A worldwide sensation with more than 12 million copies in print, Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series has produced #1 best-selling novels and earned a fiercely devoted fan base. Another spellbinding entry in the series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes continues the saga of 18th-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his 20th-century, time-traveling wife, Claire. The year is 1772, and the rift between Britain and its American colonies has put a frightening word into the minds of all concerned: revolution. In the backwoods of North Carolina, violence has already reared its ugly head, as cabins have been burned to the ground. To preserve the colony for King George III, the governor pleads with Jamie to bring the people together and restore peace. But Jamie has the privilege, although some might call it a burden, of knowing that war cannot be avoided. Claire has told him that the colonies will unite and rebel, and the result will be independence, with all British loyalists either dead or exiled. And there is an additional problem. Claire has discovered a newspaper clipping from 1776 that tells of Jamie's death. With its epic scope, historical details, and sweeping romance, A Breath of Snow and Ashes is everything Gabaldon's fans love and more.
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"Having seen the TV Series of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Books 1 & 2, and having listened to Books 3, 4 & 5 while waiting for these books to be released on TV, I had to continue this wonderful saga with her Book 6 – A Breath of Snow & Ashes. I love the way Diana's Scottish/ C18th English/Colonial American humour, intrigue, pathos & empathy is brought to life in Davina's audio performance. I find the story enthralling & enchanting as Diana's web-like connections both within & between Chapters, Sections & Books both fill-out & surprise me from the Plot Summaries that I have already read of all the Books (up to No. 8). This confirmed my decision of how much I needed to get these audiobooks in order to find some approximation of the TV Series' version of Book 1 & 2. I both can't wait & dearly hope that the visualisations of Books 3-8 will encompass the settings, characters, actions & emotions revealed in the audiobooks in their TV series that drew me in so inextricably with the first 2 Books' TV series."
— Thomas (5 out of 5 stars)
“A whopping 980 pages of action-packed escapism. It also has surprisingly melancholy and insightful views on the experience of growing old and dealing with the losses that entails….One of the things that sets Gabaldon apart from other romance writers is exhaustive research of the times in which her characters live, so evident in her attention to period detail….Plot lines and stand-alone yarns are expertly woven together with the overall theme of impending doom and the question of predetermination.”
— Toronto Star“Another rousing historical-science-fiction-romance novel to savor…For fans, this book is another slam-dunk hit. It’s a massive, long-lasting source of entertainment.”
— Montreal Gazette“From the first book in this series, readers have taken Claire and Jamie into their hearts and eagerly anticipated each chapter in their saga. Gabaldon’s brilliant use of an accurate historical backdrop, combined with the moral and ethical dilemmas faced by her characters, adds extraordinary emotional depth and a broad scope. No fan will be disappointed. Gabaldon plays on their emotions with the skill of a virtuoso storyteller who never fails to fascinate or surprise.”
— RT Book Reviews (4½ stars)“Anyone who has gotten this far in Gabaldon’s popular Outlander saga knows to expect loads of steamy sex, kidnappings, medical miracles, and gritty period details. Breath‘s 900-plus pages don’t disappoint. With the threat of the American Revolution looming, 20th-century time traveler Claire Fraser and her 18th-century Scottish husband, Jamie, must finally choose sides and prepare for war…Enemies both old and new add to the continuing drama of the Fraser family’s survival in the hinterlands of North Carolina. Gabaldon’s enjoyable formula works, even if it’s taken five previous novels and a few thousand pages to get to the year 1776. Essential for every fiction collection.”
— Library Journal“After waiting nearly four years since The Fiery Cross, readers will find every expectation fulfilled in the sixth book of the popular Outlander series. Gabaldon shines as she unfolds the continuing story of the Frasers, heartbreakingly heroic highlander Jamie and his time-traveling wife Clare…[in a] compulsively readable mix of authentically set historical fiction and completely satisfying romance…This vivid and haunting novel, therefore, brings an aching sadness, but it is balanced with sheer joy, revelation, and solace. The large scope of the novel allows Gabaldon to do what she does best, paint in exquisite detail the lives of her characters. Gabaldon’s ability to invoke the heroic and the harrowing writ large, while also creating moments where you dare not take a breath for fear of missing something tiny and fine, is her hallmark. For it is in describing the sound of rain on the roof, Jamie’s injured hand, or the understanding between father and daughter that the world of the novel comes alive and offers readers an enthralling experience.”
— Booklist“Time travel, romance, and historical fiction combine to bring to life eighteenth-century Scotsman Jamie Fraser and his twentieth-century time-traveling wife, Claire…What happens to Jamie and Claire and the lives that intertwine with theirs is an exciting adventure through a tumultuous time where traitors are heroes and supporters are outcasts. Davina Porter does an excellent job as narrator, spanning characters with ease and skill. Gabaldon’s fans will not be disappointed…Highly recommended for all public library popular fiction collections.”
— Library Journal (audio review)“The intensely loyal fans of the Outlander series will devour this sixth installment. Diana Gabaldon delivers both an exciting plot and lovely fine detail; reader Davina Porter provides sensational narration. It’s a relief to hear Jamie Fraser’s Scottish and Gaelic dialogue, rather than struggle with mental pronunciation. Porter shines in Claire Fraser’s chapters of first-person narrative, portraying a warm and wise middle-aged beauty with steely determination and courage—an unusual combination in the eighteenth century but not in her native twentieth century. As Jamie strives to maintain peace in his North Carolina settlement, he tries to ignore Claire’s knowledge that the American Revolution is about to begin and he must choose sides. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award. A 2006 Audie Award winner.”
— AudioFile" The narration is easy to follow and engaging. I hadn't realized there were two narrators in this audiobook until writing the review. "
— BHD, 2/5/2024" The narrator's voice for male characters was annoying. "
— Bimini518, 11/18/2021" I loved it just like all the outlander books. "
— Sandie771 , 6/13/2020" I have listened to all the books. In my opinion that is the best way to enjoy these amazing novels. The narrator is THE BEST! It is such a great way to escape into Jamie and Claire's world. I tried reading them and it wrecked my life because I couldn't put them down. Listening is the way to go because I can still get stuff done while listening to my favorite story. "
— Marcie, 10/26/2019Rebecca Lowman is an actress and audiobook narrator who has won numerous Earphones Awards. She has starred in numerous television shows, including Law & Order, Big Love, NCIS, and Grey’s Anatomy, among many others. She earned her MFA from Columbia University.
Geraldine James, OBE, is a four-time BAFTA TV Award nominee who was also nominated for a Tony Award for her role in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. She has appeared in such notable films as Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, among many others.
Davina Porter has been enthralling listeners for over twenty-five years with her ability to mine the psychological depths of the characters she reads and bring them convincingly to life. In 2006, she won the prestigious Audie Award for Best Female Narration and in 2004 for Best Inspirational Literature Narration. She has been honored as an AudioFile Golden Voice and has won nineteen AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actress, she has appeared on stage at the Vineyard Playhouse and the Square One Theater, among others.