My rating:

add to my books

Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander #2)

by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author)

4.27 · rating details · 38,166 ratings · 2,740 reviews

From the author of Outlander... a magnificent epic that once again sweeps us back in time to the drama and passion of 18th-century Scotland...

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland's majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: ab...more

Hardcover, 743 pages

Published July 1st 1992 by Delacorte Press (first published 1992)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

There is a good chance some of your friends read this book. Sign in to see!

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is currently not featured on any Listopia lists. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 49,349)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 17, 2008

Shannon rated it

· review of another edition

Recommended to Shannon by: Kiwiria

Shelves: historical-fiction, time-travel, 2007

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. This is the sequel to Outlander, and begins in 1968, twenty-one years after we left Claire and Jaime recovering in the French Abbey, pondering their decision to try and stop Bonnie Prince Charlie from starting a war which they know will decimate the Highland Clans.

At first, this is such a jolt you think you've picked up the wrong book. Feverishly checking online, you are reassured that this is in fact the sequel. Going back to the book, it all becomes clear, though you are panicking ...moreThis is the sequel to Outlander, and begins in 1968, twenty-one years after we left Claire and Jaime recovering in the French Abbey, pondering their decision to try and stop Bonnie Prince Charlie from starting a war which they know will decimate the Highland Clans.

At first, this is such a jolt you think you've picked up the wrong book. Feverishly checking online, you are reassured that this is in fact the sequel. Going back to the book, it all becomes clear, though you are panicking at the idea of twenty-odd long years of separation for Jaimie and Claire. Followed by a horrible wrench of the heart when we learn from Claire that Jaimie died at the battle at Culloden, Prince Charles' final stand.

Claire is back in Scotland for the first time since returning to her own time, pregnant and disorientated. Her husband, Frank Randall, has died, and she is keeping a promise to herself to tell her daughter Brianna about her real father. She goes back to the Reverend Wakefield's house to find his adopted son, Roger, in residence after the Reverend's death. Roger, too, must hear her story, for reasons she does not reveal until the end. And so, as she tells her story, we learn what happened after the events in Outlander and how she came to return to Frank, and what happened to Jaimie.

I have a confession to make. First, I'll say that the start of this book made me so sad, I wondered whether I could read it at all. Secondly, I'll say that I did not mean to shatter this well-written illusion of the hangman's rope by cheating. I did flip to the back of the book, but not to read the last page or anything. I am always hoping that there is some kind of guide on pronounciation, and I'm one of those people who read everything from the author's bio and acknowledgements page to the copyright details. There was no guide on pronounciation, but there was one of those ads for the next book, Voyager, which begins by stating that Claire has gone back to 18th century Scotland because she believes Jaimie is still alive.

This was a bit of a mixed blessing. First, it did make it a whole lot easier to read this book, knowing that he would survive. But I also actually like to feel what an author intended me to feel, and I did not shed a tear at Claire and Jaimie's parting before the battle of Culloden when, faced with dying the traitor's death for killing his cousin Dougal and betraying his country, Jaimie has decided to die in battle. That, I regretted, though it did make it easier to sleep! Some reviewers didn't like the way the narration kept switching between Roger's 3rd-person and Claire's 1st-person narrative at the beginning and end. Personally, I didn't have a problem with it, I found it easy to tell them apart. I admit I skimmed a bit at the end, when Claire and Roger are looking for Geillis Duncan/Gillian Edgars. I was feeling a bit impatient by then.

As for Gabaldon's writing style, which I haven't said much about before, I do find her a tad long-winded. She tells a great story, very well-researched and, despite the time travel, believable. But her descriptions can be a little flowery, and often unnecessary. She bogs down the pace with pointless asides on the state of wilting flowers by a door as they wait for it to be answered. I know it adds to the character development - in this case, to make clear that Gillian has not been home for some time and her husband is unable to look after himself. Except that this is made clear several times over. A lot of the description is unnecessary, and often distracting. Removing some of it would definitely have cut down fewer trees to make this fat, hefty book. Don't get me wrong, I love fat and hefty. But it's ultimately a sad story, and the little flowery sentences sprinkled throughout were as annoying as little bugs flitting about your face that won't piss off no matter how hard you wave your arm around, looking like a complete twit.

