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punchofwishes's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Oof, this was a rough read. Inconsistent writing, way too many characters, and a plot that only starts being somewhat interesting and legible 2/3s through. As someone who didn't know Bernice and the characters associated with her it took me so long to warm to her, mostly because of how confusingly she was introduced. A mess of a book.
apolodelimalimon's review against another edition
2.0
This book would've been like ten thousand times better with River Song.
I don't know if it is the fact that I didn't know Berenice Summerfield from the audios or the fact that I couldn't relate to her even I am an archaeologist but this is one of the weakest novels of the 12th Doctor.
It has some great moments as Jack quoting Stitch or the Doctor with his own particular jokes and references from past adventures (and even naming parts of Spain, where I live), but in general it was very messy with all thay stuff about timey wimey stuff...
I love Gary Russell as a Doctor Who author because he wrote my favourite story, Beautiful Chaos, but despite that I feel disappointed with him. Maybe he could have ignored Moffat and wrote the River Song story anyway. Damned Moffat! You always destroy my dreams.
I don't know if it is the fact that I didn't know Berenice Summerfield from the audios or the fact that I couldn't relate to her even I am an archaeologist but this is one of the weakest novels of the 12th Doctor.
It has some great moments as Jack quoting Stitch or the Doctor with his own particular jokes and references from past adventures (and even naming parts of Spain, where I live), but in general it was very messy with all thay stuff about timey wimey stuff...
I love Gary Russell as a Doctor Who author because he wrote my favourite story, Beautiful Chaos, but despite that I feel disappointed with him. Maybe he could have ignored Moffat and wrote the River Song story anyway. Damned Moffat! You always destroy my dreams.
zimb0's review against another edition
4.0
The audio book version killed it. Lisa did remarkable job. I hope. More. Like this come Bout.
hidekisohma's review against another edition
2.0
So I felt like reading a 12th doctor book and this one looked interesting as he was by himself and didn't have either Clara or Bill with him. Never read a book with just him so i was intrigued.
Then i found out what this book was really was.
So apparently this book was SUPPOSED to have River Song in it, but Moffat wouldn't let Gary, so instead he had to pick another person from the doctor's lore. So Gary picked Bernice summerfield. Don't know who Bernice Summerfield is? Don't worry. you're not the only one.
I have read quite a few Doctor who novels at this point and "I" barely know about her by reputation as she's a character from the old "new adventures" books with the 7th doctor as well as from audioplays. (which i haven't heard or read).
If you're a casual who fan and have only seen the series, you'll have NO idea who this is. And Gary seemed WAY too excited to write a story with her in it. Like, he had all these characters from the audioplays (her family) that he's just ASSUMING you know and are going to be nerdgasming over the fact that they're in it and i'm just sitting here going. "The hell is Peter? and why is he like..half dog?"
There are many weak parts of the story but this is definitely one of the biggest. Putting such a large emphasis on a "fan favorite" character who only the nerdiest of the nerds will know.
However, if you were to ignore that, would this be a good book? Sadly no. The writing gets very confusing at points and i didn't really catch a lot of the plot or why certain things were happening.
The world shattering issue in this book was about time exploding, but it got VERY convoluted and confusing at times, which didnt' help when it kept getting interrupted by Bernice's Audioplay family being super duper powerful and showing how "kewl" they all are.
I will say one thing i DID enjoy about this novel was, when Capaldi's doc was in it, his banter did get to be really funny. I liked his back and forths, even if Bernice acted VERY VERY full of herself, kinda like in a "later clara" way.
The book read really fast as i read it in 3-4 days, which is kind of par for the course with most New Who novels, but i definitely don't want to read it again.
I don't care about Bernice and honestly, reading this book does NOT have me wanting to rush out and get her audioplays. Even slightly. I would rather this story have been with just Capaldi instead of what ended up being, in essence, a lengthy commercial to buy Bernice's books/audioplays.
It was serviceable, but not good. in truth, the book is a 2.5 out of 5, but since i can't give 1/2 stars, i REALLY don't think this book deserves a 3, so i'm giving it a 2.
2.5 out of 5 rounded down to a 2.
Hopefully the next Capaldi is better.
Then i found out what this book was really was.
