Star Wars: The Force Awakens introduced Rey and blatantly went out of its way to tease a mystery behind who her parents might be. Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker were all named as potential candidates for the young Jedi's father at one time or another, but The Last Jedi established that she was the offspring of junk traders who had sold her for drinking money.
It was a reveal that fell flat, but many felt it was better than forcing a connection to a pre-existing character. However, with Lucasfilm in damage control mode heading into The Rise of Skywalker, the decision was made to have Rey be Emperor Palpatine's granddaughter. Her father was one of the villain's clones (albeit a powerless one) who escaped and had a child with a woman he fell in love with.
In an excerpt shared by USA Today from Adam Christopher's Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith, we learn that Dathan and Miramir spent years fleeing from Palpatine and his followers. This novel finds them on the run from Ochi of Bestoon, and we're definitely curious to learn more about what led to them leaving Rey on Jakku and perhaps even the Emperor's early plans for his cloned offspring.
Billy Howle and Jodie Comer played Rey's parents in The Rise of Skywalker, and Dathan and Miramir gave their lives to protect her location and keep the fledgling Jedi from her evil grandfather.
Palpatine's return is a decision still surrounded by plot holes, and fans remain optimistic that we'll learn more about that soon. The Mandalorian has hinted that Moff Gideon was key in creating Supreme Leader Snoke, a vessel used by Palpatine to wrest control over The First Order during its early rise.
Star Wars: Shadow of the Sith will be released on June 28.