I have to admit that I normally don’t listen to audiobooks. I usually prefer to have the book in front of me and let my brain do the talking. However, with one of my favorite franchises, Star Wars, delving ever more into audiobooks and audio dramas, I find myself checking them out and being in awe of their immersion and use of Foley throughout.
The High Republic is quickly reaching its finale, which is sure to be an intense ride. As with the previous phases, an audio drama helps bridge the gap between the middle and the end of the phase, bringing together a stellar cast of characters. Tempest Breaker, by Cavan Scott, tells the tale, and long-earned redemption of Lourna Dee, Marchion Ro’s old right-hand woman. This story is a full voice acted, and Foley filled audio drama that brings listeners to the forefront of another High Republic tale and leaves us with a look to the end of the phase and of the High Republic.
[Note: This review will be mainly spoiler-free, outside of the basic plot premise. While I am reviewing this audio drama independently and honestly, it was provided to me by Penguin Random House]
Tempest Breaker brings listeners to where the latest comic run ended
Tempest Breaker isn’t as epicly grand as other High Republic adventures, but it is still a phenomenal listen and a very interesting addition to the phase. As previously mentioned, the story mainly follows Lourna Dee, who is being interviewed by Rhil Dario a journalist for the Republic. Lourna recounts her recent adventure with the Jedi as they hunt down the evil Baron Boolan and come face to face with Marchion Ro several times.
Alongside Lourna we also have Jedi Masters Keeve Trennis and Avar Kriss, who team up with Lourna on the hunt for the Baron as the Republic offers her a chance at redemption for his capture. Tey Sirreck also appears, offering some comedic relief to the story. There are plenty of questions answered within the drama, and plenty more questions asked in setting up the final part of phase 3.
Tempest Breaker takes a while to get going. Listeners spend the first half an hour or so recounting the events of Scott’s comic series that leads into this drama, a lot of exposition is given to catch people up if they may not have read the comics. Once it does get going, however, is where the audio drama finds its strength.
Lourna Dee is one of the most complicated characters in the High Republic, and we delve into her psyche in Tempest Breaker as she battles with staying on the path to redemption rather than slinking back into her Nihil ways. The characters within the audio drama all do their best to help or hinder Lourna’s journey, such as her complicated more-than-friend Quin, who acts as her moral compass throughout.
A lot of Tempest Breaker, including most of its main plot, surrounds the capture of Baron Boolan who potentially holds the key to the cure for the Blight, which has been slowly plaguing the galaxy, destroying everything it touches. Both parties, the Republic and the Nihil want to keep hold of the Baron as Marchion Ro has promised the galaxy he will find a cure before the Republic. The Baron becomes an interesting character in the audio drama too, with the potential that he may be turning good? I won’t spoil it, but the plot between him and Skeer, the newly re-found Jedi suffering from a disease that cuts him off from the force, brings a new dimension to the character and whether the Nihil are truly evil.
This High Republic era audio drama finds itself within the stellar voice acting
The voice work in Tempest Breaker is stellar, and where the audio drama shines most. Some of the cast return from the previous High Republic Audio Drama, Tempest Runner, but some new additions help the drama to come alive. Jessica Almasy, who voices Lourna, brings plenty of heart and nuance to her role, alongside the sheer tenacity and power of the character.
Marc Thompson also deserves his flowers, returning to voice Marchion Ro, who in this, becomes somewhat more unhinged and almost animalistic. This brings listeners a new side to Marchion, and as we enter the final parts of the High Republic. Seeing where Marchion goes as a character next will be interesting.
Soneela Nankani who voices Keeve Trennis and Saskia Maarleveld who voices Avar Kriss also get plenty of time to shine. Within the High Republic, it has been a long time since both characters have seen each other, and Scott’s script plays beautifully into this. Which allows for big in-depth conversations between the characters and how their actions have affected them and how we see how they have both changed.
We know of Keeve from other projects as a Jedi who has become one of the “lost 20” who have left the order of their own accord. Whilst we still don’t know the full reason yet, we see her becoming more disillusioned with the Jedi Order and how they are reacting to the Nihil and what they threaten to become as the guardian protocols turn them more into soldiers for the Republic.
Cavan Scott spends Tempest Runner leaving little hints for the rest of the phase and also leaves the characters in their positions for their next appearances, a lot of whom will be within Scott’s next ongoing High Republic comic series in 2025. It does feel at times like Tempest Breaker is just about getting the comic characters from one series to another, but the nature of the drama gives us plenty of character work and scene settings and plot that we couldn’t get within the pages of a comic.
Final thoughts on Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott
Tempest Breaker is a worthy addition to the High Republic main books line, slotting in nicely and giving listeners a chance to meet new characters if they have not read the comics. Lourna Dee is a highlight, and her journey to redemption is one of the best character arcs across the series.
Cavan Scott brings a wonderfully written script filled with his typical humor, charm, amazing character work, and inventive scenarios. Keeve and Avar will be the ones to watch as the phase comes to a close and the closer we get to the end, the more desperate all the characters seem. It is a while before our next venture back into the High Republic, but there are enough twists and moments to discuss within Tempest Breaker that the wait will, hopefully, seem quite short.
My Rating 8/10
The audio drama is top-notch and well worth a listen, or two, for the full Star Wars experience. But if it’s still not your thing, the script for the drama arrives in May 2025.
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