Virgins: An Outlander Novella (Kindle Single)

I was a late-comer to the Outlander series having not read the first novel, 'Outlander,' until mid-2014. Once started however, I read the existing books in the series in rapid succession and then waited breathlessly for 'Written in My Own Heart's Blood.' I wish I could say that each successive book was as perfect as 'Outlander,' but that is not the case. I still enjoyed each reading experience, but not as much as my 'first time.' Which brings me now to 'Virgins,' a novella of Jamie and Ian as mercenaries. 'Virgins' reminds me of why I fell in love with Jamie and the whole Outlander universe. From the opening scene to the last word, the reader is treated to Jamie's courage, strength and heart, all firmly in place and well developed pre-Claire. Diana Gabaldon lets us inside Jamie's deep mourning and wracking guilt over the death of his father as well as his on-going worry over his sister, Jenny, in the wake of Black Jack Randall's mayhem. We see Ian as a whole, strong man as well as the dynamic of his relationship to Jamie in a way we've never seen it before. What 'Virgins' does is that it gives us another dimension to both characters that makes them, if possible, even more compelling. Bottom line: it's a solid read. Don't be put off, if you've read the main series, by thinking that this short story can't add anything to an already richly tapestried world. What you'll read is the glorious mix of heart breaking pathos, laugh-out-loud humor, and action that is vintage Diana Gabaldon. Read it. You won't be sorry.

Outlander is a series of novels that follow the lives of Claire, a WWII combat nurse who travels back in time to the 1740s, and her second husband, James Fraser, a Scottish laird. These books can't really be classified by genre, since they include history, drama, adventure, romance, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy . . . a little of everything, really. For those who are desperate for a Jamie and Claire fix, this should help ease the withdrawal pangs until the next (ninth) book comes out. Like some of the other short stories Diana Gabaldon has written, it fills in one of the gaps in the main characters' lives, exploring a period that we knew little about. It's longer than your typical short story, but nowhere near novel-length---especially a Diana Gabaldon novel! It's called a novella, which is either a very short novel or a very long short story. Either way, it doesn't take long to read. The story takes place shortly after Jamie escapes from Fort William, after being flogged (twice) by Black Jack Randall. Forced to flee Scotland because of the price on his head, Jamie goes to France, where he joins his best friend Ian as a mercenary-for-hire. After proving their worth as braw fighters, they're asked to escort a young Jewish bride and her priceless dowry to her husband-to-be in another part of the country, but as always, where James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser goes, trouble always follows. For those familiar with the Outlander series, you probably won't be surprised to learn that there is a rather graphic rape scene in this story. Every one of the books contains at least one sexual assault, and this short story is no exception. Interestingly, the scene in question is one that's mentioned in "Outlander" by Jamie on his wedding night to Claire. It's a throwaway line, something he says in passing, but the author clearly remembered and decided to expand upon it. It helps tie this story to the main series. Not that I couldn't have lived without the rape scene, but if it has to be there, at least it's connected. And it has an impact on the characters, so t's not gratuitous; it has a purpose, which makes it easier to bear. The only real flaw in this story is that Claire is missing. But since it takes place long before Jamie meets her, it's forgivable. Four stars and recommended to anyone who loves the Outlander series.

Escorting a sacred scroll to a safe place, Jamie and Ian are smitten by a small beautiful jewess on the trail. Jamie has just recently had his back torn asunder with a whip by Randal. This novella follows Jamie and his nephew's exploits before Claire travels to the past. Their guarding of the wagons interrupted by a band of thieves stealing the cargo. Such a delight meeting old friends outside of the main Outlander storyline! I feel like a peeping Tom sneaking up and spying on their carousing and listening to their conversations regarding their sexual activities, or lack thereof! Such an amazing little romp through the minds of Ian and his uncle Jamie. A great little side story delving into the mind of the main character in the Outlander series. I've watched the series on tv, but have only read a couple side stories. The intense writing style and the old Scottish vocabulary are definitely drawing me toward the mainline stories! A couple more of these vignettes and I'll be excavating the main storyline. I love the show, and now I love the writing style of the amazing author! There will be more! Great read!

Uma ótima leitura. Para aqueles acostumados com os livros da série Outlander, contudo, ela acaba sendo um pouco curta. De qualquer forma, cumpriu um excelente papel em preencher o tempo de espera até o livro 9 ser publicado.

Fue divertido leer sobre Jaimie joven y entender más su amistad con Ian.

Sadly, i read this book a couple of years ago and don't remember all my thoughts about, but i still have warm feelings and memories what i had such a great time reading it. In this book we are following Jamie during his French adventures (before Outlander series). So this books can be read any time during original story.

Good story. However, for an Outlander prequel, it dwells only on one of Jamie's and Ian's adventures in France -- the Jewish episode. Their other adventures including the kids of Ian's leg could also have been added to flesh it out completely. Almost half of the book is part of the first chapter of Outlander, which is a kind of deception on the part of the writer and the publisher. I regret buying the hardbound volume The Virgins, because I discovered too late that the novella Virgins is included in the collection Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, which I bought later. It was too late to return The Virgins. Some money wasted.

Come ogni libro della serie di Outlander, non posso che dare la valutazione più alta per il modo in cui l autrice riesce a catapultare il lettore nel suo mondo immaginario ma così reale ed avvolgente. Lo consiglio a chiunque ami le opere dell autrice e la serie televisuva