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SERRAted Edge #10
Breaking Silence
NEW ENTRY IN THE SERRATED EDGE SERIES FROM NEW YORK TIMES BEST-SELLING AUTHOR MERCEDES LACKEY AND CODY MARTIN. When Staci was first shunted off to the backwater town of Silence, Maine to live with her alcoholic mother, she thought her life was over. Silence had none of the amenities a typical teen in the twenty-first century considered no cell service and barely any internet connectivity. But Staci soon learned that Silence was more than a town left behind by progress. The first family of Silence, the Blackthorns, liked the town that way. The Blackthorns were dark elves who fed off the misery of the residence of Silence. But now, all that's changing for the better. With the help of Staci and her friends, the Blackthorns have been all but defeated. Industry is returning to Silence, and Staci's mom is improving with each passing day. There's even a cute new busboy at the diner. But evil dies hard. And Staci, now a mage-in-training, senses that the Blackthorns have not yet given up the. The soul of Silence is on the line, and it is up to Staci and her friends to fight back against the encroaching darkness. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). Serrated Edge Series Born to Run (#1) by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon Wheels of Fire (#2) by Mercedes Lackey and Mark Shepherd When the Bough Breaks (#3) by Mercedes Lackey and Holly Lisle Chrome Circle (#4) by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon Stoned Souls (#5) by Mercedes Lackey Elvendude (#6) by Mark Shepherd Spiritride (#7) by Mark Shepherd Lazerwarz (#8) by Mark Shepherd Silence (#9) by Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin The Chrome Borne (omni contains Born to Run and Chrome Circle) by Mercedes Lackey and Larry Dixon The Other World (omni contains When the Bough Breaks and Wheels of Fire) by Mercedes Lackey, Mark Shepherd and Holly Lisle Mercedes Lackey is the New York Times best-selling author of the Bardic Voices series and the Serrated Edge series (both Baen), the Heralds of Valdemar series, and many more. She's the coauthor of the contemporary meta-hero SF series The Secret World Chronicle. Among her popular Baen titles are The Fire Rose, The Lark and the Wren, and also The Shadow of the Lion and Burdens of the Dead with Eric Flint and Dave Freer. She lives in Oklahoma. Cody Martin is a coauthor with Mercedes Lackey of five other books in the metahero saga The Secret World Chronicle, including entries Invasion, World Divided, Revolution, Collision, and Avalanche. He is also the coauthor of the previous entry in The Serrated Edge series, Silence. He is an avid gamer, but spends his extra time chained to a computer, writing. Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, he currently resides in Florida.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 4, 2020
49 people are currently reading
196 people want to read
About the author
Mercedes Lackey
441 books9,530 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 - 30 of 30 reviews
January 21, 2020
This story is a direct sequel to 2016's SILENCE which should likely be read first. Those who have read it will enjoy finding out what has happened to Staci and her fellow nerds now that the Blackthornes have been defeated.
Things are looking up for Silence, Maine. New industries are opening and the sense of gloom has lifted from the town. Of course, that doesn't mean things are perfect. The industries are being opened by elves which immediately raises the suspicions of Staci's mentor Tim who is a mage who runs the local bookstore. And Staci still notices some sort of evil when she is training in the local woods.
Between her training, the growing evil, and the encroachment of the new group of elves, Staci should be kept busy enough. When her friend Wanda's parents become enthralled with a new fundamentalist church in town and keep trying to drag her to services, Staci and Wanda look into the church's activities and discover a magical connection the reverend isn't aware of. It is just one more sign that evil is creeping close again.
The story is full of action and adventure. I like that the fantasy in this one coexists with everyday normal 21st Century life. I like that Staci is a pretty normal teenager who has typical teenage parent problems. I also like the way that magic is woven into the story.
I recommend this one for readers who want to read about magic but who don't want a completely new fantasy world to keep track of. The characters are realistic and engaging and the magical creatures pulled from myths.
Things are looking up for Silence, Maine. New industries are opening and the sense of gloom has lifted from the town. Of course, that doesn't mean things are perfect. The industries are being opened by elves which immediately raises the suspicions of Staci's mentor Tim who is a mage who runs the local bookstore. And Staci still notices some sort of evil when she is training in the local woods.
Between her training, the growing evil, and the encroachment of the new group of elves, Staci should be kept busy enough. When her friend Wanda's parents become enthralled with a new fundamentalist church in town and keep trying to drag her to services, Staci and Wanda look into the church's activities and discover a magical connection the reverend isn't aware of. It is just one more sign that evil is creeping close again.
The story is full of action and adventure. I like that the fantasy in this one coexists with everyday normal 21st Century life. I like that Staci is a pretty normal teenager who has typical teenage parent problems. I also like the way that magic is woven into the story.
I recommend this one for readers who want to read about magic but who don't want a completely new fantasy world to keep track of. The characters are realistic and engaging and the magical creatures pulled from myths.
March 13, 2020
This is difficult for me. Because I have such strong, conflicting feelings.
