Torchwood: WIPs

[cot_tossed]

Following the lead of my colleague who reviewed the New Who Novels category, I decided to read the first three parts of each WIP and then give my opinions. Anyone who has read more of any of the stories should feel free to comment on them, of course.

Stuck on the Slow Path by sarkywoman

Comments

[myleftsock]

I voted for What Never Should Be. There are many things I don't like about it, but a lot more that I like a lot and the author is good at evil cliffhangers. I can't leave it.

Your review of Footnotes makes me want to go and read it right now.

[cot_tossed]

What Never Should Be really is a mixed bag. I definitely give it extra points for making me want to keep reading, though, despite its flaws.

[doyle_sb4]

I'm reading What Never Should Be and while I think the idea's a fascinating one I've got to agree with the author on the OOCness. I made it to chapter 10 before abused!infantilised!Jack finally squicked me beyond the point of continuing (I might have backbuttoned some chapters before at 'cariad' if it hadn't got such a positive review on here). It badly needs Britpicked, too; there are some really basic errors like "math" and "pants".

[cot_tossed]

Well, I cut the author a lot of slack on the Jack characterization because of the 100+ years of abuse. It's harder to defend the other points you bring up.

IMO, this category is pretty weak, what with all of the poor punctuation, mid-series stories, Gwen bashing, unengaging plots, and questionable characterization. I'm trying to decide whether to vote for a flawed story that had some strengths and held my attention, a technically proficient story that didn't "connect" with me, or possibly nothing.

[doyle_sb4]

Oh, Jack's characterisation I could go with, although as I say it squicked me to have him basically be an infant - it's Ianto being so compassionate that he'd immediately risk his memories and possibly his life in standing up for a chained-up 'freak' he'd never seen before. It relies on an instant connection between them that didn't work for me. I know Ianto's something of a blank slate in canon - and a Ianto who hasn't yet gone through the battle of Canary Wharf might justifiably be a lot different than the guy who makes stupid jokes while they get ready to torture Beth - but as the commenter below said, it's selfess heroism with no shades of grey. A Ianto who was a little bit less saint-like in this would be interesting.

It's also possible this just didn't click with me at all because I'm reading a romance novel called Flowers From the Storm with exactly this plot, with added Quakers (heroine comes to work at an asylum, is horrified at the conditions the hero is being kept in and effects a rescue...)

[fairyd123]

I would entirely agree that Ianto immediately risking both his job and as it becomes clear pretty much straight away his life to improve Jack's conditions when he knows nothing about him was a bit of a stretch. It needed a few chapters worth of build up to get Ianto to that emotional state but I can understand the author just wanting to get on with the story.

[fairyd123]

I ended up reading all of What Never Should Be this evening after reading your review. There's a lot to be wary of - overuse of "Yan" and "cariad", Lisa's dismal characterisation, the fact that everyone is either utterly despicable or selflessly heroic with no shades of grey and for some reason Ianto repeatedly saying "son of a bitch" in the early chapters grated as it's just a very American expression. And yet somehow I still really enjoyed it despite blubbing infantile Jack - nice portrayal of Sarah Jane and Luke as well and props for making Jackie a hugely likeable character and recognising that she is a force to be reckoned with.

[cot_tossed]

You read the whole story? Impressive. It's pretty long. If I'd had to read every bit of every story in this category, I never would have made it.

About the "son of a bitch" thing: The author lives in Australia, so maybe it's a fairly common phrase there. Though I agree, Ianto saying it, and to any extent, is harder to buy.