Closer to the Heart by Mercedes Lackey

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?

Reviewed by Silvara on

4 of 5 stars

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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

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 16 September, 2016: Finished reading
  • 16 September, 2016: Reviewed