⭐️: 3 / 5

Publication Date: February 25, 2025

I want to thank Del Rey and Net Galley for allowing me to get an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

The first chapter did a great job of throwing you into the thick of things, which one of the more recognizable characters from the prequel time period, Bail Organa.

Some of the coolest aspects of this story, were the moments where stuff was actually happening. Bombs going off, dodging blaster shots, etc. It was fun getting to read stories about characters both already familiar to us and new ones in this same setting. I’m going to be honest, some of the most interesting characters were ones that had never been introduced before.

As for my issues with the book, really just boils down to personal taste. I personally don’t find political intrigue to be all that interesting which is more of a me problem, but is also why I didn’t give this book as high of a rating as I typically have for other Star Wars books.

Overall I doubt that I’ll continue this series. While I thought this was an interesting story, it didn’t capture my attention enough to consider continuing on with the rest of the series. I would still recommend this for other Star Wars fans, because while it didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean that it won’t be the perfect read for someone else.

Would recommend for those who are fans of
- Prequel Trilogy Star Wars
- Political Intrigue
- Character driven stories

⚠️ violence, PTSD

Characters: 7
Atmosphere/setting: 10
Writing style: 7
Plot: 4
Intrigue: 2
Logic: 5
Relationships: 6
Entertainment: 6
Total: 2.93

Received as an ARC from Netgalley:

This was a surprisingly in-depth Star Wars book that explores the decline of democracy as the Empire takes over the Republic.

It explores the many ways we can attempt to combat fascism in our every day lives. From positions of power within the system, to the attempt to uncover the truth, and finally through violent means. It highlights how many of these are ineffective alone, you can reform a corrupt from the inside, the truth means little in affairs of public opinions, and without support violent resistance can only go so far.

The combination of all three end up being the core of the rebellion that topples the Empire.

Really layered character work with tons of political meandering that really hit hard in 2025. Mon Mothma has somehow become one of Star Wars most interesting characters, with a ton of depth. If you are fans of Andor this is a must read, and it made me excited to dive into season 2.

It is fascinating to see this perspective in the immediate aftermath of Revenge of the Sith. Seeing what really happened during this time for these characters during the shift from the Republic to the Empire. Here we focus on Bail, Mon, and Saw, with some other new POV characters jumping in. The Mask of Fear is a beautiful Star Wars political thriller.

Bail is one of my favorite characters, and getting to see just how everything that he saw at the end of Revenge of the Sith changes him. Andor has really let Mon Mothma step into the spotlight, and it was really fascinating to get into her brain. Saw Gerrera is such a fascinating character, and I LOVE it when he shows up. Freed wrote the Rogue One Novelization, it's one of my favorite novelizations, so I knew he was going to do Saw justice, and he delivered.

I am a lifelong fan of Star Wars and love this era. I love the recurring characters that get focused on in the book. I also enjoy the political aspects that the Andor show was able to get into. It is VERY political and just like Andor, sometimes hits a little too close to home. I personally enjoyed all of this, and if you think all of those things also apply to you, I highly recommend this book.

Great background info on Mothma and Saw for the popular Disney show Andor, which is airing it's last season this year. Must read for any fan of the show.

I think the best thing that Andor has opened for me is an interest in the more real world allegorical elements of Star Wars. The Mask of Fear is a great novel set within this universe that explores more into the politics of the world. Andor has real world allegories; to the increasing rise of fascism in Western culture, the prison-industrial complex, and much more. While this book might not hit the prestige of Andor, it's a continuation of the exploration of the political machinations of the Empire. I can't wait to read more.

The Mask of Fear is the perfect political drama highlighting the time period directly after Revenge of the Sith. I always wondered how that transition went right after Order 66 and Alexander Freed answered that and more. Mon, Saw, and Bail all fight against the Empire in their own ways and I loved seeing each character's perspective on Palpatine and the rise of the Galactic Empire. This might honestly be my favorite Star Wars book so far, 5/5 stars!

There's some good action in this book following on the heels of the movie "Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" even though two thirds of the three main players are politicians. And their political maneuvering in the aftermath of a war, that has seemingly ended, is also quite interesting since almost everyone knows the penultimate outcomes as seen in Episodes 4-6.

The Mask of Fear is definitely one of the best Star Wars books I've ever read. The story picks up about a month after the events of Revenge of the Sith, and we follow Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera who are each finding their own paths to fight back against the Empire. The start of the rebellion is messy and full of mistakes, with each party finding their place, whether that's working inside the government or fighting loudly outside. This book also introduces us to a few new characters that play key roles in the paths Bail, Mon, and Saw head down. It shows that fighting for what's right is not always easy and often comes with immense sacrifice. But that's what makes it all worth it in the end.

