Dragonfly in Amber

I AM DONE!

WOW. Just wow. That ending. woah.

It's truly remarkable how within just 40 pages, I found myself ugly crying.

My heart seemed to explode with a plethora of feelings.

There was confusion, there was hope, and now I'm completely mind blown by the ending.

WOW. Diana, you've done it again!

It took me a while to really get into DiA.

But once I got past the 300-page mark, it just got so incredibly good and kept on getting better with each passing page.

I have no hesitation in giving this book a 5/5 stars rating.

It's a literary masterpiece that has touched my heart and left a lasting impression.

I can't wait to see what else Diana has in store for us in the future.

This one truly took me by surprise. In some aspects, it was definitely superior to Outlander. However, a significant portion of it felt like the same old. Confusing, right? Let me elaborate further.

The pacing of the book is as sluggish as that of Outlander (not at all unexpected), and it's definitely not a book you can devour in one sitting. There are moments when it becomes incredibly dull. The book exceeds 900 pages, and in my view, it could easily be condensed to around 600 to 750 pages. I have no idea why the author seems to enjoy numbing our senses with such hefty tomes.

The story commences with a twenty-year leap, and I found those initial chapters to be truly captivating and well-written. I might even be so bold as to say that they were relatively fast-paced compared to the remainder of the book, especially when Claire and Jamie were among the elites in Paris. The political intrigue, at times, can be rather tedious for me personally, so I did skim through some of it (in my defense, it's a substantial book).

Jamie and Claire are an absolutely perfect couple. The way they love each other, ready to sacrifice their entire world just to cherish and adore one another, is truly swoon-worthy. It was truly impressive to witness the evolution of their characters. Forever in love, they know how to communicate and resolve their issues. They encounter setbacks (major ones), but instead of creating petty drama, they talk, which was something I adored. The two had me in tears towards the conclusion of Parts Six and Seven.

Jamie Fraser, although slightly flawed, is beyond romantic and exudes such charisma. The man simply loves to love. His passion for Claire and her happiness is truly amazing to read about. You can't help but love him. And, ladies, he's attentive! He pays attention to all the minute details about Claire. The guy actually kept track of Claire's period, and while it may not seem like a big deal, it's those little and simple things that truly matter.

"We are bound, you and I, and nothing on this earth shall part me from you."

Claire, being a bit ahead of her time, radiates a sense of independence. Moreover, the fact that Jamie doesn't hold her back is truly remarkable, especially considering the era in which this book is set. (That's something definitely worth mentioning.) Claire is resolute and strong. The only thing that bothers me about her is the constant swearing. Honestly, it's a bit excessive. But that's just my personal opinion.

I don't have a particularly strong opinion about Brianna, but so far, I don't like her much. I understand that she has her reasons for acting the way she did towards Claire at the end, but to me, she seems stuck up and bratty (sorry not sorry). I'm not sure what to anticipate from her in the next book, nor am I overly eager to find out.

As I pointed out in my review of Outlander, violence against women is a historical reality. This holds true in this book as well. Since I've already addressed this point previously, I won't elaborate on it further in this review.

The ending was truly something else. I never saw it coming, and I was in tears throughout the conclusion of Part Six. I genuinely didn't think it would end on a cliffhanger, and such a major one at that.

It is a decent read, nothing extraordinary, but I can't wait to discover what occurs in the next installment.

One of the saddest and most beautiful chapters (46) that I have read is in this book.

I love everything about this story.

The way the author weaves the plot, the vivid descriptions of the characters and the settings, all contribute to making it a truly captivating read.

Each chapter seems to unfold like a画卷, revealing new layers of emotion and complexity.

The sadness in chapter 46 is palpable, yet there is also a certain beauty in the way the story is told.

It makes me reflect on the human condition and the power of love and loss.

This book has truly touched my heart and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.

*This review will be a little spoily, read it at your own risk*

“Ok, so I set the date on 2012 and set it for Kansas City Kansas, specifically Kemper’s deck. I think all I have to do is reverse the directions on Google maps on the laptop. Uh, turn the key. Yay, it works.”

“Or I thought so, Toto I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore (had to do it!).”

“Hello Stephanie. Toto, I love the Wizard of Oz.”

