I started reading this book almost a year ago - back in January. I love this series, but this book felt very slow going, and with all the other books in my to be read pile, this one fell by the way side, a lot. I was borrowing it from the library, and had to keep returning it and re-requesting it, which added to why it took so long to read. Most of the book has the family divided - Jamie and Claire living in the past, and the rest of the family living in 1980, and my favorite parts of this series has always been when the whole family is united. There's also a lot about Jamie's illegitimate son, as well, who is fighting on the British side (I admit, I can't stand the Lord Grey parts and don't understand why there's a whole other series of books about him because he's seriously the most boring man alive, and I skimmed some of the sections and screamed at others).

Being a very long book, there's so much to discuss in this book but it's hard to do so without giving away the whole plot. Some minor spoilers will still occur... you've been warned.

Every time Jamie & Claire cross the sea, major disasters happen. Why? What is the point? This was OK the first 50 times in the series, but seriously... this gets old fast. And now the disasters don't even add to the plot, really.

The book is really, really long, and really, really doesn't need to be. I know a lot of people like the Lord John Grey storylines and that's fine, but if someone wants to read about him, they are going to read his own series, so exactly why is so much of this book revolving around him? Most of his storyline does eventually make sense, but none of it was needed, it's just to open up another plot hole and when DG claims she's trying to wind down this series, why is she adding more plot holes, that don't need to be added and don't really even make any sense?

I'm angry really, that there is so much fluff and filler in this book - I normally read and reread this series, and there's so much fluff in this book - with the four complicated storylines - that I don't want to reread this one, which leaves me angry and mad. I love Jamie and Claire, and I can't love them in this book.

The pacing was really weird in this book - it's the "hurry up and wait" syndrome. Parts are really rushed to get to the point, and then when you finally get to the point, nothing happens.

There's this bit where Claire does something completely uncharacteristic. We get to know Claire rather well, and the thing that drives Claire is her love for Jamie. And then she does something completely unexpected, and stupid, and so out of character, and there was absolutely no point to it. Obviously in the next book this subject will be discussed more, but what is the POINT?

All in all... I don't know how I feel about the book. Disappointed is probably my overwhelming word.