4 stars


This was indeed a solid 4-star read. I have a deep affection for Jamie and Claire, and firmly believe in their eternal love. However, I found myself a bit disconnected from them in this installment. I suspect it might be due to the events that took place in Voyager, as I just couldn't seem to get past them. The story did drag a little at times, which is something I haven't experienced before in this series. Despite these minor drawbacks, I still managed to enjoy this book. The characters and their complex relationships continue to draw me in. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series soon. I'm eager to see how their story progresses and what new challenges and adventures they will face.

In Charleston, 1767, Claire and Jamie arrive in North Carolina seeking a place to live away from war and misery. However, they suffer a violent robbery that takes away the little they had to start their new life. Fortunately, through Jamie's aunt Yocasta Cameron, they come into contact with some Scottish refugees who survived Culloden and help them settle. The Fraser couple begins to build a new home amid the perils of wild animals, Indians, and the threat of an upcoming American Revolution, unaware of their可怕的 future and their daughter Brianna's intention to travel through time to find them and save them from a fatal outcome.

"Autumn鼓声" is the fourth installment of Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander" series. Like its predecessors, "Outlander", "Dragonfly in Amber", and "Voyager", this novel hooks readers from the first pages with its captivating time-traveling love story. Once again, the carefully crafted and immersive setting, straddling the Scottish Highlands and the colonies of the New World, transports us on a journey filled with the adventures of the Fraser couple. The novel delves into themes such as love, family, survival, tradition, loyalty, honor, colonialism, insult, courage, betrayal, and forgiveness.

✔️ Strong points: The easy and evocative language makes for a quick and enjoyable read. The characters of Claire, Jamie, and Brianna and their personal evolution are engaging. The love story is told in a different way. The well-developed characters, the well-defined and narrated plot, the incredible and multiple twists, the constant and increasing action and tension, the intrigue of the multiple subplots that converge, the immersive setting, and the careful documentation of the era are all pluses. The final twist and the possibility of continuing the story with the following novels are also appealing.

❤ You will like it if: You are looking for a different historical romance than the usual ones, a time-travel or fantasy story set in the Scottish colonies of the New World, if you have liked the previous installments of the saga, "Outlander", "Dragonfly in Amber", and "Voyager", or if you have seen an episode (and liked it) of the "Outlander" series.

Book 4 in the Outlander series takes readers on an adventure that unfolds at an astonishing pace, incorporating new stages of time.

I was truly delighted by how the characters not only continue to develop and mature in a certain sense but also how their relationships experience the ebb and flow of emotions.

This particular book proved to be even more entertaining, with the few arguments between father and daughter that could either leave you feeling a touch of sadness or bring a little giggle. There are numerous other moments throughout that are sad, funny, and frustrating.

It is definitely a book that you can sit down and read in large chunks at a time, fully immersing yourself in its pages.

Even though the books in this series are over 1000 pages long, it is still an easy read. Like many long reads, you might get lost and find yourself going down a rabbit hole, but so far, this series doesn't keep you lost for long before bringing you back.

Without a doubt, it is a series that is well worth recommending.

4.5/5 STARS!!

I finally completed my very first book for 2016!!! It took me a little over three weeks to finish this book, and I absolutely adored it!

When I picked up this book, I was well aware that it would likely take me some time to get through it, and that was perfectly fine with me. It had been over a year since I had read the third book in this series. However, as soon as I delved into "Drums of Autumn," it felt as if it had only been a few weeks since I had been immersed in the world of Jamie and Claire.

To be honest, I could have done without the first 300 pages. It just didn't seem to contribute a great deal to the main story. It was mainly filled with daily activities, with just snippets of interesting things scattered here and there.

Despite the initial slowness, I still have an absolute passion for Diana Gabaldon's writing style and storytelling. I was rather surprised that this book didn't conclude with a cliffhanger like all the others in the series. This makes me wonder what direction the next book will take.

I can't wait to find out and continue my journey with Jamie and Claire in the next installment of this captivating series.

Drums of Autumn - An Angry Review

SPOILERS.

Be prepared for a passionate outburst as I share my thoughts on this book. I'm giving it 2 stars, and here's why. There were indeed moments that made me laugh and smile, but those were overshadowed by numerous instances where I wanted to shout at the characters for their sheer stupidity. In fact, I even threw the book across the room a couple of times!



Jesus Christ, how did these characters become so incredibly stupid?!!


