Helpful Score: 5
Picked this one because I liked the cover. When I started reading it, by page 4, it dawned on me that I know these people. And that I liked them. Read Outlander, Voyager and Drums of Autumn years ago. (Didn't read the Amber one) Fiery Cross is just as good, thank goodness, because it is 1441 pages long. Well worth the time spent reading it.
Helpful Score: 3
Of all the books so far in the series, this is the hardest to get through. The first third of the book consists of the Frasiers at a clan gathering of all the Scots in the new world. This in itself is kind of cool however, I don't think we needed to hear the intimate details of a bunch of ex-highlanders who had absolutely nothing to do with the Frasiers. It took forever and was boring as hell. The rest of the book was enjoyable in a kind of everyday life kinda way. Just learning how Jamie, Claire, Brianna and Roger survived life in the 1700s some of which was very fascinating. What they did to Roger in this book was heartwrenching. I cried many times while reading about his trevails.
I really enjoyed the ending of this one...bringing everyone together again and set the stage for A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I can't wait to start it and see what is in store for our friends.
I really enjoyed the ending of this one...bringing everyone together again and set the stage for A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I can't wait to start it and see what is in store for our friends.
Helpful Score: 2
DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT STARTING TO READ -THE FIERY CROSS -UNLESS YOU HAVE AT LEAST A WEEKEND AT TOUR DISPOSAL-THE YEAR IS 1771' AND WAR IS COMEING.JAMIE FRASER'S WIFE TELLS HEM SO.BECAUSE OF CLAIRES GIFT OF DREADFUL PROPHECY-GOOD BOOK!!
Helpful Score: 2
The Fiery Cross is the fifth installment in the time travel/historical adventure series by Diane Gabaldan. The central character is Claire Fraser, a 20th century woman who accidentally traveled back in time in the 1940's and ended up in 18th century Scotland. She returns to her own time pregnant from her true love, and then returns again to find him 20 years later. Now Claire is settled with her 18th century husband and is building a life in the 18th century--right before the American Revolution.
Claire, her husband Jamie and her daughter Brianna live on an enormous property in the mountains of North Carolina. The rigors of frontier life from a 20th century perspective are detailed in an interesting and captivating manner. Claire is a trained surgeon and works to provide medical services using 18th century tools. As the revolutionary war approaches, Claire and Brianna's knowledge of the events of the future create tension and fearful anticipation for her family.
This installment of the series is interesting and lively. Gabaldan has grown as a writer. Altogether a worthy successor to the Outlander time travel series.
Claire, her husband Jamie and her daughter Brianna live on an enormous property in the mountains of North Carolina. The rigors of frontier life from a 20th century perspective are detailed in an interesting and captivating manner. Claire is a trained surgeon and works to provide medical services using 18th century tools. As the revolutionary war approaches, Claire and Brianna's knowledge of the events of the future create tension and fearful anticipation for her family.
This installment of the series is interesting and lively. Gabaldan has grown as a writer. Altogether a worthy successor to the Outlander time travel series.
Helpful Score: 1
I love all of Gabaldon's books, including this one. In this book she expands on Brianna & Roger's relationship and leads up to the American Revolution. Jamie & Claire take their place as leaders in this small portion of the world.
Helpful Score: 1
The "Outlander" series are my favorite books of ALL time! They're so absorbing, so addictive, such painstaking attention to detail...just awesome! This is #5 in the series and is jam packed!
~~Michelle W.
~~Michelle W.
Helpful Score: 1
I liked this one even better than the last, which frustrated me with its timing of switching subplots. Very long, but enough interesting new developments and minor surprises to keep it engaging. The family saga continues in this volume. Not yet at the Revolutionary War years, but the events leading up to it. I wasn't that attached to the daughter from the previous books, but she definitely developed her expertly in this one. I now am much more curious about knowing what will become of her and her husband.
Helpful Score: 1
I had a tougher time with Voyager and with the Drums of August, but this book was one of my favorites of the series. While I sometimes feel that since the novels are so long, Diana Gabaldon tries to explore every horrible or strange thing that could possibly happen to a person (Almost all the main characters have been raped, stabbed, various beating and near death experiences). However, her writing style is so wonderful and the characters are so real and so well drawn and fleshed out you feel like you are right there. And seriously, who wouldn't want Jamie around??
Helpful Score: 1
Great read, especially for those who are already a Gabaldon fan. Jamie and Clare continue to build their lives in pre-Revolutionary North Carolina. The scene swings from a Scottish Gathering in the backwoods, to the Fraser lands, to the high society of Charleston. I highly recommend it!
