rmb27's review against another edition
Graphic: Torture, Pregnancy, Murder, Infidelity, Grief, War, Rape, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, Sexism, Pedophilia, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Misogyny, Miscarriage, Child abuse, Alcohol, Sexual violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Infertility, and Alcoholism
This story goes from being almost a history textbook to graphic sexual assault and back multiple times. It’s just not worth it.sweetheart_ok's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Child death, Sexual violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Sexual content
Moderate: Pregnancy and Alcoholism
kcrockford's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Violence, Blood, Death, Medical content, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Grief, and War
Minor: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Chronic illness
irishbelle10's review against another edition
3.5
Graphic: Medical content, Miscarriage, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual assault, Violence, Pregnancy, Rape, Blood, Death, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, War, and Murder
chronicallyplotting's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Diana Gabaldon does an amazing job interweaving incredibly accurate historical information into her writings. I have learned so much about various Scottish tribes and have gone on to do my own leisure reading about the different real life clans myself. The author also includes extensive research into medical and livelihood means during this time period which really transport one into the book.
I enjoy the diversity of character's in this book including the every mysterious minor character Master Raymond. Mother Hildegarde and her dog Bouton have a special place in my heart. And Donas the loyal horse.
My only downfall for this novel is the first 350ish pages were slow. It was hard to get into and the characters POV's would occasionally switch without notice and it would take a moment to realize who was narrating. Although the beginning was a slow start, all the information was needed and necessary to understanding everything that was and is to come.
Graphic: Miscarriage, Gore, Medical content, and Infertility
Moderate: Murder, Rape, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Terminal illness, Violence, Death, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, War, Abortion, and Sexism
kimveach's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Torture, Violence, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Chronic illness, Classism, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical content, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Vomit, and War
brownieboo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Blood, Death, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Rape, War, and Violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Genocide, Gore, Infertility, Murder, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Death of parent, and Torture
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Abortion, Alcohol, Cursing, Drug use, and Grief
loveisland's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Violence, Sexual content, Infertility, Death, Rape, Miscarriage, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Gore, War, and Grief
hannahbailey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was a comfort read as the story and characters were familiar. However I was kept engaged by the high stakes not only of Paris aristocracy but civil war too! There is something quite mesmerising about Gabaldon's writing, despite the smut scenes.
TW: r*pe, SA, misogyny, murder, death, PTSD, miscarriage, violence, kidnapping, torture
Graphic: Murder, Misogyny, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexism, Physical abuse, Miscarriage, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, War, Violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Colonisation and Classism
clairereadstoomuch's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
We had left our heroes on their way to safety. Jamie along his way to recover and Claire is expecting.
Imagine my dismay then when the first chapter of this book is set in 1968. My first reaction was of course; ????. Then denial and rage followed confusion.
In hindsight, I understand that the author has chosen a joint structure. I just think it wasn't well executed. The first part of the book sees Claire going back to Inverness to learn more about the Highlinders' fate after Culloden. Now, this is a historical fact, almost every Scot that fought in that battle died. When it comes to time travelling there are two options the author chooses between usually: either the time travel has the power of altering the past or the future or it doesn't because it was already foreseen. She went with the latter and I may be upset that my fav had died nonetheless but I wouldn't have been mad if it was well executed. My problem is the structure of it all.
You tell us in the first part what it's going to happen essentially. Because, at this point in the book, we don't know whether Culloden will even happen. We have left Claire and Jamie after they had just decided to try and stop Prince Charles to get Scotland back. We don't know if they'll be successful or not. So, why has she decided to tell us at the beginning of the book? Makes no sense, structure and plotwise.
Then the second part of the book is a sort of flashback. After she goes back to Inverness, Claire decides it's the right time to tell her daughter, Brianna, about her biological father. Again, we're reading a story after she told us how it ends.
And even though she managed to build a climax and "surprise" us with a plot twist at the end, I have to say, it didn't have its intended effect on me. it kinda made me go: ??? what did I read so far?
so yeah, have I enjoyed the story either way? Yes, because it has everything that I love in a fantasy novel: politics, scheming, battle planning and romance. Have I been disappointed by this book? Yep. Have I bought the next book nonetheless? absolutely.
Another thing, why does she keep explaining things to us that we already know? Like, if I'm reading this second book it means that I've read the first book. So, I don't need to be reminded or explained how Claire and Jamie met, who Randall is etc. It's unnecessary and slowed the pace of the reading.
Honestly, if it wasn't for the structure that bothered me so much, I would have deeply enjoyed this book. If she had omitted the first part of the book and moved it towards the end, it would have been great and had a great impact on the reader.
However, I feel compelled to give this book at least 3 stars because of my dear Jamie.
Graphic: Blood, Violence, War, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Murder, and Medical content