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For nearly four years, The High Republic publishing initiative has dazzled Star Wars fans with its ongoing adventure set centuries before (and unburdened by) the Skywalkers, the Empire and everything that followed. Of the initiative’s many endearing characters, few have had more ups and downs than former Nihil and Tempest Runner Lourna Dee, the star of the new audio drama, The High Republic: Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott. 2021's The High Republic: Tempest Runner (also by Scott) details Lourna’s complicated past, from the Twi’lek’s early life as a princess on a moon of Ryloth, to her tenure aboard a Republic prison ship. If there is one takeaway from Tempest Runner, it’s that Lourna Dee plays by her own rules, her own morality and on her own terms. She can be deadly and cruel, but she’s also insightful. Tempest Runner showed us that Lourna has a heart; she’s just very selective about where and to whom she shows it. Her unpredictable nature is part of what has made her journey so compelling. This assessment is shared in-universe by reporter Rhil Dairo, who sets up Tempest Breaker as an interview with Lourna, looking back at her recent adventure with Jedi Masters Keeve Trennis and Avar Kriss. High Republic readers who haven't kept up with the Marvel comics may be surprised to hear that Lourna Dee has already had a full story arc in Phase III, but not to worry: the first hour of the new 6-hour audio drama will get you up to speed. Those who have followed Lourna's story to date are treated to a thorough and entertaining recap of her adventures with Keeve, Jedi Master Sskeer and a Phase II favorite, among others. I worried about how much of Tempest Breaker would be repetitive for comics readers, but Scott weaves in new details of what Lourna has been up to since she commandeered The Restitution at the end of Tempest Runner.  Highlight: Lourna and Avar reunite Pictured on the cover alongside Master Trennis and Lourna is the Hero of Hetzal, Jedi Master Avar Kriss, who has a complicated history with the former Tempest Runner. In short, Avar received bad intel that Lourna Dee was the ringleader of the Nihil marauders, and became singularly fixated on capturing her. Avar went as far as to abandon her post as the Marshal of Starlight Beacon in pursuit of Lourna. Their final confrontation ended with Avar cutting off Lourna's hand and nearly killing her in a fit of rage, only stopping when Keeve intervened. Those who skipped the Phase I comics may be surprised at how… strongly… Avar reacts to meeting Lourna again in Tempest Breaker. Hell, I’ve read those comics and even I was startled. Recent novels have given us a softer version of the Hero of Hetzal, but Cavan Scott doesn't hold back when it comes to bring back shadows of her dark side. Hothead Avar just hits different and putting her in a room with Lourna Dee makes for some volatile chemistry and one hell of a reunion. The cast Every Star Wars audio drama released to date has treated listeners to a thrilling, immersive experience, and Tempest Breaker is no different. It features amazing sound design, a gripping story and an electrifying performance by a full cast of voice actors. Thankfully, many of the Tempest Runner's cast returned for Breaker. Jessica Almasy delivers another masterful performance as Lourna Dee. Shannon Tyo will break your heart as Quin. Saskia Maarleveld and Sonella Nankani return as Avar Kriss and Keeve Trennis, respectively. The characters appeared only briefly in the 2021 prequel, so it was great to hear them in larger roles here. Marc Thompson steps back in as Sskeer, Baron Boolan and Marchion Ro, because there is simply no one on this planet that can play Marchion like Marc. Manoel Felciano brings a fun playfulness to Tey Sirrek. Kristen Sieh's voice scratches my brain so I love having her back in The High Republic, this time as Rhil Dairo (she also voiced Aida Forte in The Battle of Jedha). I have some minor issues with the vocal characteristics of a few characters in Tempest Breaker - they're fitting, but they're just too much. There are two characters in particular who I think are better seen (in comics) and not heard.  Tempest Breaker art revealed at NYCC 2024 The High Republic: Tempest Breaker is a great listen for High Republic fans, and you don't even need to have read every comic and novel in every Phase to appreciate it. Scott provides all the relevant information listeners need to enjoy the story. That said, it probably shouldn’t be anyone’s entry point to The High Republic. At the end of the day, Tempest Breaker is a sequel, and the central storyline is set in the middle of the final phase of a 4.5-year storytelling initiative. Tempest Breaker is entertaining, satisfying and full of complex characters who are all in desperate need of therapy. Heroes and villains team up in surprising ways. There’s an undercover mission at a gala where Marchion Ro is in attendance that will have fans screaming for more concept art (it’s me, I’m “fans”). Lines are crossed, secrets are revealed, promises are broken, betrayal is inevitable and there is a cost to be paid for all of it. Our heroes strive to untwist a tangled web and all the while, author Cavan Scott maniacally winds them up for what is sure to be an explosive finale next year. Until then, if you’re not already invested in Lourna’s story, Tempest Breaker will get you there. Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker by Cavan Scott will be available on December 3, 2024. The script book version will be available in hardcover on May 13, 2025.
Special thanks to Penguin Random House Audio for providing the advanced copy of the audio drama used for this review.
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