Voyager (Outlander Book 3) by Diana Gabaldon

 

Publication Date:  January 1, 1994

Length: 870 pages

This week I finished my third read of this book. I have wanted to read and review all the Outlander books for my blog eventually but this one is especially important to me as it is my favorite of the series. This book is magical.  The first three Outlander books are the best but Voyager has it all. Battles, time travel, sea voyages, Pirates, plague, exotic islands, and witchcraft. And that's only the beginning of the unique storylines and settings found between the covers. I already know someday I will read it again, which sounds crazy because I can't think of another book I've read four times. But it is also 870 pages and every time I think I will be bored and remember everything I am proven wrong. It just never gets old for me. 

The story begins with Jamie's perspective of the Battle of Culloden and his miraculous survival. In the first two books of the series it feels as though one is waiting forever to get to this moment and it makes the opening of the story so satisfying. We see him go from Scottish warrior, to fugitive, to prisoner, and indentured servant in the first parts of the story and this timeline is overlapped with his time traveling wife Claire's life back in 1960's Boston. She is trying to raise their daughter, Brianna, with her husband Frank, failing miserably in her grief over losing her 18th century life with Jamie and believing he has died on Culloden Moor. Although her life as mother, and eventually, doctor is rewarding in its own way, Claire can never escape her ghosts, and she and Frank pretend, for Brianna's sake, to get along in their shaky marriage.

This storyline develops over a period of twenty years. Gabaldon masterfully switches back and forth through the first third of the book between their two centuries, letting the reader in on each of their lives in detail, weaving memories with current situations all of which lead them to a joyous, tumultuous reunion and ultimately, a test to see if they are still made for each other. Jamie and Claire are reunited but what makes the story so realistic and unique is that the challenges they face seem to worsen and test them instead of a world of romantic nostalgia where they just live happily ever after. Both have changed dramatically, while still retaining deep love and connection, but with the maturity that comes with age and life experience. Jamie has a somewhat shady past and occupation,  and Claire struggles to fit back into the world of long ago, having had to create such a different life after she traveled back through the stones in the previous book. All of this takes place while mourning what they have lost over the last two decades and feeling guilt for certain choices they have had to make.

As we settle in for the second half of the book things become a bit more stable between Jamie and Claire, but not with their lives. Starting from Jamie's ancestral home, Lallybroch in Scotland, they end up halfway across the world, looking for one of Jamie's kidnapped relatives. Plague, pirates, and pursuing British officers are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their troubles and with a displaced Chinaman and young married couple in tow, Claire and Jamie find themselves struggling to manage it all without losing each other again. We are taken on a wild ride from the island of Hispanola, where we meet a strange, befuddled priest, to Jamaica where we meet not one, but two characters from the past. Finally, they are blown off course to a new life which will begin in the next book, Drums of Autumn. 

I don't want to give away too much of the details because I find half the joy of Voyager is in the not knowing, or in my case, not remembering, all the tiny, moving parts throughout the novel. There are so many surprises, coincidences, and exotic settings that it makes your head spin at times. Just when you think you've figured things out, another side story is thrown in. I especially love the atmospheric surroundings created in Jamaica, and when I visited the island in 2019, I re-read the section of the book in which they travel there. It had been described perfectly, and I even toured Rose Hall, a real plantation that is mentioned, although it is slightly different from the one used in the story. The small bits of history, including the Maroons of the island made me want to research more on my own, and to appreciate the people I met in Jamaica all the more. 

The hardest part of reading Voyager for me is when it ends. I feel like the first three Outlander books are their own story. When we reach book four a new chapter in Jamie and Claire's lives begins and for me, it just never feels quite the same as before. I love all of the series books in their own way, but the world created in Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and Voyager will always stand out as a cut above. The heart of the story never returns quite as much as it did before so I'm always a little sad to see it go. Luckily these books are so long and detailed they never get old and you can always start again at the beginning, knowing you will likely pick up some new detail you missed the last time.  

