What do you think?
Rate this book
Doctor Who: New Series Adventures #60
Doctor Who: The Shining Man
“Being scared is the least of your worries.”
The Shining Men are everywhere. You spot them out of the corner of your eye. Abnormally tall, with long lank hair, blank faces and blazing eyes. If they catch you, they’ll drag you away to who knows where. No one is safe. They’re on every street corner. Waiting. Watching. Shining bright.
Of course it’s a hoax. It has to be, right? It started as a joke, a prank for Halloween. Then it went viral. Idiots dressing up as monsters. Giving folk a scare. Silly masks and fright wigs. No one gets hurt. Because bogeymen aren’t real.
Until people start going missing and lights burn in the darkness. Burning like eyes.
But help is on its way, in the form of a strange man called the Doctor and his friend, Bill. The Doctor will keep us safe. The Doctor will stop the monsters. Unless the monsters stop the Doctor first…
An original novel featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Bill as played by Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie.
The Shining Men are everywhere. You spot them out of the corner of your eye. Abnormally tall, with long lank hair, blank faces and blazing eyes. If they catch you, they’ll drag you away to who knows where. No one is safe. They’re on every street corner. Waiting. Watching. Shining bright.
Of course it’s a hoax. It has to be, right? It started as a joke, a prank for Halloween. Then it went viral. Idiots dressing up as monsters. Giving folk a scare. Silly masks and fright wigs. No one gets hurt. Because bogeymen aren’t real.
Until people start going missing and lights burn in the darkness. Burning like eyes.
But help is on its way, in the form of a strange man called the Doctor and his friend, Bill. The Doctor will keep us safe. The Doctor will stop the monsters. Unless the monsters stop the Doctor first…
An original novel featuring the Twelfth Doctor and Bill as played by Peter Capaldi and Pearl Mackie.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 20, 2017
20 people are currently reading
686 people want to read
About the author
Cavan Scott
843 books433 followersis a freelance comic writer and author. He is best known for his work on a variety of spin-offs from both Doctor Who and Star Wars, as well as comics and novels for Vikings, Pacific Rim, Sherlock Holmes, and Penguins of Madagascar.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Cavan Scott, along with Justina Ireland, Claudia Gray, Daniel Jose Older, and Charles Soule are crafting a new era in the Star Wars publishing world called Star Wars: The High Republic. Cavan's contribution to the era is a comic book series released through Marvel Comics titled Star Wars: The High Republic.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
July 25, 2023
An eight year old boy runs home scared and afraid, because he ran into one of the notorious Shining Men. The Shining Men are the new craze. They’re tall and hairy and a bright light shines out of their eyes. They’re seemingly people who dress up and go around scaring people. The boy’s mom spots a tall figure standing right in front of her house. So she goes out to give the Shining Man a strong talking to for scaring her son. She never comes back home. The boy then convinces his ten year old big sister to go looking for her in the forest.
A monster hunter vlogger is also in the same forest, because her research showed that the forest is ground zero for these mysterious Shining Men sightings. And she very much wants to crack the case and debunk the mystery. But not without first spicing things up for her followers who are watching at home. And then she stumbles upon a big blue police box.
The twelfth doctor and Bill Potts step out of the Tardis, straight into the hands of the vlogger. She tells them all they need to know. They need to solve the mystery of the Shining Men and bring the little boy’s mom back home.
The Shining Men are clearly modeled after the scary killer clown craze from a couple of years ago. They are portrayed as a lot more mysterious and spooky rather than scary though. Because this story targets a rather young audience, made clear from the start by making the eight year old boy one of the main points of view.
The boy’s point of view is lacking a bit in tension because it’s so character-driven. Which is understandable as he feels strengthened and protected by his more mature big sister who makes the whole situation less scary through his eyes. The vlogger, who’s constantly filming everything with her phone and trying to make the whole situation as entertaining as possible for her viewers at home, is therefore quite a welcome addition to the cast. And it even gives us a hint at why the found footage genre can work so well to create a bit more tension in a scene, without taking away too much from the story at hand.
It’s much more an atmospheric middle grade fantasy mystery story, rather than the spooky science fiction horror story I was expecting. But it’s well written, has a solid mystery and a good cast. It’s an entertaining read from start to finish.
A monster hunter vlogger is also in the same forest, because her research showed that the forest is ground zero for these mysterious Shining Men sightings. And she very much wants to crack the case and debunk the mystery. But not without first spicing things up for her followers who are watching at home. And then she stumbles upon a big blue police box.
The twelfth doctor and Bill Potts step out of the Tardis, straight into the hands of the vlogger. She tells them all they need to know. They need to solve the mystery of the Shining Men and bring the little boy’s mom back home.
The Shining Men are clearly modeled after the scary killer clown craze from a couple of years ago. They are portrayed as a lot more mysterious and spooky rather than scary though. Because this story targets a rather young audience, made clear from the start by making the eight year old boy one of the main points of view.
The boy’s point of view is lacking a bit in tension because it’s so character-driven. Which is understandable as he feels strengthened and protected by his more mature big sister who makes the whole situation less scary through his eyes. The vlogger, who’s constantly filming everything with her phone and trying to make the whole situation as entertaining as possible for her viewers at home, is therefore quite a welcome addition to the cast. And it even gives us a hint at why the found footage genre can work so well to create a bit more tension in a scene, without taking away too much from the story at hand.
It’s much more an atmospheric middle grade fantasy mystery story, rather than the spooky science fiction horror story I was expecting. But it’s well written, has a solid mystery and a good cast. It’s an entertaining read from start to finish.
September 14, 2020
Actual rating is 4.5 stars.
This book is based on the television show and this book features the Twelfth Doctor with Bill as his companion. In this one, they are in our regular timeline. In our timeline there is a new phenomenon where The Shining Man will appear in the corner of your eye. This also incites people to reenact this craze into spooking people.
Going into this book I was skeptical as I thought it was going to be a rip off of The Silence. It quickly won me over as I realized it was portraying the killer clown craze that happened several years ago. This book even hints at it to let you know what it is doing. I was also a little skeptical because of the characters that were featured. These two were not my favorite team up. But this book once again swayed my opinion and I loved them in this book. The portrayal of The Doctor was perfect and Bill was a little generic but it worked. The adventure starts off like any other adventure in this universe. Then it goes in a direction that I never would have anticipated and I loved it as it quickly delves into fairies. I enjoyed this direction as they depicted them as monsters and not as cute little creatures.
