A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Outlander #6) by Diana Gabaldon

Title: A Breath of Snow and Ashes

Author: Diana Gabaldon

Series: 6th in Outlander

Pages: 980

Published: August 2006 by Delta

ISBN:  9780385340397

Source: Personal Copy

Description: The year is 1772, and on the eve of the American Revolution, the long fuse of rebellion has already been lit. Men lie dead in the streets of Boston, and in the backwoods of North Carolina, isolated cabins burn in the forest.  With chaos brewing, the governor calls upon Jamie Fraser to unite the backcountry and safeguard the colony for King and Crown. But from his wife Jamie knows that three years hence the shot heard round the world will be fired, and the result will be independence — with those loyal to the King either dead or in exile. And there is also the matter of a tiny clipping from The Wilmington Gazette, dated 1776, which reports Jamie’s death, along with his kin. For once, he hopes, his time-traveling family may be wrong about the future. 

I Give This ...

 

I doubt anything I can say about the series and this book in particular will make you read it or any of the others.  I think there are those who refuse to pick up this just because of some preconceived notion they have.  And then there are your die-hard fans.  Those who love anything Diana Gabaldon writes.  I'm some were in the middle.  I haven't loved all the books, but am amazed at the talent portrayed in them.

I was worried were the story was going after the last two novels.  I knew we had to hit a point were the action would pick up again, but I didn't know if it would be enough to compel me forward.  The first 500 pages are much like the previous two books.  It's all about the details.  But, I could tell the tension was building.  The date on the newspaper was approaching as was the pending war with England.  And then the last 500 pages just exploded.  There's murder, theft, kidnapping, and many other things.  It reminded me of the adventures in the first three books.  I was anxious to see how all the pieces fit together.  I was also happy to see some things settled the way the should be.  

So for those who have felt the series has faltered a little and haven't read this one yet, I would recommend it.  I would say it's my 3rd favorite of the series (I know right it the middle, but it's hard to beat Outlander and Voyager).  And, if you haven't even started this series yet, I urge you to give it a try!