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Doctor Who: The Darksmith Legacy #5
The Vampire of Paris
The Doctor decides it's safe to go back in time to find Varlos before he died. From what Gisella recalls of her father's plans, they head for Paris in 1895 where they discover a city in fear. Why will hardly anyone dare venture out after dark? Who is stealing time from their victims? What will the Doctor do when he realises the killer is also after him? Find out by reading the next thrilling adventure in..."The Darksmith Legacy".
128 pages, Paperback
First published April 30, 2009
About the author
Stephen Cole
232 books148 followersSee also: Steve Cole.
Stephen Cole (born 1971) is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing a range of fiction and non-fiction titles, producing audiobooks and acting as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.
Stephen Cole (born 1971) is an English author of children's books and science fiction. He was also in charge of BBC Worldwide's merchandising of the BBC Television series Doctor Who between 1997 and 1999: this was a role which found him deciding on which stories should be released on video, commissioning and editing a range of fiction and non-fiction titles, producing audiobooks and acting as executive producer on the Big Finish Productions range of Doctor Who audio dramas.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 29, 2026
Book 5.
The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) travels to Paris in 1895 to find the fugitive Darksmith Brother Varlos, but once there his search is complicated by both the robotic Agent hunting him and a terrifying creature that is draining the time energy from innocent victims.
This is the mid-point of this series aimed at younger readers and it is most definitely 'mid', failing to really inspire much interest in continuing with the series (I will, but mostly because I'm neurodivergent and the idea of never finishing a series I own makes my brain itch).
This book's big failing is in never doing enough to justify how good its title makes it sound. 'The Vampire of Paris' is a title that holds a great deal of promise for a Doctor Who story and the 19th Century setting adds another layer of aesthetic potential.
Unfortunately, this book is totally lacking in atmosphere and, apart from the moment when a police detective complains about the relatively-new eyesore that is the Eiffel Tower, totally fails to do anything interesting with its time and place setting.
I haven't scored the book as poorly as a I could simply because there's nothing here that's actively bad or offensive, its just a frustrating waste of potential.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) travels to Paris in 1895 to find the fugitive Darksmith Brother Varlos, but once there his search is complicated by both the robotic Agent hunting him and a terrifying creature that is draining the time energy from innocent victims.
This is the mid-point of this series aimed at younger readers and it is most definitely 'mid', failing to really inspire much interest in continuing with the series (I will, but mostly because I'm neurodivergent and the idea of never finishing a series I own makes my brain itch).
This book's big failing is in never doing enough to justify how good its title makes it sound. 'The Vampire of Paris' is a title that holds a great deal of promise for a Doctor Who story and the 19th Century setting adds another layer of aesthetic potential.
Unfortunately, this book is totally lacking in atmosphere and, apart from the moment when a police detective complains about the relatively-new eyesore that is the Eiffel Tower, totally fails to do anything interesting with its time and place setting.
I haven't scored the book as poorly as a I could simply because there's nothing here that's actively bad or offensive, its just a frustrating waste of potential.
* More reviews here: https://fsfh-book-review2.webnode.page *
December 17, 2020
ヴァロスを探すため19 世紀のパリを訪れたドクターとジセラ。しかし、ニコラスという一夜にして老人にされてしまったという９歳の少年に出会い、似たような被害者が続出しているときき、捜査に乗り出す。ドクターはヴァンパイアの正体はボルテックスに住むタイムヴァンパイアであることをつきとめる。宇宙船のエネルギーを集めるため手当たり次第に時間をすいとっているが、許容量を越えようとしているのに、プログラムした宇宙船の乗組員がとっくに死んでしまっているため、時間をすいとることをやめない。これ以上は地球ごと爆発してしまう危険があるとドクターはタイムヴァンパイアをとめるため、自分が媒介となり吸い取られた時間を元に戻そうと計画する。しかし、ヴァモスがクリスタルを使ってその役割をジセラと共にはたす。ジセラはヴァモスがつくったアンドロイドで生き延びられたが、ヴァモスはドクターにクリスタルの破壊という使命を託し、絶命する。
ジセラがアンドロイドというのは気がつかなかった。
クリスタルの破壊方法を知る頼みのヴァロスも死んでしまい、ドクターとジセルがブラックスミスに捕まることなくクリスタルを破壊できるかどうか、気になるところだ。
ジセラがアンドロイドというのは気がつかなかった。
クリスタルの破壊方法を知る頼みのヴァロスも死んでしまい、ドクターとジセルがブラックスミスに捕まることなくクリスタルを破壊できるかどうか、気になるところだ。
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 31, 2017
5 books into the Darksmith legacy, this is the best of the series so far. Brilliant characterisation and a fast and frenetic plot. Thoroughly enjoyed this and re-invigorated for the series which I have to be honest, although I have enjoyed I've fought my way through to this point.
December 16, 2023
For the middle of the Darksmith series this book certainly felt like it's a middle segment. An interesting story which had a nice conclusion but it felt it dragged in places when it came to the pacing. Overall it's left me looking forward to what is next!
