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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
John Grey is my spirit animal. I am such a fan of this series! Lord John Grey intrigued me while watching Outlander, and when I found out he had his own spin-off series I had to read it. Little did I know, it would become one of my favorite series ever. The characters are colorful, lovable and rich. At this point, I have such affection for all of them and I smile when I see their familiar names pop up on the page. The slightly gothic mysteries Lord John solves suit my taste to a T. These books read like an 18th century, military Sherlock with a gay flourish and I live for it! This is the third installment but it is actually three novellas that increase in length as the book progresses. They are effectively episodes 0.5, 1.5, and 2.5 of the series. They are brilliantly paced and I cannot wait to continue on to the final (for now) novel, The Scottish Prisoner, especially after reading the teaser excerpt included at the end of this one. My favorite of the three stories has to be Lord John and the Succubus but they are all great fun and vividly written. Reading Diana Gabaldon's descriptions of 1700's London is the closest I've come to legitimate time travel. Grey continues to frustrate me in his unwavering obsession with Jamie Fraser like that friend you have that can't quite quit someone they know is never going to be right for them. We meet several other suitors that serve as distractions for Lord John but his thoughts of Fraser are unrelenting. There are some great side-characters that make welcomed returns (someone give Tom Byrd a metal already!) but it is Grey, himself, that is the most engaging, enigmatic, and fascinating to follow. I am so excited to join him on his next exceedingly entertaining, sexy and mysterious adventure.
This is actually a small anthology, if you will, of three novellas written about Lord John. I used Diana's website, where she has a chronology of all of the books and novellas in the Outlander universe, to read these in order, in consideration of the other novels. I enjoyed the novellas and find the situations John finds himself in entertaining (most of the time!). I can't remember if it was one of these novellas or one of the other novels, but she wrote in the narration about how John is just someone that things happen to, and I was like, "TRUE DAT" when I read it, lmao. Overall, these novellas do a nice job displaying John in all of his character elements -- one of the things I most appreciate about Diana's writing is how multifaceted, including flawed, her characters are (including Jamie Fraser!), and John is no exception.
Very well written but I just couldn't get into the stories, even though I like the Lord John character a lot.
From my review of the first book in the Lord John Series, because every book deserves a review:
When I discovered Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series about three years ago, I devoted a whole summer to reading it in its entirety. But then I was finished and decided to turn my attention to other books, other authors. There are so many books and so little time.
If you've read any of my other book reviews this year, you'll see that I was in a bit of a book rut. I've been reading lots of new, buzzy books and have been completely disappointed.
I want to read a book with excellent writing that's also entertaining. I needed some action. I needed some adventure. I needed Diana Gabaldon. I'm not one to reread books (see comments above.) So I decided to try out the Lord John series. I was not disappointed.
Lord John and the Private Matter is fast paced. I finished it in a day and half. I am cured of my book rut. I hope there are more Lord John books to come!
When I discovered Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series about three years ago, I devoted a whole summer to reading it in its entirety. But then I was finished and decided to turn my attention to other books, other authors. There are so many books and so little time.
If you've read any of my other book reviews this year, you'll see that I was in a bit of a book rut. I've been reading lots of new, buzzy books and have been completely disappointed.
I want to read a book with excellent writing that's also entertaining. I needed some action. I needed some adventure. I needed Diana Gabaldon. I'm not one to reread books (see comments above.) So I decided to try out the Lord John series. I was not disappointed.
Lord John and the Private Matter is fast paced. I finished it in a day and half. I am cured of my book rut. I hope there are more Lord John books to come!
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
THis Lord John series is falling flat for me. I don't really care that he's solving mysteries. This series needs to pick it up, and fast.
Lord John and the Hand of the Devils is one short story and two novellas.
My biggest question after reading this: why not publish all the Lord John stories in order?
I know they can be read out of order, but it makes more sense when you read them in order because of the relationships that develop among Lord John and other characters.
The Hellfire Club seemed too large of an idea to me for a short story. It ended rather abruptly, but then this was Gabaldon's first Lord John story.
The Succubus was my favorite. There is some detail about the beginning of the relationship between Lord John and Stephan von Namtzen. I will confess, in reading Brotherhood of the Blade, I didn't understand their connection; it had seemed random to me, as if Lord John had some really great gaydar, but now it is more clear. I simply read out of order!
The Haunted Soldier wasn't as great as Succubus, but it was ok, probably on par with the Private Matter.
I am not crazy about these mystery stories. Gabaldon shine when she gets time to write in detail and make intricate plot connections.
I just wasn't so interested in these. Not to say that they were a waste of my time, I still enjoyed them. Lord John stories seem lacking compared to Outlander. Like a bit more empty.
My biggest question after reading this: why not publish all the Lord John stories in order?
I know they can be read out of order, but it makes more sense when you read them in order because of the relationships that develop among Lord John and other characters.
The Hellfire Club seemed too large of an idea to me for a short story. It ended rather abruptly, but then this was Gabaldon's first Lord John story.
The Succubus was my favorite. There is some detail about the beginning of the relationship between Lord John and Stephan von Namtzen. I will confess, in reading Brotherhood of the Blade, I didn't understand their connection; it had seemed random to me, as if Lord John had some really great gaydar, but now it is more clear. I simply read out of order!
The Haunted Soldier wasn't as great as Succubus, but it was ok, probably on par with the Private Matter.
I am not crazy about these mystery stories. Gabaldon shine when she gets time to write in detail and make intricate plot connections.
I just wasn't so interested in these. Not to say that they were a waste of my time, I still enjoyed them. Lord John stories seem lacking compared to Outlander. Like a bit more empty.
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
quick read that gives you a little more about johns position in the army and his feelings towards jamie
Merged review:
Great collection of short stories that jive you a lot of insight to the character of John Grey.
Merged review:
Great collection of short stories that jive you a lot of insight to the character of John Grey.
Lord John Grey, a minor character from Gabaldon’s Outlander novels, stars in this collection of short stories and novellas and is provided with various mysteries to solve. As usual, the stories are enjoyable, although at some point the thought occurred that an oddly disproportionate number of the people LJ encounters, both women and men, seem to want him. In the third story, I was worried that Ms. Gabaldon intended to kill him off. I’ve grown fond of Lord John, but I can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever find true happiness in love.