4,5 stars.

This second part tells the life of Claire Fraser twenty years after she returned from 18th-century Scotland. Along with her daughter Brianna Randall, she will try to discover what happened after the famous Battle of Culloden in 1745.

I liked this volume but not as much as the first installment, and there are several reasons for this. Firstly, the plot begins in 1968, twenty years after Claire returned from the stones. Little by little, through her voice and that of Roger Wakefield (the adopted son of Reverend Wakefield), they try to uncover what happened after Culloden, and what happened immediately after Claire's return is left hanging. Perhaps this is why this part seemed rather slow to me, as well as the part where our protagonists live through the intrigues of Versailles. Secondly, the changes in narrator really killed me a bit, to be honest. But well, aside from this, we have the part where Claire and Jamie return to Scotland, where they fully immerse themselves in the action proper, and where I got hooked on the reading again and devoured the pages.

If the plot seemed very dense to me at first, the characters never disappoint me. Both Claire and Jamie always surprise me, and then we have the rest who are not to be despised, with the despicable Randall, the loyal Murtagh, Dougal, and with others new like Mary, Alex, the famous Charles Edward, Fergus, the Count of St. Germain, etc.

In conclusion, this part didn't hook me as much as the first, mainly because I thought the first part (between the present and the stay in France), with all its intrigues and such, was too thick, and some parts were too explicit regarding certain themes that the author has already accustomed us to... That's why I'm left with the final part. I suppose the ending would have left me intrigued and would have excited me more because that's what it's supposed to do, but I understand because since I've already seen the series, it takes away the excitement. So I hope to catch up between the series and the novels to see if things change ;)

Second book completed. I don't know if I'll meet the challenge of reading the fourth book before the fourth season of the TV series starts, but I think I'm doing well because the third one, although much longer than this one, seems more entertaining to me. Come on! ✌

I am developing a complex love/hate relationship with this series.

I deeply care about the relationship that has blossomed between Claire and Jamie. Diana Gabaldon has crafted this intricate, passionate, and beautiful love story around these two individuals. It is this very aspect that has kept fans loyal to these books, even decades after their story commenced.

However, my issues with this book started right from the first chapter and intensified as the story progressed.

My first and perhaps the most significant concern was the premise. After the events of Outlander, I was eager for this epic love story to carry on. But this book begins with Claire back in her own time. She has gone through the stones, something she had vowed never to do. Even more frustrating is that it has been 20 years since she did so. She is nearly 50 years old, accompanied by Jamie's grown daughter. Frank is deceased, and she is ready to reveal the truth about the girl's parentage. All the Scots that Claire knew and loved are long gone, including Jamie. Their great love endured for less than three years. What on earth!

I persisted in reading, constantly hoping for the facts to change. Surely, with some strange time travel element, Gabaldon could rectify this, right? I mean, the series is centered around Claire and Jamie. It would be challenging to maintain the story with Jamie dead, wouldn't it? Well, I can't speak for the future books, but every glimpse of Jamie in this book is presented through flashbacks. It narrates the events that occurred to the couple between the end of the last book and the moment Claire stepped back through the stones.

The story shines brightest during the flashbacks, yet they were not without flaws. There was an excessive focus on politics. I struggled to keep up with all the details regarding who should be the rightful king, which characters were on which side, and the reasons behind it. It was of utmost importance to the story, but I simply didn't care. I was solely interested in what was happening with Jamie and Claire. And there was plenty of that in the book as well. Honestly, it was the only thing that prevented me from discarding the book. That, and my curiosity about how Gabaldon would reconcile the premise with the concept of the series continuing.

I loathed the return of Jack Randall. I despised Claire's reaction to it and her complaining to Jamie about her needs to keep him alive. I wanted to give her a good smack in the mouth. What that man did to Jamie deserved far worse than death, but Claire's selfishness kept him alive, forced Jamie to endure his presence, led to the rape of another innocent person, and all for nothing. It severely damaged her character in my eyes.

On top of all this, the book is simply too lengthy. It dragged on at times and would have been much improved by eliminating some of the无休止的 political intrigue and present-day set-up. It took an agonizingly long time to reach the storyline that intrigued me. Part of me wants to abandon the series altogether, but two things hold me back. One, I still need to know how on earth the series can progress given how the book ends. And two, I渴望 to see more of Jamie and Claire. But do I want to see 50-year-old Jamie and Claire? Hmm.

I'll keep you updated.

Although the first book is much more original than this second part, there is an evolution in the flaws, at the character level, that I found in "Forastera".

It hooks you a great deal and keeps you glued to it. I will only say that the days when I have had to carry it in my bag have been worth it.

For the next one, I only ask for more Scotland and more highlanders.

This second part, while perhaps not as groundbreaking as the first, still manages to captivate readers with its engaging story and evolving characters. The flaws that are present add depth and realism to the characters, making them more relatable. The fact that it can keep the reader so engaged that they are willing to carry it around in their bag speaks volumes about its quality. As for the next installment, the request for more Scotland and more highlanders is understandable, as these elements have clearly added to the charm and appeal of the series so far.