Voyager is the third novel in the Outlander series, and it’s probably been the most exciting and action-packed among all three books.
Summary of the series so far
In Outlander, Claire, a young married English nurse on vacation in Scotland after World War II accidentally traveled back in time 200 years to 1743. There she took up with Highland Hottie Jamie Fraser and developed her skills as a healer. Claire got pregnant, and Jamie insisted she goes back to the future to save her and her unborn child, thinking he was about to die in battle.
In Dragonfly in Amber, it’s now twenty years later, in 1968, and Claire has brought her 20-year-old daughter, Brianna (“Bree”) – the spitting image of Jamie – with her to Scotland. They traveled from Boston, where Claire is a doctor, to find the historian Roger Wakefield. Claire wants to discover Jamie’s fate, and Roger discovers Jamie did not die at the Battle of Culloden.
What happens in Voyager
In Voyager, Clare decides to head back in time to meet Jaime and continue her life with him.
Of course, their life isn’t peaceful! Almost as soon as she meets Jaime – there is murder, mayhem, and plots galore.
The two end up chasing a pirate boat to Jamaica, and unexpectedly encounter (and battle) an old villain from the previous books.
What I thought of Voyager
I enjoyed this book. It’s fun, and entertaining, and non-stop action kept me engrossed.
That said, this book kind of veers away from the tone of the first two books. Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber were very rooted in Scottish history and tried to stay true to the time despite all the outlandish plots.
Voyager starts the move away from that. It’s all campy, and not as much attention is paid to historical accuracy. It’s also the book where I noticed overplayed character traits – Jaime’s seasickness. I was fed up with reading page after page about his moaning on a boat.
Basically, Claire and Jaime started seeming more like caricatures than actual people. The book’s focus on the action is a real detriment to the character building. I didn’t notice it so much in Voyager, but now as I read Drums of Autumn (the next book), I find myself getting frustrated with just how boring all the characters have become. There’s absolutely no depth to them now.
The series is now just like any other family historical saga. I read plenty of these in my teens, none of which I remember now.
Another peeve is the corny love dialogues. I don’t expect men in their forties to utter such bilge (even if they have been separated from their wives for twenty years).
“Only you,” he said, so softly I could barely hear him. “To worship ye with my body, give ye all the service of my hands. To give ye my name, and all my heart and soul with it. Only you.”
I got through the book because of a lot of action and suspense. And I loved the finale. So, overall I’d recommend this book. What I won’t recommend is continuing with the series after Voyager (a bit difficult since this ends in a cliffhanger).
Drums of Autumn so far has been dull, dull, dull. The characters are tired caricatures, and sex is added just to drum up some interest. Sadly, that is still not enough to keep me reading. Drums of Autumn is a clear DNF for me.
And this is where I end my epic adventure with the Outlander series. Have you finished the series (books or show)? Till where did you get?
