The Mask of Fear takes place in the aftermath of Revenge of the Sith. It mostly features three important characters from the Star Wars universe: senators Bail Organa and Mon Mothma, and leader of a rebellious band, Saw Gerrera. Organa and Mothma are struggling to accept and deal with the new Galactic Empire. Organa is dead set on finding evidence that the Emperor set up the Jedi in hopes of proving his false claims and possibly getting the galaxy to reject his leadership. Mothma is still hurting from reprisals from being part of the 2,000 senators who made a stand against the formation of the Empire, and still hopes there are diplomatic avenues for restoring better governance. Gerrera is still fighting against the corruption he perceives in government with his loyal followers when he discovers a being left over from the war - one designed by the Separatists to be a final weapon against their enemies. As the three follow their own specific yet similar agendas, their stories will eventually come together in an attempt to stop the Emperor from becoming a dictator.
For a Star Wars novel that's heavily loaded with politics, it was a surprisingly engaging read. There was enough action mixed with the political intrigue, and even knowing where the Star Wars story eventually goes, managed to keep you anticipating what would happen next in the novel. A bit depressingly, the politics were a spot on critique of what's happening in the world today. While I felt Bail Organa was very reasonably written, I'm not sure I fully buy into how Mothma was portrayed - granted, she's never been given a lot of screen time in the universe, mostly by name and reputation - but a lot of what happened to her and how she reacted didn't feel organic to the character. Saw Gerrera's portrayal was also off somewhat - at first his self-serving,angry and rebellious ideology was there, but he seemed more like a reasonable freedom fighter the longer the book went, and that's not how I recall him from the cartoons or Rogue One. My biggest issue with the book is, as well-written as it was, it was just way too long. Star Wars books shouldn't be 500 pages. Easily, 100-150 pages could have been excised and still kept the ore story in a much tighter, on-point read. Overall I did really enjoy it, those minor-ish points aside.

Alexander Freed has delivered all I was hoping for in this novel and more. Freed’s portrayal of Bail Organa both evolves him from and anchors him in the character as we left him at the end of the prequel trilogy, and Freed’s depiction of Mon Mothma sets the stage for the character we see in Andor and Rogue One. We also get compelling glimpses into Saw Gerrera and his rebel cohort. Best of all, this first book of a trilogy — I’m really looking forward to the next volume by Rebecca Roanhorse! — provides the same kind of insightful political commentary that has made Andor such a powerful and timely addition to the Star Wars universe. The issues wrestled with here are uncomfortably relevant today, and I’m glad Freed tackles them in his thoughtful novel. Highly recommended! Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for providing this copy in return for an honest review.

Nobody writes Star Wars like Alexander Freed, nobody.
His Star Wars are often dark, full of gray characters who face moral dilemmas, but there's hope in them. And you know what's built on hope. (sorry I had to)

The Mask of Fear is the first book in a trilogy focusing on the first years of Empire, and the people who created the Rebellion: Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Saw Guerra. Well, in the case of Saw, the story focuses more on a new fascinating character of a Separatist assassin, which is a great addition and creates some interesting points about the Separatist cause.
And if you know these characters, then you know that their approach to the Rebellion is vastly different. (If you don't know them, then you have some watching to do)
Especially in those first days of the Empire when they don't understand how evil Palaptine actually is. They have different priorities, so each one has a different story, but they're still connected at some points.

I love the way Alexander Freed writes his characters, especially Mon Mothma, who is my favourite character here. She's the future Chancellor of the New Republic and you can see why. She's a skilled politician, but she also has her weaknesses, as do other characters. And her transformation in this book is just amazing. You can clearly connect it to her behaviour in Andor.

As for the plot, this book is a mix of politics, espionage and adventure. It's not short and while there are things happening, it's not super action-packed. I don't want to spoil anything but there are some jaw-dropping scenes. 

I would think that all Star Wars fans would enjoy this book, but as we know, this fandom is very picky. So, to be safe, I would definitely recommend it to people that enjoyed Andor and Rogue One. And, of course, the ones that liked the Alphabet Squadrons.

