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SERRAted Edge #3
When the Bough Breaks
Participating in race car driving when they are not rescuing children in peril, a band of talented elves is called upon to save an abused little girl who has psi powers capable of destroying the earth when she is upset
279 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
5 people are currently reading
732 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
438 books9,582 followersMercedes entered this world on June 24, 1950, in Chicago, had a normal childhood and graduated from Purdue University in 1972. During the late 70's she worked as an artist's model and then went into the computer programming field, ending up with American Airlines in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In addition to her fantasy writing, she has written lyrics for and recorded nearly fifty songs for Firebird Arts & Music, a small recording company specializing in science fiction folk music.
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
"I'm a storyteller; that's what I see as 'my job'. My stories come out of my characters; how those characters would react to the given situation. Maybe that's why I get letters from readers as young as thirteen and as old as sixty-odd. One of the reasons I write song lyrics is because I see songs as a kind of 'story pill' -- they reduce a story to the barest essentials or encapsulate a particular crucial moment in time. I frequently will write a lyric when I am attempting to get to the heart of a crucial scene; I find that when I have done so, the scene has become absolutely clear in my mind, and I can write exactly what I wanted to say. Another reason is because of the kind of novels I am writing: that is, fantasy, set in an other-world semi-medieval atmosphere. Music is very important to medieval peoples; bards are the chief newsbringers. When I write the 'folk music' of these peoples, I am enriching my whole world, whether I actually use the song in the text or not.
"I began writing out of boredom; I continue out of addiction. I can't 'not' write, and as a result I have no social life! I began writing fantasy because I love it, but I try to construct my fantasy worlds with all the care of a 'high-tech' science fiction writer. I apply the principle of TANSTAAFL ['There ain't no such thing as free lunch', credited to Robert Heinlein) to magic, for instance; in my worlds, magic is paid for, and the cost to the magician is frequently a high one. I try to keep my world as solid and real as possible; people deal with stubborn pumps, bugs in the porridge, and love-lives that refuse to become untangled, right along with invading armies and evil magicians. And I try to make all of my characters, even the 'evil magicians,' something more than flat stereotypes. Even evil magicians get up in the night and look for cookies, sometimes.
"I suppose that in everything I write I try to expound the creed I gave my character Diana Tregarde in Burning Water:
"There's no such thing as 'one, true way'; the only answers worth having are the ones you find for yourself; leave the world better than you found it. Love, freedom, and the chance to do some good -- they're the things worth living and dying for, and if you aren't willing to die for the things worth living for, you might as well turn in your membership in the human race."
Also writes as Misty Lackey
Author's website
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
October 5, 2019
These are getting worse the further along I go.
Oh well. I was trapped in a hospital for four and a half hours waiting to be seen, and it was entertaining enough to keep me occupied.
I'm also, apparently, a little tired of manga, as evidenced by the sudden switch to "Novels! Give me NOVELS!!!! ENGLISH novels!!!!"
Apparently when that mood hits, anything will do. Even books about do-gooder elves who somehow manage to be immature idiots despite living for hundreds of years. Also...I can't get around the fact that all the elves are perfect emblems of light and goodness. It's kind of irritating. They'll be dumb, they'll be immature, but they are good, and oh so forgiving, as long as it's a child. I think going out of control once a century or so would make them more interesting. But I suppose if you exile everyone who ever does anything bad and consign them to the dark side with whom you are sworn enemies you could keep yourselves pure? I guess it works for elves even when it hasn't for humans and Sith?
Oh well. I was trapped in a hospital for four and a half hours waiting to be seen, and it was entertaining enough to keep me occupied.
I'm also, apparently, a little tired of manga, as evidenced by the sudden switch to "Novels! Give me NOVELS!!!! ENGLISH novels!!!!"
Apparently when that mood hits, anything will do. Even books about do-gooder elves who somehow manage to be immature idiots despite living for hundreds of years. Also...I can't get around the fact that all the elves are perfect emblems of light and goodness. It's kind of irritating. They'll be dumb, they'll be immature, but they are good, and oh so forgiving, as long as it's a child. I think going out of control once a century or so would make them more interesting. But I suppose if you exile everyone who ever does anything bad and consign them to the dark side with whom you are sworn enemies you could keep yourselves pure? I guess it works for elves even when it hasn't for humans and Sith?
July 21, 2012
Mercedes really deals with the tough issues...child abuse isn't easy to write about...or read about, but she handles it skillfully and draws you into a world of both hope and fear. I remember this series because of that specifically. This is an excellent book.
December 28, 2014
Third in the SERRAted Edge urban fantasy series, a part of the overall Elves on the Road universal series, and revolving around Fairgrove Industries, an elvish racing firm that employs elves, mages, and humans. The focus is on Maclyn.