Now I've got that off my chest, I'll reiterate: I did enjoy this book, and I will continue with the series, just not now. I need some recuperation time first.(less)

like 34 likes

· see review

Jul 20, 2008

k8lane rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: people who wouldn't ever read a romance novel, history buffs

Gabaldon's sex-ridden, hugely researched, academically adventurous, time travel/sci-fi meets historical romance novels qualify as trash novels for lit nerds -- they're absolutely a guilty pleasure. From clan warfare to herbal medicine to genealogy to British history to WWII, the books are packed with information (what little Gaelic I know started with these books). Bonus: the heroine gets to have many, many rolls in the hay with a handsome hard-bodied Highlander. Can't really go wrong.

...more

like 56 likes

· see review

Sep 29, 2009

Tatiana rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Outlander fans

Shelves: 2009, historical, favorites, series-in-progress-still-like

"Drangonfly in Amber" starts with Claire coming back to 70s Scotland after the death of her husband Frank. You don't have to be a genius to realize right away that something had gone really wrong between Claire and Jamie in the 18th century. So I started the book a little sad knowing that I was surely headed for a heartbreak.

The book however soon goes back to Jamie and Claire through Claire's memories. We meet them where the 1st book left off - on the way to France to attem...more"Drangonfly in Amber" starts with Claire coming back to 70s Scotland after the death of her husband Frank. You don't have to be a genius to realize right away that something had gone really wrong between Claire and Jamie in the 18th century. So I started the book a little sad knowing that I was surely headed for a heartbreak.

The book however soon goes back to Jamie and Claire through Claire's memories. We meet them where the 1st book left off - on the way to France to attempt to stop Charles Stuart’s plans to reclaim the throne of Scotland. Naturally, a series of adventures follows as we see our couple travel from Paris to Lallybroch to Edinburgh, etc.

Just like "Outlander," "Dragonfly in Amber" is full of adventure, curious historical facts, fascinating characters and very touching scenes of love and kinship. The passion and smuttiness of the "Outlander" are almost gone as Claire and Jamie settle into their comfortable marriage. You miss it a little in the beginning, but soon the void is filled by scenes of true companionship and marital devotion (I know, it sounds corny, but it’s not).

Although I truly enjoyed the book, I did have some concerns with it. Unlike "Outlander" written entirely from Claire's POV, this book jumps from 1st person narration to 3rd person narration in the first and last part of the book; and in the middle - a few times from Claire's to Jamie's POV. This bothered me. While I understand the need for it, I believe there is a better way to relay the story without resorting to multiple and sometimes unnecessary POVs.

The other issue I have is with the idea of time-travel itself. I wonder how Gabaldon is going to handle the issue in her future books, but I couldn't quite understand why for instance Claire would stop Jamie from killing Jack Randall to ensure the birth of her 1st husband Frank, but would readily agree to try to change the course of history knowing that the consequences of it could in theory affect the lives of millions of people, including Claire's. I am still a little puzzled by it. Plus, is Gabaldon's theory that it is impossible to change the future at all? Because so far Claire and Jamie have been unable to stop anything from happening.

In spite of these concerns, "Dragonfly in Amber" is still an engrossing read which makes you both happy and sad, heartbroken and delighted. I will definitely read "Voyager," especially because this second book in the series ends with quite a cliffhanger.

