James Goss's Doctor Who - The Blood Cell Review
What Caught My Attention -
Oh. This. Cover. It just looks so promising! I bought this thinking it would be absolutely amazing, with stunning descriptions, mind visuals and story line. But was it? I mean look at it. Can you honestly judge a book by its cover? Let's find out...
I needed to give this book a try. And did I try. I knew when opening this novel, that the Twelfth Doctor would be featured. I loved the Twelfth Doctor. and I knew they would never accept a book from a writer that couldn't capture Peter Capaldi without him not feeling like The Doctor.
First off, this book is in first person. And you're not playing as The Doctor. Or Clara for that matter. You're playing as The Warden of a prison who likes to go by the title 'Sir.' This prison holds the worst of the worst in the galaxy. It's isolated, it's cold, it's painted only gray for the "moral" of the prisoners. And everyone speaks with ' around their speech as if everything was already said and you're only writing what you remember.
Second... He's not called the doctor in this one. Okay he is, but not by the main character. The Warden calls him by his cell number, 428. Although the Doctor really does not like to be named that. Regardless, the Warden has some special files on the Doctor. He refuses to call him by his name because, he knows how many 'innocent' people 428 has killed. This brings me to the next part.
Why I Continued Reading -
This novel is layered in suspense. It's on every page! To the different levels in the prison, their backstory and hidden contents. To the Library, The Doctor's new friend and the occasional black-outs. This is a book you cannot put down to rest. It has to always be with you, flipping though it as you're eagerly anticipating the next page!
Now when I began reading it, I didn't know how I'd get back into this universe. Its been a long time since I've read a Doctor Who novel, they are sometimes so different from the TV show and I didn't want it to be the case with this one. When I found out the main character and the perspective of this novel was not the Doctor, it gave me an opportunity to put myself fully in the Whovain universe. Yes, I thought I can finally throw this Doctor in jail for being slightly different. But of course you get outsmarted by him several times and even finding out how much you like him, and have in common with him. Even during a certain fight scene. (wink-wink) Seriously, if you haven't already, put yourself in this book as the Warden.
Clara is in this book as-well, obviously as told by the cover. And her character is exactly like you would see on the television. She has a certain way about her, that James Goss writes perfectly. So well written in fact, you find your character is confused on liking her or not. Like, shes annoying to the Warden, yet he keeps asking himself, (maybe she does like me, maybe we are friends). Now Clara shows up at very random times, and during the fourth time she arrives I thought she was being a tad bit strange. After realizing she had already been there four times without her former knowledge (time travel) she gets surprisingly upset, runs behind a nearby wall, and kicks a blue box. {whatever that is}. She ends up asking how you accepted her the other four times, and ends up going back in time (last few chapters) and tries each thing. I was almost confused by this until this was explained through dialog at this fourth meeting. Because when she arrived the first few times, the dialog was so confusing, I thought she had a mind-reading helmet on.
Now, of course any Doctor Who tie-in would not be acceptable without the proper amount of humor! And this book HAS IT. Like in the first few chapters when The Doctor is still a mystery to the main character, he says some surprising things about our present day lives, after a custodian (a robot guard) bonked, and tried to restrain him -
What I Was Left With -
Okay, the ending was, well disturbing. I mean I found out what the Blood Cell was. It terrifies me. Um. What can I say? It was well written and the very ending was a cute cliffhanger that I know won't be completed, ever? Which was kind of a disappointment.
The entire book was so good, but it ended on such a low note. I found out the entire book was a journal from the Warden which, was easy to tell in the beginning few chapters, (but I wasn't for sure). But you never read a book for the ending.
I know many people who read the back few pages first, if they don't like the ending, then they don't read it. By doing that, you cancel out the ride to those moments. The fights the Warden has with the doctor, and the humor and sad/terrifying parts are what make this Doctor Who book.
So what if the ending was.. well, disturbing. And it felt unfinished. You don't know, what if the Warden died before finishing his journal? Who knows, no one but this James Goss person. But that's all part of the ride! He wants you to think and discus his Doctor Who novel because that's what authors love seeing and hearing!
Why I Will Return -
I still, would not give up these read experiences! Well, maybe the ending. I don't know if I can ever fancy that. Oh but the ride! This book, overall was extremely enjoyable! (all but the ending chapter). Will I return? Yeah, maybe after I re-watc
h all of season 11 - 12 - and 13 when they come out. Then reading this novel, and the other two in the series would become much more enjoyable. The Doctor's voice would be easier to remember while reading, which always makes novels more interesting!
About the Author -
Turns out this Author was in jail, what for? I have no idea, but here's his mug shot.
You think he got some of his ideas and inspiration from inside a cell himself? Wait, the more I look at this something is of- OH he has TWO DIFFERENT COLORED EYES! Wow okay. Also it turns out his WIKI page says nothing about him being in jail. Other then that, he's wrote so many doctor who novels. no wonder he is so good at writing about the Doctor! But still I can't find anything about him being in jail, maybe it was just a DUI but this is DIFFIDENTLY James Goss so. It remains a mystery. just. like. the. ending. of. The Blood Cell. Thank you James Goss. Your mysterious influences and novels remain, like you, a mystery.
