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A review by mrsbooknerd
Drums Of Autumn by Diana Gabaldon
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.