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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Tempest Runner is a welcome addition to phase 1 of the High Republic series. It gives us some much needed insight into the backgrounds and motivations of one of the Nihil's central figures.
A few thoughts:
Audio
As some others have noted in their reviews, I found that some of the sound effects made it difficult to understand what was being said at times. There are blasters and alarms and such - these things add to the Star Wars feel of it all, but have to be used carefully or else they make things difficult to hear. But there were also some voice effects, most notably the voice ofPan Eyta , that made the voicelines hard to understand even if they weren't being drowned out by sfx.
Story
The overarching story was pretty straightforward. Where the book really shines is in its flashbacks to Lourna Dee's past. A vicious pirate was once someone who cared deeply about her planet, her people. She was beaten up and broken down over time, shaped into whatever figure others saw her as.
I did think that some of the character pacing was a bit too fast. We move pretty quickly from Lourna being this vicious Tempest Runner to her having serious reflections on whether she should be nicer in general or to her prisonmates. It struck me as forced(?), even if we take the book to span over several weeks. (And I assume that she wasn't acting the whole time, given some of her frustrations voiced at the end.) But I like where she wound up at the end and look forward to seeing how she implements what she's learned from her time on the Restitution in her future decisions.
A few thoughts:
Audio
As some others have noted in their reviews, I found that some of the sound effects made it difficult to understand what was being said at times. There are blasters and alarms and such - these things add to the Star Wars feel of it all, but have to be used carefully or else they make things difficult to hear. But there were also some voice effects, most notably the voice of
Story
The overarching story was pretty straightforward. Where the book really shines is in its flashbacks to Lourna Dee's past. A vicious pirate was once someone who cared deeply about her planet, her people. She was beaten up and broken down over time, shaped into whatever figure others saw her as.
I did think that some of the character pacing was a bit too fast. We move pretty quickly from Lourna being this vicious Tempest Runner to her having serious reflections on whether she should be nicer in general or to her prisonmates. It struck me as forced(?), even if we take the book to span over several weeks. (And I assume that she wasn't acting the whole time, given some of her frustrations voiced at the end.) But I like where she wound up at the end and look forward to seeing how she implements what she's learned from her time on the Restitution in her future decisions.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This audio drama explores the inner workings of the Nihil, making it a must-listen for fans of The High Republic. The story centres around the Tempest Runner Lourna Dee, exploring her backstory and mindset. She undergoes significant development throughout this audio drama, being confronted by her flaws and past mistakes, and becoming a complex character you are unsure whether to love or hate. The production is superb, and the story should be experienced by listening to the audio drama.
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of the best High Republic books that I've read so far. It provides a villain origin story for Lourna Dee, who makes an appearance in a few other books as one of the Nihil's Tempest Runners.
I was frustrated by the pacing in Cavan Scott's other High Republic novel (The Rising Storm) but he's really outdone himself with this story, which is an adaptation of a script for an audio drama.
I was frustrated by the pacing in Cavan Scott's other High Republic novel (The Rising Storm) but he's really outdone himself with this story, which is an adaptation of a script for an audio drama.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I didn't like the audiodrama format... it's not that it was done poorly, it just isnt something I like now that I've experienced one. The individual voice actors were wonderful (except for whoever did the wookie voice, which sounded like someone making fun of a wookie), but the constant sound effects and frequency grunts and snarls and huffs made it hard to follow the voice lines at times. Also, they end up having to state their actions out loud and so the dialogue sounds so unrealistic at times. I ended up getting a copy of the written script from the library to check in with at times.
It felt like it kept wanting to touch on some darker or heavier topics but then not quite being willing to engage on them or make them more obvious.Like exactly what happens to Twi'lek woman who are sold as slaves...
That said... I really enjoyed the story and learning more about Lourna's backstory. I liked seeing a villain's tale - and one where they didn't redeem her at the end. It showed she had layers, that she wasn't one dimensional, while not converting her into anti-hero.
It felt like it kept wanting to touch on some darker or heavier topics but then not quite being willing to engage on them or make them more obvious.
That said... I really enjoyed the story and learning more about Lourna's backstory. I liked seeing a villain's tale - and one where they didn't redeem her at the end. It showed she had layers, that she wasn't one dimensional, while not converting her into anti-hero.
I started this audio drama thinking “do I even need to read it? No way they could make me care about Lorna Dee.” Oh they got me. They got me bad.
That being said, my critique has to do with the ending, so spoiler ahead:
I feel like the book focused so much on making Lorna a sympathetic character, which I loved, that it did not do enough to make the betrayal that ultimately lead her back to the nihil have enough emotional stakes.
I am really hopeful that they will continue her character arc in books to come, and that see more of Quinn and the Jedi that rescued Lorna all those years ago. Things felt very unresolved with him.
That being said, my critique has to do with the ending, so spoiler ahead:
I am really hopeful that they will continue her character arc in books to come, and that see more of Quinn and the Jedi that rescued Lorna all those years ago. Things felt very unresolved with him.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is an audiodrama, so there's a lot of accents, music, and sound effects, and it's incredible!
Back when it came out in 2022 I couldn't understand a thing, but now I'm more used to audiobooks and listenin to English and it's amazing!!!!
Not as good as Tempest Breaker imo, but still really good.
Back when it came out in 2022 I couldn't understand a thing, but now I'm more used to audiobooks and listenin to English and it's amazing!!!!
Not as good as Tempest Breaker imo, but still really good.