“Aaaaack! Claire Beachum Randel Fraser! You just scared the piss out of me. Don’t sneak up on a person sitting on a time mower and whisper in their ear. It’s downright creepy.” Sighs. “Hey Claire, you look a little older than the last time I saw you, moments ago, but don’t worry you still look young and fresh and beautiful.”

“Oh thank you Stephanie, I have to admit that people mention that a lot! I mean a lot! It must have been all that whiskey and malnutrition in the 1700’s that preserved me.”

“Well, Claire, could you fill me in on the when and the where this is?”

“Still in Scotland, but we’re in 1968. Frank, Brianna and I moved to the States where I became a doctor. We stayed there until Frank passed away. I brought Brianna back to get her acquainted with her roots.”

“Brianna is your daughter? Is that her over there? Wow! Tall, beautiful, look at that mane of red hair. She looks just like her father Jam… mph… nni.”

“Keep your voice down, she doesn’t know that Frank wasn’t her biological father. I brought her here to break the news and tell her who her father really was, Jamie Frasier.”

“Get your hand off my mouth, that’s rude! Did Frank look just like Jamie?”

“No. Total opposites. Frank was short and had dark hair.”

“She doesn’t look much like you, and nothing like Frank, she is an Amazonian redhead. She didn’t once ask you about that?”

“Not once. Did I mention the whiskey and the malnutrition?”

“Claire, don’t tell me. You drank alcohol during your pregnancy? You were a trained nurse then, don’t tell me you didn’t know better!”

“Just a little, bottle, every day, Stephanie, we didn’t know any better back then.”

“Ok, never mind. If she never grasped the fact that Frank wasn’t her father on her own because of possible fetal alcohol syndrome, how is she supposed to understand time travel now?”

“You have a point there. Maybe I’ll find a young handsome historian to help explain things to her.”

“I don’t see the logic, but you go with it Claire. I’m afraid to ask, but what were you and Jamie up to during the rest of the time you were back in time, besides getting drunk and having lots of sex?”

“We tried to change history by joining the Jacobite cause and save a bunch of lives. We went to France to get this accomplished. I had to have sex with the King of France to get Jamie out of The Bastille; it wasn’t very good on account of his tiny penis.”

“Oh dear god, I did ask.”

“Yes you did. And guess who we ran into? Jack Randel! Jamie wanted to kill him straight away, but I stopped him because I was afraid Frank would never be born if he killed him. Jack is Frank’s ancestor you see.”

“I see, but I thought you killed Jack Randle with cows, which didn’t seem to upset you at all at the time. Now you get all angry about it?”

“I changed my mind. Turns out it wasn’t Jack trampled by the cows. It’s really hard to identify someone after a trampling.”

“But Claire, you tried to change the course of history without ANY concern for the consequences. Any number of people could have been born that wouldn’t have and others who were never born that should have, and you are concerned NOW about Frank, one person, never existing? Oh my head hurts again.”

“Claire it’s been great, but I have to get this timemower back to its rightful owner, he has a short fuse. There we go, forgot to hit enter. Please, don’t mess with history anymore Claire. Promise?”

“um, sure, Stephanie, I promise.”

“I don’t believe you.”

Gabaldon's novels are truly a unique blend. They are sex-ridden, yet hugely researched and academically adventurous. The combination of time travel, sci-fi, and historical romance makes them a guilty pleasure for lit nerds.

These books are filled with a wealth of information,涵盖了 clan warfare, herbal medicine, genealogy, British history, and even WWII. In fact, what little Gaelic I know started with these books. And as a bonus, the heroine gets to have numerous passionate encounters with a handsome, hard-bodied Highlander. It's really a win-win situation.

The books were recommended to me when I was living in England, and it was a lucky break. If I had seen the Fabio-in-a-kilt-of-passion American paperback cover, I probably would have refused to read it. Thankfully, the British version, called Cross Stitch, had a less sexy cover with a field of heather. For a while, I was completely hooked on the series, but my interest waned once the Frasers headed to America.

Although the books are long, the pages turn quickly. Gabaldon has a real talent for creating engaging characters and her prose flows smoothly. However, if you're squeamish about certain topics, be warned. The negative reviews of these books often focus prudishly and tediously on one specific encounter in an otherwise predominantly heterosexual storyline.