Outlander Books: Ranked

 

The day we've waited for is here! It's the premiere of Outlander Season 7 on STARZ and I can hardly contain my excitement! After many production glitches and Covid restrictions, the show is back on track with a whopping 16 episodes for its fans. This season is based on the book An Echo in the Bone and it is one of my favorites. We will go inside more of the American Revolution and see many new characters added to the storyline. 

In honor of the day I have chosen to rank all the Outlander books in the order I love them best. Enjoy....whether you have read them all or not! Happy Outlander premiere day!

"The Big Books"

1. Voyager- Book 3

Always my favorite...I love the Battle of Culloden, Jamie and Claire's reunion, and the voyage to Jamaica. On my third re-read of it now.

2. Dragonfly in Amber- Book 2

The story of Claire and Jamie's political activities in Paris and the addition of Roger and Brianna make this one a close second to Voyager for me.

3. Outlander- Book 1

 

Even though I ranked this third in my level of enjoyment, it is still amazing.. and the original that started it all.

4. An Echo in the Bone- Book 7

The American Revolution takes center stage in this volume as well as a new cast of characters I love.

5. Written in My Own Heart's Blood- Book 8

Time Travel is featured more in this one and that is one of the main parts of the books I love. Also, more of the war and my absolute favorite last page of the whole series.

6. Drums of Autumn- Book 4

I really did enjoy this book but felt it had some areas that dragged. It is a great depiction of their move to the American colonies though and that along with the Roger and Brianna storyline has it ranking ahead of some of the others on my list. 

7. Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone- Book 9

This volume wrapped up numerous loose ends from the previous one and her fans waited seven years for it. So I enjoyed finally getting to catch up with the Fraser clan after being so patient. But it felt like a series of choppy short stories so it wasn't as satisfying an epic as I had grown accustomed to with these books.

8. The Fiery Cross- Book 5

Oh The Fiery Cross....this book has been rehashed so many times in Outlander circles as to whether or not it is downright terrible, repetitive, and wordy or whether it is a masterpiece of life on the "Ridge." If you are a fan of the books you know exactly what I am talking about! Having read it twice now I have decided it is both. And my second re-read really did make me a little more of a fan. Yes it could have been pared down, but that isn't Gabaldon's style. And if you really savor it and don't expect constant drama and action it can be a nice break from all the crazy travel of the other books. 

9. A Breath of Snow and Ashes- Book 6

So many people say this is their absolute favorite book. It is my least favorite. So I'm probably not going to win anyone over who loves it. But.....although I really, really want to like this book I just don't. It has graphic depictions of sexual assault, characters I loathe like Tom and Malva and their whole story, and just an overall feel of depression. There are a few interesting moments where you find out some tidbits of information related to the whole story arc and so you can't skip it altogether but most of it for me was either boring or disturbing. I was glad to finish it and won't miss Season 6 of the T.V. series either.  

Just for good measure....here is my order of enjoyment of the Lord John books and the other side stories!

Lord John Grey Series (including novellas with him)

1. Lord John and the Private Matter

2. A Plague of Zombies

3. The Scottish Prisoner 

4. Besieged

5. Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade

6. Lord John and the Hand of Devils

Other Novellas, Short Stories, and "the rest"

1. A Fugitive Green

2. The Space Between

3. A Leaf on the Wind of All Hallows

4. Virgins

If you are an Outlander fan, what order do you rank the books in? 

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander Book 2) by Diana Gabaldon

Publication Date: July 1, 1992

Length: 752 pages

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of my goals for my blog is to eventually review all of Gabaldon's books. I know it's been done by so many blogs but they are my favorite series of books and having read them all years ago before I started my book blog, I am behind on the review part. I always have a re-read going of one of them and am currently on my third re-read of book 3, Voyager. I finished my third re-read of Dragonfly in Amber last year so I thought it was time to get going on the review. Since I'm only halfway through the book I originally planned to review this week, it's a perfect time to turn to this goal. And FYI.....it's hard to review this book without a few spoilers if you haven't read book one...you've been warned!

