Closer to the Heart (Valdemar: The Herald Spy, #2)

by Mercedes Lackey

"Mags was a Herald of Valdemar. But he had once lived the brutal life of a child slave. When he was Chosen by his Companion Dallen, his young life was saved, and he slowly adjusted to being well fed, educated, and treasured as a trainee in the Herald's Collegium at Haven. Singled out by the King's Own Herald, Mags would thrive in his secret training as a spy. His unusually strong Gift--an ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, not just others who were Gifted--made him a perfect undercover agent for the king" --

Mags's unusually strong Gift-- an ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, not just others who were Gifted-- made him a perfect undercover agent for the king. He is betrothed to Amily, and she has found a way to build an army of informants herself, a ground of highly trained but impoverished young noblewomen. When King Kyril turns Mags and Amily's wedding into a low-key diplomatic event, what could possibly go wrong?

• ISBN10: 0756409004
• ISBN13: 9780756409005
• Publish Date: 6 October 2015
• Publish Status: Remaindered
• Imprint: Daw Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 336
• Language: English

Reviews

[Kim Deister]

Closer to the Heart is the second book in The Herald-Spy trilogy, a sequel series to The Collegium Chronicles series in the Valdemar saga. 

This is really a book of growth for both Mags and Amily as they navigate their still new roles as Heralds. And, of course, there is no end to the conflict and intrigue they need to work through! I love the way Lackey handles conflict in these books. Yes, there is the overall conflict within the plot, but there is always some kind of moral conflict as well. 

For the storyline, there is the discovered existence of a rebel faction, weapons being siphoned away in a futile attempt to overthrow Valdemar. Personally, there is the moral issue of excess. Mags is hyper aware of how little some people have, after his time as a mine slave. There are so many, even in Haven, with so little, and it has become his mission to help alleviate that whenever he can. 

Amily, too, is continuing to grow. Learning from her father and Mags, she has begun to create her own network of eyes and ears, those of the Handmaidens to the nobles of Haven. 

All in all, I love this addtion to the Valdemar saga!

[Silvara]

Check out my other reviews, discussions and link ups at Fantasy of the Silver Dragon.

I received this book for free from DAW in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Having only liked a few of the books from the last series about Mags, I wasn't sure what I'd think of this one. But since it was Valdemar, I had to give it a try. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get the first book in the series before this one arrived, so some of the things in it (like Amily being the King's Own) I have no idea how it happened.

Despite that, this was a really good book! I read it in 2 days, and it's made me happy that I have the third book in this series already waiting for me. It didn't drag at all (except for a little bit in the very beginning, but that was only a few pages and it picked up immediately from there.)

I really liked Tuck, Jorthun, Lady Dia and Keira. They were all fun characters in different ways. I liked all the cloak and dagger and subterfuge in the book. I also liked getting to learn more about the gem mines from a good owner, as opposed to what Mags knew based on being a mine-slave.

I do have to agree with Mags, changing his and Amily's last name to Hostage sounds more appropriate with every book!

I did like how all the characters are growing in the book. Both in skills as well as in their roles. Amily is creating a school to make spies out of Handmaidens. She is also learning to roofwalk, and finds new uses for her Gift. Mags has his own network of spy-kids. Mags also learns a lot of things in this book. New perspectives about good mine owners, as well as what a kirball horse rider must go through. And more in between.

If like me, you were turned off by the last series with Mags, you should give this one a try. Keeping in mind that I haven't read book 1, this book was really good and has made me actually want to go out and get my hands on the first book to see if it is equally as good.

This review was originally posted on Fantasy of the Silver Dragon