Reviews

Virgins by Diana Gabaldon

kendylldrilling's review

adventurous emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

debbiecollectsbooks's review

4.0

Short read, adds insight to the life of Jaime before Claire. I read this novella for a second time to get a Jamie Fraser fix. This was such a good storyline I do not want to move on!

bria_'s review

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

gabmc's review

3.0

This novella is set in Europe after Jamie has been tortured by Black Jack Randall but before he meets Claire. He and Ian Murray (his future brother-in-law) are mercenaries tasked with escorting and guarding a young girl and her dowry to her wedding. On their last job, something goes bad and they suspect an insider is telling thieves about what they are carrying. So this time around they are extra careful. Jamie is 19 and Ian is 20 and as the title suggests, they are virgins - but they are not tempted by the offerings of French brothels ... mainly because of their Catholicism. This was a fun short story but don't let the 'Outlander #0.5' label fool you - yes the time is before the main Outlander novels but I don't think the book would be interesting to anyone who didn't already know Jamie Fraser.

graceforester's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

2.0

caseyhitchcock94's review against another edition

adventurous informative reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.25

joanneburns's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

spudmarine's review

3.0

After watching the series and receiving the first four books for Christmas, I decided to wade into the written world of Outlander. I read the first book, which tracks pretty well with the series. Before reading the second book, I thought I would try this novella. I was hoping for a brief but insightful foray into Jamie’s adventures in France.

All told, the story was ok. A bit random and inconsistent at times. As mentioned in other reviews, Jamie and Ian were much less interesting and compelling as characters in this novella.

My biggest problem, however, was with the “Jewish” motif that runs through the book. Perhaps Gabaldon was attempting to shed light on anti Semitic sentiments of the period? But otherwise, it felt overdone and made me feel uncomfortable. The final straw for me along these lines was the end, where Jamie decides on a whim to flash/sleep with a bar maiden/prostitute at a local tavern for the sole purpose of proving to her that he “wasna a Jew.” That definitely felt overdone, aggressive, and ruined the character of Jamie for me.

I’ll continue with the book series, which so far has been better, and push this little blip of a narrative out of my mind.

betterthanitsseams's review

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

syofra's review

adventurous emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A

3.5