Let's Talk: Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2) by Diana Gabaldon

Let's Talk contains spoilers

3.5 stars

Synopsis (Goodreads):
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: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ...and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his...

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire's spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ...and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves...

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This book was very close to being 4 stars. But I just couldn't stop comparing it to the first. The first was mind-blowing good. But this (while it stands out against other books) just isn't as good as Outlander.
This one starts slowly. They are now living in Paris and Claire is pregnant.
The biggest problem with this book was how slow it started. It was difficult to follow the politics because I was slightly bored with the first 40%. But the book definitely redeemed itself with it's end half.

SPOILERS BELOW FOR THE ENTIRE BOOK

Okay, so my original thoughts on the book was amazing, amazing, amazing. But once the high died down, I started thinking about it. It made me sad that it just wasn't as good as the first book.
There was a few more scenes that made me so sad:
- When Claire lost the first child
- When Claire slept with someone else to get Jamie out of jail
- When Claire left Jamie in the end of the book (crushed me!!!)

Claire was pregnant but it was a dangerous pregnancy. She wanted to be helpful because all she did was lay around all day. So she started volunteering at the hospital. But she ended up losing the first child. It was so sad when she was having strong fever and the 'doctor' almost injected her but Jamie had to stop him. Then she ended up losing the baby.

One of the highlights of this book was Fergus. I love Fergus. He is so cute and he is so loyal.
I loved that Jamie rescued him from the prostitute house. But when Jack Randall (who is still alive?!!!) tried to sleep with Fergus and Jamie broke the deal not to kill him in order to get vengeance for Fergus. I hate that Claire made that deal. Why is she so concerned about Jack? She is with Jamie now. But I understand slightly. It has to do with the butterfly effect.
Another highlight was Mary. She was great! She became friends with Claire and it turns out she was with Alex Randall (Jack's brother). Alex ends up dying and Jack takes his place and marries Mary (who is already pregnant -- so see Claire! Jack could've died!).

By the end, they have a huge battle and Rupert ends up dying! It was so sad! Rupert (sure he was not always the kindest) was funny and nice. It made me so sad!
Jamie also makes Claire leave him!
THIS BROKE ME IN TWO!


Jamie makes her leave so that she will live and she can have the baby. Yeah, they end up having another kid.

Now the most annoying part about this book is that it starts with Claire back in 1940s and she has a kid with red hair and we know it's Jamie's. So we know she goes back but we don't know why.
We also know that Jamie died at Culloden.


Anyways, turns out at the very end of the book, as Claire tells Brianna (who's 20something) all about Jamie how he is her father Brianna gets very mad. Claire said that when she left Jamie she hated her baby for making her leave Jamie, but after giving birth she loved the child. Brianna starts throwing stuff and yelling about why Claire didn't love her.
But let me tell you Brianna. You never met Jamie. You don't know.

Turns out in the end that Jamie is alive (meaning he didn't die at Culloden).
This didn't surprise me all too much (probably because there is 6 other books).

Rating: 7/10
Parental Rating: 16+