A Breath of Snow & Ashes - next in the Outlander series [Archive]

View Full Version : A Breath of Snow & Ashes - next in the Outlander series

KarenS

11-01-2005, 09:07 AM

It's here, it's here, it's here. I didn't even know it was out, but I went to Barnes & Noble last night just to wander around and there it was - for 30% off, too.

So I bought it! :)

Karen

elladee

11-01-2005, 09:11 AM

Ooooh, lucky you! My mother just told me it was out last week. I'm hoping to wait for the library copy, but I might breakdown and buy it instead. Hope you enjoy it!!!

katmg

11-01-2005, 09:42 AM

My mom is reading it right now and I get it after she does! Not fair at all since I'm the one who turned her on to the series! ;)

KarenS

11-01-2005, 10:23 AM

Well, I dont' normally buy books in hardback - the exceptions are the Harry Potter series and the Outlander series and a few other series that I know I will keep and reread several times over the years.

karen

Heather719

11-02-2005, 02:15 PM

I read it and LOVED it. I may be my favorite in the series! :D Can't wait to hear what you all think.

Amuse Bouche

11-02-2005, 02:29 PM

I'm currently in the middle of my reread of the Harry Potter Series. And then I'm going to reread the whole Outlander series, culminating in A Breath of Snow and Ashes, which is sitting on my bookshelf taunting me. It's been a long time since I read the books though (I tend to reread the first two books more than the others), and I thought a refresher would be nice.

Heather719

11-03-2005, 06:51 AM

Amuse Bouche- Before I read the latest, I went back to re-read Fiery Cross. The books are so dense and full of detail that I wanted to make sure I knew what I was reading before starting Snow and Ashes.

KarenS

11-03-2005, 06:56 AM

Yeah, I did go back and reread Fiery Cross earlier this spring. I'm about 1/3 of the way through right now and so far I like it a lot. I like to see Claire go back to being Claire. :)

Karen

MsPeachy

11-03-2005, 07:48 AM

I finished it about a week ago! I loved it. I love living in Jamie & Claire's world. :o It was a little slow in parts but it had some good action that I felt the previous 2 books were missing.

Of course, due to the ending, I already can't wait for the next one to come out!!! Gah!:eek:

PS - It was actually released 9/27

KarenS

11-04-2005, 12:05 PM

Argh. I just read a post on another site that I think contained a spoiler. Or contained something that led me to believe something about the book. I'm barely 1/2 way through right now. I'm just past where Fergus/Marsali's baby is born and Claire has done the surgery. (Trying not to be spoiler-y for anyone here).

Now I'm *dying* to know if what I read was true and if it was I'm gonig to be so upset. Bleah. I should stay away from discussion sites until I've read the whole book.

K.

MsPeachy

11-05-2005, 06:26 AM

I should stay away from discussion sites until I've read the whole book.Yeah definitely do that. I had to be very careful when writing my post because I didn't want to suggest anything or give anything away.

Clattercote

11-05-2005, 10:55 AM

I was surprised to find out there was a new book! I found it at the library and promptly checked it out... what amazes me about the Outlander series is how engulfed I get in Jamie and Claire's world. I mean, I find myself thinking about them and arguing with them and wondering why they did one certain thing over another. It's really the only book series I get so immersed in - I guess Gabaldon is just a good crafter of a scene?

LeslieR

11-05-2005, 10:59 AM

I'm waiting for the trade paperback. Although I am reluctant to read it since I hated The Fiery Cross so much.:rolleyes:

espresso

11-06-2005, 05:51 AM

Has anyone else tried the audio books? The unabridged ones are FABULOUS!!!! Davina Porter really brings the characters to life and it is a great way to get through my comute! I bought a library subscription through http://www.recordedbooks.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=unlimited.private_library&type=unlimited
and for 30 bucks a month I can get as many audio books as I want. I am currently immersed in Dragonfly in Amber and it so amazing how much I get into Jamie and Clare's world!

KarenS

11-06-2005, 07:52 PM

Ok, I just finished it. *sigh* My husband was teasing me because I kept picking it up and putting it down the nearer I got to the end. I both *wanted* to finish it to see what was going to happen and *didn't* want to finish it because I didn't want it to be over.