My Take
Ah, jeez, this story is just horrible. The first two were bad enough with their underlying themes of saving children from abuse, and When the Bough Breaks has to be the worst. Why do intelligent people not even attempt to break the cycle? They know it's horrible. They know the damage it does. Why continue it? For revenge? Who are they getting revenge on?
What an appropriate title. From the lullaby, and it's so horrendous about a father who was abused and chose to continue the abuse on his daughter. He's tortured her so badly that the little girl splintered off into multiple personalities AND she's possessed by a witch who has been thrown into this little soul.
I love D.D.'s response to the student's question about why she'd need a college education if she's "just a mechanic". Too right!!
It gets funny in spots. One I did enjoy was Mac's leading "Jewelene" on. Some of it he was aware of and some of it was unconscious. The tricks the students pull on their teacher and that breakfast Mac "cooks" for Lianne (oh, gawd, makes me look like a gourmet, master, all-powerful cook — and THAT'S sayin' somethin'). As for Mel's line of "work"…all I can do is repeat what P.T. Barnum said: "There's a sucker born every minute."
Something I don't understand about teachers. They're around children 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, and 9 months out of the year. Each year they get a new crop of students with all the differences and similarities one could expect in a group of people. How is it that they aren't able to recognize certain constants such as dyslexia, child abuse, etc.?
It's interesting how easily Lianne figured out that Mac was different; however, I don't see how she could make that leap of intuition as she did. What would even make her think of this? I must'a missed somethin'.
I'm surprised that it takes Mac so long to make the connection, what with all the experience he and the other elves have with how cruel parents can be to children.
Lol, I do like Lianne and how she managed to escape, although I think you should always throw a gun far, far away, and not just think you've taken out all the bullets.
The writing is rather juvenile, but it conveys a powerful message. One of the saving graces in When the Bough Breaks is the judgment and the punishment decided. All too fitting, and it makes me wish we truly did have elves in the world.
The Story
It's a horrible accident that could have been tragic if not for one unknown telekinetic savior. And it tells "Jewelene" that the rumors are true. Just not the who she expected.
Mac has his own problems: deciding where to go from here with Lianne and the dangers looming over Felouen and the High Court.
Amanda has her own issues. In fact, each of the girls — Anne, Amanda, Abbey, and Alice — have strict, defining roles to enforce and refuse to see how they might aid each other if they were one. For they refuse to be one. It's safer. And just when Anne thinks she's found a safe place…
The Characters
Maclyn, a.k.a., Mac Lynn, is a Knight of the High Court of Elfhame Outremer who likes to race — he loves the energy generated by the fans. His elvensteed, Rhellen, prefers to travel around as a Palomino-gold '57 Chevy convertible. Dierdre Brighthair, her human name is D.D. Reed, is his mother, his crew chief, and one of the best mechanics on the team. Afallonn is her elvensteed. Redmond is D.D.'s human boyfriend.
Lianne McCormick is a fifth-grade school teacher at Loyd E. Auman Middle School whom Mac is seeing. Other students include Latisha McKoy, Marilee Blackewell, and Bobby Smithers.
Amanda Kendrick is one of Lianne's students. Fudge is her pony. The Father, Andrew, is a corporate lawyer; Step-Mother, Merryl, raises champion Arabian horses (Vassar, Junior League, Arts Council). Both are Old Money and quite conscious of it. Sharon is Andrew's child with Merryl, I think.
Cethlenn, a Celtic witch who was part of the MacLurrie's circle and died back when Celts fought Gauls — Stranger is what they all call her, the battered, angry Anne who learns more about her magic and how to visit the Unformed Plane *shudder*; the everything-is-normal Amanda; the repressed, puritanical Alice who follows the rules; and, the sheltered, brilliant Abbey. Back in the day, Cethlenn was seeing Eodain whom she didn't know was elven.
The Seleighe
The racing side of things (and includes humans)
Brad Fennerman is with the SpelCo team. Keith Brightman fields his own car and crew — something he couldn't do if he didn't know how to run a business.
The High Court of Elfhame Outremer
Felouen has been in love with Maclyn for centuries; Moortha is her elvensteed. Gwaryon, who has an obsession with all things ancient, has been in unrequited love with Felouen. There are those who refuse to believe Dierdre or Felouen: Ymelthre and Thaerry who is more interested in chasing Droeweyn while those who believe include Amallen and Hallara.
Jewelene Carter, a.k.a., Belinda Ciucci, a.k.a., Alessandra, Lady Rivers, a.k.a., "Bits", is a former corrupt (Honest Ed had been her partner) and a hitwoman scouting for talent for Melvin Tanbridge, who runs pseudo-science magazines designed to part people from their money. Stevens and Peterkin are the muscle. Sharon is the receptionist at the Prince Charles.
The Unformed Plane is mist that can be formed and mist that can attack. Banesidhe wind is pure destructive energy born of torture on the earthly plane; it can only be conjured up by someone with magic who is willing to be tortured.
