Four new official Star Wars books have been announced for 2022, and one of them – Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith – looks to give more context to the events of not just Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, but the entire sequel trilogy.
As revealed by StarWars.com, Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith will be joined by a novel featuring Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker called Star Wars: Brotherhood, a middle-grade anthology book called Star Wars: Stories of Jedi and Sith, and a Young Adult novel called Star Wars: Padawan that focuses on Obi-Wan's early relationship with Qui-Gon Jinn as his master.
Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith
SPOILERS AHEAD for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith is a new "essential novel" by Adam Christopher that will be released on June 28, 2022, and is set between the events of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens.
Picking up "nearly two decades on from the Battle of Endor," this novel tells a story of a galaxy that is still dealing with the dangers that are still present in this new age of peace. Jedi Master Luke Skywalker is one of these people who is haunted by visions of the dark side, and it's all "foretelling an ominous secret growing somewhere in the depths of space, on a dead world called Exegol."
For those who may not remember, Exogol was the planet that Emperor Palpatine / Sith Lord Darth Sidious used in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker to hide the Final Order and where the final battle of the film took place.
Luke's fears are made true when Lando Calrissian comes to him "with reports of a new Sith menace." Following the kidnapping of his daughter, Lando searched all over the stars for her. He followed dead end after dead end until he found Ochi of Bestoon, a Sith assassin who was on a mission to capture a different young girl.
Unbeknownst to Luke and Lando, Ochi had been given a sacred blade by "a mysterious envoy of the Sith Eternal" and a promise that they would answer all his questions if he "returns to Exegol with the key to the Sith's glorious rebirth – the granddaughter of Darth Sidious himself, Rey."
Star Wars: Brotherhood
Star Wars: Brotherhood is a new story from Mike Chen that will be released on May 10, 2022, and follows Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker during the height of the Clone Wars. Following an explosion on Cato Neimoidia that the Republic has been blamed for, the Jedi send Obi-Wan to investigate the crime and try to maintain the "balance that has begun to dangerously shift."
He teams up with a "heroic Neimoidian guard" and they work to stop the Separatists and the threat of Asajj Ventress that hangs over it all.
Anakin, on the other hand, has finally become a Jedi Knight and was told to stay behind while Obi-Wan went on this dangerous mission. As Anakin is known to do, he disobeys that order and journeys to help his master with a "promising but conflicted youngling" in tow.
Star Wars: Brotherhood looks to explore the relationship between Obi-Wan and Anakin now that they are both on more equal ground and looks to see how they can overcome rising tensions to save Cato Neimoidia and its people.
Star Wars: Stories of Jedi and Sith
Star Wars: Stories of Jedi and Sith will be released on June 7, 2022, and is a middle-grade anthology book that tells multiple stories about Jedi and Sith, heroes and villains, light and dark, and much more. These stories will also feature such iconic characters as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Asajj Ventress, and many more alongside "beautiful spot illustrations."
The authors who will be featured in this collection are Roseanne A. Brown, Sarwat Chadda, Delilah S. Dawson, Tessa Gratton, Michael Kogge, Sam Maggs, Michael Moreci, Alex Segura, Vera Strange, and Karen Strong. The illustrations are by Jake Bartok and the book will be edited by Jennifer Heddle.
Star Wars: Padawan
Star Wars: Padawan is a Young Adult novel by Kiersten White that is set to be released on July 26, 2022. It follows a younger Obi-Wan Kenobi who is having a hard time in his early days as Qui-Gon Jinn's Padawan. While Obi-Wan's friends are training to be "real Jedi," he is still stuck on Coruscant "practicing his forms and sitting in silent contemplation."
Obi-Wan finally gets Qui-Gon to take him on a real mission on "a remote planet once explored by ancient Jedi," but Qui-Gon doesn't show up the morning they are supposed to leave. Obi-Wan takes it upon himself to go anyway and ends up meeting "a group of teenagers with no adult supervision – and who all seem to have some connection to the force." He starts by loving this new freedom, but "the Padawan side" of him begins questioning what is really going on with this group.
For more Star Wars, check out a new epic statue that immortalizes the Clone Wars' greatest battle, our review of LEGO Star Wars Terrifying Tales, and the latest details on the opening and booking dates of Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.