The Star Wars Novels and Comics That Fill the Sequel Trilogy's Biggest Gaps
Read these if you think the sequel trilogy didn't quite stick the landing.
Published on Jun 11, 2026
Seven years after the last Star Wars film was released in theaters, The Mandalorian and Grogu arrived and were met with, as expected, mixed reception. Detractors said the film was just four episodes of The Mandalorian stitched together—a claim that is true, as the film was reportedly a reworked fourth season of the show. Defenders said its adventure was a fun and wholesome affair and that it shouldn't be beholden to a deeper purpose. Nevertheless, the contentious standing of the film within the fandom is expected. No one hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans, after all.
Before The Mandalorian and Grogu, The Rise of Skywalker was touted as the worst film of the franchise. A strange phenomenon also occurred: the prequel trilogy, once compared disparagingly online to the original trilogy, then gained favor. This fan mused it had to do with three factors: 1) the hate surrounding the sequels made the fandom embrace the prequels more warmly; 2) the children who first saw the prequels and loved them grew up and became more vocal; and more relevantly, 3) the Clone Wars animated show vastly added to the prequels' lore and prestige in the community.
By the time of The Mandalorian, Padawan Ahsoka Tano, Commander Rex, and Generals Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are important pillars of Star Wars, like Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. It made me wonder: can I, a fan who already finds The Force Awakens alright, The Last Jedi phenomenal, and weighed The Rise of Skywalker but found it wanting, find supplementary titles to the sequels like what The Clone Wars series is to the prequels?
In my voracious consumption of Star Wars these past years, I did. They may not be as big as a multi-season animated series, but it's something. So while we wait for the next chapter of the Mandoverse and its course correction of the franchise heading to Legends-esque Heir to the Empire and Thrawn territory and Maul: Shadow Lord planting the seeds containing George Lucas' original vision for his sequel trilogy, here are three canon novels and three comic books you could read now to enhance your experience with the existing sequel trilogy.
Bloodline (2016, written by Claudia Gray)
The New Republic only appeared a few minutes in The Force Awakens, and it is to show its destruction. Bloodline is a deeply political book centered on Leia Organa and the New Republic's in-fighting during its heyday. Although the Mandoverse has been showing us snippets of this. In the foreground, it asks the important question: how did the galaxy react when it found out Leia's lineage? In the background, it shows the machinery of the First Order's rise gearing up in motion.
While the New Republic is blinded to a new looming threat, Leia is ever vigilant. Bloodline is the quintessential Leia Organa canon text depicting how the senator-turned-general is as important to the saga as her Force-wielding twin. The book also introduces early on the recurring theme the canon sequels consistently tried to evoke: that our protagonists lionized in Legends are flawed human beings susceptible to corruption. It is thus their strength to overcome this corruption, once succumbed to, that makes them heroes.
Shadow of the Sith (2022, written by Adam Christopher)
The Rise of Skywalker introduced plot points it did not properly explore. Shadow of the Sith aims to rectify that. Most prominently were the final days Rey was with her parents before she was orphaned by an assassin named Ochi of Bestoon. Moreover, fans who lamented they didn't get to see a proper old-man Luke Skywalker story in the sequels will find this novel a treat. And it has Lando Calrissian too. This novel's main arc sees Calrissian cross paths with Rey's parents as he ventures to find his own missing daughter. It's a plot point that somehow makes a flat scene in The Rise of Skywalker feel like a tender reunion.
Shadow of the Sith also developed throwaway concepts like Exegol and the Cult of the Sith Eternal as important elements to the whole saga. The meat of the novel's action shows Luke investigating the mysterious cult alongside ancient Sith artifacts until he meets Kiza, a dark side user under the control of Viceroy Exim Pashard, an ancient Sith lord. References from other ancient Sith lords also abound that tie the lore into bigger, promising territory.
The Rise of Kylo Ren (2019, written by Charles Soule and drawn by Will Sliney)
The Knights of Ren looked cool the moment they appeared in The Force Awakens, but they've been relegated to mere background characters all throughout the sequel trilogy. The Rise of Kylo Ren is a four-issue comic miniseries exploring the story behind this band of rogues. Their leader is Ren, an enigmatic dark side user who dueled once with Luke Skywalker. He is created by Charles Soule, and it is as good a time as any to mention that Soule is probably as important a Star Wars mythmaker as George Lucas' torchbearer Dave Filoni.
The miniseries shows what happened exactly after Ben Solo burned down Luke's Jedi temple way before the sequels, how Snoke slowly corrupted the young padawan, and Ben Solo's fateful showdown with Ren, in which he claimed the moniker Kylo Ren. His saga has only begun, and it continues in the next entry in this list.
Legacy of Vader: The Reign of Kylo Ren (2025, written by Charles Soule, drawn by Luke Ross)
The 12-issue comic miniseries Legacy of Vader follows Kylo Ren, now Supreme Leader of the First Order after The Last Jedi, on a sort of twisted pilgrimage to Tatooine and Naboo in an effort to destroy his grandfather Darth Vader's past, severing Kylo Ren's link to Vader and ultimately gaining unprecedented power for himself. This title provides the most substantial character work for Kylo Ren past the films so far. It also adds thematic depth to the character's proclamations of letting the past die, as per The Last Jedi.
In this miniseries, Kylo faces another Jedi survivor of Order 66. Kylo also confronts his biggest shadow: a Force vision of Darth Vader. Legacy of Vader shows how Kylo Ren is just Ben Solo, a broken and hurt boy running away from his past like his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker, before him.
The five-issue miniseries The Fall of Kylo Ren was recently announced to come later this year. It is set directly before The Rise of Skywalker and will be Charles Soule's conclusion to his exploration of Kylo Ren.
Poe Dameron (2016, written by Charles Soule, drawn by Phil Noto)
Oscar Isaac's Poe Dameron is one of the more warmly received characters of the sequel trilogy, so dedicating a 31-issue comic series to the Resistance pilot is a no-brainer. The title sees Dameron and Black Squadron go on missions before The Force Awakens, like tracking down Lor San Tekka—who they did find at the very beginning of The Force Awakens—as they face new enemies like Grakkus the Hutt and First Order Security Bureau Agent Terex.
The core heart of Poe Dameron is the relationship between Black Squadron's members. It attempts to flesh out background characters like Snap Wexley and Jessika Pava from the films while imbuing fresh creations like Karé Kun and L'ulo L'ampar in the dynamic. That, and the fact that this title has stellar dogfights one after another, is why this series remains a fan favorite. Poe Dameron's last arc takes place after The Last Jedi, and it weaves well into the next entry in this list.
Resistance Reborn (2019, written by Rebecca Roanhorse)
After the Battle of Crait in The Last Jedi, the Resistance is left battered and diminished. It is up to General Leia Organa to find ways to replenish their ranks. The novel Resistance Reborn shows Leia doing just that as she recruits recognizable names from expanded Star Wars media. Treat Resistance Reborn as a crossover event, if you will, as you get to meet characters from Bloodline and Poe Dameron along with others from titles not included in this list.
Resistance Reborn gives weight and depth to the climactic battle against the Final Order above Exegol in The Rise of Skywalker—which has sadly been relegated to the background in favor of the film's leads—by giving names and faces to those who fought and lost their lives. Resistance Reborn does service to the final title in the Skywalker saga. It does a service to the fans who've been reading Star Wars media past the screen.
Bonus titles for further reading: Phasma (2017, written by Delilah Dawson), The Rise of Skywalker: Expanded Edition (2019, written by Rae Carson), and the upcoming Legacy (2026, written by Madeleine Roux)