Fate of the Jedi: Ascension

Ascension by Christie Golden is the eighth novel in the Fate of the Jedi series and was released on August 9, 2011. At the end of the book, it has an introduction to Apocalypse. The audio version is narrated by Marc Thompson. The paperback is set to be released sometime in 2012.

Back cover
'''How long can the Jedi remain in power? How far will the Sith go to rule supreme? What chance do both stand against Abeloth?'''

Internal flap
As Luke and Ben Skywalker pursue the formidable dark-side being Abeloth, the Lost Tribe of the Sith is about to be sundered by an even greater power&mdash;which will thrust one Dark Lord into mortal conflict with his own flesh-and-blood.

''On Coruscant, a political vacuum has left tensions at the boiling point, with factions racing to claim control of the Galactic Alliance. Suddenly surrounded by hidden agendas, treacherous conspiracies, and covert Sith agents, the Jedi Order must struggle to keep the GA government from collapsing into anarchy.''

The Jedi are committed to maintaining peace and ensuring just rule, but even they are not prepared to take on the combined threats of Sith power, a deposed dictator bent on galaxywide vengeance, and an entity of pure cunning and profound evil hungry to become a god.

Plot
In the excerpt of this novel at the end of Conviction, the Circle of Lords have a meeting to determine whether or not they should accept Abeloth's bid for alliance to destroy Luke Skywalker and the New Jedi Order. The various members of the Lords are divided, but in the end, despite his reservations over Abeloth's intentions, Grand Lord Darish Vol decides that the Lost Tribe of Sith need Abeloth for the good of their future. Vol then contacts Gavar Khai, who is returning with his fleet and Abeloth and Ship to Kesh, and tells him that they must delay Abeloth's arrival on the planet. This is in order to prepare a celebration for an ally like Abeloth, since she would be a valuable asset in defeating the Lost Tribe's enemies. After Khai informs Abeloth of this, the latter is skeptical and suspicious of Vol's motives, but accepts the conditions. The excerpt ends with Abeloth telling Khai that he and everyone in his fleet should return to Kesh to visit with family members; Khai doesn't feel that this was merely a suggestion on Abeloth's part. In another excerpt, Gavar Khai contemplates with his wife the implications of their daughter's new allegiances. Gavar proceeds to kill Tikk. In yet another preview, Ben, Vestara, and Jaina Solo discuss a list of the possible of Ship's retreat, including a number of historically Sith-associated planets. Jaina suggests that they investigate Korriban first, and proposes that Vestara accompany the Jedi on the investigation, despite Luke's misgivings over the idea of bringing an arguably trustworthy Sith to a planet so entwined with the Dark side of the Force.