Tag: 18th century

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Incredible Books You Must Read if You Love Outlander

So, you’ve read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series and loved it. You’ve maybe watched the TV show. Now, you have nothing “Outlander” to read or watch. It’s droughtlander. You could reread or rewatch Outlander, but eventually you should find something else to read. Check out my recommendations of books to read if you love Outlander.

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Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati

Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati cover

Into the Wilderness features Elizabeth Middleton, an English spinster schoolteacher, as she joins her father in the New York wilderness. Her father has plans for her to marry the local doctor – plans that she has no intention of going along with.

Instead, she runs away with Nathaniel Bonner, a man whose Native American family could be destroyed by the local village. After several months in the bush while their friends take care of legal matters, they return home where they have to rebuild the good opinions of their neighbours.

Elizabeth is a strong woman who knows what she wants and does what she has to do to get it. She may not have travelled back in time, but she has progressive ideals and a modern way of dealing with things. Like Outlander, Into the Wilderness is the first in an epic series packed with romance, adventure, and the vicissitudes of life.

Read my in-depth review of Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati or purchase from one of the following stores:

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Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel cover

Clan of the Cave Bear is the first of Jean M. Auel’s Earth Children’s series. It tells the story of a young girl who is adopted by a community of Neanderthals. Though the Clan, as they call themselves, are initially wary, they come to love Ayla.

However, the Clan’s leader has a son who instantly dislikes Ayla and does everything he can to make her life difficult. This eventually leads to her leaving the Clan, and later books in the series follow her life apart from the Clan, her romance with a hunky caveman, and her struggles fitting in.

Read my in-depth review of Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel or purchase from one of the following stores:

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White Rose Rebel by Janet Paisley

White Rose Rebel by Janet Paisley cover

White Rose Rebel is the story of Anne Farquharson, Lady MacIntosh. A staunch Jacobite, she raises the men of her husband’s clan to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 rising. Her husband (Aeneas), however, has indebted himself to the English and joins the government forces.

Like Outlander, White Rose Rebel has a strong female protagonist who gets involved in the Jacobite rising. Anne’s romantic life features throughout the book, and like Claire’s, is somewhat complicated. It’s a standalone book, but the story is told so well, there’s no need for a sequel.

Read my in-depth review of White Rose Rebel by Janet Paisley or purchase from the following stores:

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A Knight in Shining Armour by Jude Deveraux

Dougless Montgomery has been abandoned by her boyfriend while on holiday in England. While she’s crying over her misfortune, a strange man appears in front of her wearing 16th century armour.

Nicholas, Earl of Thornwyck, was awaiting execution when he is magically transported to a strange future where he meets a crying woman. Convinced that the woman can send him home, he tries to keep her with him. Together, they dive into the historical record to try to uncover the truth behind the final days of Nicholas’s life.

There’s romance, a handsome and chivalrous hero, and well-developed historical settings. Nicholas isn’t as immediately loveable as Jamie, but by the end of the book, his relationship with Dougless was just as swoon worthy as the romance between Jamie and Claire.

Read my in-depth review of A Knight in Shining Armour by Jude Deveraux or purchase from one of the following stores:

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On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens

On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens cover

After travelling to court in an attempt to have King Alexander cancel her betrothal, Margaret MacDonald finds her home has been raided by Norsemen. As the group searches the rubble, a group of Irishmen arrive, including the half-Norse Gannon MacMagnus. The following months are trying for everyone, as they rebuild the castle and seek vengeance on the raiders.

On a Highland Shore has romance, adventure, and a gorgeous Scottish setting. Unfortunately, Kathleen Givens died before she could finish the series (something I sincerely hope doesn’t happen to Diana Gabaldon). Otherwise, it’s an epic story.

Read my in-depth review of On a Highland Shore by Kathleen Givens.

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon

What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon cover

When scattering her grandfather’s ashes on an Irish lake, Anne Gallagher gets lost in a sudden fog. She finds herself in 1921 with a bullet wound in her side. Dr Thomas Smith, the man who raised her grandfather, rescues her, initially mistaking her for his ward’s mother.

Once she’s healed, Anne throws herself into 1920s life: being mother to Eoin, joining the Irish revolution, and falling in love with Thomas. She loves her life in the 20s, but the revolution and questions about the other Anne’s disappearance create difficulties.