I love the Serrated Edge books. The first "adult" book I ever read was "Born to Run," when I was around 12. At the time I thought I wasn't ready for it because it explicitly described sex, prostitution, drug use, etc. I was briefly traumatized by how mature it was. Which is particularly shocking given how my parents made no effort to shield me from adult movies or anything. There was no censorship in my world preventing me from reading books with adult themes, I simply hadn't tried it before.
But even though I was scared, within a year or so, I came back to "Born to Run." I realized it wasn't so scary after all. And, I loved it. I devoured the rest of the series. I figured out how to appreciate the good in a world that described children being kidnapped by neo-nazi cults. It was gritty and beautiful and my introduction to Urban Fantasy. Later in life, I would find that Urban Fantasy was my all-time favorite genre.
The majority of the Serrated Edge books were written the better part of 30 years ago. They focused on a company of modern elves manufacturing race cars, with plot lines focusing on helping out abused children. This was even a wide enough mission that it included helping teenagers working as prostitutes.
The Bedlam's Bard books are set in the same universe, with very minor crossover between characters, and it also started out in the 90s. Bedlam's Bard received a soft reboot in 2003 with "Spirits White as Lightning." This was partly because Mercedes Lackey's writing had improved, and partly because she wanted to move on from the three-way, human-elf sex fantasy that took front and center in the early Bedlam's Bard books. With the soft reboot, we jumped ahead a few years, abandoned a couple characters, and focused on the main Bard character having grown into his powers.
Book 9 of the series, "Silence," was the first one to be co-written by Cody Martin. I have no idea who he is, but I worry that his participation is because he wanted to write a Mercedes Lackey parody of "Twilight," and Mercedes Lackey attached her name to his fan fiction.
I have never read Twilight, but I saw the first movie and I read Wikipedia summaries. It seems obvious to me that "Silence" was a parody, or pastiche. A seemingly vacuous teenage girl moves to a quiet town because of her divorced parents, and she encounters a supernatural family of rich, beautiful people running the town? But here the supernatural family is made up of elves, rather than vampires. And rather than the protagonist being turned into a vampire, we find out that she was always part elf all along.
This is not unusual for Lackey. She does parodies of more famous works all the time. She does her own version of fairy tales all the time in the Elemental Masters books. She wrote a short story in one of her Valdemar collections that was a spoof of Scooby Doo. "The Collegium Chronicles," featuring Mags, are clearly a parody of Harry Potter. (Abused adolescent orphan is rescued and informed he has a magical destiny, goes to a magical school where he has a guy and a girl as best friends and who end up with each other, while they try to break into the secret part of the library and villains whisper about how special the orphan boy is?) "Closer to the Heart" in her Valdemar universe was a parody of Romeo and Juliet. Some of the later books featuring Mags are more like parodies of current events, mocking internet trolls and Trump.
I'm not sure who Cody Martin is, but I worry he wrote most of these last couple books. The writing style feels a little juvenile and doesn't *quite* sound like Lackey. He's using elements of the Serrated Edge universe (the Fairgrove company manufacturing race cars, elves being allergic to caffeine, etc.), but it doesn't quite feel the same. The stakes also feel lower and more juvenile. For all that last book a bunch of characters died, and there is some gore here, it doesn't feel as grim and gritty as the earlier books that featured depravity and child prostitution. (Not that anyone *likes* depravity and child prostitution, but you know what I mean-- this feels cleaner, somehow.)
But then, if Cody Martin did write most of these last couple books, is that really so bad? At least we are FINALLY back in this universe, after more than a decade since the previous book. "Music to my Sorrow" came out in 2005 or 2006, I think, and was the last book in this universe before "Silence." If this is my favorite universe, should I just be grateful that it came back at all? Even if it feels like I'm reading fan-fiction, sometimes?
Also, I am baffled by the inclusion of a selkie-hybrid character. That is also very personal to me. I LOVE selkies and use selkie-hybrid characters in my own writing whenever I can, and it seems reasonable. The other fae folk have theoretically always been available in this universe, but decades ago Lackey mostly just focused on elves as her main characters. Having a more obscure, more meaningful fae type pop up in this book shocked me and confused me further. It's like someone writing a fan-fiction sometimes, sure, but it also feels like fan-fiction specific to *me*. I don't know what to make of that.
I love the Serrated Edge books. The first "adult" book I ever read was "Born to Run," when I was around 12. At the time I thought I wasn't ready for it because it explicitly described sex, prostitution, drug use, etc. I was briefly traumatized by how mature it was. Which is particularly shocking given how my parents made no effort to shield me from adult movies or anything. There was no censorship in my world preventing me from reading books with adult themes, I simply hadn't tried it before.
But even though I was scared, within a year or so, I came back to "Born to Run." I realized it wasn't so scary after all. And, I loved it. I devoured the rest of the series. I figured out how to appreciate the good in a world that described children being kidnapped by neo-nazi cults. It was gritty and beautiful and my introduction to Urban Fantasy. Later in life, I would find that Urban Fantasy was my all-time favorite genre.
