The novel is set in the High Republic era, 200 years before the events of the Star Wars prequel trilogy. It follows the adventures of a group of Jedi Knights and Padawans as they face a cataclysmic threat to the galaxy.

The story begins with the signing of a peace treaty between the planets Eiram and E'ronoh, which have been at war for five years. However, the signing is interrupted by a devastating attack that kills thousands and destroys the treaty. The Jedi are called in to investigate, and they soon discover that the attack was orchestrated by a mysterious group known as the Path of the Open Hand.

The Path of the Open Hand is a group of Force-users who believe that the Jedi are too powerful and that they are preventing the galaxy from reaching its full potential. They are determined to overthrow the Jedi and create a new order, one that is based on freedom and equality.

The Jedi must race against time to stop the Path of the Open Hand before they can unleash their full power. The fate of the galaxy hangs in the balance.