Rating: 
Summary: The adventure continues - but not in the same pace
Review: "Dragonfly in amber" continues the adventures of Claire Randall after the final episodes of "Outlander". Diana Gabaldon has a great story and great characters in her hands, and she knows that. That's why her books are so popular and so highly regarded.
The story begins in the 20th century, "where" Claire Randall has lived for the past 20 years, along with her daughter Brianna and her first husband, Frank Randall. But this is just the introduction to the book. In fact, "Dragonfly..." is Claire's reminescences about how she and Jamie (back in the 18th century) had to spend some time in Paris and among the exiled Scottish nobility in order to prevent the Battle of Culloden, that would become a huge massacre among Scotland's rebellious army's ranks.
If you compare "Outlander" with "Dragonfly in amber", you'll observe many similarities, but also many differences. Sex scenes are still present in a large number; also present are: complex politics, plot twists and the great "stage presence" of Claire and Jamie together. But I have to say that I enjoyed reading "Outlander" better, because of the novelty of the theme and the plot, introduction to many great characters and the fast-paced adventures and intrigues. "Dragonfly..." is quieter, focused more in political developments; its characters are not as unforgettable as the characters in "Outlander" were. Some of the chapters were really slow and on the verge of being boring, something I wouldn't expect from Diana Gabaldon, based on the experiences I had with the first book. But "Dragonfly...", all in all, is a very good book, and a necessary reading in order to fully understand the whole series.
Intelligently, Gabaldon wrote the final chapters as a great cliffhanger to the next "Outlander" book, "Voyager". And it works.
Grade 8.2/10
Rating: 
Summary: More enjoyable reading in this series
Review: Diana Gabaldon lays out another very entertaining novel about Claire and Jamie. Since this follows her first in the series, Outlander, I recommend reading this, as well as the next books, without too much of a gap in time. The story follows nicely when the details are fresh in your memory. The scenes are nicely framed to allow your own imagination to fill in where otherwise any description would detract from the beauty of this writing. Thoroughly enjoyable reading.
Rating:
Summary: Heartbreaking
Review: I just learned about this series of books recently and read all five of them in the last month. I just fell in love with Jamie and Claire and was happy to ignore the dishes in the sink and the dirty floors in favor of these excellent stories.
I really would rather not risk giving any of the story away but I will point out that this IS the second book of the series. Because of the starting point of this book, I thought I had inadvertantly skipped over a book or two.
I will also say that I cried so hard at the end of this book that I could barely continue reading but could hardly stop. It would be a good idea to have the third book (Voyager) handy as you will not want to stop reading just because you've come to the last page.
This is a truly excellent book and a wonderful continuation of Jamie and Claire's story. I really loved it!
Rating:
Summary: Outlander
Review: I just read Outlander and cannot wait to read the rest of the series. The book is fantastic. I now want to go to Scotland to find a carbon copy of Jamie! Incredible storytelling, I strongly recommend this book.
Rating:
Summary: Exceeds your expectations
Review: I read "Outlander" last summer and fell in love with the style of Diana Gabaldon's action-adventure-romance-historical fiction writing. Outlander grabbed me, yet I didn't read this second book until this year. Admittedly I went in with hesitations- how could anything top Outlander- and, besides, I knew what this book would deal with from reviews. To clear up any confusion, this covers the time preceding of the Battle of Culloden, which Jamie & Claire have been working so hard to prevent. In this book, the tensions are increased five fold as this couple works around the clock to stop it. And we all know what happens. However, this is a tale told in flashback- a flashback from Scotland in the 1960's. Frank, Claire's husband of the modern world, is now dead, and Claire has taken her & Jamie's daughter Brianna back to Scotland to reveal to her the truth, in due course introducing Roger Wakefield, a historian who will be essential to Claire's discovering the truth of what happened after she went back through the stones so long ago. Thus you have two timelines- present day Scotland, in which emotions boil and simmer as the past is retold through Claire- and 1700's Scotland, where Jamie and Claire fight the future. The social, political, and historical aspects of this book are genius- it held me for long hours as Jamie and Claire tramped through Scotland and France and England. A must-read for any fan of the Outlander series- and for any reader who wishes to be more than decently entertained for a good long while.
