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SERRAted Edge #4
Chrome Circle
Thinking he has found his mate for life, rock music-playing and fast-driving mage Tannim finds his dreams complicated by her dragon father, her part-human-part-fox personality, and her apparent desire to kill him
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1994
5 people are currently reading
742 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
432 books9,556 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 - 24 of 24 reviews
October 10, 2019
This book brought the series down to a whole new level of terrible.
Why, oh why did I bother reading this far into the series?! Oh, that’s right, because I got the first four for free. Again, it should have occurred to me to wonder why they were being purged...
Yes. A truly terrible book. Even as entertainment it was just awful, the characters were flat and simplistic, unbelievable and stilted. It was patently stale and predictable. I knew how the ‘great reveal’ was going to end the third time Thomas opened his mouth. The love scenes were sugar sappy sweet and utterly unbelievable.
Not worth your time. It’s not even worth my time to enumerate all of this book’s failings.
Moral of the story...be careful when taking free books, there may be a reason they are being gotten rid of.
Why, oh why did I bother reading this far into the series?! Oh, that’s right, because I got the first four for free. Again, it should have occurred to me to wonder why they were being purged...
Yes. A truly terrible book. Even as entertainment it was just awful, the characters were flat and simplistic, unbelievable and stilted. It was patently stale and predictable. I knew how the ‘great reveal’ was going to end the third time Thomas opened his mouth. The love scenes were sugar sappy sweet and utterly unbelievable.
Not worth your time. It’s not even worth my time to enumerate all of this book’s failings.
Moral of the story...be careful when taking free books, there may be a reason they are being gotten rid of.
March 26, 2024
Quite good urban fantasy, with excellent character development and very good plot. World building in Faerie is a bit scattered and the use of human art to "inspire" realms is heavy-handed.
Nice action and solid resolution.
Nice action and solid resolution.
January 8, 2011
This was actually quite humourous. I'm not sure if Ms. Lackey was trying to be funny, but this story made me laugh at times. Seriously, a girlfriend who's father is a dragon and she's part fox? Fox, seriously, she's foxy? Snicker. I like stories with elves and this one was fun to read.
December 29, 2014
Fourth in the SERRAted Edge urban fantasy series and revolving around elves, sportscar racing, and humans. The focus is back on Tannim and going home to the farm in Oklahoma.
You really must read these in order; it's much too confusing otherwise.
My Take
This one brings back characters from the other three stories, so it's nice to "catch-up" a bit.
It made me laugh when the authors pulled in a mention of Diana Tregarde from Lackey's Diana Tregarde. I keep thinking about that series; I must go back and find more.
It's also cute how Lackey/Dixon present Tannim's reminiscences of how he came to magic. They made it seem quite believable. They also make magic sound like a believable science. Lol, that bit about Tannim not being able to cure his own allergies certainly brought things down to earth! It was also believable the tale the authors spun of why the Unseleighe don't come to the real world much anymore, lol. Well, except for those who have learned to deal with the new possibilities offered.
Nice bit of catch-up on what happened to Joe, Jamie, and Cindy from Wheels of Fire , 2. I love the emphasis Lackey/Dixon put on getting that high school diploma as well as Frank's genuine concerns for Joe. That tidbit about his reception in high school, well, it simply echoes what real life is in society with people afraid of what they don't understand.
That homecoming of Tannim's when he drives to Oklahoma to pick up Joe makes you understand better why he goes home so little, all physical shortcomings aside, but I have a hard time understanding Tannim's anger over Keighvin's helping his parents. The reality of this encounter helped make this story feel very real. And then Tannim adds in that bit about Joe being a hit with the ladies at Fairgrove and how it'll take some of the pressure off him, lol.
Thank god the bad guys adhere to some rules anyway. I did love how Tannim thought his way through the meanings behind the artistic manner in which SharMali laid down that challenge. The dissection of it along with the myriad possible reasons for it.
Lackey/Dixon bring in bits and pieces of our world's elf lore.
A sad bit in here that both men and women should pay heed to, that of paying attention to a significant other. Chinthliss certainly found this out the hard way.
Whew, SharMali is playing both ends against the middle, and it's fascinating to "watch". A bit hair-raising in some places. SharMali has learned a lot in her young life, and she learns even more now that she's become entangled with Tannim. It's Tannim's strategies to prevent the psychic interrogation that will have you laughing.