Reading challenge: #1 - D(less)

like 10 likes

· see review

Mar 30, 2009

Julie (Mom2lnb) rated it

Recommends it for: Anyone Who Enjoys Historical Fiction or Historical and/or Time Travel Romance

Shelves: desert-island-keepers, historical-fiction, read-2009, time-travel-romance, historical-romance

Reviewed for THC Reviews
Dragonfly in Amber is no ordinary romance novel. In fact, in spite of its romance and paranormal elements, it is far more of a historical novel than anything else in my opinion. This book basks the reader in lush descriptions of 18th century European history, from the political intrigue in the courts of King Louis XV of France, to the everyday life of a merchant, to the inner workings of hospitals of that time. Then it sweeps the reader along, back to the beautiful ...more

like 24 likes

· see review

Mar 12, 2009

Rae rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Historical romance and fiction readers, Fans of the first book, anyone who wants a fabulous story!

Recommended to Rae by: Stephanie McGrath

Shelves: historical, romance, outlander-series

I'm only on book 2 and this series just continues to surpass my expectations and interest. What a ride! Dragonfly in Amber is the second in the Outlander series and still kickin' some literary tail. There's a lot of questions and things that I wished had happened in Outlander. Not necessarily because the story left that open per se but mainly because of what the characters went through, I wanted to see the continuation of the story (and maybe a lil payback for what our hero suffered). In that se...moreI'm only on book 2 and this series just continues to surpass my expectations and interest. What a ride! Dragonfly in Amber is the second in the Outlander series and still kickin' some literary tail. There's a lot of questions and things that I wished had happened in Outlander. Not necessarily because the story left that open per se but mainly because of what the characters went through, I wanted to see the continuation of the story (and maybe a lil payback for what our hero suffered). In that sense in delivering a certain type of justice (one I had wished on the villain) ended up happening so I was happy but as Gabaldon's events happen, it didn't end there.

Although not as adventurous and a go-a-minute ride as Outlander, Dragonfly does off some wonderful history and backstory. The story takes a risk right from the beginning zipping forward a few decades where Claire, our fabulous English heroine, is visiting Scotland again with her daughter Brianna (aka Bree). I will try to not give too much away in the spoilers as some folks haven't read this series so I'll just say there's a lot of moments where you think certain things are happening but they're not. Even though there's a jump, Claire takes us back to the moment her and Jamie ventured to France to start life anew in Jamie's Uncle's home.

There's a lot of political intrigue, French court drama and some very interesting characters that pop up throughout the story, especially in the first half. A mixture of royals, a frog-like apothacary, 18th century medicine, princes and pirates all make up just a few of the assortment of characters our hero and heroine meet up. It's a little slow moving at times but always interesting especially when you consider the history and geneology of the characters. I'm definitely going to be rereading this again because I have a feeling that it's one of those books where you catch something new every time you read it. We also get some continuation of a good amount of characters introduced in the first book and explore their fates by the book's end. Figures that have only been mentioned in history books are brought to life here and seem like real complex characters with a mind and movement of their own. The second half deals with the famous battle at Culloden which goes into detail about the clans and their alliances to the Stuarts and explained in grisly detail from the battles themselves to the near famine and dangerous operations the soldier's face.

Gabaldon doesn't pull any punches with the time. It's a rough era to live in with much violence, sexual violence, and danger around every corner. She makes you feel like you're really living there with a rich detail for the settings and the flavors of different characters that pass through. Me being greedy wanted more Jamie and Claire and at times I felt like they wanted more of each other! But life dictated much to do that made their stolen moments all the more sweeter when they could grab them. The best and saddest part is toward the end which (like Outlanders events toward the end) had me in tears.

There are some wonderful gems that are beautifully written in from the dialogue from comedic moments, to real drama and a background of history and characters. One particular comic moment that quickly became my favorite was where a character gets their comeuppance through a description harsh medical procedure Claire would have to undertake in order to rid him of his illness. The description of the procedure and the way the characters around the dinner table responded had me laughing at the entire scene as it unfolded.

Before I started reading this series, I told a friend of mine that I wanted a series that was romantic but more deeper and layered than the romance books I've read lately. One where we get to see a couple mature and continue on throughout a series with some sensual love scenes that progressed and changed between a married couple as their relationship matured. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a couple reboot type of light romance series at times, but it was rare to find one where you follow the couple continuously as their family tree grows.

