Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Seven years between books in a series is a long time. Masterful writer that she is, Diana Gabaldon does not miss a beat in adding tidbits throughout this tome, which remind readers of things in past books of this series. Many writers will rehash happenings ad nauseam. Not the case here. Gabaldon nicely blends historical facts and people with the lives of her characters. For "Bees" the American colonies are in the throes of the revolutionary war with Great Britain. Eventually, the war catches up to the residents of back country.
The author makes her books fun with facts of the time whether it be cooking, medicine or making whiskey. Slaintѐ.
The author makes her books fun with facts of the time whether it be cooking, medicine or making whiskey. Slaintѐ.
WHAT?!? It's done!!! I thought it was the end of the series... Now I have to wait for Book 10!! Grrr!!!
There are books that I devour, and there are books that I quietly live in for weeks at a time. This is one of the books that I was able to immerse myself in, slowly enjoying rather than rushing to know the ending. Gabaldon has managed to create a backdrop so believable that sometimes I was confused I had a regular lightbulb at my side instead of reading by candlelight. Jaime and Clare's marriage remains a highlight, proving that marriage takes work, but if that work is properly done then romance not only lives on but thrives.
adventurous
emotional
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Best one yet, truly the only one to make me cry so far.
It should be illegal to end a book on a cliffhanger when it takes seven years for the next book to be published. This is an enjoyable read if you are committed to the main characters. I still maintain that Gabaldon is too wordy and frequently gets sidetracked into minor characters or plot lines that an editor should have had removed. There was no reason to make this a 900 page book.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
She connects the dots in exactly the way you'd want in a time travel novel
As I was reading this, I missed having a friend read it at the same time - so I would have someone to shout to about the frustrating discontinuities and lack of editing. I know this is how DG writes (a bit here, a bit there, eventually sticking them together) but the number of times we had the same thing described (as if it was the first time we'd seen that place) just felt like there was no time for a substantive edit. Is it fun to just sink back into the world building? Yes, sometimes. Is there a plot arc? Eh....
I'm glad I got this from the library.
I'm glad I got this from the library.
As I was reading this, I missed having a friend read it at the same time - so I would have someone to shout to about the frustrating discontinuities and lack of editing. I know this is how DG writes (a bit here, a bit there, eventually sticking them together) but the number of times we had the same thing described (as if it was the first time we'd seen that place) just felt like there was no time for a substantive edit. Is it fun to just sink back into the world building? Yes, sometimes. Is there a plot arc? Eh....
I'm glad I got this from the library.
I'm glad I got this from the library.
It took 6 months after this was released for my library to finally get this and get it out to us and it's been almost 6 years since I read the entire series (as I was starting to watch the show), so I was worried that I wouldn't remember a lot of characters or events, but found that Diana did a remarkably good job of reminding us who people were when they popped up and what happened previously.
I cannot (and won't) recap the entire 900 pages but will note a few things. I'll start by saying that there are more reviews than I would expect that didn't like this book. They said it's boring and they are done with the series and I say "Bye Felicia!" to them. I know I'm in a minority here when I say that I'm not a Lord John fan (he's just not my cup of tea) and the longer sections of the book where we spend more time with him & William, did start to bore me. I enjoyed those more when Bree was involved, but still were not sections that I devoured.
I love Jamie & Claire and wish that we had a lot more about what was going on on The Ridge, but understand that in this epic series, the American Revolution is (currently) right up front in what's happening, so I get that we need to know what's going on elsewhere, it just doesn't hold my attention as much. To see what's happening with Ian & Rachel (and Jenny), Fergus & Marsali, Bree & Rodger is all necessary in the grand story and I do like that, I just want more Jamie & Claire.
At the end, we see one very duplicitous player removed from the board (possibly two), but another "villain" has appeared, so heaven knows how this will turn out. We all know that book 10 will be the end and that one or both (Jamie & Claire) will "leave us", but I want more. So much more before that happens!
I cannot (and won't) recap the entire 900 pages but will note a few things. I'll start by saying that there are more reviews than I would expect that didn't like this book. They said it's boring and they are done with the series and I say "Bye Felicia!" to them. I know I'm in a minority here when I say that I'm not a Lord John fan (he's just not my cup of tea) and the longer sections of the book where we spend more time with him & William, did start to bore me. I enjoyed those more when Bree was involved, but still were not sections that I devoured.
I love Jamie & Claire and wish that we had a lot more about what was going on on The Ridge, but understand that in this epic series, the American Revolution is (currently) right up front in what's happening, so I get that we need to know what's going on elsewhere, it just doesn't hold my attention as much. To see what's happening with Ian & Rachel (and Jenny), Fergus & Marsali, Bree & Rodger is all necessary in the grand story and I do like that, I just want more Jamie & Claire.
At the end, we see one very duplicitous player removed from the board (possibly two), but another "villain" has appeared, so heaven knows how this will turn out. We all know that book 10 will be the end and that one or both (Jamie & Claire) will "leave us", but I want more. So much more before that happens!