I have read many books from this universe and this one is easily in my top five. It captured the essence of the show. It contained a little horror with the comedy aspect and most importantly the charm of the show that fans have come to expect from this universe.
This book is based on the television show and this book features the Twelfth Doctor with Bill as his companion. In this one, they are in our regular timeline. In our timeline there is a new phenomenon where The Shining Man will appear in the corner of your eye. This also incites people to reenact this craze into spooking people.
Going into this book I was skeptical as I thought it was going to be a rip off of The Silence. It quickly won me over as I realized it was portraying the killer clown craze that happened several years ago. This book even hints at it to let you know what it is doing. I was also a little skeptical because of the characters that were featured. These two were not my favorite team up. But this book once again swayed my opinion and I loved them in this book. The portrayal of The Doctor was perfect and Bill was a little generic but it worked. The adventure starts off like any other adventure in this universe. Then it goes in a direction that I never would have anticipated and I loved it as it quickly delves into fairies. I enjoyed this direction as they depicted them as monsters and not as cute little creatures.
I have read many books from this universe and this one is easily in my top five. It captured the essence of the show. It contained a little horror with the comedy aspect and most importantly the charm of the show that fans have come to expect from this universe.
April 26, 2018
When strange tall figures known as The Shining Men start appearing, the local residents put it down to a Halloween hoax.
But soon people start to disappear, Who are they and what are their motives??
A great Twelfth Doctor and Bill story.
But soon people start to disappear, Who are they and what are their motives??
A great Twelfth Doctor and Bill story.
July 13, 2017
Now this is far more to my liking. It's a story that takes what Russell Davies-era "Doctor Who" did so well -- visit the modern, every day world and turn it into a nightmare -- but turns up the atmosphere by a factor of 10, until every page is dripping with it. It also re-visits the subject matter found in the "Torchwood" episode "Small Worlds" and put its own spin on the material, to superb & disturbing effect. Add a solid depiction of the 12th Doctor & Bill (no small feat, given how little the author had to work with), and the end result is incredibly satisfying.
March 22, 2018
This book was freaking amazing! It was dark, and spooky, and fanatical and had a brilliant supporting cast of characters: and not only all this, but 12 and Bill were written perfectly! And this book also had fae and boggarts, and a reference to Krusty the Clown from The Simpsons – yes, I kid you not
I love how the author wasted no time in getting to the story; it opens with a young mother dealing with her young son, traumatized as he tells her about “The Shining Man”. I was instantly intrugued, and had all of the goosebumps, I couldn’t get enough – there was instant word building, as the author goes on to elaborate on The Shining Man, but are they more than just a mere urban legend made up to scare children? Well, you’ll have to read this book to find out
I loved learning about the whole concept of The Shining Man, I was constantly kept guessing as to who or what they truly were, because as I’m sure my fellow Whovians would know, in Doctor Who, when it comes to monsters, there’s more than often meets the eye, and as things were revealed, it was brilliant, and slightly terrifying.
The author captured 12 and Bill perfectly, I felt like both characters leapt off the page perfectly, I could hear them reading the lines and performing the actions described in the book – and I loved their interactions with the supporting characters – some of which were the most memorable amongst the Doctor Who books! I mean, we have Sammy, a mother of two young children – Noah and Masie, both of whom I was impressed with both character’s growth, what started out with sibling bickering developed into the two relying on one another for support and comfort after something devastating. I loved 12’s interactions with Noah, it was so precious! And Bill was great with them too, and she had some super cute interactions with Charlotte, who I also loved in her nerdy vlogger ways, and actually given the ending of this book, a follow up one would be fabulous! I actually feel like this book joins the rank of the best Doctor Who books that I’ve read; I mean I started it Thursday night and finished it Friday morning! I felt like I was watching a Doctor Who episode in my mind as I was reading! Flawless, and I can’t fault it – it’s definitley one I’d read again.
I couldn’t recommend this book enough; for Whovians and anyone who wants a spooky but fanatical read;
‘Fairies, elves and boggarts, oh my!’
I love how the author wasted no time in getting to the story; it opens with a young mother dealing with her young son, traumatized as he tells her about “The Shining Man”. I was instantly intrugued, and had all of the goosebumps, I couldn’t get enough – there was instant word building, as the author goes on to elaborate on The Shining Man, but are they more than just a mere urban legend made up to scare children? Well, you’ll have to read this book to find out
I loved learning about the whole concept of The Shining Man, I was constantly kept guessing as to who or what they truly were, because as I’m sure my fellow Whovians would know, in Doctor Who, when it comes to monsters, there’s more than often meets the eye, and as things were revealed, it was brilliant, and slightly terrifying.
The author captured 12 and Bill perfectly, I felt like both characters leapt off the page perfectly, I could hear them reading the lines and performing the actions described in the book – and I loved their interactions with the supporting characters – some of which were the most memorable amongst the Doctor Who books! I mean, we have Sammy, a mother of two young children – Noah and Masie, both of whom I was impressed with both character’s growth, what started out with sibling bickering developed into the two relying on one another for support and comfort after something devastating. I loved 12’s interactions with Noah, it was so precious! And Bill was great with them too, and she had some super cute interactions with Charlotte, who I also loved in her nerdy vlogger ways, and actually given the ending of this book, a follow up one would be fabulous! I actually feel like this book joins the rank of the best Doctor Who books that I’ve read; I mean I started it Thursday night and finished it Friday morning! I felt like I was watching a Doctor Who episode in my mind as I was reading! Flawless, and I can’t fault it – it’s definitley one I’d read again.
I couldn’t recommend this book enough; for Whovians and anyone who wants a spooky but fanatical read;
‘Fairies, elves and boggarts, oh my!’
May 11, 2017
I enjoy reading the Doctor Who tie-in books. Many are of high quality but I think this is probably the best of the many I've read over the last twelve years.
The Shining Men are everywhere, scaring children on street corners with their long hair, blank faces and shining eyes. But surely it's just a hoax, idiots dressing up for fun. Except people are going missing and the link is the shining men. Cue the arrival of the Doctor and Bill.
Clearly the idea of the shining men came from the real world 'killer clown' craze. There's plenty about the police dealing with idiots dressed up and the fear caused by them. Mostly though this book imagines what it would be like if the creepy things were actually terrifying killers rather than people dressed up.
In terms of Doctor Who continuity this book is set after the first three episode of Series 10 (The Pilot, Smile and Thin Ice). There's also lots of references to things discussed and shown in the Torchwood episode 'Small Worlds'. I think it really adds something if you've seen that episode.
