Name: Xavier Roy's review of The Fiery Cross (Outlander, No.5) by Diana Gabaldon
Item: The Fiery Cross (Outlander, No.5)
Rating: 2
Author: Xavier Roy

Diana Gabaldon

The Fiery Cross (Outlander, No.5)

The time is 1771 and the colony of North Carolina teeters on an uneasy edge - an internal conflict between the colonial aristocratic rich planters and the struggling pioneers of the backcountry is threatening to explode. Jamie Fraser is a man of worth - respected by all, born of good family and possessed at last of the land he has longed for. But Jamie has a lot to lose. His wife, Claire, is known notoriously as a wisewoman or a witch. As a traveller from the twentieth century she is all these things and more. Her unique view of the oncoming Revolution is both a deliverance and a danger- a torch that may light Jamie's way in the perilous years ahead or the spark that may ignite a conflagration that will leave their lives in ashes. And far more than just their lives hang in the balance. The lives of Jamie's tenants, his daughter Brianna, her husband Roger, his grandson Jemmy, his nephew Ian and his foster son Fergus could all get caught in the blaze. Claire and Jamie know war only as those who have survived it can. And they will have to use all that knowledge, and more, to follow the path of the fiery cross to battle once more...and try to survive it if they can.

The Fiery Cross

Emma Hak-Kovacs

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.

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.

Xavier Roy

I FINALLY FINISHED IT. It only took me nearly a year and having to switch from my physical copy to the audiobook to make it through this book. Largely, it's just simply boring. It's a huge book, coming in at 1,400 pages or so, and so much could have been edited down. I adore the first two Outlander books, and I even really appreciated the third one, but the further we get from Scotland and are immersed in Colonial America, I just find myself losing interest. The books begin to lose so much of their magical realism with the move from Scotland. I don't care too much about daily life in the 1700s backcountry of North Carolina, no matter how much I love Jamie and Claire. Roger and Brianna are good characters, too, but not as strong. Another pet peeve is how much Diana Gabaldon is in love with her main characters; each is physically perfect, for one thing, and hardly flawed in their thinking or personalities. Their perfection almost comes across as bland. Don't Jamie and Claire ever age? 

There were some moments of wholesomeness and humor, especially with little Jemmy. But there doesn't seem to be much plot; instead, things just happen to the characters without really enhancing any overall story. 

Additionally, even though I stuck with the audiobook, I did not care for the narrator. She did a good job with Jamie and Roger's voices, but otherwise I didn't like her voice for other minor characters or even Brianna and Claire. In short, this was a slog to get through. There were a few stories and anecdotes I enjoyed, but overall, this novel was not strong or exciting enough to garner more than 2 stars. I have heard the next books in the series might be a little better; I don't want to abandon this series entirely. But it will probably be a while before I return to it. 

Amanda

I FINALLY FINISHED IT. It only took me nearly a year and having to switch from my physical copy to the audiobook to make it through this book. Largely, it's just simply boring. It's a huge book, coming in at 1,400 pages or so, and so much could have been edited down. I adore the first two Outlander books, and I even really appreciated the third one, but the further we get from Scotland and are immersed in Colonial America, I just find myself losing interest. The books begin to lose so much of their magical realism with the move from Scotland. I don't care too much about daily life in the 1700s backcountry of North Carolina, no matter how much I love Jamie and Claire. Roger and Brianna are good characters, too, but not as strong. Another pet peeve is how much Diana Gabaldon is in love with her main characters; each is physically perfect, for one thing, and hardly flawed in their thinking or personalities. Their perfection almost comes across as bland. Don't Jamie and Claire ever age? 

There were some moments of wholesomeness and humor, especially with little Jemmy. But there doesn't seem to be much plot; instead, things just happen to the characters without really enhancing any overall story. 

Additionally, even though I stuck with the audiobook, I did not care for the narrator. She did a good job with Jamie and Roger's voices, but otherwise I didn't like her voice for other minor characters or even Brianna and Claire. In short, this was a slog to get through. There were a few stories and anecdotes I enjoyed, but overall, this novel was not strong or exciting enough to garner more than 2 stars. I have heard the next books in the series might be a little better; I don't want to abandon this series entirely. But it will probably be a while before I return to it. 

Read as a read along for the Binge watch of the TV show.

Lover of Romance 

Read as a read along for the Binge watch of the TV show.




