The Fiery Cross by Diana Gabaldon

Age Level: Adult
Format: Unabridged book on CD
Reader: Davina Porter

In this fifth installment to the Outlander series, twentieth-century born Claire Randall happily lives in 1771 America with her husband, eighteenth-century Scottish born James Fraser. However, living in the remote part of the colony of North Carolina cannot prevent the world's problems from entering their lives. Tensions in America are growing by the day, with colonists upset over the British government's rule. Claire's knowledge of the upcoming American Revolution warns James of what is to come, leaving no doubt that an unsettling future lays ahead for them and their friends. With a cast of memorable characters and a story line rich in descriptive detail, Davina Porter's reading transforms Gabaldon's novel into a deeply moving and pleasurable experience.

It is hard to classify Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series into one reading genre: some may call it science fiction or fantasy, since it does involve time travel, while others call it romance, since there are many romantic elements in the novel. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading historical fiction with occasional romantic intrigue interlaced in the story line. Readers (or listeners) will at first notice the length of the novels in the Outlander series: they are huge! If you like getting through a story in a couple hundred pages, this is not the series for you! The Fiery Cross, in book on CD format, is 47 discs long. In book format, it is over 1400 pages long.

I really love Gabaldon's attention to detail: while some readers may find painstakingly descriptive paragraphs about a particular dress or an herbal plant discouraging and unnecessary for the story, I found them to be quite enjoyable. And Porter's reading of the story - to put it simply, it is terrific! Each character has his or her own distinct voice, making the story flow smoothly. Porter has to be one of the best readers for audiobooks. She has the perfect voice for it! Readers will find that Porter also reads the other books in the Outlander series. Though the books do not necessarily have to be read or listened to in order, I found it very beneficial to start with the first, aptly titled Outlander. This way, readers can start from the beginning of this tale and find out how Claire was transported back to the eighteenth-century and learn about all of the events leading up to The Fiery Cross.

Be prepared to get sucked into a wonderful epic story!

Reviewed by Jessica