Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker Book Review
“Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker” offers up plenty of characterization.
Written by Cavan Scott, this hardcover book release includes the script for the audio drama “Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker”. The story begins with holoreporter/war correspondent Rhil Dairo interviewing former Nihil Tempest Runner Lourna Dee to get her side of the story. Through her stories we flashback to her past including how she was mistaken as The Eye Of The Storm, her time on The Lourna Dee with her crew (Mulgan and Quin), how she took the ship belonging to Jedi Avar Kriss, and how she wound up embarking on a mission with Jedi Master Keeve Tennis, Jedi bond-twins Terec and Ceret, Jedi Orbalin, and freedom fighter Tey to find Keeve’s Master Sskeer (who is sick with Magrak Syndrome) and to capture Nihil scientist Baron Boolan. Unfortunately, pirates led by Lourna’s former crew member Mulgan get a hold of both Baron and Sskeer to deliver them to someone very unsavory. On the plus side, Lourna and company grab encrypted Nihil files but can’t open them without Baron. Now, a team comprised of Lourna, Tey, Keeve, SK-0t and Avar Kriss are assembled to rescue both the Baron and Sskeer, but their mission is fraught with peril including run-ins with Nihil and Nameless.
‘Tempest Breaker’ starts off a little choppy as it feels more like a re-cap of a series of Lourna’s past adventures. Eventually it starts to settle in and winds up becoming a rather significant and eventful story (no big spoilers here). What struck me the most about this particular tale was how much characterization was here. Obviously it’s a big Lourna story, but Keeve, Sskeer and especially Boolan play a pivotal part. Boolean’s backstory is front and center in the back end of the story and we also learn that he is cooking something up that may or may not be beneficial in fighting the Blight. Sskeer’s story also brings something new to the table as he is a Jedi who is dealing with an illness that is causing him to lose the force and become erratic and angry.
As for Lourna, it’s no secret that she has worn many hats throughout the course of the High Republic series as a former Princess, Nihil Tempest Runner, a fugitive, etc. She has perhaps evolved more than any other character in the High Republic series. It’s particularly fascinating to see her acknowledge her violent and messed up past while also owning up to her mistakes. She knows she was manipulated and she knows she was running from her problems. Her relationship with Quin is also explored here. Even as this story ends, we see that Lourna is embarking on a new chapter in life which could potentially lead to even more stories.
Whether you listen to the audio story or read the script here in book form, “Star Wars: The High Republic: Tempest Breaker” will reward fans of the series and fans of Lourna Dee.
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