Outlander Book Club: A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 81 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

The foreshadowing comes at the end. The start of it is more about plot development. Things will get worse for Claire and Jamie before they get better.

But at the end, we get the foreshadowing of who the baby could belong to. Bobby and Young Ian are both fighting, and we know later that it’s about Malva. Both of them have slept with her, even if the people at the Ridge don’t know. Maybe that rumor should have spread to stop the rumors about Jamie, although Tom wouldn’t have wanted that!

I think Allan coming out to protect Malva also foreshadows some things. It’s clear that Malva is struggling with the lies, and Allan is concerned that the truth is going to come out. He can’t let that happen, can he?

Adapting A Breath of Snow and Ashes chapter

Some of this chapter was used in the TV series. We got to see the discussion between Roger and Bree. This discussion was slightly different, though. Bree had no idea about affairs until Frank’s memorial when Sandy came up to Claire. That’s when Bree and Roger learn the truth, and it’s no wonder Bree is so concerned that Jamie isn’t as loyal as he makes it out to be.

I don’t mind the change to the chapter. It fits with the story that the TV show has told us up to this point.

The bit completely missing from the chapter was everything involving Bobby Higgins. Well, and the Christies, but that scene was replaced with Claire going to see Malva and Allan.

We didn’t get to meet Bobby Higgins in the TV series in Season 6. That doesn’t really surprise me considering how much needed to fit into the show with so little time. I wouldn’t be surprised if Bobby was skipped over completely, although I do then have to question what they’ll do with Amy McCallum. It is possible that Bobby will be introduced in Season 7 just to deal with Amy’s storyline, especially if she does move to the Big House to be the housemaid now that Lizzie’s storyline has played out.

What did you spot while reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes Chapter 81? Let us know in the comments below.

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