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Reign of the Empire #2
Star Wars: Edge of the Abyss (Reign of the Empire)
Not yet published
Expected 15 Sep 26Set in the year before the first season of Andor, the sequel to The Mask of Fear.
The second installment in the Reign of the Empire series follows Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera (along with their allies and enemies) thirteen years after the events of The Mask of Fear as they navigate the Empire's nigh-unbreakable chokehold over the galaxy.
The second installment in the Reign of the Empire series follows Bail Organa, Mon Mothma, and Saw Gerrera (along with their allies and enemies) thirteen years after the events of The Mask of Fear as they navigate the Empire's nigh-unbreakable chokehold over the galaxy.
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 15, 2026
About the author
Rebecca Roanhorse
58 books10.6k followersRebecca Roanhorse is a New York Times bestselling and Nebula, Hugo, and Locus Award-winning speculative fiction writer. She has published multiple award-winning short stories and novels, including two novels in The Sixth World Series, Star Wars: Resistance Reborn, Race to the Sun for the Rick Riordan imprint, and the epic fantasy trilogy Between Earth and Sky. She has also written for Marvel Comics and games and for television, including FX’s A Murder at the End of the World, and the Marvel series Echo for Disney+. She has had her own work optioned by Amazon Studios, Netflix, and AMC Studios.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 1, 2026
The Empire’s rule has spread during its decade long dominance of the galaxy and its long hand crushes all defiance and stomps any signs of insurrection. Senators Mon Mothma and Bail Organa have changed their tactics but still fight the Emperor in their own way. Meanwhile, Saw Gerrera devises a plan to set a comrade free after falling in the hands of the enemy. On the planet Ghorman, the Student Action Alliance (SAA) raises its voice against the Empire’s attacks on planets sovereignty and constant meddling. Not to be caught off-guard, the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) sends an agent to the capital city of Palmo to infiltrate the group and report any signs of escalation.
In early 2025 Star Wars released The Mask of Fear, the first in a trilogy of books under the Reign of the Empire collection. Now, a year and a half after Alexander Freed’s masterpiece, Rebecca Roanhorse delivered another classic with Edge of the Abyss, the middle chapter in the series that depicts the Empire’s ascend and those who put their lives on the line to stop them. Edge of the Abyss picks up thirteen years after the events of the first book, and one year before season one of the Andor TV series.
Senator Bail Organa had shifted his strategy for combating Emperor Palpatine. No longer a permanent fixture on the Senate, Bail preferred to work behind the scenes as he was no longer focused on preserving the Jedi’s legacy and instead ran his own spy network which sometimes led him to have to cross paths with Saw Gerrera, although they had diverting views on how to deal with similar situations. For his part, Saw and his partisans were on the run after a busted attack on Inusagi led to the capture of Nankry, returning from The Mask of Fear. Mon Mothma still believed that change could be achieved without violence and that using her position as senator was the best way forward. Mom to soon-to-be teenager Leida, Senator Mothma faced constant battles at work and at home with her daughter and husband, Perrin Fertha.
Author Rebecca Roanhorse captures the voice of these classic characters and is able to write a story that feels natural for where they would be at this time period while simultaneously setting them up for when we meet them again in Andor. Edge of the Abyss excels in giving readers a captivating story where you feel connected to characters on both sides of the conflict. You feel Chemish struggles as she spends time with the people of Palmo, but I also wanted her to complete her mission. Kara and Nankry’s intertwined history provides for some difficult choices. It gives readers a spy and political story that can be enjoyed by fans who might not necessarily seek out those types of books. Chapters are just long enough to convey what the author and the story require while not overburdening the reader. Same as The Mask of Fear, fans of the political side of Star Wars will quickly fall under the spell of the book and devour it as quickly as possible. It’s a story that feels natural in the Star Wars galaxy while exhibiting parallels to past and current real world situations and human issues.
