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evtoh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Slavery, Sexual assault, Rape, Sexual violence, and Medical content
valleylily's review against another edition
As I mentioned previously, Drums of Autumn, seemed thus far to be the most vividly-written novel in the series and the descriptions of the characters' surroundings were very compelling at many times. I could often envision the scenes taking place and I was moved to tears on several occasions.
One of the frustrating aspects of the the novel I will address is Gabaldon's descriptions of Indigenous peoples and societies. I think there is a misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples and this was one of the major struggles I faced when trying to get through the novel. I struggled with the characters saying "Indian" but most strongly with the consistent use of the word "savage" to describe Indigenous people, even by Claire. I do understand these were words commonly used during the time period and afterward, but I found myself surprised by Claire's use of the word "savage." Because these words were commonly used, I understand the importance of including them in the novel by characters who do not know differently, though it was still difficult to read them. To a certain extent, I understand Jamie's apprehension of Indigenous peoples because heinous propaganda was printed against Native people during the time to stir colonists to violence against them, like in the pamphlets Jamie printed in his Edinburgh printshop in Voyager. I hoped the characters would interact with Native people and there would be a realization that they were not so different from one another, which happened so some degree. Another aspect that bothered me was Jamie's descriptions of Indigenous land as a "wilderness," while Scotland had seen thousands of years of "civilization." This was very irritating to me because Indigenous people have extensively cultivated these lands for thousands of years and the land was in no way a virgin wilderness as it is often depicted. However, as mentioned in the novel, war and disease ravaged Indigenous communities so many Nations were forced to leave their homelands and many areas became overgrown, leaving colonists to think these abandoned places were untouched before European arrival.
I think historical accuracy was lacking in regard to Indigenous communities and society. Though this is not a novel about Indigenous people, I think accurate representation is important. There is also very little the colonists themselves could know in some respects. There is so much history to think about and study in this novel and exploring different areas of the past in the series can be fascinating.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Abortion, Colonisation, Alcohol, Rape, Alcoholism, Sexual violence, and Slavery
ereilly151's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? No
4.75
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence, Gore, Medical content, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Sexual assault, Vomit, Blood, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, and Slavery
irishbelle10's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Violence, and Sexual violence
sschmidt1300's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Moderate: Racism, Rape, Vomit, Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Slavery, and Pregnancy
Minor: Abortion and Child death
ashybear02'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? N/A
4.5
Graphic: Sexism, Violence, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual content, and Rape
brownieboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Physical abuse, Torture, Hate crime, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Slavery, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Violence
Moderate: Genocide, Racial slurs, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Trafficking, Colonisation, Death, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, and Police brutality
Minor: Abandonment, Ableism, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Blood, Cannibalism, Child death, Classism, Drug use, Gun violence, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, War, Sexism, Vomit, Abortion, Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Cultural appropriation, Death of parent, Grief, and Incest
thefriendlymushroom's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Racism, Sexual violence, Slavery, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Colonisation, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Cursing, Homophobia, Misogyny, Abortion, Blood, and Outing
htracy0884's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Which leads me to…this book was super slow to start and I have had it on my nightstand for ages, reading 50 pages here and there but never excited to pick it back up. In true Outlander fashion (I feel), once it picks up, it rolls. It’s not a fast story by any means, and think it may have been the author who said this is a story about a long marriage, not a story about the Jacobites or time travel or WWII or any of the things that happen…it’s the very messy and tumultuous creation of a family. In short, a marathon, not a sprint. Even she doesn’t know when or how it will end and she’s been writing these books for 30 years. And that’s all I have to say about that…as much to myself as anyone else. Her writing style remains the same, reliable, witty and intelligent way it’s always been. The story weaves in some really mundane and equally intense themes, some sweet and concise, others graphic and violent. They are what they are, no more, no less.
Graphic: Racism, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Rape, Violence, Sexual violence, and Slavery
meg_ser's review
- 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: Violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Murder
Moderate: Medical content, Racism, and Slavery
Minor: Abortion