Claire Randall's saga as an outlander continues. The tales of her first mistaken trip to the highlands of 18th century Scotland seeming so distant, this 20th century nurse now resides in colonial America with her husband, Jamie Fraser. Previously, Claire and Jamie worked to help their daughter, Brianna, and son-in-law Roger, both from the 20th century, settle into life at Fraser's Ridge. The Fiery Cross begins with Brianna and Roger making their marriage official and baptizing their son.
Such idyllic domestic life cannot last, for the year is 1771, and Claire is all too aware of what lies ahead; what is oracular knowledge to those around her is simple history to Claire. She knows that a bloody conflict for the independence of the American colonies is coming. When Jamie is called upon to form a militia to put down the seeds of rebellion in North Carolina, he is all too aware that he will be eventually be forced to betray his king. An intricate plot weaves around the Fraser clan, as they perch on the precipice of war.
The Fiery Cross is the fifth novel in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, the prolific author who has written seven Outlander novels, an Outlander graphic novel, and several spin-off works following the Lord John character from her third novel "Voyager." Gabaldon started the Outlander series in the late 80s when she was a professor of Environmental Studies at Arizona State University. Initially it was an exercise to see if she could write a novel (and quite a successful exercise we might add). Since then her publishing success has allowed her to work as a writer full-time, with her latest Outlander novel, "Written In My Own Heart's Blood," forthcoming. She currently lives in Phoenix with her husband, and has three grown children.
"Having seen the TV Series of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander Books 1 & 2, and having listened to Books 3 & 4 while waiting for these books to be released on TV, I had to continue this wonderful saga with her Book 5 - The Fiery Cross. 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) when deciding 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)
“Gabaldon delivers on what she does best: poignant storylines, empathetic characters, meticulous detail, and searing passion. Savor every carefully chosen word, readers; it may be a long time until the next installment!”
— Amazon.com, editorial review“The year is 1771. The American War of Independence is fast approaching. And it seems that Jamie Fraser and his wife, Claire, and their beloved family are fated to be in the thick of things once again.”
— Barnes&Noble.com, editorial review“Those readers who have been waiting with impatience for the fifth installment in the incredible Outlander series will be richly rewarded by Diana Gabaldon’s latest literary achievement…Gabaldon’s eloquent prose portrays a rich tapestry of life in Colonial America. She is a storyteller par excellence who can capture her readers and immerse them in a distant land and time where passion is ignited, land is fought over and families reunite. All are told with an accuracy for historic detail, a beauty of language and poetry, and of course the irascible humor which make the Outlander series a bounty for her legions of fans.”
— RTBookReviews (4½ stars)“The still unfinished strands of this complex and engrossing tale, coupled with the impending Revolution, give hope to Gabaldon’s fans that the saga is not yet finished. As always, the writing is superb lush, evocative, and sensual, with a wealth of historic detail and a good deal of humor. Highly recommended.”
— Library Journal“Davina Porter carries the story with a vibrancy and consistency that keep the listener riveted…Her Scottish and British dialects distinguish the characters so thoroughly as to make them instantly identifiable, even before the speakers are named. Jamie Fraser’s rough but lilting Scots accent contrasts nicely with that of his refined British wife. Their daughter, Briana, carries no American dialect; neither does she suffer from a poor imitation thereof. Even the babies convincingly whine, cajole, and play. Porter’s narrative passages tie these delightful characters together elegantly.”
— AudioFile" I can't say which of the Outlander books I have enjoyed the most. The complex and engaging story line that Diana Gabaldon has created has been a special gift in my life, thank you! "
— BHD, 2/5/2024Rebecca 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.
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.