Diana Gabaldon

This installment in the series doesn't disappoint. All our favorite characters are here. I especially liked the inclusion of William and how his relationship to his birth family is growing despite his reluctance to accept them. Because so much time has passed, the cast of characters has grown ever larger so that we get snippets of plot for lots of different people. There's plenty of action and near death experiences and Claire is developing her powers. But there isn't a strong compelling central storyline.… (more)

I will say first that this book is not really what I expected, nor what I normally read. It tilted much more heavily towards romance than the historical fiction/fantasy that I tend to read. However, I found it a nice change of pace, and plan to continue reading the series. It's perfect for the Swiss train rides on which I really picked it up after only briefly starting it a month ago.

Gabaldon has an ability to write a slow paced story without making it seem dull or boring. Entire chapters devoted to life in a castle or the chapter at Lalybroch that could easily be boring ended up instead being quite interesting, and the overarching plot leaves you always wondering what will happen next. Recommended to those who are looking for a long series to jump in to, and who like to read tales, wherever they lead.… (more)