June 17, 2018
A great entry in the Darksmith Legacy series. Great plot and some good characters takes us to the halfway point of the set. Only one continuity reference, this time to "The Christmas Invasion".
November 5, 2020
A fun and mysterious story with some awesome little activities along the way. A great juvenile fiction book.
December 20, 2012
Personally I didn't like it too much, because I found it a bit confusing and hard to follow. I also prefer realistic books, It's the first book in the science fiction genre I've read and I already think I don't like the genre. I'm not saying it was a bad book but I just didn't like it and I know others might. In the Doctor Who books he travels to the past with his friend Gissela. In this book he went to Paris in 1895, when he got there he met an old man who really wasn't old he was a 9 year old boy, well he thought like one but was old, because a monster was going around sucking the life out of everyone. He was in an orphage one minute and the next thing he knew he was in an retirement village. Doctor Who has to solve the mystery of stolen time.
January 9, 2015
Doctor Who is always best when it does gothic horror, and that is something this Darksmith series has really focused upon, despite being intended for younger readers. Oddly, the main range of novels, intended for an older readership, has dallied very little with horror elements.
This is another very good read. As a novella rather than a novel, the plot isn't particularly convoluted, but the characters are well drawn and there are some effective set pieces. The plot is satisfying, with a gruesome and unpleasant villain and a steady escalation of menace, and it also advances the plot of the overall arc.
Not quite reaching the heights of the first two books in the series, but a very worthy read nonetheless.
This is another very good read. As a novella rather than a novel, the plot isn't particularly convoluted, but the characters are well drawn and there are some effective set pieces. The plot is satisfying, with a gruesome and unpleasant villain and a steady escalation of menace, and it also advances the plot of the overall arc.
Not quite reaching the heights of the first two books in the series, but a very worthy read nonetheless.
July 31, 2015
4.5 stars.
The Vampires of Paris has been the most interesting Darksmith Legacy book so far. While all the books have had a mystery for the Doctor to solve, I feel that this one has been much more mysterious than the others. Even though it wasn't longer -they've all had a similar amount of pages- it did feel longer. Also, you can read it like a short murder mystery, which may have added to my enjoyment of this book.
We don't learn much about the general plot, but a few secrets are discovered. Not many and what we learn is not particularly relevant, but it's another piece in the puzzle of the Darksmiths and the Crystal.
The Vampires of Paris has been the most interesting Darksmith Legacy book so far. While all the books have had a mystery for the Doctor to solve, I feel that this one has been much more mysterious than the others. Even though it wasn't longer -they've all had a similar amount of pages- it did feel longer. Also, you can read it like a short murder mystery, which may have added to my enjoyment of this book.
We don't learn much about the general plot, but a few secrets are discovered. Not many and what we learn is not particularly relevant, but it's another piece in the puzzle of the Darksmiths and the Crystal.
August 23, 2011
Suitable for 8 - 11 year olds.
A vampire in 19th century Paris. The Doctor looks for the creator of the Eternity Crystal. Ther re some nice atmospheric moments running about in the nighttime Paris streets. It's a shame that this was a childrens book because the ideas could have worked better in an adult one.
A vampire in 19th century Paris. The Doctor looks for the creator of the Eternity Crystal. Ther re some nice atmospheric moments running about in the nighttime Paris streets. It's a shame that this was a childrens book because the ideas could have worked better in an adult one.
October 28, 2015
Review written: sometime before April 20, 2015
The Vampire of Paris by Stephen Cole
Why I read it: I Can't Believe It's Still Doctor Who
Rating: 4/5
What I thought: Chasing time vampires around Paris and enigmatic gentlemen? Oh yeah, you could say I'm into this all right.
The Vampire of Paris by Stephen Cole
Why I read it: I Can't Believe It's Still Doctor Who
Rating: 4/5
What I thought: Chasing time vampires around Paris and enigmatic gentlemen? Oh yeah, you could say I'm into this all right.
November 2, 2016
In my opinion he best of the The Darksmith Legacy so far. In this chapter we finally meet Varlos in 19th Century Paris where the life energy is being taken from people and animals by a time Vampire. The Plot is executed well and once again the gothic horror works well. The plot also continues well from the previous chapters and some great twists that connect back to previous chapters too.
November 25, 2012
"The Darksmith Legacy"-series wouldn't be a true Doctor Who experience without a journey into Earth's history. "The Vampire of Paris" takes us to medieval France where a sickness spreads like a pandemic. Nothing particularly innovative here, but the story flows well enough.
May 30, 2011
3.5 stars
For my full review visit my blog: http://shadowsireview.blogspot.com/20...
For my full review visit my blog: http://shadowsireview.blogspot.com/20...
April 18, 2015
A good story.
December 29, 2015
Pretty good overall. Very basic Who-story. Less body count than the TV show.
June 30, 2021
3.5 stars
November 5, 2020
A fun and mysterious story with some awesome little activities along the way. A great juvenile fiction book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews