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anotherwomack's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
5.0
evikes's review against another edition
5.0
Loved it. I did get sick of the fact that Jamie & Bree's hair is always ‘glowing’ or is ‘ablaze’ whenever there is a light source near by, but aside from a lot of mundane details, it was a great book! I shed a tear when they walk away and left Ian with the Mohawk (but I know he's happy).. I've grown to love Ian. What I missed the most was Fergus’ character and the intimacy between C&J. They went through a lot in this book too, but there wasn't much lovin' going on….. and I think the story would have benefited from it. Bree still gets on my nerves, but at least she admited that she wanted Roger (I really like him!) and was honest with him… finally! Overall, loved the book but need a break before FC... I seem to need a week or so between books to let it all settle and then percolate until I can’t stand it and have to dive into the next one.
eder_logan870's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
dbennington's review
Didn't enjoy the narrator/audio books format for this book. Will end up reading on my own.
idratherbereading542's review against another edition
3.0
I have to say that I was really disappointed by this book in the series. The 3rd book in the series was by far my favorite and, in my opinion, the best of the series so far. So, I held this one up to high standards when I started it I suppose.
My first problem with the book is that, while I'm very happy to hear that not too many crazy things happened before Brianna came back, the first 450 pages of this book - before she came back - were utterly boring. I dragged through this book. The others took me days to finish, this one took me a good month to get through entirely. While I want them to find a final resolution and peace, in the end, it does not make for a good 450 page read.
So that was my first problem. The first 450 pages of the book could have been summed up much quicker.
I also do not like Brianna - at all really. At this point she seems very selfish and uncaring to me. At first she's pining that she wants her parents so badly and all. Then, when she has them she's furious with Jamie, disowning him as her dad, when was doing what he knew to do to protect her and then she's pining for Roger, not caring about Jamie at all anymore. And, speaking of Roger, she at first pushes him away entirely. Then, when he returns, she pushes him away again. It's like she can't ever be happy. Sure, at the very last five pages she's happy again. But I just see that being an annoying trend that continues into the next books in the series. So yeah, I really have no like toward her at all.
Poor Roger risks everything and does everything he can to love her and have her love him wholeheartedly back. I just really feel for him. I'm surprised he stayed with the way that she treats him. She should have jumped into his arms on first sight of seeing him, not shunned him.
Anyways, aside from that I'm sad to see Ian go. I hope that's not the last of him, but it just seems weird for him and Rollo not to be there. First Fergus basically leaves the story line, now Ian. Those were two of my favorite characters, besides Jamie and Claire of course. Now their both out of the story mostly, and that makes me sad.
I still really like John Grey's character though and I can see why she made an entirely separate series about him. He's very much likable and just a good person all around it seems.
I'm not really liking Lizzie because she caused the whole confused mess to begin with, but I guess I can't blame her too much. Because if she hadn't, then NOTHING would have happened in the book at all.
Finally, despite not really liking Brianna at all and thinking that Roger deserves much better; I am happy that they're all together right now. That's pretty cool.
It's just a far cry from The Voyager, which was constant adventure and change and something to keep turning the page for.
Still, I'm very much wrapped up in the characters and will continue reading. I just hope the next book proves more of a story. It seems that this one was a stretch to make a story out of at all if you ask me.
My first problem with the book is that, while I'm very happy to hear that not too many crazy things happened before Brianna came back, the first 450 pages of this book - before she came back - were utterly boring. I dragged through this book. The others took me days to finish, this one took me a good month to get through entirely. While I want them to find a final resolution and peace, in the end, it does not make for a good 450 page read.
So that was my first problem. The first 450 pages of the book could have been summed up much quicker.
I also do not like Brianna - at all really. At this point she seems very selfish and uncaring to me. At first she's pining that she wants her parents so badly and all. Then, when she has them she's furious with Jamie, disowning him as her dad, when was doing what he knew to do to protect her and then she's pining for Roger, not caring about Jamie at all anymore. And, speaking of Roger, she at first pushes him away entirely. Then, when he returns, she pushes him away again. It's like she can't ever be happy. Sure, at the very last five pages she's happy again. But I just see that being an annoying trend that continues into the next books in the series. So yeah, I really have no like toward her at all.
Poor Roger risks everything and does everything he can to love her and have her love him wholeheartedly back. I just really feel for him. I'm surprised he stayed with the way that she treats him. She should have jumped into his arms on first sight of seeing him, not shunned him.
