The great thing about book eight is that while books five through seven feel a little bit like treading water, Written in My Own Heart's Blood feels like there is finally some real forward momentum, and Gabaldon dishes it out at a good clip. Plus, there are some significant deaths that will have you openly weeping when they happen.
Warning: Spoilers
The Revolutionary War that has been looming since book four is finally here, so that's huge. With it come two deaths — Rollo (sniffle) and Fergus's son, Henri-Christian (sob), who is only 4 years old. That one is a particular gut-punch.
In cheerier news, Jamie finally starts to forge a real relationship with William because William figures out who his birth father is, and the Mackenzies return to Fraser's Ridge.
There are also some time-travel shenanigans involving Roger in 1739 Scotland that are actually pretty interesting and should come into play in the upcoming ninth book.
