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standandsway's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Death, Racism, Torture, Colonisation, Rape, Sexual assault, Slavery, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
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
kimveach's review
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Colonisation, Confinement, Pregnancy, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Bullying, Genocide, Grief, Homophobia, Medical content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic friendship, Gore, Mental illness, Medical trauma, Racism, Sexual content, War, Death, Dysphoria, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Abortion, Classism, Cursing, Forced institutionalization, Misogyny, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Murder, Sexual assault, Vomit, Excrement, and Racial slurs
linnylionheart's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Body horror, Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Suicide, and Terminal illness
Moderate: Excrement, Child death, Trafficking, Death of parent, and War
Minor: Confinement, Infidelity, Deportation, and Torture
Graphic: child birth ; execution by hanging / fire ; suicide by firebrownieboo'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 against another edition
- 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