Helpful Score: 1
I really like the Outlander novels, this is the 5th book in the series. This is not usually the type of books I read, but I do strongly recommend them. However you do need to read them in Order and they read a little slower than some books. I am looking forward to the next one in this series.
Helpful Score: 1
The year is 1771, and war is coming. Jamie Fraser's wife tells him so. Little as he wishes to, he must believe it, for hers is a gift of dreadful prophecy-a time-traveller's certain knowledge. Claire's unique view of the future has brought him both danger and deliverance in the past: her knowledge of the oncoming revolution is a flickering torch that may light his way through the perilous years ahead..... /a little slow for me cause I like lots of action but a good read.
This is another great book in the Outlander series. This one took me a little longer to get into than the previous books. In my opinion, this is not one of the best books in the series, and it rambles on a bit from time to time, but overall it's a good read.
Helpful Score: 1
Wonderful part of the "Outlander" series ... a passionate mix of history, romance and energetic storytelling. I seriously wanted to hop on a plane to Scotland after reading just one of these books. Great because you can start in the middle of the series and not feel left out, but once you read one, you'll definitely want to read the rest of them!
Helpful Score: 1
A great book. It's the continuing saga of time traveller Claire who went back in time to be with Jaime. They are now settled at Frasier's Ridge in North Carolina with their daughter Bree and bree's husband Roger and son Jemmy.A Colorful,insightful and suspenseful book.
Helpful Score: 1
My absolute, most favorite series in the world ever! She writes such beautiful, haunting books that have adventure, romance, intrigue, travel, history...you name it, it's in it! She makes me laugh, cry and hope that all of her books won't ever end.
I cannot tell you how many times over the years that I have found myself wondering about Claire and Jamie as if they were personal friends of mine instead of characters in a book.
I cannot tell you how many times over the years that I have found myself wondering about Claire and Jamie as if they were personal friends of mine instead of characters in a book.
Helpful Score: 1
I love her books but they are so long, I have to admit that this one was not my favorite in the series. I waiting on book 6 now and I'm hoping it will meet my expectations and go out with a bang!
Helpful Score: 1
Vol 5 of the Outlander series. this is the most astonishing Outlander novel yet.
In the year 1771, Jamie Fraser has been told by his time traveling wife, Claire, that war is coming. Jamie must believe for Claire has the gift of dreadful prophecy.
In the year 1771, Jamie Fraser has been told by his time traveling wife, Claire, that war is coming. Jamie must believe for Claire has the gift of dreadful prophecy.
Helpful Score: 1
I love this series. I have read the first book three times. All of the books feel so real. This is a great store for those who relize there are down sides to love to.
excellent book. the whole series is awesome!
Helpful Score: 1
Excellent time-travel story.
I just love all these books and find them so hard to put down, its just an epic saga that is so much fun to read. I love Jamie Fraser!!!
This is a long book. Long. The first couple of hundred pages all take place at the wedding. A lot happens after that, new characters appear, old characters reappear, quite a bit of action.Though it is long, you get caught up in it, as usual, with Diana Gabaldon books, and you may just forget you are living in the 21st century.
Like all of her series, continues to develop the story line and characters in this time travel adventure. Well done!
Excellent, but I love this series anyway.
I can't decide if Gabaldon is crazy or a genius. Can ANYTHING else happen to this poor family? Can life get any more challenging? But of course. Bring on the American Revolution! I LOVE IT!
Another brilliant time-travel novel from Gabaldon. #5 in the series.
The fifth book in the Outlander series, and very satisfying--but a reader must begin at the beginning, not start with this one. Diana Gabaldon's research and writing abilities are stunning and would be apparent even to someone reading this book as his/her first experience with the author, but the plot line would not be anywhere near as meaningful without the background from Outlander and the other three books that precede it.
I started reading this book, but just couldn't get into it. It sounded like a good story.
This fifth book in the Outlander series, at 1400+ pages, is a continuation of the story of Jamie and Claire. I thought it dragged somewhat, but I still enjoyed it and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I enjoy Diana Gabaldon's writing and I feel like I'm living through each moment of each book with the characters ... she writes in such vivid detail.
Excellent book.
This is great book to continue in the series. It took a while to get into the book, but it is a great ending. Couldn't wait until the next one.
This entire series is just breathtaking and this one is even better than the first one.
Ya gotta love Claire and Jamie!
Great read like all the books in this series
Great ending to a superb series!
Great read - I'm hoping that she writes another book. I've enjoyed all the books in this series.
The continuation of the story of Jamie and Claire was worth waiting for.
Not the best in the series but stil great to be able to see all the characters you know and love.
i read these books a while ago. i am very happy to have this book in my collection.
