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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Enjoyed this full length story just for Lord John. Must admit I read hoping for glimpses into Clare and Jamie's story, but was happily drawn into Lord Johns world.
Diana Gabaldon has often said that Lord John is her favorite character, and this engaging tale about love, family and honor makes her regard obvious. John Grey is shown to be a character of introspection and depth, juggling his obligations to his king, his family, his society, and himself in ways that the reader can readily identify with. I was charmed by the sensitively-written love story, and was moved by the descriptions of the hazards faced by gay men trying to build sustaining relationships in an unaccepting society. The horrors of war are bluntly portrayed, as are the appalling conditions of the poor in 18th century London. When reading historical fiction, I often find myself grateful that I live in the present time, and I thought that frequently during this book. Jamie Frasier makes some token appearances, and is shown in somewhat less than his usual avenging hero light- he is prejudiced against 'mollies,' and he doesn't mind showing it. Given the time and the character's background, it's quite appropriate and believable, and I personally like that he's been written with at least a few flaws! I'm happy to see more of Lord John, and look forward to his presence in the Outlander canon.
Questions are answered in this book about John and Hal’s father. Yet another mystery for Lord John to solve and an interesting look into the subject of homosexuality in the 18th century.
Okay, THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. The first Lord John novel that I read (Lord John and the Private Matter) was a little all over the place for me; I could never get a firm handle on most of the characters or the mystery of that book, and it left me a little cold and wary of the other Lord John novels.
However, my insatiable thirst for more Gabaldon made me give this one a try anyway, now that I've finished all the Outlander books, and man! This one really hit the mark. The characters were amazing and really blossomed from what we saw in the Private Matter, and it was great to see Lord John have a real, mutual connection with someone. I was completely riveted by the whole backstory about his father and his childhood. The battle scenes were my least favorite part, but they were pretty necessary considering Lord John's profession and the time period. But the occasional appearance of Jamie Fraser and the events of the Outlander series were not just welcome cameos from one of her best characters, but also helped me place this story within the larger series. And now I'm even more excited to re-read the Outlander books (because yeah, that's happening soon... 2013 is just too far away!!).
However, my insatiable thirst for more Gabaldon made me give this one a try anyway, now that I've finished all the Outlander books, and man! This one really hit the mark. The characters were amazing and really blossomed from what we saw in the Private Matter, and it was great to see Lord John have a real, mutual connection with someone. I was completely riveted by the whole backstory about his father and his childhood. The battle scenes were my least favorite part, but they were pretty necessary considering Lord John's profession and the time period. But the occasional appearance of Jamie Fraser and the events of the Outlander series were not just welcome cameos from one of her best characters, but also helped me place this story within the larger series. And now I'm even more excited to re-read the Outlander books (because yeah, that's happening soon... 2013 is just too far away!!).
My favorite of the Lord John novels, with some legitimate suspense and character stakes.
I read the first couple of Outlander books about a decade ago, so I only retain a few foggy memories of them. Contrary to some of the other reviews, I enjoyed this book even without any detailed knowledge of the main series. The historical research felt strong and detailed; the characters felt appealing but not anachronistically modern; and the settings were vividly drawn - I felt like I was really in all those cold rooms with rain beating at the windows.
The story alternates between Lord John's love affair & the troubles it causes, and the unearthing of some secrets surrounding his father's death many years before. I found the first storyline much more involving and moving. The second had the potential to be interesting, but mainly felt confusing - the plotters he was trying to hunt down mostly stayed offscreen and I had trouble remembering which name went with which unseen villain, so I took away a star for that. Also for the scenes with Jamie Fraser, which felt shoehorned in. They felt irrelevant and less convincing than the rest of the book, as though she had to fit in her favorite character somehow, even though he didn't really belong.
The story alternates between Lord John's love affair & the troubles it causes, and the unearthing of some secrets surrounding his father's death many years before. I found the first storyline much more involving and moving. The second had the potential to be interesting, but mainly felt confusing - the plotters he was trying to hunt down mostly stayed offscreen and I had trouble remembering which name went with which unseen villain, so I took away a star for that. Also for the scenes with Jamie Fraser, which felt shoehorned in. They felt irrelevant and less convincing than the rest of the book, as though she had to fit in her favorite character somehow, even though he didn't really belong.
I liked this second installment of the Lord John series better than the first, in that it had more of a solid plot that kept me interested and there was more of a story for me to follow. Percy was introduced to me in Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone, and his and John's interactions in that book made me curious to know where their story started and how they came to be at that place. This book focuses a lot on John and Percy's relationship, which I liked. There's romance, which there wasn't in the first book. I still love how Diana Gabaldon writes, and once again I think it's accurate to the genre of historical fiction.
I liked Jamie's appearances in this book, too, but one conversation he had with John bothered me a bit. And there were places in the story where it dragged and I felt my eyes wanting to skip over. Overall, though, better than the first, and a good insight into Lord John's character.
I liked Jamie's appearances in this book, too, but one conversation he had with John bothered me a bit. And there were places in the story where it dragged and I felt my eyes wanting to skip over. Overall, though, better than the first, and a good insight into Lord John's character.
I am a HUGE Outlander fan so the Lord John stories/books are a special treat while waiting for the next book in the series.
Maybe 3.5 stars. I love Diana' Gabaldon's writing and she clearly does a lot of research for her books. This one filled in some good background (Lord John's relatonship with Percy) but I don't really think it would hold much interest for anyone who has not read the Outlander series.