It's a run of encounters and escapes. It's also a reminder that bad things happen on both sides of the planes. Joe's past with his nutjob father as well as SharMali's experiences with her father and then the Unseleighe with both of them learning many truths.
It's not that well-written, not what I've come to expect from Lackey, but the message is what gives this a star up.
The Story
It's a careful dance of reveal and conceal as Alinor and Bob get a feel for Joe's possibilities as a SERRA mechanic. He'll certainly need more magick training. Training he will get when the mysterious girl who's haunted Tannim's dreams for years lays down a challenge on Tannim.
It's a conundrum. So much depends on the why, the reason for the challenge. Is it aimed at Tannim or at Keighvin? And how will SharMali balance the scales and salvage her reputation with the kitsune clan?
The Characters
Tannim is a human mage employed as a driver, P.R., mechanic, and troubleshooter for Fairgrove Industries. "Charlie" Tannim is code at Fairgrove. Trevor Drake and his mother are his parents who run a quarter-horse ranch. Chinthliss is a dragon and has been Tannim's mentor for a long time; he's the one who gave Tannim his name.
Young Joe has just graduated from high school with a real diploma, and he's doing well at pushing back the memories of life from Wheels of Fire and learning to deal with his own telepathic powers as an upcoming wizard. Seems he also has a knack with engines. Pawnee County Deputy Sheriff Frank Casey had taken Joe in as a foster son.
Fairgrove Industries is…
…has three racing teams, one each for GTP, SERRA, and SCCA. Sieur Alinor Peredon, Knight-Artificer in the service of Elfhame Outremer, a.k.a., Al Norris, is one of the Folk, a High Court elven mage and mechanic working for Fairgrove Industries too. Andur is his elvensteed; Nineve is Andur's twin. He and Bob Ferrel, a human and a mechanical genius, have been helping Joe learn the basics. Lord Sir Keighvin Silverhair is the boss of Fairgrove and ruler of Elfhame Fairgrove. Sarge Phil Austin will be Joe's mentor. Dottie. Conal is another mechanic with some points about the challenge. Lidam is a Healer.
Foxtrot Xray (his real name is Saski Berith) is a kitsune-spirit who befriended Joe and Tannim at different times.
SharMali Halanyn is half-kitsune and half-dragon, trained by her father, Charcoal, to be Tannim's rival. She too has dreamt of Tannim, erotic dreams. Adrift from her parents, she lives in a pocket of Chaos with her Cold Iron car as protection and is in too deep with the Unseleighe. She uses little air elementals as spies; her favorite is Azure. The Honorable Lady Ako is a nine-tailed kitsune, a healer, magician, and bearer of some of the most noble blood in or out of Underhill as well as SharMali's mother.
The Unseleighe and other bad guys
Madoc Skean is the chief of SharMali's "allies", a Lord of Underhill, a Magus Major, and a traitorous, sadistic, chauvinistic, selfish braggart who was exiled from the Seleighe Court by Oberon himself. Charcoal, a gray dragon, is SharMali's father, Chinthliss' enemy, and determined to kill Tannim. Thomas is a bronze dragon and Chinthliss' older half-brother who has been keeping an eye on him. The Katschei was a Russian creature: half-monster and half-mage. He's dead now, and his realm is empty, save for that sneak kidnapping of Tannim's Mustang. The elves in the Hall of the Mountain King cut themselves off from humanity 1,500 years ago. Tom Cadge came looking for treasure, and lost his eyes as well as his Nancy. Now he's doomed to forever clean.
Furhold is…
…like a Mexican border bar, but a rich neutral place Underhill.
Deke Kestrel is working in Austin as a studio musician while honing his own more "esoteric" skills and one of Tannim's few friends from high school; he gets a mention as does Ross Canfield, the ghost from Born to Run . Granny's Diner (Granny's Kitchen in Wheels of Fire ) also pops in for an appearance.
SCCA is the Sports Car Club of America. SERRA is the South Eastern Road Racing Association.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a bit psychedelic in its purples, pinks, and blues with that Gate opening through the Chrome Circle that will swallow up Tannim's beloved deep red Mustang. It's his dream girl posed on the Mustang's hood. The title follows the previous three book covers with its fast-looking "Circle" slanting forward with the wind racing across it. The title and series information is black on a white background and white on a black background with both backgrounds looking like the decals found on the sides of race cars. The authors' names are in yellow.
The title is the key, the Chrome Circle that will bring them back to our own world.
You really must read these in order; it's much too confusing otherwise.