The Cover and Title
The cover finds a small party in the wood battling with swords: two on foot while one is horseback. And naturally, racing car in the background. A young child is standing in hope and fear in the background.
What an appropriate title! A quiet, gentle song to send a child to sleep, only, in this story, When the Bough Breaks, it's a horror for a young child who has suffered too long. Then again, let's live in hope that this bough's breaking means the cycle is also breaking.
My Take
Ah, jeez, this story is just horrible. The first two were bad enough with their underlying themes of saving children from abuse, and When the Bough Breaks has to be the worst. Why do intelligent people not even attempt to break the cycle? They know it's horrible. They know the damage it does. Why continue it? For revenge? Who are they getting revenge on?
What an appropriate title. From the lullaby, and it's so horrendous about a father who was abused and chose to continue the abuse on his daughter. He's tortured her so badly that the little girl splintered off into multiple personalities AND she's possessed by a witch who has been thrown into this little soul.
I love D.D.'s response to the student's question about why she'd need a college education if she's "just a mechanic". Too right!!
It gets funny in spots. One I did enjoy was Mac's leading "Jewelene" on. Some of it he was aware of and some of it was unconscious. The tricks the students pull on their teacher and that breakfast Mac "cooks" for Lianne (oh, gawd, makes me look like a gourmet, master, all-powerful cook — and THAT'S sayin' somethin'). As for Mel's line of "work"…all I can do is repeat what P.T. Barnum said: "There's a sucker born every minute."
Something I don't understand about teachers. They're around children 7 hours a day, 5 days a week, and 9 months out of the year. Each year they get a new crop of students with all the differences and similarities one could expect in a group of people. How is it that they aren't able to recognize certain constants such as dyslexia, child abuse, etc.?
It's interesting how easily Lianne figured out that Mac was different; however, I don't see how she could make that leap of intuition as she did. What would even make her think of this? I must'a missed somethin'.
I'm surprised that it takes Mac so long to make the connection, what with all the experience he and the other elves have with how cruel parents can be to children.
Lol, I do like Lianne and how she managed to escape, although I think you should always throw a gun far, far away, and not just think you've taken out all the bullets.
The writing is rather juvenile, but it conveys a powerful message. One of the saving graces in When the Bough Breaks is the judgment and the punishment decided. All too fitting, and it makes me wish we truly did have elves in the world.
The Story
It's a horrible accident that could have been tragic if not for one unknown telekinetic savior. And it tells "Jewelene" that the rumors are true. Just not the who she expected.
Mac has his own problems: deciding where to go from here with Lianne and the dangers looming over Felouen and the High Court.
Amanda has her own issues. In fact, each of the girls — Anne, Amanda, Abbey, and Alice — have strict, defining roles to enforce and refuse to see how they might aid each other if they were one. For they refuse to be one. It's safer. And just when Anne thinks she's found a safe place…
The Characters
Maclyn, a.k.a., Mac Lynn, is a Knight of the High Court of Elfhame Outremer who likes to race — he loves the energy generated by the fans. His elvensteed, Rhellen, prefers to travel around as a Palomino-gold '57 Chevy convertible. Dierdre Brighthair, her human name is D.D. Reed, is his mother, his crew chief, and one of the best mechanics on the team. Afallonn is her elvensteed. Redmond is D.D.'s human boyfriend.
Lianne McCormick is a fifth-grade school teacher at Loyd E. Auman Middle School whom Mac is seeing. Other students include Latisha McKoy, Marilee Blackewell, and Bobby Smithers.
Amanda Kendrick is one of Lianne's students. Fudge is her pony. The Father, Andrew, is a corporate lawyer; Step-Mother, Merryl, raises champion Arabian horses (Vassar, Junior League, Arts Council). Both are Old Money and quite conscious of it. Sharon is Andrew's child with Merryl, I think.
Cethlenn, a Celtic witch who was part of the MacLurrie's circle and died back when Celts fought Gauls — Stranger is what they all call her, the battered, angry Anne who learns more about her magic and how to visit the Unformed Plane *shudder*; the everything-is-normal Amanda; the repressed, puritanical Alice who follows the rules; and, the sheltered, brilliant Abbey. Back in the day, Cethlenn was seeing Eodain whom she didn't know was elven.
The Seleighe
The racing side of things (and includes humans)
Brad Fennerman is with the SpelCo team. Keith Brightman fields his own car and crew — something he couldn't do if he didn't know how to run a business.
The High Court of Elfhame Outremer
Felouen has been in love with Maclyn for centuries; Moortha is her elvensteed. Gwaryon, who has an obsession with all things ancient, has been in unrequited love with Felouen. There are those who refuse to believe Dierdre or Felouen: Ymelthre and Thaerry who is more interested in chasing Droeweyn while those who believe include Amallen and Hallara.
