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.

Sequel to Mercedes Lackey's Closer to Home, this adventure continues Mags's journey as Valdemar's herald spy.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Magic, Science Fiction Fantasy, High Fantasy, Young Adult, Adventure

330 pages, Hardcover

First published October 2, 2015

About the author

Mercedes 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

Reviews

[atmatos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a four star read all the way up to the ending. I am not saying the ending was bad, it was just not satisfying so it ended up being more a three, or three point five.

I'm still happy with this series though, and this one didn't really lead into what may happen next for Mag's and Amily, but I am still curious what Lackey is going to do with these characters.

[Len Evans Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Loved this even more than book one!

The author did an awesome job of building suspense while simultaneously moving the story along and also letting us get to know Amily and Mags so very much better!! Absolutely Wonderful!!!!!

[Kylara Jensen]

I'm a sucker for Mercedes Lackey.

I told myself after Closer to Home that I wouldn't read any more books about Mags. But I can't just not read a new Valdemar book.

But I pretty much only got 60 pages in before I gave up. I am just so tired of Mags. PLEASE STOP WRITING BOOKS ABOUT MAGS. I don't know how anyone cares about him or his life any more.

It's all the same thing. Mundane overly descriptive passages about him spying in the city, Mags and Amily making plans about better ways to spay, then executing those plans in excruciating detail, and that da*n accent.

Mercedes Lackey is all: I want to write another Valdemar book. I don't have any other ideas, so how about another book about Mags. I don't know what to write about...I've pretty much exhausted all the plot ideas by stretching out the last trilogy into 5 books. I'll just thicken up the manuscript by adding a bunch of stuff about people walking down the street, going on boring errands, and spying on boring people. I'll have to think of some more ways Mags and Amily can spy on people. And then I need to make sure they discuss their plan and take a long time enacting it. Meanwhile, I'll make sure to fill a lot of pages by having everyone do every day things. This is my best idea yet...

Um, no it's not.

For the love of There Is No One True Way, please stop writing about Mags!!!

(I still kind of want to finish the book because I can't get enough of Valdemar, but I have to tell myself NO! I've got too many actually good books to read.)

Mercedes Lackey what are you doing to me?!!!

[Kathy Davie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second in the Herald Spy fantasy series, the seventh in the Collegium Chronicles, and both are within the overall Valdemar series. These two particular subseries revolve around Mags; Collegium Chronicles is about Mags' early life and learning while the Herald Spy is Mags moving into his adult position. If you're interested, there is a chronological listing of the Valdemar books on my website.

My Take
In many respects, Closer to the Heart is more funny than anything else with the various training plans, the kirball games, Jorthun's undercover training, Tuck's inventions and how they're put to use, and the worrying over the wedding. The new ideas Mags and Amily have are bearing fruit and provides Lackey with an easy way to insert a new central character, Lady Dia's husband. He will prove to be most useful.

The greater, overt conflict for Closer to the Heart is the underhanded weapons selling. The overt minor conflict is Mags and Amily's wedding, but while Lackey plays it up about the couple anxious to get married, she doesn't get around to explaining why they're so anxious. Another moral conflict within the story is excess, that of too much food when people are going hungry and that of mine owners abusing their employees to death.

The best of Closer to the Heart is all the learning and new experiences for everyone. I adore what Tuck has accomplished with his "shed" and the bits an' bobs he makes. Sigh, I do like my gadgets, lol. And I love the ease with which Jorthun makes plans to keep Tuck safe. Coot will learn more about fitting in. Mags' plans for the street kids with Aunt Mindy are bearing fruit, and he's added a new protégé in Tuck with his minder, Linden. Nor is Amily sitting still. Between incorporating all those years of observing people with her political acumen — I enjoyed how she puts young Dalten down! — she's creating a Queen's Handmaidens, a training school for women without means, teaching them how to be lady's maids. Another set of spies!

Both Mags and Amily also get a new perspective on what they thought they knew so well. Mags discovers that not all gem mine owners are alike while learning something about the mine owner's side of the business. He also sees what it's like being a kirball rider who can't use his influence. Amily's lessons in roof-running with Renn causes her to see the children in a whole new light. Nor is her respect for the children her only revelation as her Gift enables her to hear what Tuck is thinking, and Amily must do another about-face when she discovers how smart he is.