My Take
This one brings back characters from the other three stories, so it's nice to "catch-up" a bit.
It made me laugh when the authors pulled in a mention of Diana Tregarde from Lackey's Diana Tregarde. I keep thinking about that series; I must go back and find more.
It's also cute how Lackey/Dixon present Tannim's reminiscences of how he came to magic. They made it seem quite believable. They also make magic sound like a believable science. Lol, that bit about Tannim not being able to cure his own allergies certainly brought things down to earth! It was also believable the tale the authors spun of why the Unseleighe don't come to the real world much anymore, lol. Well, except for those who have learned to deal with the new possibilities offered.
Nice bit of catch-up on what happened to Joe, Jamie, and Cindy from Wheels of Fire , 2. I love the emphasis Lackey/Dixon put on getting that high school diploma as well as Frank's genuine concerns for Joe. That tidbit about his reception in high school, well, it simply echoes what real life is in society with people afraid of what they don't understand.
"That's the beauty of Fairgrove. You're supposed to be yourself, and no one else."
That homecoming of Tannim's when he drives to Oklahoma to pick up Joe makes you understand better why he goes home so little, all physical shortcomings aside, but I have a hard time understanding Tannim's anger over Keighvin's helping his parents. The reality of this encounter helped make this story feel very real. And then Tannim adds in that bit about Joe being a hit with the ladies at Fairgrove and how it'll take some of the pressure off him, lol.
Thank god the bad guys adhere to some rules anyway. I did love how Tannim thought his way through the meanings behind the artistic manner in which SharMali laid down that challenge. The dissection of it along with the myriad possible reasons for it.
"Sometimes it's really frustrating to be the bad guy, you know? The bad guys never have to think of things like this."
Lackey/Dixon bring in bits and pieces of our world's elf lore.
A sad bit in here that both men and women should pay heed to, that of paying attention to a significant other. Chinthliss certainly found this out the hard way.
Whew, SharMali is playing both ends against the middle, and it's fascinating to "watch". A bit hair-raising in some places. SharMali has learned a lot in her young life, and she learns even more now that she's become entangled with Tannim. It's Tannim's strategies to prevent the psychic interrogation that will have you laughing.
It's a run of encounters and escapes. It's also a reminder that bad things happen on both sides of the planes. Joe's past with his nutjob father as well as SharMali's experiences with her father and then the Unseleighe with both of them learning many truths.
It's not that well-written, not what I've come to expect from Lackey, but the message is what gives this a star up.
The Story
It's a careful dance of reveal and conceal as Alinor and Bob get a feel for Joe's possibilities as a SERRA mechanic. He'll certainly need more magick training. Training he will get when the mysterious girl who's haunted Tannim's dreams for years lays down a challenge on Tannim.
It's a conundrum. So much depends on the why, the reason for the challenge. Is it aimed at Tannim or at Keighvin? And how will SharMali balance the scales and salvage her reputation with the kitsune clan?
The Characters
Tannim is a human mage employed as a driver, P.R., mechanic, and troubleshooter for Fairgrove Industries. "Charlie" Tannim is code at Fairgrove. Trevor Drake and his mother are his parents who run a quarter-horse ranch. Chinthliss is a dragon and has been Tannim's mentor for a long time; he's the one who gave Tannim his name.
Young Joe has just graduated from high school with a real diploma, and he's doing well at pushing back the memories of life from Wheels of Fire and learning to deal with his own telepathic powers as an upcoming wizard. Seems he also has a knack with engines. Pawnee County Deputy Sheriff Frank Casey had taken Joe in as a foster son.
Fairgrove Industries is…
…has three racing teams, one each for GTP, SERRA, and SCCA. Sieur Alinor Peredon, Knight-Artificer in the service of Elfhame Outremer, a.k.a., Al Norris, is one of the Folk, a High Court elven mage and mechanic working for Fairgrove Industries too. Andur is his elvensteed; Nineve is Andur's twin. He and Bob Ferrel, a human and a mechanical genius, have been helping Joe learn the basics. Lord Sir Keighvin Silverhair is the boss of Fairgrove and ruler of Elfhame Fairgrove. Sarge Phil Austin will be Joe's mentor. Dottie. Conal is another mechanic with some points about the challenge. Lidam is a Healer.
Foxtrot Xray (his real name is Saski Berith) is a kitsune-spirit who befriended Joe and Tannim at different times.
