Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read.

Start by marking “The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)” as Want to Read:

Other editions

Enlarge cover

Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Open Preview

The Fiery Cross

(Outlander #5)

Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author)

4.22 · Rating details · 180,379 ratings · 7,407 reviews

The year is 1771, and war is coming. Jamie Fraser’s wife tells him so. Little as he wishes to, he must believe it, for hers is a gift of dreadful prophecy—a time-traveler’s certain knowledge. Claire’s unique view of the future has brought him both danger and deliverance in the past; her knowledge of the oncoming revolution is a flickering torch that may light his way throu ...more

Get A Copy

Paperback, 1424 pages

Published February 19th 2015 by Arrow (first published November 6th 2001)

More Details... Edit Details

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Reader Q&A

To ask other readers questions about The Fiery Cross, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Books that have a special spot cleared for them on your bookshelf

68 books — 60 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

Showing 1-30

Average rating 4.22 ·

Rating details

· 180,379 ratings · 7,407 reviews

More filters

Sort order

Start your review of The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)

Aug 02, 2009 Tatiana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011, historical

I don't think any author is in love with her characters and her own writing as much as Diana Gabaldon. To the point that she is convinced that absolutely everything she writes about them has to be in her books. Who cares about the plot and moving things along and putting in her novels only events that would advance the plot? Not Diana!

I've loved the Outlander books for a while, in spite of their fragmented nature and sometimes convoluted story lines, but this time even the most dedicated fan wo I don't think any author is in love with her characters and her own writing as much as Diana Gabaldon. To the point that she is convinced that absolutely everything she writes about them has to be in her books. Who cares about the plot and moving things along and putting in her novels only events that would advance the plot? Not Diana!

I've loved the Outlander books for a while, in spite of their fragmented nature and sometimes convoluted story lines, but this time even the most dedicated fan would notice that There is hardly any plot in it! I am still trying to figure out what the purpose of this book was, my only guess is to lead to the confrontation with Stephen Bonnet? But then, hundreds and hundreds of pages in The Fiery Cross are dedicated to the events that have nothing to do with the main story line of it. At least 2/3th of the novel could have been cut out because the only thing that happens there is that Jamie, Claire and Roger have to go on some militia business and then come back (twice!). During these trips nothing important takes place, except, of course, they meet some random people. And don't get me started on Brianna's breasts. If all the bits about her breasts being swollen or leaking milk and her wanting Roger to suckle on them were taken out, The Fiery Cross would have been at least 100 pages lighter. And another 100 pages lighter without little Jemmie pooping in a diaper or otherwise.

Certainly, we, fans, have a fair amount of patience for Gabaldon's long books and a lot of love for the characters and scenes in their lives, but, come on, a novel is still a novel. If there is hardly any forward motion in the story, no danger, no intensity, if you can skip hundreds of pages without missing anything vital, and the author is preoccupied with indulgently recording every occurrence in her characters' lives, important or not, she might as well call her work fanfiction. Or a soap opera with no end in sight.

Interestingly enough, even after spending a year! reading The Fiery Cross and dropping it so many times I can't count, I still couldn't bring myself to give it less than 3 stars and I already have the next book in the series loaded onto my iPod. This crack has a firm hold on me. For now. ...more

flag 929 likes · Like · see review

Mar 05, 2008 Nichole (DirrtyH) rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2008

So far, the weakest book in the series. This book dragged on and on and on... It took me about four times as long to finish this one as it did the other four. There was just a lot of unnecessary drama. The interesting parts were few and far between, but were just enough to keep me reading. And I will admit, by the end I was finally engaged enough to want to read the next one, so it didn't turn me off completely. There were just a lot of things that didn't need to be in the book. This is the firs ...more

flag 424 likes · Like · see review

Jun 08, 2008 Amanda rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: blog

When I finished this, my knee-jerk reaction was to give it a 4 star. However, after some consideration, I have to be honest with myself and say it was really just a 3 star read. The Fiery Cross is the 5th book in the Outlander series, a fantasy/romance/historical/time travel/everything-but-the-kitchen-sink series which began when Claire Randall, on a second honeymoon in Scotland, is thrown back in time from 1946 to Scotland during the Jacobite uprising that ended tragically at the battle of Cull When I finished this, my knee-jerk reaction was to give it a 4 star. However, after some consideration, I have to be honest with myself and say it was really just a 3 star read. The Fiery Cross is the 5th book in the Outlander series, a fantasy/romance/historical/time travel/everything-but-the-kitchen-sink series which began when Claire Randall, on a second honeymoon in Scotland, is thrown back in time from 1946 to Scotland during the Jacobite uprising that ended tragically at the battle of Culloden. While stuck in the past, she of course falls in love with a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser. Through four long-ass novels, they've been separated and reunited and managed to get themselves right smackdab in the center of any significant historical event taking place in the 18th century, Jamie's natural ability to lead heightened by Claire's knowledge of what the future holds. In The Fiery Cross, Jamie and Claire are now living in America with their daughter, Brianna, and her husband, Roger. Jamie finds himself in the role of "laird" to a group of Scottish immigrants who populate his land grant known as Fraser's Ridge.

I freakin' love these novels and that's why it pains me to say that I'm suffering from PTDGD (Post-Traumatic Diana Gabaldon Disorder) at the moment. Gabaldon has always written massive tomes stuffed full of historical detail and it's clear that this woman does her research, which sets her novels apart from the typical offerings of historical romance. This isn't just costume drama. However, I don't think I've ever read a novel in which so much happens and, yet, nothing really happens. The novel is so focused on the minutiae of day-to-day life (pigpens are built, militias are gathered and disbanded, fields are plowed, laundry is done, buffalo are hunted) that any narrative momentum is nil. It just doesn't go anywhere. There are rumblings of the American Revolution in the distance, but no real battles (other than a brief interlude in which Jamie gathers together a militia to help the governor put down the Regulators) and the one driving narrative thread--the hunt for Stephen Bonnet, who raped Brianna in an earlier novel--fizzles with no real resolution (clearly to be picked up in the next novel). Admittedly, all of the mundane tasks of daily life are vividly brought to life and readable because the characters are so likable, but Gabaldon can certainly beat a dead horse. As evidence, I offer the following:

1) She repeatedly overuses some words/phrases (sardonic, gimlet eye, wry smile, and everyone's mouth twitches at the corner with suppressed amusement at some point in the novel). Everyone's eye color is commented upon in every other paragraph. Details that diehard fans should be aware of by now are tediously repeated.