Reading this series has brought my wish back three fold and I couldn't be happier.

Not only do I continue to recommend this book to my fellow readers (especially the ones who love Scottish Highlanders and historicals for which I am now officially hooked!) but also for aspiring writers. This is the book series you want to pick up or at the very least pick up the first book in the series. Beware, it's like chips, you can't have just one. Gabaldon has a gift for telling a story with such visual panache that grabs the reader by the guts. The story unfolds slowly yes, but soon you realize that so many hours have gone by when you're just getting into it. I finished Dragonfly in Amber right now and am thanking my friend who told me to have Voyager, the next book in the series, nearby because I want to continue to see what happens after this cliffhanger! Although I have an inkling from what I've read on various boards, it's nothing like experiencing the events for yourself rather than hearsay.

Gabaldon tells the story as if you are right there with the characters and only then do you get the true impact of the story. Often they act in ways that are very much in character as we know them, not always pretty, but it makes sense because of who they are and what power or situation they are in. For instance, when Jamie does something that doesn't seem like him, we still love him because we see what his background growing up was or what dangers outweigh others at the current time. It's that mixture of life experience and setting that makes the story verra memorable. And still we love Jamie just the same. Personally he's probably my favorite romantic hero of all time.

Dragonfly in Amber also has some cool references to the title sprinkled throughout and continues the series beautifully. On to Voyager!(less)

like 12 likes

· see review

Mar 17, 2008

Christy rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: historical fiction readers, romance readers, action-adventure readers

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The second installment in the Outlander series is just as much a rollicking adventure as the first, albeit this one is told in flashbacks from time traveler Claire Beauchamp’s memory. The first of the book may be confusing to readers, as the end of Outlander left Claire with Scottish Highlander Jamie Fraser in the 1740s, yet the beginning of this book finds Claire in Scotland in 1968, where she has returned with her daughter, Brianna, intending to tell Brianna who her true biological father is. ...more

like 8 likes

· see review

Jun 25, 2007

Nicole rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: those who love good historical fiction

The Outlander series is definitely one of my most recommencded series of books. I might even love these books more than Harry Potter - and that's saying something.

The Outlander books are set in the 1700s. They start off in Scotland, but later travel to Paris, Jamaica and the American Colonies.

Claire and Jamie, the book's two main characters are fantastic. They're deep, smart and action-oriented, yet very real. As their relationship evolves over the series of books, it...more

like 4 likes

· see review

Mar 14, 2008

Graeme rated it

· review of another edition

I read the last 200 pages of this last night, and stayed up waaay later than I should have... but I had to finish it.

I then moved directly on to Voyager, and read the first several chapters until I nearly passed out with exhaustion.

Okay, okay, I admit it, I'm hooked, I have been hooked, I'm completely hookered and hookified by the tale of Jaime and Claire. My past knee-jerk sentiments aside, this was a gripping novel, well-paced, lush with detail.

I pr...more

like 5 likes

· see review

Aug 20, 2010

Jasmin rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Every romance reader :)

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, five-stars, historical-fiction, historical-romance, reviewed-by-me, romance, time-travel, war, fiction, aar-top-100-list, favorites

"Dragonfly in Amber" is a lusciously perfect way to continue Outlander. It couldn't happen any other way. It has to be this way. It is absolutely perfect in every way possible in my eyes, and I love it with sheer perfection.

Dragonfly in Amber, the second book of the Outlander series, continues with another amazing journey (or rather retelling) of Claire Randall/Fraser beyond time. But this time, Claire is back in her own time, year 1968, with daughter Brianna, already a twe...more

like 14 likes

· see review

Apr 19, 2008

Lisbeth Solberg rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: book-group

"Ugh, what a dreadful cover. I'm supposed to have this read by Sunday afternoon."

Okay, Wendy's book group will meet tomorrow to discuss book three in the Outlander series, but I just finished this second one, and man, it was a long haul, and I don't just mean the length.

