I have to admit I’m not sure why I decided to read this book. I’d watched the first season of the TV-show, and I didn’t really care for it. I suppose I thought maybe the book would be better? I usually try to give popular things a chance because if lots of people like something there must be a reason why.

As far as the positives go, I would say the first 250 pages or so were quite enjoyable. It’s definitely a page-turner, and the mystery of the stone circle is intriguing.

Unfortunately, everything goes rapidly downhill as soon as Claire marries Jamie. From that point on, the only things that matter are (nonconsensual) sex and torture. You can’t get through 20 pages of the second half of the book without Claire and Jamie (but mostly Jamie) having to Get It On.

At the halfway point the plot loses any sense of direction it initially had. Don’t expect this book to have a beginning, middle and end. You’re only getting the beginning of the story. This series is meant to be TEN BOOKS LONG. Because you’re not getting a resolution (and if you are familiar with the TV-show knowing that there will not be a good resolution anytime soon) the second half of the book feels like a deeply thankless exercise.

I wouldn’t really recommend this book to anyone, but if you struggle with descriptions of sexual assault don’t read this book. It’s full of it. Just stay away from Outlander.