Rating:
Summary: Not so easy to change history after all
Review: I read this whole book with a sense of dread at the impending prospects of Culloden and what Jamie's involvement would be. It was quite stressful! It made me think about how maybe it is not so easy after all for one person (or two) to actually change the movements of history. How awful to go back in time weaponed with knowledge that you can do so little about no matter how hard you try. Perhaps a lesson for our times? I was, however, disturbed in this book by the duplicity of Claire. She MADE the decision to stay with Jamie and not return to Frank. So why, then, does she keep Frank's ring on her finger and not let him go? She holds onto Frank out of duty and I felt sorry for poor Jamie and how fiercely he loves Claire. I just kept expecting her to come to a point where she was completely and wholly "with" Jamie! I truly don't understand it (maybe it's just me?). Perhaps it is all just a plot device by the author so we all don't feel too guilty that Claire WAS a married woman when she stepped through the stones and she DID get married again. That we have to feel some semblance of respect for Frank?? I dunno. This author has some guts, I tell you. It seems in this book everything pure was turned into the profane. I was constantly shocked that she actually went through with some of these things! I.e., before young Mary was raped, I thought surely.... But then it happens! In vivid detail! I approach Voyager with a sense of relief that at least Culloden is over!
Rating:
Summary: It's a GREAT BOOK!
Review: One review said that this book (Dragonfly in Amber) must have been written by someone whose research came from English history books. I've read Outlander, Dragonfly in Amber, and am now reading Voyager. Okay, I know the Scottish view of Bonny Prince Charlie and the highlanders who fought at Culloden is somewhat idealized, but the book was obviously well-researched. It's clear that the author went to some trouble not to just grab the everyday information that's available from "English history books." Most common sources don't include quite a few items that the book makes note of; therefore, the author went to extra trouble to find the information and make use of it. Dragonfly in Amber is a wonderful book. Many authors try to achieve the level of writing that Diana Gabaldon employs, yet so often they fail. The entire Outlander series is a must read for everybody, not just those who follow this genre. Aspiring writers should read this book to learn about how their craft should be done. Others should read the series if they are at all interested in romance, Scotland, Europe, timetravel, and just because it draws people in and doesn't let go.
Rating: 
Summary: Plot discrepancies Noted by a Nitpicker
Review: Overall, I like the book. I was concerned to see that one reader, who said he was a real highlander, found it to be unauthentic. However, for my own part, I was struck by a couple of discrepancies in the beginning of the book. Namely, Claire breaks a couple of crystal glasses belonging to one of the leading male characters (I forget his name) and nothing is said about the financial loss to the character. Crystal is expensive, yet he seems not the least concerned -- nor is she. He only obesesses about the question in his mind as to whether she did it deliberately or by accident. Apparently all the characters must be independently wealthy, since Claire also engages this man to do some time-consuming historical research for her, and no one bothers their head about any monetary compensation for his efforts. True, he is crazy about Claire's daughter, but still you would think the question of money would at least be mentioned.
Rating:
Summary: A little long, but hang in there
Review: This book continues the story of Claire and Jamie Fraser. The story takes them to France, where they become aquantied with several people who show up in history books. Bonnie Prince Charlie, a Pretender to the Scottish Throne, is attempting to mount a rebellion. Claire, with her knowledge of how things end, attempts to halt the course of events that would lead to disaster for the entire Scottish people. A good book, a bit long and dragging in places, but once you get past them, things move pretty quickly.
Rating:
Summary: Still Addicted
Review: This is a great sequel to OUTLANDER. The hero and heroine are in for more action, wrenching emotions, and the war for Scottish independence. What more can I say? - GREAT READING
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