What didn't work for me: the self-satisfied tone of the author's voice behind her main character, repetitive phrases (mouths always "twitching" rather than almost smiling), excessive de...more

like 18 likes

· see review

Apr 09, 2008

Whitelady3 rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: not-own, 2008

Having enjoyed the first volume of this series, I was expecting something good of this one, so I'm a bit sad it didn't match my expectations.

First, because in the first and final parts, the point of view jumps around from first person (Claire) to third person, due to the fact that we follow another character and Claire isn't always there. The problem is that this character does almost nothing but notice how Claire is so beautiful and wonderful... Second, the book drags a bit in some ...more

like 13 likes

· see review

Dec 19, 2007

Josie rated it

· review of another edition

Writing style aside, this book wasn't bad. The plot was vaguely more interesting than Cross Stitch, as Claire and Jamie are trying to stop the massacre that will happen at Culloden in 1745. I found that more interesting than the introductory tone of Cross Stitch, which is mostly about Claire getting used to life in the eighteenth century while making half-hearted attempts to get back to her own time. I felt that a lot of this book could have been cut out, though, as it did drag on (it's 963 p...more

like 4 likes

· see review

Oct 18, 2007

LJ rated it

Shelves: time_travel, romance, scotland, contemporary_post_1945, jacobian_1603-1714

Dragonfly in Amber - Ex
Gabaldon, Diana - 2nd in series
This time-traveling romantic adventure will please fans who have been waiting for the further adventures of Dr. Claire Beauchamp Randall, a 20th-century American who goes to Scotland in search of her 18th-century husband, virile Scot Jamie Fraser, whom she met and married in Outlander ( LJ 7/91). Book 2 of a planned trilogy takes readers along on Randall's quest, as she hopes to find a state or time (like that of the title's drago...more

like 3 likes

· see review

May 16, 2008

penelopewanders rated it

· review of another edition

here as a ring.
Well, sign me up for the next in line, please! I really do love this series, although I kept wondering how Brianna and Roger were going to fit into the whole thing - do they go back in time too? And I couldn't believe Claire and Jamie's story was ending and felt that was so unutterably sad... so the sneak preview of Voyager was both good and a bit of a shame too, as I wouldn't have minded a bit of suspense. I didn't mind reading about the battles - and the fine line between ...more

like 2 likes

· see review

May 31, 2008

Jaime rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 1700s, 2006, historical_fiction, romance

I loved this one just as much as the first. It had me crying. Now, that’s not entirely unusual — after all, I cry at tv commercials. But I wasn’t just crying, I was friggin’ sobbing. Even though I knew it wasn’t that bad! No one was going to die, they’re going to see each other again — there’s more books!

I’m forcing myself to read something else in between books in this series. Mostly because I don’t want to finish it too soon!

like 3 likes

· see review

Oct 18, 2009

Ivy rated it

· review of another edition

I am happily writing this review within a half hour of finishing this novel simply because I am glad I finally got through it! Long gone are the days I could polish off a nearly 1000 page book within a few days. Grownup responsibilities kept me from finishing this behemouth of a book sooner than I would have liked--a whopping two weeks!

Once again I entered the world of Jamie Fraser and Claire Randall but, as I began, I find Claire back in 20th century Scotland, twenty years after h...more

like 2 likes

· see review

Dec 03, 2009

Ashley rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: 2009

*sigh*

The love stories are wonderful, but the action is equally as enticing. The pages turn with little effort as the story flows, the plot pushing preventing you from putting the book down. The way the pieces of the past fit into what we know of the future is fun to piece together, keeping your interest even when you are fairly certain of the end results.

