wynnifer's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
eightfitz's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
caedocyon's review against another edition
3.0
I think my favorite part of this one was Sam learning the quantitative science of activism in the 22nd century. I need that crash course, and I know a lot of other people who would really like to bone up on "Interorganisational Relations Theory" and "Protest Management."
cronareads's review against another edition
4.0
The story drags a bit with some of the muti perspectives without adding a whole lot. Themes of extraction, xenophobia and when violence is warranted, what is a life worth saving and responsibility are handled fairly well.
Spoilers after here-
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The doctor ending up killing the antagonist was surprising to me, and very much was an act of killing one to save many. It's always interesting how the doctor is willing to make these decisions but admonishes others.
This choice waxes and wanes depending on which doctor we have become more pronounced as time goes on, though 9 struggles to do so due to time war trauma. But 10, 11 and 12 do make these choices.
I appreciate this story recognizing previous losses the doctor has had and the theme in the EDAs up to this point of his taking of companions especially young ones, explicitly referencing Ace.
Spoilers after here-
---
The doctor ending up killing the antagonist was surprising to me, and very much was an act of killing one to save many. It's always interesting how the doctor is willing to make these decisions but admonishes others.
This choice waxes and wanes depending on which doctor we have become more pronounced as time goes on, though 9 struggles to do so due to time war trauma. But 10, 11 and 12 do make these choices.
I appreciate this story recognizing previous losses the doctor has had and the theme in the EDAs up to this point of his taking of companions especially young ones, explicitly referencing Ace.
nwhyte's review against another edition
2.0
http://nwhyte.livejournal.com/1525146.html
The next Eighth Doctor Adventure in sequence after Longest Day (and the parenthesis of Legacy of the Daleks). A fairly standard romp - exploitation of alien planet (turns out the dreamstones of the title are similar to the rocks in Sherri S Tepper's 1987 novel After Long Silence / The Enigma Score), with the wrinkle that the Doctor and Sam are apart for almost the entire book and remain parted at the end. There is one memorable tentacular alien character, Aloisse. But nothing very outstanding about this one. (
The next Eighth Doctor Adventure in sequence after Longest Day (and the parenthesis of Legacy of the Daleks). A fairly standard romp - exploitation of alien planet (turns out the dreamstones of the title are similar to the rocks in Sherri S Tepper's 1987 novel After Long Silence / The Enigma Score), with the wrinkle that the Doctor and Sam are apart for almost the entire book and remain parted at the end. There is one memorable tentacular alien character, Aloisse. But nothing very outstanding about this one. (
julis's review
slow-paced
3.0
This one wasn’t bad! I think keeping Sam and Eight separate is causing more problems than it solves, but Leonard can…write…weird concept that, and if the plot was grindingly predictable after several other books on the environmentalism theme, at least there were cool aliens.
nukirisame's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
coffee_deer's review
4.0
Couldn't put it down, really - didn't have an opportunity to finish it in one sit, but still, came pretty close to me. And I honestly don't know why I like this book so much... Why it has gone way better for me than, like, three or four previous books in the series. The tension, I guess? And the plot. And the writing. And the rooting for the Doctor and Sam who just keep trying to get together again and this is so frustrating and heartbreaking, urgh!
Thank you, Paul Leonard. I planned to dive back into the EDA for one book only, but, I guess, I just have to pick the next one up right now.
Thank you, Paul Leonard. I planned to dive back into the EDA for one book only, but, I guess, I just have to pick the next one up right now.
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