Jaina Solo, (later, Jaina Solo Fel) was the daughter of Han Solo and Leia Organa Solo. The Eldest of the Solo children, she was the twin sister of Jacen Solo and the Sibling of brother, Anakin Solo.
Jaina was born in 9 A.B.Y during the height of the Thrawn Campaign. Even before she was born, she had a strong connection to the Force. As a child she and her twin brother were often targets of many kidnapping plots from many individuals such as the mad clone of the Jedi Master Joruus C’baoth, and the Reborn Palpatine.
Organa Solo’s brother, the Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, suggested that the children be hidden on Onderon with their new baby brother Anakin, (named after their grandfather) to minimize their potential to be influenced by the dark side, which at this young age could affect them for the rest of their lives.
When Solo and her twin were two years old they returned to live with their parents and eventually so did their youngest brother Anakin. When the twins were fourteen years old, they enrolled in their Uncle Luke’s Jedi Academy. As a student, Solo grew as a Jedi and would meet and befriend many such as Lowbacca, Tenel Ka, and Raynar Thul. While Jacen grew to love animals, the Living Force and living things, Jaina imitated her father, Han Solo, and became quite fascinated with mechanics and machines as well as piloting.
Jaina, Jacen, and Lowbacca were eventually captured and taken to the Shadow Academy to be taught by one of Luke Skywalker’s fallen students, Brakiss. They were rescued by Skywalker and Tenel Ka soon after. The twins friend Zekk was taken by the Shadow Academy and began training with Brakiss to use the dark side. It was here that Master Skywalker decided to hasten the training of his advanced students with the threat of the Shadow Academy looming and had the students begin building and wielding their own lightsabers.
Jaina created a purple bladed lightsaber and used a synthetic crystal in it. Eventually the Shadow Academy attacked the Praxeum on Yavin IV. The battle was a victory for the Jedi as Skywalker defeated Brakiss and Jaina dulled Zekk and brought her friend back to the light side, obviously being inspired by her uncle returning her grandfather back to the light side of the Force. Zekk would eventually, after a period of time, came back to the Jedi Order and began to study the ways of the Force once more.
Jaina Duels with Zekk
Following ordeals with the Diversity Alliance and Black Sun, Jaina, Jacen, Lowbacca, Tenel Ka, and Zekk were promoted to full apprentices and Jaina was apprenticed to her aunt, Mara Jade Skywalker. Han Solo congratulated her by giving her a Z-95 Headhunter. (A Ship model used by Jaden Korr and several others.)
When Jaina was sixteen, the Yuuzhan Vong invaded the galaxy. While fighting in many battles in the war, she also joined Rouge Squadron as a pilot, she was also given the title Sword of the Jedi by Luke Skywalker when he knighted her in front of the newly reformed Jedi Council. She would take this position very seriously as Luke would tell her she would be on the front lines in battle and she believed that she would not be able to love. However, as the war progressed, she began to become romantically involved with a fellow pilot by the name of Jagged Fel.
Jaina during the Yuuzhan Vong War
During the war, Anakin sacrificed himself to save many others and his death caused Jaina to begin a journey towards the dark side. Luckily, she was aided in returning to the light side by Kyp Durron who was not pleased with her actions.
During this time, The New Republic was transformed and became the Galactic Federation of Free Alliances (or the Galactic Alliance) and Jaina found a way for them to use the Yuuzhan Vong warships to aid them. Jaina would continue to serve in the war and eventually fought in the conclusion, the Battle of Yuuzhan’tar.
Following the war, Jaina would then become involved in battle again during the Dark Nest Crisis and the Swarm War that occurred 5 years later, and again in the Battle of Tralus. Jaina would work with her old friend Zekk on many missions throughout this time having created a Force bond with him.
The death of Mara Jade Skywalker came as a shock for Jaina and eventually she learned that her brother Jacen had committed the action, turned to the dark side and became Darth Caedus. This led to Jaina wanting to stop her brother. She began to receive training from the bounty hunter Boba Fett in Mandalorian combat.
Luke Skywalker explained that he had killed Lumyia, Jacen’s Sith Master in anger, and if he killed Jacen, he might fall to the dark side as he would strike him down in anger. Jaina, with permission from Skywalker and the rest of the Jedi Council was tasked with defeating Caedus. Jaina would confront her brother and sever his left arm. She eventually defeated him in a lightsaber duel on board the Star Destroyer Anakin Solo.
After the death of her brother and the end of the Second Galactic Civil War, Jaina remained and active member of the Jedi Order. She began to get to know her niece Allana, whom the Solo’s had taken in to protect. When Natasi Daala became the new Chief of State of the Galactic Alliance, she immediately exiled Luke Skywalker for failing to keep Jacen from the dark side. Jaina created the Darkmeld to stop Daala’s efforts from taking over the Jedi Order. Eventually, Daala was removed from power and Jaina would join her uncle in fighting the entity of the dark side known as Abeloth. Jaina was eventually made a Jedi Master during the defeat of Abeloth and the Sith tribe. After this, she married Jagged Fel.
Jaina Solo was first introduced to me in Kevin J. Anderson and Rebeca Moseta’s novels Young Jedi Knights. She was first introduced in the Thrawn trilogy beforehand. As the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia, Jaina, and her brother Jacen did catch my attention when I first picked up their series. They were the next generation of Star Wars characters, and they were close to my age, so they became instantly relatable.
