Lungbarrow by Loomlight - Spoiler Free Review

Nearly 30 years after the release of Lungbarrow, infamous finale to the Virgin New Adventures range of Doctor Who novels, author Tomoko M. Banks brings readers back to the titular house for a new mystery. Lungbarrow by Loomlight is the latest installment in the Cwej series from Arcbeatle Press, following the adventures of companion Chris Cwej (pronounced ‘shvey’ as the novel so helpfully explains). Chris finds himself employed by the House of Lungbarrow to travel far back in time and kill “the Other” who, as Lungbarrow tells us, is eventually reborn to become the Doctor. We follow the two throughout many different vignettes of his home planet's extensive history as Chris uncovers murderous plots, political betrayals, and a deeper understanding for who he once travelled with. Lungbarrow by Loomlight is weird in the best possible way, told through otherworldly and imaginative prose that pairs well with the spirit Marc Platt brought forth long ago…

Lore Level / Heads-up

The expanded universe of Doctor Who is gloriously complex, and many eager readers are likely wondering how easy this novel will be to digest for someone who is not familiar with the Cwej series. For full transparency- I did not read a single VNA novel before reading Lungbarrow. Similarly, I did not read any previous entries of Cwej. I am, however, already very familiar with the history and lore of Gallifrey and its residents through other spinoffs, clips and passages from other novels, and poking through the depths of TARDIS wiki. Frankly, I actually found the book quite convenient as it pieces together events and lore that are otherwise scattered across many different stories. More on that later. But this is heavy in terms of how much lore and history is covered.

We are provided with some key background information on Chris’ story and his motivations in the beginning and throughout the story. I essentially did not know Chris when I began reading. By the end, though, I found myself strongly in tune with his character and his journey. Don’t get me wrong- this guy seems to have a lot going on, so you won’t process all the exposition. But you’ll understand the basics, and that alone was enough to make me cry at times. 

One obstacle readers may encounter is the difference in vocabulary and character names due to the aforementioned complexity in the expanded universe. For example, the mad man in the blue box is referred to as “the Defector”, and their home planet is described as that of the “Temporal Superiors”. Many concepts and characters are obvious through context clues, but I foresee myself creating a glossary in the future to assist…

Ultimately, I feel both Lungbarrow and Lungbarrow by Loomlight can be read without having read the entirety of either series beforehand as long as you are fairly familiar with expanded universe lore related to the time lords (though, this is a sequel, Lungbarrow itself is a must-read). If you choose this path, however, you should reasonably expect to encounter some confusion as a ‘visitor’ and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to check out the VNAs and Cwej. Even if you have that deeper familiarity, you are going to want to have a TARDIS wiki tab open and/or have a fellow Doctor Who expanded-universe enthusiast on standby for consultation. 

Plot & Review 

Due to the nature of time travel, the book operates in a wibbly wobbly area of being both a prequel and a sequel to Lungbarrow. 

Lungbarrow by Loomlight primarily serves as a journey through the history of the “temporal superiors” as it relates to the Other, the “Defector” and the many different lives between them. It more or less ‘canon-welds’ many different threads of this world and this character's history as it has been told by different writers, in different stories, and different formats. Glorious complexity, collected into one Canvas with Chris Cwej as our tour guide. 

The House of Lungbarrow sits vacant and derelict following the domicide at the end of Lungbarrow. Along with another character (Spoilers!), it employs Chris to travel back through time to kill its creator, The Other, effectively killing the Defector and preventing the death of Chris’ dear friend, Roz. Lungbarrow and Chris are united in their desire for revenge and Chris eagerly accepts his task. 

We begin in the days of Pythia, during an ancient age of magic and heroes long before regeneration, time travel, and lords of time. We follow Chris as he struggles to complete his mission, having to trail the Other through vampire wars, the creation of looms (tools which create these temporal beings), the tragedies and childless times associated with them, and many other key moments that have shaped this planet, species, and his target. 

Over time, Chris discovers deep truths which he is forced to reconcile with his complex relationship to this time traveler and the trauma and experiences they have both been through. It’s an emotional slow burn for both characters that gives the story its strong hearts-beat, a guiding light throughout an intense read. 

The actual house of Lungbarrow, and its members, do not get as much focus as some might hope for. Multiple primary characters from Lungbarrow appear, who more or less occupy the same roles in another mysterious and murderous plot. Some readers may not be satisfied with where we leave the cousins' stories, but they still get their moment to shine. In reconnecting with the House, we see and learn a lot more about it, the historical and cultural contexts it exists in, and its Cousins. Banks does well in showcasing Lungbarrow's strange characteristics, which is more alive than it’s ever been. 

With so much ground to cover, there isn’t much room for the central plot (beyond touring the past) to bloom until fairly late into the story. This makes the final quarter of the novel a bit overwhelming as Chris crashes back into the true conspiracy at hand and has to work quickly against the dark forces pulling the strings. 

The novel stumbles slightly in the reveal of its main villain, which may catch some off guard and feels out of place given all of the players and pieces already present. It culminates in events and concepts that go far beyond expectations and what one's brain might be able to handle without blanking momentarily from copious amounts of What??. This actually provides a strong recovery, however, due to the ways in which Banks takes advantage of just how weird this world can get. 

Banks' imagination and style do an incredible job of bringing even the oddest of concepts to life in a captivating whirlpool; despite its complexity, you might find yourself not wanting to put the book down until you’ve reached the end. Banks also manages to incorporate some strong meta commentary into the narrative that brings a whole other dimension to the climax.

Lungbarrow by Loomlight is a novel which ties multiple millennia into a gorgeously rich, complex, and emotional story for Chris Cwej, the Other, and the “Defector”. Even during a brief stumble, it is filled to the brim with incredible worldbuilding, world weaving, prose and exploration- as well as gorgeous artwork from multiple artists. In 2003, Lungbarrow was updated to include commentary from its author, Marc Platt. I would certainly love to get a deeper insight into this installment.

I am grateful to have had the opportunity to speak with Tomoko M. Banks about the novel prior to writing a future, in-depth analysis of it- and to thank her for giving us a stunning successor nearly 30 years on. Stay tuned!

Cover A, by Fred Gambino

Cover B, by Ryan Rigby

Left: Cover A, by Fred Gambino. Right: Cover B, by Ryan Rigby

Lungbarrow By Loomlight will be available for purchase April 23rd, 2026 from Arcbeatle Press