Top Star Wars Legends Books to Read in 2025

Decades before Disney acquired Lucasfilm for a staggering four billion dollars, before the prequels, and even before the iconic release of the first Star Wars film, writers were crafting expansive narratives that stretched beyond the boundaries of what we saw on screen. This was the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which truly lived up to its name by pushing the limits of the Galaxy Far, Far Away through every book, comic, and game released. However, in 2014, following Disney's purchase of the franchise, the Expanded Universe was officially decanonized and rebranded as "Legends." Despite this reclassification, these books remain some of the finest Star Wars storytelling available, continuing to influence the current canon, as evidenced by the recent live-action debut of Thrawn in the Ahsoka series. If you're curious about diving into this vast realm of Star Wars fandom, we've curated a list of the best Star Wars Legends books to help you start your journey.

Which Star Wars Legends Books Should You Read First?

Embarking on the Legends books can be daunting given the sheer volume of titles available—hundreds in fact. To ease your entry into this expansive universe, we've compiled a list of the most essential and engaging books to serve as your starting point. From the origins of the franchise to thrilling adventures featuring zombie stormtroopers, legendary Mandalorian escapes, and the vibrant young adult adventures of some very famous Star Wars offspring, these selections offer some of the most enjoyable experiences in the galaxy far, far away. All these books are readily available for purchase on Amazon, the go-to destination for buying books online.

Splinter of the Mind's Eye (1977)

Kindle Edition: Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Price: $4.99 at Amazon

This book ignited the spark for the Expanded Universe, alongside Marvel Comics and the beloved Star Wars newspaper strips. It holds a legendary status within Star Wars lore, having been written as potential material for a low-budget sequel to A New Hope, in case the film didn't perform well enough to warrant a big-budget follow-up. As history unfolded differently, this story wasn't adapted into a film, but it became a cornerstone of what would later be known as the Expanded Universe and then Legends. The plot follows Luke and Leia—sans Han and Chewie, apologies to Wookiee fans—as they attempt to rally planetary residents to the Rebellion's cause. Their journey leads to an encounter with Darth Vader and includes an exhilarating fight scene between Leia and Vader, enriching the lore of the Force and the cosmic elements of Star Wars.

The Han Solo Adventures (1979)

Kindle Edition: The Han Solo Adventures

Price: $8.99 at Amazon

This cherished trilogy remains one of the most adored adventures in the Legends universe, compensating for Han's absence in Splinter of the Mind's Eye by focusing entirely on the roguish space adventurer. The first book, Han Solo at Stars' End, is the third-ever Star Wars novel, following Alan Dean Foster's adaptation of the original film and Splinter of the Mind's Eye. Brian Daley takes readers on a wild ride through the criminal underworld of the galaxy, showcasing why Han and Chewie are such beloved characters in the Star Wars universe. The subsequent books continue their intergalactic escapades.

Heir to the Empire (1991)

Kindle Edition: Heir to the Empire

Price: $3.99 at Amazon

When discussing the most influential Legends titles, the Thrawn trilogy is invariably among the first mentioned. Timothy Zahn kicked off this series with a book set five years after the Battle of Endor, introducing readers to the Empire's heir apparent. Over time, Grand Admiral Thrawn, the formidable Chiss commander, became a fan-favorite character, eventually transitioning into Star Wars canon through the beloved Clone Wars TV series and more recently, making a live-action appearance in Ahsoka. If you're seeking a Legends book that significantly impacted Star Wars both on and off the screen, this is it.

Darth Bane: Path of Destruction (2006)

Path of Destruction

Price: $8.99 at Amazon

Another iconic Legends trilogy, the Darth Bane series focuses on the notorious Sith Lord and how his rule shaped the galaxy. Drew Karpyshyn's trilogy is compelling for both Star Wars enthusiasts, adding depth to the Sith lore, and for general sci-fi fans seeking a dark, engaging read that stands well on its own. Path of Destruction offers a unique perspective from the Sith's viewpoint, delving into the origins of the Sith Rule of Two and the life of one of the most powerful and feared Sith Lords in history.

Star Wars: Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force (1995)

Paperback: Heirs of the Force

Price: See it at Amazon

For those who grew up as Star Wars fans in the '90s, the absence of films was compensated by a wealth of Expanded Universe books, including this legendary series centered on Han Solo and Princess Leia's children, Jacen and Jaina Solo. The twins study under Luke Skywalker at his Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. This charming Young Readers series follows their adventures until Jacen's dark turn, becoming the Sith Lord Darth Caedus in later Expanded Universe narratives. This storyline notably influenced the character development of Kylo Ren in the sequel trilogy.

Tales from Jabba's Palace (1995)

Kindle Edition: Tales from Jabba's Palace

Price: $4.99 at Amazon

This short story collection has long been cherished as one of the most beloved entries in the Expanded Universe, particularly for revealing that fan-favorite Boba Fett survived the Sarlacc Pit, a detail that was canon for years until the Expanded Universe was decanonized. However, this plot point was later reintroduced in The Book of Boba Fett. Beyond this significant revelation, the book is packed with fun, quirky, and captivating alien-centric tales from the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Death Troopers (2009)

Kindle Edition: Death Troopers

Price: $11.99 at Amazon

While not the most lore-centric entry in the Legends universe, this standalone horror story about zombie stormtroopers is undoubtedly one of the coolest. Horror writer Joe Schreiber brought the genre back to the Galaxy Far, Far Away for the first time since the Galaxy of Fear series, and he did so with a bang. The narrative follows an Imperial prison barge that, after breaking down in space, encounters a seemingly abandoned Star Destroyer. Inside, they find only two survivors—familiar to readers—and soon face the terror of the undead.

Darth Plagueis (2012)

Kindle Edition: Darth Plagueis

Price: $12.99 at Amazon

Have you heard the story of Darth Plagueis the wise? If not, James Luceno's acclaimed tale under the Legends banner will enlighten you. Luceno crafts a darkly brilliant narrative about the violence of the Sith and the perils of ambition. Considered one of the most esteemed contemporary Legends books, Darth Plagueis chronicles the rise of the titular Sith Lord as he trains his apprentice, Darth Sidious—destined to become Emperor Palpatine—and pursues the ultimate power, no matter the cost.

How Many Star Wars Legends Books Are There?

The Star Wars Legends banner encompasses nearly 400 books, along with numerous comics, games, and films that were part of the now-decanonized Legends universe. This includes movies and TV shows like The Star Wars Holiday Special, Star Wars: Droids, Ewoks: Caravan of Courage, and games such as Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Shadows of the Empire (part of a massive Expanded Universe crossover event), and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. The vast array of releases and content spans from 1977—six months before the first film's release—to 2014, covering nearly forty years of the Expanded Universe.

Star Wars Legends vs. Canon

What does this all mean? Essentially, any content under the "Legends" label was once part of the Expanded Universe and is no longer considered canon. However, as we've seen, elements from Legends can influence or even become part of the official canon, as seen with characters like Thrawn. When a book like Heir to the Empire is officially recognized as canon by Lucasfilm, it sheds its Legends status and becomes a core part of the Star Wars canon.

While Star Wars Legends books are not canon, there are many contemporary canon novels that expand the galaxy and its inhabitants in ways that directly tie into the films. A prime example is the High Republic series, a massive crossover event that introduced a new era to the Star Wars canon, soon to be adapted into live-action. Other canon books include Leia by Claudia Gray, E. K. Johnston's Padmé trilogy, The Princess and the Scoundrel by Beth Revis, Last Shot by Daniel José Older, and many more.

Kindle Unlimited

Price: See subscription options at Amazon