Always reviewing with the assumption that one hasn't read the previous book, it's a good idea to explain where we are when this one begins. Time traveler Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser at the end of book one has committed herself to her new husband Jamie and their life together in 18th century Scotland. She is pregnant with their first child and looking forward to staying in the past with the man she loves. Having left behind her first husband Frank, through no fault of her own, she realizes she is making a difficult choice, but since she and Frank had barely gotten to know each other in the present day and due to wild circumstances beyond her control, she feels there is no contest when it comes to following her heart with Jamie. 

When book two begins it is a bit confusing because we expect to continue the saga we left behind. But it begins in the year 1968 in Inverness with a completely new character, Roger Wakefield, who is going through his late father's belongings and attempting to make sense of the many books and scraps of information he left behind. He is visited by Claire and her daughter Brianna who have come to pay their respects to his late father and while they are visiting, details come to light which begin to see Roger caught up in the past and Claire's personal, fantastic story. As we settle in to hear her tale, we are taken back to 1744, to Le Havre, France, where the first Outlander book left off. From there we do not return to 1968 until the very end of the book. But there is an amazing story in between those years.

Claire and Jamie have gone to France to try to stop the Jacobite rebellion and therefore change the outcome of the Battle of Culloden. They plan to infiltrate Bonnie Prince Charlie's circle of conspirators, acting as if they are on board for the battle to see his father, James Stuart, restored to the throne of England. Jamie and Claire want Charles to fail in gaining financial and military support because they know the current outcome is devastating and tragic for Scotland and all those dear to them. Staying at Jamie's Uncle Jared's opulent Parisian home, the Frasers attend high society gatherings and in Jamie's case, brothels, to seek out any information they can gather and gain the trust of Prince Charlie and his compatriots. Their optimism in their endeavor begins to fade slowly as each experience brings them closer to the seemingly inevitable outcome. They find themselves caught up in the historical inevitability of the facts they know are true while hoping that any small thing they do will change the course they are on.

The first time I read this book I sped through it. I wanted to make sense of what on earth was going on. Why did the story start in 1968? Who is Roger and why do I care? Why is Claire in the modern time and not with Jamie in the 1700's? It was a bewildering beginning and Gabaldon even wrote a preface to reassure the reader to keep going....it will all make sense! Even when I had finished the book I was still confused with dates, timelines, back stories.....it is an intricate, detailed story and if you are a true Outlander fan, a re-read is a must. By the third go around I'd finally understood everything and all the parts fit together. But even now there are things I have forgotten. At almost 800 pages it is impossible to memorize it all.

In order of enjoyment I rank this book second. Voyager, the third book is my absolute favorite, the first Outlander my third favorite. Dragonfly covers the slow build to Culloden in a thorough way, weaving in fictional characters we've grown to hate, like Black Jack Randall and adding historical ones like Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, the sneaky head of Clan Fraser and a relative of Jamie's. We meet Master Raymond, Claire's friend from the apothecary shop and Mother Hildegarde, her mentor at the Paris hospital where Claire spends her days helping the sick and injured. The major battles of the Jacobites, Prestonpans and Falkirk, are covered in realistic detail, as well as the march toward the biggest battle, Culloden. And we are joined by the Highlanders, who become near and dear to us as their story progresses. Every time I have read it, I notice little details I'd missed before and marvel at how attached I become to the place and time. 

Many people I've talked to or read reviews from about these books complain that they are too long. I get it. The first time I plowed through her books, especially this one, I thought, "this could be shortened by a lot and still tell the same story." I have totally changed my opinion. Later Outlander books I feel this is somewhat true, but after reading Dragonfly three times I've decided that every page has great significance if you are going to understand the rest of the series. So take your time, take notes, and don't rush it. You will be rewarded in the end and even more so if you continue with book three.

