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Hola, fellow wanderers and story lovers,

There’s something about the open road that makes you crave a good story. Maybe it’s the rhythm of tires on asphalt or the way unfamiliar landscapes spark the imagination. A few years back, I was winding my way through the Scottish Highlands—mist curling around the hills, the air thick with history—when I first pressed play on *Dragonfly in Amber* by Diana Gabaldon, narrated by the incomparable Davina Porter. It was one of those moments where the world outside the window and the one unfolding in my ears seemed to merge, like two rivers meeting after a long journey apart. You can almost feel the damp chill of 18th-century Scotland, taste the peaty smoke of a Highland fire, hear the lilting cadence of a voice that carries centuries.

*Dragonfly in Amber* is the second chapter in Gabaldon’s sweeping Outlander series, a tale that stitches together historical fiction, romance, and a touch of sci-fi fantasy through the magic of time travel. It picks up with Claire Randall, a woman who’s already leapt from 1945 to 1743 to find love with Jamie Fraser, a gallant Scottish warrior. Now, twenty years later, she’s back in the 20th century with her grown daughter, Brianna, returning to Scotland to unveil secrets that have simmered beneath the surface for decades. The story unfolds like a tapestry being unrolled—slowly at first, then with a rush of color and texture as it sweeps from the misty hills of Scotland to the glittering, intrigue-laden courts of Paris under Charles Stuart. It’s a narrative of love that defies time, of a mother and daughter wrestling with legacy, and of a fight to alter a doomed uprising that history has already etched in stone.

Listening to this audiobook reminded me of a time when I stayed with a family in Oaxaca. Every evening, their grandmother would gather us around, her voice weaving tales of love and loss with a cadence that held us spellbound. She’d pause at just the right moments, letting silence amplify the weight of her words. Davina Porter channels that same storytelling alchemy here. Her narration is a masterclass—every character distinct, every emotion palpable. Her Scottish burr rolls over you like a fog off the moors, and when she shifts to Claire’s crisp English or Brianna’s modern American twang, it’s seamless. The audiobook experience feels intimate, as though she’s sitting across from you, sharing this epic over a cup of tea—or perhaps a dram of whisky.

Thematically, *Dragonfly in Amber* digs into the messy beauty of human connection. Claire’s love for Jamie isn’t just passion; it’s a choice, a struggle, a tether that pulls her across centuries. Gabaldon explores how we carry the past—not just in memory, but in the blood and bones of those who come after us. Brianna’s journey, wrestling with her mother’s revelations, mirrors that universal tug between who we are and where we come from. There’s a scene where Claire stands among the standing stones, the hum of time itself vibrating through her, and I couldn’t help but think of my own travels—those moments when a place feels alive with stories it’s desperate to tell.

Porter’s performance elevates these themes. At nearly 39 hours, this audiobook demands a narrator who can hold your attention, and she does. Her pacing is deliberate, letting the tension of a Highland skirmish or the ache of a farewell linger. The audio quality is pristine—crisp and warm, with no distractions to pull you out of the story. It’s the kind of listening experience that makes a long drive fly by or turns a quiet night into an adventure.

That said, it’s not flawless. The plot can meander—Gabaldon’s love for detail sometimes slows the pace, especially in the Paris sections, where political machinations pile up like cobblestones. For some, the sheer length might feel daunting; it’s a commitment, not a fling. And while Porter’s accents are spot-on, a few minor characters blur together in the sprawl of the cast. Yet these are small quibbles in a work so rich with atmosphere and heart.

Compared to other historical fiction—like Philippa Gregory’s *The Other Boleyn Girl*—*Dragonfly in Amber* leans harder into romance and fantasy, its time-travel twist setting it apart. It’s less academic than Hilary Mantel’s *Wolf Hall*, but its emotional stakes hit just as deep. Fans of audiobooks like *The Time Traveler’s Wife* might find a kindred spirit here, though Gabaldon’s world is broader, wilder, steeped in the grit and glow of Scotland.

Who’s this for? Anyone who loves a story that sweeps you up and carries you somewhere else—history buffs, romantics, seekers of hidden truths. If you’ve ever stood in a place and felt its past whisper to you, this audiobook will resonate. And if you can snag it for free (check sites like Audiobooks.com for trials), it’s a steal—a ticket to another time without leaving your chair.

Reflecting on it now, *Dragonfly in Amber* feels like that drive through the Highlands: winding, unpredictable, breathtaking. It’s a reminder of why I love stories—how they connect us to each other, to the past, to ourselves. Porter’s voice still echoes in my mind, as vivid as those Oaxacan evenings or the surreal stretch of the Atacama Desert, where I once lost myself in another audiobook. This one’s a journey worth taking.

Until our next adventure, amigos,
Marcus Rivera