Bria

The further I get into this series, the more I think she can cut 600 pages from each book.

Very good but drags a bit at some parts. 

Emily Akerman

Vilde

Ever since I heard that the 
  Outlander
 series was going to be made into a TV series, I've been itching to pick up the series again, for a reread. I originally planned to do it through audiobooks, but I forgot that Claire deals with the human body in ways that I prefer not to listen - thus I've been repeatedly stumped. In that regards, it was easier to pick up the books. 

There's a certain drive in the previous books; 
  Outlander
, 
  Dragonfly in Amber
, 
  Voyager
 and 
  Drums of Autumn
, that I feel is missing in The Fiery Cross. I can't quite put my finger on what exactly it is. But by all means, The Fiery Cross is not a disappointment, but something different. It is certainly interesting to read, but it becomes slightly long-winded in terms of the plot.

Jaclyn

It feels weird to be giving an Outlander book 4 stars because I love this series, this world, the characters and Diana Gabaldons writing, but this book dragged on. It was slow/boring at some parts and at times I just had the audiobook playing in the background as noise just to get through it to the good parts. It’s not a bad book, it’s just slowish and not much actually happens and I found myself just racing to be done with it to move onto the rest of the series. BUT, when this book was good, it was REALLY REALLY GOOD!! And I still did enjoy this one. I feel like this is one I would enjoy more on a reread when I’m not impatient to get to the drama and find out what happens in the rest of the series. I really enjoyed the character development that we got this book from everyone and how strong all of the relationships are, finally seeing this full family together was so amazing!!! So many wonderful family moments had me smiling so hard!! 
I’m so so ready for a breath of snow and ashes next! Ahh

The fiery cross

Alexa Jade

This one was a struggle to read and rate tbh. This is the most dense of all the Outlander books in my opinion. It’s really frustrating as a fan of the show to read these after the season is out and to realize how much they ruined certain storylines and relationships though I don’t factor that into my rating at all. Bree & Jamie had such great interactions in this book and I love them so much. Honestly I tuned out most of the Roger parts because I will never like him. I understand how strongly Bree cares for him but I don’t see it for him or them as a couple at all. 

Speaking of Bree, I’m so happy she had more of a storyline this book. She was involved in a lot more of it which made me happy. 

All in all though I will say Jamie and Claire take my breath away every time. The love and the loyalty that is there is stunning and gets more beautiful the older these characters get.

Robin M Cabana

This was my least favorite book of the Outlander series. It took me so long to read it because it just wasn't as interesting or adventuresome as the previous books. Now that the Frasers have seemed to settle down, there are lots of little incidents along the way, but not enough to comprise a solid plot or to keep up the momentum. And at this point, I find all the medical details kind of dull, but I did like reading some of the details about colonial life, especially the different roles for men and women and how Claire and Brianna adjust - or don't - into those roles. I didn't really get into the book until around page 900 or so when something terrible happens to Roger. It also seems that when action happens, the scenes get cut off and are just kind of wrapped up in conversations back on the homestead. But I was happy to see the return of a favorite character at the end and I'm curious what will happen with a newish character as well.

Kaitee Tredway

I think this is my favorite of the series so far. I can't put a finger on why.

Corine Booij

First half of the book was quite slow and took quite some time to get through. The second part of the book made it well worth the struggle it took to get through the first bit.

Alli King

Maybe 3.5...
I miss Scotland. Some of the magic was lost in the journey to America, although I appreciate the WNC setting as a resident.

Christina M Masters

In the possible words of Jamie Fraser, "this book is verra long". But it is also very, very good. It has probably been a good 20 years since I read a book that is over 1400 pages mainly because of time factors. Meaning I don't have a lot of it. I love Stephen King books, but much like this one, when I read one of his longer ones I always think about how the author could have cut probably about 500 pages of the book and it still have been an excellent book. But also much like a King book, I was never really bored, and once I got into it the reading of this one it was fairly swift going. I am assuming that Gabaldon had a reason for including all of the stuff she did. I mean, some of it was character building for sure and of course giving you a sense of the world. 

