A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander)
The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest.
With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independence—with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie’s death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future.
Reviews (176)
Why NO audible version available???!!!
Why is the audible version of this book not available on Kindle? It is THE ONLY book in the series that doesn't have the option to purchase it audibly as well. (Of course, I will change the rating to 5-Stars once this is corrected and audible is available for it.)
Starting to read like the Perils of Pauline.
Well, I think this will be my last Outlander book. I started reading them when the first one had just come out and loved it. The next few were also good. Gabaldon is quite a good writer and has a way with words that I really enjoy but this book and the one before it aren't novels, they are a group of vignettes so sewn together with such a thin thread that I don't plan to waste my time on any more of them. I love a good long book that I can really get into but 1500 pages of short stories is not what I had in mind. Plus, its starting to feel like I'm reading the Perils of Pauline, just one trauma after another. The book could easily been cut by more than half and had movement to it, instead, I got so tired of reading it that I began speed reading and skimming the last several hundred pages. This isn't like me at all, I love to read and have loved these books but I've had enough. If I really want to know what happens to the Frasers then I'll watch the TV series but frankly, I don't care anymore. This in itself is a shame because Gabaldon is such a talented writer, she is extremely readable and her attention to detail and historical research is so impressive although she needs to do a little more ornithological research (you don't find mockingbirds and balsam firs at the same altitude). But that is a minor complaint. I have read other reviews and have seen that other people have the same problems I have with these last books. Take note, Diana!!!
A Delicious Delight!
Oh, what a delicious delight! This is the sixth book in the "Outlander" series by Diana Gabaldon and we find our favorite time traveler, Claire Fraser, living with Jamie on Fraser Ridge in North Carolina in 1772 through 1776 with the American Revolution hovering in the background--and sometimes the foreground. I think this is the best of the bunch since "Outlander," the first and by far the best in the series. And while you will learn a bit of American history, the book is primarily an 18th century soap opera. And what fun it is! We have kidnappings, murder, revenge, the scandal of unwed pregnancies, wayward young men, fires, hangings, more kidnappings, more fires...you name it. The incredibly addictive soap opera plot aside, this book--as are the others in the series--is really about love, honor and duty. Love for family, love for country, the honor of the clan, the duty to serve others. Reading between the lines, it's advice on how we should live. A word of warning: You must begin with "Outlander" and work your way through the series in the proper order. Taking this on is quite a reading and time commitment. The books are all long. Very long. "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" checks in at more than 1,400 pages. But they are SO GOOD! This is the ultimate in escapist reading. And when you realize how good it is and wish it would never end...well, it's so long it almost doesn't.
Disappointed, will not be finishing the book or series
I have read all of the previous books in this series and loved them, but had to put this one down for good. To be quite frank, there's a lot of really explicit rape in this book, and it's unnecessary and uncomfortable. The plot is not advanced at all. As always, Gabaldon's writing is pleasant to read, but the content is what was lacking for me. I'm about halfway through and have stuck it on my bookshelf. Part of me wants to know what happens to Claire and Jamie, Bri and Roger, but if I had to read about one more character getting sexually assaulted I was going to be physically ill. Gabaldon should also realize that, with the astronomically high rates of sexual assault, a book including rape scene after rape scene wouldn't go over well.
Book 6 long but did not Disapoint
The Outlander series is a commitment and a journey into history with some fantasy and detailed living in very hard times. Book #6 of 8 was a long book (approx 1400 pages). I read on my Kindle and have the mobile app so I can read wherever I am. Book 6 is set in the beginning forming of America. While very exciting read there are some not so exciting parts about how people settled from other countries and the blending of religions and beliefs. Food, medical attention, and shelter and also in discussed in detail which may be boring to some readers, but I find it very helpful in understanding why history evolved as it did back in the 1700's. I loved this book and have started book #7. The author and her team have done extensive research to keep this fictional story on track with the documented history events as they happened. A lot of respect to Diana Gabaldon and her team for writing these wonderful books. Enjoy!! PEACE
I am Completely Hooked
Diana Gabaldon's story-telling is a vast adventure into a historical experience of the world. Her characters are by now like family members I care about deeply. My husband and I are reading these books out loud, so we savor the narrative as if it is unfolding in our own life. Then, watching the series on Amazon/Starz is the icing on the cake; the actors chosen to portray Claire and Jamie are heart-breakingly perfect for the roles. We are reading our way through all 8 books in this series, and loving it. I must say, she does have a terrible ability to describe gory details and gets over the top in descriptions of crimes at times for my taste, but ultimately she is describing a historical period of swash-buckling violence. So, maybe the detailed descriptions point out the reality of the violence - from the victim's view, for what that is worth. She also writes about sex from the woman's perspective as well, which is really amazing and unusual for most writers I have read. These characters are flawed - and it becomes frustrating - but then one has to remember that we all are. I find myself annoyed with the narrative only to return to it and develop insight, move on, and become reengaged.
Off You Go Into the 18th Century with Diana Gabaldon & Davina Porter -- Hold on because the ride is WONDERFUL!!
Diana Gabaldon, author and Davina Porter, narrator have held me in her "Outlander" series story from book one. I have been transported into her world. I'm now on good 7 of 8 and I am grieving the end. I admit to watching the Outlander series on STARZ TV before beginning the novel. I RECOMMEND listening to the Audible Audio books rather than reading them yourself. Davina Porter, Narrator, brings the story to life. I have been listening to audio books and have been a member of Audible since the1990s and I have never heard a narrator as good as Davina Porter. My plan is to register to all of the books AGAIN to catch anything I may have missed!! Although there is wonderful romance in this series, the romance is not the primary theme. As the series progresses, the characters mature. At first, Claire got on my nerves as she did not know how to control her mouth which always got her in trouble. She definitely matures out of this as we all should after our 20s. I am definitely going to look for additional Diana Gabaldon books and plan to follow Davina Porter individually as her narrations will, I suspect, bring any book to life.
Not in line with a novel that finds its way...
Disjointed read and way to descriptive of things that are so repetitive it makes it ridiculous reading. I love , Dickens, Irving- kings of going overboard with descriptions but this was just an atrocity. I wish she'd use and editor for at least these kinds of things. While I love the characters and have grown attached and the historical accuracy and admire the research therein- the only great novels of the series were Outlander and The Drums of Autumn. Too bad. I was so hoping this to be a better read. E
My personal favorite in the series
I love all the Outlander books, but this is my favorite. Much of the story takes place on The Ridge, with much time spent developing the characters current and back story. New favorites emerge, and we say goodbye to a few we've come to know. The Outlander series of books are the only books I've ever read more than once, and this is my third read through since first finding them in 2008. Not sure how I could write a stronger recommendation than that!
The Saga Continues
Well...I've finished the next brick in this series. I enjoyed it, but it's not my favorite in the series, thus far. It's an improvement over the last one, but not my favorite. Four star outing in this one. Why not five? First, it's clearly a set up for what's coming down the line. There's interesting stuff to do while setting up, but it's not the main event. The other reason? The sheer volume of human skullduggery going on in the story. No fewer than three of the female characters are kidnapped. Not sure, I may have forgotten some. It seems like it happened every hundred pages or so. One is murdered. Lots of people die who seem unnecessary for the needs of the story. To be fair, we do also have the payoffs to several parts of the story that have been going on for a while. Listen: I'm boiling it in such a way that it sounds worse than it is. Honestly, if you've been enjoying these books, you should like this one, too. I get a little put out with the "women in peril" story lines is all. Looking forward to the next one, which should have some crackling action in it. Or at least that's my guess.
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