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adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Torture
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Violence
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Violence
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Infertility, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
***very mild spoilers ahead***
I had such high hopes for this series. On the outset it has everything I could have wanted in a series - time travel, Scotland, romance, female protagonist. Unfortunately this book drifted further and further from what I was expecting it to be. After 400 pages I threw it across the room and didn’t pick it back up.
I had such high hopes for this series. On the outset it has everything I could have wanted in a series - time travel, Scotland, romance, female protagonist. Unfortunately this book drifted further and further from what I was expecting it to be. After 400 pages I threw it across the room and didn’t pick it back up.
I don’t understand how a book written in the 1990s can be so disturbingly outdated. How can any young woman such as myself read this and call it a romance? It’s not a romance. At best it’s an unhealthy sexual relationship. I appreciate that people will say ‘well it’s set in the 1740s so it’s just trying to be historically accurate’ and I totally get that. However there are several issues with this.
- Claire is not from the 1740s, she’s from the 1940s and is therefore likely going to have much more progressive, modern views on gender roles and romantic relationships.
- The author was writing this as FICTION in the 1990s and therefore I believe she had a responsibility to highlight that the attitude towards women portrayed in the novel is unacceptable by today’s standards.
- This book was written in first-person perspective, meaning that the author potentially could have kept all the actions of the characters the same if she had rectified it with appropriate exploration of Claire’s thoughts and feelings that would have reflected the trauma she’s going through.
As an additional criticism, I find it hard to believe that a woman who was happily married to a loving and gentle husband would seemingly rarely think about him after settling into the 1740s, and even harder to believe that she wouldn’t have made more of an effort to escape and get back to the standing stones.
In conclusion, this book isn’t an epic romance. It’s an attempt by the author to turn her strange kinks into something more than the fan fiction it should have been.
From page 400 this is how I would end the book:
After Jamie begins to become abusive towards Claire she decides that she needs to escape and find her way back to the standing stones (because she’s a modern women and has grown up under the influence of first wave feminism).
Claire travels back to Castle Leoch and the goes to the nearby town where she finds Geillis Duncan (the woman married to the town official, whom she made friends with earlier in the book). Claire confides in her and Geillis gives Claire the instructions she needs to find her way to the standing stones.
Geillis helps Claire to escape the Mackenzie clan and Claire travels back to the standing stones.
Various adventure and drama ensue. However, Claire is a strong woman who got through WWII without her husband by her side so she manages ok on her own.
Claire goes through the standing stones back to 1940s.
Claire embraces her loving husband and explains the extraordinary tale of her adventures in 1740s. People don’t believe her but Frank does.
Then a few dozen pages on how Claire’s experience and relationship with Jamie causes conflict in her marriage with Frank.
Ultimately Claire and Frank find a way through and their marriage remains strong.
The end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence
Too much rape, victim blaming, and unnecessary violence (though perhaps time-period accurate)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, War
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Abortion
adventurous
dark
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
truly no clue what to rate this bc there is truly an unfathomable amount of sexual violence in this which i could forgive if it wasn‘t for the main love interest also abusing the female main character and making it seem like claire is in the wrong for trying to challenge gender norms. also it takes quite a while for the story to pick up in the beginning- most likely would‘ve dropped this had i not read this as an audiobook
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The writers of this show should be a little embarrassed. We all know 9/10 the book is better than the show. But in this case the show isn’t even worth watching compared to the book. Will need a bit of a mental break before moving onto the next book, but very excited to see where this story goes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Excrement, Vomit, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
relaxing
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
WARNING: THIS BOOK ISN'T FOR PEOPLE WHO DONT LIKE HISTORICALLY ACCURATE DESCRIPTIONS FROM HORRIFYING TRAUMA TO SA. Not for the daily of heart. Just know that not all the book is graphic, only small parts and one larger part. Review below the overall book.
----------
This book is beautifully written , with a compelling flow and characters that are easy to fall in love with. As long as you appreciate history and recognize the harsh realities of past eras—ranging from assaults to abuse—and understand that this story is a work of fiction, you’ll find it quite manageable. What resonated most with me was the overwhelming love and interconnections among the characters. When people say the book surpasses the movies, you should take their word for it! The author truly excels at character development.