Clare and Jamie

It's been twenty years since they were separated and reunited, but it's like the characters from the first and second books have vanished. Seriously, what happened to them? They're completely different. Jamie Fraser, once a purebred Highlander, highly educated, rational, and intelligent, always one step ahead, now seems lost. He has no plan and is just aimless. Giving up on Ian so quickly is completely out of character.
Claire Fraser is just there. She helps when someone is sick, but otherwise, she seems pointless. She should be standing up and being her fiery self at times, but instead, she's quiet. And then, in moments when she should let things go, she blows up.



Dear Lord, don't even get me started on their daughter, Brianna Fraser


She's supposed to be an educated woman, but she acts so irresponsibly. She had time to plan her trip back in time, yet she seems to have forgotten everything she should have known about the 18th century. She doesn't communicate her thoughts clearly, leading to misunderstandings that could have been easily avoided.

1. She should have told Roger that she wanted to go back and find her mother.
2. She knew the dress codes in the 18th century, yet she refused to wear a dress.
3. She walked into a private cabin with a strange man, thinking everything would be okay.
4. She loved Roger but then screamed when she saw him, leading to misunderstandings.
5. She didn't tell her parents that Roger had changed his name, causing more problems.
6. And then she threatened someone to marry her!



Roger Wakefield

Dear Lord, this guy. He wanted to follow his love, but he didn't prepare himself properly.
1. He threatened to spank Bree for her stupidity, which was completely inappropriate.
2. He left her alone again after scolding her, which was just plain idiotic.
3. And then he shouted something inappropriate to her father, making the situation even worse.

It's not just the stupidity of the characters that annoyed me. Some of my favorite characters seem to have disappeared. Where is Fergus Fraser? He was such a great character, and now he's just a passing mention.

In this book, my favorite characters are Lord John Grey (I've grown to like him), Young Ian, Rollo, and for the few scenes he was in, Fergus.



Okay, I know I've ranted like a crazy person, but I needed to get it out. I don't have the strength for the next book, especially since it's so long. I need a break.


I also apologize for the swearing.

The universe had shifted, with a small, decisive click; he could still hear its echo in his bones. This was already the fourth book of the “Outlander series,” and since I didn't write reviews about the other books, I just decided to type one of my “What I liked” and “What I didn't like” reviews.

First of all, I have to say that the pacing of this book was very slow. Truth be told, it was actually so slow that I was even tempted to DNF it. And that means something, because I've never ever DNFd a book in my entire life! Gemma is my witness! *lol* I struggled through the first 400 pages and hoped that it would get better. And oh boy, how good it turned out to be!!!! XD

All told, I don't regret that I fought my way through the beginning, because the rest of the book definitely made up for it! ;-)

If you've read the book: Proceed! If you haven't read the book yet: Be cautious! =) If you haven't read the books before: Why the hell are you even reading this? ;-P Guess that should be a fair warning! Now let's go to the fun part!

What I liked: My precious boys and men!!! <333 Fergus is and will forever be my precious cinnamon roll!! I loved him ever since he was introduced to the series, and even though he's always been a side character, I'm more than just attached to him!!! Fergus is amazing, and I really hope that he'll continue to be a part of the series! Ian is my baby boy!! He's been through so much and he's still such a cheerful character!! I adore him, and this book broke my heart!!! WHY DIANA??? Why did you have to leave him with the Mohawks??!!! That boy grew on me, and now you tore him away!!! I'm heartbroken!!! Hell, I even cried!!! I really hope that he's going to be alright and that he'll be mentioned in the next books, because if not, I'll never recover from his loss!!! Roger is the cutiepie! I can't even put into words how much I love this man, and I'm so glad he's become one of the main characters in this book! Roger is amazing, and I really hope that he will be happy in the next books because he definitely deserves it!!! Do you hear me Diana? HE. DESERVES. IT!!! Lord John Grey is everything!!! <333 He's an angel and a saint!!! XD I don't understand why Claire doesn't like him!! I mean seriously, that man is perfection, and it's not his fault that he loves Jamie!!! He just loves that stupid, stubborn Highlander, and he shouldn't be ashamed of it!!! GIVE THAT MAN A BREAK!!! How much does he have to do to prove that he truly cares about Jamie and Claire?? He even almost married Bree and he's taking good care of Jamie's illegitimate son!!! Lord John Grey deserves so much more than their hostility!!! He deserves all the love!!!! We also found out more about the theory of the stones and how to travel through them! Jamie and Claire are still cute together! As always, I enjoyed the historical details! Especially the interactions between the Indians and Jamie's people! The humour! XD

