Besieged

Lord John Grey #3.75

by Diana Gabaldon, Jeff Woodman (Narrator)

In which Lord John, anticipating a voyage home to England after his brief stint as military Governor of Jamaica, instead finds himself on his way to Cuba, where the British navy is preparing to lay siege to Havana - and where the Dowager Duchess of Pardloe (aka John’s mother) is a guest (and potential hostage) of Governor Juan de Prado.

One of the two final novellas of Seven Stones to Stand or Fall. This collection of Outlander novellas are all dealing with the interesting side-stories and lacunae of the Outlander universe.

©2017 Diana Gabaldon (P)2017 Recorded Books

Genres: Historical Fiction, Outlander, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical, Fantasy, Novella

Audiobook

First published October 29, 2018

About the author

Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and is of Hispanic and English descent (with a dash of Native American and Sephardic Jew). She has earned three degrees: a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D in Ecology, plus an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Glasgow, for services to Scottish Literature.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .

Reviews

[Linda ~ they got the mustard out! ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally read as part of Seven Stones to Stand or Fall; now rereading on audio of same anthology.

Lord John is always a fun time and I wish Gabaldon would write more of his adventures. He always seems to find himself in the thick of things. This time, a slave revolt while trying to get to his mother and family, who are also beset with by a plague. Do they know how to vacation or what? So John and his long-suffering valet, Tom, are off to see what's what.

Jeff Woodman is Lord John to me, and it's always a treat to hear him narrate these stories.

[Joan Maten · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite characters is John Grey’s mother. She seems to be a woman ahead of her time. She lives life fully and doesn’t appear to conform to the standards of her time. This short story highlights her plucky attitude. Her and John have a deep relationship that is refreshing. Her spirit lives in her son. Enjoyable!!

[Travis Herring · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good way to wrap up the Lord John stand alone stories. Overall, they're a great collection that really lets you connect with that character and his cohorts. Highly enjoyable, and a lighter read than the main books. A good read if you want a break from Jamie and Claire, but want to remain in that world. Well done!

[Jax · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finally finished the last two short stories in the Lord John universe. I never read (or watched) any Outlander so I didn't have to deal with his marriages, only his occasional (annoying) pining for Jamie. I hope there will be another full length Lord John novel at some point. I'd hate to end on these stories involving slave uprisings on Jamaica and Cuba that had zero romantic interludes for our guy.

[Barbara Langlois · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting. Lord John has done it again. . . Taking us on a journey beyond belief. Enjoyed every minute.

[Tanja Glavnik · Rating 4 out of 5]

I swear, only Lord John can keep on falling head-first into situations like the siege of Havana.

How is it possible???

I don't know, but it's definitely hilarious!

[Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay. It didn't really grab me, but there were some interesting parts. Overall kind of 'meh'.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last fill in story. So good to get a taste of these characters again.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good addition to the series

[Katrin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok but I didn’t really care for the story around the slave revolt. I just definitely prefer to her about Lord John and his life in London or in the military. Especially stories with his family (his brother) are my favourites.

[Cassie C · Rating 3 out of 5]

The most interesting part of this novella for me was the author’s note about sperm whales.

[Jillian Ferry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The detailed descriptions and historical connections in this book were remarkable.

[Karisa Sortor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading about his mother

[Madison Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not remember a single thing about this book. Only the author's note at the end about sperm whales. Hope Lord John Grey finds love someday... cause it didn't happen in these novellas.

[Storm · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collected in Seven Stones to Stand or Fall, this Lord John Grey Series novella from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Universe takes place in 1759 during the events of Voyager. As Lord John Grey's stint as Governor is about to end, his stepfather, General Stanley, tells him England is about to lay siege to Cuba so Lord John must go rescue his mother, cousin and nephew from Havana. Luckily General Stanley has stolen requisitioned a fast ship, ready to go.


Lord John now has to navigate local customs, a language he doesn't understand and contend with another revolt organized by his philandering cousin-in-law, the detestable Malcolm Stubbs we last met in The Custom of the Army. Despite his somewhat noble aim, he's planning to use the locals and I still can't stand him!


Overall this is a decent novella. I must confess to being more interested in John's mother, who is a fascinating character, than most of the other action going on off-page. We don't get to learn nearly enough about the revolt, which is mostly glossed over in favor of family shenanigans, nor do we see the aftermath of this, so the novel ends with some answered questions, which I hate.

[Judy Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella about Lord John Grey's time in Jamaica is very interesting. I enjoyed reading about his life. In these short takes, fans of this series get to find out about the lives of other characters. Lord John is faced with rescuing his mother and his cousin from Cuba. The British navy is about to start a siege. This is very fast paced and shares a lot of details about Lord John. If you are a fan of this series, you will enjoy catching up with Lord John.

[Louisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story right around the end of Voyager, loved getting this final Lord John Grey story in his own series! Can't wait to continue the Outlander series now after around 3 years, waiting to finish off this series first!

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

While Diana's wring was impecible s always, this selection did not resonate with me. I did not become invested in any one characyer rreally.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Besieged by Diana Gabaldon is book 3.75 of the Lord John Grey mystery series set in 1762 Jamaica. John has served his duty as governor, is eager to depart; packed and ready. But instead, he must rescue his mother and sister from Cuba before the British Navy fleet arrives to wage war. That would be suspenseful and challenging alone...now add yellow jack (plague) and a slave revolt. Lord John is resourceful, imaginative, and compassionate.

The ensuing tale of 'derring do' is enhanced by delightful, entertaining quotes:

"...the feeling of wariness developing small, prickling feet inside his stomach."

"The general patted the air in a vague gesture of reassurance that failed singularly to reassure."

"A diplomat...Well, well...Stubbs probably did diplomacy well--given his demonstrated skills at lying, deceit, and dishonor..."

"...shook her head violently, as though dislodging bats..."

"He was actually capable of dressing himself, though both he and Tom acted on the tacit assumption that he wasn't. But what he missed most at the moment was the sense of solemn ceremony that attended Tom's dressing him in full uniform. It was as though he assumed a different persona with scarlet coat and gold lace, Tom's respect giving him belief in his own authority, as though he put on not only uniform but armor and office."

"He'd had no idea mango trees grew to such a size; this was an old grove, the trees each more than a hundred feet in height, the leaves rising and falling gently on the evening breeze, making a sound like a sea overhead."

"Well, best get on with it. He wasn't armed, save for the regimental dirk at his belt. Nothing was going to get them through this but words, so best start talking."

"Persons who have truly interesting lives never write about them -- or not with an eye to publication, at least. The ability to keep their own counsel is one of the things that makes them interesting and is also what causes other truly interesting people to confide in them."

"I suppose that's why you haven't yet married, is it? I didn't think a wife needed to be interesting (he replied). Most of the ones I know certainly aren't."

"The duty of a survivor. Not everyone lives to be old, but if you do, I think you owe it to those who didn't. To tell the stories of those who shared your journey...for as long as they could."

[BooksInTheCorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

La novella si apre a due anni dalla fine dell'ultima lettura (secondo l'ordine dato dall'autrice) e troviamo John alla fine del suo mandato come governatore militare della Giamaica. Pronto a lasciare il posto al nuovo governatore, Grey non si aspetta di contribuire all'assedio di Cuba da parte del suo esercito e strappare l'isola agli spagnoli.


Ancora una volta, Gabaldon si innesta nella storia con una certa maestria e colma dei buchi narrativi importanti presenti nella saga principale. Questa è un'opera breve che si concentra principalmente sul potere della parola, dell'onore e sulla sottile arte della diplomazia. Promesse fragili che vengono mantenute ed altre, al contrario, che sembrano granitiche e che si sciolgono come burro al sole.

Ho apprezzato ancora una volta la capacità di calarsi in ambienti ben lontani da quelli di riferimento, contribuendo a diffondere nozioni di storia e geopolitica che spesso risultano sconosciute ai più, condendo il tutto con uno stile leggero e ironico, talvolta, e da picchi di pathos che lasciano col fiato sospeso.

Come sempre, attendo con ansia di poter mettere le mani sulla prossima lettura.

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great way to end Lord John's novellas/novels. With Gabaldon books, I never can tell someone why I love them so much, there are certainly parts that are slow or there are many details and people that I find myself having to flip back or Google to remember, but I just do. I absolutely adore Lord John and am a tinge sad that he won't be the main character anymore. Don't come for me, Outlander fans, as of course I love Jaime as well, but there are some things that Jaime does that irritate me. More on that in other book ratings, but Lord John? Just a class act. He is a bit creepy and obsessive when it comes to Jaime, but overall, he was a great character to follow.

Now to this book: I love how Gabaldon is able to fit so much in so little pages. We have a siege, sickness, and a slave revolt all in 63 pages. You've got the classics in Tom Byrd, which I mean who doesn't love good ole' Tom? And appearance by Benedicta as well. I actually usually hate lead women, as I believe they are poorly written and are normally whiney and illogical, but not Benedicta, who is the true matriarch of the Grey family, and who wears it well.

[Lyndal Simpson · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Note. Review is of the written text version which I couldn't find on Goodreads, not the audio version.

