The Fiery Cross (Outlander)

I am a very well-read person. (I was going to say man, but in today's woke culture, genders have become obsolete.) We're talking thousands upon thousands of books. Yet I have never--ever--read a 1400+ page novel. Until now, when I just put down THE FIERY CROSS, the 5th installment of Diana Gabaldon's amazing Outlander series. And I enjoyed every second of the experience. Gabaldon continues the story of the budding settlement at Fraser's Ridge--of Claire and Jamie Fraser, of newly-arrived time travelers Brianna and Roger MacKenzie, of adopted family members Fergus and Marsali. Day to day life was often difficult and harsh in the North Carolina mountains, yet the Fraser clan found a way to persevere. In order to maintain his grant of 10,000 acres from the governor, Jamie must form a militia of settlers to fight the Regulators--a band of fellow settlers opposed to the government's taxes. Fortunately, the "fighting" is minimal, yet the Revolutionary War is looming, just three years distant. Which prompts the question: With war on the horizon, should Roger and Bree go back through the stones--provided toddler son Jemmy can also travel? And while the question is pondered, is there another threat looming? (Stephen Bonnet, anyone?) This question is answered at the very end of this enormous story. I got ahead of myself by watching the Starz TV series Outlander Season Five . Having now finished the actual book the show was based on, I was amazed at how completely different both vehicles are--in so many important aspects. This was by far the biggest departure from Gabaldon's story than any of the preceding novels; I wonder why. In particular, I would love to know the motives of the showrunners to end the TV season with the brutal assault of Claire--when there is no such attack in the book, and the leader of the assault is a character who is barely in the story. It makes me more disappointed in the series than the novel, but I digress. **SPOILERS!** I know I am enjoying the skill and talents of a literary master (mistress?) when I come upon events in the story where I could literally not stop reading. These page-turning experiences were, to me, more prevalent in THE FIERY CROSS than in the previous installments, beginning with the horrific suffering and carnage in the Beardsley cabin. The murder--and subsequent autopsy of the body by Claire--of a slave woman at River Run, and how the event climaxed, was another. Finally, the hanging of Roger by British soldiers, and his miraculous survival, followed by his snail-crawling recovery, kept me busily turning pages. (I had to continue to apologize to my employer for being so late returning from my lunch hour.) Gabaldon has pulled off a literary faint accompli with her Outlander series. Millions upon millions of fans can't be wrong. And the 5th installment, the 1400-page (turning) THE FIERY CROSS, is more than worthy to take its place in this series. I very much look forward to the next installment. ~D. Mikels, Esq.

I would have to say that of all of the books up to this point for the exception of the first in the series, this was my favorite. I really don't know how much more a person could say about this series simply because it has all been said before but in order to let out my emotional release and passing of this book to reenter to yet another story in the series, I want to pay respect to the departure. Diana has a remarkable ability to strip the flooring right out from beneath you. For all of those places in the book where everything felt good, right, secure, comfortable and very enjoyable, humorous and passionate, she has the ability to strip it all away and leave you in anguish and in pain. You the reader, will need to read the book to feel this space in the story that will forever change your love and comfort in one of her characters in the story. I wanted to be so mad at the turn of events and yet I stand in awe and respect that Diana has the balls to take her story to a place that will alter the reader. There were some very fun surprises in this book that had the power to grip you and keep you in stitches and yes, keep turning page after page because the thought of laying the book down for a moment to go to the bathroom or eat, invited separation anxiety. And yet, I could really do without the mortal conflict in this story as well. (I will leave that up to the reader to discover as well.) I found myself skipping sentences rather quickly because either I could not keep up with the painful descriptive unfolding of events or ... I just wanted to get past the parts that were of absolute no interest to me ... yes, as much as I LOVED this book, there were some places like that. I love seeing Claire expand on her gifts as a "Healer" and I loved falling deeper in love with Jamie who never wavers from his fearlessness and yet is willing to expose his fears and vulnerabilities. He reminds me to look at my own husband with such fondness and see the same qualities that I have in my own companion. Jamie a delicious character who some may find as simple fantasy and yet I find myself thankful that I have those same qualities in my own man. Actually, one could say that this book is fantasy based on the time period and the characters and yet they mirror my own life to some degree. I could slip the people in my life into the characters in this book and see many, many similarities in my own life. Perhaps I do have a delicious life after all and this book reminds me to be mesmerized and captivated at the turn of events and the characters that fulfill the rolls. Is there REALLY any difference between fantasy and reality? It's all a story that is being told it's just that one story is put on paper for the world to see and the other is lived and played out in the mind. Oh sure, we may go through the movements but in truth, our mind is where we spend most of our time. Yes, this is a delicious, delicious story! Now ... onto the next one ... A Breath of Snow and Ashes