2) I read more about breastfeeding than I ever wanted to--Brianna's breasts spend so much time hardening between feedings of her offspring, Jemmy, they should be given their own novel. And I won't even comment upon the milk-sodden love scene. Let's just say it gave a whole new meaning to "Got Milk?" Blech.

3) Why does Roger MacKenzie still listen to Jamie? Sure, I know Jamie is his father-in-law and Roger wants to impress him, but Jamie is constantly sending Roger out on dangerous solo errands to give Roger (who is from the future) a chance to prove his manliness in a time when men are defenders, providers, apparently tireless lovers, etc. However, Roger always almost dies during his undertaking of these tasks. He is hung, nearly burnt to a cinder, beaten to within an inch of his life--how much more must Roger endure? Just let him stay home for a couple of chapters. Sheesh.

4) The alternating point of view is vexing to me. Some chapters are told in 1st person from Claire's point of view (and these are definitely the more interesting chapters, especially since you are reading about historical events from the perspective of someone who is conflicted about what knowledge she brings from the future and the dangers of revealing too much; it's easy to forget that there's a time travel element when Claire isn't narrating), but others are told in third person from other characters' perspectives. Most of these are told from Roger's point of view. Strangely, we never really get anything substantial from Jamie or Brianna's point of view.

5) Some chapters seem shoehorned in just because they were too darn cute to leave out. In particular, these chapters serve to show how clever someone is or how adorable little baby Jemmy is. Don't care. Don't give a shit. Move on.

And then there's James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser himself (or Himself, as he's often called in the novel, denoting his social position of laird). God, is there anything this man cannot do? As much as I love the character of Jamie, it's becoming increasingly obvious to me that he's female catnip (although he does not sparkle; he's the anti-Edward Cullen and yet they both share a similiar function--to make women long for men that do not exist and would probably be endlessly exasperating if they did). First off, he's the physical embodiment of masculine perfection: tall, well-muscled, blazing red hair, piercing blue eyes, fills out a kilt quite nicely (if you know what I mean--and if you don't, read the book. Gabaldon will make it quite apparent). He's a fierce warrior and yet a well-educated intellectual who is just at home in the courts and palaces of Europe as he is on a battlefield. He's multilingual and can read Latin, Greek, French, etc. and quote from high literature at a moment's notice. He can be a brutal or tender lover (depending on whatever Claire's in the mood for). He can be a man's man and then inexplicably lapse into shy boy-like behavior and whisper sweet nothings. Men of the world, give up. Compared with Jamie Fraser, you fail.

Despite all of this, I still enjoyed the novel. The relationship between Jamie and Claire has somewhat mellowed, although not in a bad way. There's still plenty of ridiculously hot sex between the two, but the relationship isn't marked by the fear of Claire going back to her own time through the stones. I also enjoy the good-natured vulgarity that runs throughout the characters' speech and the humor with which Gabaldon writes. And for all of my bellyaching about all of the details of 18th century life, I will concede that if anyone can make it interesting, it's Gabaldon. I will be reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes, the 6th book in the series, but I'm definitely going to need a lengthy respite between the two.

Cross posted at This Insignificant Cinder ...more

flag 200 likes · Like · see review

May 19, 2017 Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy-all, favorites, historical, own

And the story continues. ♥

Listening to these audio books back to back, they are starting to run together. I think I mentioned this before, but it's like one big, ongoing Outlander movie or something. I don't know if what I listened to was something from the other book or vise versa.

Here's what I know. Everyone is living together at Fraser's Ridge. Jamie gets called into the army by the Governor and Roger is with him. There is some fighting but I think there is more to come.

And sweet baby Jesus, if Roger didn't go through hell. I mean he did do something stupid. I thought it was stupid. You can't do that stuff back in the day, you could hardly do it now. But, when he saw someone he knew he should have just waved and went on about it. But no, he has to be an idiot and go over and talk and what not, in the middle of people wanting to start a war. Then it just gets horrible from there. Luckily a man came and got Jamie and Bree and Claire in the nick of time to save him. They thought he was dead and my heart was on the floor until finding out he was still barely alive. At this point I would have been thinking, the hell did I come back to this damn arse time in history. Alas, it took some time but Roger got better.

And that slimy Stephen Bonnet is still out there somewhere and they can't seem to get their hands on him. And now there is another person they need to beat down, William MacKenzie. And of course he's kin so the hell.

I remember listening a lot about all kinds of babies and goats and horses and craziness and funny stuff. At one point I didn't who what freaking kid belonged to who!

And Ian, he comes home with wolf, Rollo. =)

This book was a massive tome to get through but listening to the audio with the wonderful Davina Porter narrating is wonderful. She does the best job, ever!

You would think a book that just goes on about random stuff during the majority of the book would be boring but I they aren't to me. There is just something about them. And I'm still so happy to know that Jamie and Claire still love each other as much as they always have. I still really wish they didn't miss 20 years together though. It still gets to me, but I digress.

Now, onto the next . . . .

MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List ...more

flag 193 likes · Like · see review

Aug 06, 2014 Ashley rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: americana, treasure-and-adventure, family-saga, historical-fiction, manly-men-and-their-manparts, speculative, wibbly-wobbly-timey-wimey, you-wrote-about-what-now, murder-most-foul

I DID IT. I FINISHED THIS HULKING BEAST OF A BOOK.

The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in Arizona (woot) author Diana Gabaldon’s time-traveling historical fiction saga. I have enjoyed all the books up until this one, some with reservations, but still enjoyed. They all felt like they had strong backbones, and even though they were long, most of the stuff stuffed up in there had a point. Not so with this fucker.

Since the book is soooooo looooooong, I’m going to respond by being more concise than I w ...more

flag 184 likes · Like · see review

Jun 24, 2014 Mo rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

And so book 5 comes to an end. I started reading this series on June 16th and they have consumed me for all of my summer holidays. I swore I would take a break after each one but could not. They are long, they are detailed, all the names get a little confusing sometimes. I suppose I, myself, could be accused of jumping on the bandwagon, what with the TV series airing last night in the USA. Maybe so, but as I have had the books on my kindle and some of them in paperback for some time now (certain ...more

flag 99 likes · Like · see review

Jan 16, 2009 Barb rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: series-trilogy, read-in-2009, historical-adventure, time-slip

Like a Glucose Tolerance Test,
Only Recommended for Absolute Die-Hard Fans

A glucose tolerance test is a test given to a pregnant woman in order to determine whether or not she has gestational diabetes. The test is administered by forcing the poor pregnant woman to drink a, beyond human portion, of a glucose drink, something that tastes like a sugared soft-drink. Then glucose levels of the blood are measured at different intervals after the glucose has been metabolized by the body. It's not the s ...more

flag 78 likes · Like · see review

Oct 14, 2008 Holly rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, historical-fiction, socalled-chick-lit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

flag 65 likes · Like · see review

Jul 28, 2011 Matt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites, audiobook

Gabaldon invests much time and descriptive effort in this novel, which ties off many threads left dangling in DRUMS and introduces the reader to a plethora of new characters. The novel continues where DRUMS ended, at a a gathering of some of the Scottish colonial settlers. Brianna and Roger are set to marry and have their son, Jemmy, baptised. When a proclamation arrives from the Governor of North Carolina, everyone is put on notice that rebellion will not be tolerated against the British King. Gabaldon invests much time and descriptive effort in this novel, which ties off many threads left dangling in DRUMS and introduces the reader to a plethora of new characters. The novel continues where DRUMS ended, at a a gathering of some of the Scottish colonial settlers. Brianna and Roger are set to marry and have their son, Jemmy, baptised. When a proclamation arrives from the Governor of North Carolina, everyone is put on notice that rebellion will not be tolerated against the British King. While local sheriffs wreak havoc on the matrimonial plans, those within the group are able to make some alternate arrangements, just as a missive arrives for Jamie. The Governor has tasked him to create a militia to quell dissent in the Colony, less a request than a directive. As everyone returns to Fraser's Ridge, Jamie begins making the necessary arrangements. An eventual battle ensues, pitting the militia against a group of Regulators, bound to fight against Britain's continued rule in the area. Roger becomes embroiled in events and suffers greatly for it, which draws the Frasers in closer to him, showing their familial strength. Brianna and Roger must also struggle with everything that relates to Jemmy and their larger relationship. Gabaldon shifts the romantic and relationship focus to the next generation of characters, putting Brianna, Roger, and Stephen Bonnet into a veritable parental triangle, as Roger struggles with Jemmy's potential parentage, going so far as to learn a little genetics from Claire to understand implications. Roger and Brianna must wrestle with much of the same issues Claire and Frank did years ago. Where Gabaldon left much of the awkwardness of the Claire-Frank-Jamie triangle to small crumbs in VOYAGER, a thorough exploration takes place herein, with some interesting insight to enlighten the reader. Claire's knowledge of history can be both a blessing and curse, as she watches Jamie prepare for the early stages of the War of Independence, sure to divide the colony and keep everyone on their toes. As old enemies return to tie off their storylines from novels past and new foes begin to lay roots for long-standing hatred, Jamie and his family grow closer through peril and tragedy, exemplifying that the family fabric can withstand much strain. With ghost bears and wild boars, snake bites and attempted executions, war drums and Scottish folk songs, the novel offers many a vignette to educate and entertain. Told in a way only Gabaldon could, the reader is in for a long and twisted story, but never left to drift too far off the beaten path.

Some have commented that this book was a turning point in the Outlander series, as it dragged on and began to derail the built momentum. To those readers, I would acknowledge the freedom of expression, but also remind this posse that this is not a series for the feint of heart or easily bored. Much of Gabaldon's content does play a key role in later missives, as the reader will have discovered in this novel. While seemingly minor topics appear in the narrative, they become central with the reemergence of characters, or new spins on their placement in the larger narrative. There were sections of the book that did take up much space and might have been trimmed or edited out, but something tells me there is a reason for their inclusion and the reader can skim all they like, hoping a re-read is not necessary at a later point. That said, this being a re-read for me, I took away so much more than I had the first time around. The story's underlying history begins its necessary heating up and will only get stronger and more interesting as the series progresses. Gabaldon, like perhaps George RR Martin, can see the mighty forest for the acorns currently scattered on the ground, and for that we owe her the true benefit of the doubt. She's shown that she is in control and trust has long-since been earned.

Kudos, Madam Gabaldon, for pressing on with your longest novel to date. Its content, though dense for some, proves highly attractive for the Outlander obsessed.

Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
...more

flag 60 likes · Like · see review

Apr 16, 2014 KatieMc rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Audio reread (at 2x). 2.5 stars.

