Just delightful. That’s really the best way to sum up my experience with The Shadow Play—it’s the kind of story that leaves you eager for more. The set-up that began in the previous audio drama is brought to a satisfying close here, with all the major players firmly established and some seeds sown for future stories.

The political maneuvering and intrigue in this story feel at times like a precursor to what would later become the backbone of the Gallifrey series—there’s a sense of layered plotting and behind-the-scenes scheming that’s really compelling. While the storytelling is a bit more conventional than the first part of the Faction Paradox Protocols, the eccentricities of the characters and the mystical, ritualistic atmosphere keep things feeling special.

Production and cast are all-around good, making it easy to get lost in the world of the Eleven-Day Empire. The performances are immersive, and the sound design does a great job of drawing you into the story’s unique blend of chaos and order.

I’m genuinely looking forward to listening to the rest of the Faction Paradox Protocols.