Customer Reviews

The Fiery Cross

5 star:		(107)
4 star:		(63)
3 star:		(50)
2 star:		(92)
1 star:		(71)

 

 

Wow! After loving all 4 books of this serie, I could not wait to read the fifth! But what a sad, pathetic attempt this was! It would have been better to leave it at four books! The story was already told. Now, I feel it spoiled it to drag all these beautiful characters in this new installment. If you want to read these book, stick with one through 4.

Ok, I have to admit that the first time I read this book I just about didn't make it through...I loved the fast paced plotting of the first four books in the series, and then came to this one and found that there was nothing pushing me on to finish all 1200 pages! I recently re-read the entire series, this time really focusing on the actual writing, characters, etc. rather than racing through to see what happens next. In some ways I still think that this is the weakest book in the series...it reads more like essays about life in North Carolina interspersed with short stories with a bit of action. But the writing is so amazing. I feel like I can almost picture Fraser's Ridge and all of it's inhabitants...normally I skim descriptive passages, but Gabaldon's are so well written that they really draw you in. And while there was not really one overarching plot to tie the book together, the "short stories" contained within it were up to her usual standard of funny, imaginative and penetrating.

This book in the series is less action more story about the characters lives in 1770 America. At first I found the book hard to get into. But, once past the first 300 pages, the story of the characters start to unfold. Jamie and Clair seem so real. I am so in love with their love story. In this book, I was even more connected to the two of them and am sad to have to end the book even at 1400 plus pages.

I can't really comment too much on this book, because I didn't finish reading it. I read the first few chapters and got very bored with it. That was a few years ago. I still have no interest in finishing it. It's such a shame ... the first four books were wonderful.

In my opinion, Diana Gabaldon continues to enthrall readers with her tales of the Fraser family in this novel of her Outlander series. Once again, her book is filled with intriguing events that put readers through the emotions of fear, rage, sadness, joy, love, and more. The book is well-written and hard to put down once one has started reading it. I look forward to the next book in the series.

I love every book in this series. The narration is wonderful on this set of tapes, but I was disappointed in what they cut out of the story.

Gabaldon's writing is so descriptive it is really a waste to hear it cut down. Take the time to either read it or listen to the unabridged book.

The closer I got to the end of the book, the slower I read - I didn't want it to end! Diana Gabaldon truly has a gift for describing details and making you feel like you're right there with Jamie and Claire - Roger and Bree. Love... Adventure... Excitement... I think this series is excellent and I can't wait for the next one!

I was obsessed with Jamie and Claire for about 2 months. Yes, it took me only 2 months to read all 4 original books. I literally couldn't put any of them down. I had them with me at all times so I could sneak in a quick page or two at work or in dead stopped traffic. I waited, very impatiently i may admit, for this book and it satisfied me, but only for the moment.

Diana really outdid herself with detail this time. Granted, I still couldn't put this one down either...but I kept wondering why there was so much seemingly useless (and endless )excess detail. She seemed to concentrate more on everything OTHER than Jamie and Clair in this book....which leads me to believe that the next few installments will focus on Roger and Bree's life together.

I realize she does alot of research so her descriptions are accurate. But come on Diana! All we really want to hear about is Jamie and Claire...and now Roger and Bree! We don't care about Aunt Jocostas 6 chapter wedding party!

Out of the five Outlander books, this one took the longest for me to really sink my teeth into. The first 169 pages all take place on the same day, at a gathering of the clans. Gabaldon takes her time introducing us to the people and customs of 18th century North Carolina, including the various ways that bodily functions and fluids were handled before disposable paper goods. Thankfully, the gathering eventually ends and the Fraser clan makes their way back up to the mountain ridge where life is much more interesting.

With the American Revolution on the horizon, Claire and Jamie and their growing family enjoy a quiet family life (and a little tragedy) while preparing for the war they know is coming. Along with new friends and family members, there are of course new enemies as well as new time travelers.

While not my favorite of the series (that's a tie between Outlander and Dragonfly in Amber), I still enjoyed this book quite a bit and am anxiously awaiting the publication of book six.