Conviction: Fate of the Jedi by Aaron Allston marks the seventh installment in the Fate of the Jedi series, hitting shelves on May 24, 2011. A preview of Fate of the Jedi: Ascension can be found at the book's conclusion. Marc Thompson lends his voice to the audiobook rendition. The paperback edition became available on August 28, 2012.
Natasi Daala's reign as Chief of State has ended with her ouster, and the Jedi Order now governs the Galactic Alliance. While the new leadership dismantles Daala's harsh policies, loyalists to the former leader are organizing a retaliatory strike. Even the Jedi's newfound power may not be enough to save Tahiri Veila, the former Jedi Knight and one-time Sith apprentice, who was convicted of treason for the death of Galactic Alliance officer Gilad Pellaeon.
Simultaneously, Luke and Ben Skywalker are in relentless pursuit of Abeloth, a formidable dark-side entity determined to control the galaxy. As they close in on their monstrous target on Nam Chorios, the father-son duo must contend with an approaching Sith death squadron. Abeloth's cunning ambush turns the tables, transforming the Skywalkers' mission into a potentially fatal endeavor.
Following directly after the events of the previous novel, Valin and Jysella Horn are released from their carbonite encasement. Those in attendance are under the impression that the Horns have been healed from the Force psychosis that affected them before their deep freeze. However, despite the fact that every other victim of the affliction was cured when Abeloth was forced into hiding, Valin and Jysella remain infected. Still convinced that everyone else in the galaxy has been replaced by impostors, Valin and Jysella feign normalcy. Cilghal and Tekli, however, remain doubtful about the siblings' true condition.
On Pydyr, the battle between the Jedi and Sith forces concludes, with both sides retreating after the Skywalkers, Vestara Khai, Abeloth, and Ship depart the system. The Skywalkers and Vestara subsequently track Abeloth and Ship to the planet Nam Chorios, where Abeloth intends to seize control of the Theran Listeners and the tsils. Luke quickly seeks out the Theran Listeners to learn mnemotherapy, a rare Force ability that he believes will be valuable in confronting Abeloth. This ability allows him to extract memories from individuals, allowing him to either erase them or transfer them to others. Soon after, Abeloth reveals her presence by unleashing a Force storm that causes extensive damage to the city.
Meanwhile, back on Coruscant, tensions between the Jedi Order and Galactic Alliance Chief of State Natasi Daala reach a critical point. Booster Terrik returns the hostages who were taken aboard the Errant Venture in the previous book. A conspiracy involving Imperial Moff Drikl Lecersen, Kuati Senator Haydnat Treen, and several high-ranking military officers moves to overthrow Daala, only to be surprised by the simultaneous intervention of the Jedi. The Jedi apprehend Daala, and she is imprisoned alongside Tahiri Veila, who awaits the verdict of her trial for the murder of Grand Admiral Gilad Pellaeon during the Second Galactic Civil War. A triumvirate consisting of Jedi Master Saba Sebatyne, Treen, and General Merratt Jaxton is established to govern the GA. Saba announces to the public that she is the new acting Grand Master of the Jedi Order, following Kenth Hamner's death in the previous novel. Despite his unpopular policy of appeasing Daala and his armed assault on Saba, Hamner receives a traditional Jedi cremation.
Elsewhere in the galaxy, numerous star systems that had practiced slavery experience revolutions. Han and Leia Organa Solo are sent to Klatooine, one of these star systems, to facilitate a peaceful transition of government and prepare Klatooine for membership in the Galactic Alliance. However, Hapan Queen Mother Tenel Ka Djo is needed to expedite the process, and her journey from Hapes to Klatooine is monitored by a Lost Tribe stealth ship. The ship's crew is under orders from Sith Saber Gavar Khai to locate the Jedi Queen seen by Khai and the late High Lord Sarasu Taalon in the Pool of Knowledge. Given Tenel Ka's past as a Jedi, she is considered a potential candidate. When the Sith follow Tenel Ka's group to Klatooine, their leader, Querdan Dei, eventually deduces the connection between the Queen Mother and Han and Leia's adopted daughter, Allana. Dei kidnaps C-3PO and plants a bomb inside the protocol droid's body without his awareness before allowing Allana to rescue him. As Threepio attends the summit with Tenel Ka, Allana spots him and grabs the detonator before Dei can activate it. Leia intervenes to protect Allana and briefly fights Dei, ultimately decapitating him. Following Dei's death, the remaining members of his team deem their mission a failure and depart as the bomb is removed from C-3PO. Soon after, Klatooine is admitted as a member of the Galactic Alliance and is officially liberated from the Hutts' tyranny. The Solos and the Hapans depart afterward, but Tenel Ka and Allana are unable to meet or even say goodbye.
On Coruscant, Tahiri is convicted and sentenced to death. However, as she is being returned to prison, Boba Fett infiltrates the facility to assist Daala in escaping. They succeed, but Tahiri seizes the opportunity created by Daala's escape to flee as well, becoming a homeless fugitive as a result.
Returning to Nam Chorios, Vestara successfully guides the Sith to the planet so that they can aid her and the Skywalkers in eliminating Abeloth. Valin and Jysella have also been summoned to the planet by Abeloth to assist her. They eventually track Abeloth to a pumping station, where Ben and Vestara are forced to battle Valin. When Luke confronts Abeloth directly, the entity reveals that her Callista Ming persona is not merely another life she has absorbed, but rather a conscience for Abeloth. Realizing that Callista cannot continue in this state, Luke uses mnemotherapy to extract Callista's soul from Abeloth's body, allowing her to finally find peace and become one with the Force. The Sith then arrive and surround Vestara and the Jedi. Knowing that they cannot prevail in such a battle, Vestara kills a tsil, which generates a Force wave that mentally impairs all nearby Force users, leveling the playing field and enabling herself and the Skywalkers to escape. The Jedi StealthX fleet arrives to engage the Sith forces once more. Despite the attempts of Luke, Jaina Solo, and Zekk to destroy Abeloth and Ship during the battle, the latter two escape, though severely wounded both physically and mentally. The Jedi and Sith withdraw again following Abeloth and Ship's escape. In the end, Abeloth, now mourning the loss of Callista, meets with Gavar Khai and his Sith fleet and proposes a partnership to kill Luke Skywalker and his allies. Khai carefully considers this offer.
The novel concludes back on Coruscant, where Tahiri is hiding in an abandoned apartment building. Given that most of the Jedi have not yet returned to the Temple, she will remain a fugitive for the time being. Despite her circumstances, she is finally content to be free and able to walk barefoot again, just as she prefers.