Written In My Own Heart's Blood (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
I keep thinking this series should have ended with "A Breath of Snow and Ashes", but I have to say that MOBY (as we fans call this novel) re-ignites the original spark of the Outlander series. There's a lot more history, up close and personal, as we follow the lives of Jamie and Claire Fraser and their extended family into the Revolutionary War. It's hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers, but there are deaths, births, and reunions with beloved characters. And, it is enjoyable to see how all the characters grow and change - including the various children we've come to know and love - as this story is not static. We see Claire and Jamie as they are ageing and still exploring how their love remains strong and empowering to them both despite the hardships of the times.I once told Diana Gabaldon in an email that I didn't want to be reading about Jamie and Claire having sex when they were a hundred, but I had the pleasure of telling her in-person, while on tour for this book, that I was wrong. She needs to keep telling stories of married love and these strong characters. After more than four years of waiting, Book #8 is here. Of course, I watched the Starz series of "The Outlander". The series is on hiatus, and doesn't even scratch the surface of Book #1. I love Jamie Fraser. I love Claire. I adore the narrator, Davina Porter. Yes, I've listened to every single book of this series, in audible format. This book, however, didn't meet my expectations as much as books 1-7. It sort of ....meandered... didn't really build up the stories a whole lot. I got a bit confused, at first, because after four years I kinda/sorta felt fuzzy about who some of the characters were. After all, I've read these books over the last eight years. I have to say that I began rolling my eyes everytime I read "his mouth twitched"... I think this was about 1003 times, but I lost count. I got tired of "the metallic smell of blood" over and over and over again. She was "white as a sheet". I dunno, but this time I kept noticing these three phrases throughout the entire book. Ms. Gabaldon, can you please cut back on the "mouth twitching", please?!I could also do without the gruesome details of Claire's surgeries, including amputations (especially while eating my meal of roast chicken.)The Brianna/Roger chapters... well, what was that? I don't want to give any spoilers, but suffice it to say that I felt their story was so brief. I wanted more.The ending... hmmmm. It appears to leave the possibility of another book, or it could be the end. I'm not sure. The one thing I will always like best, is Jamie's love for Claire. It's a love story, indeed. I'd like to see another sequel with more action... more cliff hangers... more nail biting. This book seemed a lot more tame than the others. I have loved Books 1-7, and all of the historical research that goes into it. I just hoped for more, and this book felt just a wee bit short of my expectations. I still enjoyed it, though.
What do You think about Written In My Own Heart's Blood (2014)?
Enjoyable reading, as always. I actually hope it's the last one since it had a great ending!!
—hakunahm
After seeing the rest of the reviews I was amazed but I totally loved reading it.
—sean
