The Exile

The Exile retells the opening of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander saga from the other side. Instead of following Claire, it follows Jamie Fraser, and it is her first graphic novel, with artwork by Hoang Nguyen. Readers who know the original will find familiar events seen through new eyes, and newcomers get a way into the story.

Jamie is a young Scottish exile who has been away far too long. Going home to Scotland is dangerous, because Captain Black Jack Randall, the sadistic British officer who has already crossed swords with him, has put a hefty bounty on his head. His godfather, Murtagh, swore to Jamie's dead parents that he would protect their headstrong son, and keeping that promise looks like a hard job.

Safety is no surer among Jamie's own kin. At the court of the powerful MacKenzie clan he becomes a pawn between his two uncles. Colum, the aging chieftain, demands Jamie's loyalty or his life. Dougal, the clan's war chieftain, would rather see Jamie dead than named Colum's heir.

Then Claire Randall enters his life. She is mysterious, striking and stubborn, and she stirs both his compassion and his desire. Murtagh suspects the Old Ones sent her, and Captain Randall accuses her of spying. Claire is plainly hiding something, yet Jamie cannot believe she would harm him. He also senses that she is caught between a life with him and whatever keeps pulling her thoughts elsewhere.