Pros: Great characters,continuing storyline, history, action, adventure
Cons: A bit too focused on the more intimate relations
The Bottom Line: If you are at all interested in Scotland, Colonial America, The Jacobite Uprising, the American Revolution,early medical practices, or just people, You will LOVE this series
legotech's Full Review: Diana Gabaldon and Davina Porter - The Fiery Cross
This is another in the continuing adventures of Clair and Jamie Fraser.Clair being an Englishwoman from the 1940s and Jamie being a Highland Scot from the 1740s. In the initial book, Outlander, Clair ends up back in time (go read the book, its great! I won't ruin it for you here!) and meets Jamie, eventually, after a few books, they end up at the Gathering of the Clans in the US and thats where we start this book.
And this is my first minor problem, it picks up the story as if its just a continuation of the whole rather than a new book on its own....there are oblique references to a letter from so and so or a person who did thus and such but not even a quick and dirty summary of past events for people who have not read the books in a bit.
Getting past that, the history and legend and lore and herbalism and, well, just everything, show what great pains and love Mrs. Gabaldon has taken with the series. I love to find the little facts culled from history, the historical personages that they meet and the bits of herb lore and early medical procedures.
You see, Claire was a Nurse in her time and an amature botanist, so she knows some about the herbs and plants and what they can be used for so she becomes the default healer of whatever area she happens to be. Some of the stuff the book talks about is great stuff for modern aromatherapy and herbology (which is making a great comeback currently!) For instance, stuff like Lavender being good for a headache...I'll bet if you wander to the local mall, you'll find someone selling herbal eye masks for headaches...ask 'em whats in it and then see if you cant find something similar in this book :) And no, its not just an anachronism that Mrs Gabaldon picked up, its a well known old time cure that is getting new life in the modern age.
Anyway, the storyline is fascinating as usual and each of the characters grows and changes before our eyes. My other minor complaint is that Mrs. Gabaldon seems to have decided to start writing soft core pornography....there is an unbelievable fascination with describing in detail, every single time anyone gets aroused or makes love to their spouse. I KNOW that this book is about relationships, and meant for adults, but geez, if I wanna read about people getting laid, I have NO problem reading "those" kinds of books...I read the Outlander series for a love of history and an interest in the characters development.
Overall, a MUST read, but do start at the beginning of the series, you will not regret it!.
New York Times bestselling author of Outlander Diana Gabaldon mesmerized readers with her award-winning Outlander novels, four dazzling New York Times...More at HotBookSale
The eagerly awaited fifth volume in the award-winning series of historical novels takes place in 1771, and war is coming. Jamie Fraser s wife tells hi...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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