Monniblog

The good news is that I didn’t cry as much reading Voyager (book three in the Outlander Series) as when I read Dragonfly in Amber. But I still fell hard for the story and the characters. Diana Gabaldon just has a way with words that draws the reader in completely and holds you there.

Warning: Minor spoilers of earlier books are contained in the book description. If you are interested in the series but don’t want to ruin anything, start by reading my review of Outlander, the first book in the series.

Their passionate encounter happened long ago by whatever measurement Claire Randall took. Two decades before, she had traveled back in time and into the arms of a gallant eighteenth-century Scot named Jamie Fraser. Then she returned to her own century to bear his child, believing him dead in the tragic battle of Culloden. Yet his memory has never lessened its hold on her… and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.

Then Claire discovers that Jamie survived. Torn between returning to him and staying with their daughter in her own era, Claire must choose her destiny. And as time and space come full circle, she must find the courage to face the passion and pain awaiting her…the deadly intrigues raging in a divided Scotland… and the daring voyage into the dark unknown that can reunite—or forever doom—her timeless love.

From the publisher, Seal Books (an imprint of Random House)

My only complaint with that synopsis is the last line of the first paragraph: “and her body still cries out for him in her dreams.” It just sounds so cheezy and bad-Harlequin-romance. It annoys me because while, yes, this series does have sex scenes and a romantic plot line, it is so much more than that. Okay, done rant.

Second Warning: I will now talk about the book’s events … look away now if you don’t want spoilers. Otherwise, continue at your own risk!

The book description only hints at the minor spoilers inferred by the title ‘Voyager’. Not only does Claire journey back in time again but she and Jamie end up fleeing Scotland on a ship bound for the West Indies. In all truth, I loved the double and triple entendre that was created with the title but at times I felt like the direction of the story was a little scattered.

I really enjoyed seeing the secondary characters come into their own, especially characters we met in the first book such as Fergus and Ian. With Jamie and Claire, it seems like no time has passed, even though it’s been 20 years; however, Fergus was only 10 when Claire left, and Ian was only just born. Also, reintroducing Lord Grey was very interesting and I can see how his spin-off series was appealing to Gabaldon.

I also admire Diana Gabaldon for giving Jamie some flaws and less-than-savory actions; it makes him more well-rounded, realistic and truly human. (Part of me didn’t want to write that sentence because I’m thinking, he is so real.)

I enjoyed the book, and feel like it was a good follow-up to the emotional roller coaster of Dragonfly in Amber. Thankfully it ended on a relatively stable note (read: less of a cliffhanger than before) so I can read a few different authors before returning to the series with a vengance. There are still many unanswered questions and I will need to keep reading the Outlander series.