Taking place weeks after the events of Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith, we find Senator Bail Organa on the pilgrim moon of Jedha during a procession mourning the fallen Jedi in search of absolution. Not for himself, but for the Jedi that have been blamed by the newly crowned Emperor as traitors to the Republic. With the help of a former Republic, now Imperial admiral, Bail was looking for the supposed evidence Palpatine used to blame the Jedi for their treason. If the keepers of peace were corrupt and deserving of annihilation, where was the proof?

Author Alexander Freed brings us The Mask of Fear, book 1 of the Reign of the Empire trilogy, and has the daunting task of setting the board for the state of the galaxy mere days after Order 66 and the fall of the Republic. With all we know about Star Wars, this is a time period with abundant opportunities to explain how a regime like the Empire can virtually pop out of nowhere, when in reality, the pieces had been set into motion years prior.

While Bail Organa chooses to fight by exposing Palpatines crimes against the Jedi, Senator Mon Mothma still relies on politics to save the day. We are used to seeing real-life politicians visit the sites of natural disasters, in their raincoats and rubber boots and here is where we find Mothma as she and other senators tour the aftermath of the Siege of Coruscant. Experiencing first hand the lack of resources and help provided to those on the lower levels. Away from the political sphere, Saw Gerrera attacks a pirate ship in search of Separatist armaments and supplies, and comes out with something more valuable. A Separatist agent. An operative whose main mission was to continue the Separatist cause in the event they lost the war. This came in the form of Soujen Vak-Nhalis, Star Wars version of the Winter Soldier. A cybernetically-augmented human from Alvadorjia. As these main “rebels” set out on their missions, Mon Mothma starts recruiting senators, from both sides of the aisle, anti-empire, pro-empire, and even ex-Separatist leaders to help her craft a bill that will limit Palpatine’s power grab.

Freed has such a command on these types of stories that at times I felt angry, not about the book but about how much these situations mirror our current political landscape. How you can see things building up but how those in power chose to either look the other way or believe that continuing on the same path, the one that brought us to this point, will work out the next time. I liked seeing that Bail and Mon didn’t see eye to eye and each went on a separate journey. Bail was dead set in proving the Jedi’s innocence, not for his conscience but for that of his daughter as he didn’t want Leia to have to shoulder his burden. He suffered from the same ailment as Mothma, believing that one noble act would be enough to bring back what they lost. The Republic.

The first installment in the Reign of the Empire trilogy, Alexander Freed’s Mask of Fear, is a triumph of political intrigue and masterful storytelling. While marketed as a political thriller, the book leans heavily into its political foundation, with thrilling moments simmering beneath the surface of deliberation and maneuvering. Told primarily through the perspectives of Mon Mothma and Bail Organa—two senators navigating the oppressive and labyrinthine halls of Palpatine’s newly formed Galactic Empire in the aftermath of Order 66—the book captures both the idealism and desperation of those trying to enact change in an Empire determined to quash it. As the story unfolds, other voices—each with their own stake in the Empire's survival or collapse—emerge, enriching a narrative as multifaceted as the galaxy itself.

The depth of research underpinning this book is staggering. Freed doesn’t merely tell a story; he crafts a universe rife with political nuance, cultural complexity, and institutional decay. It feels as though he has lived within the Galactic Senate, absorbing its rituals, rules, and power plays to deliver a narrative that feels hauntingly accurate. Those seeking traditional Star Wars action may find this a different experience—and while there are moments of incendiary action, this is fundamentally a story about the strategic groundwork of a rebellion still in its infancy.

To be kyber clear: Mask of Fear is a slow burn. For those unprepared for such a cerebral experience, this book might feel like wading through galactic bureaucracy itself. But don’t let that deter you—the aim here isn’t to discourage readers, but to set the proper tone and expectation for a story that rewards patience and attention to detail. For those who rise to the challenge, the reward is as great as the demand. The emotional core of the story lies in its exploration of hope in the face of overwhelming odds. These are not the tales of Jedi knights or hotshot pilots, but of public servants trying to preserve democracy through bureaucratic resistance. Freed's portrayal of Mon Mothma and Bail Organa is profoundly poignant. Their efforts, noble as they are, feel hopeless in the immediate term, but Freed sows the seeds of rebellion with quiet precision.

