A Breath of Snow and Ashes

I, like some of the others purchased this book and "The Fiery Cross" not realizing that they were abridged and also a different narrator. The fact that it is abridged leaves you feeling like you are missing a lot of the story. The narrator is terrible at doing different voices and accents, does sound out of breath, and always seems rushed. At times it is difficult to tell when the scene or character changes. I wish I had realized the abridgement and change in narrator prior to purchasing, I DEFINITELY would not have purchased it and would have found an unabridged version elsewhere. Why would audible provide the first three books unabridged and then change it for the last two?

I love Diana Gabaldon and have read all her Claire/Jaime novels multiple times; I decided to listen to them on audio tape and did not realize that Breath of Snow and Ashes was abridged! I was totally disappointed in it! Too much was left out; Gabaldon NEEDS to be read or listened to in its entirety!! I hope Audible will be getting the last three novels, Voyager, Fiery Cross and Breath of Snow and Ashes in unabridged; I would definitely add them to my library!

I too am a fan, and did not realize the last two books were abridged! What a disappointment! As well as a waste of money. Don't bother with this download. After listening to Davina Porter in the first few books, this narrator was a found lacking. But I will attribute this to the chopped up work she was working with. Come on Audible-get us the full books and we will happily buy them!

I read this book when it first came out and it is an incredible finale to Diana Gabaldons 6 book series the other books Outlander, Dragon fly in Amber, Voyager, Drums of Autumn, and The Fiery Cross all unabriged and all read by Davina Porter and they are all Brilliant I think the author needs to have Breath of Snow and Ashes redone unabriged and with Davina Porter it left a bad taste in my mouth it was so disjointed I kept going back thinking I'd missed something then I realized it was the whole book please for your diehard fans sake redo this book properly thx

This is a terrible abridgment. The other books in the series are well written and delightful. This is choppy at best and completely confusing at worst. The narrator is, one hopes, simply incapable of making this very sad project any better, and will improve with the unabridged version. Still, I miss Davina Porter!

Had I realized this was an abridged version, I would NOT have purchased it. Mea culpa. Don't forget to read the reviews, and ascertain whether it is abridged or unabridged, before buying.

Man oh man! If Gabaldon finds out how badly they've butchered her book in the abridgement, I expect Jamie Fraser and every dirk carrying Scot to seek justice!

It's so chopped up, it makes no sense. The narrator is all wrong. Man oh man,,, Jamie's gonna be in a right rage! Even Capt Randall won't be amused. I'm just sick.

Having read other listener's warnings about this and the previous audiobook (The Firey Cross), I decided to find it in unabridged form. To that end, I went directly to the publisher (Recorded Books), and rented it from them. The good thing about this version was Davina Porter's always engaging narration. The bad thing? A lack of editing, and yes, abridgement.

Gabaldon, in the last 2 installments of this wonderful series, is unfocused and wordy, a fault which her editors sadly failed to correct. Points which could be made in 10 minutes' reading time took an hour. I found myself constantly fast-forwarding through the 46 (yes, 46) compact disks, muttering to myself "Geez, woman! Get to the POINT!"

By contrast, the abridged version offered by Audible has the following advantages: a narrator who pronounces the Gaelic more accurately than Porter (if that matters to you...it does to me), and a distinct lack of the annoying prolixity of the unabridged version. The disadvantages? First, the listener often gets the sense that too much has been edited out of the production, leaving the uncomfortable sensation of having missed something important. Second, the narrator (you didn't seriously think I'd give her a complete pass, did you?) reads too quickly, often sounding as if she is out of breath. Finally, the music at the beginning of the recording is truly annoying...a small point to be sure, but starting the out the production by causing the listener to envision toothless hillbillies slouching around the old homestead? Not good.

The bottom line? Two things: rent the unabridged version from Recorded Books (Google it), and fast-forward through the slow parts. Second, make sure you let Audible know that you want them to make the unabridged versions of both "Firey Cross" and "A Breath..." available to subscribers.

At 14 hours 36 minutes, I didn't notice I was getting an abridged version. It wasn't until I kept getting lost in the story that I realized my mistake. If they were going to take parts out, they should have put in some transitions. It got very confusing. I really liked Outlander and was thrilled to get more of the story. Now that I see only Outlander is unabridged, I bought the rest of the series in paperback. I never want the abridged version.

I teach and am working on a Master's degree so I don't have much time to read. I was so looking forward to this book but was disappointed by two things: the abridged version; the narrator. I just don't think Geraldine James really 'gets' this story, doesn't project the humor with which Claire and Jaime view the world ( as Davina Porter does so well), is in a real hurry to finish each sentence, and make Brianna sound like a guy in drag. The story is great, but I'd like to hear the whole thing, in all the complexity and fullness with which Diana Gabaldon writes so well and still paired up with Davina Porter for the richness narration.

After enjoying the previous books in the series I was excited to see this one become available. Maybe if Davina Porter hadn't done such a wonderful job this narrator wouldn't bother me,but with high expectations this was a real let down. My advice, hold out until an unabridged version is released with the original narrator.