"The Fiery Cross" is the fifth and last book in Diana Gabaldon's extraordinary "Outlander" series. Claire and James Fraser have weathered more storms than most, crossed oceans and centuries to make a life together, and this last novel is the culmination of all their struggles. We were first introduced to Jamie and Claire right after Claire made the voyage from peaceful 20th century Scotland to 18th century Scotland and total mayhem. We witnessed passion, love and friendship grow between this couple as they began married life, and experienced adventure, adversity and attempted to alter history. Now they have finally settled in North Carolina along with their daughter Brianna, her husband Roger, their son Jemmie, many of their family members and friends from Scotland, including most of Jamies fellow prisoners from Ardsmuir and hundreds of refugees in exile in the wake of the Jacobite rebellion. The novel opens as "The Fiery Cross," used to summon highlanders to war, is lit again at the 1770 Gathering of Clans in the Royal Colony of North Carolina. William Tryon, North Carolina's governor, has asked Jamie to gather men to form a militia in order to put down a local uprising - one of the many precursors to the Revolutionary War. Unlike Ms. Gabaldon's other novels, this is not a book focused on adventures and conflict, with many plot twists and turns, although there is no lack of excitement here. "The Fiery Cross" is all about character growth, interpersonal relationships, survival in the wilderness, and the mature love of a middle-aged couple who adore each other. We have witnessed Claire and Jamie live, work and love, almost as one entity - now they experience what it is like to be family elders, surrounded by loved ones, and wrestle with commonplace chores and leadership issues. Claire, now a beautiful matron in her 50s, spends much of her time utilizing her physician's skills and searching for ways to bring 20th century science to her 18th century practice. James is the founder of the Fraser's Ridge community and acts as an unofficial clan chief to all the families who look to him for leadership. Brianna and Roger, and Fergus and Marsali are young couples coping with a heavy daily work load and parenting. This is a period when backbreaking work, from first light to last, is necessary for survival. Many may not care for this book as much as they did for the others, but I believe that this may be our last glimpse of the Frasers and am glad to see them settled with their loved ones and still very much in love with each other. The Fraser family, especially Claire and James, have come to mean so much to me. They are aging and Ms. Gabaldon clearly shows the toll that the years and their plights have taken. Now she allows her characters to experience some stability, home life and joy of family. Diana Gabaldon has an imagination for which I will always be grateful, and she is as skilled a writer as there ever was. She develops characters so that they truly come to life and remain with the reader forever - no small accomplishment. Her ability to capture the essence of a loving relationship, whether between lovers, spouses, parents and children, or friends can easily move her readers to tears. The dialogue is excellent and the wonderful Scottish dialect, interspersed with Gaelic, adds much to the novels' credibility and the readers' enjoyment. The "Outlander" books are my favorite series and Jamie and Claire my favorite literary characters. "The Fiery Cross" is a worthy culmination to a glorious saga. JANA

It's hard to know what to say in this review that would be any different that what I've written in reviews for the previous Outlander books. That said, I'm just going to list some if my impressions as I read. 1. Jaime and Roger. Their difficult relationship was one of the more interesting aspects of this book for a couple of reasons. One, Jamie is a kind of a SOB when it comes to Roger throughout most of the novel. I like seeing that element of humanity in Jaime as he is sometimes written as more heroic than is easily believable. Two, I like that their relationship evolved into one of mutual respect by the end of the novel. 2. Roger. I've begun to really like Roger and appreciate the fact that his struggles as a modern man with the alien environment in which he found himself after his travels through the stones may have been more significant and trying than Claire's. He had a rough time of it in this novel. Nearly beaten to death by Jaime and Ian, forced into slavery to the Indians, sent into enemy territory by Jaime where he ended up being captured and hung and then, finally being nearly burned to death (accidentally) in a fire set by Jaimie would have made the normal person flee to the stones to get away from his maniac father-in-law, but Roger persists out of his love for Bree and Jemmy. His character really evolves in this novel and is one that will be interesting to follow in the upcoming books. 3. Jaimie. As mentioned earlier, Jaimie read more fragile and human than he has previously. He's got the weight of his family, his tenants, his reluctant obligation to the royal Governor, an impending war and an estranged relationship with his sister plaguing him. The chinks in his armor were much more apparent and I like him all the more for it. At one point he receives a letter from Jenny forgiving him for what happens to Ian and it is one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. 4. Bree. Less annoying in this novel, thankfully. 5. Claire. Much more into her herbs and medicine in this novel. There were a couple of incidents that stretched my credulity: the slave woman's autopsy and the use of a snake fang as a hypodermic needle. Both have some basis in reality, but I just felt them a little outlandish, but not so much so that it hurt my appreciation for Ms. Galbadon's considerable imagination. Overall this was one of the better ones for me in the series. Galbadon writes the quiet moments of Jaimie's and Claire's, Roger's and Brianna's relationships rather like poetry. They read realistically and beautifully. Her powers of description are on par with Stephen King. Bottom line, she writes a cracking good story that has me already reaching for book six.