This is vintage Freed, at the height of his craft: intricately structured, saturated with sophisticated vocabulary, and uncompromisingly dense. It requires your full attention and intellectual investment. Freed offers no reprieve; every sentence serves a purpose, and every page challenges readers with layered subtext and cascading details. The characters' emotions—fueled by their inner turmoil and unspoken thoughts—leap off the page, adding visceral depth to the political landscape.

Fans of Andor will find familiar territory here, though with deeper introspection and more deliberate pacing. Mask of Fear is an unflinching examination of institutional defiance that collides with Imperial reality. It's not a book for casual readers; it rewards those who seek substance, nuance, and a story that lingers long after the final page. A true commitment for those who embrace it, Mask of Fear is an unforgettable start to what promises to be an extraordinary trilogy.

It’s thrilling to know that a trilogy of books illuminating the years before the Rebellion when three individuals, who believe the Jedi still exist, slowly and carefully maneuver within the new Galactic Republic.

In the first book published, The Mask of Fear in the Reign of the Empire trilogy, Chancellor Palpatine has promised to bring a “Safe and secure society,” but we know differently -- come on, this is Palpatine!

Main characters Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, and Bail Organa also know -- and fear -- the Galactic Republic.
It’s creepy to be in the perspective of a justifiable paranoid, trying to work out what steps they can take without being killed.

The creepiness notwithstanding, I found the first part of the novel to be very difficult reading; the extent of details made it hard to follow what Mothma was thinking. Perhaps that won’t be true for other readers who are better versed in the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, I did not finish reading the book.

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley. This is an honest review.

All of the intrigue of Andor set in the earliest days of the empire, The Mask of Fear is for fans wanting to know how different factions and well-known leaders came together and founded the rebel alliance. As the first in the Reign of the Empire trilogy, Freed's book had its ups and downs. It has strong characterization and excellent political scheming, but the writing lacked emotional impact at a few key points in the narrative (though there are emotional scenes to be had). Despite that, Freed manages to give us a believable first-hand look at the newly-formed empire through the eyes of characters closely tied to the old Republic and the rebel alliance, and I'm excited to see what's to come.

Alexander Freed adds to the Star Wars mythology with skill, developing the story for new readers and those steeped in this world. The book works as science fiction all on its own, with an entire universe for additional connecting and enjoyment.

Cracking, ambitious entry into Star Wars canon. Utilising the classic Star Wars world building and characters to great effect this is not to be missed.

The Mask of Fear is a gripping and ambitious entry into the Star Wars canon, set in the tumultuous period between Revenge of the Sith and Andor. This first installment of the Reign of the Empire trilogy explores the fragile and dangerous early days of the Rebel Alliance through the perspectives of Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera.

Told through alternating the points of view, the story weaves a political thriller that highlights the characters' contrasting approaches to undermining the newly established Galactic Empire. Mon Mothma’s calculated diplomacy, Bail Organa’s subtle resistance, and Saw Gerrera’s more radical tactics showcase the diverse ideologies and strategies that would later shape the rebellion. Each character’s journey is distinct yet interconnected, creating a tense narrative full of intrigue, moral conflict, and action.

While the empire’s fall is still far off, The Mask of Fear effectively lays the foundation for what will become a galaxy-wide resistance. The story is not only a prelude to Andor but also a deep dive into the personal and political struggles of its key figures. Fans of the series will appreciate the novel’s careful attention to continuity, as well as its exploration of themes like sacrifice, hope, and the cost of defiance.

As the first chapter in this trilogy, the book sets a strong tone for what’s to come. With Andor returning in 2025, The Mask of Fear feels like the perfect companion piece, offering new layers of context and depth to the Rebel Alliance's origins. The next two books promise to delve even further into the evolution of the rebellion, and I, for one, can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

This is Star Wars storytelling at its finest—complex, thrilling, and steeped in the weight of its characters' decisions. A must-read for any fan eager to explore the darker, more nuanced corners of the galaxy.

This is being promoted in many ways as a tie-in for Andor, but it's also a tie-in for Clone Wars and Revenge of the Sith, and going in, I was curious how Freed was going to handle that. Star Wars is a franchise that spans genres and age levels. The tone of Clone Wars--a TV-PG-rated animated military fantasy adventure show for tweens and teens, full of Jedi hijinks and quippy, sometimes bombastic dialogue--doesn't really match the tone of Andor, a TV-14 political drama and spy thriller. I like them both for what they are, but I couldn't see how they were going to come together. Was Freed going to lean more toward one or the other, or attempt to blend them into a middle ground?

