Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2)
by Diana Gabaldon
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Book Reviews of Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander, Book 2)
Book Review: The adventures of Claire and Jamie continue
Summary: 4 Stars
In the opening of book two, we begin with Claire Randall back in Inverness in 1968. With her beautiful red-headed daughter in tow, she returns to the Scottish Highlands in search of the fate of the men of Lallybroch after the uprising of `45 and the battle of Culloden. Frank has been gone two years. If Claire altered the date of Black Jack's death, how is it that Frank could have existed? How and when did she return through the stones?
Jamie and Claire have set for themselves what seems an impossible task, which brings them into the circles of nobility and aristocracy in Paris. Rendered a bit tamer than book one for a reason I won't disclose, the passion and excitement of the first book are missing, as polite society and royal politics are just not as exciting as adventures on the open Highlands. I did not find myself on the edge of my seat often, compared to book one, throughout the first two thirds of the book. The new characters here, unlike "Outlander," are lacking in depth. The most interesting people to show up are the characters from the first book, except maybe Master Raymond. Although Ms. Gabaldon again succeeds in bringing history to life, she gets bogged down a bit in the mundane, the action is sporadic, and it gets a bit tedious.
However, the action picks up toward the end (a long time to wait), with unexpected twists and turns, and if you stick with it, you will be rewarded. The last 200 pages are whipped into a frenzy that rivals book one. Pages fly by, and the last third of the book more than makes up for the rest. The intrigue and suspense are back, and it ends with two twists that will have you just dying to start book three. If you loved Outlander, you cannot go without reading this continuation. All in all, overall, this was not as good as "Outlander," but it was a satisfying read.
Advice: don't start the series with this book. Read "Outlander" first.
Book Review: Phenomenal!
Summary: 5 Stars
Dragonfly in Amber is the second book in Diana Gabaldon's phenomenal "Outlander" series. At the end of Outlander, we left Claire and Jamie Fraser in an abbey in France, exiled from Scotland. At the opening of Dragonfly in Amber, we find Claire back in the highlands in 1968, investigating the fates of Jamie's men at the battle of Culloden - with her red-haired daughter Brianna: Jamie's daughter.
As the search for Jamie's men, and then Jamie himself, unfolds, Claire finds herself revealing to Brianna and their friend Roger her history with Jamie in the past - and we learn the other half of her and Jamie's adventure as they attempt to prevent the carnage they know is coming in the Jacobite rising and its culmination at Culloden.
As with Outlander, I have nothing but praise for Dragonfly. Although I did not race through Dragonfly as quickly as I did Outlander (this time it took me roughly a month to read Dragonfly's 950 pages as opposed to the week it took me to fly through Outlander's 860 pages), I still loved it. Every time I picked the book up, I could not put it down without having read at least 100 pages, if not more.
Dragonfly in Amber had me in turns gasping, laughing, and (at the end) crying. Sometimes I did all three at once. Even though I knew the battle was an inevitability - and we, as readers know this from Claire's search in Inverness from the beginning of the novel - I found myself hoping ad praying that Claire and Jamie could somehow prevent the disaster. Having been to Culloden battlefield myself, I cried at Gabaldon's description of battles and the uselessness I knew Jamie and Claire's self-appointed mission to be.
In fact, I immediately picked up the third book, Voyager, and am already 450 pages into it. Gabaldon delivers a powerful narrative, drawing the reader fully into her world: you cry with Claire, scream with rage for Jamie, and end on a hopeful note with Claire and Brianna, searching for the man whose love for them endures through the ages.