What I didn't like: Jamie! ARGH!!! He gave me all the feels, but this time around, it were rather negative ones!! I think he deserves the title of the worst father ever! Like seriously!!! I really like Jamie, but he sucks as a father figure!! *lol* For someone who's been through so much, he really didn't show any sympathy! Alone how he treated Roger!!! I mean WTH???!!! At first, he almost kills him because he thinks he raped his daughter! Jeez! He didn't even let him explain!!! And then he finds him and wants to bring him back but still treats him like shit??!!! That scene when they were in the longhouse and he didn't want to tell him anything about Brianna!! That was so cruel and heartless!!! As if it would have hurt him to give Roger some information! And then when Claire and him told Roger about Bree's rape!! He didn't even give him a second to digest it!!!! WTH!!! THAT BOY WAS A PRISONER OF THE INDIANS AND SUFFERED ABUSE!!! CUT HIM SOME SLACK!!! DAMN IT!!! My poor Roger!!! He didn't do anything to deserve this, and it just made me so angry!! Daingead!!!! I'm so mad at Jamie!! Urgh! Bonnet! I hope the next time we see that man, he's actually getting what he deserves!! Claire! For a stubborn lass, she was way too lenient with Jamie's misbehaviour! I would have expected more of her!! She should have given him hell for how he treated other people!!! *grrr* Brianna! I really don't know how I feel about her… I understand her somehow, but I'm also angry at her! Yes, it was wrong that Roger didn't tell her about the newspaper article, but he really just tried to protect her! He loved her so much, and she doubted him almost all of the time! I mean he even went through that freaking stone circle to get to her, and she can't even listen to him?! Hear him out and try to see things from his point of view?! She's definitely Jamie's daughter! That's for sure! *argh*

Well, despite all of my anger, I still loved the book and cared about its awesome characters! Since this was already the fourth book, some of them really grew on me, and I can't even imagine the next books without them! T_T “Drums of autumn” left me thoroughly heartbroken, and I'm most likely going to pick up “The Fiery Cross” soon! Maybe even at the beginning of the next year! ;-)

I really liked it again, but it was also a bit tedious in places.

However, I love the story around Jamie and Claire and I'm looking forward to the next volume ❤️.

This book has its own charm. Although there are some parts that are not so exciting, the overall plot is still very attractive. The relationship between Jamie and Claire is the core of the story, and their love and adventures make people unable to put it down.

Even though there are some flaws, I still highly recommend this book to those who like historical romance novels. I believe that they will also be deeply attracted by this story and look forward to the next installment just like me.

**Preliminary Review of Drums of Autumn - SPOILERS**

This book, Drums of Autumn, is by far the most lackluster in the series. The major issue lies in the absence of a broader arc that ties the entire series together. Each installment seems to simply portray the lives of Jamie and Claire, but without a clear sense of purpose. What exactly is the main objective of their story? Now that they are reunited, it appears there isn't one.

I'm also growing tired of the recycled characters and the unrealistic notion that Claire constantly stumbles upon the ancestors of those she knew in the 20th century. It just doesn't seem believable.
Many have complained that Jamie isn't as captivating as in previous books, but what about Claire? Goodness, she always acts so annoyingly superior with her knowledge and higher morals. 'Oh, Jamie, I don't want to have slaves, because you know, it's so wrong.' Well, yes, it's wrong in the 20th century, but not in colonial America! Her compulsion to help people and offer comfort at all costs is also extremely irritating. I swear, I've felt like slapping her multiple times, and I've only read 200 pages. Additionally, her insane jealousy of John Grey makes her seem like a very silly woman. So what if John is in love with Jamie? He's not trying to steal him from Claire, and the most crucial point is that Jamie isn't gay! Her snide remarks towards John were completely uncalled for. She's just angry that John can spend time with Jamie's son, but she conveniently forgets that she robbed Jamie of his daughter when she let Frank adopt Brianna and never told her about her real father. She's still bitter that Jamie fathered a son with another woman and married Laoghaire, yet she forgets that she lived twenty years sharing Frank's bed and sleeping with him. If the marriage wasn't happy, it was her fault. Ugh, she's such a hypocrite!