The answer is neither. Mon here is very much Mon from Andor (or at least, a younger and slightly less despairing version of Mon from Andor), concerned with the minutia of legislation and the difficulty of finding, trusting, and keeping allies in an atmosphere of increasing political paranoia. Bail is very much Bail from Revenge of the Sith and Clone Wars, fixated on the Jedi as the best and purest force in the galaxy and ready to ditch his office duties and fling himself into action at the slightest excuse.

And it works better than I could have imagined, because that difference in genre origin has been reified into a difference of political perspective. Mon is an institutionalist, a centrist, a schemer who believes Palpatine can be held in check via political means; Bail is a firebrand populist convinced that exposing The Truth of Order 66 and the murder of the Jedi (if he can just find evidence) will cause the people to revolt against Palpatine in horror. They both want Palpatine out of power, but they're both convinced the other is going about it a completely wrong-headed way, and that divide is the tension that drives the novel.

(Which is, frankly, a better source of tension than "will they succeed in defeating Palpatine in 19 BBY," because we the readers know perfectly well the answer to that is "no." But "will Bail and Mon succeed in putting aside their differences working together"? We-ell, eventually yes, we know that, but exactly when and how willingly or grudgingly is something canon has never before explored.)

I like Mon. I like Bail. I spent a significant part of this novel thinking at both of them, "I understand why you think this will help, but it will not and I wish you'd make better choices." And that to me is a sign of quality characterization: building characters I understand and empathize with even when I think they're very, very wrong.

You may note that this point that this is a novel with three protagonists, and yet I've talked about only two of them. That's because I think the Saw Gerrera sections work rather less well than the Mon and Bail ones. I will admit upfront that I find Saw tedious as a character across the franchise, so I'm not the best reviewer to judge how effectively he's used here. But I don't think it helps that we get almost no insight into Saw's thoughts; Mon and Bail are POV of their own sections, but the Saw portions of the novel are told through the POV of a new character. That character is fine as a plot device, but never really grew on me as a person despite fairly extensive attempts to build sympathy via backstory.

There are several other new-to-the-novel characters who get POVs at various points, and all of them work much better for me than the one who's our viewpoint on Saw. I hope we see more of them in the future, though it's hard to say with the way the trilogy has been split between three authors. (I also hope we get more insight into Saw, and that seems likely; perhaps Roanhorse will be more comfortable writing from his POV than Freed was.) But either way, I'm excited to see where the narrative goes. If you thought "there's nothing new to say about this period of galactic history," this novel will prove you wrong.

[I received a free copy from NetGalley for review purposes]

What an honor to read! I really really enjoyed this one. Granted, I know little about the whole world of SW, just from the movies, but this was really fantastic and I hope I can read more.

The Mask of Fear is everything I hoped for and more—an electrifying start to a new Star Wars trilogy that promises to redefine the Rebellion’s origins. Alexander Freed delivers an intricate, character-driven story that not only explores the immediate fallout of Padmé Amidala’s death but also dives deep into the fractured relationships among Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Saw Gerrera. The result is a tense, emotional journey through a galaxy on the brink of rebellion.

The novel shines in its portrayal of these iconic figures grappling with grief, distrust, and the weight of their roles in the face of the Empire’s ever-expanding tyranny. Mon and Bail are allies but not entirely aligned, while Saw’s radical approach creates a friction that feels both raw and authentic. Freed balances this character work with an equally compelling array of new faces, ensuring that the stakes never waver for a moment.

What stood out most for me is how Freed highlights the Empire’s real strength: isolating individuals, convincing them that resistance is futile. Watching these characters fight against that isolation—while still unsure of where their paths will lead—makes this novel an unmissable chapter in modern Star Wars storytelling.

I’m beyond excited for where this trilogy goes next. If The Mask of Fear is any indication, Star Wars: Reign of the Empire will be essential reading for fans old and new. Bring on book two!

An excellent addition to the Star Wars universe. Well, written, compelling, and intriguing throughout, it does an interesting job of examining the early stages of a dictatorship through the eyes of individuals intent on bringing about its downfall. I will without question be recommending this book once it is released

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.