The majority of the Serrated Edge books were written the better part of 30 years ago. They focused on a company of modern elves manufacturing race cars, with plot lines focusing on helping out abused children. This was even a wide enough mission that it included helping teenagers working as prostitutes.
The Bedlam's Bard books are set in the same universe, with very minor crossover between characters, and it also started out in the 90s. Bedlam's Bard received a soft reboot in 2003 with "Spirits White as Lightning." This was partly because Mercedes Lackey's writing had improved, and partly because she wanted to move on from the three-way, human-elf sex fantasy that took front and center in the early Bedlam's Bard books. With the soft reboot, we jumped ahead a few years, abandoned a couple characters, and focused on the main Bard character having grown into his powers.
Book 9 of the series, "Silence," was the first one to be co-written by Cody Martin. I have no idea who he is, but I worry that his participation is because he wanted to write a Mercedes Lackey parody of "Twilight," and Mercedes Lackey attached her name to his fan fiction.
I have never read Twilight, but I saw the first movie and I read Wikipedia summaries. It seems obvious to me that "Silence" was a parody, or pastiche. A seemingly vacuous teenage girl moves to a quiet town because of her divorced parents, and she encounters a supernatural family of rich, beautiful people running the town? But here the supernatural family is made up of elves, rather than vampires. And rather than the protagonist being turned into a vampire, we find out that she was always part elf all along.
This is not unusual for Lackey. She does parodies of more famous works all the time. She does her own version of fairy tales all the time in the Elemental Masters books. She wrote a short story in one of her Valdemar collections that was a spoof of Scooby Doo. "The Collegium Chronicles," featuring Mags, are clearly a parody of Harry Potter. (Abused adolescent orphan is rescued and informed he has a magical destiny, goes to a magical school where he has a guy and a girl as best friends and who end up with each other, while they try to break into the secret part of the library and villains whisper about how special the orphan boy is?) "Closer to the Heart" in her Valdemar universe was a parody of Romeo and Juliet. Some of the later books featuring Mags are more like parodies of current events, mocking internet trolls and Trump.
I'm not sure who Cody Martin is, but I worry he wrote most of these last couple books. The writing style feels a little juvenile and doesn't *quite* sound like Lackey. He's using elements of the Serrated Edge universe (the Fairgrove company manufacturing race cars, elves being allergic to caffeine, etc.), but it doesn't quite feel the same. The stakes also feel lower and more juvenile. For all that last book a bunch of characters died, and there is some gore here, it doesn't feel as grim and gritty as the earlier books that featured depravity and child prostitution. (Not that anyone *likes* depravity and child prostitution, but you know what I mean-- this feels cleaner, somehow.)
But then, if Cody Martin did write most of these last couple books, is that really so bad? At least we are FINALLY back in this universe, after more than a decade since the previous book. "Music to my Sorrow" came out in 2005 or 2006, I think, and was the last book in this universe before "Silence." If this is my favorite universe, should I just be grateful that it came back at all? Even if it feels like I'm reading fan-fiction, sometimes?
Also, I am baffled by the inclusion of a selkie-hybrid character. That is also very personal to me. I LOVE selkies and use selkie-hybrid characters in my own writing whenever I can, and it seems reasonable. The other fae folk have theoretically always been available in this universe, but decades ago Lackey mostly just focused on elves as her main characters. Having a more obscure, more meaningful fae type pop up in this book shocked me and confused me further. It's like someone writing a fan-fiction sometimes, sure, but it also feels like fan-fiction specific to *me*. I don't know what to make of that.
September 30, 2024
Tenth in the Serrated Edge paranormal fantasy series for Young Adult readers and revolving around elves and magic. The focus is on the village of Silence, Maine, and Staci Kerry and her friends.
My Take
Breaking Silence is an inspiring story for young adults, as Staci notes the difference between her typical teen life in New York with its emphasis on cellphones, Facebook, and obsessions with celebrity and fashion with her new life of adventure in the woods, learning magic, and interacting with (actual!) people.
I love that Staci tells the truth no matter how much it might reflect badly on her. I also like that Tim will admit his own mistakes. Both are good examples for readers.
It's not only Staci but her mom who learns as well; it's always best to know the truth. It's so much easier to cope! It's certainly a lesson Staci has absorbed from her stepmother's machinations and lessens her guilt in how she manipulates her guilty dad. Yeah, he's not an impressive character, especially when Staci wonders about his decision to entrust his daughter to a "Freaky Drug Crazed Alcoholic"! I mean, hmmm...lol.
David mentions his dad running a resurrection spell...and yet Staci doesn't catch this, so I have less "respect" for Staci's power of observations and not much sympathy with her anger over David "hiding his background". I certainly think David has a good excuse for his actions. The swift change in David's employment bothers me. What was the point in David's first job? Why not have him simply be someone about town that Staci runs into?
