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Torchwood #6
The Twilight Streets
There's a part of the city that no one much goes to, a collection of rundown old houses and gloomy streets. No one stays there long, and no one can explain why - something's not quite right there.
Now the Council is renovating the district, and a new company is overseeing the work. There will be street parties and events to show off the newly gentrified neighbourhood: clowns and face-painters for the kids, magicians for the adults - the street entertainers of Cardiff, out in force.
None of this is Torchwood's problem. Until Toshiko recognises the sponsor of the street parties: Bilis Manger.
Now there is something for Torchwood to investigate. But Captain Jack Harkness has never been able to get into the area; it makes him physically ill to go near it. Without Jack's help, Torchwood must face the darker side of urban Cardiff alone...
Now the Council is renovating the district, and a new company is overseeing the work. There will be street parties and events to show off the newly gentrified neighbourhood: clowns and face-painters for the kids, magicians for the adults - the street entertainers of Cardiff, out in force.
None of this is Torchwood's problem. Until Toshiko recognises the sponsor of the street parties: Bilis Manger.
Now there is something for Torchwood to investigate. But Captain Jack Harkness has never been able to get into the area; it makes him physically ill to go near it. Without Jack's help, Torchwood must face the darker side of urban Cardiff alone...
256 pages, Hardcover
First published March 27, 2008
25 people are currently reading
844 people want to read
About the author
Gary Russell
198 books172 followersGary Russell is a British freelance writer, producer and former child actor. As a writer, he is best known for his work in connection with the television series Doctor Who and its spin-offs in other media. As an actor, he is best known for playing Dick Kirrin in the British 1978 television series The Famous Five.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
September 2, 2016
3.5
Hard to rate. There are moments that made me want to scream, but since this is basically an all Jack story, I think it deserves a higher rating from me.
For those who have watched Torchwood, they know Billis Manger very well. It is one of the most enigmatic enemies they have.
The whole story revolves around a part of Cardiff that nobody can do anything about. Every time someone tries to do something about it, nothing happens. Every time people try to live there, something drives them away. It is not surprising then that there are a lot of ghost stories connected to Tretarri. Even Jack isn't immune to it. While people can at least try to live, make it better or whatever they tried to do there, Jack can't can't even enter.
I loved the idea for the story. Torchwood fans won't be surprised by Billis Manger's ability to show a future to Jack's team. The events from End of Days are mentioned too.
The events here show exactly the kind of people Jack works with. I know that some might argue that all that was imaginary or that they were out of character (I disagree), but most of the actions were exactly the things those people would do given enough chance. Jack's team is the most incompetent group of petty, insecure and jealous individuals I've seen. Only Ianto is worthy to be anywhere near Jack. And Rhys too, but he isn't a team member.
It doesn't matter whether the events are true or not, this is exactly what would happen.
Hard to rate. There are moments that made me want to scream, but since this is basically an all Jack story, I think it deserves a higher rating from me.
For those who have watched Torchwood, they know Billis Manger very well. It is one of the most enigmatic enemies they have.
The whole story revolves around a part of Cardiff that nobody can do anything about. Every time someone tries to do something about it, nothing happens. Every time people try to live there, something drives them away. It is not surprising then that there are a lot of ghost stories connected to Tretarri. Even Jack isn't immune to it. While people can at least try to live, make it better or whatever they tried to do there, Jack can't can't even enter.
I loved the idea for the story. Torchwood fans won't be surprised by Billis Manger's ability to show a future to Jack's team. The events from End of Days are mentioned too.
The events here show exactly the kind of people Jack works with. I know that some might argue that all that was imaginary or that they were out of character (I disagree), but most of the actions were exactly the things those people would do given enough chance. Jack's team is the most incompetent group of petty, insecure and jealous individuals I've seen. Only Ianto is worthy to be anywhere near Jack. And Rhys too, but he isn't a team member.
It doesn't matter whether the events are true or not, this is exactly what would happen.