SWEET BLEEDING JESUS!!! I KNEW IT!!!!!!! DAMNED BLOODY FUCKING CLIFFHANGERS!!!!! This is a truly sensational story.

5 STARS ★★★★★

The author's writing is so vivid that it brings the story to life. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns.

In this book, Claire and Jamie face many challenges as they try to change history and save Scotland. Their love for each other is put to the test, and they must make difficult choices.

The descriptions of the settings, from the prisons of Wentworth to the aristocratic circles of Paris, are detailed and immersive. The reader feels as if they are right there with the characters.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the addition of new characters. Fergus, in particular, stole my heart. His loyalty and mischief made him a joy to read about.

The ending of the book was heart-wrenching. I was in tears as I read the final pages. But, as the author said, thank God for sequels! I can't wait to see what happens next in Claire and Jamie's story.

Overall, this is an amazing book that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves historical fiction, romance, or adventure. It's a must-read for fans of the Outlander series.

*Heavy sigh.*

[Theme spoilers, but no plot spoilers. Read at your own risk.]

I'm truly at a loss as to where to begin. A proper review of this would require extensive quoting and detailed backup, but after plowing through 700+ pages, I simply don't have the energy for that. The essence is that the romantic hero character unfortunately perpetuates rape culture. He uses the words 'rape' and 'sex' interchangeably, blames sexual assault on a woman's clothing, and claims that once men are aroused, they physically can't stop themselves from ravaging those nearby. His wife, the modern woman, actually expresses fear that he will beat and rape her. Although she briefly gets angry with him, she soon finds herself unable to resist him (a cycle that repeats), thus presenting all the rape-related aspects in a romantic light. This is precisely my issue with it.

Furthermore, if you're unfamiliar with what an emotionally abusive and controlling relationship looks like, take a look at the last 3 paragraphs of page 677 and the first half of page 678. There's jealousy, demands, physical shaking, blaming her for his actions, shaming her past, and solving their problems through sex. Oh, look at that. I did manage to muster the energy to provide at least one example. I found this to be highly unhealthy. Maybe you don't share the same view. But having lived through a very similar type of relationship, I can say that if this is what's being sold as "romantic," then this book is indeed part of the problem. I sincerely hope and pray that most readers can see that this is far from desirable.

I've discussed cultural relativism on my channel. I can understand when a book needs to depict troublesome content to remain true to the time period. However, what I can't respect is when this content is romanticized. There are villains in this series who behave in the same manner. Heroes can definitely have a morally gray area or a darker side without presenting something harmful. But when the villains and heroes act identically, what's the real difference between them? Are we simply rooting for the most attractive one?

I had numerous problems with the sexism and rape culture in this book, so you might be wondering why I gave it 2 stars. Despite the problematic subjects, I do believe the writing is of good quality. I have no idea if the historical research was thorough, but it had a depth that gave the impression of being well-researched. To be fair, historical fiction isn't my preferred genre, but perhaps you'll enjoy it more if it's yours.

I did also really enjoy the parts of the book set in the 1960s when Jamie is out of the picture. Yes, I know I'm strange. Isn't Jamie supposed to be the main excitement of the story? Well, not for me. I was much more intrigued by the way the story played with time travel and its consequences in Claire's original time. This time period framed the story, and honestly, I was reading all of the past settings just to discover how the timelines would converge.

If you're curious, from what I've seen of Outlander season 2, the show did remove the problematic lines from Jamie. The show appears to be a better adaptation, and so I do think I'll continue watching it since it's my preferred, less harmful version of this story that allows the truly interesting premise to shine through.

Outlander ★★★★★

Dragonfly In Amber ★★★★.5

Voyager ★★★.5

Drums of Autumn ★★★.5

--------------------------------------------------

I've never cried so hard in my life over fictional characters before. The Outlander series has truly taken me on an emotional rollercoaster. Each book is filled with such vivid characters and intense storylines that it's impossible not to become deeply invested. From the passionate romance between Claire and Jamie to the heart-wrenching sacrifices and challenges they face, every moment feels real and raw. The attention to detail in the historical setting adds another layer of authenticity, making it easy to lose myself in their world. I find myself laughing, crying, and holding my breath throughout each page. It's a series that has touched my heart in ways I never thought possible with fictional characters.