The Otherworld (The Serrated Edge) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Mercedes Lackey (Author), Holly Lisle (Author), Mark Shepherd (Author) "Streamlined shapes of bright metal hurtled across asphalt, machines that roared, whined and howled, leaving hot air and deafness in their wake..." (more)
Key Phrases: Brother Joseph, Chosen Ones, Holy Fire (more...)

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 640 pages
• Publisher: Baen; First Edition edition (February 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671578529
• ISBN-13: 978-0671578527
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #220,253 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

146 of 153 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good - but not new., February 14, 2000

By	Cara F. Eschuk (Naugatuck, CT USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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!

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For those of you who want to know what the books are about-, January 27, 2001

By A Customer

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!

31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REPRINT of a good series, February 3, 2000

By	Jillian L. Reichenau (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

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.