November 25, 2008
Absolute rubbish. The characters managed to be both flat and unrecognisable, while the author got carried away with a fanciful and ridiculous plot that frequently confused and annoyed me. Don't waste your time. There are fan fiction authors out there writing far, far better stories. Get on live journal and read dsudis' Get Loved, Make More, Try To Stay Alive, demotu's A Matter of Time, sam_storyteller's The Doctor and Mr Jones or The Theory of Two Centres, or d8rkmessngr's The Oncoming Storm instead.
February 4, 2020
If only this were an actual episode! I feel that this novel brought more to the characters than what we saw onscreen and helped to add more depth to the overall canon. I loved how we were given a new look at the DW episode 'Boom Town' and its fallout as well as a better look at the team post season 2 premiere. It was interesting to see Bilis Manger in a different setting and, if RTD had decided to pace the show out more, I feel that it would have been interesting to see how events in DW like 'Boom Town', 'The Stolen Earth', and 'Journey's End' impacted the characters. Overall, a very solid addition to the Whoniverse.
September 24, 2017
By far my favourite (as of now)! Loved the team's dynamics, the friendly banter as we see it in the series and especially the Jack-Ianto-scenes ugh. Oh and Bilis Manger, of course. That'd quite a way to make a villain something that's not quite evil and not good either.
Jus loved it!
Jus loved it!
October 2, 2014
This is the sixth of the novels based on Torchwood, a dark spin off from Doctor Who. Personally, I'm a big fan of the show, which is why I was interested in the novels in the first place. I've found them to be uneven, but this is one of the better ones.
Among the elements at play here are serveral characters from both the Dr. Who and Torchwood series returning, a section of town that Torchwood leader Jack Harkness can't enter and the mystery behind it, and a very dark future version of what could have happend to the Torchwood crew.
I thought this was well done. It's largely about Jack, my favorite of the characters. There were also good scenes with the others, including a nice part where Ianto gets a bit of steel in his spine and tells of Gwen. I liked the characterizations and the ties to the shows.
The "evil" Torchwood in the future actually made a lot of sense, not just a "we turned them evil to tell a story, isn't it cool?" kinda thing. And the ugly secret behind it was a nice reveal I won't spoil here.
I enjoyed this one, and thought it was a great addition to the stories of Torchwood. I still wish they'd bring the show back.
Among the elements at play here are serveral characters from both the Dr. Who and Torchwood series returning, a section of town that Torchwood leader Jack Harkness can't enter and the mystery behind it, and a very dark future version of what could have happend to the Torchwood crew.
I thought this was well done. It's largely about Jack, my favorite of the characters. There were also good scenes with the others, including a nice part where Ianto gets a bit of steel in his spine and tells of Gwen. I liked the characterizations and the ties to the shows.
The "evil" Torchwood in the future actually made a lot of sense, not just a "we turned them evil to tell a story, isn't it cool?" kinda thing. And the ugly secret behind it was a nice reveal I won't spoil here.
I enjoyed this one, and thought it was a great addition to the stories of Torchwood. I still wish they'd bring the show back.
March 7, 2017
This is the Torchwood I fell in love with.
Banter, aliens, flirtations, Jack and Ianto embracing the attraction between them. Toss in Bilis Manger and you have all the ingredients for a darn fine novel, especially for fans of the show. A fast paced romp with the gang from the Hub that flowed well and kept me turning pages at a breakneck speed. Well done, Mr. Russell!
Banter, aliens, flirtations, Jack and Ianto embracing the attraction between them. Toss in Bilis Manger and you have all the ingredients for a darn fine novel, especially for fans of the show. A fast paced romp with the gang from the Hub that flowed well and kept me turning pages at a breakneck speed. Well done, Mr. Russell!
October 9, 2008
Not impressed. I've enjoyed the Doctor Who novels more than this, my first Torchwood novel. The quality of the writing leaves a lot to be desired - not very sophisticated. Much like a Doctor Who novel with a lot of references to sex added.
February 12, 2019
Loved the Janto flirting, the general plot was interesting and I liked Bilis Manger as the foe to the Torchwood team (and wish we´d seen more of him in the tv show).
