**Title: 3.5 Stars**

3.5 stars is an interesting rating. It indicates that something is neither completely excellent nor mediocre. It lies in that grey area where there are both good aspects and areas that could use improvement.

When a product or service receives a 3.5-star rating, it means that it has managed to meet some of the expectations of the customers or users. There are certain features or qualities that are quite appealing and work well. However, there are also some不足之处 that prevent it from achieving a higher rating.

For example, a restaurant with a 3.5-star rating might have delicious food but slow service. Or a hotel might have clean rooms but a noisy location. In such cases, the 3.5-star rating serves as a useful guide for others who are considering trying out that particular product or service. It gives them an idea of what to expect and helps them make a more informed decision.

In conclusion, 3.5 stars is a rating that reflects a balance between the good and the not-so-good. It提醒s us that nothing is perfect and that there is always room for improvement.

I originally gave this 4 stars, as I always hesitate to award a full 5 to any “romance novel.” However, this isn't just a romance novel. It's a captivating story about a family whose love for one another transcends the boundaries of time. I know it might sound cheesy and cliché, but it's truly the case. Outlander started as a guilty pleasure for me, but the series has since evolved into something far more profound and worthwhile.

I'm highly impressed with Gabaldon's remarkable ability to introduce new characters seamlessly throughout her books. In a long series like this, I'm usually cautious about welcoming new additions to the cast. But in Fiery Cross, by the time you realize that these new characters are mainstays and here to stay, you're already deeply in love with them. Gabaldon truly knows her characters inside out and manages to make her readers feel the same way. At first, I was slightly annoyed by her overuse of the same descriptions of Jamie's wide smile, long nose, ruddy hair, his inability to wink (resulting in him always blinking like an owl), and all the mouth twitching and Scottish grunting. However, it's precisely these consistent descriptions that have endeared him to me.

Gabaldon's vivid narratives and meticulous attention to detail are what keep drawing me back to these books. The intoxicating imagery of the Scottish Highlands and the back country of North Carolina spills out from each page, pulling you into her enchanting world. She's especially attuned to sounds and smells – two senses that are often overlooked in storytelling. Given Claire's background in science, it's fitting that she's Gabaldon's most descriptive character. It warms my heart whenever Claire describes her latest autopsy, amputation, or treatment of smallpox.

For that matter, Claire is a woman who demands respect. Not only does she repeatedly evade being burned at the stake for witchcraft, but she also manages to cultivate penicillin in colonial America, set her own broken nose, serve as a medic in three major wars, and witness more bloodshed and carnage than most men of her time. Despite all this, she's still able to respect her husband's traditional pride. Claire and Jamie are now in their 50s and still passionately in love. I sincerely hope that my marriage will be as vibrant and alive in 30 years.

Fiery Cross earns a higher rating than the others because its characters and their trials hold a special place in my heart. The first person that comes to mind is Roger. I'm on the edge of my seat with fear whenever danger approaches him. “No! Leave him alone! He’s been through enough!” The loss of his beautiful voice brought me to tears. Gabaldon masterfully subjects her best characters to one tragedy after another, shaping and molding them through scars and recovered grief.

Okay, don't judge me:

but I believe that there will never be an Outlander book that I will rate less than 5 stars

This book was extremely long!

It seemed to drag on and on without end. In fact, if the book were to be cut in half, it would still contain all the most crucial events that are relevant to this story.

The excessive length made it a bit of a chore to get through.

One can't help but hope that the next book in the series will be more engaging and less boring.

Perhaps the author could focus on tightening up the narrative and presenting the key points in a more concise and interesting manner.

That way, readers would be more likely to stay hooked from start to finish and enjoy the reading experience to the fullest.

After all, a good book should be able to captivate its audience and keep them eagerly turning the pages, not make them feel like they are slogging through a never-ending swamp of words.

Here's to hoping for a more exciting and enjoyable next installment!

Honestly, I must be crazy to dive into another re-read over my weekend rather than crack open one of the other million new reads that await me. But here I am, having given myself over to 979 pages of my least favorite book in the Outlander series.

