republic books in Phase 3 (which haven’t happened yet), so there aren’t Acolyte specific books. That being said, we know that Vernestra Rwoh from the books appears in the show, so some of the books that she is in might be worth it to tie-in. I would suggest reading “A Test of Courage” and “Mission to Disaster”, two Middle Grade books that are really short but show her character well. If you want just good High Republic books in general though, I recommend reading the adult books from Phase 1.

[@peacockfalcon]

Thank you Jonathan👌

[@solowolf9421]

Real STAR WARS fan .

[@DreadfulUtopia]

So can I just read the Adult and Young Adult novels, in release order, and be okay?

[@jonathankoan]

You’ll get all of the necessary information basically, although there will be some nuances missing if you don’t have the Middle Grade books, but the adult are the most essential and the YA and Middle grade are important.

[@Evan-ti8ej]

Can I skip the mid grade already spent wayyyy to much on the comics, ya, and adult

[@jonathankoan]

I think you probably can skip the Middle Grade. I find them very entertaining, even more entertaining than the YA, but the YA tend to be more important.

[@andrewog3516]

Balls deep in the hr rn and anyone who isnt rich asf just buy the novels and then look up the comics and kids books online or listen to them for free as well lmao dont just rape your wallet if your that broke just pdf all of them

[@jonathankoan]

There are a lot of books and comics, but I don’t think it’s that ridiculous. Since I’m a prose person I just do the novels and it’s manageable, especially since they don’t release the books too close together anymore.