In Star Wars: Legacy, an upcoming novel by author Madeleine Roux, we get a look at Leia and Rey’s journey between the events of The Last Jedi and The Rise of Skywalker. Speaking to Polygon, the author sets the scene for her story, which sees the bond form between the Resistance leader and the former scavenger as Rey goes on a journey to rebuild her lightsaber and claim her destiny as a Jedi — a journey that will take her and Leia to the sacred Jedi world of Tython.
Known for her gothic and paranormal works, as well as sci-fi, Roux talks about the importance of both Leis and Rey to her personally, and why they resonated with her when writing this part of their journey.
“If Leia is a special character for you, if Rey is a special character for you, then this book was written for you. Maybe the greatest pitch I can give for this novel is that both of these women are important to me — Leia since I was a child, and Rey since she sparked a lightsaber to life in The Force Awakens. It’s not often that you get to experience a story like this, one that stands as a bridge between films and as a deep interrogation of (and retrospective on) a beautiful and complex relationship.”
Tython Concept Art from The Mandalorian
In the excerpt, Rey has journeyed to Tython. Fans will best know Tython as the setting for The Mandalorian episode “The Tragedy” where Grogu called out to the Force from a sacred monolith before being captured by Moff Gideon. In the Legends continuity, Tython was a very significant world, being the origin point of the Jedi Order itself. It’s clear from this excerpt that this world continues to be a significant place to the ancient Jedi. On the planet, Rey and Leia (and C-3PO who is as out of place as ever on this quest!) are joined by a new character named Gavrin, who is associated with the Church of the Force. Lor San Tekka, the ally of the Resistance who help the last piece of the map to Ahch-To, belonged to this group.
In a snippet from the excerpt, Rey seems to have survived an ordeal in an ancient Jedi Temple where she nearly drowned and was confronted by visions of the Force before being saved by Leia, we see the bond between the two of the grow:
Rey stopped at the far end of the area, where it trailed off into nothingness. There had to be a way across. Why else was there a riddle just there and a door on the other side? It was a test of some kind. From what she’d been able to piece together from the texts and Master Luke’s journals, the Jedi loved their tests. She pulled off her own cowl and started to squeeze out the extra moisture, annoyed at how heavy and droopy it had become. Leia came to join her, placing a hand on the center of her back. Her arms twitched, then raised and opened, and Rey accepted the embrace, hugging her.
“I’m glad you’re alive,” Leia said softly. She touched Rey’s hair in a few places, as if checking for injuries. Her own mother used to do that, after Rey would slump into their shelter, covered in rough and tumble bruises, giving her daughter a once-over before having her turn around so she could comb the sand out of her hair.
Relief trembled through her.
“Thanks for coming in after me, even if it…” Rey let go of Leia, then turned and took out her frustration on the wet cowl drooping from her grasp, twisting it. The water droplets gathered at the edge of the platform but also slapped quietly against the darkness.
We see Rey use her keen instincts to navigate what seems like an impossible path through the temple.
“How clever,” C-3PO said. He kept a safe distance from the edge but more or less joined the group. “The ancient Jedi were masters of architecture, but I have never seen such a device.”
Rey pulled her scavenging goggles out of her hip bag and switched on the small glow rod on the top corner. She shined it back and forth, showing the way forward. It was a bridge, sparkling in the new, bright glow, perhaps wide enough for two humans to pass side by side.
“Cleaning this place must have been a nightmare,” Gav muttered. “Imagine sweeping that.” He audibly shuddered. Rey put one foot on the transparisteel, testing it. It vibrated softly under her feet.
She took a few more steps forward, always zipping the light back and forth to illuminate the bridge. When she took a deep breath and jumped, the others gasped in unison. C-3PO cried out, but Rey landed without incident. It felt sturdy. Solid.
Whatever test they have passed, it’s clear that there’s more to come as they are confronted by an ancient Jedi Master with an ominous message:
“We’ll be safe,” Rey said. The door lifted gradually, and once it locked into place, it seemed to trigger another mechanism, a light above them blasting on and brightening the path back across the chasm. A twin aperture to the lights blinked before playing a blue holorecording of the Jedi Master they had seen before. He seemed less urgent in this one, calm and at ease, noticeably younger.
“Through careful reflection or sheer determination, you have survived the Chamber of Quenching,” he said. “I tell my students of a gold-smith of renown, one who uses their tools and furnace with immense skill; they do not allow the flames to grow too hot, nor do they tamper overmuch lest the gold never refine. This smith knows the nature of the metal, applies heat and cold at suitable times. So, too, must a Jedi know when to turn their focus, determination, and restraint inward. Prepare yourself — the Way of the Reforged is arduous, and your journey has just begun. Beyond lies the Simulacris.”
“’Way of the Reforged,’” C-3PO repeated. “Why does that sound like some manner of trial?”
You can read the full excerpt on Polygon and read the full novel for yourself when Star Wars: Legacy releases on July 28, 2026.
A teacher from Wales in the UK, Aled has loved Star Wars ever since that Star Destroyer flew over his head and blew his mind.