 

A Plague of Zombies by Diana Gabaldon

 

Publication Date: October 4, 2011

Length: 116 pages

My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK:

If you've read any of my reviews before then you know I'm a huge Outlander fan. What I probably haven't said before though is that I'm a huge Lord John Grey fan. At the risk of the wrath of fellow Outlanders out there I am going to be honest....I enjoy the character of Lord John Grey more than Jamie Fraser sometimes. He is fascinating with his aristocratic background, military prowess, and the interesting situations he always finds himself in. Many loyal Gabaldon readers don't even like or read the LJG books but I can't understand why. They fill in a lot of gaps from the big books and as the series has progressed he has become an important figure. In honor of Halloween this month I wanted to review my favorite LJG story, A Plague of Zombies. It is a novella added to her collection in the book Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, but you can buy it as a stand alone as well. The previous title was Lord John and the Plague of Zombies.  I've probably read this book at least four times and each time I do I discover something else I over looked. It is unique, creepy, and has an exotic location I absolutely love...Jamaica. So much so that when I visited Jamaica in 2019 on our cruise I couldn't get enough of the beautiful place. Having read this story before it was even more special. So Happy October and here's to many more additions to the LJG saga.

SUMMARY:

Lieutenant Colonel Lord John Grey has been sent to the island of Jamaica to help put down the restless stirrings of a slave rebellion. The current Governor Warren is only too glad to let Grey step in and take charge of the frightening situation as the rebels are slowly encroaching on the capital of Kingston, and thus ruining Warren's daily existence. A prominent plantation owner, one Mr. Abernathy, was found a few days before with his throat slit and the English slave owners are beginning to fear for their lives. As Grey tries to acclimate himself to the bug filled, creepy crawly infested surroundings, including a very unwelcome snake, he comes to realize that the superstitions and culture of the island are going to make it hard to convince the inhabitants that this is not, in fact, a matter of spiritual rituals or ghosts run amok, but rather a simple case of someone trying to use fear to channel things in their desired direction.

When Governor Warren himself is targeted and Grey is accosted by a deathly figure, Lord John realizes there is more at stake than he thought. Strange happenings continue to occur right in the Governor's mansion and then someone in the house is murdered. All seem to be connected to zombies and the supernatural but Lord John is too practical to believe it. He is definitely shaken and fearful but not enough to stop him from delving into the unknown, including pursuing information from the maroons living in the mountainous region surrounding Kingston. 

As he further investigates, Grey begins to find there is a great deal of government corruption and mismanagement and that the convenient explanation of bloodthirsty zombies is a ruse. With his usual courage and insight he traces the roots of a conspiracy that is wide ranging with deadly consequences. 

WHAT I LIKED:

As I stated above I love anything Outlander and Lord John related. But I think this story was especially intriguing to me because I knew from the beginning it was a mystery with a reasonable explanation. I love authors who inject superstition into a story and make you think there is something supernatural going on, only to reveal the truth behind the curtain. This story had a touch of history as well with the addition of the maroon population. I hadn't heard of this group before reading this book and it set me on a path of discovery. When I eventually visited Jamaica it was amazing to see and tour their Rose Hall plantation and to imagine what life must have been like for the slaves who fled into the mountains to escape their horrible situation. Gabaldon's writing and historical research is always superb and my favorite thing about her is the way she assumes the reader is smart enough to figure things out without lots of specific explaining of details. Her stories always unfold piece by piece and it is up to us to put them together and figure out what is happening. Perhaps this is why I often read and re-read her books because each time I find little things I missed before. 

I also love the way she infuses characters and events from the big Outlander books into the short stories. The murder of Mr. Abernathy and Grey's meeting with Geillis Duncan are exciting and creepy if you've read the first three in the series. It is fun to glimpse a little peek into a storyline that Jamie and Claire are not even a part of. 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

Not much! Really that it was so short. I have found myself disappointed each time I've come to the end of her novellas and would like for her to continue to write more. The Lord John bigger books are great but it seems she is done with his backstory at this point. I am hoping she will write some new stories to fill in the gaps of other minor Outlander characters.

