Reviews: The High Republic's 'Tempest Breaker' and 'A Valiant Vow'
The audio drama and middle-grade novel are the penultimate stories in The High Republic era.
Tempest Breaker
Deadly dances and lively banter become clearer with a script book in hand.
Lourna Dee, they could never make me hate you. In fact, the more stories we get with this princess-turned-Nihil-turned-reluctant-Jedi-ally-turned…bounty hunter, the more I root for her. Relate to her. And continue to support all the wrongs she does.
I reviewed The High Republic: Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott back in December after thoroughly enjoying the audio drama production. The full cast narration was superb, as always, and the story was surprisingly easy to follow despite (still) not being caught up with the comics — where the bulk of Lourna’s story takes place. But the physical script book came out last week, and I found myself loving Tempest Breaker even more and picking up on a ton of details I missed when I was just listening.
For as long as Star Wars audio dramas have been coming out, fans have complained about the gap between the release of the audio and the release of the script book. The ideal reading experience is what I just did — listening to the production while following along with the script. It changes (for the better) the way you engage with the story and retain what’s going on, what characters are speaking, and where everything takes place. But I get it, spacing out the audio drama and the script book is purposeful. And particularly with Tempest Breaker, I see why the script book came out now instead of five months ago.
Tempest Breaker’s story is the beginning of the end for The High Republic — books and comics. It was a turning point for the Jedi and the Nihil’s Marchion Ro as they both raced to find a cure for the blight taking over the galaxy. It was also a catalyst moment for many key characters — Lourna Dee, yes, but also Keeve Trennis, Sskeer, and Baron Boolan, the twisted Nihil scientist. As I said in my previous review, all of these characters have been orbiting each other for years, fighting to lead the dangerous dance to control the galaxy and their own futures.
Tempest Breaker was impactful — and downright fun — in December. Revisiting the story in May 2025, with Trials of the Jedi just weeks away and an ARC of the final High Republic novel on my Kindle, feels heavier, poignant, and like this is truly the end of an era.
The Nihil, the Jedi, the blight, the Nameless, the fights to save or destroy the galaxy — all of it is coming to a head right now. These final books aren’t introducing new plot points or characters, they’re bringing them full circle for an epic conclusion. What a joy it has been to follow The High Republic since the beginning — reviewing each book as it comes out and getting hyped for all the ones yet to come. I’m still in denial that there’s just one left.
More from my previous review of Tempest Breaker:
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.
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.
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 support 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.
Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott audio drama and script book are available now.
A Valiant Vow
Some of The High Republic’s most beloved younger characters see their stories come full circle in one last lesson about the meaning of home.
Since A Valiant Vow is the last middle-grade novel in The High Republic, I want to answer the question “Do I have to read the YA and kids books?” one last time (I will continue to answer it): No, you don’t have to.
You can read just the adult books and still get the main story. I don’t recommend skipping the young adult books because they and the adult ones overlap the most when it comes to characters and plot lines. But now that I’ve read all of the YA and middle-grade High Republic books, I feel better-equipped to advise on how to read the era of Star Wars publishing.
Overall, the middle-grade novels are not essential to the main High Republic story.
But — BUT — that doesn’t mean they are not worth reading. In fact, it’s because of their relative standalone nature that the middle-grade books can take chances and showcase individual character journeys.
A Valiant Vow by Justina Ireland has been out for a couple of weeks and has been largely overshadowed by the author’s other novel that came out on the same day — The Acolyte: Wayseeker. They’re two very different stories, but they both showcase Ireland’s talent for character work and growth from literal childhood to adulthood. She introduced Vernestra Rwoh as a teenage Jedi Knight in A Test of Courage, and in A Valiant Vow, the story of Vernestra’s Padawan comes full circle. Over a century later in Wayseeker, Vernestra reflects on all she learned from her time as a young prodigy with an empathic Padawan.
Imri Canataros is the star of A Valiant Vow, having established himself as a formidable Jedi Knight — even without a lightsaber — on the planet Aricho. He’s grown to love the planet and the community he helps there, and is reluctant to leave when news of the Stormwall’s collapse reaches them. Along for the adventure on Aricho is Zenny Greylark, still desperately searching for her missing father, and Jedi youngling Tep Tep, a standout among the last few middle-grade books. Churo the Hutt also returns, and it’s through him we get a better glimpse into Hutt society while he continues to go against the criminal ways of his family.
The plot of A Valiant Vow is a bit weak, and I found myself not really caring about the corrupt politics of Aricho or the swarming scav droids. Those took a backseat once evidence of the blight was discovered. Even then, I found myself wanting to get back to the characters and their personal journeys.
Despite this, the book had some truly moving moments. I teared up during a certain scene with Zenny as well as during the epilogue, which brought Imri’s and Vernestra’s story full circle. It’s those moments and many others from the middle-grade books that make these stories so powerful. Books like A Valiant Vow and others for younger readers are important not because they have high stakes for the galaxy, but because they have universal themes and relatable stakes for the individuals.
And that’s why you shouldn’t skip them. No matter how old we get, we’re never too old to learn something — and feel something — from a children’s book.
Star Wars: The High Republic: A Valiant Vow by Justina Ireland is available now.
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