Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Review: An Echo in the Bone


This is the 7th book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

Book Blurb:

Jamie Fraser, erstwhile Jacobite and reluctant rebel, knows three things about the American rebellion: the Americans will win, unlikely as that seems in 1778; being on the winning side is no guarantee of survival; and he'd rather die than face his illegitimate son - a young lieutenant in the British Army - across the barrel of a gun. Fraser's time-travelling wife, Claire, also knows a couple of things: that the Americans will win, but that the ultimate price of victory is a mystery. What she does believe is that the price won't include Jamie's life or happiness - not if she has anything to say.

Claire's grown daughter Brianna, and her husband, Roger, watch the unfolding of Brianna's parents' history - a past that may be sneaking up behind their own family.

I loved this book - but hated the cliffhanger ending.

I don't know why I thought this was going to be the last book in this series. After reading An Echo in the Bone I can't imagine that it will be - we were left with 4 cliffhangers.

I absolutely love Jaime and Claire but I must say that this book did not have quite as much of them in it as I would have liked. :) It was still a great book and I loved the stories - but after waiting almost 4 years for this installment - I hate to say that I was a little disappointed.

Don't get me wrong - the book was awesome and the stories were wonderful - but a lot of story telling was going on in this one book. Jaime and Claire had a story, Brianna and Roger had a story, William and Lord John had a story and Ian had a story - and every now and again the stories would overlap.

We were going back and forth, back and forth between the players. It was actually a bit exhausting. LOL

I hope that it won't be 4 years before we get another book.

Even with my disappointment, this is still my all time favorite series and I give An Echo in the Bone 5 out of 5 stars. :)

M

5 comments:

Patti (@TheLoveJunkee) said...

4 cliffhangers?!? I got my copy yesterday, will be cracking it open soon!

Blodeuedd said...

I have heard that about the not so much about them part...hm you know I will just wait until all are out before starting cos I hate cliffhangers

Danielle said...

I agree about the multiple story-lines, it was exhausting and I would have liked more Jamie and Claire. That being said, I love Young Ian (major fictional crush) so I was thrilled to get his POV.
Quite a few fans are speculating that Diana's gearing up for another spin-off series, so maybe she was sending some characters on a test-drive, so to speak?

And the cliffhangers! ARGH! I was hyperventilating by the end. I like that she left on a high note with Ian, but everyone else's story-lines were dangling over an abyss!

And it looks as though it will be a 4 year wait. Diana said on her blog that she has an Outlander graphic novel coming out in 2010, she's working on a second Outlandish Companion and right now she's still book touring. Get strapped in for another 4 year wait.

Donna said...

I just got Outlander from PBS. I've heard so many great things about this series. Really excited to start reading now - 5 of 5 stars. Thanks!

Michelle Greathouse said...

Patti,

I can't wait to hear your thoughts. :)

B,

This is a wonderful series. I hope your library gets it soon - I think you will like it. :)

Danielle,

I agree with the spin off idea and I'm thinking young Jem....what do you think?

Four more years....grrrr, that is a long wait between books. I think Ms. Gabaldon takes the longest time between books - and still retains her followers. I guess that is a testament to the awesomeness of the series. LOL

Donna,

I can't wait for you to read Outlander - I'm looking forward to your review. :)

Thanks for stopping by ladies. :)

M