The Fiery Cross by diana gabaldon

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InternetINk

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

“When the day shall come, that we do part,” he said softly, and turned to look at me.

His eyes held a depth of emotion that made my heart skip a beat.

I could see the sincerity and the pain in them, as if he was already dreading that moment.

“If my last words are not ‘I love you’—ye’ll ken it was because I didna have time.”

His voice was filled with a tenderness that made me want to hold onto him forever.

I knew that he meant every word he said, and it made me realize just how much he truly cared for me.

In that moment, I felt a connection with him that I had never felt before.

It was as if the world around us had stopped, and it was just the two of us, sharing this precious moment.

I knew that no matter what happened in the future, this moment would always be etched in my memory.

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meeebro

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5) by Diana Gabaldon is a captivating installment in the Outlander series.

It follows the adventures of time-traveling Claire Randall and her 18th-century Scottish Highlander husband, Jamie Fraser. The story is a rich blend of historical fiction, romance, adventure, and science fiction/fantasy.

Claire, now a reluctant oracle and wife to Jamie, faces the political turmoil of the approaching American Revolution. The previous novel, Drums of Autumn, ended with Jamie and Claire helping their daughter and son-in-law from the 20th century settle on Fraser's Ridge. The Fiery Cross picks up where it left off, with Brianna and Roger about to formalize their marriage and baptize their son.

As unrest brews and the American Revolution looms, Jamie is called to form a militia to suppress the beginnings of rebellion in North Carolina, putting his life at risk for a king he knows he must soon betray. Gabaldon ties up several loose ends from the previous novel, revealing mysterious plots and characters along the way. By the end, the Frasers and their family are on the brink of war, leaving readers eager for more.

The first reading date was March 4, 2018. The title in Persian is "Foreign: Book Five: The Fiery Cross; Author: Diana Gabaldon." The strange story of Claire Randall Fraser unfolds as she, a World War II nurse, travels to Inverness, Scotland, with her husband Frank in 1945. There, she stumbles upon a sacred place with standing stones and follows strange sounds, only to find herself in 1743 Scotland, the time of her husband's ancestor, Black Jack Randall. She meets a brave Scottish warrior named Jamie Fraser and eventually marries him. Their love story blossoms, and in this fifth book, their daily lives are presented with such detail that the reader's focus is easily diverted from the story of time travel. a. Sharbiani

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gamermed

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

About 3.5 stars for me.

I listened to the audiobook version of this book - all 55 hours of it. Yup, 55 hours. It's truly a long journey. Luckily, the narrator Davina Porter is amazing. Her performance does make the book come alive. She brings the characters and the story to vivid life, making it easier for the listener to immerse in the world of the book.

I've listened to the first 4 books in this series back to back and now it is time for a break. While I love Jamie and Claire deeply, I kind of don't have the same intense feelings for Brianna. Maybe it's because her character development didn't resonate with me as strongly as the others.

The historical aspect of the book is interesting. It makes me think about how different life was in the 1700's compared to the 1970's. However, I feel that it would be incredibly difficult for someone to jump from the modern era to the past without making some gaffes. As I listened to the book, I thought about all the things we take for granted like electricity, indoor plumbing, sanitation, vaccines, household appliances, big box stores, etc. and wondered how I would do without them. It really makes you appreciate the conveniences of modern life.

Anyhow, I'll get back to this series as the TV show catches up. I can't wait for that! I'm curious to see how the show adapts the story and brings the characters to the screen. It's always exciting to see a beloved book come to life on TV.

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inukagome134

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

3 1/2 - 4 stars.

As with the previous Outlander books, there were aspects that I loved, and some that I didn't really care for.

Pros:

I loved that the focus was on Roger a lot of the time. He is such a wonderful character and it was nice to see him shine a bit. His growth and development throughout the story were truly engaging.

I also adored the quiet moments between Jamie and Clare. Their love story is simply timeless, and I never tire of it. The love scenes, although fewer in number in the last couple of books, are always a perfect blend of sweet and steamy, adding just the right amount of passion to the narrative.

The return of a beloved character was like a warm embrace. It truly did my heart good and brought a smile to my face.

Cons:

I have stated this before and will likely repeat it after reading the rest of the books in the series. DG seems to take an absurd amount of pleasure in torturing her characters. In this book, poor Roger was the main target of her wrath. How many horrible things can one character endure in the course of just one book? It felt almost excessive at times.

Some sections, especially towards the end, seemed overly drawn out. I found myself nearly skimming through them. The cat and mouse game involving Bonnet has been going on for far too long and needs to be wrapped up soon. However, I did enjoy the bit of revenge that Bree managed to get on him this time around.

Other readers have mentioned this in their reviews, and I can't help but agree. The constant descriptions of Bree needing to breastfeed Jemmy, of her leaking breastmilk, and of changing his diapers were just too descriptive and repetitive. It felt like overkill and detracted from the overall story. DG seemed intent on making sure the readers understood how much of a handful baby Jemmy could be, but the message was received loud and clear after the first few mentions.

This obviously wasn't my favorite book in the series. But, even with the issues that I have with certain aspects of the story, the Outlander universe is still one of my all-time favorites. I can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead for Jamie, Clare, and the rest of the gang.

