We return to a galaxy far, far away, where the echoes of lightsabers and the hum of blaster bolts resonate with Alexander Freed's Star Wars: The Mask of Fear, an enthralling exploration into the political depths of Star Wars. Set in the aftermath of Revenge of the Sith, The Mask of Fear gives us a glimpse into how Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera navigate life in the wake of Chancellor Palpatine's devastating rise to power.

With one speech and thunderous applause, Chancellor Palpatine brought the era of the Republic crashing down. In its place rose the Galactic Empire. Across the galaxy, people rejoiced and celebrated the end of war—and the promises of tomorrow. But that tomorrow was a lie. Instead, the galaxy became twisted by the cruelty and fear of the Emperor’s rule.

During that terrifying first year of tyranny, Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and Bail Organa face the encroaching darkness. One day, they will be three architects of the Rebel Alliance. But first, each must find purpose and direction in a changing galaxy, while harboring their own secrets, fears, and hopes for a future that may never come unless they act.

Alexander Freed is no rookie to crafting great tales in the Star Wars universe, The Mask of Fear is no different. What Freed builds in the first of the Reign of the Empire books is both familiar and refreshingly new. Fans of Star Wars have known since the beginning that the space opera we all love has been inherently political. While The Mask of Fear serves as a bridge between eras, it also dives headfirst into the political side of the universe.

While the Star Wars: The High Republic novels have been wonderful at adding context, depth and story to the overall Star Wars story, The Mask of Fear excels at offering an opportunity to reconnect with familiar characters and locations. Set after Revenge of the Sith, The Mask of Fear delivers a captivating and engaging adventure with familiar faces. Compelling characters like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera bring us back to such familiar times that allowed me to get deeply engaged with the tale at hand. What Freed accomplishes with this new story enriches the original stories being told on the big screen–or small screen.

Freed didn't stop at established lores, but introduces us to new characters who help move the story along and bring more understanding to the universe under Imperial rule. These fresh perspectives enrich the story, making us care deeply for the narrative and the characters involved. I find it hard sometimes to dive into a Star Wars tale with all the characters, locations, and lore involved, but what Freed crafted with this novel made it easy to follow and enjoy.

Star Wars: The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed isn't just another space opera; it's a gripping political drama. If the political aspects of Star Wars aren't your thing, this book might not be for you. But for those eager to explore more stories from a galaxy far, far away, it's a wonderfully enjoyable journey.

As a huge Star Wars fan I was beyond excited to get this ARC. I really enjoyed the way it was written. Having the main characters that then had other sub characters that gained more and more attention brought more depth to the story.

"And here we all are, together again..."

Sorry, wrong show.

But my point still stands. Here we all are, back in the throes of Star Wars politics.

(Not that we ever left. It quite literally has "war" in the title.)

This book primarily follows Mon Mothma, Bail Organa (my fave), and Saw Gerrera, (and associates) during the first year of the Empire. Each character wrestles with their own deep-set beliefs as they attempt to act in accordance with what they feel is right, regardless of the cost.

So, this book is interesting.

It is set in a time when we know, for the most part, what happens to each of these characters, and we know how the Empire is both during and long after the events of this book. Thus, that robust plot armor can diminish the stakes somewhat, so the onus is really on the storytelling to shine some sort of a light on things and tell readers something they didn't know before. Which I think Alexander Freed did do successfully, especially with the characters themselves. We are reminded time and time again that these characters are just people dealt a really terrible hand who now have to make the best decisions they can with few resources or incomplete information.

Freed's imagery is pretty powerful. It's nice and heavy, with a lot of cool details to chew on. This is, in my opinion, a complete 180 to Freed's writing in the Rogue One novelization, which I found to be much more succinct. I also SO appreciate the chapter title in this book. I am so bored of books without chapter titles! These titles are a little nebulous and vague, but I still think they are an interesting addition.

My primary critique of this book is the pacing. This book is by no means short. It is nearly 500 pages, and you feel every single one of pages. I think it could have been cut back slightly to tighten up some of the pacing and POV shifts. I don't know if the best solution is for the book to have been told from the perspective of only Mon, Saw, and Bail, but I do think it would have been a good start. There are a lot of supporting characters in this book, and I think a good way to explore those characters would have been through the familiar lens of ones we know. This would also maintain some mystery around the motives of those supporting characters, rather than spending so much time with them from the start.