Unfortunately the book was a bit short (about 240 pages) and couldn´t develop the plot well enough to be believable and some of the characterisations also fell flat. Other than the audio books and audio plays there are no actors who can make some stupid dialogue sound good or at least tolerable.
I gave this 3 stars because it was an enjoyable experience even though it won´t go down in history as one of my favourite Torchwood productions outside of the actual TV show.
Unfortunately the book was a bit short (about 240 pages) and couldn´t develop the plot well enough to be believable and some of the characterisations also fell flat. Other than the audio books and audio plays there are no actors who can make some stupid dialogue sound good or at least tolerable.
I gave this 3 stars because it was an enjoyable experience even though it won´t go down in history as one of my favourite Torchwood productions outside of the actual TV show.
August 21, 2024
Fun but ended suuuuper quickly
December 5, 2019
I've already shared most of my thoughts with a friend, but basically this wasn't really the story for me. I couldn't properly get into it and I felt lost a lot of the time. However, I loved recognising a few of the places in Cardiff that were mentioned, and it had a few very strong Ianto moments, including:
Gwen smiled, nudged his arm. ‘Oh come on, smile. Lisa, Jack… being bisexual is hardly a crime. Best of both worlds, isn’t it?’
And Ianto pushed her away. ‘No, Gwen. No, really it’s bloody not. It’s the worst of any world because you don’t really belong anywhere, because you are never sure of yourself or those around you. You can’t trust in anyone, their motives or their intentions. And because of that, you have, in a world that likes its nice shiny labels, no true identity. For Torchwood’s “Little Miss Sensitive”, you don’t half talk crap sometimes. So do me a favour and shut up about it, all right?’
This is following an in-depth discussion of ABBA, which I also appreciate.
Gwen smiled, nudged his arm. ‘Oh come on, smile. Lisa, Jack… being bisexual is hardly a crime. Best of both worlds, isn’t it?’
And Ianto pushed her away. ‘No, Gwen. No, really it’s bloody not. It’s the worst of any world because you don’t really belong anywhere, because you are never sure of yourself or those around you. You can’t trust in anyone, their motives or their intentions. And because of that, you have, in a world that likes its nice shiny labels, no true identity. For Torchwood’s “Little Miss Sensitive”, you don’t half talk crap sometimes. So do me a favour and shut up about it, all right?’
This is following an in-depth discussion of ABBA, which I also appreciate.
July 16, 2025
*RE-READ 16/07/25
My rating for this book remains pretty much the same, although on re-reading it I did grasp what was going on a lot easier. I'm not as hard on Gwen these days, but the conversation between herself and Ianto about his sexuality was still enjoyable because it wasn't her business. Although the description Ianto gives of bisexuality in general is....interesting, to say the least.
The alternate future was fascinating, in a fucked up kind of manner. What they do to Jack is insane, but I'm loving this theme I'm seeing of Ianto not being infected with viruses or evil aliens. The man would sooner be shredded with bullets than break his loyalties to Jack. I just wish Jack appreciated that more 🙄
The characterization of Abaddon and it's purpose was definitely something I wasn't expecting. The idea that he was actually doing good in it's own messed up way was definitely something I didn't expect.
But, let's be real here, Jack Ianto Geraint Williams? I had to put the book down for a moment when I read that. I haven't heard a name so preposterous since Albus Severus Potter 😂
The cover is still hilarious as well.
*Original Review: 2021*
I honestly wish there was a 🤷🏻♀️ rating because I really don't know what I think. Which is sort of a first for me. Like I'm genuinely unsure what to say and was completely stumped on how to rate it, obviously settling for a middling mark, slightly above average because I enjoyed more than I didn't.
