The turning point for the entire Star Wars saga is at hand.

After years of civil war, the Separatists have battered the already faltering republic nearly to the point of collapse. On Coruscant, the Senate watches anxiously as Supreme Chancellor Palatine aggressively pieces away more and more constitutional liberties in the name of safeguarding the Republic. Yoda, Mace Windu, and their fellow Experts grapple with the Chancellor’s troubling move to assume control of Jedi Council. And Anakin about Star Wars: Show III: Revenge from the Sith Skywalker, the prophesied Chosen One destined to create balance towards the Force, is increasingly consumed by his fear that his key like, Senator Padme Amidala, will expire.

As the fight escalates over the galaxy, the stage is set for an explosive endgame: Obi-Wan undertakes a perilous objective to destroy the dreaded Separatist army innovator, General Grievous; Palpatine, wanting to secure sustained control, subtly affects public opinion against the Jedi; and a conflicted Anakin–tormented by unspeakable visions–edges dangerously closer to the bring of the galaxy-shaping decision. It remains only for Darth Sidious, whose shadow looms ever bigger, to strike the final staggering blow against the Republic…also to ordain a fearsome new Sith Lord: Darth Vader.

Based on the screenplay from the eagerly expected final film in George Lucas’s epic saga, bestselling Star Wars article author Matthew Stover’s novel crackles with actions, catches the iconic character in every their complexity, and provides a space opera masterpiece back to where it started in stunning style.