"'Oh!' said Coot, … 'Then it's 'xactly like pickin' pockets!'"

Even though the public wedding will be a political ploy to send a variety of statements to the public and neighboring countries, the wedding vows were beautiful:

"Now you will feel no rain, for each of you will be shelter for the other.
Now you will feel no cold, for each of you will be warmth to the other.
Now there will be no loneliness, for each of you will be companion to the other.
Now you are two persons, but there is only one life before you."

There is more and well worth the read.

On the negative side, it seems even the heavenly Haven has its issues, especially with women's rights. And the rumors of war cause Rolan and others to come up with too many very unpalatable ways of hobbling Valdemar.

The Story
It'll be a combined effort from a kirball player in hiding, Nikolas' mentor in spycraft, and Amily and Dia's newest student in the Queen's Handmaidens "School of Spycraft" as they go undercover in Valdemar to discover who is supplying the rebels.

The Characters
Mags, a.k.a., Master Harkon (the nephew of "Willy, the Weasel), is a Herald of Valdemar and living with Amily, the new King's Own Herald. Amily also has a most peculiar Gift of being able to see through the eyes and ears of animals. Dallen is Mags' Companion while Rolan appears to be the head of the Companions and always Chooses the King's Own. Her father, Nikolas, had been the King's Own until he died in Closer to Home , 1. A new Companion, Evory, chose Nikolas, and he is now only the king's spymaster. Nikolas is also Willy the Weasel who runs a pawn shop in a disreputable part of Haven. The House of the Sleepgivers is Mags' family, a once-great clan, and Mags' cousin Bey has become its leader with his assassin wife.

Lady Dia is a very busy lady. She breeds a variety of dogs from sweet muff dogs to poison-sniffing ones to protection dogs. Miana is Dia's trusted lady's maid. Dia is married to Lord Steveral Jorthun whose primary residence is a huge manor house in Haven. He's also the silent owner of three of the most honest brothels: Flora's, the Lunar Lady, and the Doll Market. Liam is one of the house servants. Harras is Jorthun's very knowledgeable coachman. Walther and Petras will be sent to Attlebury along with Larek, one of the grooms in the King's stable.

The beautiful Keira Tremainet is an orphan maiden who was used and abused by family. She'll be the first volunteer for the Queen's Handmaidens to escape her family in House Holberk: Cousins Jerrold, Nathan Delmat, and Jerrold's daughter, Tiayada. Lady Emaline Keteline is a nasty woman with a weak and nasty son, Brendan.

Kyril is the king of Valdemar. Crown Prince Sedric is his son and heir and married to Lydia who holds personal open Court sessions. Lydia's uncle is Soren, a merchant. Ebon Aleric, the Lord Martial, and Lord Barethias, the Treasurer, are part of the king's Inner Council. Lord Dalten is one of the young idiots, and one who had been very rude to Amily before she was King's Own. Amily does get a bit nasty when she mentions Rosemiel to him!

Herald Tarlin has the Gift of Farsight and is on the Karse border. Herald Jacinth has relatives on the border in Menmellith. Herald Asher sent the news on about the "rescue" party. Herald Yvan is the Seneschal's Herald. Herald Gerd is the Lord Martial's Herald.

Aunty Minda is the retired cleaning lady whom Mags has set up as house mother for his collection of orphans who include Berk, Ray, Sally, Starling, Kip, Jo, Renn proves to be quite the instructor, Provo, and Coot who will go along on the undercover mission.

Bailiff Creed is in the courtroom with Judge Byron when the bullying Cobber Pellen testifies about the attack on him by the simple and huge Tuck. Linden Pardorry is Tuck's friend who looks out for him. Judge Madows will take over. Ethan Dalliger is the new Hardorn spy with a chandlery in Haven.

Attlebury is…
…a country market town in the middle of a lot of gem mines. Darvy, Klem, Jon, Bet, and Jone are some of the inn servants. Tiercel Rolmer is one of the young sons who come a'courting. His father, Mendeth, owns several gem mines. The village where the Rolmers' workers live is called Rolmer's Roost. The Rolmer workers include Pol, Cook, and Maree in the kitchen.