Oh. This. Cover. It just looks so promising! I bought this thinking it would be absolutely amazing, with stunning descriptions, mind visuals and story line. But was it? I mean look at it. Can you honestly judge a book by its cover? Let's find out...
I needed to give this book a try. And did I try. I knew when opening this novel, that the Twelfth Doctor would be featured. I loved the Twelfth Doctor. and I knew they would never accept a book from a writer that couldn't capture Peter Capaldi without him not feeling like The Doctor.
First off, this book is in first person. And you're not playing as The Doctor. Or Clara for that matter. You're playing as The Warden of a prison who likes to go by the title 'Sir.' This prison holds the worst of the worst in the galaxy. It's isolated, it's cold, it's painted only gray for the "moral" of the prisoners. And everyone speaks with ' around their speech as if everything was already said and you're only writing what you remember.
Second... He's not called the doctor in this one. Okay he is, but not by the main character. The Warden calls him by his cell number, 428. Although the Doctor really does not like to be named that. Regardless, the Warden has some special files on the Doctor. He refuses to call him by his name because, he knows how many 'innocent' people 428 has killed. This brings me to the next part.
Why I Continued Reading -
This novel is layered in suspense. It's on every page! To the different levels in the prison, their backstory and hidden contents. To the Library, The Doctor's new friend and the occasional black-outs. This is a book you cannot put down to rest. It has to always be with you, flipping though it as you're eagerly anticipating the next page!
Now when I began reading it, I didn't know how I'd get back into this universe. Its been a long time since I've read a Doctor Who novel, they are sometimes so different from the TV show and I didn't want it to be the case with this one. When I found out the main character and the perspective of this novel was not the Doctor, it gave me an opportunity to put myself fully in the Whovain universe. Yes, I thought I can finally throw this Doctor in jail for being slightly different. But of course you get outsmarted by him several times and even finding out how much you like him, and have in common with him. Even during a certain fight scene. (wink-wink) Seriously, if you haven't already, put yourself in this book as the Warden.
Clara is in this book as-well, obviously as told by the cover. And her character is exactly like you would see on the television. She has a certain way about her, that James Goss writes perfectly. So well written in fact, you find your character is confused on liking her or not. Like, shes annoying to the Warden, yet he keeps asking himself, (maybe she does like me, maybe we are friends). Now Clara shows up at very random times, and during the fourth time she arrives I thought she was being a tad bit strange. After realizing she had already been there four times without her former knowledge (time travel) she gets surprisingly upset, runs behind a nearby wall, and kicks a blue box. {whatever that is}. She ends up asking how you accepted her the other four times, and ends up going back in time (last few chapters) and tries each thing. I was almost confused by this until this was explained through dialog at this fourth meeting. Because when she arrived the first few times, the dialog was so confusing, I thought she had a mind-reading helmet on.
Now, of course any Doctor Who tie-in would not be acceptable without the proper amount of humor! And this book HAS IT. Like in the first few chapters when The Doctor is still a mystery to the main character, he says some surprising things about our present day lives, after a custodian (a robot guard) bonked, and tried to restrain him -
'You know,' 428 considered, 'as a massage, that was rather bracing. Come up with a good name for it, and you could clean up in health clubs. Mind you, you don't even really have to bother with a good name. I mean, take Zumba.'Of course Clara has her share of funny moments-
'Are you a relative. His daughter, perhaps?' She laughed at that, a full-on, throaty, horrified laugh. 'Never tell him you just said that. He'd kill you.'Yes, I enjoyed that. It was quite funny. Later on, you see Clara and the Doctor finally reunited in prison! (The jokes just get better!) At one point the Doctor breaks his big toe and Clara tries to suggest for him to just 'regenerate the big toe'. It's very comical when you read how the Doctor responds.
What I Was Left With -
Okay, the ending was, well disturbing. I mean I found out what the Blood Cell was. It terrifies me. Um. What can I say? It was well written and the very ending was a cute cliffhanger that I know won't be completed, ever? Which was kind of a disappointment.
The entire book was so good, but it ended on such a low note. I found out the entire book was a journal from the Warden which, was easy to tell in the beginning few chapters, (but I wasn't for sure). But you never read a book for the ending.
I know many people who read the back few pages first, if they don't like the ending, then they don't read it. By doing that, you cancel out the ride to those moments. The fights the Warden has with the doctor, and the humor and sad/terrifying parts are what make this Doctor Who book.
So what if the ending was.. well, disturbing. And it felt unfinished. You don't know, what if the Warden died before finishing his journal? Who knows, no one but this James Goss person. But that's all part of the ride! He wants you to think and discus his Doctor Who novel because that's what authors love seeing and hearing!
Why I Will Return -
I still, would not give up these read experiences! Well, maybe the ending. I don't know if I can ever fancy that. Oh but the ride! This book, overall was extremely enjoyable! (all but the ending chapter). Will I return? Yeah, maybe after I re-watc
h all of season 11 - 12 - and 13 when they come out. Then reading this novel, and the other two in the series would become much more enjoyable. The Doctor's voice would be easier to remember while reading, which always makes novels more interesting!
About the Author -
Turns out this Author was in jail, what for? I have no idea, but here's his mug shot.
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