Rating: 
Summary: WHAT HAPPENED?!
Review: If you are as rabid a Jamie and Claire (and Gabaldon) fan as I am and have been waiting for this book for over 4 years as I have, I'm afraid I have some bad news - this story is completely flat! I thought maybe the events of September 11th had colored my perspective (in realizing what is truly important) but, in reading other reviews, I find I'm not alone in saying that The Fiery Cross is definitely a let down! While the dialogue between Jamie and Claire in Outlander through Drums of Autumn was sexy, poignant, heartfelt, sometimes angry, and sometimes hilarious, some of the dialogue in The Fiery Cross is just embarrassingly syrupy and saccharine. In short, I don't like this Jamie - he's hardened and sarcastic at times; I'm getting really fed up with Claire being looked on as a witch in every book and every country she's in (does she ever get past this?) and Roger and Brianna just need to grow up! I found The Fiery Cross definitely "filler" material and I hope "Sons of Liberty" doesn't take 4 years to complete.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved it.
Review: I've been reading the reviews and I can't believe some didn't care for this book! I love all the details--I want to hear them all. I don't know how I will be able to wait for the next book.I have lots of predictions about how things will work out and I can't wait to see if I'm right. I only hope Diana is keeping track of all the loose ends through all the books so she can wrap them up in the last book. And I pray she won't do what Jean Auel has done (make me wait more than 10 years for the next book). Anyway, this is probably my favorite book after the first (Outlander).
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I eagerly awaited this new novel in the series and bought it sight unseen. That was a mistake. I found it slow, plodding and it didn't hold my interest. The first 150 pages didn't move out of a single location and rehashed the same story line over and over. I'm not sure what happened to the writing. After 200 pages I gave up.
Rating: 
Summary: Stirred, not shaken
Review: Diana G. has become a prisoner of her own success. The other four books were so innovative that she'll find it hard to measure up to them. TFC contained Diana's usual excellent writing, but there was very little narrative drive; few questions to compel me to turn the pages. I knew there was war coming, but it never arrived. I knew Stephen Bonnet was a threat, but he never arrived until the last minute, then the scallawag got away, feeling like a cliffhanger just to drive me to buy the next book. Jamie still has the power to make me cry, Claire is still . . . Claire. But the pages of this one don't fly because there is no looming threat to keep the reader engrossed. But I hold great hope for King, Farewell--and will be happy to have the story finally finished.
Rating:
Summary: missed the mark
Review: wonderful tale of frontier life, but face it, claire and jamie are old now, bree is a shrew, and there are far too many baby scenes in this book. maybe the last book will have more action, and less wandering around the woods chopping fire wood. what really annoyed me was the action in the last chapter, that should have showed up much earlier in the book, and given us something to enjoy.
Rating: 
Summary: Once more with feeling
Review: I waited forever for this book to be published and when I received it I just looked at it for a week before picking it up to start reading it. It was not an all nighter, yes I could have done it like I've done Clancey's books but I didn't. I took it one bite at a time and savored it like a vintage wine. It was good to see Bonnet get it where it hurts and I have wondered about Ian for four years, at least one question is answered. It is good to see the mature love between Clare & Jamie the feelings for each other seem to get stronger with each book. I hope she ties them all up in the next one, which I hope does not take another 4 years to write. My favorite was Outlander followed by Voyger, I personally did not like Drums of Autumn but I ploughed through it, for those of you who would give up due to the length of this book my advice is to keep on reading.
Rating:
Summary: Long-awaited Sequel Not Worth Waiting For
Review: I've read all of Galbaldon's books. Like many I was captivated by the first and second book and I eagerly awaited each subsequent edition. In her sequels Galbaldon never quite captures the magic of the original story. With each book, I've been increasingly disappointed. I had hoped that, after waiting so long for The Fiery Cross to be finished, it would recapture the essence of the first book. Sadly, it doesn't. This book is written as if everything was an afterthought-- "oh, yeah, I almost forgot to include something about ____" -- rather than a well-crafted plot. As a result, it is a rambling story of too many people of too little consequence held together with bits on herbal remedies, biology lessons, and celtic phrases. I wish she had stopped with the first three books.
Rating:
Summary: Good, good, good
Review: I just finished the long long book. I have read several reviews knocking it. Yes it is long, no it's not always a "easy" read. But if you are interested in the day to day details of life in the mid 1700s this is hard to beat. Telling the story from other view points, Roger and Bree, adds another deminsion to the book. Really hated to finish it, felt like I was saying good bye to good friends
Rating:
Summary: Please Diana - No More Lactating Women!
Review: The fact that I was disappointed in this book is not going to keep me from reading the next two. However, I definitely won't be re-reading it when I hear the next one is coming out! And please, Diana, enough of full chests (...) And poopy diapers. Every time I thought you were going to give it a rest, there Briana or the baby goes again!
Rating:
Summary: Not worth the wait!
Review: I awaited this book for almost 5 years, even rereading the first four in the series this summer to refresh my memory. I am totally disappointed with The Fiery Cross. Claire does nothing but complain about her life for most of the book. Jamie has been made a minor character. I really do not care about the ins and outs of breast feeding and potty training a child. Story lines were also started and dropped, without being taken to there conclusion. We are to assume everything turned out alright because no mention was made of them again. I will read the next one whenever it comes out, hopefully sooner than five years. We can only hope Ms. Gabaldon warms again to the characters, for if not it will not be worth the time or money to read it.
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