**Updated Review**

So, I managed to read over 60% of Drums of Autumn before I finally threw in the towel. I was defeated by this darn book. Sigh... There are so many flaws in it (as seen in my numerous book updates) that it's quite challenging to write a review without sounding like I'm just complaining. The main reason I persisted in reading was to see how Brianna and Roger's story would unfold. Now that they've finally journeyed back in time, I find myself even more bored than before. I truly don't believe that whatever happens next will be of any value (yes, I did read the spoilers). And if I no longer like Claire, I absolutely loathe Brianna for her selfishness and stubbornness. I really don't understand what Roger sees in her. I suspect he was actually in love with Claire, but since he can't have her, he's simply transferred his affections to her daughter. Besides being beautiful, she really doesn't have a personality worth mentioning.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ! A devastating notification in a 1776 newspaper forces Brianna to leave her own time and travel 200 years back. She attempts to find and warn her mother and the father she's never met, unaware they've left Scotland for the new world. This decision引发了 a ripple effect no one could have foreseen.

Drums of Autumn is an outstanding read. It's effortlessly my new favorite in the Outlander series, following the epic first book and the first half of Voyager. It's a magnificent piece of literature!

So much occurs in DOA that it's like reading five books in one. It's quite large, so you'll need a great deal of patience and time to finish it. But I assure you, it's worth it in the end. Diana Gabaldon, as always, has a brilliant way with words, and DOA is a masterpiece on its own. This installment offers a little bit of everything. Adventures, romance, danger, and everything in between. The storytelling is truly excellent. It's like being a 200+ year old fly on the wall.

Jamie - still当之无愧 the title of king of men. A bit older and wiser, yet still as irresponsible as ever.

Claire - a remarkable heroine. Independent, intelligent, sassy, and witty. I adored the way she was with Jamie in this book. The "When you move, I move" sort of way.

Brianna - I wish I could like her. That would've made things easier. I had no issue with her for the first part of the book. I almost liked her. Almost. But when she essentially called Jamie the worst father ever and wished she'd never seen him, she burned all bridges. I wish she'd just disappear.

Roger - a decent character. Much better than Brianna. A little dull but kept my interest. However, like Brianna, I can only tolerate him in small doses. I read these books for Jamie and Claire.

Lord John Grey - it was great to see him again. One of the best characters.

Willie - father meeting son. I adored every moment Jamie had with him. Aww.

Wee Ian - I have a newfound LOVE for Jamie's nephew. I can't believe I didn't realize what a great character he is before. My favorite after (?) Jamie.

We also get a brief visit to Lallybroch with Jenny (love that woman), Leer'a (damn that woman), and young Jamie. I told you, a lot of things happen. We also get to meet Fergus and Marsali and new acquaintances like Brianna's maid Litzy.

Scenes I'll remember - Jamie's first meeting with his daughter (he was urinating the first time she saw him, and he thought she was a prostitute, LOL. ) Jamie with his son. (This is clearly a book for reunions. ) Almost every scene with Jamie and wee Ian.

The Outlander book series is EPIC! They truly excel in every aspect; plot-wise, character development, the level of detail, and the masterful writing.

I would classify it as historical fiction/adventures. The first three books have been the most romantic (in a certain sense). But don't worry. Jamie and Claire's epic love is still very much the heart and soul of this story.

\\n  \\n   

\\n      

‘And when my body shall cease, my soul will still be yours. Claire – I swear by my hope of heaven, I will not be parted from you.’

\\n   

\\n  \\n

But boy, I really miss Scotland!!

OVERALL RATING: 4 STRONG STARS!



| Hero | 5 | | Angst | Medium focus |
| Heroine | 4 | | Romance | | High focus |
| Sexual tension | 4 | | Suspense | Low focus |
| Storytelling | 5 | | Humour | Medium focus |
| Storyending | 4 |

Claire and Jamie are back again!

This time, they are forging their future in America, specifically in North Carolina. We cross timelines with Brianna & Roger in the 1960s and our protagonists in 1700s America. As one can imagine, slavery and Native Americans play a role in this book. Brianna and Roger come across some interesting information and decide to take history into their own hands and jump through the stones to save Claire and Jamie.

I truly liked this installment in the series. Although at times it was overly verbose and lengthy in description, I still appreciated the plot points that Gabaldon introduced for our characters. Filled with action and drama, this book had it all. We got glimpses of some older characters, which was always a treat. I'll need to take a break before picking up the next one, but I will definitely be continuing with this series. Now, it's time to catch up on the show!