So. Spoilers coming ... I'll put them in a light color so you have to highlight over to see them:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
It wasn't made clear at the end, but I'm assuming that Bree and Roger have moved to Lallybroch - and the house and property what the workmen are examining when Roger pulls up with the box. Do you think they bought the property or did J&C somehow manage to will it to them? Did J still own Lallybroch or did he give it to Jenny's husband (can't remember his name right now)?

I *hated* that Bree and Roger had to go back. I don't know why - it makes more sense for them to be in the future/present given all that will happen, but I hated it. I also hated to see all that happened to all of them and all of Fraser's Ridge. I know that there wouldn't be a story if it were just that they all lived on the Ridge and were happy and had a safe and wonderful life ... but that's what I *wanted*. :) I didn't want the Big House to burn and J&C to move.

I'm glad that Bonnet is dead, but I didn't like that Bree did it and not Roger. I understand the whole vow thing, but I don't like how Roger is the "weak" one of the relationship. But then again, he can't be another J, so I can understand that, too.

Finally during the final scene when the house burns, I kept thinking about how it was the modern "kids" that came in and trashed the house just for the sake of trashing it. I was both not surprised, and surprised that I recognized that I was not surprised, if that makes sense. It just seemed so "present day" for them to come in and wantonly destroy the house looking for jewels - it made me think of druggies looting while looking for things to pawn. Do you think that was intentional on DGs part - that modern feel to their actions?

Anyway, now I can't wait for the next one!

karen

MsPeachy

11-07-2005, 09:20 AM

Hi Karen - I put my comments in white & used a space to hopefully avoid spoiling others...

Possible spoilers in comments below....

- I think Bree & Roger bought Lallybroch. If you recall, right before Culloden Jamie signed over ownership to Jenny & Ian's firstborn son, Jamie in a deed of sistine (later found during research by Roger & Bree). He did it in case the English tried to take the property of Ian & Jenny they wouldn't be able to take Lallybroch since young Jamie owned it.

I too hated that Bree & Roger had to return. I liked them all together. But I agree that there's not much of a "story" if they all live happily ever after up on the Ridge.

The thing that got me extra itchy for the next one already is the way it ended. With that sort of postscriptum about the printers and the fact that they were printing the notice of the death by fire way later than when it actually happened. In the box, the letter from Jamie was dated Dec. 31 saying they were alive but then that add-on got me confused. Or was it a fake notice submitted by Jamie himself to make others think they were dead?

Ack! I'll never make it till the next one!!!

katmg

01-13-2006, 09:55 AM

Just wanted to bump this thread up as I'm almost finished reading this book. So good so far...I'm not to the end yet but almost...I should probably finish tomorrow!

magrat

01-24-2006, 09:40 AM

Anyone know where I can find a good synopsis of A Fiery Cross? I don't remember it very well.

chefker

04-26-2006, 11:55 AM

*bumping*

I just started reading Outlander, and I am hooked! Looke like there are about 6 books in the series thus far? I know I'm going to want to read the rest of them once I finish the first one.

The storyline has similarities to Stephen Lawhead's Song of Albion trilogy--time travel from modern day to a time long ago, although in Lawhead's book they go even further back in time. I enjoyed that series as well.

katmg

04-26-2006, 02:10 PM

Chefker - I'm not familiar with the Song of Albion trilogy - how far back do they go/what is the general plot? I loved Outlander so much that I'm interested in other historical fiction.

chefker

04-26-2006, 02:47 PM

Chefker - I'm not familiar with the Song of Albion trilogy - how far back do they go/what is the general plot? I loved Outlander so much that I'm interested in other historical fiction.

I think if you like Outlander, you'd really enjoy this series. :)

The books of the trilogy are: The Paradise War (Book 1); The Silver Hand (Book 2); and The Endless Knot (Book 3).

Basically, the premise is that a present day student at Oxford--a quiet, unassuming type, and his somewhat flashier & obnoxious friend, end up in Scotland, and are transported back through the ages (to the 'Celtic Otherworld', as the author puts it), after walking through a cairn (cave) at a certain time on a certain day.

