ɪn ɐ tˈuː θˈaʊzənd θɹˈiː ˌɪntɚzˈoʊn ɹᵻvjˈuː, mˈæt hˈɪlz ɹˈaɪts, "ðə nˈɑːvəl sˈɜːʔn̩li kˈæɹiz ɐ wˈeɪɾi, poːɹtˈɛntəs swˈiːp: ɹˈɛɹli hɐz ðə dˈɑːktɚ dᵻsˈɛndᵻd ˌɪntʊ hˈɛl ænd kənfɹˈʌntᵻd dˈɛθ.
In a 2003 Interzone review, Matt Hills writes, "The novel certainly carries a weighty, portentous sweep: rarely has the Doctor descended into Hell and confronted Death.