Reviews

Doctor Who: Royal Blood by Una McCormack

beth_books_123's review against another edition

2.0

I did not enjoy this - 2*

This book also marks my last book of Easter half-term. My reading is going to rapidly decline as we enter SATs prep time.

punchofwishes's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Enjoyable read! I liked the world building and the one-off characters, although the perspective shifting was really annoyingly done. It was hard to tell who was speaking and the different tenses used just added to the unrounded feeling of this story. Still, not a bad time had with this one! 

awebster92's review against another edition

2.0

My beginning thoughts on this book weren’t great. Royal Blood was my first Doctor Who book; I was trying to keep myself busy while waiting for the season premiere this weekend. I felt like the characters were a little off. Clara and Twelve didn’t really fit their characters on the show. I didn’t like how it switched between characters either; It would take me a few sentences to realize it changed the point of views. I also thought the story was incomplete and that it could have gone much deeper. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. The Doctor was barely in the story, which was also a letdown. It wasn’t so awful that I couldn’t finish it, but it didn’t even get close to my expectations. I thought it would be better seeing as Una McCormack has written a lot of Star Trek books. I believe her other books were good, but she shouldn’t write Doctor Who. I was very disappointed in this book 2/5

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Obviously my thoughts are my own.

missyssippi's review against another edition

4.0

I quite enjoyed this story and the multiplicity of points of view that allowed us to understand each character better. The plot was interesting, and I found that the Doctor and Clara were quite in character. The medieval setting was also charming in its own way. The book leaves many questions unanswered and I hope that the next volume will answer them!

kilcannon's review against another edition

1.0

The second and last Una McCormack novel I've read. How someone manages to make a book that's so short and light such a boring slog, I'll never know.

frogetteno1's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

jarichan's review against another edition

2.0

Von allen drei Büchern mit und um Doctor Who landet dieses auf Platz drei. Nicht, dass es unsagbar schlecht wäre, aber es ist irgendwo in der Nähe angesiedelt. Man merkt, dass es ein Drehbuch ist, das nicht verwendet worden ist. Das war bei anderen Büchern auch schon der Fall, aber McCormack schafft es einfach nicht, aus dem Drehbuch ein _Buch_ zu machen. Es ist enorm dialoglastig, bei sehr geringer Handlung. Details fehlen, die Tiefe in die Geschichte gebracht hätten und auch die Charaktere sind total austauschbar. Anstatt der Doctor und Clara hätten es auch zwei ganz andere Figuren sein können, die hier mitspielen. Das Schlimmste waren die Sprünge. Bei einem Film oder einer Serie wird viel Information über das Bild vermittelt. Das klappt bei einem Buch nur durch Worte. Die fehlen hier ganz und gar. Da sind wir erst an einem Ort und -schwupps- plötzlich sind drei Wochen vergangen und wir sind woanders. Oder erst sind die Figuren auf Pferden reitend, dann -schwupps- umarmen sie sich. Das Buch wimmelt von solchen Löchern. Als Fanfiction wäre das noch durchgegangen, aber wenn ich dafür Geld ausgebe, dann erwarte ich auch etwas mehr als eine Fanfiction. Auch Fragen werden nicht beantwortet. So gerät aus irgendeinem Grund ein Gebäude in Flammen, -schwupps- brennt die ganze Stadt (dachte, die hätten mit Steinen gebaut - angeblich also nicht) und was geschieht mit den Menschen und Flüchtlingen darin? Keine Ahnung. Wird nicht erwähnt. Ist nicht wichtig. Hauptsache, das Liebespaar flieht auf Nimmerwiedersehen irgendwohin. Ach ja, der Schurke dieses Buches klang gar nicht so schurkig, sondern sehr rational und logisch. Ich wäre ihm gefolgt und nicht diesem Haufen von Kleinkindern, die angeblich die Helden sein sollen.

booknerd_therapist's review against another edition

4.0

Not the best Doctor Who book I've ever read. No crazy alien monsters, and Clara is not exactly my favorite companion. However, Twelve is my favorite Doctor ever, and the author made his personality really shine throughout the novel. Am I biased? Clearly. But it's Doctor Who... you know what kind of people you're dealing with. :)

bookish_brooklyn's review against another edition

5.0

Definitely another favourite Doctor Who novelisation. I thought Clara and 12 were portrayed so perfectly and that the historical elements were woven throughout the story so well :)

murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0