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joe16210's review against another edition
5.0
My first Doctor Who book. I loved it, I really recommend it to all Doctor Who fans. :-)
h3dakota's review against another edition
2.0
Eleven really isn't my favorite & he's just mean to Clara in this one. Interesting idea for a story, but didn't quite live up to what I'd hoped for.
nicholeb84's review against another edition
2.0
Confession: I’m actually a bit of a fan of Doctor Who tie-in stories. They usually have issues, but they can also be really fun. It’s a bit like getting to see secret adventures that never make it into the television show.
Shroud of Sorrow is an Eleventh Doctor adventure and the first novel with new-ish companion, Clara “Oswin” Oswald. (FYI: I think this might be the only media tie-in novel featuring Eleven and Clara, which is really sad.)
Over All Thoughts:
Characters -
From the writing style alone, I’m guessing that the author - Mr. Tommy Donbavand - had only been shown the 2012 Christmas Special and told a bit about the second half of Series Seven. Why do I say this? Clara comes off as a lot of generic traits. She just doesn’t seem like herself. She actually comes off as a bit too whiny and complains a lot – not like the Clara I’ve seen. And while there is some flirty Whouffle (Doctor/Clara)dialogue, the chemistry between the Doctor and Clara is missing. Actually, the Doctor’s depth is missing; he just doesn’t seem like himself.
The rest of the characters (Mae, Warren, etc) come across as rather generic and just there to keep the story moving. No one really caught my eye or my attention.
Writing and Plot -
The writing style is fine, if over simplistic at times. And the plot is serviceable for a Doctor Who adventure. Though, I cannot help but this this would have worked better as a two-parter for a series of the show. The Shroud really could have used more development as an enemy and as a character itself. It felt rather, there.
I have to wonder why Rose Tyler and Donna Noble weren’t in the ‘Bad Memories’ Montage. To me, their goodbyes were the Doctor were heartbreaking and probably left a large impact on him (and on fans of the “New Who” Series.)
Overall, the novel is a rather fast paced read. (I read it in an hour and a half) And it does have some good moments. However, it’s not the best Doctor Who tie-in out there.
2/5 stars.
Shroud of Sorrow is an Eleventh Doctor adventure and the first novel with new-ish companion, Clara “Oswin” Oswald. (FYI: I think this might be the only media tie-in novel featuring Eleven and Clara, which is really sad.)
Over All Thoughts:
Characters -
From the writing style alone, I’m guessing that the author - Mr. Tommy Donbavand - had only been shown the 2012 Christmas Special and told a bit about the second half of Series Seven. Why do I say this? Clara comes off as a lot of generic traits. She just doesn’t seem like herself. She actually comes off as a bit too whiny and complains a lot – not like the Clara I’ve seen. And while there is some flirty Whouffle (Doctor/Clara)dialogue, the chemistry between the Doctor and Clara is missing. Actually, the Doctor’s depth is missing; he just doesn’t seem like himself.
The rest of the characters (Mae, Warren, etc) come across as rather generic and just there to keep the story moving. No one really caught my eye or my attention.
Writing and Plot -
The writing style is fine, if over simplistic at times. And the plot is serviceable for a Doctor Who adventure. Though, I cannot help but this this would have worked better as a two-parter for a series of the show. The Shroud really could have used more development as an enemy and as a character itself. It felt rather, there.
I have to wonder why Rose Tyler and Donna Noble weren’t in the ‘Bad Memories’ Montage. To me, their goodbyes were the Doctor were heartbreaking and probably left a large impact on him (and on fans of the “New Who” Series.)
Overall, the novel is a rather fast paced read. (I read it in an hour and a half) And it does have some good moments. However, it’s not the best Doctor Who tie-in out there.
2/5 stars.
veronikatupa's review against another edition
4.0
http://dreamersdrawer.wordpress.com/2014/09/29/doctor-who-zavoj-smutku/
beth_books_123's review against another edition
3.0
Ahhh so much potential - 3.5*
For 3/4 of this book, I really enjoyed it. I really did. I loved everything about: the references to Classic Who and New Who episodes (including scenes and characters); a strong and believable plot, and strong characters.
I think the last 1/4 was rushed and the clowns were an actual joke. It was such a quick clean up and honestly I think there was a lot of potential completely missed. So yeah I'm pretty frustrated by the end because honestly it could have been perfect.
Why did you do this, Donbavand?!
For 3/4 of this book, I really enjoyed it. I really did. I loved everything about: the references to Classic Who and New Who episodes (including scenes and characters); a strong and believable plot, and strong characters.