Anyways, aside from that I'm sad to see Ian go. I hope that's not the last of him, but it just seems weird for him and Rollo not to be there. First Fergus basically leaves the story line, now Ian. Those were two of my favorite characters, besides Jamie and Claire of course. Now their both out of the story mostly, and that makes me sad.
I still really like John Grey's character though and I can see why she made an entirely separate series about him. He's very much likable and just a good person all around it seems.
I'm not really liking Lizzie because she caused the whole confused mess to begin with, but I guess I can't blame her too much. Because if she hadn't, then NOTHING would have happened in the book at all.
Finally, despite not really liking Brianna at all and thinking that Roger deserves much better; I am happy that they're all together right now. That's pretty cool.
It's just a far cry from The Voyager, which was constant adventure and change and something to keep turning the page for.
Still, I'm very much wrapped up in the characters and will continue reading. I just hope the next book proves more of a story. It seems that this one was a stretch to make a story out of at all if you ask me.
emilycathn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
I loved the overarching plot of this Outlander instalment but not how it was written.
The first half was like slogging uphill in jelly wearing skis. Pages of tensionless, plodding plot and repetitious description. If I read about sweat dripping/trickling or running between Claire's breasts once, I must have read it a thousand times. It was humid, I get it!
The only element that I enjoyed during the first half of this novel was that Claire and Jamie's relationship was explored and developed. I felt that in 'Voyager' their relationship suffered and didn't develop or shine against a full-to-bursting plot. So I was pleased that 'Drums of Autumn' went back to the crux of the series and the love between Claire and Jamie.
Halfway through the book when Brianna finally makes it back to the 1770s, the plot finally began to pick up and the tension was reminiscent of the earlier books in the series. Yes, the whole situation regarding Roger's mistaken identity was a bit ridiculous, but at least it was something juicy to get stuck into. I rolled my eyes when it turned out that Brianna was raped. I'd like there to be a character in this series who isn't raped. There are so many other horrors to be faced in the 18th century that could be explored, but no.
I also, perhaps for the first time, hated Jamie in this novel. I thought all of the characters were almost blase about Brianna's rape, I didn't feel that any were shocked or devastated by it, but I put that aside as it being more frequent in the time and so perhaps the characters were less shocked. However, I hated how Jamie treated her afterwards. He essentially told her that she had asked for it and young Ian called her a whore. This was so out of character for them both. I mean, they'd beaten and sold off Roger to protect Brianna's honor and yet they turned on her pretty quickly afterwards. It has really turned me off of Jamie.
Overall, this wasn't my favourite in the series, it was at least 500 pages too long but I'm still interested to see where the characters go next.
The first half was like slogging uphill in jelly wearing skis. Pages of tensionless, plodding plot and repetitious description. If I read about sweat dripping/trickling or running between Claire's breasts once, I must have read it a thousand times. It was humid, I get it!
The only element that I enjoyed during the first half of this novel was that Claire and Jamie's relationship was explored and developed. I felt that in 'Voyager' their relationship suffered and didn't develop or shine against a full-to-bursting plot. So I was pleased that 'Drums of Autumn' went back to the crux of the series and the love between Claire and Jamie.
Halfway through the book when Brianna finally makes it back to the 1770s, the plot finally began to pick up and the tension was reminiscent of the earlier books in the series. Yes, the whole situation regarding Roger's mistaken identity was a bit ridiculous, but at least it was something juicy to get stuck into. I rolled my eyes when it turned out that Brianna was raped. I'd like there to be a character in this series who isn't raped. There are so many other horrors to be faced in the 18th century that could be explored, but no.
I also, perhaps for the first time, hated Jamie in this novel. I thought all of the characters were almost blase about Brianna's rape, I didn't feel that any were shocked or devastated by it, but I put that aside as it being more frequent in the time and so perhaps the characters were less shocked. However, I hated how Jamie treated her afterwards. He essentially told her that she had asked for it and young Ian called her a whore. This was so out of character for them both. I mean, they'd beaten and sold off Roger to protect Brianna's honor and yet they turned on her pretty quickly afterwards. It has really turned me off of Jamie.
Overall, this wasn't my favourite in the series, it was at least 500 pages too long but I'm still interested to see where the characters go next.
taylorbre's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
4.5
noomzoom's review
adventurous
emotional
slow-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
4.5
emsbookshelff's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0