RECOMMEND? OR NOT?  Yes, if you are an Outlander fan already. Maybe, if you are not.  I say this because at first glance this story would have seemed ridiculous to me had I not already known and loved the character of Lord John. It would be very short and very odd to the person unschooled in Outlander trivia and so I really think it's best to read the first three Outlander books before diving into the novellas. 

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

 

Publication Date:  June 1, 1991

Length: 640 pages

I started this book in 2003. I probably picked it up, started reading, and put it down a half dozen times. At one point I said I'd never finish it, that I wasn't interested. Then one day, inexplicably, I plowed through it and that was it. I.was.hooked. I read the whole series (Book 5 was the latest out at that time) and continued to collect and read them all as they were published. Then I moved on to the spinoffs with Lord John Grey and the novellas in Seven Stones. I cannot wait for Book 10 to be released in the future. It is safe to say I'm a die hard Outlander fan. 

This is the original...the one where it all started. Claire Randall is on her second honeymoon in Scotland in 1945. She is fresh from the war as a combat nurse and is trying to get reacquainted with her husband, Frank, who has also been away in the war working in intelligence. The two attempt to forget that they've been apart for most of their short married life and barely know each other now.  During a solo visit to a set of standing stones they visited the day before, Claire touches one of the stones and disappears into 1743. When she awakens and attempts to find her way back to Inverness she is accosted by Captain Jonathan Randall of His Majesty's Eighth Dragoons and then rescued by a Scottish Highlander who takes her to a hideout where she is forced to accept she is not in Kansas anymore. 

After a long night of disbelief, riding with the group of Highlanders, Claire is taken to Castle Leoch, seat of the Mackenzie lands and is interrogated by the clan chief, Column MacKenzie. The fictional story she relates is not believable to him and Claire suspects he plans to keep her there until he can find out who she really is. Claire despairs if she will ever find her way out of the castle, back to the stones, and home to Frank.

As she continues to devise a way out, Claire is forced to make the best of things in order to survive. She comes to rely on and trust one of her original rescuers, Jamie Fraser, an outlaw and nephew of Column and his brother Dougal, who is hiding out at Castle Leoch. Because she is English, she is distrusted by many of the inhabitants there and Jamie's kindness is a welcome change. Through a series of events Claire and Jamie are forced to marry in order to protect Claire from her original attacker, Captain Randall, who also does not believe her story of how she came to be in the woods near Inverness. He is highly suspicious of Claire's presence with the Highlanders and suspects her of being a spy. By marrying Jamie, Claire is protected by the Clan, although because of Jamie's status as an outlaw wanted for the murder of an English soldier, their safety is precarious. 

During their time together Claire becomes conflicted about her feelings for Jamie and as she witnesses his loyalty and devotion time and again it is hard for her to ignore the love and attraction she has for him. Through a series of events and near death experiences, Claire and Jamie find themselves working together to find a way to reconcile their relationship with the obstacles fate has put in their way. 

I knew trying to write a review of this book I wouldn't do it justice. Every review or summary makes it sound like a romance novel. And there is definitely romance. But there is so much more. Adventure, suspense, rich characters who are nuanced and have fleshed out, detailed background stories. There are twists and turns and premonitions and you never know what new circumstance Jamie and Claire are going to find themselves in. Rumors of witchcraft, murder, Jacobite plots, and hints of the coming rebellion provide readers with a mini history lesson along with the romance and drama. There are also the descriptions of the Scottish countryside and a real sense of what it would have been like to have lived and survived during the 18th Century. 

Gabaldon is a superb writer and I actually think her writing gets even better in the subsequent books. I remember thinking Outlander was amazing and also long...clocking in at 650 pages. After reading them all I realize it is actually a short story compared to the others. There is so much detail, so many subplots, and so much foreshadowing of coming storylines that no matter how many times you read the book you forget things. That is the mark of a true epic novel. You just can't remember it all.

