Written In My Own Heart’s Blood (Book 8 of
the Outlander Series) by Diana Gabaldon
In her now classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon told the story of Claire Randall,
an English ex-combat nurse who walks through a stone circle in the Scottish
Highlands in 1946, and disappears . . . into 1743. The story unfolded from
there in seven bestselling novels, and CNN has called it “a grand adventure
written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the
human spirit across [centuries].” Now the story continues in Written in My Own Heart’s Blood.
1778: France declares war on Great Britain, the British army leaves Philadelphia, and George Washington’s troops leave Valley Forge in pursuit. At this moment, Jamie Fraser returns from a presumed watery grave to discover that his best friend has married his wife, his illegitimate son has discovered (to his horror) who his father really is, and his beloved nephew, Ian, wants to marry a Quaker. Meanwhile, Jamie’s wife, Claire, and his sister, Jenny, are busy picking up the pieces.
The Frasers can only be thankful that their daughter Brianna and her family are safe in twentieth-century Scotland. Or not. In fact, Brianna is searching for her own son, who was kidnapped by a man determined to learn her family’s secrets. Her husband, Roger, has ventured into the past in search of the missing boy . . . never suspecting that the object of his quest has not left the present. Now, with Roger out of the way, the kidnapper can focus on his true target: Brianna herself.
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is the brilliant next chapter in a masterpiece of the imagination unlike any other.
1778: France declares war on Great Britain, the British army leaves Philadelphia, and George Washington’s troops leave Valley Forge in pursuit. At this moment, Jamie Fraser returns from a presumed watery grave to discover that his best friend has married his wife, his illegitimate son has discovered (to his horror) who his father really is, and his beloved nephew, Ian, wants to marry a Quaker. Meanwhile, Jamie’s wife, Claire, and his sister, Jenny, are busy picking up the pieces.
The Frasers can only be thankful that their daughter Brianna and her family are safe in twentieth-century Scotland. Or not. In fact, Brianna is searching for her own son, who was kidnapped by a man determined to learn her family’s secrets. Her husband, Roger, has ventured into the past in search of the missing boy . . . never suspecting that the object of his quest has not left the present. Now, with Roger out of the way, the kidnapper can focus on his true target: Brianna herself.
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is the brilliant next chapter in a masterpiece of the imagination unlike any other.
Published & Release Date: Delacorte
Press, Random House, June 10, 2014
Time and setting: America 1778
and Scotland 1980
Genre: Historical Romance/Time
Travel
Heat Level: 2
Rating: 5 Gold Crowns
Reviewed by Vikki
I thoroughly enjoyed reading
Written in My Own Heart’s Blood.
Since I did have issues with Echo in the
Bone, especially the ending, I had thought I would pass on this one, but I
am so glad I caved and decided to read this marvelous book. If I had not
watched the first episode of Outlander
on Starz, I may have missed out on a great addition to this epic series. In
this story Ms. Gabaldon did give me a happy ending, thank goodness. Jamie and
Claire are like old friends and it was so much fun to visit with them again in
another incredible story.
I find Diana Gabaldon’s
books fascinating for many reasons: First, because they are steeped in
wonderful tidbits of Scottish and American history. Second, because she writes
with so much emotion and can make even mundane things such as eating, drinking
and dressing seem interesting. Few authors can do that! Third, she flows seamlessly
from one character’s point of view to the next with a masterful touch, making
it easy to follow the story line. I also love her ability to draw me into the scenes
so well, to put me so in touch with her characters that it’s as if I can smell
what they smell, touch what they touch and experience the emotions they feel.
All the original reasons why I fell in love with
this series are there. She captured me from the first scene when Ian finds a
spot for the cairns for his loved ones lost at sea, where the family can come to
mourn his uncle and his mother. I felt his pain acutely, even though I knew Jamie
and Jenny were not dead. The story hooked me and kept me enthralled to the last
page.
I do not want to include any spoilers, so I will
refrain from giving any details, but when certain events happen, tears filled
my eyes. My heart ached for the characters and grieved with them.
The love between Jamie and Claire is so deep and
abiding. It is the way I believe most human beings want to love another. There
is a passage near the end of the book that deeply moves me, so I will end my
review with it. Happy reading!
“He
lifted my hands to his mouth and kissed my upturned palms, one and then the
other, his breath warm and his beard stubble soft on my fingers.
‘I
have loved others, and I do love many, Sassenach—but you alone hold all my
heart, whole in your hands,’ he said softly. ‘And you know that.’”
Dare I admit it? I haven't read any of Diana Gabaldon's books yet. I hear they are wonderful, but just haven't. I didn't realize that she's up to book 8. That much more for me to enjoy when I get around to it.
ReplyDeleteYou'll be able to read them without waiting years in between each one. They are very long books, but most of them flow exceedingly well, especially if you listen to the audible version as you read. My biggest challenge was having to wait so many years in between each of the books, and the story lines would dim in my mind a bit. There is a huge cast of characters and at times, it is hard to remember all of them. LOL
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