Reviews with content warning for Murder - Dragonfly in Amber

Dragonfly in Amber reunites us Claire Randall Fraser and some of our many other beloved and not so beloved characters from the first Outlander novel. This book does a time hop a current Claire with her now grown daughter Brianna unfolds the truth behind Brianna's father and what happened that lead Claire to have to come back through the stones. We learn the attempts made to try to save the men from the dreaded fate of the many bloodshed battles about to occur over the Scottish lands.

Diana Gabaldon does an amazing job interweaving incredibly accurate historical information into her writings. I have learned so much about various Scottish tribes and have gone on to do my own leisure reading about the different real life clans myself. The author also includes extensive research into medical and livelihood means during this time period which really transport one into the book.

I enjoy the diversity of character's in this book including the every mysterious minor character Master Raymond. Mother Hildegarde and her dog Bouton have a special place in my heart. And Donas the loyal horse.
My only downfall for this novel is the first 350ish pages were slow. It was hard to get into and the characters POV's would occasionally switch without notice and it would take a moment to realize who was narrating. Although the beginning was a slow start, all the information was needed and necessary to understanding everything that was and is to come.

Content Warnings

kellymoroney's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous emotional slow-paced

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

4.75

Content Warnings

lea_fox's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional slow-paced

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

5.0

I have picked up and put down this book so. many. times. Like, it’s been years — but I finally completed it. It’s such a complex plot. The dates always got me flipping back and forward. Despite it taking half my life to finish, I loved it.

Content Warnings

kimveach's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional informative tense medium-paced

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

I'm amazed at how easy and enjoyable it is to read an almost 1000-page book. This author is amazing.

Content Warnings

ashybear02's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense slow-paced

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

4.25

Content Warnings

brownieboo's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

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

Content Warnings

hannahbailey's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I enjoyed this a lot more than the first one; perhaps I was coming in with lower expectations. Rich in its historical setting, we travel from Scotland to Paris and back again. Really enjoyed learning more about the politics of the time and the Jacobite rebellion. Hated seeing the English win ofc, we're always the villains 😫

This was a comfort read as the story and characters were familiar. However I was kept engaged by the high stakes not only of Paris aristocracy but civil war too! There is something quite mesmerising about Gabaldon's writing, despite the smut scenes.

TW: r*pe, SA, misogyny, murder, death, PTSD, miscarriage, violence, kidnapping, torture

Content Warnings

clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

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

Okay, gals, here we are, buckle up I'm going to take you on a journey.
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.

Content Warnings

More...