The bit about the God-botherers was "interesting", but only served to show up how the nasty Unseleighe were creating problems in Silence. I suspect this chunk served to extend the number of pages.
The elves who show up to represent Fairgrove certainly have their noses in the air, but it seems that Keighvin Silverhair's policies may be changing.
Lackey/Martin do provide, finally, a background on Erdman, and it was not at all what I was expecting. In any way. Good thing Staci is open to possibilities!
While the perspective is primarily from Staci's third person POV, Lackey/Martin use a global subjective third person point-of-view, as we gain bits and pieces of the thoughts of others — Erdman in particular. It does bring in an unexpected perspective from Erdman as well as Staci's interpretation of what Erdman has experienced.
Primarily action-packed, Breaking Silence is also character-driven with a reasonable pace. My one objection is that the writing is too simple and that Lackey/Martin weren't paying attention.
The Story
Sure, the economy in the village of Silence is turning around with new industries hiring in the area. The Blackthorns are gone. Mostly. And Staci is learning every day how to work magic with Tim, Seth, and Wanda's help.
And still, there is a darkness rising over the town.
The Characters
Staci "Padawan" Kerry is a teen still in high school who learned she has magic abilities. Paula Kerry, a waitress at the low-rent Rusty Bucket bar, is her part-elf mother — which explains her craziness and need to hide in alcohol. Brenda is the dissembling stepmother who went to the dark side once she hooked Staci's father, a lawyer in New York City.
Tim "Kai Lung" Carter is a powerful human mage, a bookseller, and Staci's mentor. Seth "Ranger" and Wanda "Elvira" are the human friends Staci made in Silence , 9. Wanda has become very good with the bow and arrow and knives; Seth is amazing with building traps and hiding them.
Beth "Nixie" is a waitress at the diner and one of Staci's first encounters in Silence. Riley and Jake have left town with their families.
Silence, Maine, is...
...a quiet fishing village that had been dying. Worse it had been without the amenities a teen requires. Frank owns the diner; Ray is the new cook; David Parish is the new dishwasher and busser. Melanie Andrews and Heather Marks are fellow students not known for their desire to read. Janis Davidson is the mayor's secretary.
The Blood of Jesus World Missionary Church is the bad church of the two in Silence. Preacher Kenny is a misled bigot. Bud Brady was one of Kenny's cures.
Dylan was an elf who disagreed with the policy of Fairgrove. He also was the first to show Staci how to use magic...before he betrayed her. Metalhead is/was his elvensteed.
Fairgrove Industries of Elfhame Fairgrove is...
...based in Georgia and led by Keighvin Silverhair. David's dad is a self-trained, hotshot mechanic and a human. The elves in charge of the Fairgrove branch in Silence are the snotty Ian Ironoak of Elfhame Silversun and Caradoc and Branwen ap Daffyd ap Gwalchmai, who are brother and sister. Simon is a lizard who welds. Melody is a mermaid with an instinctive understanding of laminar flow. Tannin Drake and Sam are human allies. Corendil "Cory" and Mari are secretly involved. Adamante is an elvensteed who had known Tim in the past.
The Blackthorns were...
...the preeminent family in Silence, one of dark elves who thrived on misery. Sean had been the heir with grandiose ideas. Morrigan Blackthorn is a cousin with an interest in Goth and is a friend of Wanda's. She's also the only remaining Blackthorn and heir to it all.
Unseleighe who were left behind...
...include Aufhocker, Drude, the Alver, a fossegrim, Dubhthach is a leprechaun, a pooka, Leannan Sidhe, and many svartalfar (black elves). Erdman "Man of Earth" is a golem.
The Cover and Title
The cover is cold in its blacks and blues. The black is in the silhouettes of weeds, trees, and a monstrous spiky beast on the left, covering the sign welcoming you to Silence. The blues are the sky and lightnings flashing everywhere, barely allowing you to see the car, its headlights bright, coming down the road. At the very top is the authors' names in white with a speedy-looking title in a cold gold below. A saw-toothed badge in black frames an info blurb in a pale blue-purple. Below this is a testimonial in white. Centered at the very bottom is the series info in a debossed gold.
The title refers to the Blackthorn family, for it is their destruction that is Breaking Silence.
My Take
Breaking Silence is an inspiring story for young adults, as Staci notes the difference between her typical teen life in New York with its emphasis on cellphones, Facebook, and obsessions with celebrity and fashion with her new life of adventure in the woods, learning magic, and interacting with (actual!) people.
I love that Staci tells the truth no matter how much it might reflect badly on her. I also like that Tim will admit his own mistakes. Both are good examples for readers.
It's not only Staci but her mom who learns as well; it's always best to know the truth. It's so much easier to cope! It's certainly a lesson Staci has absorbed from her stepmother's machinations and lessens her guilt in how she manipulates her guilty dad. Yeah, he's not an impressive character, especially when Staci wonders about his decision to entrust his daughter to a "Freaky Drug Crazed Alcoholic"! I mean, hmmm...lol.