Major Warning: If you have not read the four preceding books or if you have only watched the first three seasons of the television show..don't peek at this review. Spoliers are ahead

First a confession, I haven't read this book as many times as its predecessors. In fact, this might be only the third time I have ever gone back to book 5. Because not a lot of major plot development occurs in comparison to its predecessors.

Let's review...

Outlander - A 20th century woman finds herself back in 18th century Scotland. Falls in love with a sexy virgin, has to be rescued many, many times from Highland superstitions and a sadistic English officer who actually bears a striking relationship to her 20th century husband. Possibly more than one person has also come through the stones.

Dragonfly in Amber - Shocking beginning, glamorous France, heartache, strife, Rising, horrible separation.

Voyager - He's alive. She goes back. Lots of secrets. Constant action. A prophecy is at play.

Drums of Autumn - New life in America, Brianna finds out something. Roger runs after her. A dastardly villain named Stephen Bonnet stirs up trouble for the Frasers. More reunions, questions, family.

So then we get The Fiery Cross and I swear that Diana Gabaldon is one of my favorites, but I still think she almost killed me with this book. IMHO, it's the A Feast for Crows for the Outlander series. Most of the time is spent on the war of Regulation in North Carolina, a point of history that neither Claire nor Brianna remember from Bree's textbooks and is part of the colony's history. Yet, it wasn't nearly as exciting as some of the other stuff that happens around that time frame especially for dear Roger. The first seventeen chapters are taken up at the Gathering, there is plenty of running around looking for people and our two main couples dashing into bushes for sexual interludes. A theme that basically runs all through the novel. The Stephen Bonnet storyline is still going strong and Roger almost gets killed by one of his direct ancestors. Perhaps the saving grace of the novel is that Jamie and Roger's relationship gets stronger and DG cooks up a great scene for Claire, Brianna, and the very underused Marsali. Oh and Jamie turns 50! Basically this book could be referred to as the "bridge" because the characters of the Beardsley twins and the arrival of Tom Christie and his family to the Ridge are basically all going to be relatively important in book 6, A Breath of Snow and Ashes.

Based on my opinions and this re-read my 3.0 star rating holds strong. I am also watching the show and hope that the show's writers will bring their A game to giving this story a little bit of oomph come Season 5.

Now that I’m finally reading ahead of the TV series, I’m truly realizing the value of these epic tomes. I’m filled with eagerness to discover what awaits the residents on Fraser’s Ridge.

Set in the early 1770s, Gabaldon masterfully breathes life into the colonial America setting. Every nuance of daily life is meticulously detailed, and the story’s main focus on the 20th-century time travellers serves to highlight even the tiniest, seemingly insignificant details, providing a captivating context for their experiences.

Of course, the various “scrapes” that some characters find themselves in add excitement and pick up the pace during this volume. Gabaldon clearly has a passion for this period, and it’s evident that she is content to let the narrative unfold at its own pace, as this book covers only a 24-month span.

I’m learning an abundance about an era that I wasn’t overly familiar with, among characters that I’ve become so deeply invested in. I’m more than willing to take my time and fully immerse myself in this adventure. This is yet another gripping and richly rewarding segment in the series.

I don't think any author is in love with her characters and her own writing as much as Diana Gabaldon.

To the point that she is convinced that absolutely everything she writes about them has to be in her books. Who cares about the plot and moving things along and putting in her novels only events that would advance the plot? Not Diana!

I've loved the Outlander books for a while, in spite of their fragmented nature and sometimes convoluted story lines. But this time, even the most dedicated fan would notice that There is hardly any plot in it!

I am still trying to figure out what the purpose of this book was. My only guess is to lead to the confrontation with Stephen Bonnet. But then, hundreds and hundreds of pages in The Fiery Cross are dedicated to the events that have nothing to do with the main story line of it.

At least 2/3th of the novel could have been cut out because the only thing that happens there is that Jamie, Claire and Roger have to go on some militia business and then come back (twice!). During these trips, nothing important takes place, except, of course, they meet some random people. And don't get me started on Brianna's breasts.

If all the bits about her breasts being swollen or leaking milk and her wanting Roger to suckle on them were taken out, The Fiery Cross would have been at least 100 pages lighter. And another 100 pages lighter without little Jemmie pooping in a diaper or otherwise.