I'm curious about where this trilogy will go. Again, we have the plot armor in place, so it will have to continue to bring readers somewhere completely new to remain compelling.

Anyway, I definitely appreciate that more time is being spent in the side of Star Wars that tends to get pushed aside in favor of action and adventure. No shade to those things, but let us not forget that Star Wars is inherently political, and telling a story about the grittiness of upholding democracy is a great way to honor that.

3.5 stars, rounded up.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Bravery's more common than we often believe."

Thank you to NetGalley, Alexander Freed, and Del Rey for the E-ARC!

I'm a latecomer to the Star Wars franchise, only starting to really dive into it within the last year, so please be aware that my review is from a more casual side. Nevertheless, I've been really enjoying jumping into all of it's different types of media and series, and I found this book a nice addition!

This is a Star Wars story that focuses on the politics. Instead of epic battles and fights, this is the aftermath of the war that made the Republic the Empire. Through characters such as Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Saw Gerrera, we get to see the immediate aftermath of Palpatine taking control and what that means for the universe. It's filled with truths to be found and secrets to unfold, creating a riveting story.

Rogue One and Andor are two of my favourite Star Wars projects, so I really enjoyed that I got to learn more about Mon Mothma in this book! Again, as a casual enjoyer of Star Wars, this story gave me so many more insights on her as a character, her motives, and just generally the way she goes about things. I'm excited to find out more about her in the next books in this trilogy, as well as to go back and watch other Star Wars stories with her in them with newfound knowledge.

I had a great time reading this story and learning more about the Star Wars universe and some of it's large characters. I urge fans of the series to pick it up for themselves!

Following the immense success of Alphabet Squadron, expectations for Alexander Freed’s next work were high. And yet, he has not only met them—he has surpassed them. With The Mask of Fear, Freed crafts an unrelenting and unapologetic exploration of fascism’s cost and the moral dilemmas that come with resistance, offering a striking reflection of modern society with a level of clarity rarely seen in Star Wars literature. And yet, against all odds, it remains a story of hope—a pillar for the franchise. Freed’s newest novel continues the standard of excellence he established with his masterful Alphabet Squadron trilogy. In this latest work, he delivers a stark, uncompromising narrative about the perils of rising fascism and political corruption. Of the three central protagonists, only one truly engages in the kind of aggressive negotiations we’d expect, while the others navigate the shadows of Coruscant’s back alleys and the harsh glare of the Imperial Senate.

As the story unfolds, we follow these characters as they take their first steps toward forming the Rebellion, each in their own way: Mon Mothma wields political strategy and legislative finesse to gain an upper hand, while Bail Organa channels righteous determination to defend the Jedi he once stood alongside. Every chapter highlights their struggle, filled with missteps and revelations, as they seek to loosen Palpatine’s grip on the galaxy—all while Imperial forces work to thwart them at every turn. Yet, through their arduous journey, one truth becomes undeniable: without compromise, their efforts will fail. While the novel delivers a stark warning about fascism’s dangers and the erosion of democracy, it also examines the harsh realities of moral absolutism. No matter how desperately Mon and Bail cling to rules and ethics in their fight against tyranny, The Mask of Fear makes it painfully clear—defeating a dictator often demands uncomfortable sacrifices.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

I think anyone that loves Star Wars will love this book. I really enjoyed getting more information about Mothma and Organa -- I am biased though, because they are some of my favorite characters.

Not much is added to the lore here, and seems more character-driven than pushed forward by the plot (but maybe that is just because I know what is going to happen in the future).

I would recommend this book to another Star Wars fan, and plan to buy a physical copy for myself.

This is an excellent start to an exploration of this period between "Revenge of the Sith" and "A New Hope" in the new canon. I loved seeing all of the characters that we know from the films working to begin the rebellion

As a huge fan of the political aspects of Star Wars, I really enjoyed this delve into the politics in the immediacy of the rise of the Empire and I'm very much looking forward to the other two books in this trilogy. I'm a big fan of the complexity of characters like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Saw Guerrera and this book really centres the different ways characters react to and try and resist the dawn of the Galactic Empire, and how effective those efforts are. You also get an introduction to the interior lives of Mon and Bail - how they each see each other at this period in time after Padme's death and how that relationship evolves from being reluctant allies to a place of common ground.