This review is for the entire series. To those who rate it low b/c it is "too long"...did you not notice that before beginning it? To those who say there is too much sex...it IS technically classified as "romance"...skip the sex scenes, it won't take away from the story. To those who say there are inaccuracies (historical,factual)...it is a novel written for entertainment purposes with characters who are not all-knowing, not a history book for educational purposes. To those who say there is no plot...you may want to work on your reading comprehension skills. Ok. When my husband first brought this book back with him from Iraq (donated to the USO)and he told me he was reading a historical-fiction/romance/fantasy/time travel book, I teased him. I thought no way could such a book be an actual worthy read. I am a constant reader. I have to always have a book. So, when I was in-between books, I picked up this book just to pass the time. Don't make the same mistake I did..DO NOT be fooled by the genre. Don't make the mistake of thinking that these are typical bodice-ripping Highlander trash-romance...they are not. They are real literature. I do not enjoy romance novels, though I will read one if it is the only reading material available. I have to say that this series of books, though they do contain sex scenes, is NOT romance. They are a complex tale full of an entire cast of well-developed characters. I have been on the discussion boards that center around this series. Most of the women seem to be in love with (at least the idea of) the main male character, Jamie. As proof of how good the story told and the writing in this book is, I need to say that the physical description of him (and some parts of his personality) are a complete turn-off to me. He is pretty much the opposite of what I like. However, you don't need to be attracted to a character to enjoy reading about them and to grow to admire and care about them. The love story between Jamie and Claire is quite inspiring, so much so that my husband and I actually got matching tattoos inspired by the books. These stories are so well-written and in-depth, that I read them aloud to my children (simply not reading the child-inappropriate parts aloud) and all of them, from my 7-year-old daughter to my 18-year-old son, are as captivated as I am. These books weave the tale of well-developed, multifaceted characters, exploring their personal growth, interactions and relationships with one another, their people in their communities, and some well-known historical figures, all within the context of various historical time periods. From Jacobite-era Scotland to pre-revolutionary North Carolina (and many places in between), you will follow a brilliantly-written, gripping saga and you will be a part of a world you won't want to leave.

Loved the series, love the books so much more. Reading always trumps seeing it on TV or the big screen. It allows your imagination to run wild. Looking forward to book 6.

Reviewed at Another Look Book Reviews My Re-Read Review of The Fiery Cross The Fiery Cross was a re-read for me. Originally I read it in 2010 and the entire Outlander series never really leaves my mind. I was really looking forward to this particular re-read of The Fiery Cross because I had originally rated 4 of 5 hearts . Looking back, was I crazy? The Fiery Cross is definitely worthy of a 5 rating without a doubt. I highly recommend re-reads. I do remember I was like a savage reader of this series in 2010. I was so desperate to read as fast as I could and to fit as much Jamie and Claire into my day as possible. This time around in 2012, I know how everything ends so I was much more paced and I just really sat back and enjoyed each chapter. I absorbed more of Jamie and Claire's daughter, Bree and her husband, Roger's scenes and I found myself much more interested in reading about the Gathering. The Fiery Cross starts off at the yearly Scottish Gathering. I remember thinking the first time around, 'when is this Gathering over with already'. But this time I paid much more attention to the names of the secondary characters. As many of these characters make repeats later in this book and I recalled them much more clearly. I also paid attention to some of the subtle hints that were placed on some of the secondary characters for future book plots. The Fiery Cross also marks off the beginning of the militias and ignites the sparks that later fueled the American Revolution. Once again I am reminded that the first time I read The Fiery Cross I was not really having much interest with the American Revolution (as I am Canadian) but since Diana Gabaldon places so much historical accuracy in her books, I found my eyes glued to the pages this time. For fun I used Wikipedia to see if some the characters she was writing about really existed. (as I mentioned I'm Canadian and we focus on Canadian history in school) I did find Herman Husband and a few others (Governor William Tryon) and I took the time to read more about their bios. I actually found it fascinating. There are some memorable and fabulous scenes in The Fiery Cross. As usual Diana Gabaldon delivered a kaleidoscope of emotions. Here are some of my favourites without too much of a spoiler. I laughed out loud when Claire finally built her microscope and she tried to have a medical discussion with Jamie. "So what ye've got there is broth that the mold has pissed in, is that right." Not to mention the most fabulous sperm discussion. My heavy heart at the mention of Ian. The warmth I felt for Jamie and Claire's love for each other. "Tell her...I meant it." The gasping of my breath with Roger's misfortune I also found I paid much more attention to the descriptions of Jamie and Claire's big house. I picture a different whitewashed residence than I previously did and the layout of the farm is placed differently in my mind now. I have a completely different view of Jamie's aunt Jocasta's house too. One thing does remain completely the same for me on this re-read of The Fiery Cross. The last last line of the book is still the best of any book I have ever read.

This is the fifth book in the Outlander saga, and it was amazing. I love these books so very much, they are the perfect mix of historical fiction and sizzling romance. Claire and Jamie are the ultimate couple who travel through time to be with one another. This series is one of the very best that I've ever read, and I love all the characters in them.