Review of “The Fiery Cross” by Diana Gabaldon
The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It follows the adventures of Claire Randall, a time-travelling nurse from the 20th century, and her husband Jamie Fraser, a Scottish warrior from the 18th century. They have settled in North Carolina with their daughter Brianna and her husband Roger, who are also time-travellers from the 20th century. The book covers the period from 1770 to 1772, as the American Revolution is brewing and the Frasers are caught in the middle of political and personal conflicts.
The book begins with a long and detailed scene of a gathering of Scottish clans in Mount Helicon, where Jamie is called to lead a militia against the Regulators, a group of rebels who oppose the corrupt colonial government. Claire uses her medical skills to heal the sick and injured, while Brianna and Roger try to adjust to their new life in the past. The gathering also brings some old friends and enemies, such as Lord John Grey, Stephen Bonnet, and Jocasta Cameron.
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The rest of the book follows the Frasers as they deal with various challenges and dangers, such as droughts, fires, kidnappings, murders, epidemics, and battles. They also face some family dramas, such as Jamie’s illegitimate son William, Roger’s search for his biological father, and Brianna’s trauma from being raped by Bonnet. Claire also has to deal with the consequences of her prophetic dreams, which warn her of the impending war and its horrors.
The Fiery Cross is a rich and complex historical novel that explores themes such as love, loyalty, courage, faith, and survival. It also depicts the harsh realities of life in colonial America, as well as the cultural clashes between different groups of people. The book is full of historical details and references, as well as some fantasy and sci-fi elements.
The book is praised for its vivid characters, engaging plot, and immersive setting. However, some readers have found it too long and slow paced. Personally I think it is the depth of character building that makes this series of books stand out. If you don’t have enough free time to tackle a book of this length, I can recommend the audiobooks narrated by Davina Porter, which can be listened to on a long car journey or as a background to a winter’s evening. For those that enjoy the Starz tv adaptation, they allow an intriguing deeper dive into the characters.
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