I felt hooked in the 1st book, but I'm really hooked now. I can't put it down! I'm thrilled I am reading this seri...more

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 17, 2009

Stephanie rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: adventure, fiction, historical, love-story, time-traveling, top-shelf, deserted-island-picks

I finished Outlander and promptly went into DIA. The first 86 pages are with Claire in her present time but twenty years later. The end of Outlander had Claire and Jamie happily together and I was so distraught that Claire was now back in the present without Jamie. The majority of the book then goes from where Outlander left off all the way up to the '45 at Culloden. I really enjoyed the comfort between Jamie and Claire in their still new marriage. Since Jamie is an outlaw, a lot of DIA is ...more

like 2 likes

· see review

May 30, 2009

Claire rated it

· review of another edition

I am quickly becoming a fan of Diana Gabaldon and the Outlander series. Her writing has a way of sucking you in and making you believe you have traveled back to the 1700's in Scotland with Claire Randall .. or Fraser now and you're tagging along for all of her adventures, no matter how unbelievable or dangerous they may be. There are a few things that kind of bug me, however. She uses some french and some Gaelic phrases throughout the book, and she never translates them, so you're left wondering...more

like 1 like

· see review

Jan 18, 2009

Julie rated it

· review of another edition

Okay, obviously this star rating thing is wildly subjective because this is my LEAST favorite book out of the whole "Outlander" series. (I'm re-reading them.) Probably I will be re-reading ALL of them because they are insanely addictive. At least, to me they are. I've read some of the other review here on GoodReads and there seem to be only two camps -- those who LOVE this series, and those who HATE it. Interesting....

This one is grim and ... grim. From page one you k...more

like 4 likes

· see review

Jan 16, 2009

Stacey rated it

· review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like 1 like

· see review

Oct 09, 2008

Shivering William rated it

· review of another edition

Unfortunately, at times Dragonfly feels like Outlander rehashed . . . like a sequel to a best-selling video game built with the same game engine. (Oh man, that was so nerdy. I'm so sorry. Really.) I found myself phasing out for large sections, only to pay attention for a couple of pages to get caught up.

But, in all honesty, mediocre Outlander material is still superior to most stuff out there. So, I'm just going to consider this story the second leg of the first book. It's ea...moreUnfortunately, at times Dragonfly feels like Outlander rehashed . . . like a sequel to a best-selling video game built with the same game engine. (Oh man, that was so nerdy. I'm so sorry. Really.) I found myself phasing out for large sections, only to pay attention for a couple of pages to get caught up.

But, in all honesty, mediocre Outlander material is still superior to most stuff out there. So, I'm just going to consider this story the second leg of the first book. It's easier to swallow that way.

I envy Gabaldon's relaxed language that's smooth, believable, and always commands attention. The characters are always true to their form and often hundreds of pages will fly by without my noticing.

I did get tripped up on a few sentences like . . .

"'What are you doing?' I asked curiously.", "'I'm not,' he said shortly." or "I looked him over searchingly."

Otherwise Gabaldon's writing is sharp and wonderful to read.

The second in the series also introduces some of her most interesting characters yet, my favorites being Fergus and Buton. I heard a quote where she challenged anyone to pick up her book, read two pages, and put the book back down. Bold to be certain, but her stories are undeniably immersive.

I was fully ready to give this book three stars when I hit the exhausting, slightly unengaging middle stretch. Quite a few of the plot twists felt predictable and I found myself leafing through pages just waiting for this element to be revealed so I could get on with the story. But the last couple hundred pages and the opening sections in France were too charged with excitement for me to give it a less than stellar review.

VAGUE SPOILERS:

One more complaint and then I'm done. It seems that some of the main characters can do no wrong, and this leaves them feeling a little less than human. Jamie is the capital offender. Every time he's caught in a whorehouse, or killing someone, or tearing Claire's clothes off in front of a frightened English youth, he always has the perfect excuse that gets him off the hook and into a sultry love scene.