I've had a complex relationship with Doctor Who and Torchwood novels where I enjoy them, but most of the time I haven't a clue what is going on. When it comes to the explanations as the story nears conclusion I always get so confused. Maybe I'm stupid and the Doctor Who universe doesn't translate into literature well for me. The Twilight Streets were no different. I've come out of reading this book with Light light and Dark light spinning in my head with no actual understanding of how the resolution worked. Or how the possessions worked. Or what the hell Bilis' actual role was.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Idris as it was a nice call back to Series One of Doctor Who and Jack's first visit to Cardiff. However, I don't know if the writers of both the show and this book are tone deaf, but surely they knew that the audience that had become so invested in Jack and Ianto's relationship weren't going to enjoy reading Jack slobbering over other men all the time. Sure, it's part of Jack's character to be a flirt but I genuinely believe the writers-even when it came to the actual show-had a fundamental misunderstanding of how having Jack and Ianto in a relationship would effect people. Particularly when it wasn't given much development and Jack barely shows any affection for Ianto until its necessary for the plot. That could just be me though.
I did enjoy reading the main Torchwood team doing their usual Torchwood stuff when an irregularity is realised. I always enjoy Ianto's character in particular, even if I don't believe for one second that he would give a toss about what Gwen of all people thought of him. That's an impressive feat this book achieved: Gwen wasn't her usual unbearable self! It's was particularly enjoyable when Ianto shut her down for blabbering on about his sexuality when he was clearly uncomfortable with it. If I werent tried to rare this book seriously I'd have given five stars for that moment alone.
But, ultimately, this book was just an eh? from me. Still have no idea what happened or why but enjoyed the character interactions the most. The front cover is laughable though. If there was a poster boy for the "we live in a society" meme, that photo of Ianto would be it.
My rating for this book remains pretty much the same, although on re-reading it I did grasp what was going on a lot easier. I'm not as hard on Gwen these days, but the conversation between herself and Ianto about his sexuality was still enjoyable because it wasn't her business. Although the description Ianto gives of bisexuality in general is....interesting, to say the least.
The alternate future was fascinating, in a fucked up kind of manner. What they do to Jack is insane, but I'm loving this theme I'm seeing of Ianto not being infected with viruses or evil aliens. The man would sooner be shredded with bullets than break his loyalties to Jack. I just wish Jack appreciated that more 🙄
The characterization of Abaddon and it's purpose was definitely something I wasn't expecting. The idea that he was actually doing good in it's own messed up way was definitely something I didn't expect.
But, let's be real here, Jack Ianto Geraint Williams? I had to put the book down for a moment when I read that. I haven't heard a name so preposterous since Albus Severus Potter 😂
The cover is still hilarious as well.
*Original Review: 2021*
I honestly wish there was a 🤷🏻♀️ rating because I really don't know what I think. Which is sort of a first for me. Like I'm genuinely unsure what to say and was completely stumped on how to rate it, obviously settling for a middling mark, slightly above average because I enjoyed more than I didn't.
I've had a complex relationship with Doctor Who and Torchwood novels where I enjoy them, but most of the time I haven't a clue what is going on. When it comes to the explanations as the story nears conclusion I always get so confused. Maybe I'm stupid and the Doctor Who universe doesn't translate into literature well for me. The Twilight Streets were no different. I've come out of reading this book with Light light and Dark light spinning in my head with no actual understanding of how the resolution worked. Or how the possessions worked. Or what the hell Bilis' actual role was.
I enjoyed the inclusion of Idris as it was a nice call back to Series One of Doctor Who and Jack's first visit to Cardiff. However, I don't know if the writers of both the show and this book are tone deaf, but surely they knew that the audience that had become so invested in Jack and Ianto's relationship weren't going to enjoy reading Jack slobbering over other men all the time. Sure, it's part of Jack's character to be a flirt but I genuinely believe the writers-even when it came to the actual show-had a fundamental misunderstanding of how having Jack and Ianto in a relationship would effect people. Particularly when it wasn't given much development and Jack barely shows any affection for Ianto until its necessary for the plot. That could just be me though.
I did enjoy reading the main Torchwood team doing their usual Torchwood stuff when an irregularity is realised. I always enjoy Ianto's character in particular, even if I don't believe for one second that he would give a toss about what Gwen of all people thought of him. That's an impressive feat this book achieved: Gwen wasn't her usual unbearable self! It's was particularly enjoyable when Ianto shut her down for blabbering on about his sexuality when he was clearly uncomfortable with it. If I werent tried to rare this book seriously I'd have given five stars for that moment alone.