What the Wind Knows has time travel, romance, and a woman trying to fit in a time other than her own. I loved the glimpse of what life was like in 1920s Ireland. The characters were life-like, the love was timeless and unconditional, and the writing was superb.

Read my in-depth review of What the Wind Knows by Amy Harmon or purchase from one of the following stores:

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The White Mare by Jules Watson

The White Mare by Jules Watson cover

When her uncle the King dies, Rhiann must secure her people’s future by marrying and producing an heir. Eremon is an exiled Irish prince who is in Alba (Scotland) to make alliances and create a name for himself.

Their forced marriage starts a bit rocky, but soon they become friends. United by a desire to protect Alba from the Romans, they travel across Scotland, visiting powerful kings. Along the way they fall in love, but their various secrets keep them from admitting it to each other.

Set in 1st century AD Scotland, The White Mare gives brilliant descriptions to the same place Outlander is set in, just at a different time. The hero, Eremon, has a lot in common with Jamie Fraser; they are both handsome, courageous, and intelligent men. If you love Outlander, you will thoroughly enjoy the story of Rhiann and Eremon. 

Read my in-depth review of The White Mare by Jules Watson here.

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole cover

Taking the form of a series of letters, Letters from Skye tells the story of a Scottish poet and her impetuous, American admirer. Elspeth and Davey share their thoughts and dreams, eventually realising that they’ve fallen in love with each other.

When Europe goes to war in 1914, Davey volunteers to drive ambulances in France. This prompts Elspeth to overcome her fear of boats to meet him in person. During World War Two, their daughter finds her mother’s letters and determines to find out what happened.

Letters from Skye left me with a massive book hangover. As much as I wanted to find out the end of the story, I didn’t want it to end. The letters were gripping, the romance emotionally involving, and the setting beautiful.

Read my in-depth review of Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole or purchase from one of the following stores:

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Love Beyond Reach by Bethany Claire

Love Beyond Reach by Bethany Claire cover

In 17th century Scotland, Morna has been unable to learn how to use her magical powers since her father banished her teacher. Then she finds an injured man who needs help returning to his own time. Fortunately, her brother has found journals written by her old mentor and set up a secret magic room for her to study in.

As Morna works towards sending Jerry home, the two of them become good friends and romance develops. Then word reaches them of a druid who might be able to teach Morna. While Jerry searches for the druid, Morna becomes convinced that he will never return and agrees to marry her brother’s friend, Henry.

Love Beyond Reach is the eighth book in the Morna’s Legacy series (it’s a prequel to the other books). There’re twelve novels in the main series so far, and this is the first one I’ve read. Having read it, I definitely want to read the rest.

Read my in-depth review of Love Beyond Reach by Bethany Claire or purchase from one of the following stores:

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Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh

Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh cover

In Tapestry, Jane Maxwell falls off Uluru (Ayers Rock) and wakes in the body of a Scottish noblewoman. Winifred’s husband, the Earl of Nithsdale, is in the Tower of London, awaiting execution for his part in the 1715 Jacobite Rising.

As Winifred, Jane must travel to London and save the Earl. If she succeeds, Jane is certain that her 21st century fiancée (Will) will wake-up from his coma. Along the way, she makes friends and falls in love. By the time she returns home, Jane is no longer sure that she wants to marry Will.

The Earl of Nithsdale’s escape from the Tower of London is truly an incredible true-story. I liked the unique angle the whole time-travel element added to it. Jane is such a strong, ingenious woman (a bit like Claire). Between the adventure, Jacobites, and romance, Tapestry is a book you will enjoy if you love Outlander.

Read my in-depth review of Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh.

What do you think? Are there any other books that you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments below.

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Review: Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh

Review of Tapestry by Fiona McIntosh, a time travelling historical fiction set in the 18th century and 1970s.

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Following an incident that leaves her fiancé in a coma, Jane travels to Australia feeling that, somehow, it will help him. After climbing Ayers Rock (Uluru), she wakes up to find herself inhabiting the body of Winifred Maxwell, Countess of Nithsdale. Winifred’s husband, William, has been imprisoned in the Tower of London for his part in the failed 1715 Jacobite Rising.

Acting as Winifred, Jane must travel to London and save William. If she succeeds, her 20th century fiancé will wake-up. Heavy snow and Winifred’s physical frailty work against her, but she is helped by a man called Julius Sackville and Winifred’s friends in London.

