Dragonfly in Amber

Diana Gabaldon

Claire Randall and her daughter, Brianna, are visiting Scotland. Claire had not been there since around the time Brianna had been born. Frank, Claire's husband, had recently died. Both were now visiting the land that had captured his historian's interest.

Roger Wakefield is the son of a fellow historian. Claire asked him to research the fate of a group of men that had been at the Battle of Culloden. He accepts the challenge, especially for the chance to see Brianna again. Roger takes Brianna and Claire to a graveyard where Frank Randall's ancestor is buried. Claire walks up to the grave and speaks bitterly to the dead man. Then she discovers another stone and breaks down. She looks at the grave of James Fraser and tells Brianna the true story of her heritage.

This novel is the sequel to Outlander, a wonderful romance time travel novel. Claire met Jamie in that story when she stepped through a circle of magic stone from 1945 to the 1750's, a few short years before the Stuart uprising at Culloden. Jamie is a Scot Highlander who is a rebel on the run from England. Here Ms. Gabaldon continues their captivating story.

This novel is woven around true events and is extremely well researched. The historical background is authentic and believable, immersing the reader into the 18th century. The description of how a traitor is hung, drawn, and quartered is enough to make anyone shudder. I never knew what was really involved in that ritual before. I wouldn't mind still not knowing because the picture is extremely vivid. That is only a small bit of a story that stays with the reader for a long time. Both novels are long. They are worth every page.

Notice: Explicit sexual content, Graphic violence