I got a little stuck about 40% in - ultimately I do think that the shifting between perspectives so much makes it hard to get absorbed in any one storyline when the pacing is slower in the first half of the book - but I'm glad I picked it back up and flew through the last 25% or so.

Overall, it's just really great to see how much depth can be added to this story - we know the outcome, that their efforts to scale back the Empire will fail, but the journeys these characters go on to set up the later plots of Star Wars make the universe so much more compelling and also resonate with living through turbulent political times. It is a slow-paced political novel, so not for everyone, but definitely a good read.

My review posted to my Space Wizards Book Club Substack:

We know how this story ends. We know the evil Galactic Empire is defeated for good by the courageous Rebel Alliance. We know the Jedi are (somewhat) redeemed and reborn several times — now, supposedly led by a new Skywalker. But Reign of the Empire: The Mask of Fear isn’t that story. It doesn’t even star the biggest figures in the Skywalker Saga. Still, it’s one of the most political poignant, reflective, and important Star Wars stories this side of Andor.

The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed is the first in a new trilogy of novels spanning the nearly two decades between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. The series chiefly follows Senators Mon Mothma and Bail Organa and Saw Gerrera — the leader of what will soon be the anarchic Partisans. This book is not your typical action-adventure tale with space wizards and laser swords. It’s arguably the most political Star Wars has ever got in a book, and for good reason. Star Wars has always been and always will be political sci-fi with a dash of fantasy. I knew going into this book that it would contrast strikingly with the themes in The High Republic. What I didn’t expect was to read a Star Wars book that felt a little too much like non-fiction.

Star Wars stories have always had parallels to our own political issues and conflicts — from the original trilogy’s release shortly after the Vietnam War to the prequel films exploring political corruption and government surveillance during the war on terror. In The Mask of Fear, Freed examines an era of the Star Wars political cycle we haven’t seen much of: the quick rise of the authoritarian Empire thanks to a wave of populism orchestrated and manipulated by a dark side-wielding fascist.

It’s easy to compare The Mask of Fear to Andor, especially because Mon and Saw feature prominently in the novel. If you love the Disney+ series’s darker tone, you will enjoy this book. However, The Mask of Fear isn’t about acts of rebellion. The book is set mere weeks after Revenge of the Sith and the obliteration of the Jedi Order. Through its main characters and a few new ones, we see their dawning realization of what they allowed to happen to the galaxy.

For Mon Mothma, that realization comes through learning the delicate differences between a democratic senate and an Imperial one. Her story focuses on her trying to rally political support for a bill that would quietly subdue Palpatine’s power. What she learns is that despite any action within the Senate, it’s Palpatine’s galaxy now and we’re just trying to survive in it.

For Bail Organa, his love of the Jedi and the Order put him on a desperate and dangerous mission to expose the truth of what happened to them. Despite a life of privilege and a newborn at home, Bail becomes frantic and paranoid with desperation to prove the Jedi didn’t betray Palpatine and the Republic.

Saw arguably has the less interesting storyline in The Mask of Fear. We get his and his followers’ perspectives through a new character — a former Separatist sleeper agent struggling to figure out where and with whom he fits in this new galaxy. Though I would’ve liked to get more inside Saw’s head, the chapters with Soujen illuminated the confusing chaos of the aftermath of the Clone Wars. It’s no longer Republic vs. Separatists. Those who are against the new Empire find themselves with a common enemy with their former enemy.

An intensely political book, The Mask of Fear is still very much character-driven. It’s just as much about a post-war evolving galaxy as it is about personal politics and reshaping morality. Mon, Bail, and Saw are pushed to their limits in this book, which makes for a gripping prequel to what we eventually see in the organized Rebellion and Galactic Civil War two decades later.

Mon and Bail are idealists in their own ways but don’t often get along. Mon, to a fault, still has faith and love for established political systems and tries to get things done in the best ways she knows how. She learns quickly she has to get her hands dirty — literally — and shows hints to the “irritating” senator we know her as in Andor. Bail, on the other hand, becomes blinded by his righteous quest for justice for the Jedi and risks his life to find the truth.

Saw, who I hope we get more time with in future books, is not unlike the extremist Partisan leader of the Rebellion era. He’s also blinded in a way — by a need for vengeance for his homeworld — that it’s clear he and his followers already believe the only way to combat violent authoritarianism is with violence.