Once her quest is over, she has to make some difficult decisions. Does she still want to marry her 20th century fiancée? What about the man she fell in love with in 1715?

Review

The Earl of Nithsdale’s escape from the Tower of London is a fantastic story. I suspect that many authors would write it as straight historical fiction, but adding the mystical time-travel element gave Tapestry a unique angle.

I thought Jane was a strong, courageous, and likeable heroine. However, climbing Uluru as she did, with no water in the middle of the day and with a storm threatening, was unbelievably stupid. I understand that she was driven by worry for her fiancée, and without it there would be no story. It just seemed out of character for such an intelligent person.

The way that Jane spent most of the book in Winifred’s body was confusing at times. Jane does and thinks things, but does things as Winifred and is called ‘Winifred’ by everyone around her. There’s two people in one body – very confusing.

Traquair House was in a state of flux as Winifred prepared for her journey to London. Jane had begged off food and company that evening, desperate to have time alone to think.

I liked how the story occasionally jumped back to the 1970s. I particularly enjoyed the way these ‘jumps’ incorporated the points of view of different people, like Jane’s parents and the nurse who cares for Jane’s fiancée.

Tapestry ended well. For the first 70 or 80 percent of the book, it was average. While the prologue was interesting, it didn’t make any sense until the executions scene. The set-up (getting to know Jane’s life and personality) was effective but long and boring. But the ending, with the escape and return to the 1970s was fantastic.

Conclusion

Have you read Tapestry? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!).

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Review: A Fugitive Green by Diana Gabaldon

Book review of A Fugitive Green, an historical novella by Diana Gabaldon, author of the Outlander books.

A Fugitive Green by Diana Gabaldon cover
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Synopsis

This novella tells the story of how Lord John’s brother, Hal (the Duke of Pardloe), met his wife. Minnie is sent by her father to London, ostensibly to search for a husband, but really to obtain information. While there, she takes the opportunity to find out what happened to her mother.

Hal is struggling with grief over the death of his first wife, Esme. At the same time, he is facing a possible court martial over the duel he fought with Esme’s lover, Nathaniel Twelvetrees (the result of which was that worthy’s death), while trying to rebuild his father’s regiment.

Two men approach Minnie, wanting her to get hold of letters exchanged between Esme and her lover. Harry Quarry is a friend of Hal’s and wishes to prove that Hal had good reason to fight and kill Nathaniel. Edward Twelvetrees, Nathaniel’s brother, wants to destroy all evidence of an affair so that Hal will be convicted of murder and his regiment will be destroyed for good.

Review

A Fugitive Green is full of action and thought. A lot of things happen in a short space. There is one scene with overly detailed descriptions of various plants, but it is the exception in this particular book.

In Diana Gabaldon’s ‘big books,’ Hal isn’t a super loveable character. He’s honourable, loyal, and loves his family, but he doesn’t inspire any great emotion. A Fugitive Green gave me a greater appreciation for Hal and I really felt sympathetic towards him.

‘He turned away and, chilled, made his way by instinct toward the fire. He’d felt as though he were moving through cold honey ever since he’d forced himself out of bed, and now he collapsed joint by joint into his father’s chair.

‘His father’s chair. Blast. He closed his eyes, trying to summon the will to stand up and move. The leather was cold and stiff under his fingers, under his legs, hard against his back. He could feel the fire, a few feet away in its hearth, but the heat didn’t reach him.’

It took me a while to get used to Harry Quarry as a nice 21-year-old rather than a lecherous middle-aged man. Harry appears multiple times through the Lord John stories, but almost always writing lewd poetry or eating/drinking excessively or ‘admiring’ some woman. Here, he’s young, handsome, and acting nobly.

Minnie was such an enjoyable character to read about. She’s independent, spirited, and sassy. I liked how most of A Fugitive Green was told from Minnie’s point of view; it helped me to get to know her and her background. Afterall, we already know Hal’s backstory from the Lord John books, but not Minnie’s.

While Minnie’s search for her mother was touching, the story she eventually uncovered about her conception and birth was disturbing. Seriously, a nun who’s so clueless and distressed over having a child that she goes insane? Sick! However, Minnie’s relationship with her father was adorable.

Conclusion

Have you read A Fugitive Green? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it is found in the collection Seven Stones to Stand or Fall. You can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).

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Review: The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

Book review of The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner, an historical fiction novel set during the French Revolution.