This is a long meandering book that might have a plot. It establishes the family on Fraser’s Ridge and follows them for about a year. There are medical and military related story lines, and a lot happens in 1400 pages. Some highlights:

• Clare sets up a penicillin factory on the mountain.
• Jamie develops a foot fetish.
• Bree takes on the persona of the Professor on Gilligan's Island.
• The family seems to be an unhealthy obsession about knowing who Jemmy's biologica ...more

flag 53 likes · Like · see review

Jun 05, 2007 Sherry rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Recommended to Sherry by: Rhon

Shelves: 2006-2010

This is a hard book to review. Besides the fact that it's over 1400 pages and took me over a month to read... it's Diana Gabaldon. She writes fascinating accounts of history, trivia, mythology, a great love story, science fiction and people with great detail.

In some places I wanted to hurry through the details and get to the heart of the story, and other places I savored every word. That's the beauty of her writing, you have to read every word, absorb every detail because it will come back (mayb ...more

flag 51 likes · Like · see review

Sep 04, 2008 Heidi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, 2021-goal

Second read- 2021
Reading along with the show but I fell behind— forgot how massive (but wonderfully written) these books are. Definitely have to finish this one and read the next to catch up... winter is a great time for big books!!

First read- 2008
Although I really do love this series-- but book 5 seemed to go on and on and on without really moving the story forward that much... certainly not 1,000 plus pages worth. That said, Gabaldon is a master at weaving characters, historical fiction detai ...more

flag 47 likes · Like · see review

Mar 01, 2020 Nataliya rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020-reads

Why oh why is this book so bloated?

No detail is too insignificant to include in this hefty tome. The plot itself - whatever tiny bit of it is there - is relegated to the back burner. The bulk of the pages seems to be taken over by the tedious depictions of breastfeeding and dirty diapers and then more breastfeeding and leaky breasts and diapers and more breastfeeding. And buried somewhere in the relentless onslaught of tedious minutia of the 18th century daily homesteading life there are hints o ...more

flag 48 likes · Like · see review

Mar 02, 2013 Erin rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, diana-gabaldon, series

Honestly, I must be crazy to dive into another re-read over my weekend rather than crack open one of the other million new reads that await me. But here I am having given myself over to 979 pages of my least favorite book in the Outlander series.

Major Warning: If you have not read the four preceding books or if you have only watched the first three seasons of the television show..don't peek at this review. Spoliers are ahead
First a confession, I haven't read this book as many times as its ...more

flag 42 likes · Like · see review

Dec 09, 2016 Carole (Carole's Random Life in Books) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, audio-book, 2016

This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

Anyone who knows me knows how much love I have for this series. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I have recently listened to the first four books in the series after having read them years earlier. This was the first time that I have experienced this book and I was a little nervous about listening to it instead of sitting down with a book but I think it worked out well in the end.

So much happens in this book! That is really kind of n This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life.

Anyone who knows me knows how much love I have for this series. I really enjoyed listening to this book. I have recently listened to the first four books in the series after having read them years earlier. This was the first time that I have experienced this book and I was a little nervous about listening to it instead of sitting down with a book but I think it worked out well in the end.

So much happens in this book! That is really kind of normal for this series but this book has so many things going on. I guess that really should be expected since this book is also really long. It is like 3 or 4 books if you just compare page counts. There were a few sections of the book that I did think went on a little longer than was really needed. The book starts out at a gathering and I wasn't sure that they would ever leave but they did in the end and the book did start to really pick up steam quickly.

All of the characters that I have grown to love over the years were back in this book. Jamie and Claire are getting a bit older and it is really nice to see watch them grow over the course of the series. It is refreshing to see a couple that have been married for a long time still have the passion and love that Jamie and Claire have for each other. Brianna and Roger go through a lot in this book. In a lot of ways this book isn't very kind to poor Roger. Jemmy is growing up and his personality really starts to shine through in this book.

I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook. I think that Davina Porter does a fabulous job with this series. In this book, she is able to give a unique voice to all four of the main characters. She is able to convey a lot of emotion during her narration. I found myself not wanting to stop listening because I had to know how things would work out.

I would highly recommend this book to others but I do believe that this is a series that needs to be read in order so please start with Outlander. The ending of this book really was exciting for me and I came really close to moving directly into the next book in the series. I can't wait to read more about Jamie and Claire!

Initial Thoughts
I feel like I deserve some kind of reward for finishing this audiobook in a month. 55 1/2 hours is looong!

This book started out slow for me but picked up eventually. There were a lot of new developments and some heartbreaking moments. The last part of the book was fascinating. I can't wait to read more of Jamie and Claire but I will probably take a break for a bit first. ...more

flag 41 likes · Like · see review

Nov 03, 2016 Ahmad Sharabiani rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 21th-century, fiction, romance, time-travel, adventure, fantasy, mexican-american, historical

The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5), Diana Gabaldon

The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in the Outlander series of novels by Diana Gabaldon. Centered on time travelling 20th century doctor Claire Randall and her 18th century Scottish Highlander warrior husband Jamie Fraser, the books contain elements of historical fiction, romance, adventure and science fiction/fantasy.

Claire, the heroine of Outlander, figures in The Fiery Cross as a reluctant oracle and wife to Jamie Fraser, her 18th century partner, a The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5), Diana Gabaldon

The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in the Outlander series of novels by Diana Gabaldon. Centered on time travelling 20th century doctor Claire Randall and her 18th century Scottish Highlander warrior husband Jamie Fraser, the books contain elements of historical fiction, romance, adventure and science fiction/fantasy.

Claire, the heroine of Outlander, figures in The Fiery Cross as a reluctant oracle and wife to Jamie Fraser, her 18th century partner, and faces the politics and turmoil of the forthcoming American Revolution. As the preceding novel, Drums of Autumn, concluded with Jamie Fraser and his wife Claire helping their daughter and new son-in-law, from the 20th century, settle into life on Fraser's Ridge, The Fiery Cross picks up the story-line exactly where it was left - with Brianna Ellen Randall Fraser and Roger Mackenzie about to make their nuptials official and baptize their son Jeremiah. With the American Revolution only a few years away and unrest brewing, Jamie is called to form a militia to put down the beginnings of rebellion in North Carolina, and risk his life for a king he knows he must betray soon. Gabaldon delivers the endings to several strands of story-line she had woven through Drums of Autumn; mysterious plots and characters are revealed in the course of this intricate plot and at the end, the Frasers and their family are poised on the edge of war.