But, ultimately, this book was just an eh? from me. Still have no idea what happened or why but enjoyed the character interactions the most. The front cover is laughable though. If there was a poster boy for the "we live in a society" meme, that photo of Ianto would be it.
December 31, 2020
Jack Harkness is Cardiff's protector. Except there's a small block of streets he can't visit. He's never been able to visit. Attempts see him becoming more nauseous and unwell the further he tries to get. And no-one knows why. Until now.
This book is very on-again, off-again. Some parts race past, while others are less engaging. It manages to make me want to learn more about one of my least favourite characters, Bilis Manger, provides glimpses into Jack's history and relationships with the team, and the characterisation is on track for most of the book. I felt like some parts were just re-hashes of End of Days, and others were a bit too obvious, but overall it was still an enjoyable read.
This book is very on-again, off-again. Some parts race past, while others are less engaging. It manages to make me want to learn more about one of my least favourite characters, Bilis Manger, provides glimpses into Jack's history and relationships with the team, and the characterisation is on track for most of the book. I felt like some parts were just re-hashes of End of Days, and others were a bit too obvious, but overall it was still an enjoyable read.
May 20, 2012
Its rather straightforward plot comes second to all the continuity references & back story...but what amazingly well-handled continuity references and back story we get to enjoy in this novel. It's also a sequel that manages to be more creepy & disturbing than the story it originally followed...no mean feat in the "Torchwood" universe. Gary Russell gets a lot of stick for his fanboy approach to novels...but he certainly knows his way around the crew of the Hub.
May 4, 2009
A friend gave me this and I read it in one day. I must say I was surprised how good it was - not brilliant (TV tie-ins rarely are), but it reads like an episode, and all characters get their moments (epecially Ianto, which makes me happy). Plus there's lots of continuity, making it really feel like part of the Torchwood universe.
May 31, 2019
Strange but great
This story brings back our vilian Bilis Manger from “Captain Jack Harkness” and he isn’t very nice is this story either. He wants revenge on Jack. Don’t want to spoil the story anymore. But very good as always just like the tv series. More about Jack and Ianto’s relationship also.
This story brings back our vilian Bilis Manger from “Captain Jack Harkness” and he isn’t very nice is this story either. He wants revenge on Jack. Don’t want to spoil the story anymore. But very good as always just like the tv series. More about Jack and Ianto’s relationship also.
May 2, 2020
It was my first time reading a Torchwood book and I can say it was a real pleasure. It felt like watching the show, the characters were witty, smart and funny; the story was really interesting and I was hooked, finished the book in a day! I already ordered the next tome and I hope to find the same level of writing.
November 18, 2008
I agree with what many others have said - great book! I read it in one sitting (which I hadn't planned on but I couldn't put it down).
I especially like how this book embraces the relationship between Jack and Ianto.
I especially like how this book embraces the relationship between Jack and Ianto.
November 11, 2020
A great Torchwood story, which satiated my thirst for more Ianto content!
Although the plot was a little confusing at times, due to both narrative structure and confusing sci-fi things, I enjoyed the eeriness and drama. 3.5 stars.
Although the plot was a little confusing at times, due to both narrative structure and confusing sci-fi things, I enjoyed the eeriness and drama. 3.5 stars.
March 26, 2022
one star removed for a heinous cover and i didn’t really know what was going on but the gay people more than make up for it
April 21, 2009
lightweight but fun
January 27, 2025
Plot
There’s a certain section of Cardiff that Jack Harkness is unable to visit. A close proximity to the neighborhood brings on violent and debilitating illness. Why? What connection does it have to a strange entity who is after Jack and his team for something Jack did back during WWII? How will this individual affect the future? The Cardiff rift plays a major role in this story.
My Analysis
While the plot was good, following the story line was difficult at times, especially during the alternate future parts. I had trouble making the transition between the ‘what if’ parts and the present day parts.
I know the series has Jack as bi-sexual. However, I don’t think that fact was relevant for this story, and it shouldn’t have been highlighted so much. The characters as portrayed on the television series were pretty good. Ianto playing the lost puppy dog, loyal to Jack but a little sappy. Owen, the tough and hard-edged researcher. Gwen, the strong female role. The other female character didn’t get much of a role other than being a kidnap victim. Rhys, the loving husband, ever exasperated by Torchwood.
