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4.27 AVERAGE
4.27 AVERAGE
Diana does it again.
If you were a little disappointed by the last book, or found it a bit slow this one brings you right back in. Claire and Brianna and Jamie are the most life-like they've ever been.
If you were a little disappointed by the last book, or found it a bit slow this one brings you right back in. Claire and Brianna and Jamie are the most life-like they've ever been.
Back to the heart of the story, makes you want the next book to be out tomorrow. But as always, you'll have to wait for Gabaldon to weave her magic. Good books take time.
Life continues for the Frasers with the American Revolution beginning. The first couple books in the series didn't seem to contain multiple subplots occurring with the main conflict, which was Claire figuring out what she wanted to do with the life. However, since the inclusion of Brianna, Roger, and their children, the chapters flip from numerous perspectives. Instead of the story only being told from Claire's narrow POV, now Jamie's, Brianna's, and Roger's personal thoughts are included. I feel that this is adding more details to the 900 page book, if that's even possible. On the plus side this makes it difficult for a reader to tire of a main character too quickly. For example, when I read "Outlander," Claire had the spotlight and it took me awhile to warm up to her. Now the reader can see the book's events through the perspectives of: someone from the past who's one of warriors (Jamie), a headstrong woman from the 1960's (Brianna), and a man also from the relative present who's studied history his whole life (Roger).
There were some dry passages in the middle and sections where the tension was too high for too long. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical references, where instead of using as many as possible wherever she could, the author used just enough. When "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" was quoted in context, it seemed like Brianna and Roger were talking about someone currently living in the present. It was as if they were discussing a stunt Tom Cruise performed for one of his movies, not a legendary American patriot riding through town.
I'm relieved that the question of the prophecy has been cleared up, as I hoped that wouldn't hang over the head of the characters for the rest of the series. Also I thought that by the end of the book, Brianna had stood up for herself and that she's come a long way as a character. It's strange, because she wasn't as confident as Claire when she first traveled through the stones. She's a much more modern woman than Claire, but in the last few books I think she's matured. Instead of standing up for herself by simply bring stubborn, now she's witty and a leader.
Two things I am still unsure about are the references to Murtagh in the last few chapters, and what will happen to the Fraser family in the future. All in all, I think this book closely resembles "Dragonfly in Amber" the most, as in both books the war begins at least halfway through, but before the pages are laced with intrigue and deception. There's plenty of that in "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" at Fraser's Ridge, and just when I thought the very existence of the Fraser family was beginning to settle down.
There were some dry passages in the middle and sections where the tension was too high for too long. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical references, where instead of using as many as possible wherever she could, the author used just enough. When "The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere" was quoted in context, it seemed like Brianna and Roger were talking about someone currently living in the present. It was as if they were discussing a stunt Tom Cruise performed for one of his movies, not a legendary American patriot riding through town.
I'm relieved that the question of the prophecy has been cleared up, as I hoped that wouldn't hang over the head of the characters for the rest of the series. Also I thought that by the end of the book, Brianna had stood up for herself and that she's come a long way as a character. It's strange, because she wasn't as confident as Claire when she first traveled through the stones. She's a much more modern woman than Claire, but in the last few books I think she's matured. Instead of standing up for herself by simply bring stubborn, now she's witty and a leader.
Two things I am still unsure about are the references to Murtagh in the last few chapters, and what will happen to the Fraser family in the future. All in all, I think this book closely resembles "Dragonfly in Amber" the most, as in both books the war begins at least halfway through, but before the pages are laced with intrigue and deception. There's plenty of that in "A Breath of Snow and Ashes" at Fraser's Ridge, and just when I thought the very existence of the Fraser family was beginning to settle down.
I'm happy to report that this book was much better than the previous one - scandals occurred! murders! pregnancies! a new time traveler! a revolution! and barely any lactation scenes! Still, in a book that's nearly 1,450 pages, there was just too much detail. I could have lived without knowing every one of Claire's medical treatments or several dozen descriptions of people's hair, but hey, that's just me.
This was an improvement over the last one. Still I would have wanted more especially in the beginning.
