Reviews

Doctor Who: Molten Heart by Una McCormack

ameliataylor's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Fun book, loved the setting of this story, would recommend to any doctor who fun who wants more of the universe

writingwwolves's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Am I really giving 5 stars to a 13th Doctor novel, again?! You betcha! Una McCormack did a brilliant job with this story; I loved the new world & it’s one I wish I could see on my screen... I think I’d fall totally in love with the sight of it. I also loved the collection of new species & how different their world was to ours - this isn’t an alien race anything like humans & I loved that. The plot was well fleshed out too & the twists left you unsure of who to trust. This wasn’t just a good story by Doctor Who standards, it was a good story for the world of science fiction.

Extended Review to follow.

kers_tin's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

3.25

katy_alice's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I've read two of the Thirteenth Doctor adventures so far (The Good Doctor & Molten Heart) and what both have in common--though written by different authors--is that the characters' voices are being captured exceptionally well. Which honestly I was concerned about because I didn't anticipate Whittaker's delightfully rapid-fire speech pattern and enthusiasm translating well to the page.

'Molten Heart' is a tad faster paced than 'The Good Doctor', though it doesn't dig quite as deep into the planet's political drama. McCormack does an excellent job balancing the narrative focus between The Doctor and Ryan's quest to find the missing scientist, Basalt, and Yaz and Graham's travails with the planet's government and law enforcement. It touches subtly (and occasionally not subtly as is the DW way) on the topics of environmental impact and how leaders often refuse to acknowledge evidence and facts if that means changing course and admitting that they were wrong.

It was a fun fast read, and it gives Yaz's character a little more flesh and depth. I'm definitely looking forward to 'Combat Magicks' and any further novels feature the team... gang? fam?

thefictionaddictionblog's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

You guys, are you watching the Thirteenth Doctor? So good. I like it so much that my husband got me the new Thirteenth Doctor comics, BUT it’s the stupid serial format with cliffhangers and weeks between them, which is not at all how I like to read comics. I think I’m going to wait for the trade, instead. Bingereading, y’all.

Molten Heart is a new Doctor Who spinoff novel. It reads like a longer ep, with more internal monologue, especially from Yaz. There’s more space for character growth, too. Or, in certain cases, some spot-on character stagnancy, like when Ryan just switches to past tense for Ash’s missing dad, because he’s Ryan and he has gigantic father issues. The characters are so good that I hear their dialogue in the actors’ voices — also can we talk about how this doctor’s companions are actually very good at taking direction and not needing rescue every 10 minutes? So good.

Molten Heart has the same optimism, risk, friendships and danger that I love in the TV season (and that sucked me into the Ninth Doctor, too). I’m really enjoying the complete lack of Daleks, Cybermen or the Master this season. Classic Who is fine, but I feel like all of those classic enemies has been taken just about as far as those storylines can go. I don’t want to find just one more final Dalek, again. Molten Heart has a new enemy, which can be read as an allegory for climate change denial, but also works as another beautiful, dangerous planet, in need of the Doctor and friends. So good, you guys.

nwhyte's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/3184665.html

First (I think) of the new novels featuring the Thirteenth Doctor and the new Team Tardis. This is a well-paced and well-written book that captures the regular characters very well. I was a bit less convinced by the setting - a society of silicon-based creatures living on the inner surface of a cavity inside a planet, which itself is threatened by environmental catastrophe; I think there would be logistical difficulties with some elements of this. But the social and political non-human world is well portrayed, and it is one of those stories that you can imagine would have worked well on screen; as it is, it's a fun read.

ghreggori's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

I've read tons of Doctor Who books but I just couldn't get into this one. The concept was great but the story just felt bland to me.

sleepytechnokid's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

A very creative story with such characteristic especially on Yaz, I do like the World-Building and the Species, defiantly we haven't got something like since the Fires of Pompeii.
took me a while to finish this book because I been lack-luster on Reading since the dreadful reading of Parallel 59.

bookprincess11's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

The doctor and her companions are taken to a civilization made up of crystal people. The story itself is simple but decent, however, it seems to be stretched out. One highlight of the book is that the beautiful crystal worlds created are quite unique.

If you'd like another 13th Doctor adventure, I would recommend.