If you know said episode, you'll know it's about fairies. Indeed this book explores the idea of fairies in some depth, using some scientific Doctor-technobabble to explain some of it but still essentially being something from fantasy. Actually this has very few Doctor Who elements to it other than the Doctor and Bill being present and as well characterised as they are they don't do much. The Doctor is largely used as the character to explain the idea of fairies.
This had everything I wanted from a Doctor Who book. A good sci-fi/fantasy idea, warmth, humour, drama and a portion too ambitious to have appeared on TV. If you are enjoying Series 10 of Doctor Who and want some more, this is the place to head.
The Shining Men are everywhere, scaring children on street corners with their long hair, blank faces and shining eyes. But surely it's just a hoax, idiots dressing up for fun. Except people are going missing and the link is the shining men. Cue the arrival of the Doctor and Bill.
Clearly the idea of the shining men came from the real world 'killer clown' craze. There's plenty about the police dealing with idiots dressed up and the fear caused by them. Mostly though this book imagines what it would be like if the creepy things were actually terrifying killers rather than people dressed up.
In terms of Doctor Who continuity this book is set after the first three episode of Series 10 (The Pilot, Smile and Thin Ice). There's also lots of references to things discussed and shown in the Torchwood episode 'Small Worlds'. I think it really adds something if you've seen that episode.
If you know said episode, you'll know it's about fairies. Indeed this book explores the idea of fairies in some depth, using some scientific Doctor-technobabble to explain some of it but still essentially being something from fantasy. Actually this has very few Doctor Who elements to it other than the Doctor and Bill being present and as well characterised as they are they don't do much. The Doctor is largely used as the character to explain the idea of fairies.
This had everything I wanted from a Doctor Who book. A good sci-fi/fantasy idea, warmth, humour, drama and a portion too ambitious to have appeared on TV. If you are enjoying Series 10 of Doctor Who and want some more, this is the place to head.
May 24, 2022
I'm a huge Whovian and I loved this one. Was definitely creepy. I'm so happy I found this on bookoutlet 🥰
October 20, 2022
A surprising thrill-a-minute adventure with fairy folk.
Doctor Who has utilised British folklore in the past to create foes for the Doctor to face but normally these are given a distinctly alien origin. The Shining Man, however, fully embraces the mysterious nature of fairies, goblins and boggarts and has the often fiercely pragmatic protagonist accept their legacy as part of the threat.
The Doctor is familiar with ultraterrestrials but clearly prefers to keep his distance from them. This is especially fascinating as the Doctor is in their twelfth incarnation here, who was known for his sarcastic disregard of human fear and superstition. Then again, during his televisual adventures with companion Bill Potts, this Doctor's temperament has mellowed and he is a lot more accepting of things just beyond his knowledge. Indeed he actively swots up on the Fae in this novel and treats them with a degree of respect when in their presence.
I believe this is Scott's first foray into pure prose within the Doctor Who mythos, having written for Titan Comics and Big Finish audio in the past; and it is commendable. He captures the essence of a more emotionally mature Twelfth Doctor and a very capable Bill Potts, while also casting them into a dimension where elevated science seems like twisted magic. Scott clearly has done a lot of research into the history of fairy stories, particularly the terrifying parts like dancing to death.
Then again, I wasn't a fan of some of secondary details. The characterisation of the Holland family read a little flat to me and I would have liked a little more back-and-forth between PC Schofield and the Doctor. Charlotte Sadler's ending was a little ungrateful and open-ended in a way that demands a sequel that I'm not sure is coming. Also what happened to the aged Harold Marsters and the building crew that downed tools? An epilogue would have gone a good way to settle all this.
Incidentals aside, Doctor Who: The Shining Man remains a stunning premiere novel from Scott and I sincerely hope he returns to the New Series Adventures soon. He has an expansive creativity that deserves more writing credits, including the main show. I recommend Doctor Who: The Shining Man to Whovians and readers of dark fairy tales.
Doctor Who has utilised British folklore in the past to create foes for the Doctor to face but normally these are given a distinctly alien origin. The Shining Man, however, fully embraces the mysterious nature of fairies, goblins and boggarts and has the often fiercely pragmatic protagonist accept their legacy as part of the threat.
The Doctor is familiar with ultraterrestrials but clearly prefers to keep his distance from them. This is especially fascinating as the Doctor is in their twelfth incarnation here, who was known for his sarcastic disregard of human fear and superstition. Then again, during his televisual adventures with companion Bill Potts, this Doctor's temperament has mellowed and he is a lot more accepting of things just beyond his knowledge. Indeed he actively swots up on the Fae in this novel and treats them with a degree of respect when in their presence.
I believe this is Scott's first foray into pure prose within the Doctor Who mythos, having written for Titan Comics and Big Finish audio in the past; and it is commendable. He captures the essence of a more emotionally mature Twelfth Doctor and a very capable Bill Potts, while also casting them into a dimension where elevated science seems like twisted magic. Scott clearly has done a lot of research into the history of fairy stories, particularly the terrifying parts like dancing to death.
Then again, I wasn't a fan of some of secondary details. The characterisation of the Holland family read a little flat to me and I would have liked a little more back-and-forth between PC Schofield and the Doctor. Charlotte Sadler's ending was a little ungrateful and open-ended in a way that demands a sequel that I'm not sure is coming. Also what happened to the aged Harold Marsters and the building crew that downed tools? An epilogue would have gone a good way to settle all this.
Incidentals aside, Doctor Who: The Shining Man remains a stunning premiere novel from Scott and I sincerely hope he returns to the New Series Adventures soon. He has an expansive creativity that deserves more writing credits, including the main show. I recommend Doctor Who: The Shining Man to Whovians and readers of dark fairy tales.
May 31, 2017
I liked this book. Some bits were a bit confusing and others were a bit predictable, but all in all a very good Doctor Who tie in novel. There were a couple spelling and grammar mistakes that could have been fixed, but I think this novel finds itself at position #2 of 3 of the rankings of this trilogy of Doctor Who novels. Both the Doctor and Bill were well characterised (and for only having episodes 1-3 when writing these books, the authors of all three have done extremely well with Bill, even if Cavan Scott solved that issue by focussing moreso on the Doctor than on Bill - but hey, its called Doctor Who for a reason, right?), the plot was fairly strange (and what's new there for Doctor Who?) with Fairies (though I do prefer Torchwood's version of fairies, unless I missed something and they were the same ones? But I don't think so) and Boggarts in a world running along side ours, and a tree that was cut down.