I actually enjoyed this more than I did A Plague of Zombies. This one centred around the impending British siege of Havana and Lord John's efforts to get his mother, cousin Olivia, and her children out of Cuba before that happened.
My main gripe was that this ended quite abruptly, with the outcome of the siege still up in the air. That wasn't a huge problem, but it did leave me wondering what happened to this character and that, which was an issue given that this story is pretty much the end of the line for the novellas and short stories (at least those written to date). Regardless, it was a good read. I really like Lord John's mother. It would be good for Tom Byrd to be more of a character in his own right. Does he appear in any of the Outlander novels alongside Lord John? I can't recall that he does, which is weird given that he is constantly beside Lord John in the novellas/short stories.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick, fast-paced and exciting. A lot happens in this novella, and it’s amusing how Lord John seems to get in the middle of everything, despite his efforts and desire of living a normal, low-key life. I enjoy the Lord John stories set in London more, but the setting of Jamaica and Cuba and exploring the food and nature there was interesting. With this being the last of the Lord John John novella’s, I wish there would have been more of a finality to it, especially when it comes to characters like Tom and Hal. Nevertheless, Grey’s mother Benedicta was a strong side character, and I enjoyed seeing Malcolm Stubbs and Rodrigo make reappearances. I think someone reading this would need to have read the previous LJG books in order to understand the full story of Besieged, so I wouldn’t say it can be read as a standalone. However, I like how it provides a bridge for Lord John between his adventures in London and where we find him in Jamaica near the end of Voyager.

[Vick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is doubtless the best book of the Lord John’s series and I think one of the best, if not the best, of the whole Outlander series.
The book is perfect on its own, and though I believe it would be hard for people who has no reference about the characters feel as acutely as I felt with the happenings in this book, it certainly is a perfectly written, delightful book.
It’s both terribly funny and terribly sad. It has a strong, compelling and fun beginning, as in all Lord John’s books, but it has something that most of Diana Gabaldon’s books lack of: A perfect ending.
Most of Gabaldon’s endings feel forced or abrupt or a big “whatever”, and it comes with the fact that they are pieces of an ongoing story, or history if I may say.
In this book, she does not make that mistake and gives you a suiting yet bittersweet closing to the narrative.

[Shahira8826 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Besieged" by Diana Gabaldon was a bit too short for me to get fully invested in the story.
I would have enjoyed it much better if we could have gone a bit more in depth into both subplots--the siege of Havana *and* the slave revolt.
Still, the writing style was impeccable as always, and the plot twist at the end absolutely gut-wrenching.
My favourite quote from this short story (which might very possibly be my favourite quote in the whole Outlander universe) is:
"The duty of a survivor. Not everyone lives to be old, but if you do, I think you owe it to those who didn't. To tell the stories of those who shared your journey... for as long as they could."
This sentence is beautiful and delicate and, in my opinion, the best description of literature I've ever encountered.

[Nikole · Rating 5 out of 5]

🎧 What makes Lord John so lovable? His loyalty? His honorable conduct? His inability to sit still while his loved ones are in danger /or ill? If you are a decent human, he will answer the call. He shows up for his mother, for M.Stubbs (almost choked laughing with his inner thoughts about this man lol), and many more while Havana is under siege. We even got to have Rodrigo (from the last book🧟‍♂️) come along with him to Cuba, which was touching at the end. I would be so curious about Lord John mother’s memoir, she raised one of the best.

Also Diana’s note at the end about whale oil and whale spermaceti (since she is a retired marine biologist) was a fun little “learn something new everyday” moment 🤣 🐳

[Katie The Librarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Lord John Grey so I am happy that this exists. I thought I had read almost all of the Lord Grey books so I was glad to find this one. I don't think this was my favorite. Occasionally in Diana Gabaldon books I lose track of what is actually happening, particularly during battle scenes. That happened for me in this one. It might just be me but I finished it and I was like "what did I miss". Still I am not sorry that I listened.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather quick read, supporting character Lord John Grey stars in this novella set in Cuba during the British siege of 1762. Interesting adventure for this otherwise supporting character. Not a lot of character development but rather a quick adventure story. As usual, if you're into the Outlander universe, it's a fun read. Otherwise, move on.

[Cindyann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio
Very short Lord John Grey story where he is off to remove his mother from Havana before it is besieged. It may have been housecleaning on her end and killing off characters that weren't headed anywhere. The series, as a whole, is my all time favorite but I admit I've lost the love glow once they all left Scotland.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una de las aventuras de Lord Jhon, que enlaza perfectamente con la línea temporal de los libros de Outlander, en el que se ve qué es lo que ocurre con Jhon después de que haya dejado su puesto como gobernador de Jamaica. En este caso, en lugar de descansar como es debido después del encargo, se encuentra camino a la Habana, para desenredar el lío en el que ha terminado metida su madre.