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Ascension is the eighth of nine planned books in the Fate of the Jedi series. The events of the series take place 44 years after the Battle of Yavin. Luke and Ben Skywalker are chasing Abeloth with the Sith apprentice Vestara. On Coruscant the Jedi are planning to separate from the Republic, so as not to face the influence and pressure that has led to several of the order’s recent problems.

Meanwhile the Sith have invited Abeloth to their haven world. They plan to use her to their advantage, but they have underestimated her power. She will use them to further her plans, in the center of the Alliance.

Jaina Solo and Jagged Fel are getting closer to a final union. They struggle with divided loyalties--her’s to the Jedi Order and his to the Galactic Empire.

This is a pretty standard Star Wars novel. It isn’t an entry point because after tens of novels, new readers will struggle to follow the new characters that have been developed. I recommend it for the diehard fans who have been following the Expanded Universe.

In previous reviews I have noted that the events of these novels are key to creating the situation that Cade Skywalker faces in the Legacy series of Darkhorse graphic novels. Readers of that series will see nuggets here and there that are part of the Legacy Universe set over 130 years after the Battle of Yavin.

Troy Denning will pen the final entrant in this story arc slated for April 2012. I look forward to the final entrant, but will also be sad to see the end of the arc. Then again the end of one series often heralds the beginning of a new one, that I and many others with enjoy.