Review: Tempest Breaker explores Lourna Dee's deadly dance with Nihil and Jedi

The newest High Republic audio drama is also the era's best.

Dec 06, 2024

Marchion Ro may be the big baddie in The High Republic, but Lourna Dee has remained the most fascinating and multifaceted villain turned morally gray anti-hero in the era.

Chief Lourna Dee writer Cavan Scott continues and somewhat concludes her journey in Tempest Breaker — an audio drama sequel to 2021’s Tempest Runner, also by Scott. Tempest Breaker is not only key to Lourna’s story but also to the final arc of The High Republic — a story told through incredibly engaging action sequences and thrilling banter.

Tempest Breaker’s story is framed by a present-day interview between Lourna and journalist Rhil Dairo. Rhil has been tasked with interviewing the former Nihil turned bounty hunter to better understand her motivations and reasons for defecting and helping the Republic. Through this interview, the bulk of the story is told through flashbacks recapping key Lourna Dee moments in Phases 1 and 3. There are even exciting details revealed about Phase 2, specifically about Baron Boolan’s origins and motivations.

This audio drama is very much a Lourna Dee story, but Tempest Breaker does an excellent job advancing multiple plot lines without being bogged down by too many character POVs. Through Lourna’s perspective as well as that of Jedi Keeve Trennis, Avar Kriss, and Sskeer, we learn more about the mysterious Blight destroying parts of the galaxy, Baron Boolan’s experimentation efforts with the Nameless, and Marchion Ro’s loosening grip on the Nihil and the terrorized Republic.

As someone woefully behind on the comics, I still found Tempest Breaker easy to follow. Those who have been keeping up with The High Republic comics — also by Scott — will have a ton of fun with this story.

As an audio drama that does not yet have a physical script book to accompany it (that’s coming in May), Tempest Breaker has to hook readers and keep them engaged through a little over 6 hours. Tempest Breaker exceeds expectations thanks to Scott’s clear and evocative writing and a stellar cast of voice actors.

Jessica Almasy shines as the deadly and sometimes flirty Lourna Dee. Superhuman Marc Thompson, of course, plays Sskeer, Baron Boolan, and Marchion Ro. Scott’s daughter, Chloe Scott, also debuts in Tempest Breaker voicing new Jedi Padawan Faris Karan.

The core of Tempest Breaker is dangerous dances. In fact, there’s a literal deadly dance scene between Marchion Ro and Lourna Dee, which was teased with stunning promotional art. All of these characters — like it or not — have been swirling in each other’s orbits for years, fighting to lead the dance to control the galaxy and their own futures.

Lourna Dee has more than enough reasons to hate Marchion Ro, the Nihil, the Republic, and the Jedi. How she reacts to trauma and manipulation is nothing if not relatable. Despite her villainous past, you can’t help but root for her to exact vengeance on those who’ve wronged her.

I fully sport Star Wars women’s wrongs.

Lourna’s enemies-turned-reluctant-allies relationship with Keeve Trennis has also been a highlight of The High Republic's storytelling over the last few years. Their prickly dynamic remains and gets even better in Tempest Breaker.

I can’t say much more about Tempest Breaker without spoiling anything, but the new audio drama is a treat for longtime High Republic comic fans. It also perfectly sets up what’s to come in the finale comic series, Fear of the Jedi.

The High Republic: Tempest Breaker is available now wherever you get audiobooks.
The printed script book arrives on May 13, 2025.

This week’s Star Wars releases

Dec. 3

The High Republic: Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott
Someone Who Loves You by Beth Revis
Star Wars (2020) Vol. 9: The Path of Light

Dec. 4

Battle of Jakku: Republic Under Siege #3

Space Wizards Book Club

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