So apparently this book was SUPPOSED to have River Song in it, but Moffat wouldn't let Gary, so instead he had to pick another person from the doctor's lore. So Gary picked Bernice summerfield. Don't know who Bernice Summerfield is? Don't worry. you're not the only one.
I have read quite a few Doctor who novels at this point and "I" barely know about her by reputation as she's a character from the old "new adventures" books with the 7th doctor as well as from audioplays. (which i haven't heard or read).
If you're a casual who fan and have only seen the series, you'll have NO idea who this is. And Gary seemed WAY too excited to write a story with her in it. Like, he had all these characters from the audioplays (her family) that he's just ASSUMING you know and are going to be nerdgasming over the fact that they're in it and i'm just sitting here going. "The hell is Peter? and why is he like..half dog?"
There are many weak parts of the story but this is definitely one of the biggest. Putting such a large emphasis on a "fan favorite" character who only the nerdiest of the nerds will know.
However, if you were to ignore that, would this be a good book? Sadly no. The writing gets very confusing at points and i didn't really catch a lot of the plot or why certain things were happening.
The world shattering issue in this book was about time exploding, but it got VERY convoluted and confusing at times, which didnt' help when it kept getting interrupted by Bernice's Audioplay family being super duper powerful and showing how "kewl" they all are.
I will say one thing i DID enjoy about this novel was, when Capaldi's doc was in it, his banter did get to be really funny. I liked his back and forths, even if Bernice acted VERY VERY full of herself, kinda like in a "later clara" way.
The book read really fast as i read it in 3-4 days, which is kind of par for the course with most New Who novels, but i definitely don't want to read it again.
I don't care about Bernice and honestly, reading this book does NOT have me wanting to rush out and get her audioplays. Even slightly. I would rather this story have been with just Capaldi instead of what ended up being, in essence, a lengthy commercial to buy Bernice's books/audioplays.
It was serviceable, but not good. in truth, the book is a 2.5 out of 5, but since i can't give 1/2 stars, i REALLY don't think this book deserves a 3, so i'm giving it a 2.
2.5 out of 5 rounded down to a 2.
Hopefully the next Capaldi is better.
mirceatara's review against another edition
2.0
Liked the dialogue, the banter. But there wasn't a proper plot. Something about the story, that had all the great ingredients, was unsatisfactory. The glue wasn't strong enough to keep the plot together.
awebster92's review against another edition
3.0
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I have previously read the other two books in 'The Glamour Chronicles' series, and I had mixed reviews. I loved one and very much disliked the other. This was a combination of the two. I got really excited in the beginning because the author made is seem like my favorite Doctor Who character was going to appear. The character never did, but he did explain it why in the endnote. One of my main issues was that I felt the story jumped around a bit much. I didn't think a lot of the side stories needed to be told. It was nice to see an older character even though it wasn't the one I wanted. She was my favorite part of the book. I would also like to add that Clara wasn't in this book; I wasn't upset by that as I'm not a huge Clara fan. I would give this book 3/5. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great.
frogetteno1's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.5
kryten4k's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sabregirl's review against another edition
3.0
I read the endnote at the back of the novel and how the author wanted River Song. THANK GOD HE DIDN'T/COULDN'T it would've made this book even more intolerable. I normally like Gary Russell adaptations but this one I didn't like. He couldn't seem to grasp Twelve all that much and it showed when he had more characters rather than The Doctor be the focus.
The book in itself was confusing. It took until almost the middle of the book to actually understand what was going on. Even in the end I'm still not 100% positive what exactly happened.
I liked that we got Bernice Summerfield. I hadn't read anything about her except just that I knew of her so it was interesting to see her. Couldn't tell if her characterization was off or not but she was enjoyable. Probably one of the only few good things in this novel.
It any thing, it should show how much this book was a struggle that it took me three weeks to read. I can finish Doctor Who books in days. I'm so disappointed.
The book in itself was confusing. It took until almost the middle of the book to actually understand what was going on. Even in the end I'm still not 100% positive what exactly happened.
I liked that we got Bernice Summerfield. I hadn't read anything about her except just that I knew of her so it was interesting to see her. Couldn't tell if her characterization was off or not but she was enjoyable. Probably one of the only few good things in this novel.
It any thing, it should show how much this book was a struggle that it took me three weeks to read. I can finish Doctor Who books in days. I'm so disappointed.