All in all, a good book.
All in all, a good book.
November 28, 2025
The end of season ten left me wanting more of this pair, and what better way than to delve into the expanded material? Seriously, what a great adventure for Twelve and Bill!
It feels like a classic story from the early days of RTD. A truly excellent novel that explores both supernatural and fantastical elements, represented by a pretty cool mystery (the shinning man) that affects the life of the average citizen, the cornerstone of the story. At first, these other characters, besides the Doctor and Bill, might seem a bit simple, but they really develop throughout the pages, making me truly empathize with their conflict and feel like real people. In turn, these fantasy concepts introduced, such as the barrier between the visible and the invisible, the fairy realm and its inhabitants (boggarts, fairies, talking trees, etc.), are very fascinating. Everything manages to work within a single story, leaving me with a satisfying (though perhaps slightly rushed) conclusion to Twelve's story that only makes me want to read more.
Whether it's Doctor Who or Star Wars, Cavan Scott never disappoints! Highly recommended.
It feels like a classic story from the early days of RTD. A truly excellent novel that explores both supernatural and fantastical elements, represented by a pretty cool mystery (the shinning man) that affects the life of the average citizen, the cornerstone of the story. At first, these other characters, besides the Doctor and Bill, might seem a bit simple, but they really develop throughout the pages, making me truly empathize with their conflict and feel like real people. In turn, these fantasy concepts introduced, such as the barrier between the visible and the invisible, the fairy realm and its inhabitants (boggarts, fairies, talking trees, etc.), are very fascinating. Everything manages to work within a single story, leaving me with a satisfying (though perhaps slightly rushed) conclusion to Twelve's story that only makes me want to read more.
Whether it's Doctor Who or Star Wars, Cavan Scott never disappoints! Highly recommended.
August 10, 2017
THE SHINING MAN is the best of this trio of Nu-Who spin-offs novel; taking horror, fantasy and fairy tale and spinning them together to a coherent whole of the kind only the DOCTOR WHO format can really pull off.
Rather brilliantly, in the idea of shining men appearing suddenly at street corners to scare all kinds of hell out of the unsuspecting populous, Scott evokes the killer crown craze which hit the other year. That of course brings immediately to mind Stephen King’s IT which, despite its flaws, stands as the template of how to make the most of your creeping, lurking menace.
But in having the newly created shining men rather than clowns, Scott gives us creatures with their own set of rules, and it isn’t long before he’s lurching the narrative from Stephen King to Ben Aaronovitch (who back in the day used to write DOCTOR WHO, and always references the programme in his books) and giving us a tale of faeries and the veil between our world than theirs.
Undoubtedly there are going to be those who won’t join with the book as it leaps from one type of story to another. Readers who, having invested in the horror parts, are decidedly turned off by the fantasy parts (even though the fantasy parts have some distinctly horrible ideas). I’m not one of them though. It carried me along, gave me a set of interesting faux companions to care about and made me remember again just how much I’m missing hanging out with The Doctor and Bill each Saturday evening.
So, where I stand now, there is only one more brand new Capaldi for me to experience. With Whittaker not starting for another fourteen months, I am starting to feel bereft.
Rather brilliantly, in the idea of shining men appearing suddenly at street corners to scare all kinds of hell out of the unsuspecting populous, Scott evokes the killer crown craze which hit the other year. That of course brings immediately to mind Stephen King’s IT which, despite its flaws, stands as the template of how to make the most of your creeping, lurking menace.
But in having the newly created shining men rather than clowns, Scott gives us creatures with their own set of rules, and it isn’t long before he’s lurching the narrative from Stephen King to Ben Aaronovitch (who back in the day used to write DOCTOR WHO, and always references the programme in his books) and giving us a tale of faeries and the veil between our world than theirs.
Undoubtedly there are going to be those who won’t join with the book as it leaps from one type of story to another. Readers who, having invested in the horror parts, are decidedly turned off by the fantasy parts (even though the fantasy parts have some distinctly horrible ideas). I’m not one of them though. It carried me along, gave me a set of interesting faux companions to care about and made me remember again just how much I’m missing hanging out with The Doctor and Bill each Saturday evening.
So, where I stand now, there is only one more brand new Capaldi for me to experience. With Whittaker not starting for another fourteen months, I am starting to feel bereft.
April 21, 2017
.... well, what do you know? I enjoyed this one, too! That makes two out of the most recent trio of Twelfth Doctor novels that I've read - and two I've enjoyed.
I don't really know why I'm giving this four stars when I gave Diamond Dogs five. Maybe because .. well, to say it would be to spoil it (best not look at tags), but I guess I'm just a little bit more into space and aliens in my Doctor Who than what this book offered up. But that said, yeah, it was a great, fast read, again with decent characterisation for Bill (who again doesn't get nearly as much to do as the Doctor does but a) she doesn't actually feel side-lined, and b) when we have so little Twelve left, and when there's been so little to start with, I'm really not going to complain about getting relatively more of the Doctor than the brand new companion. YMMV.)
Gah. I love this Twelve. Smug, arrogant, clever, compassionate, courageous, wonderful.
I don't really know why I'm giving this four stars when I gave Diamond Dogs five. Maybe because .. well, to say it would be to spoil it (best not look at tags), but I guess I'm just a little bit more into space and aliens in my Doctor Who than what this book offered up. But that said, yeah, it was a great, fast read, again with decent characterisation for Bill (who again doesn't get nearly as much to do as the Doctor does but a) she doesn't actually feel side-lined, and b) when we have so little Twelve left, and when there's been so little to start with, I'm really not going to complain about getting relatively more of the Doctor than the brand new companion. YMMV.)
Gah. I love this Twelve. Smug, arrogant, clever, compassionate, courageous, wonderful.
April 15, 2021
Cavan Scott is one of my favourite Doctor who authors. I was particularly excited to read this book, as it takes place during one of my favourite eras of the show.
Scott nails the characters, the doctor and Bill are very true to their screen appearances, although there is little of Bill in this book. Scott really gets doctor who, he knows the world inside out and that is clear in this book through all of the references to in-world events. The plot was interesting, and I especially liked the reference to the Torchwood episode which dealt with fairies. The beginning and middle were excellent, although I felt it lost a bit of momentum towards the end, perhaps it would have benefited with being a bit longer; a problem lots of the doctor who book range have.
