The Fiery Cross (Outlander, #5)

by Diana Gabaldon

[jesstheaudiobookworm]

4.5★ Audiobook⎮With the end of the year closing in and the fact that I am currently eight books behind in my listening challenge, a 55-hour novel was the absolute last thing I needed to be sucked into… And yet, here I am. I began Fiery Cross last month and had fully intended to make it last possibly until the end of the year, or at least until the beginning of the next season of the show. I nearly made it to that one, so I do deserve a little credit, I guess. I wasn’t necessarily speeding through Fiery Cross, however. It was more like I was reveling in it, taking a natural pace.

With it having been several months since I last visited this series, Fiery Cross seemed to renew my interest in Diana Gabaldon and the series. I got absolutely lost in Fiery Cross. Objectively speaking, I don’t think it was the best of the series that I’ve heard so far, but it may still be my favorite, judging by pure enjoyment.

But a lot of plot related things still nagged at me, particularly where Roger was concerned. Honestly, I can’t believe Gabaldon allowed him to survive this novel! I thought for sure she had it out for him. By about the 4th time that he practically asked for trouble, I almost had it out for him too. Fiery Cross definitely brought Roger down a few notches in my eyes. Not for any significant reasons, just mainly out of sheer annoyance and overexposure. It felt like half of the story was told from his perspective and I’m just sick of him, at this point.

And speaking of overexposure, Gabaldon’s breastfeeding kink was out in full force in Fiery Cross. I was counting the references, but I quickly lost count. Talk about overkill. Sheesh, woman. Try something else on for size.

But I’m so glad of Ian’s return. He and Rollo were favorites of mine in the past and I find him hilarious. Next to Jermaine, Ian is definitely the best comic relief. Although, there was a particularly hilarious scene in which Claire explains the nature of “sperms” to Jamie. That had me in stitches and it had better be in the show! I love the flashes of light-heartedness Gabaldon inserts to relieve the nearly constant tension.

Claire and Jamie were still the stars. I never get tired of those two. It’s funny how my adoration of them has grown since hearing the first book, which wasn’t the biggest hit with me, to be honest. But this is the kind of series that really grows on you. The more you get to know the characters and the setting(s), the more it becomes a part of you and vice versa. I have to keep reminding myself that this series is more historical fiction than science fiction, despite time travel being the catalyst for everything. I love science fiction and time travel, so greedy little me is always wanting more of it from Gabaldon and, graciously, she complied near the end of Fiery Cross. The return of Ian and the tantalizing bits of sci-fi mystery he brought with him are seriously making me itch for the next book. Even though starting it would most certainly mean sacrificing my goal of 100 audiobooks in 2018. But if an average book is 8 to 12 hours and this one was 55 hours, I should rightfully be able to count it as approximately 4.5 to 7 books, yes?

Narration review: You know, I’m really beginning to resent Davina Porter for ruining all other audiobook narration for me. I’ve been listening to her for so long (55 freaking hours) that I swear my own internal voice has taken on her cadence. That’s either creepy or awesome. I’m not sure which… My enjoyment of her narration should be argument enough for sacrificing my challenge and immediately going on to the next book. ♣︎