The story centers around Claire, a nurse from the 1940s, who time travels through stones to the 18th century, arriving in Scotland during the Jacobite era. There, she meets a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser while tending to his wounds. As she navigates her feelings for him, she grapples with the uncertainty of being pulled through time, separated from her husband, Frank. Claire faces numerous complexities, both physically and emotionally.
She must make choices that not only influence her own future but also the course of history. Being English in the Scottish Highlands in 1743 places Claire in a precarious position, especially with the looming threat of uprising. This book is rich with intricate twists and turns, encompassing elements of her strained marriage, betrayal, imprisonment, rescues, and daring escapes. Readers will find themselves hooked from start to finish.
However, if you shy away from intimate marital love scenes or prefer to avoid detailed depictions of real-life traumas—many of which persist in today's world—this book may not be for you. That said, it does hold a silver lining. While it delves into some grim realities, such as trauma and harsh experiences both in the bedroom and in jail, it also portrays a sense of hope and resilience that emerges from love and life after enduring tremendous hardships. We all carry our own burdens of pain and hurt, and I believe this book offers a glimpse of hope through a steadfast marriage.
Despite the trials they face, Jamie and Claire find solace in a monastery, drawing strength from their Catholic faith. The author presents the characters with their flaws, making them relatable—reminding us that we all have our good and bad sides.
Another poignant theme in this book is the persecution of women who attempt to heal others with the herbs available to them, as many were wrongly accused of witchcraft. Often, these innocent individuals faced dire consequences with little evidence to support such claims.
Ultimately, it’s up to the reader to ponder who is guilty and who is not. And don’t forget to consider the superstitions that permeate the Scottish Highlands.
This depth and complexity make the book truly engaging and well worth the read
----------
This book is beautifully written , with a compelling flow and characters that are easy to fall in love with. As long as you appreciate history and recognize the harsh realities of past eras—ranging from assaults to abuse—and understand that this story is a work of fiction, you’ll find it quite manageable. What resonated most with me was the overwhelming love and interconnections among the characters. When people say the book surpasses the movies, you should take their word for it! The author truly excels at character development.
The story centers around Claire, a nurse from the 1940s, who time travels through stones to the 18th century, arriving in Scotland during the Jacobite era. There, she meets a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser while tending to his wounds. As she navigates her feelings for him, she grapples with the uncertainty of being pulled through time, separated from her husband, Frank. Claire faces numerous complexities, both physically and emotionally.
She must make choices that not only influence her own future but also the course of history. Being English in the Scottish Highlands in 1743 places Claire in a precarious position, especially with the looming threat of uprising. This book is rich with intricate twists and turns, encompassing elements of her strained marriage, betrayal, imprisonment, rescues, and daring escapes. Readers will find themselves hooked from start to finish.
However, if you shy away from intimate marital love scenes or prefer to avoid detailed depictions of real-life traumas—many of which persist in today's world—this book may not be for you. That said, it does hold a silver lining. While it delves into some grim realities, such as trauma and harsh experiences both in the bedroom and in jail, it also portrays a sense of hope and resilience that emerges from love and life after enduring tremendous hardships. We all carry our own burdens of pain and hurt, and I believe this book offers a glimpse of hope through a steadfast marriage.
Despite the trials they face, Jamie and Claire find solace in a monastery, drawing strength from their Catholic faith. The author presents the characters with their flaws, making them relatable—reminding us that we all have our good and bad sides.
Another poignant theme in this book is the persecution of women who attempt to heal others with the herbs available to them, as many were wrongly accused of witchcraft. Often, these innocent individuals faced dire consequences with little evidence to support such claims.
Ultimately, it’s up to the reader to ponder who is guilty and who is not. And don’t forget to consider the superstitions that permeate the Scottish Highlands.
This depth and complexity make the book truly engaging and well worth the read
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Gore, Infertility, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Injury/Injury detail
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Rape