Lords of the Sith

"First, as is apparent from that spectacular cover, the book features Vader and Palpatine. It also features a character who I'm not allowed to name just yet, but who appeared in The Clone Wars animated series. In terms of where it fits in the timeline, Lords of the Sith is set after the Revenge of the Sith film and before the forthcoming Rebels television show."

- Paul S. Kemp

Lords of the Sith is a novel written by Paul S. Kemp. It was released on April 28, 2015 and takes place in the time frame between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Tarkin.

Publisher's summary
'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . .' When the Emperor and his notorious apprentice, Darth Vader, find themselves stranded in the middle of insurgent action on an inhospitable planet, they must rely on each other, the Force, and their own ruthlessness to prevail. "It appears things are as you suspected, Lord Vader. We are indeed hunted." Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Knight, is just a memory. Darth Vader, newly anointed Sith Lord, is ascendant. The Emperor's chosen apprentice has swiftly proven his loyalty to the dark side. Still, the history of the Sith Order is one of duplicity, betrayal, and acolytes violently usurping their Masters&mdash;and the truest measure of Vader's allegiance has yet to be taken. Until now. On Ryloth, a planet crucial to the growing Empire as a source of slave labor and the narcotic known as "spice," an aggressive resistance movement has arisen, led by Cham Syndulla, an idealistic freedom fighter, and Isval, a vengeful former slave. But Emperor Palpatine means to control the embattled world and its precious resources&mdash;by political power or firepower&mdash;and he will be neither intimidated nor denied. Accompanied by his merciless disciple, Darth Vader, he sets out on a rare personal mission to ensure his will is done. For Syndulla and Isval, it's the opportunity to strike at the very heart of the ruthless dictatorship sweeping the galaxy. And for the Emperor and Darth Vader, Ryloth becomes more than just a matter of putting down an insurrection: When an ambush sends them crashing to the planet's surface, where inhospitable terrain and an army of resistance fighters await them, they will find their relationship tested as never before. With only their lightsabers, the dark side of the Force, and each other to depend on, the two Sith must decide if the brutal bond they share will make them victorious allies or lethal adversaries.

Development
The novel was announced on April 25, 2014. It was composed with input from the Lucasfilm Story Group, making it part of the new canon. The novel takes place between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Tarkin. It also features Cham Syndulla, a character from the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series.

As of May 14, 2014, Kemp finished writing the first draft of the novel's Act One. On June 23, Del Rey announced that the book's release date had been moved from March 3 to April 21. On October 24, it was announced that the novel would be released on April 28.