I am blowing through these series. I have a feeling I am going to have a very hard time adjusting to reality when I am done LOL.

Drums of Autumn was very good. In fact, it is probably my 2nd favorite after Voyager. I was warned a bit by some GR friends and some on FB that this book was less ideal because there was a lot of Brianna and Roger. At first, I was worried about that. I thought we would see every other chapter between a different couple - Jamie and Claire, then Brianna and Roger. It was really like that. Yes, we saw a good chunk (most of the plot actually surrounds this couple). I enjoyed Bree a lot. I thought she was amazing. She is strong and the meeting between her and Jamie when she passes time to warn her parents about their deaths in a fire that she reads in an article made me start favoring her as one of the best characters in the series after Jamie and Claire. But my heart broke for her in this book. Not only is she feeling like a traitor to her "adopted" father Frank Randall, but she is unsure of how she can love Jamie. Add in her relationship with Roger who follows her through time and she is raped and possibly impregnated by Bonnet, a man that Jamie and Claire save in the beginning of DOA and who turns around and robs them.

She has a lot on her plate, and most of this book is about her, about her journey. Their meeting though was pretty amazing.

"You can....call me Da", he said. His voice was husky; he stopped and cleared his throat. "If - if ye want to, I mean." he added diffidently.

"Da," she said, and felt the smile bloom easily this time, unmarred by tears. "Da. Is that Gaelic?"

He smiled back, the corners of his mouth trembling slightly.

"No. It's only....simple".

Jamie and Claire get their fair share of time as well. And I honestly don't think I will ever tire of hearing about them. They are settling in their new life in America, which I love and the pieces of history including meeting (and with a different tribe, not agreeing with) the Indians. There wasn't a whole lot of Jamie and Claire romance, because they really didn't have a moment to relax. Of course, there was some. And in this series you don't NEED them to be at one another every 5 minutes because there is so much going on, but I felt like they deserved a break lol their lives were not easy when they were left with nothing.

"Do ye not understand?" he said, in near desperation. "I would lay the world at your feet, Claire - and I have nothing to give ye".

My favorite part with Jamie and Claire was when Jamie would request stories of Bree as a child. He loved to sit and listen to Claire talk about the daughter he thought he would never meet. But my favorite part was:

"I did wonder..." Jamie hesitated for a moment. "Has she a birthmark, Sassenach? And if so, did ye tell me of it?

"She does" I said slowly, thinking. "I don't think I ever told you about it, though; it isn't visible most of the time so it's been years since I noticed it, myself. It's a -"

His hand tightening on my shoulder stopped me.

"It's a wee brown mark, shaped like a diamond," he said. "Just behind her left ear isn't it?"

"Yes, it is". It was warm and cozy in bed but a small coolness on the back of my neck made me shiver suddenly. "Did you see that in your dream?"

"I kissed her there." he said softly.

Roger annoyed me a bit. His alone chapters were not very interesting to me, but I chugged through.

Ian, god that kid is amazing. He is really a strong character in this book. He has grown a lot and he has become a huge help for everyone in many different situations. I love when he got all spiffed up and came to ask for Bree's hand in marriage at Jamie's request, he had his family's back. But I was really sad that he left the Fraser's to join the tribe, which meant that he could no longer speak his native tongue and could not be with his family although it was his choice, I cried a little.

Onto book 5!

I truly adored this particular installment. It is, without a doubt, my favorite since the original Outlander. There is an abundance of adventure that keeps the pages turning at a rapid pace. The character development is outstanding, with each character evolving and growing in ways that are both believable and engaging.

And those scenes of rustic domestic bliss are simply charming. They paint a vivid picture of a simpler time, filled with love and contentment. I, too, find myself daydreaming about building my own cabin on a ridge, with a breathtaking view of the mountains.

While Brianna and Roger may not be my absolute favorite characters, there is more than enough Jamie and Claire to make up for it. Their love story is as captivating as ever, and their interactions with the other characters add depth and richness to the story. Not to mention the amazing Lord John, who always manages to steal the show with his charm and wit.

It will likely be a while before I embark on the next book in the series, but I have no doubt that I will eventually get to it. I'm eager to see what adventures await our beloved characters and how their stories will continue to unfold.