Book Review: A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Book Details:
Title: A Breath of Snow and Ashes
Author: Diana Gabaldon
2005, Bantam Dell 
ISBN: 978-0-440-22580-5
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Time Travel .....


Book Summary:
It is 1772, the eve of the American Revolution, and the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Governor Josiah Martin calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But there is one problem: Jamie Fraser's wife, Claire, is a time-traveler, as are his daughter and son-in-law. And Jamie knows that three years hence, the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the ed of it all will be independence - with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. Beyond everything else, though, looms the threat of a tiny clipping from the Willmington Gazette dated 1776, which reports the destruction of the house on Fraser's Ridge and the death by fire of James Fraser and all his family. For once, Jamie Fraser hopes the time-travelers in his family are wrong about the future - but only time will tell.


My Review:
Hooray! I finally finished it!

This installment of the ongoing Outlander series was, I think, one of my favorites. I like them all, but some books just seem to move better than others and this was one of those to me. It had a lot going on in it and moved along fairly quickly (comparably!)


This book follows Roger & Brianna and Claire & Jamie as the War for Independence is starting to really heat up. Jamie has to walk a thin line between Loyalist and Rebel. A Loyalist to keep his land and knowing when to switch to a Rebel before it's too late. He trusts his wife, daughter and son-in-law that England is going to lose this fight and to keep the America's.


This book also had some interesting twists in it that I didn't see coming. As always, Gabaldon is a master at weaving characters in and out of her books. People you thought long gone (or dead even) come back and people you think are there to stay die off or go away. Same in this book. 


We also learn what happened (kind of) to Ian, Jamie's nephew, when he went to live with the Mohawk in the last book, but then showed up again mysteriously near the end. AND there are so many kidnappings, altercations and other weird things that happen in this book that you can't really list them all.


I almost felt she could have ended the series here. Claire and Jamie were the only ones not quite settled, but they had a plan. Roger and Brianna are obviously settled. Fergus and Marsali have a business. Ian seems okay and Lord John and William are fine.


Although, there are a few loose ends. Will William ever know that Jamie is his father? Will Roger and Brianna ever see Claire and Jamie again? Will Ian find happiness?


Hm.....I guess I'll find out. =)