SharMali Halanyn is half-kitsune and half-dragon, trained by her father, Charcoal, to be Tannim's rival. She too has dreamt of Tannim, erotic dreams. Adrift from her parents, she lives in a pocket of Chaos with her Cold Iron car as protection and is in too deep with the Unseleighe. She uses little air elementals as spies; her favorite is Azure. The Honorable Lady Ako is a nine-tailed kitsune, a healer, magician, and bearer of some of the most noble blood in or out of Underhill as well as SharMali's mother.
The Unseleighe and other bad guys
Madoc Skean is the chief of SharMali's "allies", a Lord of Underhill, a Magus Major, and a traitorous, sadistic, chauvinistic, selfish braggart who was exiled from the Seleighe Court by Oberon himself. Charcoal, a gray dragon, is SharMali's father, Chinthliss' enemy, and determined to kill Tannim. Thomas is a bronze dragon and Chinthliss' older half-brother who has been keeping an eye on him. The Katschei was a Russian creature: half-monster and half-mage. He's dead now, and his realm is empty, save for that sneak kidnapping of Tannim's Mustang. The elves in the Hall of the Mountain King cut themselves off from humanity 1,500 years ago. Tom Cadge came looking for treasure, and lost his eyes as well as his Nancy. Now he's doomed to forever clean.
Furhold is…
…like a Mexican border bar, but a rich neutral place Underhill.
Deke Kestrel is working in Austin as a studio musician while honing his own more "esoteric" skills and one of Tannim's few friends from high school; he gets a mention as does Ross Canfield, the ghost from Born to Run . Granny's Diner (Granny's Kitchen in Wheels of Fire ) also pops in for an appearance.
SCCA is the Sports Car Club of America. SERRA is the South Eastern Road Racing Association.
The Cover and Title
The cover is a bit psychedelic in its purples, pinks, and blues with that Gate opening through the Chrome Circle that will swallow up Tannim's beloved deep red Mustang. It's his dream girl posed on the Mustang's hood. The title follows the previous three book covers with its fast-looking "Circle" slanting forward with the wind racing across it. The title and series information is black on a white background and white on a black background with both backgrounds looking like the decals found on the sides of race cars. The authors' names are in yellow.
The title is the key, the Chrome Circle that will bring them back to our own world.
March 23, 2021
Talk about an all star cast!
It was soooo good to read more about Tannim - full human, and Mage - and partially adopted son to a dragon!
Tannim is crazy about loud music, and driving cars - the faster, the better - and is one of SERRA's top drivers.
But he has also had steamy dreams, ever since his teen years, and the woman in them, although he doesn't know her, is the perfect counterpart to him.
And then he meets her in real life, as she challenges him to a duel - with the weapon of his choice - and his life turns into the sort of dream that is more nightmare, with long journeys that lead to his worst enemies.
But, with Shar at his side, he's sure that, between them both, they will find themselves a path back home
A brilliant book and, like almost every single one written by Misty, with, or without, co-authors, full of great characters, and brilliant plot lines!
So, on I go now, to the fifth book in the Serrated Edge series: Elvendude!
It was soooo good to read more about Tannim - full human, and Mage - and partially adopted son to a dragon!
Tannim is crazy about loud music, and driving cars - the faster, the better - and is one of SERRA's top drivers.
But he has also had steamy dreams, ever since his teen years, and the woman in them, although he doesn't know her, is the perfect counterpart to him.
And then he meets her in real life, as she challenges him to a duel - with the weapon of his choice - and his life turns into the sort of dream that is more nightmare, with long journeys that lead to his worst enemies.
But, with Shar at his side, he's sure that, between them both, they will find themselves a path back home
A brilliant book and, like almost every single one written by Misty, with, or without, co-authors, full of great characters, and brilliant plot lines!
So, on I go now, to the fifth book in the Serrated Edge series: Elvendude!
February 26, 2018
Possibly my favorite of all Mercedes Lackey's novels from "The SERRAted Edge". It had it all. There was great moments of imagination. Some laughs. Some adventure. And possibly some romance from more than one couple.
This is the continuing story of a human mage by the name of Tannim. He's all about fast cars, loud music and doing magic. But throughout his life he's dreamed of a young woman who's aged as he has and always shows up in his dreams to soothe his spirit and take care of other things as well. Except he seemingly has found her in real life. And she might actually want to kill him?
What follows is a bit of a romp where Tannim and his is she / isn't she friend need to contend with warring dragons, a nine tailed kitsune who seems to be playing her own game and the dreaded wild hunt on their tail.