When the New Jedi Order, rolled around, I felt for her too. I felt as though I was in for quite a ride with this series and I related to Jaina. When she began to lean towards the dark side, I cringed but also understood. I thought of my younger brother dying and how that would affect me and my mindset. However, I cheered when she resisted.
And finally, Legacy of the Force blew me away. Invincible by Troy Denning was so memorable to me. I cried I cheered, I couldn’t put it down. To this day, that book remains my favorite Star Wars Novel. I had experienced Jaina and Jacen’s story for the longest time, I grew up as they did, and when they dueled, I was speechless. I could only imagine what the Jaina was going through and to she her let go of emotion and fight Darth Caedus, I was amazed. There is a great fan film that adapts this duel and I highly recommend you all go check it out.
Jaina has always been my favorite of the Solo twins and I was (and still am) hoping to see her further adventures in the future. I believe she and Ben Skywalker would have been excellent protagonists as the big three began to take on the mentorship role. For those who want to experience a character who is strong, and has an amazing character arc, Jaina Solo Fel is the Jedi you are looking for.
Star Wars Galactic Spy
Prophets of the Dark Side (Vision to Leia Organa)
Heir to the Empire (First mentioned)
Dark Force Rising (Mentioned only)
The Last Command (First appearance) (First identified as Jaina Solo)
Dark Empire (Mentioned only)
Dark Empire audio drama (Appears in hologram)
Dark Empire II
Dark Empire II audio drama
Empire's End
Empire's End audio drama
"The Other"—Star Wars Tales 16
Jedi Search
Dark Apprentice
Champions of the Force
I, Jedi
Children of the Jedi
Darksaber
Planet of Twilight (Appears in a dream)
Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 1
Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 2
Crimson Empire III: Empire Lost 3 (Appears in hologram)
The Crystal Star
Before the Storm
Shield of Lies
Tyrant's Test
The New Rebellion
Ambush at Corellia
Assault at Selonia
Showdown at Centerpoint
Specter of the Past
Vision of the Future
Star Wars: Union
Junior Jedi Knights: The Golden Globe (Mentioned only)
Junior Jedi Knights: Lyric's World (Mentioned only)
Junior Jedi Knights: Promises (Mentioned only)
Junior Jedi Knights: Vader's Fortress (Mentioned only)
Junior Jedi Knights: Kenobi's Blade (Appears in hologram)
Survivor's Quest (Mentioned only)
Young Jedi Knights: Heirs of the Force
Young Jedi Knights: Shadow Academy
Young Jedi Knights: The Lost Ones
Young Jedi Knights: Lightsabers
Young Jedi Knights: Darkest Knight
Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Under Siege
Young Jedi Knights: Shards of Alderaan
Young Jedi Knights: Diversity Alliance
Young Jedi Knights: Delusions of Grandeur
Young Jedi Knights: Jedi Bounty
Young Jedi Knights: The Emperor's Plague
Young Jedi Knights: Return to Ord Mantell
Young Jedi Knights: Trouble on Cloud City
Young Jedi Knights: Crisis at Crystal Reef
"The Crystal"—Star Wars Gamer 5
The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime
Star Wars: Chewbacca (Appears in flashback(s))
Invasion 0: Refugees, Prologue
Invasion: Refugees 2
Invasion: Refugees 4
Invasion: Refugees 5
Invasion: Rescues 2
Invasion: Rescues 3
Invasion: Rescues 4
Invasion: Rescues 5 (Mentioned only)
The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide I: Onslaught
The New Jedi Order: Dark Tide II: Ruin
The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos I: Hero's Trial
The New Jedi Order: Agents of Chaos II: Jedi Eclipse
The New Jedi Order: Balance Point
The New Jedi Order: Recovery
The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory I: Conquest
The New Jedi Order: Edge of Victory II: Rebirth
The New Jedi Order: Star by Star
The New Jedi Order: Dark Journey
"The Apprentice"—Star Wars Gamer 8
The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines I: Rebel Dream
The New Jedi Order: Enemy Lines II: Rebel Stand
The New Jedi Order: Traitor (Appears in flashback(s))
The New Jedi Order: Destiny's Way
The New Jedi Order: Ylesia
The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic I: Remnant
The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic II: Refugee
"Or Die Trying"—Star Wars Insider 75
The New Jedi Order: Force Heretic III: Reunion
The New Jedi Order: The Final Prophecy
The New Jedi Order: The Unifying Force
Dark Nest I: The Joiner King
Dark Nest II: The Unseen Queen
Dark Nest III: The Swarm War
Legacy of the Force: Betrayal
Legacy of the Force: Bloodlines
Legacy of the Force: Tempest
Legacy of the Force: Exile
Legacy of the Force: Sacrifice
Legacy of the Force: Inferno
Legacy of the Force: Fury
Legacy of the Force: Revelation
Legacy of the Force: Invincible
Millennium Falcon (Mentioned only)
Fate of the Jedi: Outcast
Fate of the Jedi: Omen
Fate of the Jedi: Abyss
Fate of the Jedi: Backlash
Fate of the Jedi: Allies
Fate of the Jedi: Vortex
Fate of the Jedi: Conviction
Fate of the Jedi: Ascension
Fate of the Jedi: Apocalypse
"Getaway"—Star Wars Insider 134
"Good Hunting"—Star Wars Insider 142
"An Apology" (Non-canonical mention)
Crucible