While Star Wars is fiction, the acts of the Empire in this story reflect what's happening in our real lives every day. This book is the perfect for anyone that's excited for Andor season 2, and is also a great companion for The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire.

Thank you Random House Worlds for the ARC!

Star Wars: The Mask of Fear (Reign of the Empire) is the start of a new series that is immediately post Empire creation and focuses mostly on Mon Mothma, Bail Organa and Saw Guerrera. Or at least it should focus more on them but instead we get more side characters that I dont really care about and dont know their purpose yet. The first half of the book dragged a lot for me as the entire story was setup but the second half went much faster and I was very interested in seeing what happened next. I do recommend reading it and getting to the last parts to see the formation of what the future may be. I found the interactions with Mothma and Organa interesting and unexpected.

I did think this was interesting and definitely added to some lore in a cool way, my only beef is I found this quite boring at times.

Well done and much desired story about the beginnings of the rebellion. Freed is one of my favorite Star Wars authors, and this book may be my favorite of his. I went into the book worried that it was going to be overwhelmingly political, and while the politics definitely play a major role, there is also plenty of action and tension in the balance.

The Mask of Fear is an incredible examination into the world of the Empire after Episode 3. With high stakes, suspense and complex emotions, this novel feels like the perfect appetizer for Andor Season 2.

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC copy to review!

This is an interesting Star Wars story! It takes place in between Episodes 3 and 4 after the Jedi fall. It provided unique perspectives of Mon Mothma and Bail Organa. This is the beginning of the rebellion!

This book is very political, especially with everything going on in our country right now. I think that is part of the reason I couldn’t give it 5 stars - it triggered me just a bit! Even though I am a die-hard Darth Vader and Empire fan, it just hits a little to close to home!

I did enjoy learning more about Saw Gerrera - we didn’t really find out too much about him in the films, so I enjoyed seeing more of him and how he functions. I also enjoyed learning about the other side characters, but would have liked more about Chemish. Hopefully we will learn more about them in the next books!

I feel like the pacing was pretty slow, and I struggled a bit in these spots. As I said before, very political and slow paced, but I enjoyed it and look forward to the next book!

Alexander Freed has fully cemented himself as one of the great Star Wars authors! I knew I’d love this from the time period and main characters alone, but was absolutely blown away by the plot execution and build up. Mask of Fear is so poignant in this political climate, and will draw in readers who are fans of the original movies, the prequels, and live action shows (especially Obi-Wan Kenobi and Andor).

I DNFed this book at 21%.

I’m a huge Star Wars fan — whether it’s the movies, TV shows, or books — so I was really looking forward to this one. Sadly, I just couldn’t get into the writing style and ended up feeling disconnected from the story.

If you enjoy flowery writing and lots of political twists and turns, this might be your thing. But unfortunately it was not for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I finished reading The Mask of Fear by Alexander Freed! This was definitely a political thriller type book and that vibe worked perfectly here.
While we already know all three of these characters will go on to form the Rebel Alliance, seeing some of their earlier roots really makes for a compelling story. We honestly need more books like this in the Star Wars Universe. Thanks again to @delreybooks for sending me this review copy!

Excellent political thriller leading up to the Andor series (one of my favorites). Was interesting to learn more about the beginning of the Galactic Empire and how it affected senators and imperial intelligence alike. Looking forward to the next book in this trilogy!

Normally I love all Star Wars books, though at admit I feel overwhelmed with the amount of content that Disney is pushing out of late and the ways it does in so many directions. That aside, I have read Star Wars novels since my earliest teen years and thought I would try again. This one centers around the period following the execution of Order 66 and the destruction of the Jedi as the Empire firmly takes hold. It focuses on well known side characters such as Saw Gerrera, Mon Mothma, and Bail Organa. Mon Mothma is focused on trying to politically navigate the Empires layers as it cracks down on anyone who is seen as a threat, while Bail, regardless of the consequences, speaks out on behalf of the disgraced and villainized Jedi order, trying to shine a light on the massacre of the order. To be blunt, there’s so much TALKING. It’s a great deal of political arguing and people unwilling to listen to others and it got very difficult to read and maintain focus on rather quickly. Not high on my list of sci fi novels Ive read.

Enjoyed seeing the political side of Star Wars, not just the action. In the same vien as Andor. Didn't realize it was the start of a trilogy, so excited for that!

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.