If you begin this story thinking it is too fantastical and unreal and want to put it down, I urge you to give it a chance. Also, disclaimer....there is violence and sadism in the story which was off putting to me. I still wish the author hadn't gone as far as she did with it and I've had to get past it in order to enjoy the rest of the series. I know some people I've discussed the book with think it was necessary to explain some of the deeply held feelings of the main characters but it was disturbing enough to me that I don't care to re-read those parts again. Obviously it isn't the main focus of the book though or I'd not have become such an enthusiastic fan.  The amazing story outweighs the occasional ugliness and I wouldn't recommend the book if that weren't the case. 

If you finish Outlander and enjoy it you had better clear your calendar though. There are nine books now, all of which are anywhere from 700-1,000 pages long. And trust me when I tell you that when you reach the last page of each one you will immediately be opening the next! 

A Fugitive Green by Diana Gabaldon

 

Publication Date: June 27, 2017

Length: 122 pages

This story is a novella first published in Gabaldon's collection Seven Stones to Stand or Fall. It has never been published in book form on its own that I can find other than for audible. I highly recommend buying Seven Stones if you are an Outlander fan as it has several of these novellas in one book and it is worth every penny! This story gives us background on some of the more minor Outlander characters that are linked to some of the major ones. 

It is 1744 when the story opens. Minnie Rennie (aka: Minerva Wattiswade) lives in Paris with her father Andrew Rennie (aka: Raphael Wattiswade). On the surface Raphael is just a dealer of rare books but really he is a collector of letters and information which he uses to his advantage and financial gain. Minnie is well aware of her father's undercover associations and helps him when necessary. She is smart and capable and has a fierce independent streak which serves her well in this shady world. At the opening of the story we find her in the bookstore where a note is delivered concerning a mysterious Mrs. Simpson. Minnie has been expecting this letter for some time as it contains clues as to the identity and, she hopes, the whereabouts of her mother. She is elated to receive it and hopes to travel to meet this Mrs. Simpson. 

Raphael wants Minnie married off well. When he sees an opportunity to obtain both a prospective husband for her and further his quest for information to suit his financial ambitions, he sends her to London to work on both missions. She is to be chaperoned, much to her chagrin, by one Lady Buford and two Irish bodyguards. Minnie is determined to obtain the information her father wishes while not being coerced into a loveless, boring marriage. 

Meanwhile, Hal Grey (brother of John Grey from the Outlander novels) is having troubles of his own. Living in London, he is distraught after the death of his wife, Esme and the unborn child she was carrying. His guilt is further exacerbated by the knowledge that she had been carrying on an affair with a man whom he subsequently shot and killed in a duel. He also has family baggage relating to his now deceased father who committed suicide a few years before when he was suspected of being a secret Jacobite. 

When Minnie is asked to meet with one of her father's contacts she ends up meeting Hal and the two share an intense personal moment. She will end up meeting him again as her tasks cause her to further delve into his personal problems in order to obtain information requested by a secret contact. Minnie also is determined to meet with Mrs. Simpson and find her long lost mother. 

I have read A Fugitive Green twice now. Once when I was an Outlander newbie and then again this month as a long time Outlander fan. It is interesting the things I picked up on the second time around. Little details that mean a lot more now that I'm super familiar with the characters and their future selves in the big books and Lord John Grey spinoffs. It is a great addition to the stories and character personalities you won't find in the main novels. 

Having said that, I think that as a stand alone story it would probably not be my cup of tea. I was already invested in Minnie and Hal because I knew about John Grey and also a bit about them as related to the Outlander saga. I admit I'm not a fan of novellas in general because I like to really sink my teeth into a story and they always leave me feeling cheated out of that experience. But in order to really care about these characters you would need to have more of a reason than the one outlined in the plot of A Fugitive Green. It is not terribly detailed or compelling on its own. Seven Stones is itself a collection that I wouldn't care much about had I not already been so invested in the characters. 

As always, Gabaldon is original and interesting with the witty dialogue and vocabulary. This is an area she excels in. The time and place are always authentic and well researched and I am always pleased at how she ends her stories with a clever line each time. One of the best things about her books is the way in which she does not constantly explain things to the reader. She is great at just telling the story and assuming we will eventually pick up on what is happening. It's always a great brain challenge! A Fugitive Green is a good read if you want more insight into the Greys of Outlander.

Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon

 

Publication Date: November 23, 2021

Length: 928 pages

Hello book lovers! This is my first blog and first review of a book so bear with me as I navigate my way through this new adventure. I have signed up to be a part of the Historical Fiction Reading Challenge 2022 and have chosen the Level Ancient History which requires me to read 25 historical fiction books this year and post a review about each book somewhere online. I have chosen to start a blog because I'd like to have my reviews all in one place so that I can easily look back on them throughout the challenge. Thank you to Marg at The Intrepid Reader and Helen at She Reads Novels for creating and promoting the challenge. 

WHY I CHOSE THIS BOOK:

My first book to review is Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone by Diana Gabaldon. Full disclaimer...this book is 928 pages and I read it from November 23rd to January 2nd so technically I finished it in 2022 but started it in 2021. It is so long that I'm going to just pat myself on the back and count it as my first book.

I started the Outlander series in 2003. It took me several years to become hooked and to really appreciate the detailed, intricate way in which Gabaldon writes. I stopped reading the series several times because I didn't really understand that it is a masterpiece you have to savor and read with purpose. Once I was hooked though, that was it. I have read all the "big books" twice and the Lord John Grey and all spin off books once. I'd love to read them again someday.

MY THOUGHTS:

Bees was wonderful and, as usual, Gabaldon never disappoints. It filled in all the gaps about both major and minor characters and maintained the suspense, drama, and historical feel we've all come to expect as Outlander fans. It is important to understand that this book is going to be a hard sell for those who have not read any of the other books. I'd be so confused and to her credit she does a marvelous job of trying to explain any needed back story but it is nearly impossible to do so adequately. This series is now nearly 9,000 pages long and it is hard to pick up in the middle of Book 9 and not be bewildered about what is happening. When you throw in time travel, the Revolutionary War, and a huge cast of characters it is a lot to process even for those of us who've read all the books. 

What stood out most to me was the relationship between Jamie and Claire evolving from passionate and turbulent to familiar and settled. It really feels like they are an "old married couple" now but of course wild events are always happening around and to them so there is still the drama and excitement we've come to expect. What is missing is the frequency and urgency of their romantic encounters and I personally like this change. After all they are now in their sixties and it is just not realistic to think after 30 years together (and sometimes not!) they are going to behave like they did when they first met. I think the author does a good job of keeping their romance alive without treating them like twenty somethings in the constant throes of romantic interludes. 

Their children and grandchildren have most of the prominent roles and events in this book. I felt like Jamie and Claire were more in the background and that their daughter Brianna, nephew Ian, and Jamie's son William carried the narrative more. Those looking for the feel of books 1-6 will be disappointed in this but I liked it and again think it is more realistic and natural to evolve stories that contain younger characters who can live on in future books.

If you are looking for a book that heavily centers around historical facts and events and are using it to learn about said events this book is not the best for that. Yes, there is definitely time period and history and she is always meticulous in presenting them accurately. However, the book is ultimately about the characters and how the events are affecting them. If you are looking for learning about the war or specific leaders this is not the book to do that with. You will not be disappointed though in how she manages to convey the atmosphere and feel of the time period and will feel transported to the 1700's. The book settings jump around from Charleston to New York to Savannah and you will meet some major historical figures from Benjamin Cleveland to Frances Marion. I love how at the end of the book the author has a section where she explains about the real people presented in the book. 

RECOMMEND? OR NOT? 

Bees was excellent and I'd recommend it to any Outlander fan. If you have not read the books in order I'd highly encourage you to start with the original book 1 and go from there chronologically. You will better appreciate the depth of this story and will be amazed by the way the events all come together in book 9. I am sad to know that book 10 will be the end of the series.  Jamie will likely die and although we know it has to end sometime it is going to be hard to say goodbye to these characters I've spent nearly 20 years getting to know. If you start at the beginning and stick with it you will be not be disappointed. Happy reading all!