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner cover

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Yann Margoza’s life is turned upside-down when the small group of magicians he works with are invited to perform at the Chateau of the Marquis de Villeduval. One of the group recognises Count Kalliovski (murderer, blackmailer, and all round baddie) and is quickly murdered. Yann and his mentor Têtu, escape and Yann is sent to safety in England.

Three years later, Yann returns to France at the height of the Revolution on a mission to rescue Sido, the daughter of the Marquis de Villeduval. In the meantime, The Marquis has lost his mind and Count Kalliovski insists that Sido marry him in order to pay off her father’s debts.

Can Yann find and rescue Sido? Will she leave France without the Marquis? And how does Count Kalliovski fit into their pasts?

Review

The first time I read The Red Necklace, I was about 12 years old (it’s not targeted at young adults, but then again, my mother gave me Cross Stitch to read when I was only 15 – tells you something about my family). I remembered it having a lot of witty lines, so when I came across a copy at a second-hand book sale, I didn’t hesitate to buy it.

I liked Yann. He is charming, quick-witted, and brave – everything a hero should be. Sido wasn’t as likeable but I felt bad for her. She’s foolishly loyal to a father that hates her and doesn’t actually do anything other than being a damsel in distress for Yann to rescue.

On the other hand, I loved to hate Count/Citizen Kaliovski. He is merciless and evil, but not just plain evil – there are hints of his backstory throughout the book which gives him some depth and help us to understand him.

Sido looked completely broken, her face pale, her dress filthy. On seeing her, Kalliovski was in no doubt that she would be his, regardless of the Marquis’s objections. The game was all but won.

Only two women in his life had ever had the wit to resist him. One would have nothing to do with him, and the other … the other … had revealed in him a weakness that no true gambler can afford. Weakness was what he looked for in others; to detect it in himself was unforgiveable. His strength was to know that every man had a flaw, every soul its price. Just once he had been powerless against passion, defeated by the Queen of Hearts. Never again.

I also liked how many of the characters had traits that didn’t necessarily contribute to the story. For example, Têtu is a dwarf. There is no reason for Têtu to be a dwarf; he just is. It made it feel more authentic. After all, real people have physical characteristics that don’t hugely affect their lives.

In the middle of the book, the story jumped forward a couple of years. I found this sudden and jarring. It might have worked better if it had been separated into a part one and part two, rather than trying to flow straight through without pause.

The Red Necklace does a good job of showing how out of touch the rich were during this period. For the first half of the book, the upcoming revolution is very much present but kept in the background which makes their obvious terror in the second half more understandable.

Conclusion

Have you read The Red Necklace? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, you can buy it at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!) or Waterstones (free delivery on UK orders over £25, will ship internationally).

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Review: White Rose Rebel by Janet Paisley

Review of White Rose Rebel, historical fiction by Janet Paisley set in 18th century Scotland

White Rose Rebel by Janet Paisley cover
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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Anne Farquharson, lady McIntosh, is a staunch Jacobite. When her husband, Aeneas, is forced to join the government forces to put down the ’45 rising, she raises the men of the clan herself. Throughout the conflict Anne and Aeneas constantly find themselves coming up against each other.

Following the end of the rising at Culloden, Anne is given to Aeneas as a virtual prisoner. Together, they must rebuild their relationship and come to terms with the end of Scottish culture. Meanwhile, Anne does all in her power to secure the freedom of those Jacobite supporters who are being kept prisoner. Aeneas tries to help her but must maintain the appearance of supporting the crown and keeping Anne controlled.

Review

White Rose Rebel is a well-researched book, told primarily from a woman’s point of view. Three aspects of the major characters’ lives (war, politics, and love) are beautifully woven together to create an emotional adventure. The love triangle between Aeneas, Anne, and MacGillivray is realistic and heart-breaking.

I loved how the English were portrayed as barbarians while the Scottish were forward thinking and civilised, particularly in how they treat their women. It was an interesting look at what makes a culture civilised (such as equality) and the English inclination to conquer and “civilise” everyone else.

Meg went to the woman’s horse, running her hands expertly over its back leg. The man stirred in his saddle, clearly uncomfortable.

“Move, Helen,” he insisted. “These northern tribes are savages.”

As Cath arrived beside them, Meg looked up from her examination of the horse. “Tha e crùbach,” she said, in her own Gaelic tongue. “It’s lame.”

