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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Can't. Done 1/2 through. I simply do not understand a) the high rating of this book (it's a "2" at best), and b) the comparisons to the Outlander series. Nuh-uh. Nope. This book was completely uninteresting, flat, and poorly written. Not rating it because I didn't finish, but if I did - 1 star.
Probably more of a 1 1/2 stars. Kept me from thinking about work and so I gave it the extra star. Totally not believable but characters are likable. A reviewer commented about the name "Boots" and then I started paying attention....became somewhat tedious. Didn't require ANY effort to read- except to remember who some of the minor characters were- and the author provided a chart.
The sheer number of reviews with people referencing Outlander is both hilarious and honestly...kinda stupid. Other than the fact that it's sweeping and long they are nothing alike. Sure Claire and Jamie end up on the frontier at some point but that's it-- oh and some fanfiction-esque references to Outlander. But what it is genuinely like is Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman...like it IS Dr. Quinn, just with a teacher instead of a doctor.
Overall, I won't say I didn't enjoy myself. Some of the drama was drama my Dr. Quinn and Outlander heart enjoys, but there were a lot of instances where I felt that it was unnecessarily drawn out and found myself wondering what exactly the main plot point was supposed to be. What turned out to be the main plot was simple while also managing to be complicated. I would have found this bit way more interesting if it was just concise. 200 pages, if not more could have easily been cut from this book.
Overall, I won't say I didn't enjoy myself. Some of the drama was drama my Dr. Quinn and Outlander heart enjoys, but there were a lot of instances where I felt that it was unnecessarily drawn out and found myself wondering what exactly the main plot point was supposed to be. What turned out to be the main plot was simple while also managing to be complicated. I would have found this bit way more interesting if it was just concise. 200 pages, if not more could have easily been cut from this book.
If you enjoyed the Outlander series, I think you will find this very similar.
Full review coming
"She wore her determination like war paint."
-Sara Donati, Into the Wilderness
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book is good, don't get me wrong. I enjoyed reading it, and will definitely read the rest of the series, however, there was something about it. I wanted to love it, I really did, but in the end I think I only just liked it. The book is a epic adventure, and the author truly draws you into the atmosphere of rugged upstate NY... but, for being as epic as it is, the characters left me longing a little bit. Somehow or other they weren't as well defined as I would have liked, and felt very canned. The development of Elizabeth from a well-to-do Englishwoman to a backwoods heroine is rushed and somehow not that believable. The early relationship between her and Nathaniel is rushed, awkward, and just doesn't fit with what the characters are supposed to be. The book gets better as you go along, and as I said, I did LIKE it.... I just really thought I would love it and didn't.
I picked up this book solely because it's widely recommended for Outlander fans. Unfortunately, that was the worst thing to know going into it because it immediately felt like the poor man's version of Outlander. Nathaniel is the poor man's version of Jamie Fraser.
It was jarring to have the characters in this book talk about specific characters from Outlander because it didn't at all feel like the same world.
The process of Nathaniel and Elizabeth falling in love made zero sense...they barely spoke 2 sentences to each other. There was certainly no basis for suddenly wanting to marry. In fact the whole book felt rushed - every scene went by too fast so that I was left reeling and wondering how we ended up where we were.
Still, there's something to be said for a long series of epic proportions so I choose to soldier on.
One last thing...I'm so confused about Diana Gabaldon's involvement with the book. She's thanked in the acknowledgments of the first 2 books (at least, I haven't looked farther yet) and referred to as a big help. Gabaldon even gave Donati a blurb for the cover. However, she gave the book 2 stars! What is that about??
It was jarring to have the characters in this book talk about specific characters from Outlander because it didn't at all feel like the same world.
The process of Nathaniel and Elizabeth falling in love made zero sense...they barely spoke 2 sentences to each other. There was certainly no basis for suddenly wanting to marry. In fact the whole book felt rushed - every scene went by too fast so that I was left reeling and wondering how we ended up where we were.
Still, there's something to be said for a long series of epic proportions so I choose to soldier on.
One last thing...I'm so confused about Diana Gabaldon's involvement with the book. She's thanked in the acknowledgments of the first 2 books (at least, I haven't looked farther yet) and referred to as a big help. Gabaldon even gave Donati a blurb for the cover. However, she gave the book 2 stars! What is that about??
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Pregnancy, Colonisation
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Cursing, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Infertility, Sexism, Toxic relationship