A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Tschakka! I've just finished another ham.

That Ending Though!!

It was truly a remarkable and unexpected conclusion. The story had been building up anticipation, and then, boom! The ending just blew me away. I was left with my mouth hanging open, completely shocked and amazed. I can't wait to share my detailed thoughts and analysis in the upcoming review. There were so many elements and twists in the ending that I need to carefully dissect and discuss. It's one of those endings that will stay with you long after you've finished reading. Stay tuned for the review coming soon, where I'll delve deeper into the brilliance of that ending and explore all the aspects that made it so unforgettable.

Fist read... Jan 2012

Second read... March 2013

First listen... 2013

Second listen... Oct/Nov 2014


This was my second reading of the book, and I have to say that the story and DG's writing still manage to amaze me.

Although I could recall the major events from my first read, it was the seemingly smaller moments that really stood out to me this time around. The story is so rich and full of life, filled with elements of family, adventure, love, heartbreak, trials, and the enduring passion that exists between Jamie and Claire.

It's truly a captivating tale that draws you in and makes you feel as if you are a part of their world.

If Goodreads would allow it, I would毫不犹豫地 give this book 6 stars. I absolutely fell in love with the entire Fraser family all over again. Their relationships, their struggles, and their triumphs are all so beautifully depicted that it's impossible not to be moved by their story.

This is a book that I will continue to revisit time and time again, and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical romance or a story that will tug at your heartstrings.

4.5/5

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6), Diana Gabaldon

A Breath of Snow and Ashes is the sixth installment in the captivating Outlander series penned by Diana Gabaldon. The story revolves around Claire Randall, a time-traveling 20th-century doctor, and her 18th-century Scottish Highlander warrior husband, Jamie Fraser. This series beautifully combines elements of historical fiction, romance, adventure, and science fiction/fantasy.

Claire, as the wife of Jamie Fraser, finds herself in the midst of the politics and turmoil leading up to the American Revolution. In the previous novel, The Fiery Cross, political unrest in the colonies was starting to reach a boiling point, and the Frasers were attempting to live peacefully on their isolated homestead in the foothills of North Carolina. However, Jamie suddenly faces a difficult抉择. He must walk a fine line between his loyalty to the oath he swore to the British crown and his hope for freedom in the new world. This conflict within him adds another layer of complexity to the already rich and engaging story.

The first reading date was on the seventh day of March in 2018. The title in Persian is " بیگانه (غریبه): کتاب ششم: نفس برف و خاکستر"، and the author is Diana Gabaldon. Claire, along with her 18th-century husband Jamie Fraser, is confronted with the politics and turmoil of the upcoming American Revolution. The previous novel, "The Fiery Cross", began with political unrest in the colonies, and Jamie Fraser tried to live peacefully in his secluded home in the foothills of North Carolina. Suddenly, Jamie is faced with the challenge of choosing between loyalty to the vow he made to the British crown and his hope for freedom in the new world. And...; A. Sharbiani

**4.5 stars**

This book, this series, is an absolute love fest. It's truly a remarkable collection that has captured the hearts of many. You would have to have a deep affection for it to have come this far in the series and be dedicated enough to read these long books. I'm always a bit hesitant to start one, but once I do, I'm completely swept away. And then, when I'm finished, I'm filled with a profound sense of sadness.

As with all the books in this series, DG manages to pack an enormous amount of "happenings" into them. In fact, I actually had to take notes to keep track of everything. But I'm not sure I can really discuss them without spoiling something. Suffice it to say that this book will take you on a roller coaster of emotions. Everything you think might happen will indeed happen, and then some.

Here are some things I want to highlight, although you may not understand them if you haven't read the book:
♦ Claire's surgery/ether
♦ Cherokee agent/naked women
♦ Lizzie/Manfred/Bobby
♦ Roger/Amy/"calling"
♦ Claire event #1/Donner
♦ Henri-Christian/Ian with the wolf hide
♦ Claire event #2/her hair
♦ Fergus!!
♦ Ian and Bree's trip
♦ Lizzie/Jo/Kezzie
♦ lice/Roger & Jem
♦ Malva !!! (knew who it was!)
♦ arrest/Governor's house/Tom Christie
♦ Bonnet!!
♦ Amanda
♦ Brianna/Will
♦ Jamie's "dreams"
♦ stones
♦ fire/gold
♦ BOX!!

This is another fantastic addition to the series. I loved Claire and Jamie and Roger and Brianna! However, I didn't care for all the war talk and the correspondence. Thankfully, it was only a very small part.

