littleread1
Written on Nov 1, 2014
In the wake of a devastating fire in the mountains of North Carolina, Highlander Jamie Fraser and his English wife find themselves homeless and without family, in the midst of the gathering storm of revolution. And thanks to his time-travelling wife's information, he knows what the coming spring of 1778 will bring. But then Jamie's illegitimate son, William, arrives in North Carolina, a young officer in King George's army. Jamie has sworn two things to himself: his son will never know his true paternity - and he himself will never face his son across the barrel of a gun. Between the mountains of North Carolina and those of the Scottish highlands lie blockades and battlefields, storm and shipwreck, privateers and politics. The one thing that sustains the Frasers in their struggle is the hope that their family has reached safety in the future. They have. The Frasers' daughter and her family have returned safely through the standing stones that guard the passage through time, and to Scotland. But something mysterious looms over their new home. Something whose secret may draw them back to what they fled from...
- ISBN10 0752898477
- ISBN13 9780752898476
- Publish Date 7 January 2010 (first published 1 January 2009)
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 6 December 2012
- Publish Country GB
- Publisher Orion Publishing Co
- Imprint Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 848
- Language English
Reviews
elysium
Written on Feb 27, 2013
I loved that Jamie and Claire visited Scotland we got to see Jamie’s family there again. We get to see lot more of Jamie’s son William but I thought those were the most boring chapters. It didn’t help he wrote very long letters to Lord John which were pretty tedious to read and ended up mostly skimming those … But there was much more of John Grey in this book and I have to confess I have soft spot for John. But boy, I would have loved to see how Jamie took that little surprise in the end!
Brianna and Roger are back in the 1980’s and I wasn’t huge fan of those scenes. There was something going on with their daughter, someone is stuck in the future and stuff happened but somehow I’ve never liked Brianna much so that was kinda boring.
I really hope Young Ian gets his girl in the next book because that boy sure needs some happiness in his life.
Linda
Written on Jul 10, 2011
I did like this book a lot, but it was compartimentalized a lot, since we learnt of William, John, Claire and Jamie, Jenny and the others in Scotland, Arch, Bree and Roger in 1980 etc
I think I would have liked it more if there was less about John and William, but more about Claire and Jamie, as well as Bree et al. I might change my mind later, and also maybe I'll change my review if that is the case.
So many lose ends here, that I do not at all feel satisfied, as I have been with the other books in this series. Really, where (or when?) did Roger and Buck end up? When will Brianna find out where Jem is? Will Mandy tell her through her bond with Jem? What will happen with Jamie, John and Claire? Will Rachel and Ian marry? How will Jenny fare in America? What will Jamie think of the fact that Claire had thought him dead, and swiftly married John? Will Roger be able to come back to Lallybroch again? See what I mean? Really, too many lose ends for such a LONG series to end like this!
OK, now I feel folish! I just realized that there are more books to come :D I will change this review soon!
rakesandrogues
Written on Apr 4, 2010
On the other hand, I did quite think that William's earlier narratives were dull. It took me a while to get into his story, but in the end, I'm glad to have seen things from his perspective.
After this book, I have definitely gained a respect for Lord John Grey. He had been an "okay" character in my eyes for some time now, but I am now definitely a fan after this book. I loved reading from his perspective. I don't know how I failed to see what a great character he was before.
I'm also glad that the story of Brianna and Roger was not abandoned. Their story was definitely one of my favorite parts of the book.
The most disappointing part of this book was that just when it became a page turner, it ended. There was so much build-up and I couldn't even get them resolved. While it makes me eager for the next book (another three years, great) I am left feeling unsatisfied.
Overall, I think Gabaldon's style of narration has improved. The incorporation of the various points of view and the letters have added another dimension to the storytelling.
Terri M. LeBlanc
Written on Oct 1, 2009