As for the time period, I believe it's in the 1200's. Pre-Arthurian, at any rate.

Looks like the series is going to be re-released in September 2006: http://http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=nb_ss_b/104-2291961-5106308?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=song+of+albion"]link (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=nb_ss_b/104-2291961-5106308?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=song+of+albion)

MsPeachy

04-27-2006, 03:56 AM

katmg

04-27-2006, 06:28 AM

Thanks Chefker! I'll have to check it out - that will give me something to tell DH that I want for my b-day. :D

MsPeachy

04-27-2006, 07:10 AM

Something must be wierd with timestamps or something b/c Chefker's post was not there when I posted. Hmmm.

Anyhoo - I want to check it out too. I'll add it to my Amazon list for safekeeping! :)

sparkle&shine

06-02-2006, 12:50 PM

I finally got around to reading this book! I read it in less than 2 weeks which is no small feat for me working full time with a 18 month old running around. I really enjoyed this one. It was so much better than Fiery Cross. It took me at least 2 months to read that one - I went back and reread the whole series before diving into the new one. I liked that it was more action and less long drawn out details, although there were parts of the story that I would have liked them to take more time with. There were a few plot points taht I guessed and one or two that blew me away.

chefker

06-26-2006, 09:31 AM

I've asked DH to get me A Breath of Snow & Ashes for my b-day in August. :) Hopefully I'll have read the others by then!

Did anyone else not dig Dragonfly in Amber as much as the other books? I found it to be tedious, and actually put it down after reading about 3/4 of it. Yesterday I started Voyager, and devoured almost 300 pages (long car ride helped me to get that far!)

I guess Dragonfly in Amber just wasn't as engrossing a read for me. I do plan on going back and reading it another time, hopefully I won't find Voyager too confusing without having read all of Dragonfly.

KarenS

06-26-2006, 09:35 AM

chefker

06-26-2006, 09:49 AM

I really think that Voyager will be pretty confusing w/out having read DinA. You've got to learn the backstory of Brianna and Roger and how Claire and Frank's marriage wound up .. or many of the scenes in Voyager won't make a lot of sense.

Honestly DinA has wound up being my favorite, I think, because of the modern/past story line and getting to know Brianna.

Karen

Hmm...maybe I should try and finish Dragonfly this evening, then pick up Voyager again after that. I think perhaps I was very sleep-deprived when I was struggling through that last quarter of Dragonfly. :)

I love the Roger/Brianna stuff going on in that installment, and I do want to see how that ends.

Amuse Bouche

06-26-2006, 04:25 PM

Dragonfly is my favorite -- especially the second half -- I cry buckets.

chefker

06-26-2006, 05:07 PM

I just picked up reading it again during DS' nap today, and I'm enjoying it. I don't think I read too much of Voyager to spoil the rest of Dragonfly (I've got just under 200 pages left to read in Dragonfly).

I really should remember not to read epic novels--or anything, really--when I am sleep deprived. :)

Does anyone have the Outlandish Companion? I saw it at a secondhand bookstore recently and wondered if I should bother with it.

(back to reading in my lair...)

emschwar

06-26-2006, 05:11 PM

Outlandish Companion is great! Not necessarily something you want to sit down and read cover to cover, but there's all sorts of fun info in it. It's especially nice when a new book comes out since it's got a synopsis of the previous books.

KarenS

06-26-2006, 05:19 PM

Part of what helped with DinA for me was being able to keep all the characters straight - especially the mixed relationships that have to do with Lord John and then later with the Prince's court in France. The second time I read it, I don't think I was quite so confused. :)

Karen

MsPeachy

07-03-2006, 06:14 AM

Dragonfly is my favorite -- especially the second half -- I cry buckets. It's not my favorite of the series but I also cry buckets!! If I pick up Voyager afterwards, I just keep on blubbering right on into the first 50 pages of that one too!! :) :o

I can see why some would get bored with Dragonfly. In the "modern day" parts, I wanted to just skip ahead to get back to Claire and Jamie. But, as Karen said, it has a lot of character exposition that you need to understand plot mechanisms, political motives, etc. in the later books.

chefker

10-20-2006, 12:31 PM

bumpity bump bump :)

I FINALLY FINISHED IT! Good God, I used to read 1000 times faster pre-baby. I started this in freaking September, and just finished reading during lunch hour today.