I'm ready to move forward, to discover new places with old characters, with the hope that the good guys start screwing up proper. (less)

like 2 likes

· see review

May 06, 2011

Gaijinmama rated it

Shelves: fiction

I confess to being pretty freakin' obsessed with this series, and with one gorgeous red-headed Scot in particular. This second book was always my least favorite, but I enjoyed it more this time and cried my eyes out toward the end, even though...(what follows is not a spoiler since it's easy enough to tell that, since there are five more books in the series, this is not by any means the end!)
The reason I didn't like this one as much as the other books the first time around is, to be blunt,...more

like 3 likes

· see review

Jul 10, 2008

Courtney rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2008, fiction, historical-fiction, young-adult, romance

Dragonfly in Amber is the second book in Diana Gabaldon's phenomenal "Outlander" series. At the end of Outlander, we left Claire and Jamie Fraser in an abbey in France, exiled from Scotland. At the opening of Dragonfly in Amber, we find Claire back in the highlands in 1968, investigating the fates of Jamie's men at the battle of Culloden - with her red-haired daughter Brianna: Jamie's daughter.

As the search for Jamie's men, and then Jamie himself, unfolds, Claire finds hers...moreDragonfly in Amber is the second book in Diana Gabaldon's phenomenal "Outlander" series. At the end of Outlander, we left Claire and Jamie Fraser in an abbey in France, exiled from Scotland. At the opening of Dragonfly in Amber, we find Claire back in the highlands in 1968, investigating the fates of Jamie's men at the battle of Culloden - with her red-haired daughter Brianna: Jamie's daughter.

As the search for Jamie's men, and then Jamie himself, unfolds, Claire finds herself revealing to Brianna and their friend Roger her history with Jamie in the past - and we learn the other half of her and Jamie's adventure as they attempt to prevent the carnage they know is coming in the Jacobite rising and its culmination at Culloden.

As with Outlander, I have nothing but praise for Dragonfly. Although I did not race through Dragonfly as quickly as I did Outlander (this time it took me roughly a month to read Dragonfly's 950 pages as opposed to the week it took me to fly through Outlander's 860 pages), I still loved it. Every time I picked the book up, I could not put it down without having read at least 100 pages, if not more.

Dragonfly in Amber had me in turns gasping, laughing, and (at the end) crying. Sometimes I did all three at once. Even though I knew the battle was an inevitability - and we, as readers know this from Claire's search in Inverness from the beginning of the novel - I found myself hoping ad praying that Claire and Jamie could somehow prevent the disaster. Having been to Culloden battlefield myself, I cried at Gabaldon's description of battles and the uselessness I knew Jamie and Claire's self-appointed mission to be.

In fact, I immediately picked up the third book, Voyager, and am already 450 pages into it. Gabaldon delivers a powerful narrative, drawing the reader fully into her world: you cry with Claire, scream with rage for Jamie, and end on a hopeful note with Claire and Brianna, searching for the man whose love for them endures through the ages.(less)

like 3 likes

· see review

May 15, 2008

Nicole rated it

· review of another edition

Recommends it for: Any one intrested in Scotland, the Highlands, historical fiction

Recommended to Nicole by: My mom

I had read the first book several years ago I was completely captivated. It was recommended to me by my Mom who has read the entire series and is a huge fan of the author. I started reading this one shortly after the first, but it didn't grab my attention immediately and I abandoned it due to a busy schedule. When I saw it at the library I really wanted to finish it so I started over and re-read it.
This time I couldn't put it down reading sometimes hundreds of pages at a time (it has over...more

like 1 like

· see review

Sep 04, 2008

Laurel Bradshaw rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: time-travel, scotland

Book on Tape (unabridged) read by Davina Porter. Now I remember why I quit reading this series way back when. It's an enjoyable story, but it just goes on and on, and I wasn't that interested in the scenes in France. This is the kind of series where all the details will (hopefully) be all tied together by the final volume, but until then there are a lot of disjointed details. Listening to the book on tape makes it tolerable. I do plan to continue with the series.