Things look grim but things in this world aren't always what they seem,
This is the continuing story of a human mage by the name of Tannim. He's all about fast cars, loud music and doing magic. But throughout his life he's dreamed of a young woman who's aged as he has and always shows up in his dreams to soothe his spirit and take care of other things as well. Except he seemingly has found her in real life. And she might actually want to kill him?
What follows is a bit of a romp where Tannim and his is she / isn't she friend need to contend with warring dragons, a nine tailed kitsune who seems to be playing her own game and the dreaded wild hunt on their tail.
Things look grim but things in this world aren't always what they seem,
September 24, 2022
Huzzah! I knew I liked one of the SERRAted Edge novels, but the first three were a struggle to complete and awkwardly combined a 90's after school special, mages and magic, and racing. This one finally picks a lane and cuts out the social problem bits to focus entirely on magic and race cars. I enjoyed this book, but I probably would give it only two stars if I wasn't so happy to have found another book that I vaguely remembered reading in high school.
April 17, 2019
Doing a reread of this beloved favorite and cannot recommend it enough. Very much reflects the era in which it was written in a lot of (endearing) ways, but it genuinely makes me laugh out loud and I love it.
January 14, 2020
Tannim meets his match. I like the SERRAted Edge series and the underlying theme Misty has for this. This is actually not one of the books with that underlying theme, unless you count Shar. Shar is half-kitsune, half-dragon, and schooled to be Tannim's opposite. But things don't go as planned.
July 26, 2024
If you’re a fantasy fan, and a fan of multiple worlds, you’ll enjoy this book about a mage and his magic friends from the other world and the beings who want him dead. Now to find and read the other stories in the series!
September 1, 2019
Interesting mix of Valdimar and modern day folks.
July 11, 2020
Vrrooomm! Elves and cars!
January 5, 2021
I read this book stand-alone, having not read the prior ones. It's easily understandable without having read the others, but I think it might be more worth reading if you've read the prior ones... maybe.
This is a weird mashup of a number of different myths, from kitsune from Japan, faerie and underhill, dragons, etc. Then that's all crammed together with a guy who drives sports cars who is also a wizard.
It's ... okay. Story went all over, but the outcome was predictable. I have read better, but I didn't regret reading this. Kinda meh.
This is a weird mashup of a number of different myths, from kitsune from Japan, faerie and underhill, dragons, etc. Then that's all crammed together with a guy who drives sports cars who is also a wizard.
It's ... okay. Story went all over, but the outcome was predictable. I have read better, but I didn't regret reading this. Kinda meh.
August 30, 2012
This review has been crossposted from my blog at The Cosy Dragon . Please head there for more in-depth reviews by me, which appear on a timely schedule.
Tannim's been given his marching orders to visit his family and pick up a new worker for his home elves. Little does he know there is a woman on his case and hunting him down with a vengeance. Or is it really a woman? Is he really being hunted?
This novel is another thrilling instalment in the SERRAted Edge series. Tannim is a car mage and a race car driver but he's also the human contact for a whole conclave of elves.
Shar! Ah, once again Lackey have succeeded with retelling things from multiple perspectives yet still keeping the narrative line clear and enjoyable. So very enjoyable. Perhaps I would have liked a little more balance from the bad elves, but otherwise it's very good.
Not much in the way of character development in this book, but the character relationships are good. I think this may be the first time we really see a dragon, let alone three dragons! The fox spirits are also a nice touch, and it's good to see FX getting some recognition even if he's a bit of a scamp. I have to say FX provides most of the light relief in this case.
This book moves at a swift pace and you'll find it difficult to put down at almost any stage. I have to say I guiltily kept reading past my bed time and during study time (even though I had read it before). The ending still came as a bit of a surprise, as I didn't remember Thomas' role at all!
The ending is something that you won't have seen coming. Although others may be bored by the inevitable journey Shar and Tannim take through the world, I found it fascinating. Lackey's showing off her knowledge and research into the different story myths of our times, and it's something I really enjoy.
Much to my discomfort (and annoyance), after finishing this book, I realised that I should have read 'The Other World' first. Sometimes I get so confused about which books to read first in these series, particularly as it also overlaps with Eric the Bard and Diana Tregarde series. Anyway, don't make my mistake if you're reading them, get 'The Other World' first if you can.
I'd recommend this part of 'The Chrome Borne' for adults and teenagers alike. Although there are hints of sexual activity, it's nothing pervasive. Perhaps the most important message in this novel is the importance of home and family, even when you have grown up.