The feel of the story felt as though it belonged in series 10 of the show, and makes an excellent mid series adventure to that particular series of the show. This was one of the better new series books that I have read recently.
Scott nails the characters, the doctor and Bill are very true to their screen appearances, although there is little of Bill in this book. Scott really gets doctor who, he knows the world inside out and that is clear in this book through all of the references to in-world events. The plot was interesting, and I especially liked the reference to the Torchwood episode which dealt with fairies. The beginning and middle were excellent, although I felt it lost a bit of momentum towards the end, perhaps it would have benefited with being a bit longer; a problem lots of the doctor who book range have.
The feel of the story felt as though it belonged in series 10 of the show, and makes an excellent mid series adventure to that particular series of the show. This was one of the better new series books that I have read recently.
May 11, 2017
So, I finally managed to finish a Doctor Who book that didn't involve the War Doctor. And I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I went into this book with low expectations. I've only read and enjoyed one Doctor Who book prior to this, and that was George Mann's Engines of War, but I was honestly blown out of the water with this. The Shadow Man feels like an episode of Doctor Who from the very first chapter and manages to retain that feeling all the way through the final chapter. This is largely due to how well the characters are written. Naturally, you'd hope the Doctor and Bill would be written well - and they were; I'll touch on that in a bit -, but even the side characters are well written and have things to do. You've got the children who are looking for their lost mother (the event that sets the mystery in motion), Maisie and Noah; you've got their stern, no-nonsense grandmother, Hilary; you've got a police constable who's exasperated with the case and struggling to follow the Doctor's logic, PC Jane Schofield; and you've got a paranormal vlogger (think online ghost hunter), Charlotte, who really wants to uncover the mystery behind this viral urban legend (and have her vlogs go viral in the process). All of these characters go on their own journeys throughout the story, each of them growing and changing and possessing their own urgency which moves the plot forward. Even though it's a mystery novel, it's very character driven. This isn't a book where characters passively have things happen to then, it's a book where characters have urgency in what they're doing and experiencing as weird things happen to them and they react accordingly, with even more urgency. They're all compelling and different and it strengthens the book a lot.
Continuity-wise, the book takes place at some point after the third episode of this season, Thin Ice, as there are references to the events that happened in those first three episodes. But, really, it doesn't matter if you've seen them. It's one line references that make literally no difference in the actual story of the novel; it just helps keep the characterization of Bill and the Doctor consistent. Speaking of consistency in characterization, I think that's one of the things I really liked about this book. Even though when these books were published, Bill had only been in one episode - and when I read this book, she'd only been in four -, her characterization feels consistent with what's been set up in the main show, which impresses me a lot. Oftentimes with these spin-off novels, the characterization is off. Either something happened on the main show (either during or after the writing of the novel) that changed the character or the author just doesn't get the voice of the characters right. But that's not the case with The Shining Man. You can tell that Cavan Scott put a lot of time and effort into making sure that Bill and the Doctor felt like Bill and the Doctor. I'm sure the editorial team helped, but ultimately had Cavan Scott been super off base with his characterization, the book would've been doomed. That's not the case.
The other really great thing about the novel is the plot itself. It sets up a really interesting mystery with really compelling and varied characters. I always enjoy when Doctor Who touches on earth's Urban Legends, and this book definitely does that, but in various ways. Obviously, from the summary, you can tell that Scott is going for the kind of Slenderman urban legend feel, but that's not the only kind of earth folklore he tackles. There's an interesting twist that happens that fans of a certain first season episode of Torchwood might enjoy. It's not exactly the same kind of folklore that episode dealt with, but it's very much in a similar vein, while also massively different and a lot denser. But the familiarity will strike people who have seen the episode. It struck me, and I found the connection rather enjoyable.
The pacing of the novel is another really strong point. The book plays out like a mystery novel, as most good Doctor Who stories do. The thing happens at the beginning that starts the mystery, the Doctor arrives in the midst of things, investigates, has slow progress for a bit, finds lots of clues, chases a red herring, ends up solving it by the end. And, like most good mysteries, once the mystery starts unraveling, it becomes very hard to put down the book. I had no intention of reading it in one sitting, but that's what happened. I picked it up after dinner, and the next thing I knew, it was 11 at night and I had just finished the book. That's a testament to the quality of this book - I have a bad attention span. If something isn't very engaging, I cannot sit there and read it for hours at a time. This book is engaging from the moment you start it.
The atmosphere of the book is perfect spooky horror. Imagine an episode of Supernatural mashed with an episode of Doctor Who. It has that spooky, horror feeling from Supernatural - plus the elements of earth-based supernatural activity - and the investigation and twists and characters of a Doctor Who episode. That's a really winning combination. Urban legends and Doctor Who are a match made in heaven, and that's the case with The Shining Man.
Overall, The Shining Man really surprised me. I expected a typical, mediocre tie-in novel, and ended up getting an engaging, entertaining, captivating mystery with dynamic characters who instantly drew me into their stories and lives. The book had me on the edge of my seat, desperately wanting to know what would happen next. Cavan Scott should feel proud of what he accomplished with the book. It's as good as some of the best stand-alone episodes of Doctor Who are.
I went into this book with low expectations. I've only read and enjoyed one Doctor Who book prior to this, and that was George Mann's Engines of War, but I was honestly blown out of the water with this. The Shadow Man feels like an episode of Doctor Who from the very first chapter and manages to retain that feeling all the way through the final chapter. This is largely due to how well the characters are written. Naturally, you'd hope the Doctor and Bill would be written well - and they were; I'll touch on that in a bit -, but even the side characters are well written and have things to do. You've got the children who are looking for their lost mother (the event that sets the mystery in motion), Maisie and Noah; you've got their stern, no-nonsense grandmother, Hilary; you've got a police constable who's exasperated with the case and struggling to follow the Doctor's logic, PC Jane Schofield; and you've got a paranormal vlogger (think online ghost hunter), Charlotte, who really wants to uncover the mystery behind this viral urban legend (and have her vlogs go viral in the process). All of these characters go on their own journeys throughout the story, each of them growing and changing and possessing their own urgency which moves the plot forward. Even though it's a mystery novel, it's very character driven. This isn't a book where characters passively have things happen to then, it's a book where characters have urgency in what they're doing and experiencing as weird things happen to them and they react accordingly, with even more urgency. They're all compelling and different and it strengthens the book a lot.