Anne grabbed hold of the bridle on the man’s mount.

“Among savages,” she said, “wives don’t walk while husbands ride.”

I liked how the story continued well past Culloden. Many books in this kind of setting use Culloden as either a starting or ending point. It was nice to see how such a major event changed things. That being said, I’m a tad disappointed that neither Anne nor Aeneas was actually at Culloden during the battle.

The very end of the story felt a bit rushed. Even though Anne and Aeneas had been becoming closer to each other again after Culloden, and they did magnificently at the Duke of Cumberland’s ball (such a fantastic scene), their final reconciliation happens a bit suddenly.

Conclusion

Have you read this book? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

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Review: Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

Review of Three Weeks with Lady X, Historical Romance set in late 18th century England by Eloisa James

Three Weeks With Lady X by Eloisa James cover

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.

Synopsis

Thorn Dautry is the highly ambitious, very rich, illegitimate son of the duke of Villiers. In an attempt to dilute the effects of illegitimacy (at least for his future children), Thorn determines to marry the well-born Laetitia Rainsford (aka Lala). Knowing that Lala’s mother won’t allow the marriage unless he can impress her, Thorn buys a country house and hires Lady Xenobia India St. Clair to renovate it.

India is familiar with Lady Rainsford and knows that it will take more than a fancy house to get her to agree to the marriage. In addition to fixing up his house, India attempts to correct his manners. As they spend more time together and their relationship becomes increasingly heated, Thorn tries to set India up with his best friend, Vander.

Review

Three Weeks with Lady X has less romance in it than one would expect from a romance novel, particularly towards the beginning. While Thorn and India are physically attracted to each other, they both work towards fixing the other’s relationship with other people. Unfortunately, the author uses quite a few modern idioms and euphemisms that don’t fit the setting and also make the story seem more sexual than romantic.

I liked India. She is independent and a free thinker. Despite her obvious strength, we see her brought low towards the end when Thorn is unwell. This made her seem much more real than if she had been unaffected by Thorn’s injuries.

Right from the beginning, Thorn and India’s relationship is prickly and heated. They disagree on just about everything, while still managing to become friends and care for each other. This is particularly brought out by the stuff that was left in the house when the previous owner died. Additionally, the dialogue between the two of them was always entertaining.

“Those pictures are exaggerations. You do know that, don’t you, India?”

She scowled at him. “The matter is irrelevant.”

“It’s not irrelevant, because you’re about to marry. During my years at Eton, I saw hoards of men starkers. I can tell you this, India; whoever you marry will not compare to Feather.”

India felt, irrationally, that she should defend her future husband. “You don’t know that,” she objected. “I’m sure he will be … everything that a man should be.”

Thorns grin was making that hot and muddled feeling spread all over her body. “It’s really irrelevant,” she repeated crossly.

“Maybe before you decide on the man, I should take him for a dip in the horse pond and take a discreet glance. It would be awful if you went to your wedding night with images of Feather in mind, only to discover your beloved is the size of a thimble.”

“He won’t be!”

“How would you know? I would feel terrible if a book I owned corrupted you and consequently you never enjoyed your marital life.”

Compared to Thorn’s relationship with India, his relationship with Lala is subdued. Lala is quiet, timid, and a bit afraid of Thorn. She seems quite drippy and obviously believes that she is an idiot. I liked how Lala became more sure of herself around the doctor; she was clearly interested in his work and acted intelligently once she had someone treating her like she was smart.

I was disappointed that Vander didn’t get a HEA. Thorn and India (predictably) ended up together. Lala found someone that she loved. Vander is the only person who gets caught up in this complex web of relationships that doesn’t get together with the love of his life.

Conclusion

Have you read Three Weeks with Lady X? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free worldwide shipping!).

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Review: Into The Wilderness by Sara Donati

Review of Into the Wilderness by Sara Donati, an historical fiction novel set in late 18th century New York state.

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Synopsis

December 1792, Elizabeth joins her father at his home in the New York wilderness. She plans to start a school where she can teach all the local children. Despite her determination to remain single, her father has lined up a marriage for her with the local doctor.

Instead, she falls in love with Nathaniel Bonner, known to the local Indians as ‘Between-Two-Lives’ for the way he moves between the white and red worlds. In order to save the mountain the Bonners and their Mohawk family live on, Hidden Wolf, Elizabeth tricks her father and elopes with Nathaniel. What follows is an epic battle to keep what belongs to them and regain the good opinion of the local villagers.

