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4.2 AVERAGE
4.2 AVERAGE
Diana, honey. I'm disappointed.
This took 7 years to appear on shelves, but the plot itself took 75% of the book to appear at all. There were so many important moments that just were... forgotten. I've followed you for years, and I'll finish the series if the finale appears before I die, but the spark of the story is just gone for me. I wanted to like this. I really did. But there's only so many grocery lists I can read.
This took 7 years to appear on shelves, but the plot itself took 75% of the book to appear at all. There were so many important moments that just were... forgotten.
Spoiler
Jenny meeting Roger for the first time since the 1730s? Hinted at in the first few scenes then nothing! A boar that changes the course of a battle mentioned then skipped entirely? There are two identical plotlines (specifically about an absent spouse who marries another, hundreds of miles away) and nobody blinks an eye at the coincidence of this.
So many details in the first part of this book that I quite honestly didn't care about and then when there were finally parts where something actually happened it felt rushed and glossed over. I also had a difficult time remembering specifics of what happened in previous books and I think the author could have done a better job of recapping what occurred previously. The ending was also frustrating- while I realize it is a series and an on-going saga, it ended pretty abruptly with a lot of things unresolved. I don't recall this happening in the previous books, except maybe from book 2 to book 3. I wish she would have wrapped a bit more up since I'm sure that I'll have forgotten most of the details of what happened by the time the next one comes out.
I've always had mixed feelings on the Outlander series.
On one hand it was the single most absorptive reading experience I've had as an adult, and when I finally finished the series my husband said he was relieved to have me back.
On the other hand even when I was fully absorbed in the series there were parts of the books I struggled with, that were problematic in the broad cultural sense, and also personally that I didn't like. There were whole sections I wished I could unread.
That said past me would be astonished to know I didn't finish this book after waiting very patiently for it - I couldn't re-enter the world of Outlander, and I don't know if it changed, or I changed, or the timing was just bad, or this was one of the books where nothing much I cared about happened for a couple hundred pages.
On one hand it was the single most absorptive reading experience I've had as an adult, and when I finally finished the series my husband said he was relieved to have me back.
On the other hand even when I was fully absorbed in the series there were parts of the books I struggled with, that were problematic in the broad cultural sense, and also personally that I didn't like. There were whole sections I wished I could unread.
That said past me would be astonished to know I didn't finish this book after waiting very patiently for it - I couldn't re-enter the world of Outlander, and I don't know if it changed, or I changed, or the timing was just bad, or this was one of the books where nothing much I cared about happened for a couple hundred pages.
adventurous
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Despite the length of this book, I can’t for the life of me remember any significant plot points. Granted, the “slice of life” kept me well enough entertained to finish, but I felt like this book could have used some serious editing. I’ll still read the next one of course…
Best Outlander book!!! This one is definitely my new favorite. I absolutely loved the children and all the adventures and just spending time with the characters. Loved that the plot had twists and turns. There is so much to look forward to in the next book. Hoping we don't have to wait another 7 years, but whatever it takes, I can't wait for book 10!!!
Much like the last novel, while thrilled to embrace the world DG has created, the pace overall felt lethargic in reaching destination. Plenty happens along the way, and my interest was always maintained; the author has wonderful ways of describing and positioning things. But I felt like the end, as with the last book, was a race to conclude a late-blooming plot. I will be there ready and waiting for the 10th book though, and after investing almost a year and a half to reading these 9 novels, I am terribly sad to have that wait!
As an avid reader and also a lover of the Outlander series, it took me 3 months to get through this one. Still a favorite for a series; this one was meandering in places and I could appreciate how other readers thought it was boring and drawn out. I love the characters and her writing overall to have made it through but of all the books, it’s on the bottom of the list for sure. It won’t derail me from reading #10 (and I believe final book) in the series! Also worth noting that I also felt in a reading slump for a bit…and not sure I am out of it yet.
I was lost in the beginning, thinking I should have gone back to read the last one. It was just a series of vignettes, I did not feel any sense of central story. Bree’s attackers/time traveling kidnappers storyline was not resolved. Why do we care about Ian dragging home so many more people to the Ridge? The ending was a completely unsatisfying cliffhanger. I want Claire and Jamie’s story to finish, and then she can go on to write about other characters if she wants. Let them rest, retire, whatever. Now William will drag them away again. Surprise…not.