Book Description from...more

like 3 likes

· see review

Nov 12, 2007

Joanna rated it

· review of another edition

Ok so here's the thing. I love books about time travel. I love romance. I love adventure. I accidentally read this book, best of the series, before reading any of the others. The series as a whole is an embarrassment, but oh! the pleasure I had reading this book. By reading the middle book of the initial trilogy first, I was captivated by the manner in which the story was told. How clever, I thought. It started in the middle! How adorable of me to not realize. It started in the middle,...more

like 2 likes

· see review

May 08, 2011

Laura rated it

· review of another edition

Shelves: time-travel

This second installment of the Outlander series was not as strong as the first. I got bogged down with the historical aspects and implications. (I'm still not 100% what the deal was with Charles Stuart and Louis.) However, the ending was worth all that meandering the middle.

I also have issues with Gabaldon's treatment of women. It's interesting to throw a somewhat modern woman into 17th century Scotland to see how women were treated then. Sometimes Claire (the heroine) openly defies...more

like 1 like

· see review

Mar 21, 2009

Rhonda rated it

· review of another edition

I devoured this book just like I did the first in the series and when it was over whined that it was done. It definitely was not a quick read and the beginning was a bit confusing considering how book one ended but all in all the total reading experience was worth it. I look forward to my next foray into Gabaldon's world just so I can see what happens with Clair!

like 2 likes

· see review

Feb 13, 2008

The Cute Little Brown-haired girl added it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance-historical-fiction

This is one of the best series of romance historical fiction I have ever laid eyes on. It is well written, not "sappy" and is not a Fabio-type of read with a damsel in distress. I love it because the main character is a strong and self-assured woman, and it has a little Irish/Celtic/Scottish history to it that makes it interesting beyond the romance aspect. Great if you go on vacation or have a long car or plane ride. Also recommended to anyone needing to have that book on the bedside ...more

like 1 like

· see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 1644 1645 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Outlander Series: Dragonfly in Amber	66	73	Jan 29, 2012 12:51pm
The Challenge Fac...: •Kathy and Nanna: DragonFly in Amber	203	35	Dec 28, 2011 03:02am

combine
Other Editions (52)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

1,045 users

Romance

636 users

Fantasy

386 users

Science Fiction > Time Travel

372 users

Romance > Historical Romance

226 users

Cultural > Scotland

95 users

Adventure

41 users

Adult

43 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

45 users

Science Fiction

33 users

See top shelves...

Readers Also Enjoyed

About Diana Gabaldon

Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and is of Mexican-American and English descent. She has earned three degrees: a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D in Ecology.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .

More about Diana Gabaldon...

Books by Diana Gabaldon

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander, #6)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Pin It

Trivia About Dragonfly In Amber

12 trivia questions
1 quiz

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Dragonfly In Amber

“I stood still, vision blurring, and in that moment, I heard my heart break. It was a small, clean sound, like the snapping of a flower's stem.” — 1,785 people liked it

“I will find you," he whispered in my ear. "I promise. If I must endure two hundred years of purgatory, two hundred years without you - then that is my punishment, which I have earned for my crimes. For I have lied, and killed, and stolen; betrayed and broken trust. But there is the one thing that shall lie in the balance. When I shall stand before God, I shall have one thing to say, to weigh against the rest."

His voice dropped, nearly to a whisper, and his arms tightened around me.

Lord, ye gave me a rare woman, and God! I loved her well.” — 249 people liked it

More quotes…

Groups That Shelved Dragonfly In Amber

Challenge: 50 Books

3935 members

last activity 1 hour, 2 min ago

shelf: read

Outlander Series

1712 members

last activity 1 hour, 3 min ago

shelf: read

Comfort Reads

1129 members

last activity 1 hour, 19 min ago

shelf: read

title link	preview: Dragonfly In Amber
avg rating	preview: Dragonfly In Amber Goodreads rating: 4.27 (38166 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10969.Dragonfly_In_Amber?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320477729m/10969.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10969.Dragonfly_In_Amber?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Dragonfly In Amber by Diana Gabaldon[/url]

Dragonfly In Amber (Outlander #2)

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Readers Also Enjoyed

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website