Review

Into the Wilderness is often compared to Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. A brief appearance by Outlander’s characters was played upon by Donati’s publicist. I agree that this book would be enjoyed by Outlander fans. However, this book stands easily on its own merits and should not be avoided because the reader doesn’t like Outlander.

I found Into the Wilderness captivating. It is definitely the kind of book that I can disappear into and escape real life. The situations that the main characters find themselves in vary hugely, as do the settings, from Albany to a Mohawk village to the middle of the forest. The descriptions are superb; I really felt like I was a witness to 18th century New York.

The characters are all layered and well developed. Elizabeth is independent, tenacious, and brilliant. Throughout the book, we see her change significantly (as anyone would, going through what she does). She leans a lot and becomes more adaptable. Nathaniel is strong, manly, and lethal, but also loyal and tender towards his family. Even the minor characters have distinct personalities.

I really enjoyed how each character speaks differently. For example, Elizabeth has a very proper way of speaking, with perfect grammar and relatively sophisticated words. Nathaniel has a more informal manner, using words like aye and ain’t. Other characters’ speech suits their personalities and their role in the village/society. This makes the characters seem much more real.

Elizabeth turned her attention to her students. “I don’t recall giving permission for you to leave your seats. Please return to them at once.”

Sheepishly, with lingering last looks toward Liam, they retreated the way they had come. Elizabeth waited until she heard the door close and heard them talking inside the classroom behind her.

“What are you doing here, Liam?”

“Nothing,” he spat, earning a smart cuff above the ear from Nathaniel. “Oooww! What was that for?”

“For your sweet manners and courteous ways,” Nathaniel said. “Remember it.” Then he looked at Elizabeth. “It ain’t the first time. I was watching today because I saw his tracks here.”

There were several places where the names of some of the characters were a bit mixed up. For example, in one scene Elizabeth is teaching school and she checks “Ian Kirby’s” slate (page 726 in my copy). It’s obviously meant to be Ian McGarrity (there is a character called Liam Kirby, but based on context, it couldn’t be him). This really annoyed me, but I’ll get over it.

Conclusion

Have you read Into the Wilderness? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!).

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Review: Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon

Cross Stitch is the first book in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series; historical fiction set in 18th century Scotland. Cross Stitch is also known as Outlander (it’s the same story, but published in the UK instead of the US).

Cross Stitch by Diana Gabaldon cover
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Synopsis

Claire is on holiday with her husband, Frank, in Scotland following World War 2. She walks through a circle of standing stones one day while picking flowers and finds herself in the 18th century.

To keep herself safe from her husband’s sadistic ancestor, she has to marry Jamie, a young highlander with an interesting history. Despite trying to keep some emotional distance between them, she finds herself falling for him, so much so that when she finally has a chance to return to Frank she decides to stay with Jamie.

They return together to Jamie’s family home but don’t get to spend much time as a happy married couple before Jamie is taken by the black watch. Claire has to search all over Scotland for him and save him from Frank’s sadistic ancestor.

Review

Love, love, love this book. I read it and re-read it and read my favourite bits over and over again and again. It was so engrossing. My first copy fell to pieces and my mum had to buy me a new one.

I was 15 when I first read Cross Stitch and Mum was unsure whether to let me. At first, it was because she remembered it having a lot of magic and witchcraft. After she read it again before giving it to me, her objection was based on the amount of sex portrayed. I didn’t have a problem with it; it wasn’t overly explicit and focused on feelings rather than actions.

The beginning was a bit slow (the first day of reading, I only made it to page 132 and had no trouble putting the book down). However, I learned a lot about Claire early in the book and there were scenes later on that were so much more interesting because I could link back to something that had happened earlier.

I loved how the traditional relationship roles are reversed in Jamie and Claire’s romance. Usually, the woman is the inexperienced virgin. However, here, Jamie is the inexperienced virgin and Claire is the experienced one. Also, Claire is four years older than Jamie, where men are usually older than their wife or girlfriend.

“Does it bother you that I’m not a virgin?” He hesitated a moment before answering.

“Well, no,” he said slowly, “so long as it doesna bother you that I am.” He grinned at my drop-jawed expression, and backed towards the door.

“Reckon one of us should know what they’re doing,” he said. The door closed softly behind him; clearly the courtship was over.

