Drums of Autumn (1997)

Outlander saga of Jamie and Claire Fraser and their friends/family continues, this time pre-revolutionary period in North Carolina. Historical fiction mixed with fantasy/romance. ( )

I think I read all of these in a rush around 1999 or 2000 when "The Fiery Cross" was written. As per usual, the first book was the best of them. ( )

Another great addition to the Outlander series. As usual, I had a few issues with the plot (either being confused about some events or being annoyed at some of the coincidences) but in this case my desire for a great adventure story and love of the characters made up for the small annoyances. I liked the new(er) characters and their story lines and was just in the mood for a fun adventure book. Perfect summer reading that I couldn't put down. My only major issue is that Gabaldon should probably be edited a bit more. She meanders a bit too much for my taste and sometimes gets a tad repetitive. A hundred pages could easily have been deleted and it would still be a strong book. ( )

This book has Brianna and Roger researching and then finding a way into the past, Jamie and Claire in North Carolina. I liked Aunt Jocasta with her abilities being blind. Interesting how her characters reappear such as Willie (Jamie's son) and Lord Grey (helping with pirate Bonnet) and Ian (goofy kid then so helpful with Indian issues). The descriptions of the NC mountain and the start of their home, and the survival methods needed when living in such primitive times made this story.

Loved this overview of story:

Jamie, Claire, Ian and Fergus have set up their new home in the American colonies. Life is tough but the love between Jamie and Claire grows more each day.

Their daughter Brianna is living in the 20th century in America and visits her boyfriend Roger in UK. Both Bree and Roger have been investigating more about the history surrounding Jamie Fraser. Roger finds a clipping from a newspaper talking about the death of Jamie and Claire. He decides to keep the information from Bree but he doesn't know that Bree is also searching her family history and has decided she had to go through the stones and find her mother and father.

Brianna set's out to find her family. She makes her way to Lallybroch and meets her Aunt and Uncle and cousins. They provide information to send Bree on her way to find her parents but what she doesn't know is that Roger has followed her to America and is searching for her. He finally finds her and they finally seal their relation with handbonding and they make love. Roger leaves her to find gems that could provide them with a way home and Bree is raped.

Brianna finally finds her dad and reunites with her mother. During this 1070 page book there are some great side stories about these characters and I love that we get to see some characters from previous stories.

Some of my fav side stories include Lord John bringing Jamie's son William to Fraser Ridge to spend time with Jamie and he William falls into the privy with the help of Ian....accidentally. I was snickering on the bus when reading it. The part where Jamie and Ian meet Roger in the forest on his way to meet Bree. The typical over protective father kicks in. My heart broke when Ian decided to stay with the Mohawks to save the lives of Claire, Jamie and Roger. I must say this part of the story upset me. I love Ian and I'm really hoping we get to see him in future stories. ( )

More on Chill and read

Looks like I’m reading one of the “Outlander” series books every month or so lately! Not bad, given their length! “Drums of Autumn” is the fourth installment in the series and it all feels blare to me. Where one book finishes and where the next one starts! But I will try to make sure that events of this book alone are part of this review. So here it goes!

The Frasers are now in the New World and they try to make a life there. They find their own kinsmen and make new friends. But Jamie Fraser is a man of honor, so he won’t take his aunt’s offering on her estate. He will not take over the old woman’s property, ruling over a number of Scots and a number slaves. He would never put Claire through something as awful as this. Jamie has Fergus with him, as well as his nephew Ian so he will try to find as many more men as he can, men he fought with in Culloden or elsewhere, meh who are still alive and are in America. And he will ask them to join him and live all together in the land he has acquired. He may not have his children with him, but he is glad for the people he has around him.

Brianna is supposed to be safe in the US. Her feelings for Roger and Roger’s feelings for her, persuaded Claire that she’d be fine without her. She would have Roger and Jo Abernathy to look after her. And this is true, until one day, Bree finds something hidden in the historical information from the States’ past, that will send her in a journey back in time, in search of her parents. She needs to make sure that at least her beloved mother stays safe. She also has a curiosity of James Fraser, but she doesn’t know the man yet.

This fourth book is giving parts of Brianna’s and Roger’s present and huge parts of time spent back in the 18th century. We get a bit of man on the moon experience and a bit of savages in the dessert as well in the same book. Gabaldon is trying to show the big difference between the two eras. The past and the future that her time travelers experience. It doesn’t always work great, but still, it’s a beautiful story.

Jamie is such a jealous person in this book. He is jealous over Clair, over Brianna, over anything taht feels close to his heart. He hates Frank, we know that already from previous installments, but in this book he really demonstrates that hatred. Claire is pretty much herself, not taking much into account when there is someone in need and also, being so constantly and overpowering in love with that stubborn Scottish man, that she doesn’t want to spent one more hour away from him, if she can avoid it.

Overall, it is a lovely love story of familiar characters, showing in the best possible way tips of the past and how these affect the characters’ life. An, by all means, I will continue with the series! ( )