A very fun and addictive star wars book. I wouldnt recommend starting the expanded universe with this one, but veterans of the series should find plenty to like!

This is the most interesting era of Star Wars to me: What does it take to resist and rebel amid an unjust system in a complicated world? What are the compromises and principles needed to make real change? And how do you make choices when you can't know you're making the right ones, when the end isn't yet written?

The ambiguity and naivete of Bail, Mon, and Saw (in varying combinations) is handled well and with subtlety. These characters (plus new ones created for the novel) don't know if it'll all be ok, they don't have that complete certainty, and they all wrestle with it in their own ways.

I'm in, already counting down to book #2.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Worlds for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Whether people like it or not, Star Wars has always been political, and even though some audiences fail to realize it, it’s also never been shy about the politics it represents. The Empire is not a metaphor for something else, but quite literally a conquering power that became government illegally by funding foreign wars and pretending to bring and maintain peace through choking-tight control. The Rebellion is the people who stood up to fight for democracy and freedom for all. The fact that people mix these two up seems inconceivable.

Alexander Freed comes to muddy the waters even more for those kinds of people who failed to grasp such simple concepts - and by this I mean that he did a fantastic job at exploring the complexities inherent to a scenario such as Star Wars lays out, mirroring (as Star Wars has always done) the way it’s often played out in real life and, unfortunately, not in a way that feels anachronistic.

“The Mask of Fear” is the first book of a trilogy that covers the time period between the end of Revenge of the Sith and the beginning of Andor. This book covers those first few weeks and is told mostly through the POVs of Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, a former Separatist warrior who is found by Saw Gerrera’s team, and an old Republic/Empire spy and her protégé, with a few other POVs interspersed.

It’s a heavily political book, though not entirely devoid of action. The most similar book to this one that comes to mind is Claudia Gray’s “Bloodline”, so I think that can be a good parameter to know whether you might enjoy Freed’s story or not - personally, I loved both (“Bloodline” in a more bittersweet way, as it is linked to a sequel I don’t like or agree with).

While the dust of the war settles, a disgraced Mon Mothma seeks to push a bill that will ensure the Senate retains its power and keep Palpatine in check, which means forming alliances and toeing the line within the new regime. We find Mothma in her most vulnerable place yet, only to see her be reborn from her ashes into the future leader of the Rebellion that we know.

On the other hand, Bail seeks to uncover the truth and exonerate the Jedi Order, haunted by the ghosts of the Jedi and Padmé, and moved by his duty as a new father. We also see a different Bail to the one we’re used to - idealistic to the point of naive, almost uncompromising, yet still a more charismatic leader than Mothma can be.

I really appreciated that Freed managed to do something interesting, new and nuanced with these characters without losing sight of their essence - their clashing goals and personalities, the parts of them we might not recognize immediately, are fitting for this period of time, and become the building blocks for the transformations they both will experience in the coming years.

One thing I’ll say is that, while Soujen (the ex Separatist) was an interesting character and we see Saw’s operation through his perspective, I was missing the perspective of Saw himself - we only got a short chapter towards the end from his POV. This kept him still as the rogue element, the mysterious warrior, while we got to see the motivations and struggles of the other characters intimately. I can only hope the next books will fill this gap, but I still felt a little deceived since the blurb specifically said the story would be told “through the eyes” of Organa, Mothma and Gerrera.

After being disappointed with the way most Disney-era media have dealt with the political aspects in Star Wars, particularly post Return of the Jedi, this book was a fresh breath of air: perfectly in line with the thoughtfulness of Andor, politically relevant, well-written, offering a new yet not egregiously outlandish take on familiar characters. For once I feel like my high hopes have been fully met!

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

I LOVED this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning but then boom I was hooked!! I finished it in one sitting! My first by this author but will not be my last!!

I loved the idea of a book through the eyes of characters in the Star Wars world. I added to the lore of New Hope and had that element that I had enjoyed from Star Wars as a whole. The writing was fantastic and was engaged with the story being told. Alexander Freed has a strong writing style and am excited to read the next book in Star Wars: Reign of the Empire series. This was a fantastic start and was glad I was able to read this.