Tannim's been given his marching orders to visit his family and pick up a new worker for his home elves. Little does he know there is a woman on his case and hunting him down with a vengeance. Or is it really a woman? Is he really being hunted?
This novel is another thrilling instalment in the SERRAted Edge series. Tannim is a car mage and a race car driver but he's also the human contact for a whole conclave of elves.
Shar! Ah, once again Lackey have succeeded with retelling things from multiple perspectives yet still keeping the narrative line clear and enjoyable. So very enjoyable. Perhaps I would have liked a little more balance from the bad elves, but otherwise it's very good.
Not much in the way of character development in this book, but the character relationships are good. I think this may be the first time we really see a dragon, let alone three dragons! The fox spirits are also a nice touch, and it's good to see FX getting some recognition even if he's a bit of a scamp. I have to say FX provides most of the light relief in this case.
This book moves at a swift pace and you'll find it difficult to put down at almost any stage. I have to say I guiltily kept reading past my bed time and during study time (even though I had read it before). The ending still came as a bit of a surprise, as I didn't remember Thomas' role at all!
The ending is something that you won't have seen coming. Although others may be bored by the inevitable journey Shar and Tannim take through the world, I found it fascinating. Lackey's showing off her knowledge and research into the different story myths of our times, and it's something I really enjoy.
Much to my discomfort (and annoyance), after finishing this book, I realised that I should have read 'The Other World' first. Sometimes I get so confused about which books to read first in these series, particularly as it also overlaps with Eric the Bard and Diana Tregarde series. Anyway, don't make my mistake if you're reading them, get 'The Other World' first if you can.
I'd recommend this part of 'The Chrome Borne' for adults and teenagers alike. Although there are hints of sexual activity, it's nothing pervasive. Perhaps the most important message in this novel is the importance of home and family, even when you have grown up.
April 1, 2009
This is a pretty good Urban Fantasy series. This one takes place almost exclusively Underhill, so I'm not sure it really is "urban", but Tannim does take a souped up sports car with him, so I suppose it still counts--barely.
March 9, 2013
It's been several years since I read the earlier SERRAted edge books. It didn't stop me from thoroughly enjoying this one.
EDIT: reread march 9 2013. This is my favourite of the SERRAted edge. I like the kitsune characters.
EDIT: reread march 9 2013. This is my favourite of the SERRAted edge. I like the kitsune characters.
September 5, 2012
I enjoy this book. It's one of the few SERRAted Edge books without hurting kids in it. I like Joe and Tannim, and I like Shar and how she can stand on her own feet. I do wish there were more elves in this, though.
August 3, 2008
This is such a good book. I read this book first in the series before reading the rest. Still got me hooked. Check the whole series out they are so good.
June 28, 2010
This is probably my favorite book in the SERRAted Edge series.
April 21, 2012
I wish there was more books staring Tannim Drake .
September 14, 2013
Nascar meets FurryMuck meets Urban Fantasy....
April 19, 2015
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
October 8, 2016
this is my third favorite mercedes series . ranking just after Valdemar and Diana Tregarde. please read it.
September 8, 2017
This book I remember liking a great deal because for the first time in the series, it is not addressing a Serious Social Problem. However, rereading as an adult, I found the central romance between Tannim and Shar to be... well, trite.
I want an origin story for Tannim, rather than a romance. His early years as Chinthliss' student sound fascinating.
Joe returns, having graduated from high school and gotten his ill-considered Swastika tattoo removed (he was raised in a white supremacist cult, which he escaped from in book #2). Tannim has come home to Oklahoma to bring Joe to Fairgrove. It's fun to watch Joe try to figure out how to navigate in a world of magic when the horror and danger aren't cranked to eleven.
Shar, trying to untangle herself from poor choices made during her adolescence as well, is an interesting character. I don't think the love story does her justice.
I want an origin story for Tannim, rather than a romance. His early years as Chinthliss' student sound fascinating.
Joe returns, having graduated from high school and gotten his ill-considered Swastika tattoo removed (he was raised in a white supremacist cult, which he escaped from in book #2). Tannim has come home to Oklahoma to bring Joe to Fairgrove. It's fun to watch Joe try to figure out how to navigate in a world of magic when the horror and danger aren't cranked to eleven.
Shar, trying to untangle herself from poor choices made during her adolescence as well, is an interesting character. I don't think the love story does her justice.
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