تاریخ نخستین خوانش: روز چهارم ماه مارس سال 2018 میلادی

عنوان: بیگانه: کتاب پنجم: صلیب آتشین؛ نویسنده: دایانا گبلدون؛

داستان غریبه: کلِیر رَندال فریزر در سال 1945 میلادی در خلال جنگ جهانی دوم، یک پرستار جنگی و البته متاهل است که تصمیم می‌گیرد برای تغییر حال و هوای جنگ همراه با همسرش، فرانک رندال به دومین ماه عسل خود در اینورنس، اسکاتلند بروند. در آنجا کلیر با رفتن به مکانی مقدس با سنگ‌های ایستاده و دنبال کردن صداهایی عجیب که می‌شنود، ناگهان خود را در سال 1743 میلادی در اسکاتلند می‌یابد؛ زمان زندگی جد همسرش، بلک جک رندال، جاییکه در آن جنگ داخلی گروه جکوبایت‌ها برپاست و یک جنگجوی شجاع اسکاتلندی به نام جِیمی فرِیزِر که کلِیر با او آشنا و کم‌ کم، مجبور به ازدواج با او می‌شود، اما چیزی نمی‌گذرد که عاشق و دلباختهٔ یکدیگر می‌شوند ...؛ در این کتاب پنجم زندگی روزمره با چنان جزییاتی ارائه شده، که تمرکز خوانشگر روی داستان سفر از یادش میرود. ا. شربیانی ...more

flag 41 likes · Like · see review

Apr 15, 2018 Ashley Daviau rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I think this has been my least favourite out of the series so far. I did still love it but I thought it dragged a bit whereas the previous books flew by for me. I especially enjoyed the new characters they were added, it really gave a new dynamic to the story. And seeing Jamie and Claire’s relationship evolve is truly beautiful. I still wish it had packed more of a punch though, it just wasn’t as spectacular as the other books in the series for me!

flag 39 likes · Like · see review

Jul 20, 2007 Katie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: all-time-favorites

Well, I finally finished The Fiery Cross.

*sigh*

I absolutely LOVE these books. This installment was no exception.....

I found that this installment had so many deep emotional scenes, that when i finished, I felt that i had connected to the characters, emotionally, more then ever before.

Starting with The Gathering, when Jamie calls his people out, and they all hold hands. The wedding scene between Roger and Brianna was both hilarious and touching. The various incidents at the Gathering really set Well, I finally finished The Fiery Cross.

*sigh*

I absolutely LOVE these books. This installment was no exception.....

I found that this installment had so many deep emotional scenes, that when i finished, I felt that i had connected to the characters, emotionally, more then ever before.

Starting with The Gathering, when Jamie calls his people out, and they all hold hands. The wedding scene between Roger and Brianna was both hilarious and touching. The various incidents at the Gathering really set up so much for the story. I love how Diana Gabaldon weaves the tale with details so deep, and how it all comes together in the end.

My complaint after "Drums of Autumn" was that, while i cared about Roger and Brianna, i didnt feel as emotionally connected to them, as i did with Jamie and Claire. In fact, i didnt really like Brianna very much. In Fiery Cross, i found that the deeper exploration of the relationship between Roger and Brianna was very satisfying. Roger especially, gave a whole new facet to the face of the family living at Fraser's Ridge. His brush with death, when he was hanged, was especially heart wrenching. The loss of his voice, and his constant doubts as to the paternity of Jemmy, and his own marriage really made me sympathize with him.

The atomosphere of Frasers Ridge is intoxicating. The natural beauty she describes. The danger. Fraser's Ridge is a character in itself.

I love these characters. When Roger almost died, before i realized that he was alive, i put my head down and cried. it was horrible!! but so well written, and thats the beauty of this author. His reaction to his "almost death" was heartbreaking for the entire family and as a reader, you felt it yourself.

Wee Ian!!! I honestly didnt think we would ever see him again. I thought for sure he would turn up dead, or only mentioned in memory. I was thrilled when he came back. Because i enjoyed this character so much, i was thrilled that he now knows the family secret of the stones.

"I knew you weren't a wee fairie Auntie Claire!"

my favorite quote.
...more

flag 38 likes · Like · see review

Sep 15, 2017 abby rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, romance, historical-fiction, time-travel, fantasy

In the end, I wound up liking this book, but it was a long (so, so long) and bumpy road to get there. Somehow, this book is written by the same author who managed to pack an epic fantasy adventure into 800 pages with the original Outlander. Yet 1500 pages were needed here to... to do what? I don't even know. There's more than a couple sweet scenes between Jamie and Claire, but in between it's a wasteland. Over and over, characters are described as hiding a smile or having the corner of their mou ...more

flag 37 likes · Like · see review

Feb 04, 2008 April rated it it was ok · review of another edition

I read this as soon as it came out. Had to have it in hardback because I couldn't wait for paperback and had to have my own precious copy. Wish I had waited or borrowed it from the library. I was so excited to see what Claire and Jamie were up to, but it was a very slow read, explaining every little thing in detail. I mean, I love to read books that don't gloss over the not-so-pretty parts of the day, but explaining that a child needs a diaper change, and it's unpleasant aroma, over and over and ...more

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

Jan 22, 2020 Ken rated it really liked it

Now that I’m finally reading ahead of the TV series, I’m finding these epic tomes to be even more rewarding as I’m eager to find out what happens next to the residents on Fraser’s ridge.

