Reviews

On paper, this is a good concept: the Doctor visits the land of Celtic mythology. However, in realization Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark isn't all that memorable. Even though this is one of the shorter NA's, I felt the plot was stretched and there's a long chunck in the middle where very little happens. Many of the characters and creatures of Celtic mythology show up, but the authors don't really do anything with them and characterization is generally very weak. There's also a pair of American teenagers so annoying you'll want to throw rocks at them every time they make an appearance. Is this really how Brits think American teens speak? It's Peri-worthy.

Speaking of characterization, as others have noted both the Doctor and Ace are off. This is more the TARDIS team of Season 25 and a great deal their interaction only makes sense is Ace is more the innocent newbie companion of that season, pre-Fenric.

It's not as bad as I'm probably making it sound, but more unmemorable than anything else. Certainly one of the weaker NA's I've read.

isayhourwrong's review

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adventurous mysterious relaxing fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

Hunt is good actually, pog

nwhyte's review

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1.0

http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1400715.html

The Seventh Doctor and Ace find themselves in Wales dealing with peculiar mythological creatures leaking through from a parallel world, an adventure that self-consciously references both Delta and the Bannermen and Survival. This is one of the least impressive Doctor Who books I have ever read, and certainly the worst New Adventure that I have got to so far. No matter what you may think of Torchwood, it did this plot and setting rather better, several times. I see various fan sites excoriating the limp writing, flabby characterisation and unresolved plot lines of this book; I shall add a complaint about Welsh and Irish names being randomly jumbled together with unicorns and centaurs, because it's all mythical, y'know.

fullfledgedegg's review

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adventurous mysterious medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

whovian2711's review

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1.0

If there's one word to describe Cat's Cradle: Witch Mark, it's "amateur". Everything about this novel feels astoundingly underdeveloped for an officially licensed and published Doctor Who novel, particularly after the brilliance of the previous New Adventure, Warhead. In particular, the prose is weak, the characterisation of the Doctor and Ace is disappointingly simplistic, and, unless it was just a problem with my digital version, even grammar and spelling are frequently error-riddled. I found this book to be poorly written, crushingly uninteresting, and a real slog to finish.

nukirisame's review

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mysterious slow-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.75

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