I really enjoyed this series but couldn't quite get going on this one. Never finished it.
Excellent! I love this series. Wonderful storytelling. I can never put the books down.
Love, love, love this series!!!
Loved it like all the others!
I only finished this book because I want to know how the series ends. This installment in the series dragged on too long, introduced too many characters, and had too many side stories that meandered on for 100's of pages but did nothing for the central story line. I skipped most of the last 200 pages and don't feel like I missed anything.
The story of Jamie and Claire continues, October 1770 through October 1772. Jamie and Claire, along with Brianna, Roger, Fergus, Marsali and assorted other Scottish immigrants, have established their settlement at Fraser's Ridge. The book opens with a Gathering of the region's Scottish folks, where marriages are celebrated, children baptized, and news of the wider world exchanged and discussed. Tensions are growing between the colonists and the English government as shown by some of the things that happen at the Gathering. Jamie's continued possession of his land is dependent on remaining in the good graces of the governor, so he finds himself responsible for leading local militia if it is needed.
Major events for the book: A trip to River Run for his aunt Jocasta's wedding finds Jamie and Claire involved in a murder mystery where Claire's medical expertise discovers the how but not the why. Jamie's leadership is called on when the militia is required to stop a rebel group called the Regulators. Jamie attempts to stop the battle before it can happen, instead Roger ends up in a traumatic situation that nearly kills him, and alters his life as he knows it. A hunting trip nearly turns deadly for Jamie. Jamie and Roger continue their attempts to track down Stephen Bonnet, and Ian returns to the Ridge.
Interspersed with the major events are the details of daily life in Colonial America. The descriptions are vivid enough that I could easily picture the scenes as I was reading. Some of them were pretty funny, such as almost anything dealing with pigs.
In this book, the relationship between Brianna and Roger continues to strengthen and grow. Their wedding is both funny and very emotional. Both of them are still adjusting to life in the eighteenth century, though Roger sometimes seems to have a harder time of it. Though the true paternity of Brianna's son Jemmy is still not known, Roger works his way through his own feelings about it. After the events of the battle with the Regulators, Roger has to find his way through his depression to find his new reality. I really enjoyed seeing he and Jamie grow closer. Roger is moved by Jamie's confidence in him at various critical points in the book, which does good things for his confidence.
As always, the love that Jamie and Claire have for each other burns bright and strong throughout the book. They have settled into their lives on the Ridge, with each one contributing their individual strengths to the process. I loved their support of each other, even when they didn't agree. Jamie's protectiveness is always foremost in his mind, but he knows when it is a losing battle to argue with her. Likewise, Claire knows that asking Jamie to be anything but the Highland warrior he is would be asking him not to be himself. But for all his toughness, there is the romantic in him that he expresses so beautifully: "When the day shall come, that we do part," he said softly, and turned to look at me, "if my last words are not 'I love you'--ye'll ken it was because I didna have time." It is that love that brings him back from the edge in the frightening episode with the snakebite. There are also times when the things he says are laugh out loud funny, such as when he sees his sperm in Claire's microscope:
"He bent and kissed me briefly, then headed for the door. Just short of it, though, he turned back.
"The, um, sperms ..." he said, a little awkwardly.
"Yes?"
"Can ye not take them out and give them decent burial or something?"
I hid my smile in my teacup.
"I'll take good care of them," I promised. "I always do, don't I?"
Also running through the book is the continuing search for Stephen Bonnet. The grief that he has already caused for the family, plus the threat of his continued existence, makes it vital for him to be dealt with. As they learn more about his activities, it becomes obvious that he is a far larger threat than they had previously thought. Jamie holds himself responsible for Bonnet's freedom, and he and Roger have a plan to resolve it. Claire says it best when she states "While the Lord might insist that vengeance was His, no male Highlander of my acquaintance had ever thought it right that the Lord should be left to handle such things without assistance." A scary encounter between Bonnet and Claire, Brianna, and Marsali has an unexpected ending, but leaves the issue hanging to be continued in the next book.
The issue of time-travel comes up when Ian returns to the Ridge at the end of the book, bearing a gift for Claire from the old Mohawk woman. It is a notebook that had belonged to the one known as "Otter-Tooth". Its revelations are eye-opening and frightening and give the family quite a lot to think about. Out of it all, my favorite part is "Mmphmm," Ian said, and his face lighted with an expression of profound satisfaction. "I knew ye weren't a fairy, Auntie Claire!"
As frequently happens with Gabaldon's books, what appear to be minor characters move in and out of the story, often for little apparent reason. But it is a rare occurrence when one of these characters doesn't have a purpose, even though it may not be known for another book or two. I have learned not to dismiss anyone as unimportant.