Continuity-wise, the book takes place at some point after the third episode of this season, Thin Ice, as there are references to the events that happened in those first three episodes. But, really, it doesn't matter if you've seen them. It's one line references that make literally no difference in the actual story of the novel; it just helps keep the characterization of Bill and the Doctor consistent. Speaking of consistency in characterization, I think that's one of the things I really liked about this book. Even though when these books were published, Bill had only been in one episode - and when I read this book, she'd only been in four -, her characterization feels consistent with what's been set up in the main show, which impresses me a lot. Oftentimes with these spin-off novels, the characterization is off. Either something happened on the main show (either during or after the writing of the novel) that changed the character or the author just doesn't get the voice of the characters right. But that's not the case with The Shining Man. You can tell that Cavan Scott put a lot of time and effort into making sure that Bill and the Doctor felt like Bill and the Doctor. I'm sure the editorial team helped, but ultimately had Cavan Scott been super off base with his characterization, the book would've been doomed. That's not the case.
The other really great thing about the novel is the plot itself. It sets up a really interesting mystery with really compelling and varied characters. I always enjoy when Doctor Who touches on earth's Urban Legends, and this book definitely does that, but in various ways. Obviously, from the summary, you can tell that Scott is going for the kind of Slenderman urban legend feel, but that's not the only kind of earth folklore he tackles. There's an interesting twist that happens that fans of a certain first season episode of Torchwood might enjoy. It's not exactly the same kind of folklore that episode dealt with, but it's very much in a similar vein, while also massively different and a lot denser. But the familiarity will strike people who have seen the episode. It struck me, and I found the connection rather enjoyable.
The pacing of the novel is another really strong point. The book plays out like a mystery novel, as most good Doctor Who stories do. The thing happens at the beginning that starts the mystery, the Doctor arrives in the midst of things, investigates, has slow progress for a bit, finds lots of clues, chases a red herring, ends up solving it by the end. And, like most good mysteries, once the mystery starts unraveling, it becomes very hard to put down the book. I had no intention of reading it in one sitting, but that's what happened. I picked it up after dinner, and the next thing I knew, it was 11 at night and I had just finished the book. That's a testament to the quality of this book - I have a bad attention span. If something isn't very engaging, I cannot sit there and read it for hours at a time. This book is engaging from the moment you start it.
The atmosphere of the book is perfect spooky horror. Imagine an episode of Supernatural mashed with an episode of Doctor Who. It has that spooky, horror feeling from Supernatural - plus the elements of earth-based supernatural activity - and the investigation and twists and characters of a Doctor Who episode. That's a really winning combination. Urban legends and Doctor Who are a match made in heaven, and that's the case with The Shining Man.
Overall, The Shining Man really surprised me. I expected a typical, mediocre tie-in novel, and ended up getting an engaging, entertaining, captivating mystery with dynamic characters who instantly drew me into their stories and lives. The book had me on the edge of my seat, desperately wanting to know what would happen next. Cavan Scott should feel proud of what he accomplished with the book. It's as good as some of the best stand-alone episodes of Doctor Who are.
November 11, 2025
Delle strane figure si aggirano nell'oscurità, ed è meglio non farsi catturare. Vengono chiamati gli Uomini Lucenti, ma esistono realmente oppure è una nuova gag creata per Halloween? Ma una madre sparisce nel nulla, e a questo punto che si materializza una misteriosa cabina blu della polizia dalla quale escono fuori una ragazza dalla folta chioma e un signore esile dai capelli grigi. Già, sono proprio il Dodicesimo Dottore e Bill Potts i quali, incontrando i figli della mamma rapita e una vlogger alla ricerca di questi fantasmi, decidono di provare a riportare la madre a casa. Il Dottore, ovviamente, scaverà a fondo per scoprire chi si cela dietro queste misteriose apparizioni fino a scoprire un vero e proprio universo parallelo, dal quale non sarà facile uscirne fuori.
Che dire, anche questa storia con protagonista il Dottore, il Signore del Tempo che viaggia nella sua astronave a forma di cabina blu della polizia, mi ha catturato anche se la deriva fantasy che prenderà la storia (affollata di fate e magiche creature) non mi ha particolarmente entusiasmato.
Che dire, anche questa storia con protagonista il Dottore, il Signore del Tempo che viaggia nella sua astronave a forma di cabina blu della polizia, mi ha catturato anche se la deriva fantasy che prenderà la storia (affollata di fate e magiche creature) non mi ha particolarmente entusiasmato.
October 12, 2021
*Light spoilers*
So this was my first Doctor/Bill book and it was.....eh?
Here's the thing. the characterization was spot on. The characters acted like they should have and it read very well. So what was the problem?
Well...the story wasn't very interesting. You'd think a story involving the Fae would be cool, but it really wasn't. the whole thing felt kind of dull and lifeless. Bill and the doctor separate about halfway through and it amounts to Bill having to babysit 2 kids as they look for their mom while the doctor hangs out with a policewoman in the fae.
Despite this book only being 256 pages it actually took me quite a while to finish it. I would read a chapter, put it down, read a chapter, put it down. This is basically why it took me 2 weeks to finish this one. It was just very....not exciting.
I really like the bill/doctor dynamic, but that wasn't the issue. it was the actual premise of the book that wasn't interesting from the start. it's VERY hard to make a fantasy-esc story work for doctor who as they say time and time again that magic doesn't exist. kind of takes the wonder out of a lot of the stuff.
All in all, it was fine, but i really didn't care about any of the side characters and the story itself was very meh.
2.5/5 rounded up to a 3.
So this was my first Doctor/Bill book and it was.....eh?
Here's the thing. the characterization was spot on. The characters acted like they should have and it read very well. So what was the problem?
Well...the story wasn't very interesting. You'd think a story involving the Fae would be cool, but it really wasn't. the whole thing felt kind of dull and lifeless. Bill and the doctor separate about halfway through and it amounts to Bill having to babysit 2 kids as they look for their mom while the doctor hangs out with a policewoman in the fae.
Despite this book only being 256 pages it actually took me quite a while to finish it. I would read a chapter, put it down, read a chapter, put it down. This is basically why it took me 2 weeks to finish this one. It was just very....not exciting.
I really like the bill/doctor dynamic, but that wasn't the issue. it was the actual premise of the book that wasn't interesting from the start. it's VERY hard to make a fantasy-esc story work for doctor who as they say time and time again that magic doesn't exist. kind of takes the wonder out of a lot of the stuff.
All in all, it was fine, but i really didn't care about any of the side characters and the story itself was very meh.