I have to say I can away with much greater respect for Roger from this. And it was the relationship that developed and become stronger throughout between Jamie and Roger that really intrigued me most while I was reading. I have to admit there were some passages about farming or sometimes the landscape that I skimmed over because those are the ones that make my eyes cross when I read any book. Also, at a gathering for Outlander fans, I had talked to someone and she mentioned that there was a book that some fans agree is harder to get through than others and I have a sneaking suspicion it is either this one or the next one (in which the paperback is also over 1400 pages...damn verbose authors!) and I think that had a psychological effect on me before I even started reading this and kept me from reading it for a while, but really, I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it and the ending and some of the stuff that is starting to be revealed totally pulled me in.

Elena Enns

This instalment was full of ups and downs. Though it was slow at times, it made up for it with enthralling narratives. Though, I will say that it probably could have been shorter, and some stuff cut out, because I found it to be way too long.

b.andherbooks

I finished! Fiery Cross (Book 5) felt like a really lovely, well-written piece of fanfiction. I loved it, but I also found myself going, wait, what about the time traveling? What does it all MEAN?! Why am I constantly being bombarded with milky, leaky, lactating breasts?! There is LOTS of sexy time in this one, never a problem for me, and I enjoyed the parts with the Regulators and the militia, the constant medical interventions grew a bit tiresome and the overall lack of a central plot made me grow a bit tired at times.

I've heard through the rumor mill that A Breath of Snow and Ashes, the next in the series, will be worth every minute I've spent reading this one, but I'm going to take a wee break before starting it. I'm getting too close to not having any more to read!

Overall, a good addition to the universe, I'm just glad I'm not reading it without having the next book readily available.

Spoilers ahead for the rest of this review.

(view spoiler)[
**Brianna is a breast feeding machine. I felt sad she was relegated to mostly mommy mode for this entire book, but she had some great moments teaching Roger to shoot, spending time with Jamie, and writing out her odd dreams.
**Bonnet - I don't CARE about you. Fuck you, you stupid rapist. I'm glad they shot your balls off, though I fear you will be back again.
**We get more indication that gemstones are significant, that the skull with silver fillings was a Native American man from 1968 who came back (to not early enough in time) to try and stop the tribes from crumbling under white settlement...interesting MORE PLEASE.
**Jemmy can time travel, but we don't yet know his paternity.
**Jocasta is a wily old lady, and there be gold in that tomb! French gold!
**Jamie, you've been mauled by a bear, a panther, and now survived a poisonous snake. Jeeez.
**I don't know if I believe all of the medical "miracles" that Claire has wrought, but they do make for interesting reading. Will someone please go back to the future and get some more penicillin? I can't believe she didn't bring a lot more with her, or a needle (or 100). Making a needle out of a cobra fang, really!?
**Ian is BAAACK, and so is Rollo!
**Stupid Laoghire. I hate you.
**Why did I have to wait to the last 100 pages to learn most of this information? (hide spoiler)]

Chantale

This is my least favourite book in the series so far. I found it dragged on and on. I think it should have been shorter.

Bárbara Deoti

This book had some really tiresome parts. I particularly didn’t care for the parts that centered Roger, because I am indifferent to him most of the time. Also, the casual homophobia annoyed the hell out of me and was so unnecessary. But oh God I love the women so muuuuch, especially Bree.

Geneviève Rouleau

I really enjoyed some parts of this book, while some other were very long. 3.5⭐

Meg K

As much as I love the characters and the world of Outlander... this particular novel was a bit tedious to get through. I’m in agreement with many other reviews I’ve seen, that the plot is practically nonexistent in this book until you hit page 600 or so (and with how small the print is, as the books are large, that’s absolutely criminal). The immersion in the story can be bogged down at times by over-detailed descriptions and thoughts, and the dizzying array of minor characters. Did it have its moments? Absolutely, but it was a hard fought battle to finally get to the heart of it! Can’t say I hated it, but also can’t say I loved it. That being said, I am glad to be prepared for the new season on Starz next month!

Manon van Heumen

This was yet another great installment in the series! So curious to see how it will go on.

Drew Santiago

In 1771, Scotman Jamie Fraser and his twentieth-century time-traveler wife, Claire Randall, become caught between a loyalty to the Crown and the changing times, as the American Revolution draws inevitably closer, in a new volume from the Outlander saga. 300,000 first printing.

Xavier Roy &
The Fiery Cross (Outlander, No.5) by Diana Gabaldon

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Xavier Roy &The Fiery Cross (Outlander, No.5) by Diana Gabaldon

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Xavier Roy &
The Fiery Cross (Outlander, No.5) by Diana Gabaldon