At its core, Star Wars is a story about good triumphing over evil. We get those thrilling, action-adventure tales in the original trilogy as well as The Phantom Menace. There’s certainly more beneath the surface, and the franchise has explored so many facets of its sci-fi/fantasy storytelling over nearly 50 years. That’s what makes Star Wars so great — there really are stories and characters and themes for everyone.

While we know the ending, The Mask of Fear isn’t interested in giving us a neat conclusion. It’s the first in a trilogy, so that makes sense. Instead, the novel ends with a beginning — establishing threads that will stretch and break and knot until our main characters are the ones we see in Andor, Rogue One, and A New Hope.

The Mask of Fear isn’t a good vs. evil fight with clear villains and heroes. There’s an intriguing moral ambiguity and grayness among all the characters that make it easy to empathize and even side with their decisions, even the most radical ones. In the end, all the characters learn to accept the long road of resistance they have ahead of them. Despite when this story takes place — the dark, early days of an authoritarian regime — there are sparks of joy found in righteous anger and acknowledging the fight ahead.

I am truly a sucker for Star Wars but have been let down in the past with the lack of promised interconnectedness of the books and media. Resistance Reborn I'm looking at you. So when I heard about this trilogy of books I was interested but didn't want to get my hopes up. So when I tell you I was sat for this book I am truly sat for this book! It's in such an interesting part of the timeline that's only recently been shown in the limited series but not as explored in books. Even Star Wars legends didn't truly cover the struggle and politics of the recently risen Empire(there was coruscant nights series but I haven't read them yet) and seeing more of Bail and Mon Mothma, outside of the clone war series (I honestly think Disney is killing it with Mon Mothma's character in particular lately). Of course they were my favorite perspectives. Seeing Mon navigate this new landscape and Bail dealing with the weight of what happened hurt. I loved watching Mon work and just felt for Bail. Soujen the third perspective that gave us insight to Saw was okay for me only because Saw Gerrera's group I've never been truly interested in. There is little action compared to most of the Star Wars franchise and is truly a book of politicking so it might not be for everyone. I was worried as someone who wasn't a fan of the Andor series that I wouldn't like Reign of the Empire but I was happily wrong. I'm excited this era in the timeline is getting attention and grabbing a copy of this book for my cousin who adored the Andor series so we can pour over the details of this book together.
Thanks Netgalley for a copy of this book. You don't know how happy you made this Star Wars fan.

Reign of Fear cuts to the core of the galaxy shifting away from democracy. As a fledgling Empire spreads its wings the characters struggle against the encroaching darkness. From inane bureaucratic moves to the horrors of imperialism, each change adds up in monumental ways. Mon Mothma‘s public moves have made her a target for the new regime and she scrambles to wield her political power to reclaim a failing democracy. Bail Organa is a man haunted by the ghosts of failure. His colleague, friend, and confidant Padme Amidala and her ideals echo with him. Saw Gerrera, Onderon survivor, terrorist threat, violent insurgent, and charismatic leader takes action. No compromise, no remorse, and no hesitation. Unlike the others, Saw knows what happens to a world once the Empire wields its might against the people. Alexander Freed explores how these vastly different leaders could unite for something greater. The beginnings of what would become an Alliance. This is the first book in the Reign of the Empire trilogy which will focus on these three characters through the galactic civil war. This first book delivers on that promise, and I look forward to seeing these characters throughout their journey in the next two books.

This is a must-read for fans looking for a deep political thriller in a galaxy far, far away.

Sal P.

This book is another used to bridge the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope. It most reminds me of The Phantom Menace with all of the electioneering that is doomed to fail because of future events. I kept reading thinking there would be an interesting theory or explanation that would make it worth the time. Instead I got a brief escape into creative writing about the beginnings of the rebellion with characters that obviously don’t go the distance. Hopefully any future releases in this space will build on this one like Episode 2 and then Episode 3 did.

Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Alright, here we are with Star Wars’ latest cash grab (take this with a grain of salt, but I am disappointed I didn’t enjoy this more).
When this novel was announced in 2024 as the first of a new trilogy set between the events of Ep III and Rogue One, starring Mon Mothma and Bail Organa, some of my favourite secondary SW characters, I was excited, to say the least. This period has been one of the literary most underdeveloped, which, given how many stories you can tell not only set in Outer Rim locations but also on Core planets, has always puzzled me a bit.