2.5/5 rounded up to a 3.
October 1, 2018
The character interaction and narrative style are enjoyable, but there is not much depth to it. I feel that it is similar to a number of prior books and the plot could fit into a quick read.
January 4, 2018
As the 12th Doctor transitions into history, people will continue to remember him and write stories about him. This time, the story is set in contemporary England and involves a creature known as The Shining Man.
Tapping into elements of social media, internet fame and pseudo-scientific enquiry, The Shining Man finds a mother taken when she attempts to confront what she thinks is a prankster who scared her 8 year old son earlier in the day. The Doctor and Bill are drawn to the case in the wake of a "storm" that takes place inside the TARDIS when the psionic field is turned off.
This is a good story, showing the Doctor at his quirky, inquisitive best. It also shows him being extremely kind and considerate to Noah, the 8-year old whose mommy has gone missing. Too often this aspect of the Doctor is overlooked, his willingness to listen to children and take what they say at face value. He knows on some level children haven't learned the artifice of lying or denying what they see.
The Doctor and a policewoman end up being swept into the dimension of the Invisible, a land where fairies reside. The creatures in this world, however, are far from benevolent and the extreme sights and sounds of that world can literally drive a person mad. Naturally, the Doctor is immune to such things, but he remains devoted to making sure everyone lives and the mystery is solved.
BOTTOM LINE: A solid 12th Doctor story.
Tapping into elements of social media, internet fame and pseudo-scientific enquiry, The Shining Man finds a mother taken when she attempts to confront what she thinks is a prankster who scared her 8 year old son earlier in the day. The Doctor and Bill are drawn to the case in the wake of a "storm" that takes place inside the TARDIS when the psionic field is turned off.
This is a good story, showing the Doctor at his quirky, inquisitive best. It also shows him being extremely kind and considerate to Noah, the 8-year old whose mommy has gone missing. Too often this aspect of the Doctor is overlooked, his willingness to listen to children and take what they say at face value. He knows on some level children haven't learned the artifice of lying or denying what they see.
The Doctor and a policewoman end up being swept into the dimension of the Invisible, a land where fairies reside. The creatures in this world, however, are far from benevolent and the extreme sights and sounds of that world can literally drive a person mad. Naturally, the Doctor is immune to such things, but he remains devoted to making sure everyone lives and the mystery is solved.
BOTTOM LINE: A solid 12th Doctor story.
September 16, 2017
https://nwhyte.livejournal.com/2875097.html
This is one of three 12th Doctor novels released earlier this year - I mistakenly thought it was the first in sequence, but actually it is the second, set after the TV episode Thin Ice and the novel Diamond Dogs, and also referencing the excellent P.J. Hammond first-season Torchwood episode Small Worlds. It combines several great hooks: the liminal interaction between today's world and a nearby parallel and supernatural dimension; the pervasiveness of the Internet; and children who fear that they have been abandoned by their parents. The mood is dark and scary but ultimately resolved very satisfactorily.
I thought it caught Capaldi's characterisation of the Doctor particularly well, giving Bill rather less to do, but I note that this is a minority view among reviewers and certainly those of us who miss Bill already will enjoy a bit more time in her company.
This is one of three 12th Doctor novels released earlier this year - I mistakenly thought it was the first in sequence, but actually it is the second, set after the TV episode Thin Ice and the novel Diamond Dogs, and also referencing the excellent P.J. Hammond first-season Torchwood episode Small Worlds. It combines several great hooks: the liminal interaction between today's world and a nearby parallel and supernatural dimension; the pervasiveness of the Internet; and children who fear that they have been abandoned by their parents. The mood is dark and scary but ultimately resolved very satisfactorily.
I thought it caught Capaldi's characterisation of the Doctor particularly well, giving Bill rather less to do, but I note that this is a minority view among reviewers and certainly those of us who miss Bill already will enjoy a bit more time in her company.
September 13, 2018
Another excellent 12th Doctor story.
I think the author did a great job of gettng Twelve's personality just right.
This story has the right amount of creepiness and of course the running!
Shining Men are the latest internet sensation popping up world wide scarying people.
The hotbed of sightings are in Sammy Hollands neighbourhood. When her son Noah comes home crying and upset that he saw one, she doesn't believe him. Later that night she spots something outside and goes to investigate. She comes face to face with a Shining Man and vanishes.
Enter The Doctor and Bill to investigate.
This story has creepy Shining Men, Fae, Boggarts, people vanishing and reappearing incredibly aged, and the Invisible (like the Upside Down from Stranger Things).
This was a really fun face paced adventure. I always loved Twelve with Bill and Nardol (not featured this time) I wish they got more than 1 season and 3 books.
If ypu're a Doctor Who fan, read this book!
I think the author did a great job of gettng Twelve's personality just right.
This story has the right amount of creepiness and of course the running!
Shining Men are the latest internet sensation popping up world wide scarying people.
The hotbed of sightings are in Sammy Hollands neighbourhood. When her son Noah comes home crying and upset that he saw one, she doesn't believe him. Later that night she spots something outside and goes to investigate. She comes face to face with a Shining Man and vanishes.
Enter The Doctor and Bill to investigate.
This story has creepy Shining Men, Fae, Boggarts, people vanishing and reappearing incredibly aged, and the Invisible (like the Upside Down from Stranger Things).
This was a really fun face paced adventure. I always loved Twelve with Bill and Nardol (not featured this time) I wish they got more than 1 season and 3 books.
If ypu're a Doctor Who fan, read this book!
March 9, 2018
Excellent!
Great adventure with 12 and Bill! Exceeded all expectations and surprised me with revelations of who/what the shining man is and where he comes from. I won't say too much so as to avoid spoilers, but the book does a great job of transporting you to that world and also setting up a great set of supporting characters, especially Caroline, who has some great moments with the Doctor that were really well written and some of my favorite scenes in the book. A great novel that hits all of the right Doctor Who notes...action, mystery, discovery, emotion... I also loved Bill in the show, and thought she was perfect in this as well! It was my first 12th Doctor novel and it has set the bar extremely high for all other 12 novels that follow! Highly recommended to any Doctor Who fan!!!
