Time period: 18 (?) years after Return of the Jedi. [Editor's note: This is an educated guess, based on the twins being 14 years old, and Leia and Han not getting together until 4 years after Return of the Jedi, as shown in The Courtship of Princess Leia.]

Back cover text: JACEN and JAINA. When the Empire died, they were born -- a new hope for a New Republic. The young twins of Han Solo and Princess Leia are now fourteen, and enrolled at Luke Skywalker's Jedi academy on Yavin 4. Together with friends both old and new, the future heroes of an already legendary saga begin their training.

The day of reckoning is at hand for the young Jedi Knights. The Shadow Academy -- with its army of Dark Jedi and Imperial stormtroopers -- has appeared in the sky over Yavin 4. And when a commando raid destroys the shield generator protecting the Jedi academy, there is only one option: to fight.

Now Jacen and Jaina, along with Luke Skywalker and their friends, must trust in the Force and do battle with their sworn enemies -- the Dark Jedi Zekk, his master Brakiss, and the loathsome Nightsister Tamith Kai. Victory means a new legacy of Jedi coming of age. Defeat means a final cloak of darkness over the entire galaxy...