The Fiery Cross is the fifth book in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. This was a struggle. I can tell you right now if it wasn’t an audiobook as well, where I could listen while reading, I never would have made it through this book. At some points I had to just listen and not read too. Not because the writing is bad. It’s just extremely long, more detail than necessary, and the plot gets dry in several spots where I don’t think it was really necessary for the plot point to happen unless there is more to come in regards to some of the events. I did give it a 3 and 3/4 ⭐️s because the writing is good and overall I enjoyed the story but the book covered a time span of almost 2 years yet at points it felt like the same day dragged on and on and on. The first 33% of the book only covers a two month time span. So the cadence of the book could have been improved. 

Audiobook length: 55:31:23
Oversized Paperback Length: 990 pages

I listened to this book through audible and I’m not sure I would have made it through this book if I didn’t. The main character is very two dimensional and naive at times and sharp at others, and yet still other times, completely oblivious. She only realized something when it was convenient for the plot. There were also random twists in this book that just seemed out of place due to the lack of foreshadowing or any hint of this making sense. The narration was great, the story, not so much. 3 out of 5 stars for the audio. 0.5 for the story.

To start, I read this as an ARC for Victoria Dawson. 

“I’m so utterly in love with you that I’m willing to break your heart now in order to gain your entire heart later.” - Graham Hoffman

And boy does this book do that! Can I just say this triology got better and better as the books went on? Graham in all his alpha glory continues to harangue Angie. Angie continues to drive his insane with her incessantly stubborn need to do things on her own, even when it proves time and time again to be detrimental. But then the growth in both of them in this book… *swoon*

Spice: I personally didn’t feel like there was as much spice in this one as the previous two. But this didn’t detract from the book for me.

Suspense and Intrigue: holy plot twists! Every time I thought I had it figured out, I didn’t until literally the page before it was revealed and it still shocked me! 

Conclusion (no spoilers): I love how this book ended. I was very satisfied with this! I can’t wait for more from Victoria Dawson!

This book is meant for 18+ and the trigger warnings need to be taken seriously. There is drug use, drug abuse, violence, drugging, self harm, kidnapping (adult), and violence.