Certainly, we, fans, have a fair amount of patience for Gabaldon's long books and a lot of love for the characters and scenes in their lives. But, come on, a novel is still a novel.

If there is hardly any forward motion in the story, no danger, no intensity, if you can skip hundreds of pages without missing anything vital, and the author is preoccupied with indulgently recording every occurrence in her characters' lives, important or not, she might as well call her work fanfiction. Or a soap opera with no end in sight.

Interestingly enough, even after spending a year! reading The Fiery Cross and dropping it so many times I can't count, I still couldn't bring myself to give it less than 3 stars and I already have the next book in the series loaded onto my iPod. This crack has a firm hold on me. For now.

Audiobook: Narrator - Davina Porter

Davina Porter is, without a doubt, the most outstanding narrator I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. Her ability to handle accents is truly remarkable. Her voice has this magical quality that completely draws me in and enhances my overall enjoyment of the listening experience. In this particular book, she does an incredible job of voicing a baby who gradually grows into a small child. It was so realistic that it felt as if there was a real infant or child right there with me.

However, as amazing as the narration was, it couldn't salvage a book that suffered from a significant lack of pace. The story dragged on and on, to the point where I repeatedly lost track of what was happening. I simply wasn't interested enough to go back and listen again. This is a departure from my previous experiences with the series, as I have always been completely engrossed. This installment seemed to be overly focused on daily life, with far too little actual plot development. As a result, I quickly lost all curiosity in the story.

On the positive side, there were a few moments when we got a great glimpse into Jamie's humor and his reactions to Claire. Some questions were answered, but it happened so quickly that it felt almost敷衍了事. And in the process, more questions were left unanswered. Overall, I felt like I had wasted 55 hours of my life when the story could have been told in a more concise 10 hours. At this point, I'm very hesitant to continue with the series.

I'm not sure if I'm willing to invest more time in a story that didn't hold my attention as well as the previous ones. It's a real shame, considering how much I loved the earlier books and the amazing narration by Davina Porter.

The Fiery Cross (Outlander Book#5) by Diana Gabaldon is an enthralling installment in the series. It's 1771, and Claire and Jamie, now older, have found a semblance of peace on Fraser Ridge. However, this book is filled with numerous events that require patience to fully appreciate. The Frasers and Mackenzies share precious family moments, creating entertaining and humorous scenes. We also reunite with an old character, witness a wedding, and sense the brewing storm of the American Revolution.

Stephen Bonnet's fate remains uncertain, adding an element of mystery. Roger endures more hardships, with a near-death experience and questions surrounding Jemmy's paternity. Diana Gabaldon's meticulous research into the pre-revolutionary war colonies' way of life, alternate medicine, and political agendas is evident. Her detailed writing provides a vivid picture of the characters and their surroundings.
The book ends cleverly, leaving readers eager to dive into Book #6, A Breath of Snow and Ashes. Despite its length and being the hardest installment for me to get through, I'm too invested to stop. Diana Gabaldon's talent keeps readers intrigued, promising more adventure, heartache, and the epic love story of Jamie and Claire.
My overall rating for this book is 3 ½ stars. The romance, plot, and narration all contribute to its appeal. Davina Porter's narration is outstanding, bringing each character to life with unique voices and emotions. I highly recommend this book to fans of the series, as it's a crucial part of the story's progression.

The Fiery Cross (Outlander Book#5)
by Diana Gabaldon

Get ready for the longest instalment in the series thus far

It's 1771. Claire and Jamie are getting older and have settled into Fraser Ridge. So much happens in this book, but it takes some patience to get to the good bits. The Frasers and Mackenzie’s spend family time together, making some entertaining and amusing scenes. We reunite with an old character, there is a wedding, and the American Revolution war is brewing.

Stephen Bonnet is still alive, and his whereabouts are unknown. I'm not so sure Diana likes Roger very much. He has certainly been through the ringer, and it doesn't relent in this instalment either. A near-death experience and the questioning paternity of Jemmy are just a few to mention.

A lot of research has gone into the pre-revolutionary war colonies' way of life, alternate medicine, and political agendas of this period. Diana’s writing is thorough and not concise in her detailing, giving her readers a clear picture of the characters and their surroundings.