Book Review: Satisfying Historical Romance
Summary: 4 Stars
In this second volume in her spectacular series, Gabaldon continues the story of Claire Randall, a 20th century nurse thrust back in time to 16th century Scotland. When the book opens, a middle-aged Claire has returned to Scotland with her 20-year-old daughter Brianna, determined to tell Brianna the truth of her parentage: Brianna is the product of Claire's love affair with a 16th century outlaw named James Fraser. She enlists the aid of Roger Wakefield a Scottish scholar to locate historical information on Jamie. Claire's story is a tale of intrigue, deception and murder as she and Jamie travel to Paris to try to prevent the doomed Scottish uprising that will end in a bloody slaughter at Culloden. In the guise of supporters of Bonnie Prince Charles, Claire and Jamie secretly try to undermine the young prince's quest for money to finance his return to Scotland. Their lives and their love are shattered by the return of an old enemy: British officer, Jack Randall who tortured and abused Jamie to satisfy his own perverted lust. Randall is the ancestor of Claire's twentieth century husband, Frank. But despite their valiant attempts to change the fate of the Highlanders, the pull of history proves too strong and Jamie forces Claire to agree to return to the 20th century so that he can meet his destiny on the bloody battlefield at Culloden. Gabaldon is a terrific writer with the rare ability to reveal character with subtlety and charm. Jamie is never more wise and honorable than when he tricks a young British soldier into revealing valuable troop information by pretending to threaten Claire with rape and ravage. Jamie understands the boy's chivalry and reluctantly uses Claire to achieve his goals. But Jamie leaves the boy with his honor and his live intact. Although Gabaldon sometimes strays deeply into the romance genre, ultimately her novels are satisfying historical tales with just the right blend of action, suspense and sex.Book Review: Jamie and Claire part 2 - Exceptional
Summary: 4 Stars
I read the first novel in Diana Gabaldon's series about a young woman's unwitting departure to another century, because I am always intrigued by books about time travel. Since I was a young child, I've loved reading books about the past, and when that is combined with the story of one from the present being there to actually experience history, I can never resist. "Outlander", however, disappointed me on several levels. I was chastised in my review for that book, because I called it a "romance" novel. I stand by my assessment. "Dragonfly in Amber" is an entirely different story. Yes, it continues the saga of 1944 Claire, who finds herself in 1745 after going to witness a Druid rite involving a circle of stones. When she ventured too close, she was "sucked" in and ... we all know what happened.
"Dragonfly in Amber" informs us that Claire returned to the 20th century nearly two years later, pregnant with Jamie Fraser's daughter, and carries on her life with Frank Randall, allowing him to raise her child as his own. We find out, along with Brianna, her daughter, what happened after "Outlander" ends. She chose to keep this amazing and unbelievable tale a secret until her husband's death, when she decides that Brianna deserves to know about her father Jamie Fraser. It was this story of love, heroism, war and treachery that unfolds breathtakingly before us that makes me wonder what changed from Book 1 to Book 2. I love a tale that envelops me in a time and place, with characters that live and breathe. Gabaldon was successful in this novel, where I felt she was lacking in the first one. I'm anxious to continue reading this series, and I've heard there is a movie forthcoming. Read this book. It will take you away, it will teach you history, and it will leave you turning pages until you come up for air to discover that you've read a 750 page book in two or three days!
C. Hays
Southern Illinois
Book Review: Rich and Enthralling
Summary: 5 Stars
Dragonfly in Amber is the second book in a six-book series by Diana Gabaldon.
In the first book, Outlander, Claire Randall, a 28-year-old nurse, is swept back to 1743 when she touches one of the rock formations on Craigh na Dun, Scotland. Her adventure begins immediately when a raiding party of Mackenzie clansmen rescues her from an English officer who is trying to ravish her. Claire immediately puts her nursing skills to use, helping to care for the sick and wounded while trying to find her way back to Craigh na Dun. Unsure of what to do with Claire, the Mackenzies agree to escort her back to Fort William and deliver her to the hands of the English.
Claire quickly realizes her mistake because the man who tried to rape her at Craigh na Dun, Jonathan Randall, is a high-ranking military officer, and he's convinced that Claire is a French spy and should be treated as such. In order to protect her from certain torture, Claire agrees to marry Jamie Fraser, a young Mackenzie warrior who is in love with her and determined to keep her safe. Jonathan Randall is a formidable foe, however. He is cunning, ruthless and determined to have Jamie Fraser and to kill Claire. The rest of the story bewitches you into a miasma of love, torment, pain and healing.
Dragonfly follows Jamie and Claire into France as they seek to thwart the Jacobite Rebellion that Claire knows will end in the senseless slaughtering of many Highlanders on the moors of Culloden. As they struggle to change history, they must also fight faceless enemies who would tear them apart. Their adventures carry them back to Scotland and to the inevitable, where Jamie sends Claire back to her time to have their baby as he prepares to face certain death.
I am absolutely spellbound by this series. The writing itself is sure to seduce you in and never let you go until the very end where it leaves you breathless for more.