I think the last 1/4 was rushed and the clowns were an actual joke. It was such a quick clean up and honestly I think there was a lot of potential completely missed. So yeah I'm pretty frustrated by the end because honestly it could have been perfect.
Why did you do this, Donbavand?!
octobertune's review against another edition
4.0
As you all might know, I am a big fan of Doctor Who. It is my favourite TV show, and I also like (most) of the books that have been written based on this show. I haven’t read a lot, only about six or seven, but I have never actually written a review about either one of them. So I decided to write a review about the one of the recent ones that I’ve finished. I might go and write reviews about my two all-time favourites (Touched by an Angel and the Stone Rose). Okay, I have given my opinion about this book a while ago, but this is a proper review. Oh, it might contain some minor spoilers.
Shroud of Sorrow is the first DW book that has Clara as companion. And since I loved Clara from the beginning, I needed to have this book. A couple of pages into the book, I already liked it so much, that I couldn’t wait to finish it, and to re-read it again. As the Doctor goes to change into dry clothes, he comes back into the main control room to find both Clara and the TARDIS crying. He then asks Clara if she called the TARDIS ‘fat’.
Later in the book, they end up on an ice-cold planet where the houses are built into the hill, like hobbit holes, Clara says. The Doctor and Mae then meet two clowns called ‘Flip Flop’ and (here it comes) ‘Wobblebottom’! I don’t like clowns at all, but I think I will like Wobblebottom when I meet him.
At the end of the story, it gets a bit sad, because the Doctor has to relive several of ‘sad’ moments in his life. Including saying goodbye to ‘his’ Ponds, in ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’.
In total, I absolutely loved this story; I liked the plot, I liked the writing, and I just loved reading more about Clara, who is on her way of becoming one of my favourite companions (okay I love all of them, but Rose and Amy have a special place in my heart, and Clara is starting to get there too). I would recommend this book to everyone who has watched Doctor Who, and just anyone who loves to read a Sci-Fi story (though you probably would be a bit confused if you haven’t seen the show).
Shroud of Sorrow is the first DW book that has Clara as companion. And since I loved Clara from the beginning, I needed to have this book. A couple of pages into the book, I already liked it so much, that I couldn’t wait to finish it, and to re-read it again. As the Doctor goes to change into dry clothes, he comes back into the main control room to find both Clara and the TARDIS crying. He then asks Clara if she called the TARDIS ‘fat’.
Later in the book, they end up on an ice-cold planet where the houses are built into the hill, like hobbit holes, Clara says. The Doctor and Mae then meet two clowns called ‘Flip Flop’ and (here it comes) ‘Wobblebottom’! I don’t like clowns at all, but I think I will like Wobblebottom when I meet him.
At the end of the story, it gets a bit sad, because the Doctor has to relive several of ‘sad’ moments in his life. Including saying goodbye to ‘his’ Ponds, in ‘The Angels Take Manhattan’.
In total, I absolutely loved this story; I liked the plot, I liked the writing, and I just loved reading more about Clara, who is on her way of becoming one of my favourite companions (okay I love all of them, but Rose and Amy have a special place in my heart, and Clara is starting to get there too). I would recommend this book to everyone who has watched Doctor Who, and just anyone who loves to read a Sci-Fi story (though you probably would be a bit confused if you haven’t seen the show).
mooniee's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
If you are a big fan of doctor who you would love this, but it would be confusing for a person who doesn't know the TV show to follow along.
teadrinking_bibliophile's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
pandorasxbox's review against another edition
2.0
This is probably more of a 2.5, but I can't bring myself to give it a 3. I did like the shout-outs to the old doctors.
The author has the Doctor more or less down, but Clara seemed a little off to me. I got a bit of a sense that the author didn't like her character very much- there's a lot more pouting, complaining, etc. It may not be on every page, but it's enough that it jumped out at me.
I'm generally pretty good about suspending my disbelief when watching Doctor Who. I'm not sure whether it's because this is a different medium, but it was a bit more difficult for me to do that this time around. The Shroud just didn't work for me, especially when it came to the conclusion.
Spoiler
It's a bit strange that Donna and Rose are missing from the Bad Memory Montage, while Astrid shows up so many times. For fans at least, those goodbyes are far more painful than Astrid's.The author has the Doctor more or less down, but Clara seemed a little off to me. I got a bit of a sense that the author didn't like her character very much- there's a lot more pouting, complaining, etc. It may not be on every page, but it's enough that it jumped out at me.
I'm generally pretty good about suspending my disbelief when watching Doctor Who. I'm not sure whether it's because this is a different medium, but it was a bit more difficult for me to do that this time around. The Shroud just didn't work for me, especially when it came to the conclusion.