Favorite quotes:
♥ “Ye’ve no idea how lovely ye look, stark naked, wi’ the sun behind you. All gold, like ye were dipped in it.”
♥ “If I die,” he whispered in the dark, “dinna follow me. The bairns will need ye. Stay for them. I can wait.”
♥ “Ye’ll do, Auntie,” he said. “It’s still you, isn’t it?”
♥ “Claire,” he said, quite gently, “it was you. It’s always been you, and it always will be. Get into bed, and put the candle out. As soon as I’ve fastened the shutters, smoored the hearth, and barred the door, I’ll come and keep ye warm.”
♥ “Ye’re mine, Sassenach. And I would do anything I thought I must to make that clear.”
♥ “But we are here, all of us. And we’re here because I loved you, more than the life that was mine. Because I believed you loved me the same way.”
♥ “I canna look at ye asleep without wanting to wake ye, Sassenach.” His hand cupped my breast, gently now. “I suppose I find myself lonely without ye.”

This book is a must-read for fans of the series. It continues to build on the rich and complex world that DG has created, filled with unforgettable characters and thrilling adventures. If you haven't started this series yet, now is the perfect time to do so. You won't be disappointed.

Diana Gabaldon's writing is truly amazing. She has this remarkable ability to continuously guide me through this captivating life journey along with Claire and Jamie.

There is no doubt that the drama within these pages never ceases. Readers are now thrust into the full-blown American Revolution, where Jamie once again finds himself in the face of danger.

The drama only intensifies as Claire too encounters forces that are almost beyond her capabilities to overcome and escape. As they age, this couple's love for one another only deepens.

There are answers to some of the past mysteries, but at the same time, new ones emerge for us to contemplate. We are treated to more of the growing family, which continues to impact the storyline with even greater intensity.

And now, off I go to continue my Outlander marathon in Number Seven, eager to see what new adventures and revelations await.

The first book truly captivated me with its intricate details and engaging plot. I was completely immersed in the story.

The second book, however, took a rather unexpected turn with a significant time jump that initially made me angry. But then, it managed to bring me joy again.

The third book continued to hold my interest firmly, keeping me hooked.

Unfortunately, the fourth book had a somewhat sluggish pace, which was a bit of a letdown.

The fifth book, on the other hand, made me long to listen to all the previous parts again. Gabaldon's excessive focus on homesteading, though, was a bit overdone.

The sixth book frustrated me with its slow-moving story, overemphasis on details, and the continued and rather inexplicable use of multiple narrators. This only seemed to prolong my agony.

If the last two books have been less than ideal and even a waste of time, I wonder why I still continued the series and moved on to "A Breath of Snow and Ashes". I really wish I knew the answer.

The writing in this series is far from great. It is repetitive and often worthy of an eye roll or a snort of disbelief. Gabaldon uses the same phrases, descriptions, and dialogue repeatedly, which gets old very quickly.

Moreover, the entire series feels like one big, bad soap opera. The villain, Stephen Bonnet, is like the Stefano of the eighteenth century, suffering countless ways to die but always managing to survive and torment his victims.

Despite all this, I keep listening, yelling at the characters for their stupidity and getting anxious on their behalf, even though I know they will all survive for at least two more books. I seem to be trapped in the Outlander world and can't find a way out.

In the early books of the series, the sex scenes were a unique aspect of the romance novel. They were actually crucial to the story, allowing readers to learn more about Clare and Jamie's vulnerabilities and sensitivities.

However, in these later novels, the sex scenes have lost their charm. There is nothing new to learn about Jamie and Clare, and the descriptions have become rather off-putting.

Jamie's comments about Clare's body make him seem like a lecherous old man, which is just wrong. And the excessive attention to all females' breasts is both annoying and disappointing.

Then there is the issue with Jamie and Clare's daughter, Bree, and her husband, Roger. I really don't like them. Bree is one of the most spoiled and stupid characters in print, and Roger became thoroughly uninteresting after marrying her.

Their presence in the story often causes more complications than solutions, and their sex scenes are neither erotic nor romantic.

The problem is that I have already spent so much time listening to these audiobooks that I can't bring myself to quit the series now. I still want to know how Jamie and Clare die and get some closure.

So, I will continue with the series, onto book 7 and eventually book 8 when it is released next year. Maybe by then, Gabaldon will have made it possible for me to say goodbye.

Until then, I will likely continue to experience more yelling, eye-rolling, and general frustration at the slow pacing, repetitive syntax, unnecessary narrative shifts, and completely unnecessary sex scenes. It truly is the book world's equivalent of a daytime soap opera.