Set during the early 1770’s Gabaldon expertly brings to life the colonial America setting perfectly.
Every aspect of day to day life is laid out with so much detail that the story’s main focus from the 20th century time travellers helps highlights even the small insignificant details and gives a fascinating contex ...more

flag 33 likes · Like · see review

Jul 25, 2019 Scott rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

Where do I start with my review of “The Fiery Cross”, the fifth (and possibly the l-o-n-g-e-s-t) book in Diana Gabaldon’s wildly popular “Outlander” series, which is also a highly-rated television show on Starz? How do I put into words the massive thoughts and emotions running through my head after finishing this grand opus of adventure, honor, love, and family? I think it starts with, “My name is Scott and I am an Outlander fan…”

Over last two years, I have devoured the first five books in this Where do I start with my review of “The Fiery Cross”, the fifth (and possibly the l-o-n-g-e-s-t) book in Diana Gabaldon’s wildly popular “Outlander” series, which is also a highly-rated television show on Starz? How do I put into words the massive thoughts and emotions running through my head after finishing this grand opus of adventure, honor, love, and family? I think it starts with, “My name is Scott and I am an Outlander fan…”

Over last two years, I have devoured the first five books in this unbelievably well written series. It has so many elements, including historical, time travel, mystery, adventure, and yes, romance. Each of the first four books were epic and overwhelming with rich background, complex plotting, and strong dialog. Each one builds on the multi-layered mythology of the prior one. And each one just seems to build on and be better than the previous one. I can only speak for myself, but I am living proof that men can read and enjoy the Outlander series.

As many are already aware, Claire Randall is a 20th century doctor who survived going through the ancient stone circle back and forth in time multiple times. There she met Jamie Fraser, an 18th century Scot who was involved in the Jacobite uprising against England and they were forced to marry. She later returned to the present to bear and raise his child when he was assumed killed in battle. Twenty years later, when their daughter, Briana is grown, Claire discovers he survived and she risks everything to return through the stones to Jamie. Together again, they find themselves building a new life together in the wilds of the North Carolina colony. It doesn’t take long for Brianne to join them in the past so she can meet her father, and she is followed by Roger, a close family friend who is in love with her. After a lot of Shakespearian drama and intrigue, they both eventually join Jamie and Claire in building a family homestead on Fraser's Ridge.

“The Fiery Cross” begins where the last book – “Drums of Autumn” – ended, with Claire, Jamie, Brianne, and Roger attending a Scottish clan gathering in which Brianne and Roger are about to baptize their son, Jeremiah, as well as make their wedding vows legally official. The clan gathering goes on for about 200 pages, introducing a bunch of new characters and setting up and foreshadowing plotlines that will come to fruition throughout the book.

The rest of the book covers 2 years, from late 1770 to late 1772, as the war for independence approaches and Jaime finds himself unwillingly pulled into service as a militia leader to protect and defend England’s sovereignty. Most of the activity involves our four heroes – Claire, Jaimie, Brianne, and Roger – as they try to balance the political unrest and work to create a community and family home that they hope will survive the upcoming war. Bad things continually happen to both Roger and Jaimie (especially Roger) as a plethora of characters are introduced throughout, some to pop up again in key moments and others that remain in the background. For the most part, this outing provides some sub-plots and demonstrates the everyday challenges of surviving frontier life, and move the readers forward to the war for independence.

“The Fiery Cross” is a massive read, clocking in at 1,443 paperback pages. Patience and attention are required of the reader, especially with the beginning, when a lot of time is spent at the “celebration” setting up future storylines and conflicts for our protagonists. In being completely honest, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first four, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t love certain moments, because I certainly did. The primary reasons for ranking it lower than the first four, was that the story built slower (much slower) at the beginning, and focused more on various sub-plots and particular moments with our characters rather than having over-arching major plotlines. I think the primary reason for that is, to be bluntly honest, is that this book serves as a transition for our four heroes from all of their let’s-overcome-all-of-the-conflicts-and-challenges-of-getting-together-and settling-down--as -a-united-family to that of preparing to fight the war for independence. That’s why many of the storylines are really short stories all wrapped together into one very long, long (did I say long?) book.

And what I find most ironic about Gabaldon tying a bunch of diary and journal type of events together is that she finds ways to creatively make it work for the most part. There several golden moments between Claire and Jamie, Brianna and Roger, Brianna and Jamie, and Roger and Jamie, that are mesmerizing and connect on an emotional level.

The strength in this book (and the series as a whole) is how well Gabaldon elevates love and conflict in the relationships of father/daughter, mother/daughter, and especially husband/wife. She creates conflict through secrets, good intentions, and a lack of willingness to open up to demonstrate lessons learned the hard way in the “Outlander” world. After the physical pain that Roger suffers through in this and the last book, I am starting to seriously worry that Gabaldon doesn’t like him, because he seems to be paying a harsh price to stay alive.

In my opinion, Gabaldon is an excellent writer that has mastered several strengths, including plotting, setting, character, and dialog. Her plotting is well-planned, multi-layered, detailed in whatever time period is involved, and full of many twists that lead to have future development opportunities. She grabs your attention and requires use of almost every one of your senses as you delve into her world. Her characters are rich and complex. Each have their own unique personalities, motivations, and attributes. You cannot stop yourself from loving the good guys and hating the bad guys, but every character is beyond three dimensional, with real strengths and flaws. You can clearly picture them standing next to you and engaging in conversation.

In my opinion, her ability to write scenes and dialog is probably her greatest skill as a writer. Although this book doesn’t have as many of the wonderful and pivotal pay-off moments as the previous ones, Gabaldon still finds subtle ways to pull you in and keep your undying interest. Her characters converse and provide information that pushes and propels the plot forward. Their conversations flow with a certain rhythmic quality that stands out above most writers.

