So I just started this book a few days ago. I can't read any more than about 3 pages a night because it is boring me to tears (unlike the other books). Anyway, it's been YEARS since I read her last book and I've forgotten everything.
So, two questions:
1. How is William the son of Sir John Gray. I vaguely remember something of this. Isn't he Jamie Fraser's son from some other woman? Gosh, I can't remember.
2. Will this book get better soon?
I've LOVED the first six books (six?) in this series, but this one doesn't measure up. I'm 1/3 of the way through it, and I think what I don't like is that it's divided between THREE viewpoints: We've got the Jamie/Claire story, which is good, though not as riveting as the previous books . . . then we've got William's story, which does not interest me in the least -- I had to force myself through his lengthy, pointless letter to his father . . . and then we've got the modern storyline involving Brianna/Roger/children, which I am enjoying.
The storyline sort of comes and goes. I have enjoyed parts of it, but other parts seem to have no connection to the main story line. For example -- spoilers hidden in white --
the Herman and Vermin part was funny, but did it advance the plot? And the part with
Tom Christie? Why?). On the other hand, I enjoyed the part about
Arch Bug -- though his wife totally had it coming to her; I mean, she shot Jamie! How can anyone blame Ian?-- and I can't wait to see what comes of that.
I can answer your first question:
After Jamie was released from Ardsmire (no promises on any spellings here), Lord John arranged for him to be parolled to a friend's estate (Hellswater?). There he worked as a groom for his horse-crazed employer. The employer's daughter Geneva had a crush on Jamie, and she blackmailed him into sleeping with her. Since her new husband was impotent, it was rather inconvenient when Geneva turned up pregnant soon after the wedding. Through a strange series of events, both Geneva and her husband died on the day the child (William) was born, so he was raised by his grandparents (Jamie's employers) and their younger daughter (Isabelle). Though they offered him his freedom, Jamie stayed five years to be close to William; however, as the boy grew, Jamie realized that their resemblance was too strong, and he had to leave or be discovered as the boy's father. At that point, Lord John married Isabelle so that he could watch after and help to raise Jamie's child. After a number of years, Isabelle died suddenly, leaving Lord John William's stepfather and guardian. William, of course, has no idea that Jamie is his father, and he seems to care deeply for his stepfather.
I do have a prediction for the NEXT BOOK:
Jem grew up in the 18th century, and though he seems to be adjusting well to modern life, I think a part of his heart stayed in the past. I predict that in the NEXT BOOK Jamie will be at something of an impass in his life, and he will have no one -- well, Claire wouldn't be gone, but he'll have no men to help him -- and suddenly a tall redheaded man will appear at his door. It'll be Jem, having returned to his childhood home, and he'll be there to help his grandfather in his old age.
Of course, if Jamie needed a young man, that would mean Ian was somewhere else. I'd hate to see Ian disappear from the story, though I have another prediction concerning him: They're saying they're going back to Scotland (I don't know yet if they'll make it), and Ian's briefly mentioned a vision, a thought about a small blond who is his wife. I predict he's going to marry Joan, Lagohaire's younger daughter. Of course, I'd really like it if Emily would come looking for him. I would've liked it if she'd come back, and Ian had taken her back to Scotland to meet his family. It would've been fun to see what Jenny, who has never been more than 10 miles from home, would've made of her son marrying an Indian girl.
I had reread some of the earlier books this summer so that was still fresh in my mind but I'd forgotten the Arch Bug story line since I hadn't reread Breath of Snow & Ashes.