I can't believe how fast paced this book was, especially toward the end. I feel like I have to re-read parts of it in case I 'missed' something. Now...how long until DG's NEXT book comes out? :D This will be as hard as waiting for the next installment of Harry Potter!

Amuse Bouche

10-20-2006, 12:53 PM

I just finished it this week too! (I bought it in hardcover when it first came out, but then I got it signed by DG, so I waited to get a reading copy in paperback). I totally feel like Jamie and Claire are old friends, and I love the way she deals with their aging -- especially Claire. I would say that of all the main characters, Brianna is the one I understand/get the least (though I adore Roger) but I know that DG has struggled with Brianna as well.

LeslieR

07-05-2007, 11:25 AM

Bumping this up because I just finished A Breath of Snow And Ashes. My brain is still whirling. I had a lot of the same questions that were already posted. I was glad that some things were answered (in white with spaces below):

The "dreams" of Jamie's where he apparently see into the future. The first one being the one where Claire originally sees him in the first book. I'm so glad that was finally explained! Also, the fire and how the date was wrong, etc.

One thing that popped into my mind at the end of the book was when Claire was saying to herself that she could assure Jamie of two things-one being that the war was worth it (paraphrasing here) and the other being that they will die together...didn't she see their graves in the future before she returned to him? Were the dates of their deaths the same? I can't remember.

ETA more thoughts: I was sad that Bree and her family returned to the future, but it made sense. I kept hoping that they would return in the book at the end somewhere. I am very curious how they obtained Lallybroch.

One other thought-when Jamie was talking to Bree about him going to the future, I was pretty amused and had a hard time imagining it, but I have to admit, it sure would be interesting.:)

Several have mentioned that they can't wait for the next book-is there going to be another? Nevermind, I found the answer myself on DG's web site dated June 6, 2006:

Quick Summary for the Busy or Impatient

1. NO, A Breath of Snow and Ashes is NOT the last book in Jamie and Claire's story.

2. YES, there will be another book about Jamie and Claire. Maybe two.

3. NO, I don't have a title for this/these book(s).

4. NO, I haven't written it/them yet.

5. NO, I don't know when the publication date will be. Publishers kind of like to have a book in hand--or at least see one approaching on the horizon--before they set pub dates (well, actually, I have had a publisher try to set a pub date before I finished writing a book. Didn't work all that well).

JamBray

09-16-2007, 08:41 PM

Well I finally finished reading this, and I really enjoyed it. My thoughts in white:

~I was happy to see Bonnett finally die, and was actually glad Brianna was the one to do it.
~I was so sad that Brianna, Roger and the kids had to go back even though it was the only thing to save Mandy's life. How wonderful that they're at Lollybroch though (although I am curious how they obtained it), and I loved that Bree received that final note from Claire. I hope that DB does another book on their life in present day.

What I didn't understand though was how was Jamie having those dreams of the future, and how does this connect (if it does) to his appearance there in the first book?

I absolutely love these characters and hope that more books are to come soon.

Is anyone reading the John Grey series? I wasn't sure if I wanted to, but if there are enough good reviews, I may just have to pick them up. :)

MsPeachy

09-17-2007, 11:20 AM

JamBray

09-17-2007, 04:44 PM

JamBray - Your final point is something I've been wondering about since I first read the series. I can't imagine she'd leave us hanging on that but I also can't imagine what the possible explanation could be :confused:

I read the first of the John Grey series, "Lord John and the Private Matter" and it was alright. It helped to enjoy him as the protagonist if I didn't think about him and his relationship to Jamie in the Outlander books. I have the second one, "Lord John and the Brotherhood of the Blade " on my wish list and will hopefully be getting it by the end of this month.
Same here MsPeachy, and I'm dying to know what the explanation for it is. I thought at first that Jamie was able to go into the future, but since we know he can't, I can't imagine where he's getting all of this stuff from.

I'm still not sure I'll read the John Grey books. While I like his character, I feel if I read the books I'll keep wanting Jamie and Claire to pop up and take over the story. :p