Long story short, the entire reason for this superfluous story to exist is that, with the success of Andor, publishers seemed to have understood there’s money to be made with post-Republic but pre-New Hope set stories. Not only did the editorial director of Random House Worlds say “the entire goal of this trilogy [is] to tell stories with the same intent / specificity / sense of place & people […] that Andor does”, but the novel’s title is literally lifted from a line of Nemik’s manifesto in the show’s season finale.

“Aren’t they just giving people, including you, what they want?” Yes and no. Yes, because I welcomed the idea of stories focused on Bail Organa and Mon Mothma; no, because whatever this *gestures vaguely with hand* is, is not it. Half of the novel doesn’t actually focus on either Bail, Mon OR Saw Gerrera but on a newly introduced set of characters, including an elderly Imperial Intelligence officer, the Coruscanti youth she takes under her wing to teach them the ropes of spycraft, and a technically modified Separatist sleeper agent.

I understand that a new trilogy cannot focus on previously established, already familiar characters alone and needs to introduce fresh faces to keep it interesting, but that’s just it, it wasn’t interesting, or very large parts of the novel weren’t. And that includes the chapters that ended up focusing on Bail, Mon and Saw.

Now, if you were to ask me what I found boring about it, I would have to lower my head in shame and admit that I found the political scheming happening in and around the Senate most boring of all. Not very “Pod Save America interested in US-American as well as world and foreign politics stands up for democracy” of me, I know! Trust me, I myself am disappointed about this! And when, in the first version of my review, I jokingly asked “how much money for Matthew Stover to come back to Star Wars”, I was unfortunately a bit serious. I didn’t really enjoy Freed’s writing when I read his RO novelisation, and I still haven’t warmed up to it now. Maybe this is where he and I part ways. I just couldn’t stop thinking about how juicy this topic would have been if handled by Stover’s capable hands.

While it certainly fleshes out Mon Mothma and portrays her stoic and realist approach to the Jedi’s demise as a foil to Bail’s agony over the genocide committed against the people he looked up to and tried all his life to model his political career after as an interesting character trait, the novel simply didn’t quite stick the landing.

But maybe that’s okay. The process of keeping a democracy alive with all the promises one must give, all the concessions one must make, the fraction-building, the bipartisan agreements, the niceties, and the promoting one must do, isn’t a very exciting one after all. Maybe this is what Freed gets right – the mundanity of it all and how agonisingly slow the wheels of a Republic can turn.

In the wake of the darkest days Coruscant has seen in hundreds of years, an Empire emerges. And with that Empire, darkness. The Republic and the Jedi have fallen, and Emperor Palpatine has risen to power. Senator Mon Mothma is no stranger to the game of politics, and she knows Palpatine's power must be limited before it's too late. Meanwhile, Senator Bail Organa is shackled with grief over the mass execution of the Jedi. What better way to bring Palpatine to his knees than to expose his lies and exonerate the fallen? To militant Saw Gerrera, who knows no allegiance to a fraudulent Empire, the war is not over. Rather, it has simply changed course. As these powerful three work towards their own goals, can they come together to fight the growing threat of the Empire?

As far as political fiction goes, this is one of the better books I have read. It really examines and picks apart the democratic process and how underhanded it can be, despite however noble one's intentions are. This book also begins the process of filling a very important gap in the Star Wars timeline. What exactly were the first few months and years after the war's end like, and how did the rebellion begin? It did not happen overnight. This book is very much a slow burn, and I appreciate that for how it enhances the story. After a devastating war, the last thing anyone wants to do is start another. We follow these characters as they navigate the changing landscape, acknowledging the danger Palpatine presents and trying to find the least destructive way forward.

As a writer, Freed excels at characterizing these characters in a way that feels true to how they are presented in other stories. From Organa's charisma and strongheadedness to Mothma's cunning and dedication to the democratic process, each of these characters felt right. Given the expansiveness of the Star Wars canon, I'm sure this was no easy task, and I commend Freed for weaving together this story that feels so real and so plausible. As for the new characters, I really appreciate the inclusion of nonbinary representation in this book. In a galaxy of millions of species, why wouldn't there be gender identities beyond the binary? Lastly, I am excited by how this book sets up the next in the series. There is more work to be done, and what will that look like? Obviously we get to a rebellion somehow, and I like seeing the beginning of that process unfold. I am very curious to see what's to come in the next installment.