David mentions his dad running a resurrection spell...and yet Staci doesn't catch this, so I have less "respect" for Staci's power of observations and not much sympathy with her anger over David "hiding his background". I certainly think David has a good excuse for his actions. The swift change in David's employment bothers me. What was the point in David's first job? Why not have him simply be someone about town that Staci runs into?
The bit about the God-botherers was "interesting", but only served to show up how the nasty Unseleighe were creating problems in Silence. I suspect this chunk served to extend the number of pages.
The elves who show up to represent Fairgrove certainly have their noses in the air, but it seems that Keighvin Silverhair's policies may be changing.
Lackey/Martin do provide, finally, a background on Erdman, and it was not at all what I was expecting. In any way. Good thing Staci is open to possibilities!
While the perspective is primarily from Staci's third person POV, Lackey/Martin use a global subjective third person point-of-view, as we gain bits and pieces of the thoughts of others — Erdman in particular. It does bring in an unexpected perspective from Erdman as well as Staci's interpretation of what Erdman has experienced.
Primarily action-packed, Breaking Silence is also character-driven with a reasonable pace. My one objection is that the writing is too simple and that Lackey/Martin weren't paying attention.
The Story
Sure, the economy in the village of Silence is turning around with new industries hiring in the area. The Blackthorns are gone. Mostly. And Staci is learning every day how to work magic with Tim, Seth, and Wanda's help.
And still, there is a darkness rising over the town.
The Characters
Staci "Padawan" Kerry is a teen still in high school who learned she has magic abilities. Paula Kerry, a waitress at the low-rent Rusty Bucket bar, is her part-elf mother — which explains her craziness and need to hide in alcohol. Brenda is the dissembling stepmother who went to the dark side once she hooked Staci's father, a lawyer in New York City.
Tim "Kai Lung" Carter is a powerful human mage, a bookseller, and Staci's mentor. Seth "Ranger" and Wanda "Elvira" are the human friends Staci made in Silence , 9. Wanda has become very good with the bow and arrow and knives; Seth is amazing with building traps and hiding them.
Beth "Nixie" is a waitress at the diner and one of Staci's first encounters in Silence. Riley and Jake have left town with their families.
Silence, Maine, is...
...a quiet fishing village that had been dying. Worse it had been without the amenities a teen requires. Frank owns the diner; Ray is the new cook; David Parish is the new dishwasher and busser. Melanie Andrews and Heather Marks are fellow students not known for their desire to read. Janis Davidson is the mayor's secretary.
The Blood of Jesus World Missionary Church is the bad church of the two in Silence. Preacher Kenny is a misled bigot. Bud Brady was one of Kenny's cures.
Dylan was an elf who disagreed with the policy of Fairgrove. He also was the first to show Staci how to use magic...before he betrayed her. Metalhead is/was his elvensteed.
Fairgrove Industries of Elfhame Fairgrove is...
...based in Georgia and led by Keighvin Silverhair. David's dad is a self-trained, hotshot mechanic and a human. The elves in charge of the Fairgrove branch in Silence are the snotty Ian Ironoak of Elfhame Silversun and Caradoc and Branwen ap Daffyd ap Gwalchmai, who are brother and sister. Simon is a lizard who welds. Melody is a mermaid with an instinctive understanding of laminar flow. Tannin Drake and Sam are human allies. Corendil "Cory" and Mari are secretly involved. Adamante is an elvensteed who had known Tim in the past.
The Blackthorns were...
...the preeminent family in Silence, one of dark elves who thrived on misery. Sean had been the heir with grandiose ideas. Morrigan Blackthorn is a cousin with an interest in Goth and is a friend of Wanda's. She's also the only remaining Blackthorn and heir to it all.
Unseleighe who were left behind...
...include Aufhocker, Drude, the Alver, a fossegrim, Dubhthach is a leprechaun, a pooka, Leannan Sidhe, and many svartalfar (black elves). Erdman "Man of Earth" is a golem.
The Cover and Title
The cover is cold in its blacks and blues. The black is in the silhouettes of weeds, trees, and a monstrous spiky beast on the left, covering the sign welcoming you to Silence. The blues are the sky and lightnings flashing everywhere, barely allowing you to see the car, its headlights bright, coming down the road. At the very top is the authors' names in white with a speedy-looking title in a cold gold below. A saw-toothed badge in black frames an info blurb in a pale blue-purple. Below this is a testimonial in white. Centered at the very bottom is the series info in a debossed gold.
The title refers to the Blackthorn family, for it is their destruction that is Breaking Silence.
March 25, 2020
Magic, elves, magical creatures and magicians
Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin craft a story about mastery, apprenticeship, Struggle against evil , growth and love and friendship, also developing bonds of friendship between diverse people. This is a mind and heart satisfying tale.
Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin craft a story about mastery, apprenticeship, Struggle against evil , growth and love and friendship, also developing bonds of friendship between diverse people. This is a mind and heart satisfying tale.
February 19, 2020
Better than #9, dumping some of the silly YA material makes it a better read IMHO.
February 11, 2020
Mercedes Lackey is in the top five favorite authors of mine. This story is no exception. The protagonist characters are strong, likeable, and the story is easy to follow. It also teaches us that some characters are not as evil as they seem. This story is well worth your time and effort to read.
November 18, 2019
Breaking Silence by Mercedes Lackey and Cody Martin
This is a young adult book. A group of teenagers find themselves facing creatures from their nightmares. This is a book in the Serrated Edge Series.
Staci, a blossoming mage, and her mentor Tim gather a Selkie and two mundanes to face a mysterious darkness that surrounds the mansion of a former foe. The authors provide barely enough back story that you don’t feel completely lost.
“Good Elves” move into town and hint that there is a darkness coming. The authors provide the teenage protagonists with more than enough annoying teenage angst. Alas the angst may be representative of teens but that is far in my past.
I enjoyed the book and the creative way that Staci finally uses her wits.
This is a young adult book. A group of teenagers find themselves facing creatures from their nightmares. This is a book in the Serrated Edge Series.
Staci, a blossoming mage, and her mentor Tim gather a Selkie and two mundanes to face a mysterious darkness that surrounds the mansion of a former foe. The authors provide barely enough back story that you don’t feel completely lost.
“Good Elves” move into town and hint that there is a darkness coming. The authors provide the teenage protagonists with more than enough annoying teenage angst. Alas the angst may be representative of teens but that is far in my past.
I enjoyed the book and the creative way that Staci finally uses her wits.
January 30, 2020
I discovered Mercedes Lackey when I was a teenager, and I have read almost everything she’s written since then. I love this series. I really hope it continues.
March 13, 2020
This book is a sequel to 'Silence' and continuation of the SERRAted Edge series.
It is a significant improvement on the last book: the plot is tighter, the characters have more depth, and the book feels more a part of the wider series.
First things I liked. The book is written in limited third person and like most others in the series does offer glimpses into other characters points of view. This is useful in context because it allows the reader a better understanding of what is going on. The characters are fairly well developed and feel like individual people, and the elves are each clearly different characters. The characters are nicely nuanced, and the relationships are complex. The big open question in the plot does get answered in a very satisfying way by the end.
The reason I'm only giving it 3 stars however is much like the previous book there are some significant continuity errors and plot holes. I don't want to list them here and give any spoilers, but for one example in the last book we were told the main character had Elven ancestry on both sides but now apperantly it's just from her mother, and the elves refer to the mc as everything from half-elven, to part fae, to human. For another, there's a scene where 2 elvensteeds jump somewhere then on the next page...2 elvensteeds jump somewhere, as if the authors forgot that had just happened. It really would have benefited from beta readers or a good editor. I could have suspended my disbelief enough to ignore that the characters seem to live in a perpetual summer; Staci arrives at the beginning of summer, the events in Silence take weeks at a minimum, months have now gone by and weeks pass in Breaking Silence but its...still summer? But much like the last book this one leans heavily into the 'wonderkid' trope and that gets hard to ignore. I had a difficult time accepting that the teenage main character was the only one actually taking down any monsters or that the adults followed her lead. The idea that a who knows how old elf would panic during a magical attack and need the teenage human to take charge was just nonsensical.
That all said it's still an improvement over Silence and the characters are likeable. I'd still read a new book in the series if there was one.
It is a significant improvement on the last book: the plot is tighter, the characters have more depth, and the book feels more a part of the wider series.
First things I liked. The book is written in limited third person and like most others in the series does offer glimpses into other characters points of view. This is useful in context because it allows the reader a better understanding of what is going on. The characters are fairly well developed and feel like individual people, and the elves are each clearly different characters. The characters are nicely nuanced, and the relationships are complex. The big open question in the plot does get answered in a very satisfying way by the end.
The reason I'm only giving it 3 stars however is much like the previous book there are some significant continuity errors and plot holes. I don't want to list them here and give any spoilers, but for one example in the last book we were told the main character had Elven ancestry on both sides but now apperantly it's just from her mother, and the elves refer to the mc as everything from half-elven, to part fae, to human. For another, there's a scene where 2 elvensteeds jump somewhere then on the next page...2 elvensteeds jump somewhere, as if the authors forgot that had just happened. It really would have benefited from beta readers or a good editor. I could have suspended my disbelief enough to ignore that the characters seem to live in a perpetual summer; Staci arrives at the beginning of summer, the events in Silence take weeks at a minimum, months have now gone by and weeks pass in Breaking Silence but its...still summer? But much like the last book this one leans heavily into the 'wonderkid' trope and that gets hard to ignore. I had a difficult time accepting that the teenage main character was the only one actually taking down any monsters or that the adults followed her lead. The idea that a who knows how old elf would panic during a magical attack and need the teenage human to take charge was just nonsensical.