Diana cleverly ends the instalment so you will be sure to read onto book #6 A Breath of Snow and Ashes.



MY THOUGHTS:

Even though Jamie and Claire are older now, I still love reading about their loving and tender moments. The trials and tribulations they have endured have changed them as people, yet their love withstands even the darkest of days.

This has been the hardest instalment of the series for me to get through. It is so long and drawn out, but I'm way too invested now to back out. I have to keep reading. I must find out where the story goes!

Diana is a very talented writer to keep such intrigue in her readers for this length of time, particularly for the amount of long-length novels in the one series. She has lured us in with the promise of more adventure, more heartache, and of course, more of the epic love story of the brooding red-headed Scot and his time-traveling English wife.

BLUSH RATING: 2
ROMANCE RATING: 3
PLOT RATING: 3
OVERALL: 3 ½ Stars

GENRE: Historical Romance
NARRATION: First person Claire’s POV also with third person narrative in Brianna, Roger, and Jamie’s perspective.
BOOK DETAILS: Book #5 of The Outlander Series. Book#6 A Breath of Snow and Ashes
AUDIO AVAILABLE – Whisper-sync ready

DO I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK?
Yes. This was probably my least favourite book in the series, but if you have gotten this far in the series, it would be a shame not to see the story to its end.



Narrated by: Davina Porter
Length: 55 hrs and 34 mins

Davina is an exceptional narrator. She has a unique voice for each of the main characters. The emotion she conveys throughout her narration is commendable. This is the longest audiobook I have ever listened to. I jumped from reading to listening throughout and found it easier to get through this way and kept my interest peaked.

AUDIO RATING: 5/5

4.5/5

*4.5 stars*

This was likely my most extensive read to date. With a whopping 1400 pages, it is truly massive. It took me a total of 11 days to complete, with a 3-day break in between to read a different book. I'm rather satisfied with that accomplishment, but I believe I need a bit of a breather before my next colossal read.

Just like the previous installments in this series, I absolutely adored this book. This series is distinct from anything else I've ever read before, and I find it difficult to fully articulate my affection for this world and these characters. It was a much slower-paced book, which might pose an issue for some individuals given the sheer magnitude of the book. However, I didn't mind the slow tempo and the lack of action because of my deep love for the characters. Nevertheless, someone approaching this book with the expectation of it being action-packed and fast-paced might not enjoy it to the same extent. This was the same thought I had about book 4 as well. They are slower than the first 3 in the series, but if you have a passion for the characters and the world like I do, it won't be a problem at all.

The story unfolds gradually, allowing for a more in-depth exploration of the characters' emotions and relationships. The author does an excellent job of building the world and making it feel real and immersive. Each character has their own unique personality and backstory, which adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

Overall, I highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a good fantasy read. It may not be for everyone, especially those who prefer a more fast-paced and action-oriented story. But if you're willing to invest the time and patience, you'll be rewarded with a rich and engaging reading experience that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

Audiobook

Narration - Davina Porter. Kick Ass! Just love her narration!

This is yet another outstanding tale within the epic Outlander Series. What I truly adore about these books, apart from the excellent writing, is that we get to witness Jamie and Claire living their lives. Each book not only adds and revisits a plethora of entertaining, sweet, mean, or awful, yet wonderfully developed characters but also continues to follow this remarkable couple through their journey. In so many books, you fall in love with the characters, and just as they finally find each other or realize their meant-to-be connection, the book abruptly ends. Sometimes, you might get a single chapter epilogue into their future, leaving you in a state of withdrawal as you've become so attached to them, and then it's simply over. However, Jaime and Claire are growing old, enjoying their grandchildren, and their love story remains both enviable and engaging. Moreover, the action, adventure, and danger never cease. Nor does the ongoing investigation into this mysterious act of time travel. This particular audiobook is quite long, lasting over 55 hours, so it took me a couple of weeks to complete. I also discovered the first season of Outlander on Starz On Demand and had to watch it several times before they removed it (which consumed some of my reading/listening time). I love how they are bringing the books to life on screen and remaining fairly true to the source material. I simply can't say enough good things about this series. If you're犹豫不决, get off the fence. These books are definitely worth the read - they are \\n  Great Reads\\n