Overall, “The Fiery Cross” serves its purpose to transition the characters forward from settling the American frontier to participating in the war for independence, and does so in pretty creative and imaginative ways most of the time. Although I find it be a little less awesome than the previous four books, primarily due to lacking a stronger overarching storyline, Gabaldon still proves her worth in delivering a stronger outing than most writers could pull off.

For me, she has found the magic for creating unforgettable characters that I have come to know and deeply care about. I am not afraid to admit that I have shared some deeply personal moments with them, including laughter, struggle and challenge, pain and sadness, and tears of joy in the things that matter most in a family. I cannot wait for the journey to continue in her next book, “A Breath of Snow and Ashes” …
...more

flag 31 likes · Like · see review

Aug 24, 2007 Lucy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Recommends it for: women with a lot of time on their hands

The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in a series written by Diana Gabaldon about Clare Fraser, who can travel through time by touching stones (think stonehenge). The first time she time travelled, it was an accident. She travelled two-hundred years backward to the 1740s and met the love her life, Jamie Frasier, a Scottish highlander. Their love story has developed through out each of the books as Gabaldon details the historical setting that surrounds them. In The Fiery Cross, the year is 1771 and t The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in a series written by Diana Gabaldon about Clare Fraser, who can travel through time by touching stones (think stonehenge). The first time she time travelled, it was an accident. She travelled two-hundred years backward to the 1740s and met the love her life, Jamie Frasier, a Scottish highlander. Their love story has developed through out each of the books as Gabaldon details the historical setting that surrounds them. In The Fiery Cross, the year is 1771 and the unrest and dissatisfaction of the colonists in the New World are humming. Even though the author uses almost 1,000 pages, the story progresses less than a year through time. That's an awful lot of information, in my opinion, without anything really happening to the characters. Jamie continues to lead, Clare continues to freak out everyone by practicing 20th century medicine in the 18th century, Briana continues to nurse (I couldn't believe how often the author had to point that out to us readers. Her breasts are hardened with milk again????) and Roger continues to be a complete fish out of water. In fact, I believe this book gets read solely because it is part of a series where the reader is already attached to the main characters. Separate it from the other books, and The Fiery Cross is unnecessarily wordy and quite dull.

This book came out four years after the previous book in this series, Drums of Autumn. Four years. I finished Drums of Autumn only few months ago and I was constantly confused by the many, many unimportant names of characters Gabaldon throws at her readers. Who? Is this important?

Turns out, not really. My theory as to why she bothers making it so complicated is that she is trying to convince the masses that these books are much more than fantasy romance, but legitimate historical fiction. She makes her point. Gabaldon clearly has done a lot of research about the living conditions, medicinal remedies, and political atmosphere of the pre-revolutionary war colonies. She included it all and then some. Lots and lots of digression about medicine that Claire Fraser would not have learned or remembered from her med school days. They do not teach microbiology stain techniques, or pathology to the extent that she would be the expert she always ends up being. Gabaldon seems to forget that Clare was a surgeon, and since she rarely gets to do surgery, the author flaunts what she's learned about medicine elsewhere in the book and always uses Clare as her medium. I find it annoying. Clare wouldn't know all of that stuff and making her some sort of superbrain takes away from the realness of her character. Why can't Claire just be wrong...or simply not know? She's pigeonholed her greatest characters. Jamie must be uberbrave. Claire must be ubersmart. Throw in some nookie a few times and you've got your book.

This took way too long for me to read. It simply wasn't very interesting. Until, of course, the very end. Around page 920, she finally threw in some of her good stuff - the time travel stuff. Genuine conflict and not just a side story that takes you somewhere for 100 pages without a purpose. Darn it...I'm going to have to read the next one! ...more

flag 26 likes · Like · see review

Jul 26, 2012 Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2012

This book starts off at The Gathering which is where all the Scots come together to see how everyone is and what's been going on. But that's only the tip of the iceberg of what all happens in these 1443 pages. The blurb makes you think that the book is a lot about the war but it's not.

Wow! There are so many major things that happen in this book and one extremely shocking event. I just couldn't believe that Diana Gabladon did that to Roger and while she set up things nicely, it was still incompr ...more

flag 25 likes · Like · see review

Aug 27, 2019 Candace rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-5-star

There is so much happening in this novel. We start off with a Scottish Gathering. Jamie, Claire, Brianna, Roger, Jemmy, Fergus, Marsali, Germain and Joanie are all there to renew old acquaintances and to form alliances. There is to be two weddings (Brianna and Roger, and Duncan Innes and Jocasta Cameron) and three baptisms (Jemmy, Germain and Joanie). While at the Gathering, Lt. Archie Hayes issues a proclamation about the Hillsborough riots -- to bring those who participated in it to justice. L ...more

flag 25 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2008 Christy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommends it for: all romance, historical romance fans

In the fifth installment of the Outlander series, time-traveler Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser and her eighteenth century husband, Jamie, have established their homestead on Fraser’s Ridge in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Grumblings among colonists against British tyranny have begun, and Jamie and Claire are resigned to the fact that the American Revolution will take place and there is nothing they can to do stop it. Although Jamie sympathizes with the colonists, his allegiance, for ...more

flag 23 likes · Like · see review

May 14, 2020 Ashley rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2020, btb-2020

Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.

More than three years since I finished Drums of Autumn, I’ve finally finished The Fiery Cross. I have found that blogging and the general busyness of life have made it more challenging to commit to long books and these books are bigger than bricks! I started The Fiery Cross last year and ended up abandoning it about 400 pages in with the intention of picking it back up, but never found the motivation. I decided this year is the year I’m committing myself to these Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.

More than three years since I finished Drums of Autumn, I’ve finally finished The Fiery Cross. I have found that blogging and the general busyness of life have made it more challenging to commit to long books and these books are bigger than bricks! I started The Fiery Cross last year and ended up abandoning it about 400 pages in with the intention of picking it back up, but never found the motivation. I decided this year is the year I’m committing myself to these behemoths, or at least as much as I can via the audiobooks.

