Star Wars: The Mask of Fear cover art

Star Wars: The Mask of Fear

Star Wars: Reign of the Empire, Book 1

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Star Wars: The Mask of Fear

By: Alexander Freed
Narrated by: January LaVoy
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Before the Rebellion, the Empire reigned. The first book in a new trilogy.

"In order to ensure the security and continuing stability, the Republic will be reorganized into the first Galactic Empire! For a safe and secure society!"

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 to 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.

©2025 Alexander Freed (P)2025 Penguin Audio Action & Adventure Adventure Fantasy Genre Fiction Movie, TV & Video Game Tie-Ins Science Fiction Space Opera Star Wars Interstellar

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I get that this might not be to some peoples taste like the reviewer below who called it boring. If you’re only used to reading Star Wars books in their beautiful pulpy glory, you might struggle with a novel as nuanced and patiently paced as this.
For me, getting inside the politics of the early days of the Empire and the various factions vying for the support of imperial citizens was something I’d wanted for a while and it did not dissapoint. The crowning glory of Freed’s book though was how he got inside the mind of Mon Mothma in her journey from liberal reformer to revolutionary fire brand and her emotional trauma in imperial detention. Chapter 17 was next level writing for a Star Wars book. Wonderfully narrated too. Good to hear a fresh voice on a Star Wars audiobook.

Brilliant writing. A gripping political thriller.

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Quite enjoyable, and covers many different perspectives across all sides of the Clone Wars.

The narrator was fine, but I can’t help but feel like a British narrator would have fit better.

I also didn’t like how the new governor who was introduced to Mon Mothma was basically a Texan, it was a bit on the nose.

A nice insight into a lesser seen part of the Star Wars Universe

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A really brilliant and exciting addition to Star Wars world building. Excellent story with LOTS of resonances with today’s world. Look forward to next chapter.

Fantastic Story. Lots of resonance with today’s world. History rhymes

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A great story that want more meat on their Star Wars Stories. This is not for your basic lightsaber fighting SW fan. It is for us that see the raise of Evil within politics and how people find themseles in a fight for what is right.

A more adult Star Wars Story

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I'm in two minds about this story.

On the one hand, it is interesting to establish links between Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera and Bail Organa, and the story offers an exploration of that slow decline of republic values and the steady rise of the brutal imperial methods. There is some emphasis on the casualness by which the empire dispenses cruelty, as well as the efficiency and power of it's information network, and both things are relevant to stories in later eras.

On the other hand, this book is a bit of a tangled mess of politics and minor action that leaves me unsure as to what it was actually ABOUT. It suffers from too many characters with too many individual stories and it's difficult to pick out a defining moment and say this was the main plot point, or here was the climax at the end. In a way it does a bit of an LOTR thing whereby the story is over then it goes on for another hour and just kind of fizzles into 'this is our lives now'. While there is tension, there is very little action, and if you like the swashbuckling adventures that usually come with Star Wars this is not that.

But it's not a bad book, and it's not a bad performance - it's just not great either. Midrange. If you have nothing else to spend a credit on, it's an ok listen.

The most mid Star Wars story

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If, like me, you've recently finished out the second season of Andor and are desperately wanting more work with a similar tone and sensibility then this novel is definitely worth a look. I don't know that it's as gripping and motionally devastating as Andor but it's no less important and intelligent in the ideas it's presenting and it provides an extra snap shot into what a lot of the major players were up to prior to the events of Andor.

If you're looking for a swashbuckling adventure or something with a bit more of a definitive narrative through line then you're likely to be disappointed because this is not that. What it is though is a smartly constructed insight into the creeping rise of fascism and authoritarianism and the individuals who attempt, often in futility, to work within and without the system to mitigate and oppose it.

A great companion piece to Andor

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This was a fantastic look into the early days of the empire and goes deep into the politics of the early days, but don't think that makes it boring, it is gripping and very hard to put down.

brilliant political story

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I love when media look more into the politics of SW. yes a very dry subject but very important in the grand scheme of it. a great book exploring and building the universe

Great look into the politics of SW

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Good book, very reflective of our times and a good deconstruction of the drivers of both fascism and personal rebellion against it. Did suffer from periods of drag, and the large cast did make it hard to follow at times. Felt that the voice actress, whilst very good, did suffer slightly from a limited range of male voices so the distinction became challenging to follow.

Strongly appreciate that Star Wars has finally woken up to an audience that wants adult and overtly political work. Thank you Andor!

Good deconstruction of authoritarianism and the various ways in which people are motivated/choose to oppose it.

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January LaVoy gives a stellar performance narrating this, as always. The story itself was good but not the best Star Wars novel I've read / listened to. It's certainly worth a listen though

Great performance, decent story

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