Major events for the book: A trip to River Run for his aunt Jocasta's wedding finds Jamie and Claire involved in a murder mystery where Claire's medical expertise discovers the how but not the why. Jamie's leadership is called on when the militia is required to stop a rebel group called the Regulators. Jamie attempts to stop the battle before it can happen, instead Roger ends up in a traumatic situation that nearly kills him, and alters his life as he knows it. A hunting trip nearly turns deadly for Jamie. Jamie and Roger continue their attempts to track down Stephen Bonnet, and Ian returns to the Ridge.
Interspersed with the major events are the details of daily life in Colonial America. The descriptions are vivid enough that I could easily picture the scenes as I was reading. Some of them were pretty funny, such as almost anything dealing with pigs.
In this book, the relationship between Brianna and Roger continues to strengthen and grow. Their wedding is both funny and very emotional. Both of them are still adjusting to life in the eighteenth century, though Roger sometimes seems to have a harder time of it. Though the true paternity of Brianna's son Jemmy is still not known, Roger works his way through his own feelings about it. After the events of the battle with the Regulators, Roger has to find his way through his depression to find his new reality. I really enjoyed seeing he and Jamie grow closer. Roger is moved by Jamie's confidence in him at various critical points in the book, which does good things for his confidence.
As always, the love that Jamie and Claire have for each other burns bright and strong throughout the book. They have settled into their lives on the Ridge, with each one contributing their individual strengths to the process. I loved their support of each other, even when they didn't agree. Jamie's protectiveness is always foremost in his mind, but he knows when it is a losing battle to argue with her. Likewise, Claire knows that asking Jamie to be anything but the Highland warrior he is would be asking him not to be himself. But for all his toughness, there is the romantic in him that he expresses so beautifully: "When the day shall come, that we do part," he said softly, and turned to look at me, "if my last words are not 'I love you'--ye'll ken it was because I didna have time." It is that love that brings him back from the edge in the frightening episode with the snakebite. There are also times when the things he says are laugh out loud funny, such as when he sees his sperm in Claire's microscope:
"He bent and kissed me briefly, then headed for the door. Just short of it, though, he turned back.
"The, um, sperms ..." he said, a little awkwardly.
"Yes?"
"Can ye not take them out and give them decent burial or something?"
I hid my smile in my teacup.
"I'll take good care of them," I promised. "I always do, don't I?"
Also running through the book is the continuing search for Stephen Bonnet. The grief that he has already caused for the family, plus the threat of his continued existence, makes it vital for him to be dealt with. As they learn more about his activities, it becomes obvious that he is a far larger threat than they had previously thought. Jamie holds himself responsible for Bonnet's freedom, and he and Roger have a plan to resolve it. Claire says it best when she states "While the Lord might insist that vengeance was His, no male Highlander of my acquaintance had ever thought it right that the Lord should be left to handle such things without assistance." A scary encounter between Bonnet and Claire, Brianna, and Marsali has an unexpected ending, but leaves the issue hanging to be continued in the next book.
The issue of time-travel comes up when Ian returns to the Ridge at the end of the book, bearing a gift for Claire from the old Mohawk woman. It is a notebook that had belonged to the one known as "Otter-Tooth". Its revelations are eye-opening and frightening and give the family quite a lot to think about. Out of it all, my favorite part is "Mmphmm," Ian said, and his face lighted with an expression of profound satisfaction. "I knew ye weren't a fairy, Auntie Claire!"
As frequently happens with Gabaldon's books, what appear to be minor characters move in and out of the story, often for little apparent reason. But it is a rare occurrence when one of these characters doesn't have a purpose, even though it may not be known for another book or two. I have learned not to dismiss anyone as unimportant.
The fifth book in the "Outlander" saga, taking place in 1771 in the lives of Claire and Jamie Fraser.
I love this series.
Sadly, I find myself so flaming tired of this entire series. The characters are no longer interesting to me and the story makes me feel as if I'm stuck in a BAD time warp. I'm done.
As with all of the book before it, "The Fiery Cross" is so good. It is rich with detail and full of everyday life. Love, loss, happiness, blessings, trials and triumphs. Definitely worth the read.
This edition in identical to the Bantam Dell American edition. It has been assigned a new ISBN for export purposes. In English, it is then sold in foreign countries.
Terrific enchanting and exhilarating read, it made me stay on the edge of my seat and relish the time I could spend reading further into the story. A must read for anyone who wonders the time and space fragments and who dreams of different travels.
This book is just as good as all her other books, which are well worth reading and hold the reader in its grip throughout the story.
No one does it like Diana Gabaldon. This series ROCKS!!!!