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There was some good mystery involved with the history of this strange part of town. I wasn’t sure of the turnaround with the antagonist at the end considering he was so adamant to punish Jack.
I’m giving this a green belt because while the mystery was good, the writing made it difficult to follow as mentioned above, therefore the enjoyability factor dropped.
There’s a certain section of Cardiff that Jack Harkness is unable to visit. A close proximity to the neighborhood brings on violent and debilitating illness. Why? What connection does it have to a strange entity who is after Jack and his team for something Jack did back during WWII? How will this individual affect the future? The Cardiff rift plays a major role in this story.
My Analysis
While the plot was good, following the story line was difficult at times, especially during the alternate future parts. I had trouble making the transition between the ‘what if’ parts and the present day parts.
I know the series has Jack as bi-sexual. However, I don’t think that fact was relevant for this story, and it shouldn’t have been highlighted so much. The characters as portrayed on the television series were pretty good. Ianto playing the lost puppy dog, loyal to Jack but a little sappy. Owen, the tough and hard-edged researcher. Gwen, the strong female role. The other female character didn’t get much of a role other than being a kidnap victim. Rhys, the loving husband, ever exasperated by Torchwood.
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There was some good mystery involved with the history of this strange part of town. I wasn’t sure of the turnaround with the antagonist at the end considering he was so adamant to punish Jack.
I’m giving this a green belt because while the mystery was good, the writing made it difficult to follow as mentioned above, therefore the enjoyability factor dropped.
January 25, 2024
So, this was not the best Torchwood/Doctor Who tie-in novel I've read.
There were some parts that worked (for example, the team noticing that Ianto brings the coffee around without prompting only when Jack's around, and Owen's paranoia that Ianto's put something in the coffee as payback for an earlier joke). There were also some interesting moments with the characters (like Gwen and Ianto's discussion about ABBA). Unfortunately, while it starts off well, the last third of the story is messy.
Especially during the climax some of the scenes towards the end are very choppy and abrupt, there are several flat-out confusing plot twists/points, and several parts feel like they would have come off a lot better as a TV show than as prose (seriously, what was up with the clown thing?). Also, the ending was kind of unsatisfying. It feels like the writing banking so hard on Biliss Manger being a ~mysterious enigma~ that it forgot this is also its own novel.
The first half or two-thirds of it was pretty all right, though? Like I said, there were some parts of it that I dug, even if the ending didn't really work for me.
There were some parts that worked (for example, the team noticing that Ianto brings the coffee around without prompting only when Jack's around, and Owen's paranoia that Ianto's put something in the coffee as payback for an earlier joke). There were also some interesting moments with the characters (like Gwen and Ianto's discussion about ABBA). Unfortunately, while it starts off well, the last third of the story is messy.
Especially during the climax some of the scenes towards the end are very choppy and abrupt, there are several flat-out confusing plot twists/points, and several parts feel like they would have come off a lot better as a TV show than as prose (seriously, what was up with the clown thing?). Also, the ending was kind of unsatisfying. It feels like the writing banking so hard on Biliss Manger being a ~mysterious enigma~ that it forgot this is also its own novel.
The first half or two-thirds of it was pretty all right, though? Like I said, there were some parts of it that I dug, even if the ending didn't really work for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2018
This looked as if it had the potential to be something very special, but the writing lets it down big time (or perhaps Gary Russell should be comprehensively edited, and wasn't), and ... well, if these novels get any shorter --! I think this one manages to reach about 50,000 words, and the hardcover is bulked out with so much whitespace, one mourns on behalf of trees.
For me, Russell didn't "get" the characters, which further robs the reading experience. *sigh* Maybe I'm just getting too picky in my old age? I've read ten of the Torchwood books (I believe there were 19??) and eventually I decided to call it there, because the costs involved far outweigh the reading pleasure most of these books deliver. Damn.
