The Fiery Cross

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Summary: Thank you, Diana!
Review: Thank you for such a wonderful story. And the longer, the better! I enjoy 'seeing' Jamie and Claire as they have gotten older and how they relate to everyone around them and their surroundings. These people seem so real at times, you forget they are the figment of your imagination. So glad that Ian is back! Can't wait to hear what happened to him with the Indians. And I can't imagine what's going to happen to Bonnet!!! One more thing - that's the best last line in a book I've ever read. And is so true as far as my husband and I are concerned. Thanks again.

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Summary: Once upon a time.......
Review: I finally made my way through this tome. I have read all five in the series within the last few months, so I have been able to do it with some continuity in the characters and plot lines. This is a delightful continuation of the saga, but I found it much more cumbersome than the previous volumes in the series. Thus it took me longer to read this one than the previous ones. The author is obviously showing some maturity in her writing since the first volume, but this one was definitely not my favorite. I found it plodding in many places and it seemed all too often mired in minutea at times when the plot needed to move along. Ms Gabaldon seems determined to hang on to some plot lines that would have been well-served to have been resolved and moved on to others. To take this many pages and only move the characters along such a short period of time was a bit disappointing. Still if you are a fan of the series it is worth the time to read it. But there is obviously more to come....

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Summary: Abridgment to the extreme
Review: This may be a good book but the Audio Book version does not reflect any proof of it. I've never been a fan of abridged books and this audio further inforces that attitude. Events and story lines seemed to just flitter in and out with out much lead in and a much faster exit. Being a fan of the previous 4 book, which were listened to on tape, I expected a much more continuous story line of the main characters. If you listen to your books via tape or CD, skip this one. Read, or find someone to read the book to you. I would hope the book is better than the Audio version.

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Summary: Big cliffhanger
Review: While the story is typical of the Outlander series, I am disappointed with the incompleteness of the story. I wonder if the author enjoys the persistent questions of when the next book will be published? If her response to the many queries are an indication, I would think rather not. Why then has she left herself open to another barage of queries as to when the next book will be finished? Also, the book lacked substance, the Ian and the Stephen Bonet storylines could have more depth. Don't misunderstand my cynicisim, I did relish the book and I admire D. Gabaldon's historical reasearch. Such talent and creativity is a dream of mine. But I was disappointed, I was anticipating a juicy Jamie and Claire adventure.

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Summary: What a Read!
Review: I loved it. I appreciated every word that Diana Galbaldon lovingly researched and wrote. I felt I was reading 5 books with five subjects instead of one. I loved the way she took me up and down like an ocean swell. Having read the other reviews, I wonder of we are in a world of "instant read" and have forgotten how to take our time. Congratulations, Diana. I now know about American History, Natural Medicine and a way of life long gone.

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Summary: tedious and disappointing
Review: I have been an avid fan of the Outlander series....until this book. When I read the first four books,I barely slept so that I could find out what would happen next. The characters were fun and realistic, vibrant and exciting.
"Fiery Cross" was not a pleasurable read. Long-winded descriptions and passages without meaning seemed to be rampant throughout the book. I found it difficult to read for very long, and read several other books while FC sat on my nightstand.
I hope that the next book returns to the enjoyable style of the first four.

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Summary: Am I finished yet?
Review: Yes, I have finally made my way through all 900 or so pages. What a thrill the first four books were. However like many people I have talked with, what happenend here? I love the characters but felt this was so full of unneccessary blah..
Not until the last few chapters did this feel like a true D.Gabaldon book.
If you are looking for another set of well developed characters to love check out Exit Unicorns by Cindy Brandner. I just finished this one and loved it.

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Summary: A sure cure for the doldrums of winter . . .
Review: This chapter in the saga of Jamie and Claire Fraser (and family!)is another long, luxurious read. Give this book some attention and you will feel the mountain rain, taste the honey, and come away feeling as if you'd been on a long interesting journey. Not just another silly romance, even though the booksellers put this series in the romance section.

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Summary: Best since Outlander!
Review: Unlike so many it seems, I absolutly LOVED this book! Ever since Outlander, I continued to be a little disappointed with each subsequent novel in the series. But, in my opinion, this one is as enjoyable as the Outlander. Corny as it sounds, I felt like I was sitting down with friends every time I picked up the book. I especially love reading the anecdotal descriptions in Claire's voice. True, it didn't have as many of the fast-paced swashbuckling adventures of the previous books. But, quite frankly, I was happy to see Claire & Jamie (at 50+) finally settled down in a home of their own and enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the constantly evolving relationships and situations that develop around them in North Carolina. I'm excited to hear there are at least 2 more books in the series planned -- can't wait.

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Summary: Wanted: Editor with a Heavy Hand
Review: Is Diana Gabaldon being paid by weight? I enjoyed the early books in this saga very much. She is a talented writer and the story has a lot of intrinsic interest. She has a large group of devoted followers who are hungry to continue with the characters. But we are given a pile of pages with no coherent story, no dramatic energy and far too many words. Get it at the library and skim it, if you have to find out what's going on. You'll find that not much is.