The Blood Cell gained generally positive reviews, calling it an "effective chiller".[2] Most of them commented the unusual way of narration from the first-person perspective of the administrator of the prison in which the book is set known as the Governor.[2][3][4] More grim and darker tone is also noted.[2][4] The interaction between the Doctor and the Governor is described as "a good mix and an interesting double act".[3] Goss nailed the bantering love/hate relationship of the Doctor and Clara,[5] capturing the bickering between the pair.[4] Peter Capaldi's Doctor is pretty recognisable,[5] the author captures his "ornery portrayal extremely well",[2] and the Twelfth Doctor's intellect as well as his sarcastic side with the "lashings of the amusing fish-out-of-water Time Lord" is portrayed accurately.[3] As for Clara, Goss "captured her quiet determination well"[2] and was praised for "an absolute hold on the character, really getting inside her head and nailing her characterisation perfectly".[3]
The audio addition to the book was released on 13 November 2014, read by Colin McFarlane who played General Austin Pierce in Torchwood: Children of Earth and guest starred in the Doctor Who episodes "Under the Lake" and "Before the Flood" as Moran.[6] This was the first new series audio to be released since AudioGo went into administration in 2013.