That all said it's still an improvement over Silence and the characters are likeable. I'd still read a new book in the series if there was one.
April 26, 2021
I have to admit that Breaking Silence was a notch above Silence, though I think that's probably because I'm more familiar with the characters in this second story, involving the part-elf apprentice Mage, Staci.
Once again, I couldn't really find much of Misty's voice in this story, so have to assume that Cody Martin had the stronger voice here - that was okay, and didn't detract from the storyline, but I'm really missing that depth of character, and emotion, that I always felt with the books that Misty wrote in her own.
The story itself was good, in itself, though probably aimed more at the young adult market, I imagine - but age related stuff has never stopped me reading, and enjoying, a good book, even if aimed at young children! Lol
I enjoyed discovering the back story of Erdmann, and I also liked that every main character showed that they weren't perfect, whether human, elf, selkie, golem, or all the other types of creatures involved here.
I'm actually really glad that I've been able to read the Serrated Edge books, almost, uninterrupted, as it's given me a better overview this way, and I'm looking forwards to the next book in this series that, hopefully, won't be so long in coming, as the gap between these last few books, and those previous to them, were.
Once again, I couldn't really find much of Misty's voice in this story, so have to assume that Cody Martin had the stronger voice here - that was okay, and didn't detract from the storyline, but I'm really missing that depth of character, and emotion, that I always felt with the books that Misty wrote in her own.
The story itself was good, in itself, though probably aimed more at the young adult market, I imagine - but age related stuff has never stopped me reading, and enjoying, a good book, even if aimed at young children! Lol
I enjoyed discovering the back story of Erdmann, and I also liked that every main character showed that they weren't perfect, whether human, elf, selkie, golem, or all the other types of creatures involved here.
I'm actually really glad that I've been able to read the Serrated Edge books, almost, uninterrupted, as it's given me a better overview this way, and I'm looking forwards to the next book in this series that, hopefully, won't be so long in coming, as the gap between these last few books, and those previous to them, were.
January 10, 2025
This book, published in 2020, details some of the growing up tasks of a teen who is not just a newcomer to the town of Silence, Maine, but is also a mage in training. In Silence, she works with a small group of friends and an older mage, learning about magic and fighting. It was very well written, and even though there were several obvious revelations, at least one was a surprise.
I liked most of the characters, even the supposed 'bad guys', which another reader will also identify.
I'm not sure why I'm not giving it a perfect score, but it may be because the 2 mages spend a lot of time together. I know there are obvious grammatical errors which I will say are probably by the publisher.
It did bring me a new favorite quote, "You can't change the past. But you can change so that you don't repeat it."
I liked most of the characters, even the supposed 'bad guys', which another reader will also identify.
I'm not sure why I'm not giving it a perfect score, but it may be because the 2 mages spend a lot of time together. I know there are obvious grammatical errors which I will say are probably by the publisher.
It did bring me a new favorite quote, "You can't change the past. But you can change so that you don't repeat it."
July 6, 2020
I have been a fan of Lackey for a few dacades and love a majority of her works. This book is trash. The characters are unsympathetic because we don’t see who they are other than them rushing off to fix something or fight something, debrief at the store, then go to sleep to do it all over again whilst moving the plot forward incrementally. I’m more than halfway through and still don’t know who the antagonist is, what role Fairgrove actually has in Silence, why the weird politics between the elves themselves and how the cast of misfits fit into their plans.
The fight scenes are good. The character development is meh. The story is meandering.
Now, having said that the Hunter series is interesting and refreshing.
The fight scenes are good. The character development is meh. The story is meandering.
Now, having said that the Hunter series is interesting and refreshing.
May 30, 2020
Continuation of Staci’s training and exploits. A bunch of good elves from earlier in the series have come to “help” the town of Silence, but they regard humans as beneath them. Some leftover baddies from the previous book stir up trouble, and it takes the combined forces of elves, mortals, and mages to face them. Some enemies can be intimidated into leaving, and others can be convinced to change sides.
There was a bit of repetition in the descriptions and explanations, and I skimmed a lot.
Typos: I noticed a couple spelling errors (it’s for its, ex’s for exes), and a missing word.
There was a bit of repetition in the descriptions and explanations, and I skimmed a lot.
Typos: I noticed a couple spelling errors (it’s for its, ex’s for exes), and a missing word.
December 18, 2021
A bit harder to get through than most of the other books in the series, because there's a lot of setup required for this one. But, once you get there, it's well worth the read. I liked this one, and I doubt I'll hesitate to read more in the series, even if this one did seem to be completely off the rails in the beginning. Couldn't figure out how it fit with the rest of the books in the series at first, but it's a very nice story once it's finished.
December 12, 2024
A strong 3.5 for me, though as much as I love the other Serrated edge stories I've read, I had higher hopes for this one. The characters were strong enough, and wouldn't mind checking in with them in another adventure but the plot(s) got a little too...scattered and moved too fast for me? Also, think I'm good for a while on ANY character in ANY book drinking coffee bc of this one, trust me if you've read it, you know.
