21 Star Wars Books You Should Read

Cover of Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells, book one in Empire and Rebellion. Image via Del Rey

13. Empire and Rebellion

This series started life as a trilogy, with each book focusing on one of Leia, Han, and Luke. However, the Legends split came before the third book got published. (That third book got retooled into Heir to the Jedi, following Luke, which counts as canon now.)

As a result, Empire and Rebellion now stands as a Legends duology, with one book featuring Leia and the other, Han. Razor’s Edge by Martha Wells comes first.

Taking place before The Empire Strikes Back, Razor’s Edge sees Leia and Han go on a mission to secure supplies for the Hoth base. However, they come across survivors of Alderaan who have turned to pillaging.

Then, in James S.A. Corey’s Honor Among Thieves, Han takes the spotlight. He’s been chosen for a mission to extract a Rebel spy from deep within the Empire, but that spy, Scarlet Hark, has other plans. The Empire is hot on the trail of some stolen secrets that could turn the tide of the war. So, Scarlet ropes Han into going after those plans.

Should Han be your favorite, start with Honor Among Thieves, praised for its great dialogue. Otherwise, take the Razor’s Edge path first, and enjoy the excellent Leia characterization.