My drawbacks with the book come mostly from the structure and pacing. This book, in my opinion, has too many perspectives. Especially early on, the narration constantly bounces between several different people. Often you will read a single chapter from one perspective and then immediately switch to another. This type of structure is really difficult for me to get into. Just when a story line gets interesting, suddenly the perspective shifts and you have to read ten more chapters before you can get back to it. I do understand the goal of showing the rise of the Empire from several perspectives, not just senators or guerillas. However, it was slightly overwhelming to keep track of so many characters so early on in the book. I think if the switching of perspectives had been spaced out more, taking several chapters in one POV rather than one or two, that would have helped a lot. The writing fell into that pace later in the book, and that is when I really got invested. As far as overall pacing goes, this book is also just a little long and dense. It didn't necessarily feel like there were filler chapters, but there were just a lot of plot lines we had to get through before getting to the heart of the book. I understand this is the first of a trilogy, and I'm sure a lot of this book is world-building and setup for what is to come. I just wish that perhaps it had been a little more concise.

In all, this book and its trilogy are a much needed expansion on a pivotal time in the reign of the Empire. We know the rebellion comes to be and takes down the Empire, but how does it take root? While this book has some drawbacks, it lays very important groundwork for answering that question. I look forward to what is to come!

*A special thank you to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!*

Fan of Andor. Rebels, Rogue One, and Return of the Jedi? Has Mon Mothma intrigued you? Star Wars is inherently political, and this book does not shy from that. This is about a brewing war between factions and the "right" way to fight a terrible empire. What do we lose as we fight, blood for blood? Mon Mothma shines in this, of course, and I would say this will be a marvelous tie-in for Andor Season Two.

Reading The Mask of Fear, the first book in a trilogy spanning the time between Revenge of the Sith and Andor, was such a nice trip back into the goodness of Star Wars stories full of parallels to real life. The empire, as always, is ripe with tyranny and overreach of an executive branch of the government. Stop me if you have heard this story in real life before. There are those in the galactic senate that do not want Emperor Palpatine to continue to have the power he does now that the war is over and are working to limit his power.

We get POVs from prominent characters such as Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera, along with several other POVs that give us such a good perspective on how people were feeling about both the empire and the Jedi in the time not long after Palpatine’s takeover. I highlighted probably at least 2-3 dozen quotes that felt too relevant to current times and just too many to add them all to my review, but I will include a few of my favorites:

“The Emperor is a threat to democracy. Opposing him is also antidemocratic.”

“If you stand and watch, things get worse.”

“Now you seek to remove the Emperor’s power through law, but the Emperor doesn’t care about law-”

“Yet should the engine of democracy break down, she wrote, ‘a citizenry will forever be left at the mercy of unaccountable leaders.”

The Mask of the Empire takes place in the early days of the Galatic Empire, when many of our heroes are still figuring out what it means to be ruled by Emperor Palpatine - we meet younger versions of Senator Mon Mothma, Senator Bail Organa and guerrilla fighter Saw Guererra. The book is being promoted as a tie in to the Andor series, but readers should know that the book takes place about 15 years before the events of Andor - instead of the weary elder statesmen who have watched the civil liberties and freedoms disappear over time, they are still feeling out how far Palpatine will go, with one character comparing Palpatine's men to "boys who have the keys to the store", arguing that Palpatine will calm down eventually.

As someone who loves politics, I really enjoyed getting more of an insight into Mon Mothma and Bail Organa as senators - Freed clearly know some people who work in government, as he accurately depicts how much time officials have to dedicate to constituent services and fundraising, rather than actually legislating. We were also able to see a little more of the interactions between local governments and their representatives in the Galactic Senate - I would love a later book to show Mon Mothma working with local Chandrilan leaders. But we also see Mon Mothma worked with some senators who might seem very familiar to any American following our current Senate. "Is not my greatest duty to follow the wishes of the people?" one asks her, rebutting the ancient argument of Edmund Burke.

It was also fascinating to get a more in depth look at Bail Organa. Most of his presence in the Star Wars universe has been as a side character, seen through the ideas of his Jedi friends or close colleague Padme, or his daughter dealing with his memory: all of these portrayals have less nuance than Bail has here, dealing with the trauma he experienced during the downfall of the Jedi. The book recognises that sometimes trying to deal with your own personal trauma can be a complex experience when also trying to work for your people.