I absolutely loved the wedding, particularly the walk up to the chapel. ‘“I can’t marry you! I don’t even know your last name!”’ I found it hilarious that Claire ends up marrying Jamie in the same church she married Frank in. It’s one of those little things that isn’t crucial to the story but makes the reading experience so much more enjoyable.

While some characters did things that are completely unacceptable to a modern audience, they were still essentially good people and were acting as someone in that time and place would have acted. The exception to this is Captain Randall – he’s nasty, I hate him, but then we’re supposed to hate him. The only person (real or imaginary) I can think of who’s more sadistic than Randall is the Marquis of Sade, and sadism is named after him.

Conclusion

Have you read this Cross Stitch/Outlander? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said? Let me know in the comments.

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Review: The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Review of The Fiery Cross, book 5 of the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon

The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon cover
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Synopsis

The Fiery Cross opens at the clan gathering at Mount Helicon. Over the course of a day, nearly everything possible happens: Jamie find lots of new tenants, Claire heals a bunch of people, and Brianna and Roger get married (but not before the priest is kidnapped).  Back at Fraser’s Ridge, Jamie summons the men to join a militia company and sets out to gather more recruits, leaving Brianna manage the new settlers.

Jamie’s aunt Jocasta is finally set to marry Duncan Innes (not having been able to marry at the clan gathering because the catholic priest was kidnapped). On the day, the family has to deal with a murdered slave, regulators and loyalists, sexual frustration, and the appearance of Stephen Bonnet.

Jamie’s militia company is called into the War of the Regulation. Unfortunately, Roger has an incident which robs him of his voice and very nearly his life. This brings Jamie and Roger together, as does a snake-bite and hunting down Stephen Bonnet.

Review

Apparently the publishers announced the release date for The Fiery Cross before Diana finished writing it. As such, she didn’t have as much time to edit the draft as she would have liked. It shows. Some of the scenes seem really drawn out and others are not necessary to the story.

The main story arc is unclear. There seems to be several themes and story-lines that were woven together throughout the book, but there isn’t any one overarching story line. This made the book a bit difficult to stick with.

It was largely focused on the characters’ day-to-day life (as opposed to pushing the story forward). Almost nothing happens, things get a bit repetitious (constant references to Brianna’s breasts, Jemmy’s diapers, etc.). This focus made me wonder how I would cope with living in the 18th century (I like to think not too badly, if I could take my mother).

However, some individual scenes were fantastic. They were the kind of scenes that I go back and read again after I’ve finished. I really loved the parts where Claire was explaining 20th century science and medicine to Jamie.

The surfaces of both lungs were black and grainy; Betty was in her forties, and had lived all her life with open wood fires.

“Anything nasty that you breathe in and don’t cough up again – tobacco, smoke, soot, smog, what-have-you – gradually gets shoved out between the lung tissue and the pleura,” I explained, lifting a bit of the thin, half-transparent pleural membrane with the tip of my scalpel. “But the body can’t get rid of it altogether, so it just stays there. A child’s lung would be a nice clean pink?”

“Do mine look like that?” Jamie stifled a small, reflexive cough. “And what is smog?”

“The air in cities like Edinburgh, where you get smoke mixing with fog off the water.” I spoke abstractedly, grunting slightly as I pulled the ribs back, peering into the shadow cavity. “Yours likely aren’t so bad, since you’ve lived out of doors or in unheated places so much. Clean lungs are one compensation to living without fire.”

This book really starts to show American history. I found this boring and skipped through some more history-y bits. To be fair, I don’t know much American history, and I have even less interest in it; I haven’t ever been to America and it holds absolutely no attraction for me (I don’t know why, it just doesn’t). Maybe it would appeal more to Americans.

I felt really bad for Roger. In this book, he shines in his own story rather than just being a player in Claire and Brianna’s stories. While bad things have happened to him before, bad things continue to happen but I felt worse about them, maybe because I cared about him more.

I enjoyed the development in Jamie and Claire’s relationship. They’ve mellowed slightly and settled into a relatively regular life, but there’s still passion between them. I made my way through these books so quickly that I had barely gotten used to Jamie and Claire being parents, and now they’re grandparents. It took some adjustment (they’re not young anymore).

Conclusion

Have you read this book? What did you think? Do you agree with what I’ve said about it? Let me know in the comments.

If you haven’t, it can be bought at Book Depository (they have free international shipping!).