Jewelene Carter, a.k.a., Belinda Ciucci, a.k.a., Alessandra, Lady Rivers, a.k.a., "Bits", is a former corrupt (Honest Ed had been her partner) and a hitwoman scouting for talent for Melvin Tanbridge, who runs pseudo-science magazines designed to part people from their money. Stevens and Peterkin are the muscle. Sharon is the receptionist at the Prince Charles.
The Unformed Plane is mist that can be formed and mist that can attack. Banesidhe wind is pure destructive energy born of torture on the earthly plane; it can only be conjured up by someone with magic who is willing to be tortured.
The Cover and Title
The cover finds a small party in the wood battling with swords: two on foot while one is horseback. And naturally, racing car in the background. A young child is standing in hope and fear in the background.
What an appropriate title! A quiet, gentle song to send a child to sleep, only, in this story, When the Bough Breaks, it's a horror for a young child who has suffered too long. Then again, let's live in hope that this bough's breaking means the cycle is also breaking.
March 22, 2021
WOW!
Hard hitting is the right expression for this story.
I was amazed, after looking into it, at how many children have been saved by the message in this book, and I'm so very glad that the subject is out there now - not hidden away like a dirty secret!
All power to Misty, and Holly Lisle, for writing so eloquently about it.
I just wish there really were elves to rescue every child going through that hell - and am just grateful that there are some humans who do their best to do that, instead!
Powerful, disturbing, but a story we should all read!
Hard hitting is the right expression for this story.
I was amazed, after looking into it, at how many children have been saved by the message in this book, and I'm so very glad that the subject is out there now - not hidden away like a dirty secret!
All power to Misty, and Holly Lisle, for writing so eloquently about it.
I just wish there really were elves to rescue every child going through that hell - and am just grateful that there are some humans who do their best to do that, instead!
Powerful, disturbing, but a story we should all read!
March 25, 2024
This is a very dark book, touching on many ugly topics. But it's written tightly, with excellent character work, a solid plot, and appropriate consequences all around.
Recommended, but only if abuse isn't a trigger.
Recommended, but only if abuse isn't a trigger.
December 14, 2024
I read this based on the cover art. It does have competent writing and a good story structure, but weaving serious child abuse into a story about racecar driving elves is… a tough sell. But I read the whole thing, at least.
June 7, 2019
VOYA review 1993
June 12, 2020
Tough subject but good book.
February 11, 2011
Now this one I enjoyed greatly. I still remember this because of the little girl. Pedophiles are evil bastards that should be shot. I can never understand the desire to sexually assault little girls. This one moved me. I liked how the little girl had different parts to her personality to deal with the good, bad and ugly. It's actually a horrifying look into the deconstruction of a young child's psyche.
September 15, 2013
Again this is a book that I read quite awhile ago so details are fuzzy. What I do remember is it is set in the modern world. Elves are real but hidden from most people. The way they make there money is car racing. They help kids in trouble. By trouble, I mean abused kids and runaways. I think I gave up on the series because it dealt with such dark situations that by the time you were done reading it, you were in a deep depression. Definitely not a quick, fun read.
January 7, 2008
OMG! ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS. ABOUT THIS GIRL WHO WAS ABUSED SO SHE WAS DIVIDED INTO OVER FOUR DIFFERENT SOULS. THE ELVES HAVE TO SAVE HER FROM HER SEXUALLY ABUSIVE FATHER BUT SHE WONT LET THEM. READ THIS BOOK OT FIND OUT MORE
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 7, 2013
This one I do remember from glandular fever in 2005. It is one of the best fictional portrayal of what is now called Dissociated Identity Disorder.
October 2, 2013
*trigger warning* seriously. the book itself was well done but the little girl they are out to save is being seriously abused by her father. It was way too much harsh reality in my fantasy genre.
September 8, 2017
Warning: child abuse
This is the 3rd of Lackey's SERRAted Edge books and the darkest. A child-mage being sexually abused by her father develops split personalities (who share headroom with the spirit of a long-dead Celtic witch).
The race car driving elf in this book is Mac, who you want to smack for being so smarmy and frivolous. He's playing games with a bounty hunter instead of embracing his duty or moving quickly enough to help the little girl, Amanda, before her pain and her powers destroy everything.
Honestly, the best part of the book is D. D., Mac's mother and mechanic.
This is the 3rd of Lackey's SERRAted Edge books and the darkest. A child-mage being sexually abused by her father develops split personalities (who share headroom with the spirit of a long-dead Celtic witch).
The race car driving elf in this book is Mac, who you want to smack for being so smarmy and frivolous. He's playing games with a bounty hunter instead of embracing his duty or moving quickly enough to help the little girl, Amanda, before her pain and her powers destroy everything.
Honestly, the best part of the book is D. D., Mac's mother and mechanic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews