Customer Reviews

The Otherworld (The Serrated Edge)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this as soon as I heard about it. I skimmed a couple of pages and thought it was new and that what little I read was just a reprise - but there is nothing new about this book; it's just two of Ms Lackey's already published books (Wheels of Fire (I think), and When the Bough Breaks), both from the SERRAted Edge Series. I should have suspected the possibility since this is not the first time Ms Lackey's publishers have done this (they published Knight of Ghosts and Shadows and Summoned to Tourney as a 'new' title and republished a couple of the Bardic Voices books as 'new'.) However, the fact that I have been suckered before doesn't make me any less mad! It was like getting set for a gourmet meal and finding you have been served left-overs, or worse. I ALREADY have BOTH these books, and this sort of thing just is not fair to fans!Having said that, if you have NOT read these stories in their previous incarnation, you should get this book. The stories are probably two of the grimmest and most thought provoking of Ms Lackey's tales because of their core subject matter which involves Child abuse. However, the subject is handled well and, allowing for some of the fantastic aspects of the stories, pretty accurately . There is plenty of action and, if you enjoyed the other SERRAted edge books - or even the Urban Fantasy books- where Elves occupy center stage - you will probably enjoy these stories. I would give them 3 stars for content and -3 stars for conning the fans!

Yes, I know these books are a reprint. That's because I read the back and it says in not so tiny letters: Publisher's Note: Formerly published in parts as Wheels of Fire and When the Bough Breaks.

The books are some of the best I've ever read. When you can't put the books down, when they make you cry, when they make you feel sick, that means that you are reading some darn-fine material. Both of the books deal with the matter of child abuse and torture, a subject most people don't even think about on their own time. Mercedes Lackey deftly combines Urban Fantasy with a real social issue, something I admire greatly.

Wheels of Fire is the story of the kidnapping of a young boy, a medium, and his rescue. He has been kidnapped by a fanatical cult but with the help of the elf Alinor (a race car driver) and his human mechanic/mage friend Bob, they try to save the day. It's a pretty fast-paced book and the characters are absolutely amazing. It's not a book you can put down with ease. You HAVE to know: does Jamie get out? It's postively gripping.

As for When the Bough Breaks, this book is even tougher to read than Wheels. It's a story about child abuse and the results. It deals with several young girls and a gaelic witch trapped together in one body, multiple facets of her personality. It's up to Maclyn, an elf, and Amanda's schoolteacher Lianne to save her from destroying herself and the elfhame with her out of control magic and fury.

If you like urban fantasy, stories that deal with elves and whatnot in the present day, you'll like these books a lot. They are gripping and the characterization is astounding. If you like urban fantasy but can't stomach the sometimes horrifying child abuse, read her other reprint: The Chrome Born. Chrome stars the powerful human mage Tannim and a cast of elves, kids, and kitsune.

These are my favorites of Mercedes lackey's books, even surpassing her Valdemar series. They are excellent

Enjoy!

Hey, this is a reprint of her SERRAted edge novels, Wheels of Fire and When the Bough Breaks. For those of you who haven't read these you can look them up here.

This book has not changed since the first time I read it under it's previous titles. Everytime I buy a book and discover it is a reprint with a new title I become very angry. The story(s) are excellent and something everyone should be very aware of. As usual Mercedes Lackey does a marvelous job. I only wish her publishers were more ethical in their business practices.

...before buying this book. It sounds like it might be a reprint of a previous series, the series starting with THE KNIGHT OF GHOST AND SHADOWS. I'm not sure, but the publisher seems to be reprinting alot of her books and this just sounds like a reprint. So be sure to read the blurb before you buy.

(I'm posting this ahead of time because alot of people are buying her THE CHROME-BORNE and finding out too late that it's just a reprint of a couple of the Tannim/Urban Fantasy books.)

This is a reprint of two of the SERRAted Edge novels. I can't remember the names of the two right off, but one is where the little boy is kidnapped by his father who is a cult member. The second is about the little girl who is sexually abused (iir, by her father). Even though this is a reprint of those two books, I would suggest it anyway for anyone who likes Mercedes Lackey. I know I have enjoyed it, even though I also already own the two original books!

Luckily, I had read the reviews before purchasing this title along with "When the Bough Breaks" and "Wheels of Fire." I like having two books in one! (I also own "The Chrome Borne") I've read many of M. Lackey's novels and these were most enjoyable especially because they were so DIFFERENT from the Valdemar series.
I especially like how M. Lackey and her co authors deal with modern day social grievances - in this case, severe child abuse and cult tendencies.
I used to teach emotionally disturbed adolescent females and I feel that more books like these are needed in order for society at large to understand what non-intervention does to exacerbate the problems. This is a wonderful tale of Elves, Magic, and human emotion. If only we could find the Seleighe court to help us with our society's problems! But since we can't, Lackey and her coauthors provide contact numbers and associations that can help stop the abuse in the back.
Not only a wonderful read, but also a great social commentary and it even gives you the tools to take some action!

The Otherworld is a reprint of two excellent books by Mercedes Lackey with Mark Shepherd and Holly Lisle. They are gripping, with well-drawn and interesting characters. But they are NOT comedy - they are very well written but gruelling tales of child abuse. The review on the back cover that says "[this] is one of her rollicking action comedies....the comedy is clever" is absolutely wrong and presumably refers to another novel by Lackey. Do not buy this expecting comedy.

This volume contains 2 novels, both about horrifying child abuse. Most of Wheels of Fire takes place in the cesspool world of racist militants. I enjoyed the books although racing and Oklahoma are about as alien to me as Underhill.

The authors seem to be very well meaning,
just not very informed about mythology.
Materialistic Sidhe is pretty much a contradiction in terms.
Only the Irish Lepricons seem to be preoccupied with gold:
the elves and the little people are more involved in trees and forest lore.
Here there are two parts:
1) the cult
2) the child abuse
The changeling myth is that the Sidhe stole babies and
replaced them with lessor constructions/beings.
Not that the Sidhe cared that much for children,
but that they liked to play mean hurtful games with humans.
It is a long stretch to race drivers and mechanics who rescue children in distress! The novels were kind of funny besides being very violent.
These myths have been twisted around a lot over time:
this is just one of the mostly "unlikely"
that I've run across.