Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade: A Novel (Lord John Grey Book 2)

FINAL DECISION: A winding walk through 18th Century England with Lord John Grey who is investigating the truth of his father's allegiances, preparing his troops for war, and trying to live his life as a gay man where dangers threaten at every turn. The character of John is so vivid here, that I enjoyed this journey.THE STORY: In the mid 1700s, Lord John and his brother are both soldiers in the Seven Years' War. As their mother prepares to marry again, secrets from their father's death and questions of whether he was a Jacobite traitor arise again. Lord John looks into the matter and someone seems to be taunting the family and threatening Lord John int he process. At the same time, Lord John's new stepbrother is attracting Lord John's attention.OPINION: This book rests almost entirely on the character of Lord John. I enjoy reading of his life and how he deals with the complications of his family, his sexuality and just how he fits into the historical events of his time. He is a complex character. He has an unrequited love for Jamie Fraser, but he continues to live his life.This book is driven by the mystery surrounding Lord John's father's death and whether he was a Jacobite sympathizer. However, while that is the framing of the story, this book is also about relationship and family and the dangers and events that Lord John experiences in his historical time period.I enjoyed this book quite a bit and am more and more impressed with the historical depth of Gabaldon's books.WORTH MENTIONING: Jamie makes a couple small appearances here in a book that happens during the events of VOYAGER.CONNECTED BOOKS: LORD JOHN AND THE BROTHERHOOD OF THE BLADE is the second book in the Lord John Grey series which is a spinoff of her Outlander series. I don't know if people read these books apart from the Outlander books, but I think that this book assumes a reader already knows who these characters are so I would only recommend this series if a reader is familiar with the Outlander booksSTAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

Gabaldon is tremendously popular from her "Highlander" series and especially from the TV series that it has spawned. I have not read her before, having watched the shows and become acquainted with her in that way. She is a powerful writer perhaps crossing that invisible border from popular writer into literature, works for the ages. She puts the reader right into the story and keeps us there. She is detailed in her historically and very inciteful in her descriptions of human relations. I like to read historical works for a better understanding of a time and place that I will never be able to actually experience. Diana Gabaldon, a famous resident of my state of Arizona and of whom we are justly proud, does exactly that. With a title like 'Brothers of the Blade', I expected a rousing historical work of courage and carnage. It is set during the Seven Years War, a global conflict. But no. It is a murder mystery involving the high aristocracy of England. Quite good on that basis, but not what I expected. I also did not expect long passages of homoeroticism. Also quite well done, but again not what I expected.

Lord John is one of the most interesting characters in the Outlander series and I am delighted Ms Gabaldon is giving him more time on the page. I enjoyed this book immensely. I believe it was an enlargement of a novella I had read in the past but it does better as a full length novel. We see John Grey as a soldier, a son, brother and a lover and he is admirable,grounded and honest in each role. I believe it would be a confusing read for anyone who had not previously read the Outlander series because Grey's feelings for James Fraser would not be as understandable without that back story. I also was very impressed with the author's strong convictions as to the essential decency and natural nature of homosexual love and lust. When Grey states he would not choose to become heterosexual if given the option, and clearly is very comfortable as a gay man, while also being a man or honor, of courage, a leader of men, and a good friend I was moved and educated.

Without realizing I had come to care deeply for the characters, at one point in time I became so angry with the author over a plot development I had to stop reading. I was afraid of what would become of a new character introduced into the world of Lord John. I'm glad I decided to finish the novel - not because the author provided an easy ending, but because the myriad, intricate plot threads were so beautifully, if poignantly, woven into an historically accurate but emotionally honest of bittersweet whole. Ms. Gabaldon does not shy away from the ugliness of the past, no matter how disturbing we might find it, and she had an exceptionally clear grasp of the social and psychological consequences for people in a society bound by a culture of honor. Intricate, interconnected, and brutally honest, this is a virtually perfect novel.

This is a novel in the Outlander Lord John series that gives some background on Lord John Grey's history and character, including his relationship with his step brother, his military service, and the scandal and investgation surrounding the death of his (and Hal's father.) A very small bit of the story touches on his relationship with Jamie Fraser, so if you are more interested in that background, you may be more interested in reading the novel "The Scottish Prisoner" which is also part of this Outlander off shoot series.

I had to stop reading after about 1/3 through the book. The two smitten gay male characters had no time together, and no private exchanges (verbal or physical); however, the author kept teasing about a grand romance. Every 8-10 pages I had to stop and do research on a name or event or place irresponsibly thrown in the story without context or explanation - novels are read for escapism, not homework. And, who the heck are these brothers (Jamie and James) that the main character seems to have had a weird, steamy, semi-incestuous love triangle with? Sloppy writing. I'll stick with the experts: Jordan Hawk, Charlie Cochrane and Kirby Crow.

I love the Outlander books bit, because there is such a big time lag between the books coming out, I’ve also read all the other books Ms Gabaldon has written. I do wish she’d get on with the Jamie & Claire saga though and stop trotting out all this other stuff!I found the story far too confusing; I only finished it last night but, apart from the basics, I really couldn’t tell you what it was about. The author likes to use a lot of words, and sometimes I totally lose track of what she’s trying to say; also we had far too many pages filled with John & Percy gazing at each other etc etc etc. We've all got the picture about Lord John’s sexual preference - but I didn’t buy the book to read all about their passionate encounters; I wanted the back story on the Jacobite traitors and the late Duke of Pardloe, but the majority of the book seemed to be the live story of Percy & John!We’re all eagerly awaiting the next instalment of Jamie & Claire’s story, but I guess these books are quicker to push out (less research?) therefore money coming in. I’m afraid I won’t be wasting anymore money on these books though.One more thing ..... I know Ms Gabaldon is American but there were quite a few ‘americanisms’ in the book, and these don’t seem appropriate when writing about 18th century England (example: the porch area of a London house is described as a ‘stoop’)?

I love the fact that this story lets us see further into Lord John's family relations. His delightful mother is getting married and he and Hal will be gaining not only a step-father, but a step-brother. Lord John is instantly attracted to Percy but he still loves Jamie Fraser.The action mainly takes place in London and Prussia but we do get to visit Helwater and Jamie. Two of my other favourite characters, Stephan and Harry Quarry appear too. There's a very emotional revelation about John's father's apparent suicide. Plus a mystery relating to some pages of his father's diary which are being delivered to Hal and their mother.It's a very enjoyable read and helps to fill in details of everyone's lives during the period of Claire's return to the 20th Century.

As an ardent and very long term Outlander as the series of books has now become . I find this side story mundane and self indulgent and suggest the author concentrate on the main story where Hercules are more suited. That she make up her mind and write the ending

A wonderful mix of boys own adventure and period romp with one of the few gay title characters in this genre of fiction. For all its length the story fizzes through ad you follow the adventures and misadventures of Lord John and his romantic entanglements. However all this is underlaid by a strong grasp of the era in which it is set

interesting, complicated, entertaining story, full of events, finally reaching a solution to an old problem...it is an adventure story, with honourable heroes and filthy villains, plots, counter plots, politics and diplomacy...amusing and interesting...