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sarahflanders's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Moderate: Abortion, Rape, Miscarriage, Blood, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, and War
brownieboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, War, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Murder, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Torture
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abortion, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, and Grief
clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
We had left our heroes on their way to safety. Jamie along his way to recover and Claire is expecting.
Imagine my dismay then when the first chapter of this book is set in 1968. My first reaction was of course; ????. Then denial and rage followed confusion.
In hindsight, I understand that the author has chosen a joint structure. I just think it wasn't well executed. The first part of the book sees Claire going back to Inverness to learn more about the Highlinders' fate after Culloden. Now, this is a historical fact, almost every Scot that fought in that battle died. When it comes to time travelling there are two options the author chooses between usually: either the time travel has the power of altering the past or the future or it doesn't because it was already foreseen. She went with the latter and I may be upset that my fav had died nonetheless but I wouldn't have been mad if it was well executed. My problem is the structure of it all.
You tell us in the first part what it's going to happen essentially. Because, at this point in the book, we don't know whether Culloden will even happen. We have left Claire and Jamie after they had just decided to try and stop Prince Charles to get Scotland back. We don't know if they'll be successful or not. So, why has she decided to tell us at the beginning of the book? Makes no sense, structure and plotwise.
Then the second part of the book is a sort of flashback. After she goes back to Inverness, Claire decides it's the right time to tell her daughter, Brianna, about her biological father. Again, we're reading a story after she told us how it ends.
And even though she managed to build a climax and "surprise" us with a plot twist at the end, I have to say, it didn't have its intended effect on me. it kinda made me go: ??? what did I read so far?
so yeah, have I enjoyed the story either way? Yes, because it has everything that I love in a fantasy novel: politics, scheming, battle planning and romance. Have I been disappointed by this book? Yep. Have I bought the next book nonetheless? absolutely.
Another thing, why does she keep explaining things to us that we already know? Like, if I'm reading this second book it means that I've read the first book. So, I don't need to be reminded or explained how Claire and Jamie met, who Randall is etc. It's unnecessary and slowed the pace of the reading.
Honestly, if it wasn't for the structure that bothered me so much, I would have deeply enjoyed this book. If she had omitted the first part of the book and moved it towards the end, it would have been great and had a great impact on the reader.
However, I feel compelled to give this book at least 3 stars because of my dear Jamie.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Medical content
noctadea's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Chronic illness, Violence, Pregnancy, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Blood, Miscarriage, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Grief, Infidelity, and Gore
Minor: Animal death, Classism, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, and Alcoholism
tiffanysmith's review
- 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
Still, I love how she drew me in with details and emotion. Gabaldon is very skilled with gifting the reader with all their senses during the read. It’s as if you can taste, hear, and smell every moment for better or worse. This is a true reflection of the magic of being immersed in an amazing read.
There were a few moments I had some conflicting thoughts about how the author approached rape and sex in this installment. Some of Jamie’s remarks/actions were probably in remarkably bad taste. Admittedly, the events of Claire and Jamie’s relationship take place in the 18th century, so relationships were quite different back then. I don’t believe Jamie is a bad man, only that there were some specific choices of words or actions he made that made me cringe at the vulgarity.
Overall, the book is well-written and I do feel like I am a part of the world woven by the author. It’s full of beautiful moments of love and heartbreak, as well as loyalty, betrayal, and a sincere fierceness to protect those that we hold most dear. And then the heartbreak! I look forward to the next book! I’ve realized by now that I’m committed and in it for the long-haul.
Graphic: Blood, Chronic illness, Cursing, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Pregnancy, Grief, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Death, Miscarriage, and Sexual content
Moderate: Vomit, Torture, Sexual harassment, and War
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Drug use, and Murder
jillianseibert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Rape, Miscarriage, Classism, Cursing, Grief, Infertility, and Infidelity
Minor: Domestic abuse
linnylionheart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Eating disorder, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Vomit, and Cursing
Moderate: Addiction, Infertility, and Xenophobia
Minor: Animal death, Dementia, Racism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
infinitegoldenfloors's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Graphic: Blood, Violence, Death, Fatphobia, Grief, Homophobia, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Murder
Moderate: Body shaming, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Torture, and Misogyny
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, and Body shaming
juzabatiero's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Death, Grief, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Toxic relationship, and Violence