Mara Jade Skywalker is a major character in the Star Wars Legends continuity. She has been a major protagonist in several Star Wars novels since her introduction in Timothy Zahn's Heir to the Empire. A former assassin in the service of Emperor Palpatine, Mara originally planned on killing Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker, fulfilling her Master's last wish. However, upon learning that the Emperor was not the benevolent ruler she thought he was, she allied with Luke and eventually became a Jedi Master.
In Vision of the Future, she married her former enemy Luke Skywalker. From this point, she was a main character in almost every book until her death at the hands of her nephew Darth Caedus.