Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

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⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of Dragonfly in Amber by Diana Gabaldon

👉 Grab Dragonfly in Amber on Amazon here!

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⚠️ Trigger Warnings

This book includes:

• Rape & sexual assault

• Pregnancy loss

• Torture & violence

• Death of loved ones

• War themes

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First Impressions

As the sequel to Outlander, we all knew things were about to get serious—and oh boy, do they ever. 🏰💔 There’s a lot less romance and smut in this one (sorry, Jamie/Claire shippers) and a lot more history. Like, actual history lessons. I’ll be honest: sometimes I felt like I was back in a college lecture hall. 📚 But Gabaldon’s beautiful writing kept me hooked, even when the politics got a little thick.

Final verdict? I struggled a bit, but I still couldn’t put it down. Solid ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5).

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📖 Spoiler-Filled Plot Summary (You’ve Been Warned!)

The book actually opens in 1968, with Claire Randall Fraser—now a doctor, now widowed, and mom to 20-year-old Brianna—back in Scotland after many years. She reconnects with Roger Wakefield, a historian (and adopted son of a reverend), asking for his help to dig into the history of the men who fought in the doomed Jacobite Rising of 1745. While exploring a churchyard, Claire drops a bomb on Roger and Brianna: she was married to a Scottish Highlander, Jamie Fraser, in the 1700s. And yes, that grave over there? It’s his. 😳

From there, the book becomes one giant flashback as Claire explains what really happened after she disappeared from 1940s Scotland and fell through time.

✨ France, 1744: After escaping Jack Randall’s cruelty in Scotland, Claire and Jamie sail to France. Jamie’s cousin Jared—a wine merchant—sets them up in Paris and introduces Jamie to political circles. Their new mission? To prevent the Jacobite prince, Charles Stuart (aka “Bonnie Prince Charlie”), from raising enough money and support to launch his rebellion against England. Jamie charms nobles and bankers, while Claire throws herself into volunteer work at a Paris hospital. They also take in Fergus, a clever young pickpocket who becomes like a son to them.

⚡ But the past keeps catching up. Claire meets Mary Hawkins, a young woman destined to marry none other than Jack Randall (yep, the sadistic officer who tortured Jamie). Worse—Jack himself turns out to be alive. Jamie’s fury boils over, leading to a duel that ends with Claire going into premature labor. The result is devastating: she loses their baby girl. 💔

🏴 Back in Scotland: Jamie and Claire return home, but the rebellion is unstoppable. Charles Stuart is determined, and Jamie reluctantly rallies men from his estate, Lallybroch, to fight. Along the way, they clash with Jamie’s own uncle, Dougal MacKenzie, a die-hard supporter of the rebellion and of Charles. Things come to a head on the eve of the Battle of Culloden: Claire, knowing history, pleads with Jamie to kill Charles to save Scotland. Jamie refuses. Dougal overhears their plan and attacks; Jamie kills him in defense of Claire.

💔 With Culloden inevitable, Jamie realizes he’s marching toward certain death. He takes Claire to the Craigh na Dun standing stones, the magical portal that first brought her back in time. Knowing she’s pregnant again, Jamie forces Claire to return to the 20th century so their child will live. Their goodbye is raw, heartbreaking, and unforgettable.

🌍 Back to 1968: Brianna refuses to believe Claire’s story, but Roger is surprisingly open-minded. Together they track down Geillis Duncan—a woman Claire once knew in the 1700s who was also a time traveler. Unfortunately, they’re too late: Geillis disappears through the stones right before their eyes. The kicker? Roger then uncovers proof that Jamie didn’t die at Culloden after all… setting us up perfectly for book three. 🎉

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🧐 My Thoughts

• Romance lovers: Less swooning, more scheming.

• History buffs: You’ll be in heaven. So many Jacobite politics and details!

• Me: Somewhere in between. Loved the writing, but needed caffeine for all the French finance chatter. ☕

Still, Gabaldon’s world-building is phenomenal. She makes you care deeply about her characters—even when you know history isn’t on their side.

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📚 Read This If You Liked…

• Outlander by Diana Gabaldon (obviously 😉)

• The Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley (time-slip + Jacobites)

• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (romance + history + magic)

• The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles (Paris + history)

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Final Rating

⭐ 4 out of 5 stars. I missed the romance and sometimes felt bogged down by historical detail, but Gabaldon’s prose and emotional gut-punches kept me hooked.