''A Breath of Snow and Ashes'' is the sixth book in the ''Outlander'' series of novels by

Diana Gabaldon Diana J. Gabaldon (; born January 11, 1952) is an American author, known for the ''Outlander'' series of novels. Her books merge multiple genres, featuring elements of historical fiction, romance, mystery, adventure and science fiction/fantasy. ...

. Centered on

time travel Time travel is the concept of movement between certain points in time, analogous to movement between different points in space by an object or a person, typically with the use of a hypothetical device known as a time machine. Time travel is a w ...

ling 20th century doctor Claire Fraser and her 18th century

Scottish Highland The Highlands ( sco, the Hielands; gd, a’ Ghàidhealtachd , 'the place of the Gaels') is a historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Highlands and the Scottish Lowlands, Lowlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period ...

er warrior husband Jamie Fraser, the books contain elements of

historical fiction Historical fiction is a literary genre in which the plot takes place in a setting related to the past events, but is fictional. Although the term is commonly used as a synonym for historical fiction literature, it can also be applied to other ty ...

romance Romance (from Vulgar Latin , "in the Roman language", i.e., "Latin") may refer to: Common meanings * Romance (love), emotional attraction towards another person and the courtship behaviors undertaken to express the feelings * Romance languages, ...

adventure An adventure is an exciting experience or undertaking that is typically bold, sometimes risky. Adventures may be activities with danger such as traveling, exploring, skydiving, mountain climbing, scuba diving, river rafting, or other extreme spo ...

and

fantasy Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction involving Magic (supernatural), magical elements, typically set in a fictional universe and sometimes inspired by mythology and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy ...

Plot summary

Claire is the wife of Jamie Fraser, her 18th century husband, and facing the politics and turmoil of the forthcoming

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

. The preceding novel, '' The Fiery Cross'', concluded with political unrest in the colonies beginning to boil over and the Frasers trying to peacefully live on their isolated homestead in the foothills of North Carolina. Jamie is suddenly faced with walking between the fires of loyalty to the oath he swore to the British crown and following his hope for freedom in the new world.

Characters

Claire Beauchamp Randall Fraser - The series' main character. Claire was a British combat nurse during World War II who traveled back through time and originally met Jamie Fraser in 1743 Scotland. Trained as a surgeon in 1968 Boston, she traveled back in time to reunite with Jamie Fraser. Married to Jamie and mother of Brianna, foster mother of Fergus, and stepmother to Marsali. James "Jamie" MacKenzie Fraser - Laird of Fraser's Ridge, North Carolina. Former inmate of Ardsmuir Prison. Claire's 18th century husband who was a Scottish Jacobite leader, later printer & smuggler, and foster father of Fergus-Claudel Fraser, stepfather of Marsali MacKimmie Fraser, and biological father of Brianna and William (although William was conceived out of wedlock and does not know that Jamie is his real father). Brianna “Bree” Randall Fraser MacKenzie - Jamie and Claire's daughter born in the 20th century and raised by Claire and Frank Randall. Graduates from MIT after transferring from the Harvard University history program. An "inventor" who likes to make things that she knew in the 20th century. She marries Roger and they have two children: a son, Jeremiah, known as "Jemmy", and a daughter, Amanda (Mandy). Roger MacKenzie Wakefield - Jamie and Claire's son-in-law who, like Brianna, was born in the 20th century. An Oxford history professor who leaves his life and career behind to follow Brianna. Married to Brianna and father of Jemmy and Mandy. Jeremiah "Jemmy" MacKenzie - Roger and Brianna's son (there was some doubt about his paternity but this is now resolved). Amanda "Mandy" MacKenzie - Roger and Brianna's daughter. Fergus Claudel Fraser - One-time French pickpocket and spy. Jamie and Claire's foster son. First appears in Dragonfly in Amber. Married to Marsali. Marsali Mackenzie Fraser - Laoghaire's daughter and Jamie and Claire's stepdaughter. First appears in Voyager. Married to Fergus and mother to Germain, Joan, Félicite and Henri Christian. Germain Fraser - Fergus and Marsali's oldest son. Ian Murray - Jenny and Ian Murray's son and Jamie's nephew. Was married to 'Emily' Works With Her Hands of the Mohawk, but returns to the Ridge with only Rollo, his half-wolf canine companion. Lizzie Wemyss - Brianna's bond servant. Joseph Wemyss' daughter. 'Married' to the Beardsley twins, and pregnant by one of them but unsure which one. Josiah "Jo" Beardsley - an identical twin who was raised, malnourished, by a cruel man named Beardsley after his family died crossing the Atlantic as indentured servants. He moves with his twin to Fraser's Ridge on New Year's Eve. Falls in love with Lizzie Wemyss. Keziah "Kezzie" Beardsley - an identical twin who is somewhat deaf. Runs a tannery with his twin. Falls in love with Lizzie Wemyss. Joseph Wemyss - Jamie and Claire's bond servant. Lizzie's father. Malva Christie - Tom Christie's daughter. Arrives at the Ridge at the end of ''The Fiery Cross''. Allan Christie - Tom Christie's son. Arrives at the Ridge at the end of ''The Fiery Cross''. Tom Christie - A former inmate of Ardsmuir Prison. Malva and Alan's Father. In love with Claire. Arrives at the Ridge at the end of ''The Fiery Cross''. Colonel Lord John William Grey - The former governor of Ardsmuir Prison. Jamie's long-time friend, they first met in 1745 during the Jacobite rising. Stepfather of William Ransom, 9th Earl of Ellesmere. Jocasta MacKenzie Cameron Innes - Sister of Ellen MacKenzie Fraser, Colum and Dougal MacKenzie. Jamie's blind aunt who owns River Run Plantation. Duncan Innes - A former inmate of Ardsmuir Prison. Jocasta's husband. Stephen Bonnet - An outlaw, pirate, thief, trader, rapist, and smuggler who first appears in ''Drums of Autumn''. Smuggles goods along the Carolina coastlines. He was shot by Brianna at the end of ''The Fiery Cross''. Fate unknown. Amy McCallum - A young widow and a new resident of Fraser's Ridge. Mother of Aidan and Orrie McCallum. Roger MacKenzie tries to help her which causes talk on the Ridge that he and Amy are having an affair.

Reception

''A Breath of Snow and Ashes'' debuted at #1 on ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' Hardcover Fiction Best-Seller List in 2005 and won the

Quill Award The Quill Award was an American literary award that ran for three years in 2005-2007. It was a "consumer-driven award created to inspire reading while promoting literacy." The Quills Foundation, the organization behind the Quill Award, was support ...

for Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror.

References

External links

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Excerpt from ''A Breath of Snow and Ashes''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Breath Of Snow And Ashes 2005 American novels 2005 fantasy novels Outlander (franchise) Hispanic and Latino American novels Novels set in the 1770s Novels set in the 18th century Novels set in the American colonial era Novels set during the American Revolutionary War Fiction set in 1773 Fiction set in 1774 Fiction set in 1775 Fiction set in 1776 Novels set in North Carolina