Written in My Own Heart's Blood

Outlander, Book 8

By: Diana Gabaldon

Narrated by: Davina Porter

Length: 45 hrs

Publisher's summary

In her now classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon told the story of Claire Randall, an English ex-combat nurse who walks through a stone circle in the Scottish Highlands in 1946, and disappears… into 1743. The story unfolded from there in seven best-selling novels, and CNN has called it "a grand adventure written on a canvas that probes the heart, weighs the soul and measures the human spirit across [centuries]." Now the story continues in Written in My Own Heart's Blood.

It is 1778: France declares war on Great Britain, the British army leaves Philadelphia, and George Washington's troops leave Valley Forge in pursuit. At this moment, Jamie Fraser returns from a presumed watery grave to discover that his best friend has married his wife; his illegitimate son has discovered (to his horror) who his father really is; and his beloved nephew, Ian, wants to marry a Quaker. Meanwhile, Jamie's wife, Claire, and his sister, Jenny, are busy picking up the pieces.

The Frasers can only be thankful that their daughter Brianna and her family are safe in 20th-century Scotland. Or not. In fact, Brianna is searching for her own son, who was kidnapped by a man determined to learn her family's secrets. Her husband, Roger, has ventured into the past in search of the missing boy - never suspecting that the object of his quest has not left the present. Now, with Roger out of the way, the kidnapper can focus on his true target: Brianna herself.

Written in My Own Heart's Blood is the brilliant next chapter in a masterpiece of the imagination unlike any other.

©2014 Diana Gabaldon (P)2014 Recorded Books

One of my favorite Outlander books.

This book is great! So much happens. I'll stop so I don't give any spoilers.

Reread Still My Fav

Yes, I reread it. And I still say the same things about it being my favorite Outlander so far. Do you want to know why? Okay, beyond Diana Gabaldon's writing and research and Davina Porter's voice acting, this character and scenes list goes beyond the first review I wrote below.

Characters: Jamie Fraser, Brianna Randall, Roger MacKenzie, Jeremiah MacKenzie, Fergus Fraser, Marsali Fraser, Germain Fraser, Ian Murray, Lord John Grey, Benedict Arnold, Claire Randall Fraser, Jonathan Randall, Dougal MacKenzie, Geillis Duncan, Jenny Murray, Young Ian Murray, William Ransom, Rachel Hunter, Denzell Hunter, William Buccleigh MacKenzie, Amanda MacKenzie, Harold, Duke of Pardloe, Henri-Christian Fraser, Brian Fraser, Jane Pocock, Frances Pocock, Dorothea Grey, Jerry MacKenzie, George Washington.

Settings: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1778 (United States)
Lallybroch, Scotland, 1980 (United Kingdom)
Lallybroch, Scotland, 1739 (United Kingdom)
Savannah, Georgia, 1779 (United States)
North Carolina, 1779 (United States)
Fraser's Ridge, North Carolina, 1779 (United States)

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I thought that book 7, Echo In The Bone, was my favorite of the Outlander books. Nope. Written in My Own Heart's Blood wins. It was fantastic!

Regardless of the time the characters land in, they all grow and help us learn the rules of Gabaldon's Time Travel.

What can I tell you that won't spoil it for you?

As usual, there is a lot of research evident in the reading, and as one supposes, there are instances of poetic license, which Diana Gabaldon admits she has it framed on her wall.

The most exciting part of the book is as Breanna talks about Doctor Who in a chapter called, Thank You For The Fish. (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy). Now I really wish I had a TARDIS so that I could play in all three universes.

And I wish I could move on to book 9, but my Audible credits don't come until the middle of the month. A quick note about why I read by Audible most often now: actual reading is impossible for my eyes. It seems to be a tracking issue. So I use a lot of Kindle Text-to-Speech. Though TTS works well for most books, I want to hear the words pronounced correctly when there are other languages involved. Davina Porter is able to range the language barriers and character ages and sexes with apparent ease. I love listening to her.

If you get the chance, the books are as good if not better than the shows, and the Audible versions are the best of all the worlds. Enjoy!

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By the way, since the first reading and the need for Audible, I have had cataract surgery and hope that soon I can read paper books. But for books like this with many foreign languages I don't know how to pronounce, I'll stick with Audible.

Loved it

I have listened to this series over and over. I enjoy the reader also she brings the characters alive

Left wanting more...

what a fabulous story! I adore the characters in the book and was sorry to have watched any of it on TV, but oh well. After reading the first 2 books, I started listening and the characters feel like friends now.

So sad this series is over! (For now)

Amazing series of books. I have no idea what to do now. Hoping Diana will release the next one soon!!!

Engrossing, Imaginative and instructional!

One of my favorite books from the Outlander series! Diana Galbaldon has it down pat!

This is probably the best book yet in the Outlander series

This is the best book in the entire series thus far. I love them all, but this one takes the cake.

My favorite audible and loving Devina Porter

I have listened the whole series of Outlander. I am pacientes waiting for the next book of this series.
Thank you

Enjoyed my second reading even more!

I waited so long for Book 9 (Go Tell the Bees...) that I wanted to refresh my memory of what happened before in Book 8. Some of the stories I remembered vividly and some I had forgotten. I loved the Scottish poems/prayers! The book was still hard to put down!!!

Outlander series

All of the books in this series are wonderful. They have so much realism and you are drawn to each character. When I order from Audible and I see there are 50+ hours of listening time it makes me smile because the long wonderful adventure it will be!