Warning: impending rant:
Why doesn't an actual FAN write a really great novel ... and why won't BBC look at better quality Torchwood fiction? You can't convince me that fannish writers don't try to show them great novels, bbut they prefer to publish very substandard fiction, almost as if dealing with fannish writers is a taboo. Ack. Grrrr. Okay, rant over.
For me, Russell didn't "get" the characters, which further robs the reading experience. *sigh* Maybe I'm just getting too picky in my old age? I've read ten of the Torchwood books (I believe there were 19??) and eventually I decided to call it there, because the costs involved far outweigh the reading pleasure most of these books deliver. Damn.
Warning: impending rant:
Why doesn't an actual FAN write a really great novel ... and why won't BBC look at better quality Torchwood fiction? You can't convince me that fannish writers don't try to show them great novels, bbut they prefer to publish very substandard fiction, almost as if dealing with fannish writers is a taboo. Ack. Grrrr. Okay, rant over.
July 20, 2023
Bilis Manger proves once again that he's the creepiest, most spine-tingling and most enigmatic villain to ever come out of Torchwood. I can hear Murray Melvin's soft, slow voice reading each line of Bilis. He's not the only element that shines in this book - the alternate-reality flash forwards are great and I really like the way they build up the narrative of this future chapter-by-chapter (it sort of reminds me of the 'Knightmare' sequences across Zak Snyder's DC films). All the Torchwood team are very well written here.
Unfortunately the plot becomes a bit convoluted, with the last third of the book becoming a seething mass of perambulations with black light and white light and, well I'm not too sure what happened really. It is sad that the plot couldn't carry the great characters of this story. 3 stars, maybe 3.5.
Unfortunately the plot becomes a bit convoluted, with the last third of the book becoming a seething mass of perambulations with black light and white light and, well I'm not too sure what happened really. It is sad that the plot couldn't carry the great characters of this story. 3 stars, maybe 3.5.
January 27, 2024
Like a lot of people, I don’t actually know what I’ve just read. The cuts back and forth to the alternate future really confused me at the start, but I actually think having the book start off the way it did then telling the alternate future in its entirety before going back to present day Cardiff might have worked better. Some nice Ianto moments in it though- not the worst Torchwood novel I’ve read, but not the best yet either.
I agree with others this would have worked better as an actual episode.
I agree with others this would have worked better as an actual episode.
August 24, 2017
It is a very nice novel with some description about a very fascinating future which I like best. If you are a janto fan this won't let you down and even you are just a Ianto fan, this book also shows a brave- as - always Ianto who actually save the world (and the future). Also if you are quite into the relationship between Tosh and Owen, you can find really nice connection and interaction between these two characters in this book. And it also has a very intriguing ending.
April 18, 2021
In the beginning the writing felt a bit uneven. Especially the team dynamic in the beginning was a bit odd. But as the story progressed it really grew on me. I loved that it was kind of a sequel to End Of Days, which also helps the episode (need to rewatch). I especially liked the sequences of the 'possible future'. Scary and intriguing.
April 3, 2023
Like all good TV tie in novels, this really felt like an extra episode of the show.
It's always nice when you get an extra story with an interesting villian who only appeared in the final two episodes of Series 1.
This time Bilis is involved in a development project in Cardiff.
The books strengths are Russell's ability to capture both the series regulars and the Welsh capital perfectly.
It's always nice when you get an extra story with an interesting villian who only appeared in the final two episodes of Series 1.
This time Bilis is involved in a development project in Cardiff.
The books strengths are Russell's ability to capture both the series regulars and the Welsh capital perfectly.
April 11, 2024
The beginning was a lot of fun, but, later on, I found the potential future timeline a bit too unrealistic for my liking, which prevented me from loving the book. In addition, I think the author went a bit overboard with having the characters joke during dire situations. Having said that, I still found the novel quite enjoyable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2024
Definitely the best of the Torchwood novels I have read so far. The jokey moments are good, I loved the Janto moments, and we get an intriguing bad future involving empires and possession. The enemies of the book (the Light and the Dark") didn't intrigue me much though and the book was a bit too short, meaning less of this interesting bad future.
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