February 5, 2020
Hamilton Reviews
Well, I enjoyed the story. I loved the characters. I read the first three books in this series years ago. I might still have the battered paperbacks somewhere among my other 800+ physical books. Ms Lackey is one of my favorite fantasy authors. Please read her books. I started with her Diana Tregarde books.
Well, I enjoyed the story. I loved the characters. I read the first three books in this series years ago. I might still have the battered paperbacks somewhere among my other 800+ physical books. Ms Lackey is one of my favorite fantasy authors. Please read her books. I started with her Diana Tregarde books.
March 9, 2020
Elves, Elvensteeds and Mages, Oh my!
I really enjoyed this book. It brought back what I loved about the beginning books of Serrated Edge series! I wish they were all on e-reader! This book had a lot of scary twists and a lot of belly laughing moments! With new friendships made in unlikely places. I look forward to someday reading all these books in a row again!
I really enjoyed this book. It brought back what I loved about the beginning books of Serrated Edge series! I wish they were all on e-reader! This book had a lot of scary twists and a lot of belly laughing moments! With new friendships made in unlikely places. I look forward to someday reading all these books in a row again!
September 21, 2021
More please?
I hate to cliché, but not quite as good as the first. That being said, more please? I want to know who Tim really is. I want to see Staci meet David’s dad for reals. I really, Really, REALLY want to see Tim and Tannim together. You KNOW that will go badly…or really well
I hate to cliché, but not quite as good as the first. That being said, more please? I want to know who Tim really is. I want to see Staci meet David’s dad for reals. I really, Really, REALLY want to see Tim and Tannim together. You KNOW that will go badly…or really well
March 23, 2020
Fantastic!
An exciting, engaging story with characters we are really starting to get to know and love. More little gems about them are revealed and it absolutely cries out for another book in the series! Misty, Cody, hear the plea! Please!!
An exciting, engaging story with characters we are really starting to get to know and love. More little gems about them are revealed and it absolutely cries out for another book in the series! Misty, Cody, hear the plea! Please!!
May 22, 2020
I cannot figure out how I missed this series until now. I adore Mercedes Lackey and everything she writes. As always, the book has interesting characters and imaginative plot AND MAGIC! Cannot wait to find the earlier books in the series.
March 16, 2020
Wonderful
A great follow up to Silence . It's fun see the gang have a new adventure while seeing things improve in town.
A great follow up to Silence . It's fun see the gang have a new adventure while seeing things improve in town.
August 18, 2020
A little too pat to rate higher. I think this universe has probably passed its prime.
February 19, 2020
Mercedes does not let me down ever. This is a book intended for teen readers. It does feature teen heroes. Elves and magic. Horses that are so much more. I've read a couple of the SERRAted Edge books, I do have to find the rest of them in my book room, so that I know which ones I need to read. While I was raising my family I lost a lot of my book buying capability so many of the books came from the library.
March 4, 2020
A young mage must ally with high-court Sidhe to protect her Maine fishing village from evil forces.
February 23, 2020
A great series and another great addition to this series.
Ms Lackey is a talented story teller, the plot flows, the cast of characters is fleshed out and interesting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
Ms Lackey is a talented story teller, the plot flows, the cast of characters is fleshed out and interesting.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
February 25, 2020
I really enjoyed this new novel in the Serrated Edge series. I hope that there are more novels to come in this series.
February 17, 2020
Full review here:
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
While this is really centered around Young Adult readers, it does bring back good memories of the original novels. I'm happy to think that new readers are getting to enjoy the series now.
https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...
While this is really centered around Young Adult readers, it does bring back good memories of the original novels. I'm happy to think that new readers are getting to enjoy the series now.
February 3, 2020
This is a follow to Silence but everything you need to know from that book is explained in this one so a reader can pick it up and not be lost. The town of Silence is slowly being revitalized thanks to the unseelie elves being defeated by Staci and her friends. A new company that designs motorcycles and soon to be released jet skis has moved in and they are owned by Fairgrove. Longtime readers of the series will enjoy the shoutouts and new readers will not be confused or left behind. There are strange things happening in town and it seems that the trouble leads back to the Blackthornes’ abandoned home. Turns out not everything was taken care of in the previous book. Staci has done a bit of growing up from the previous book and some people have left and others have joined the circle of friends fighting evil and learning about magic.
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Edelweiss
December 14, 2020
A follow-up to Silence and in the SERRAted Edge series, we dive back into the small town of Silence, Maine. This is what happens after the big battle. Is there really a happily ever after in this fairy-tale? Well, there are Fae and the ever after seems a bit more war torn and less Disney-fied. This book should not be read as a standalone. It is not necessary to read all the books in the series, but it is recommended to read the prior book, Silence.
To read the rest of my review, click on the image below to see it on my website.
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