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Isuspep

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

2014: Sigh of contentment:

Book Five is truly one of my absolute favorite installments in one of my all-time favorite series. It simply couldn't be any better. Diana Gabaldon is an absolute genius. I firmly believe that I'll never grow tired of reading these books. Although my family might wish otherwise as they know that when I'm immersed in the eighteenth century with Jamie and Claire, there's a good chance there will be no dinner for days on end. The knowledge of what's to come gives added depth and meaning to the most seemingly innocent of earlier events. There are countless clues and minor characters that will prove to be of great significance later on. I'm going to attempt to stretch out my rereading of the next two books in anticipation of MOBY's June release, but I'm quite certain that'll turn out to be impossible.

2016: I still feel exactly the same way. I love this book with all my heart.

2020: Every time I embark on reading this series, I initially think perhaps it's book one or book two that's my favorite. But then I reach the end of TFC, and no, this one without a doubt is the one that holds my heart the most (a little more than the others, at least). “For the sake of love alone, would I walk through fire again.” That sentiment truly resonates with me.

There's just so much to love! The writing is as brilliant as always, and from start to finish, it's a non-stop adventure filled with action (even when on the surface there might not seem to be much happening, there's still a flurry of activity going on mentally). And the character arcs are, mwah! - chef’s kiss - absolute perfection. I mean, seriously! Just look at all the amazing things that happen:

The Gathering

Adso the cat

The Bugs

Jocasta’s Wedding

The Beardsley Twins

Brownsville

The Frenchmen’s Gold

Roger’s hanging

The snakebite

Wylie’s Landing

Shooting Bonnet

The return of Ian and Rollo

Otter Tooth’s Journal

“And I understood very well just then, why it is that men measure time. They wish to fix a moment, in the vain hope that so doing will keep it from departing.”

And once again, our Jamie has the perfect last line. #JAMMF

2021: It's still absolutely perfect. I couldn't love it any more than I already do.

Tome Topple Round 15: Catch Up on an Old Series.

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HikiNEET021

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

Book 5 in the Outlander series is truly a remarkable read that offers a great adventure.

However, at times, it can feel a little drawn out.

After finishing this book, I came to the realization that it is the one that turns the series and guides it along a different path.

It manages to keep the elements that we love and maintain the authenticity without losing the magic. In a sense, you could say that it represents the growth of the series.

Moreover, it solidifies the relationships between the characters, showing us love, friendships, and trust, all with a hint of darkness.

This series is definitely worth recommending. It has the power to transport readers to another time and place, filled with excitement, drama, and romance.

Whether you're a long-time fan or new to the series, Book 5 is sure to captivate you and leave you eager for more.

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Raggadish

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

The Fiery Cross is the fifth installment in Diana Gabaldon's captivating series. It follows Clare Fraser, who has the extraordinary ability to travel through time by touching stones, much like Stonehenge. Her first time travel was an accidental one, transporting her two hundred years back to the 1740s, where she met the love of her life, Jamie Fraser, a Scottish highlander. Their enchanting love story has evolved throughout each book, with Gabaldon intricately detailing the historical backdrop that surrounds them.

In The Fiery Cross, set in 1771, the unrest and dissatisfaction of the colonists in the New World are palpable. Despite the author's use of nearly 1,000 pages, the story progresses less than a year in time. In my view, there is an overwhelming amount of information without much significant happening to the characters. Jamie continues to lead, Clare astonishes everyone with her 20th-century medical practices in the 18th century, Briana constantly nurses (and the author's repeated emphasis on this was quite tiresome), and Roger remains a complete outsider.
This book was released four years after the previous one, Drums of Autumn. I finished Drums of Autumn just a few months ago and was frequently confused by the numerous unimportant character names Gabaldon throws at the readers. Turns out, most of them weren't really important. My theory is that Gabaldon makes it so complicated to convince the masses that these books are more than just fantasy romance, but legitimate historical fiction. She has indeed made her point, as she has clearly done extensive research on the living conditions, medicinal remedies, and political atmosphere of the pre-revolutionary war colonies. However, her excessive digressions about medicine that Clare Fraser couldn't possibly have known or remembered from med school are annoying. It takes away from the authenticity of Clare's character. Why can't she just be wrong or not know something? Gabaldon has pigeonholed her greatest characters, making Jamie uberbrave and Clare ubersmart. Throw in some romance and you have the book.
This took me way too long to read as it simply wasn't very interesting. That is, until the very end. Around page 920, Gabaldon finally introduced some of her good stuff - the time travel elements. There was genuine conflict and not just a pointless side story. Darn it...I'm going to have to read the next one!

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xcleex

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 14,2025

I read this book as soon as it was released. I simply had to have it in hardback because I couldn't bear to wait for the paperback version. I was eager to have my very own precious copy. However, in hindsight, I wish I had either waited or borrowed it from the library.

I was extremely excited to discover what Claire and Jamie were up to in this installment. But unfortunately, it turned out to be a very slow read. The author seemed to explain every little detail exhaustively. While I do appreciate books that don't shy away from depicting the less pleasant aspects of life, the repeated descriptions of a child needing a diaper change and the associated unpleasant aroma were not only ridiculous but also incredibly boring.

For the majority of the book, they didn't really go anywhere. This time, they remained in one place, which was quite different from the previous books where they were adventurous and seasoned travelers, constantly getting into all sorts of mischief. This was a huge disappointment, especially considering the huge success of the rest of the series. Nevertheless, I would still recommend reading it, if only to get you to the next book in the series.

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Outlander #5

The Fiery Cross

diana gabaldon

This edition

Jamie Fraser

Brianna Randall

Roger Mackenzie

Jeremiah Mackenzie

Fergus Fraser

Marsali Fraser

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About the author

diana gabaldon

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