SPOILER ALERT: Dinna read unless you have read "The Fiery Cross".
So I was telling my husband the story of The Fiery Cross today; he is now completely up-to-date on the Outlander series - as far as I've read, that is. And when I got to the point about Ian staying for good, I said "and THAT is why I had my head in my hands the other day in the car" and he rolled his eyes something FIERCE. As if to say "THESE PEOPLE AREN'T REAL!" exactly like my bro-in-law, Tracey's hub John says quite often. It was quite comical.So the book has ended... and all-in-all I am more than happy with the ending. OK let's be honest - with Ian showing up at the end, how could I NOT be???
Loved the fact that Ian brought the book with him and they've all been pouring over it like it's The Outlandish Companion at one of my Outlander meetings. ;) Seriously though - I keep waiting for Bree to translate it or something. Or for Claire to ask "Bree - what do you think he meant by that?" Or for Ian to say "Bree, do you think I did the right thing in leaving?" OK I'm being a wiseguy. And it's not like I even have the slightest CLUE why Ian left. I canna WAIT to find out in A Breath of Snow and Ashes, which I started last night. Chapter 5, y'all. I'll definitely be blogging tomorrow.
LOVE LOVE LOVED the cutie pie scene with Jemmy's privates and how Jamie and Roger were going to take him outside to show him theirs so he knows what they are. That is now one of my favorite scenes in the series. Must go read it again. And when Roger asked him if he could roll his tongue? My god I held my breath! You KNOW that child is Roger's. You just KNOW he is. And who really cares, right? It's so obvious Roger loves him so much. I just love that little family. Even Bree.
You forgot about the best part re: the balls scene--Jamie telling Jem that he, Jamie, has balls just like Jem's da does, only his da's balls are bigger. As if I didn't have a dumbass smile already plastered to my face from Ian's return...my face just about cracked from smiling at that line.
ReplyDeleteAnd as long as we're beginning to discuss ABOSAA, I will say that I'm on page 520-ish--a bit more than halfway through. And I will make the bold statement that this book is the best one since Voyager. And I will make the even bolder statement that there is one section of the book that, other than maybe the reunion section in Voyager and the wedding/honeymoon section in Outlander, is the best thing thus far in the series.
I forgot to say above that if there is such a thing as having post-traumatic stress from a book, than A Breath of Snow and Ashes is the one that's gonna do it. No spoilers, but I have had more than one post-reading panic attack--I'll be literally walking around somewhere and be like, OMG!!!! How did that HAPPEN??? What's gonna happen NOW???? Soooo loving it....
ReplyDeleteTracey, I love your post-traumatic-stress comment! A Breath of Snow and Ashes is DEFINITELY intense!
ReplyDeleteI was sooooooooooooooooooo happy that it was confirmed beyond doubt that Jem is, indeed, Roger's biological son. Good thing Claire had all that genetic knowledge!
P.S. Carol, my roommate has posted on your site as Ms. K. We LOVE your blog!!!!!!!
I LOVED the ending of Fiery Cross. I got goosebumps when Claire realized that he was using a modern ballpoint pen rather than a quill. Am I the only one who got goosebumps thinking about a random ballpoint pen existing in the 18th century somewhere? I love all the tiny little details DG puts into her books. Wow!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see what you lassies have to say about ABOSAA. :)
Well welcome Ms. K as well! I just messed with the blog so that I'll get email whenever someone comments. I was missing too many in the past. The comments subscription is OK but it only shows me the three most recent comments on Google. We have lots to say - so that's not enough!
ReplyDeletePS - Tracey I mentioned the balls scene - although I didna mention Jamie saying Roger had bigger balls than him. Awesome line, especially considering the subject matter. God bless Roger. He so wants to know - but doesna want to know.
Dinah - you know Bree will just invent one. Maybe even a Sharpie too! ;)
ReplyDeleteTo me, the balls comment was the big takeaway from that scene. When James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser admits to another man having bigger balls, that is a top news story on the Ridge, ladies and gentlemen.
ReplyDeletei just finished the fiery cross, so i don't know what we find out later about jemmy's paternity, if anything. but all the tongue rolling means is that roger may be his father. if jemmy had rolled his tongue then we would have known that roger definitely was not his father. but if stephen bonnet couldn't roll his tongue either .. then we still don't know for sure. sorry.
ReplyDeleteI feel so complete now...with Ian back. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI can't start the next book until at least tomorrow and now knowing how intense it is I may have to hold off until Sunday!
I loved the ball scene too - so great.