This is the sixth book of a six book series, but I knew that when I started reading it. I was interested in reading the series, but this was the only book readily available (I am not checking 1,000+ page hardcovers out the library), so I started here. I enjoyed it thoroughly. Throughout the book incidents in the previous books come up, but never in a way that makes it impossible to follow this book. It only made me more interested to go back and start at the beginning, which I definitely plan to do.
Gabaldon continues the epic historical series as the narrative inches closer to the American War of Independence. An early crime sets the Frasers and MacKenzies on edge, leaving Claire shaken to the core. This does not deter her prophetic commentary ahead of the key battles in the War and allows Jamie to forge his own path in the coming clash, pitting honour to the Crown against a known final outcome. Amidst the preparations for War, Gabaldon peppers the text with numerous vignettes that flesh out more characters, with the key players continuing their familial growth. Claire uses her time to explore her role as traveller through the Stones, having encountered others who have undergone the same fate at various points in her 'new life'. These others will educate her in the ways of the Stones, as well as the varied portals that exist to move people from the 20th to 18th centuries with relative ease, while taking a major toll on their lives. Roger, who seeks to find his own niche in the 18th century, takes up the cloth and becomes a Presbyterian minister for the Ridge, drawing on some of his adoptive father's life lessons before he crossed into the past. Facing numerous quandaries and legal battles of their own, akin to a soap opera at times, those on Fraser's Ridge forge ahead while the colonies around them seek to carve out their own history and future apart from Britain. However, what story would be complete without another visit by Irish pirate Stephen Bonnet, who tries to take what he feels is his, Brianna. While she awaits assistance, she turns the tables on this lout and attempts to end his marauding activities once and for all. As the story winds down and the Clan expands, a medical issue may force the Frasers and MacKenzies to separate, a decision no one takes lightly. Gabaldon continues her story with such pizzazz that avid readers are left begging for more.
Gabaldon has used the War of Independence as a key event towards which the series marches. As the months draw closer and the prophetic article in the Wilmington Gazette offers a date for their death, Jamie and Claire must wrestle with their history, future, and love for one another, as well as bringing the entire cast of Fraser's Ridge forward in this sensational sixth novel in the series. Gabaldon finds new historical spins on which to focus and keeps the chapter-based tales fresh and highly interesting. The continued exploration of science and medicine in a comparative fashion between both centuries proves highly informative to the reader, as well as using history as a forward-looking guidebook rather than a collective of past lessons. Gabladon also forces Claire to face truths about her original fate as a Stone traveller and what that might mean about her as a person and how many others might have made similar journeys, scattered all over the world. Claire and Jamie continue to connect on many levels, but have stepped aside to next subsequent generations take centre stage and deliver a story all their own. Masterfully told and sensationally intricate, Gabaldon amazes fans with her long and drawn-out narrative, holding the interest of true fans from beginning to end.
Kudos, Madam Gabaldon, as you continue to dazzle readers with your ideas, plots, and smaller storylines. I am in awe at how much you can tell, and yet how much remains a mystery for future novels.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Gabaldon has used the War of Independence as a key event towards which the series marches. As the months draw closer and the prophetic article in the Wilmington Gazette offers a date for their death, Jamie and Claire must wrestle with their history, future, and love for one another, as well as bringing the entire cast of Fraser's Ridge forward in this sensational sixth novel in the series. Gabaldon finds new historical spins on which to focus and keeps the chapter-based tales fresh and highly interesting. The continued exploration of science and medicine in a comparative fashion between both centuries proves highly informative to the reader, as well as using history as a forward-looking guidebook rather than a collective of past lessons. Gabladon also forces Claire to face truths about her original fate as a Stone traveller and what that might mean about her as a person and how many others might have made similar journeys, scattered all over the world. Claire and Jamie continue to connect on many levels, but have stepped aside to next subsequent generations take centre stage and deliver a story all their own. Masterfully told and sensationally intricate, Gabaldon amazes fans with her long and drawn-out narrative, holding the interest of true fans from beginning to end.
Kudos, Madam Gabaldon, as you continue to dazzle readers with your ideas, plots, and smaller storylines. I am in awe at how much you can tell, and yet how much remains a mystery for future novels.
Like/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
I love this series and am going right into the next book!