This book is incredibly topical and asks some difficult questions that many people are grappling with right now: how much do we owe to a public who is making decisions which may harm them? How does personal trauma interact with our duty to act for the sake of others? How much kindness and loyalty should we offer when the world seems to be changing around us? What duty do we owe to a dead cause? Star Wars historically asked some hard questions - I'm glad to see Freed continuing that legacy and recommend this book to any Star Wars fan. I see that the trilogy will be taken on by two other writers - they will have some big shoes to fill in Freed.

Approaching a STAR WARS tie-in novel when one is not immediately on top of every piece of STAR WARS media can be daunting. However, jumping into the first book of the Reign of the Empire trilogy felt less like entering George Lucas's expanded universe and more like looking into a contemporary sci-fantasy mirror. While familiar names like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera are at the forefront of the story, it's the broader issues that feel familiar: the rise of an empire under the megalomaniacal Palpatine, and the mobilization of people at all (and no) levels of the political sphere to combat whatever comes next.

The best thing about the expanding STAR WARS universe is that not every piece of media needs to be about the Jedi first and foremost. The Jedi do indeed cast a long shadow over this story, as Bail Organa is operating largely through the grief of their slaughter, the loss of his friend Padme, and the bittersweet arrival of his adopted daughter Leia. But these "on the ground" stories allow for more shades of grey between the Light and Dark sides of the Force. Not everything can be handled with the swing of a lightsaber. The question is, what route is best? Is silent running more effective than out and out rebellion? Is Emperor Palpatine as powerful as he thinks? Who gives him that power.

THE MASK OF FEAR, while dense and a little daunting for someone whose main STAR WARS knowledge comes from the feature film, is still an important read at this stage in history. Too, it adds depth to the world of the franchise, filling in the little gaps that Disney+ hasn't already approached. It's the first steps in what's hopefully going to be a very strong trilogy.

Thank you Netgalley & Random House Worlds for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The galaxy is days removed from the dissolution of the Republic and Palpatine declaring himself Emperor. How does life return to business as usual? What is the new normal? Courscant still bears scars of a seige. Senate seats are vacant from disenfranchised Separatists. Worlds are abandoned after they served their purpose as battlegrounds. A religious sect of warrior peace keepers has been entirely wiped out.

The war might be over, but three architects of the Rebellion - Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera - are still in the fight. Mothma is playing the game of votes and policy and alliances to legislate power back to the Senate and Democracy. Organa channels his Jedi friends in his pursuit of justice to hold the Emperor accountable for his crimes. Gerrera, used and abandoned by the Republic, is not waiting for the powers of the Empire to turn on him as well.

Alexander Freed achieves the seemingly impossible - investing me into a story of failure. Because even knowing the history of "a long time ago" I wanted victories, no matter how small, for these intrepid rebels. I saw their passion for order and truth and justice, yet (especially for Mothma and Organa) they were trying to play by rules deemed obsolete by the new regime. Their failures become their fuel to adapt to the new political landscape.

A note that may be uncommon - I loved not having chapters from Gerrera's point of view. I didn't mourn its absence, not once, even if we were promised the story would be "told through the eyes of" all three mains. Saw Gerrera's motives can remain elusive. His calculated unpredictability is what makes him the perfect radical voice of the people.

Another observation! Palpatine is literally never seen or heard but I hated and feared him on every page. I remember Sir Christopher Lee speaking of his character Saruman in the same vein. How the evils of Saruman or the threat of Saruman induced fear though he was rarely seen. Palpatine is similarly treated here and it's perfection.

Highly recommend "The Mask of Fear" for new Star Wars readers who prefer mystery and political thrillers. For the Star Wars readers craving more than lightsabers and space battles. And especially those chasing the same vibes as watching Andor.

Star Wars: The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed is a very well-written book. It takes place during the first year of Palpatine's reign as Emperor. The Empire has just been created, and senators are trying to figure out their roles in this new government, and the seeds of rebellion are being sown. The story focuses primarily on Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and, adjacently, Saw Gerrera. Bail spends most of the book trying to disprove the "evil Jedi" narrative, Mon Mothma is drumming up supporters for a bill that will attempt limit Palpatine's power giving more power back to the Senate, and Saw is expanding his terrorist ways.

The book is the beginning of a trilogy and serves as a decent prequel to Andor. Star Wars fans will like the intrigue, but they will know that nothing really happens in the book. It is mostly political, and it provides depth to established characters and established storylines. If you are a reader who enjoys the intricacies of politics, you will love it. There is basically no action and only mild adventure.