Great adventure with 12 and Bill! Exceeded all expectations and surprised me with revelations of who/what the shining man is and where he comes from. I won't say too much so as to avoid spoilers, but the book does a great job of transporting you to that world and also setting up a great set of supporting characters, especially Caroline, who has some great moments with the Doctor that were really well written and some of my favorite scenes in the book. A great novel that hits all of the right Doctor Who notes...action, mystery, discovery, emotion... I also loved Bill in the show, and thought she was perfect in this as well! It was my first 12th Doctor novel and it has set the bar extremely high for all other 12 novels that follow! Highly recommended to any Doctor Who fan!!!
March 28, 2018
This is the first Doctor Who book I have had the pleasure of reading by this author and it was a pleasure! The interaction between the Doctor and Bill Potts is spot on and it read a like an expanded episode from the tv series, which is very high praise! The plot, dealing with missing people brought into the fairy realm, holds your attention and the dialogue could have come from any of the tv writers' scripts. I can't emphasize how much Peter Capaldi's 12th doctor is brought to life here, whether it be interacting with Bill, the children of a missing woman, a body video blogger who is out to make a name for herself or a policewoman becomes to ally with, you can easily picture the expressions on his face as he is talking. I highly recommend this novel to anyone who is a 12th Doctor fan of just a Doctor Who can in general. You will not be disappointed!
January 31, 2020
Scott's novel is mystical, atmospheric and dark. I enjoyed everything about this novel. First off, the Doctor and Bill are one of my favourite duos and they add a lot to this novel. This novel has my favourite representation of the Doctor, showing him interacting with the children of the story. I could not get enough. One line that summed him up for me was when the boy hurt his leg. The doctor examined him and found it not to be broken. He then said "But that doesn't matter, because it hurts doesn't it?" and proceeded to give him a piggy back.
The Shining men were also well created, making for a genuinely creepy, even scary atmosphere and an element of mystery lingers across the entire the entire story making it a page turner.
If you enjoy Doctor who and are a fan of creepy stories, this is undoubtably the book for you.
The Shining men were also well created, making for a genuinely creepy, even scary atmosphere and an element of mystery lingers across the entire the entire story making it a page turner.
If you enjoy Doctor who and are a fan of creepy stories, this is undoubtably the book for you.
April 1, 2023
This one is an interesting novel, which I'm still not sure what to exactly think about even a few days after finishing it. On one side, it has great potential in being a horror story, on the other side fairy tales and sci-fi doesn't actually mix well (Moffat also failed in making a good cocktail of these two ingredients). As a result the whole story feels like it's breaking in half and the writer tries to make the halves work by using super glue to hold it together. The resolution was also standard Moffat: time reset back, no one remembers, everyone go on their happy way (except the rich man, he died from old age in a hospital...).
As of the characters, Bill's and the Doctor's voice was very clear in the book which part I appreciated a lot since I love good character work and Bill deserves to be treated right. The side characters however were a problem. Not one of them, except the police officer, was likeable. I didn't care for them. The children and the vlogger girl was downright annoying, like if someone took the two spoiled children from Nightmare in Silver then added the entitled little girl from Kill The Moon to the mix....ugh.
I read this book for more adventure with Bill. Those who loved her in the show should check this novel out but otherwise there are better Doctor Who books on the market.
As of the characters, Bill's and the Doctor's voice was very clear in the book which part I appreciated a lot since I love good character work and Bill deserves to be treated right. The side characters however were a problem. Not one of them, except the police officer, was likeable. I didn't care for them. The children and the vlogger girl was downright annoying, like if someone took the two spoiled children from Nightmare in Silver then added the entitled little girl from Kill The Moon to the mix....ugh.
I read this book for more adventure with Bill. Those who loved her in the show should check this novel out but otherwise there are better Doctor Who books on the market.
September 4, 2017
Lovely story set close to home in Manchester for a change in the Who universe! Love all the Iris Wildthyme, UNIT and Torchwood references which is a great way for younger readers to get to know the Doctor Who EU universe without it bombarding them.
A few grammer mistakes in this but over all the plot was good and love the tie in with the Torchwood episode about the fairies which was a nice, creepy touch.
A few grammer mistakes in this but over all the plot was good and love the tie in with the Torchwood episode about the fairies which was a nice, creepy touch.
April 18, 2020
"The Doctor glared over the top of the laptop 'hashtag insulting'"
One of 12 and Bill's adventures where they encounter the Shining Men. These are creatures from a faery realm who have taken young Noah and Maisie's Mum. The Doctor and Bill split up as The Doctor tackles the faery world, along with PC Schofield, and Bill helps keep Noah and Masie safe.
I do love a good Doctor Who novel and this one was very entertaining. Scott really got the characters right.
One of 12 and Bill's adventures where they encounter the Shining Men. These are creatures from a faery realm who have taken young Noah and Maisie's Mum. The Doctor and Bill split up as The Doctor tackles the faery world, along with PC Schofield, and Bill helps keep Noah and Masie safe.
I do love a good Doctor Who novel and this one was very entertaining. Scott really got the characters right.
January 8, 2021
Honestly just really didn’t vibe with this book. Maybe it would have got better later on but I got half way through and I just wasn’t interested. I didn’t like the side characters, I didn’t like the writing and I was bored by the story. Just disappointed. There were some nice references though, however badly written, so it gets a 2. Honestly maybe if I’d stuck at it I would have enjoyed it but I didn’t want to waste my time forcing myself to read something I wasn’t hooked by.
August 21, 2024
BOOK 16 (OUT OF 23) OF MY HOLIDAY READS - AUGUST 2024
3*
This is my first 12th Doctor and Bill novel and I feel the characterisation was translated to a novel really well.
I liked this and I liked the idea of the fantasy: goblins, boggarts and elves . I think I'd have preferred this before the Christmas special in 2023 where this idea was achieved with better results.
Anyway, I still liked it.
3*
This is my first 12th Doctor and Bill novel and I feel the characterisation was translated to a novel really well.
I liked this and I liked the idea of the fantasy: goblins, boggarts and elves . I think I'd have preferred this before the Christmas special in 2023 where this idea was achieved with better results.
Anyway, I still liked it.
July 30, 2017
Cavan Scott perfectly captures 12 and Bill's characters and personalities, crafting a wonderful, classic fairy story around them that I read pretty much in one sitting, the familiar family under threat dynamic used superbly, with a lovely clash between modern and ancient. Possibly the best of BBC Books spin-off novels so far.
January 17, 2018
Compellingly scary, and makes good use of your British folklore in its construction. Antagonists a little under-used here and there (the First of Three being a notable example) but these seem to be of the "quick acceptance / adventure-driven) Whovian book variety. Which is great for snowdays, but ultimately go down a bit quickly?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews