An Echo in the Bone: Outlander Novel 7 (Outlander, #7)

by Diana Gabaldon

THE TRIUMPHANT SEVENTH NOVEL IN THE MULTI-MILLION BESTSELLING OUTLANDER SERIES.

The year is 1777. The place, North Carolina. And as the American rebellion grows in intensity, Highlander Jamie Fraser and his wife Claire need to decide which side their family is going to be on.

The choice should be an easy one, given that Claire was born in the twentieth century and has already seen the future - in history books. But things are never simple where the Frasers are concerned, as father and son unwittingly come face to face on the battlefield, and an old adversary reaches forward in time to threaten the next generation.

Up to now, Claire and Jamie's love has survived every danger history has put in their path, but in the chaos of war, with families bitterly divided against each other, is the future finally going to catch up with them?

• ISBN10: 0752883992
• ISBN13: 9780752883991
• Publish Date: 30 September 2010 (first published 1 January 2009)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: GB
• Publisher: Orion Publishing Co
• Imprint: Orion (an Imprint of The Orion Publishing Group Ltd )
• Format: Paperback (B-Format (198x129 mm))
• Pages: 1104
• Language: English

Reviews

[littleread1]

It had a slow start but when it got going it REALLY GOT GOING. Damn. I don't know what to do with my life now.

[elysium]

3.5 stars

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]

I am actually a little confused right now, having finished what I thought was the last book about Jamie and Claire, Brianna, Roger, Jem and Mandy... This book did not at all have any final rings to it! And I am wondering if the Lord John Grey books have more about my new friends...

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]

First things first, it was very refreshing to read this novel from so many different perspectives. I loved being able to read more about William and Lord John Grey because it made me see them in a new light. As much as I love Claire, it was nice to get other people's perspectives. Also, unlike previous books, I thought that the transition from one point of view to another was less random and made more logical sense.

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]

While overall a wonderful addition to the Outlander series, the ending was seriously rushed and lacking.