Is it just me...or does it seem that Jemmy has a more intense thing with the stones then the others? Which with the tongue roll thing I took to be that Roger is def his Da!
Hey Loopy J! I would say that Jemmy does get a more intense reaction. I was thinking maybe it was because he is so young or that both his parents can travel.
ReplyDeleteIn the end it was worth struggling through the saga of the Gathering day and the wedding - more of the story can only be a good thing. And finally an Outlander book without a massive cliffhanger ending! I may resume normal life for a week or two before curiosity gets the better of me.
ReplyDeleteLOLOL Fifi - that is so true re: "I may resume normal life for a week or two before curiosity gets the better of me."
DeleteI hated...repeat.. HATED this book. It dragged on and on. So much detail given in places not necessary. I read the 4 previous books in less time than it took me to get through Fiery Cross. I read it, because I love the series and just didn't want to give up on it or pass it by and be lost later. Ugh, so glad to be done with it! On to the next...
ReplyDeleteOMG Peggy Ann - I am PROUD OF YOU that you kept going. You are now over the Outlander series hump. Most people - if they are going to quit the series - quit during Drums. You've made it through!!! A Breath of Snow and Ashes is your reward! I LOVED that book...and it made me feel like I was being brought back to the "Outlander feel." You will see. KUDOS!!! Happy Reading!! And PS...LORDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD THE GATHERING!!! :)
DeleteYou are not alone! I am definitely looking forward to ABOSAA because I absolutely hated this book. I will admit though, it did get good toward the end, but man... I spent months working through this one because I could NOT get into it!!!
DeletePeggy Ann, I STRUGGLED HARD through this book. Truly it dragged on and on. In the words of Carol "LORDDDDDDDDDDDDD THE GATHERING!!!"
DeleteThe turning point for me was the hanging for Roger, I felt like the entire book turned then I read the rest of the book within about 4 days (usually I would take this long per book). But I'm excited for the next one - if it lives up to even half the hype I will be thoroughly pleased.
One of my Favorite scenes from FC was Jemmy refusing to leave his father and wanting to stay and help. I literally laughed aloud at the scene where they are talking about the baked goods Jamie snatched from the kitchen and then noticing how quick Jemmy became a mess and how Brianna wouldn't be happy if Jemmy got eaten by a pig. Loved it. This book had some slow parts it took me since December to get thru it in March. Sometimes though the page skimming makes me miss something and I have to go back and reread. We all know Diana has purpose for all her parts in the stories. An amazing author none compare to her in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteI am THRILLED to hear someone else reads like I do. I am NOT one of those people who says, "I read it in a weekend." And I am always afraid to rush or skim because I'm afraid of missing something that will be important later...or even just the neatest little tidbit. Diana is famous for those. :)
DeleteI'm into absa almost to part 3. Word is hide away lock and key when part 4 is reached. I'm excited to continue reading this series. When something small is notes I'm like "ah hah I bet that's a critical part to the story later". I zoomed thru the first 5 books that I'd lend from the library then I got impatient waiting and bough the remained. Good choice no time restraints or other people waiting in line next to read that book if be on. Now when I finish a book edging closer to the next one I wonder if the next book (last?) in the series will be finished. I mean the regular books not the novella I haven't even considered touching those yet. Is there a timeline of when Diana said she might release book 20?
ReplyDeleteBook 10(typo)
ReplyDeleteI absolutely LOOOOOOOVE this series! The Fiery cross was definitely NOT my favorite, but I have (like a fool) listened to it on audio book thinking that the series was finished - HA! What should have taken years, took like 3 months of pure, untainted Outderlust.
ReplyDeleteI am going back and covering THE WHOLE SERIES once again though so that I can pick out the little details that I missed the first time.
I LOVE Rodger and Jem (...and Young Ian, and Lord John....and). I love the fact that although Jaime didn't get to see his Daughter grow up, he still gets to help raise his own flesh and blood. So much is taken away from him because he's trying to protect others.
Ian always makes me cry...It's always Ian!
My best scene of the entire book is definitely little Jem's biology lesson and possibly (and morbidly) the hanging scene. Just brilliant, brilliant, brilliant. Oh and maybe the stable scene with Claire and Jamie. Oh and maybe the window sill with Jamie and Claire.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite line of the entire book (and possibly the series so far) is the very last line of this book and it is of course courtesy of Himself:
His grip tightened further, and I felt the edges of my ring press into my flesh.
"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 dinna have time."
Sigh...I'll ken well Jamie. I'll ken it well.
Will somebody please tell me about the book young Ian brought with him when he returned? Do we find out what happened to his wife & child?
ReplyDelete