Dragonfly in Amber is the second book in the Outlander series of novels written by Diana Gabaldon. The story follows Claire Randall, a nurse from the 20th century who travels through time, and her husband, Jamie Fraser, a warrior from 18th-century Scotland. The books include themes of historical events, love, adventure, and fantasy. This book describes Claire and Jamie’s attempts to stop a rebellion that Claire knows will lead to failure for the Scottish people.
A television version of the Outlander series, also called Outlander, began airing on Starz in August 2014. The second season of the show, which aired from May to July 2016, was based on the events in Dragonfly in Amber.
Plot summary
Claire Randall has returned to her own time, where she has lived for 20 years with her husband, Frank. After Frank's death, she brings her daughter, Brianna, to the home of the Randalls' old friend, Reverend Reginald Wakefield. There, Claire hopes the Reverend's adopted son, Roger, can help her learn what happened to the men of Lallybroch after the Battle of Culloden. Roger uses his Oxford education to find information and discovers proof that the men of Lallybroch returned home safely. He accompanies Claire and Brianna to an old churchyard to search for the grave of Jonathan Randall, Frank's ancestor, but also finds Jamie Fraser's gravestone. It is part of a "marriage stone," showing Claire's name but no date. Claire tells Brianna the truth about her father and Roger. Brianna refuses to believe her mother, but Roger is interested, and Claire shares her experiences after the events of Outlander.
At the end of Outlander, Claire convinces Jamie to stop the Jacobite rising and the resulting violence. After learning that Charles Stuart is trying to get money from the French king, Louis XV, to support the Jacobite cause, they travel to Paris. Jamie uses his cousin Jared's wine business to gain connections needed to plan against Stuart. A French boy named Claudel, who grew up in a brothel, helps Jamie escape from attackers. Jamie hires Claudel to steal letters from the prince and renames him Fergus. Claire befriends an English girl named Mary Hawkins, and rumors spread about Claire's connection to witchcraft. When a group of rapists attacks Mary and Claire, they are afraid of Claire and call her "La Dame Blanche." Mary Hawkins is in love with Alex Randall, the brother of Jack Randall.
When Jonathan "Black Jack" Randall arrives in Paris, Claire makes Jamie promise to spare Randall's life to protect Frank, her modern-day husband. However, Jamie challenges Randall to a duel and leaves him unable to have children. Claire has a miscarriage and is taken to the hospital. Jamie is sent to the Bastille for dueling. To secure Jamie's release, Claire asks the King of France, who expects her to sleep with him in return. The King also asks Claire to use her knowledge as "La Dame Blanche" to identify a traitor. Jamie and Claire reconcile and must return to Scotland as part of their agreement with the King.
Claire frees Jamie through an arrangement with King Louis XV of France, and they are banished from France. Back in Scotland with Fergus, they settle into farm life at Lallybroch with Jamie's sister, Jenny, and her family. Jamie receives a letter from Charles Stuart, announcing his attempt to retake the Scottish throne, which the prince has signed Jamie's name to, branding him a traitor. With no other choice, Jamie gathers the men of Lallybroch to join the Jacobite army. Lord John Grey, a young Hanoverian scout, finds Jamie and Claire. Thinking Claire is a prisoner, Grey tries to "save" her, but Jamie breaks Grey's arm and spares his life. Information from this encounter helps the Jacobites win at the Battle of Prestonpans.
Charles Stuart sends Jamie to convince his grandfather, Lord Lovat, to send his men to join Stuart's forces. Eventually, Lovat agrees to send troops led by his son, Simon. When Jamie and Claire return to Edinburgh, they find the men of Lallybroch imprisoned for desertion, as the men had left for Lallybroch on Jamie's orders. Claire visits the men in prison and cares for Alex Randall. After a skirmish and a night hiding in a church with Jamie, Dougal MacKenzie and his men, Claire is captured by Hanoverian troops who think she is a hostage. She is taken to the Duke of Sandringham's home, where she tries to determine if he is a Jacobite. After being locked in her room by Sandringham, Jamie rescues Claire. They leave with Mary Hawkins, who insists on joining them. Hugh Monroe is killed trying to save Claire, and Murtagh kills the Duke of Sandringham. Upon returning to Edinburgh, Mary Hawkins and Alex Randall are reunited. Before his death, Alex has Mary and Jack Randall marry. Mary is pregnant, and Claire realizes that Frank's lineage is safe.
As the Battle of Culloden approaches, Jamie and Claire discuss assassinating Charles Stuart but decide against it. Dougal MacKenzie, having overheard their conversation, accuses Claire of persuading Jamie to betray his people and tries to kill her. Dougal is stabbed by Jamie and dies in his arms. Knowing he is wanted for murder and will soon die, Jamie tries to ensure his nephew, young Jamie, inherits Lallybroch and sends Claire back through the stones to 1946. He tells Claire he knows she is pregnant and forces her and the unborn Brianna to return to her own time to protect her from the battle's aftermath. Jamie returns to Culloden, intending to die in the battle.
When Claire returned in 1946, Frank did not believe her story but agreed to help raise Brianna and asked her to tell Brianna the truth only after his death. When Brianna learns the truth, she refuses to believe Claire. Claire asks Roger for help by revealing he is a descendant of Dougal MacKenzie and Geillis Duncan. Claire admits to Roger that while hiding in the caves of the Highlands, plotting Jamie's escape from prison (as told in Outlander), Dougal delivered a message from Geillis that read: "I do not know if it is possible, but I think so" and the numbers 1, 9, 6, and 8. Claire deduces these numbers represent the year 1968 and suspects Geillis was telling her the year of her own time travel. Claire, Roger, and eventually Brianna witness Geillis Duncan/Gillian Edgars' disappearance through the stone circle at Craigh na Dun after she kills her husband, Greg Edgars. Finally, Roger tells Claire that Jamie did not die at Culloden.
Critical reception
Publishers Weekly described Dragonfly in Amber as a "very long, hard-to-put-down sequel to Outlander." The review also stated that the book shows life in a royal court, a simple home, and on a battlefield through the perspective of a modern character with strong opinions. This approach provides a unique way of looking at history, while also exploring a modern issue related to the paternity of Claire’s daughter.