I was concerned about how the audio would work for me before I started listening to this book. I wasn’t sure the narrator’s voice for Claire and Brianna was fitting. Soon I realized it didn’t quite matter the longer I listened. She had such a canny ability for keeping track of the voices for each character, I always seemed to know who was speaking whether their name had been mentioned yet. I really can’t say enough good things about Davina Porter’s excellent narration after listening to 55 hours of her bringing these beloved characters to life. It truly felt as if I was watching a movie in my mind!

“Blessed are those who eat greens, for they shall keep their teeth. Blessed are those who wash their hands after wiping their arses, for they shall not sicken. Blessed are those who boil water, for they shall be called saviors of mankind.”

Despite it being more than three years since I’ve read a book in this series, I couldn’t believe how easily the storyline came back to me as I listened. Naturally, there were a few details I had forgotten or the significance of a certain character to events taking place, but Diana Gabaldon does a great job of refreshing the reader as the book goes along. I was able to immediately jump right back in as if almost no time had passed at all. In fact, it seems mind-boggling that it has been so long since I finished the fourth book. I think that’s a testament to just how epic these books are. They stay with me, obviously partly due to the time invested in them, but because the story is such a rich experience.

“He had learned early on the trick of living separately in a crowd, private in his mind when his body could not be. But he was born a mountain-dweller, and had learned early, too, the enchantment of solitude, and the healing of quiet places.”

There was a big chunk of this story that felt as if very little was happening, which I think contributed to my inability to finish the first time around. However, it was nice to be able to settle into a routine with the characters. It seems very rare for Claire and Jamie to have what seemed to be eons of time with little drama surrounding their family life. Nevertheless, as the story progressed, there were quite a few of those jaw-dropping, stomach sinking moments I had grown accustomed to. My only real complaint about this story were the few time jumps that didn’t seem to offer as much of an explanation to past events as I would have wanted. This made parts of the story feel rushed, whereas other less interesting plotlines had many more pages (minutes) of detail.

“…well, if women’s work was never done, why trouble about how much of it wasn’t being accomplished at any given moment?”

The great take away from this was just how much I’ve missed spending time with Claire and Jamie and all of the many secondary characters as well. They feel like real people to me by now and I miss them frequently throughout my life when I’m not reading the books. I’m hoping to use my next Libro.fm credit, which luckily hits my account today, on the next book in the series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes. I’m eager to use this abundance of time making progress on the latter half of the series. Somehow I know these final few books will be ripping my heart to shreds along the way. ...more

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Jan 01, 2021 Alexw rated it really liked it · review of another edition

LONGGGGGGGGGGGGG paperback-1443 pages-Roger was the toughest character ever written as he survived a hanging that should have broken his neck, a fire that burned him horribly and a near drowning !!
But despite that unbelivable character, the search for lost gold(always a favorite of mine) was lots of fun but the most fun was was when the villain(Stephen Bonnett) got shot in his hands and hopefully his groin !!

flag 22 likes · Like · see review

Jan 27, 2018 Alaina rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, sci-fi, historical-fiction, books-i-own, kindle-unlimited, fantasy, fiction, january-challenge-2018

Finally finished the 5th book in this series (sometime this month) and I'm getting to the review part - YAY!

I kind of really wish these books were a lot smaller. They just take so much time to read and to absorb all of the information thrown at you. I need time to decide if I like the book, characters, storyline, and everything else. Also, things definitely dragged on. I didn't care about what the hell was happening for more than half of the book. It just seemed like I was reading so much unnece ...more

flag 20 likes · Like · see review

Mar 23, 2019 Julie rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

“When the day shal come, that we do part,” he said softly, and turned to look at me, “if my last words are not ‘I love you’—ye’l ken it was because I didna have time.”

flag 19 likes · Like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Magical Books & W...: Fiery Cross (#5) SPOILERS	4	3	Jan 29, 2021 01:10AM
2021 Reading Chal...: The Fiery Cross (Outlander #5)	20	33	Dec 27, 2020 02:19PM
Great American Re...: November 2020 - THE FIERY CROSS by Diana Gabaldon (Outlander, book 5)	1	5	Nov 01, 2020 05:06AM
Goodreads Librari...: Please add Starz tie-in ACE of The Fiery Cross.	4	32	May 27, 2020 04:17AM
Bookworm Bitches : Outlander: The Fiery Cross	32	61	Jan 21, 2020 08:49AM

Readers also enjoyed

See similar books…

Genres

Historical > Historical Fiction

3,616 users

Romance

1,685 users

Fiction

1,345 users

Fantasy

1,304 users

Science Fiction > Time Travel

1,079 users

Historical

906 users

Romance > Historical Romance

560 users

Audiobook

261 users

Adult

226 users

Adventure

179 users

See top shelves…

About Diana Gabaldon

Diana Gabaldon

165,845 followers

Diana Jean Gabaldon Watkins grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona and is of Mexican-American and English descent. She has earned three degrees: a B.S. in Zoology, a M.S. in Marine Biology, and a Ph.D in Ecology.

She currently lives in Scottsdale, Arizona .

Other books in the series

Outlander (9 books)

Books by Diana Gabaldon

A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander, #6)

More…

Interview with Diana Gabaldon

The historical fiction phenom is back with her latest romantic time-traveling adventure, Written in My Own Heart's Blood, next in the bestselling...

Trivia About The Fiery Cross (...

8 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from The Fiery Cross

“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.” — 141 likes

“Mo Nighean donn," he whispered," mo chridhe. My brown lass, my heart."
Come to me. Cover me. Shelter me. a bhean, heal me. Burn with me, as I burn for you.” — 127 likes

More quotes…