Same as Catalyst (by James Luceno) enriches Rogue One, I believe Edge of the Abyss will enrich the experience of watching Andor. We get to experience how the political movement on Ghorman changes as the Empire moves in and squashes signs of rebellion, and how they use propaganda to accomplish this. Rebecca Roanhorse delivered a powerful book with a statement on how oppressive governments use all the tools in their toolbox to keep the pressure on those they deem lesser than them. News feeds used to discredit, security forces planted inside protests, expulsion of foreign students, etc.
But there are those who will fight to the end, with all the tools they have, even if it means giving up their lives.
In early 2025 Star Wars released The Mask of Fear, the first in a trilogy of books under the Reign of the Empire collection. Now, a year and a half after Alexander Freed’s masterpiece, Rebecca Roanhorse delivered another classic with Edge of the Abyss, the middle chapter in the series that depicts the Empire’s ascend and those who put their lives on the line to stop them. Edge of the Abyss picks up thirteen years after the events of the first book, and one year before season one of the Andor TV series.
Senator Bail Organa had shifted his strategy for combating Emperor Palpatine. No longer a permanent fixture on the Senate, Bail preferred to work behind the scenes as he was no longer focused on preserving the Jedi’s legacy and instead ran his own spy network which sometimes led him to have to cross paths with Saw Gerrera, although they had diverting views on how to deal with similar situations. For his part, Saw and his partisans were on the run after a busted attack on Inusagi led to the capture of Nankry, returning from The Mask of Fear. Mon Mothma still believed that change could be achieved without violence and that using her position as senator was the best way forward. Mom to soon-to-be teenager Leida, Senator Mothma faced constant battles at work and at home with her daughter and husband, Perrin Fertha.
Author Rebecca Roanhorse captures the voice of these classic characters and is able to write a story that feels natural for where they would be at this time period while simultaneously setting them up for when we meet them again in Andor. Edge of the Abyss excels in giving readers a captivating story where you feel connected to characters on both sides of the conflict. You feel Chemish struggles as she spends time with the people of Palmo, but I also wanted her to complete her mission. Kara and Nankry’s intertwined history provides for some difficult choices. It gives readers a spy and political story that can be enjoyed by fans who might not necessarily seek out those types of books. Chapters are just long enough to convey what the author and the story require while not overburdening the reader. Same as The Mask of Fear, fans of the political side of Star Wars will quickly fall under the spell of the book and devour it as quickly as possible. It’s a story that feels natural in the Star Wars galaxy while exhibiting parallels to past and current real world situations and human issues.
Same as Catalyst (by James Luceno) enriches Rogue One, I believe Edge of the Abyss will enrich the experience of watching Andor. We get to experience how the political movement on Ghorman changes as the Empire moves in and squashes signs of rebellion, and how they use propaganda to accomplish this. Rebecca Roanhorse delivered a powerful book with a statement on how oppressive governments use all the tools in their toolbox to keep the pressure on those they deem lesser than them. News feeds used to discredit, security forces planted inside protests, expulsion of foreign students, etc.
But there are those who will fight to the end, with all the tools they have, even if it means giving up their lives.
September 12, 2026
It could have been great.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Edge of the Abyss is another incredible addition to the Reign of the Empire trilogy. The characters and plot points are wonderfully done; being so close to Andor pays off for the book and the characters, allowing them to interact with more of the Empire and starting the rebellion.
There is a lot to like within how the Empire is expanding deep into its reign and also where its cracks are starting to show; Edge of the Abyss tows this line beautifully, keeping hope alive even in the darkest moments of the book.
[It should be noted that the publisher provided a copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it. All of our reviews are written honestly and independently regardless of whether a copy of the book is provided by the publisher or purchased by the reviewer]
Read an extended version of the review here: https://thecosmiccircus.com/edge-of-t...
There is a lot to like within how the Empire is expanding deep into its reign and also where its cracks are starting to show; Edge of the Abyss tows this line beautifully, keeping hope alive even in the darkest moments of the book.
[It should be noted that the publisher provided a copy of this book for the purpose of reviewing it. All of our reviews are written honestly and independently regardless of whether a copy of the book is provided by the publisher or purchased by the reviewer]
Read an extended version of the review here: https://thecosmiccircus.com/edge-of-t...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews