New York Times bestselling author Michael A. Stackpole continues The New Jedi Order epic with DARK TIDE II: RUIN, a thrilling Star Wars adventure in which the Jedi Knights must fight their most treacherous battle—against an unrelenting evil intent on devouring the galaxy…
The alien Yuuzhan Vong have launched an attack on the worlds of the Outer Rim. They are merciless, without regard for life—and they stand utterly outside the Force. Their ever-changing tactics stump the New Republic military. Even the Jedi, once the greatest guardians of peace in the galaxy, are rendered helpless by this impervious foe—and their solidarity has begun to unravel.
While Luke struggles to keep the Jedi together, Knights Jacen Solo and Corran Horn set off on a reconnaissance mission to the planet Garqi, an occupied world. There, at last, they uncover a secret that might be used to undermine the enemy—if only they can stay alive long enough to use it!
Luke Skywalker and Anakin Solo set off on a quest to find a rogue Jedi named Daeshara'cor, who was infatuated with Miko Reglia, a Jedi killed early in the Yuuzhan Vong War at the Battle of Helska IV. Daeshara'cor plans on destroying the Vong out of vengeance, which would lead to the dark side of the Force, by collecting plans for a new space station with enough power capable of destroying the entire Yuuzhan Vong, similar to that of the two Death Stars, the Sun Crusher or the Eye of Palpatine. Meanwhile, Senator Elegos A'Kla plans to make peace with the Vong by letting himself be captured and meet with Shedao Shai, the current leader of the Vong.
After the Battle of Dantooine, the New Republic fights on against the Vong. Jacen Solo, Corran Horn, and Ganner Rhysode, along with a few Noghri commandos, travel to Garqi in order to destroy another Vong base. When a fight ensues between the strike team and the Vong, led by Krag Val and their slaves residing at Garqi, the Vong's vonduun crab armor closes in on them and shuts off their air supply because of a certain spore which the crab armor is allergic to. Corran orders the spores destroyed so the Vong won't know what can breach their armor. However, the Vong discover it otherwise and plan to destroy the main source of the spores at the peaceful planet of Ithor.
Before the Vong invasion begins at Ithor, Shedao Shai realizes through Senator A'Kla and an underling named Runck Das that A'Kla is friends with Corran Horn, the Jedi who killed Shai's kinsmen on Bimmiel. So Shai then kills Elegos by strangling him to death and gives the senator's body parts, coupled with Vong jewels, to Corran in vengeance. When Corran receives the package, he vows vengeance on Shai and plans to kill him. Meanwhile, it is revealed that Deign Lian, Shai's lieutenant, has ulterior motives in the war as he actually works for Warmaster Tsavong Lah of the Yuuzhan Vong and they plan on Shai's death.
Just before the Battle of Ithor, the Jedi and X-wing squadrons, including the Imperial Remnant now lead by Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, plan on a defense against the Vong. The Chiss Expansionary Defense Force joins the New Republic in the war at Ithor, and Jaina Solo meets their leader, Colonel Jagged Fel. Senators from the Republic, including Chief of State Borsk Fey'lya, come to oversee the battle, along with Leia Organa Solo. Daeshara'cor, now brought back from her vengeance journey against the Vong thanks to Luke Skywalker and Anakin Solo, decides to join the battle.
When the Battle of Ithor finally occurs, many warriors on the New Republic's side and on the Vong's are killed, including Daeshara'cor, who is mortally wounded by saving Anakin from Vong warriors, and Anni Capstan, a close personal friend and fellow fighter pilot of Jaina's. During the battle, Corran Horn meets up with Shedao Shai via a villip choir and they make a deal: in the next week, the New Republic and the Yuuzhan Vong will temporarily call off the war and then Corran and Shai will duel on Ithor over who gets the planet. The truce is settled immediately, and Anakin listens to Daeshara'cor in a medical unit that it was not his fault that she nor Chewbacca had died. Daeshara'cor then passes away into the Force.
When the fight between Corran and Shai arrives, Luke and Deign Lian are witness to the fight. In the end, Corran kills Shai by impaling his lightsaber in him and the two Jedi tell Lian to have the Vong leave. However, Lian, who has taken Shai's place as leader of the Vong army, orders the entire planet of Ithor to be poisoned to death. When the New Republic realizes this, they destroy Lian and all the Vong on the worldship known as the Legacy of Torment, but not without a price. After Ithor is destroyed, the Jedi are blamed by the New Republic senate for Ithor's destruction, especially Corran Horn, who is deemed the "killer of Ithor" because of his acts in destroying the planet. Due to the public backlash, Corran exiles himself to his home planet of Corellia.
- ISBN 9780345428561; June 6, 2000; Del Rey; US paperback
- ISBN 9780345467423; June 3, 2003; Del Rey; US eBook
- ISBN 9780345479327; September 7, 2004; Del Rey; US paperback, re-release
- "Around the Galaxy" — Star Wars Galaxy Collector 8
- "Bookshelf" — Star Wars Insider 48
- The Essential Reader's Companion