The local kirball teams are split into Hara and Laon and the players include Meredeth Hara, Malcon Laon, Landen Wallis is the one who broke his wrist, Medoes Kiren is a team captain, Retner, Tem Hara, and Reg Killian. The ponies the young sons send Mags include Jess, Jumper, and Dust. Another Jess is the stablemaster at the inn.

Cole Pieters owned the gem mine where he used and abused young children he forced to work for him ( Foundation , 1).

General Thallan has some interesting needs. Healer Cuburn is the exiled Healer who gave Bear such a hard time.

Menmellith is…
…a kingdom on Valdemar's southern border with a child king, Klerence. Lord Aurebic Lemanthiel is the Ambassador to Valdemar who fled. Astanifandal is the king's cousin with a grudge.

Rethewell is…
…another of Valdemar's allies. Kleventhalaril is the ambassador's secretary. Maranthenius is the ambassador who is leaning toward Valdemar.

The Heralds are the ultimate law enforcement in Valdemar. They are Chosen by a Companion, a supernatural horse-like being with a conscience, in a life-long bond. The King's Own is the king's confidante and sounding board. Brother Elban is also a Healer and tends the Shrine of Alia of the Birds. Father Gellet is a High Priest now and another friend of Mags and Amily.

The Cover and Title
The cover is gorgeous with its blue teal background of a Companion's head and vibrant purple halter. The inset image is almost contained within the border of a shaped shield, rivets at stress points, and Mags and Amily in their fighting wedding dress. Clever and quite beautiful, lol. The author's name is in an embossed gold while the title is much smaller and in a lighter shade of teal.

The title can be interpreted two ways. The more personal is how much Closer to the Heart are Mags and Amily; the more conflicting is General Thallan, for his plans are also close to his heart.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

*****3.5*****
I love these books because I love the world, and I love Mags and Amily, but this one just wasn't as strong for me. It has a good story and great potential, but the ending (not the Epilogue) took away from the book for me because it's just disappointing. However, I still enjoyed reading it, and I wondered if Lackey had written any more Mags books, and I was excited to see there is another whole series featuring him and Amily, so that's good news.
One thing I especially enjoyed in this book is finding out more about the spying world and all of Mags' and Amily's secret weapons. That was really cool and fun to read about. I love seeing, especially, Amily's development now that she's King's Own. She's pretty tough!
Overall, I did enjoy this book and am looking forward to Book Three!

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep coming back to Lackey for - well - "mac n' cheese." Not very good for you, and hardly gourmet, but quick, comforting, uncomplicated, and tasty.
This was no exception. A fast, comfortable read. Better pacing than others in the "Mags" series. Sweet, good-hearted characters, a little healthy danger - all the ingredients of a good Lackey novel.
I Do grow a little weary of her little jabs at anyone who has the audacity to believe that They are right even when it might mean that someone else is wrong. I get the impression that as far as she's concerned all evil in the world springs from such folks. As a Christian, I cannot help but feel squarely targeted by such snips, and I get a little resentful. Not so resentful I feel compelled to defend the difference between a Truth believing Christian and a raving lunatic cultist here on a random book review, but resentful none the less. :}

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit slow to start, but was still an improvement from the last volume in the series. Once again, there is a very slow build-up to the action of the story - Mags & Amily wander the city, making new friends and plotting as they set up their new spy network. It's only about half way through that the real plot is introduced, and even then most of the chapters afterwards are all information gathering, planning - and 'kirball*', as it once again makes an appearance in Mags' life. Granted Lackey does justify it's inclusion into the story, but not being a sports fan, I can't say it was particularly interesting. (Trying to pull in the quidditch fans, perhaps?)
That being said, while an improvement, I still found the mystery rather lackluster. Finally Mags & Amily start getting clues, and a place to start their search - and Lackey must have realized that there simply wasn't enough book left to do an actual investigation. So, a sudden twist - and instead of drawing readers into the story, dangling clues and hints, it's all dropped in your lap as the last few chapters wrap up the story. And all the while, we're still left with questions as to the villains' true identity (hopefully to be cleared up in the next book).

*I have no idea what Kirball is supposed to be in the real world. An older game, no longer practiced? Something similar to polo? I'm not a sports fan, so a lot of it went 'in one ear and out the other', so to speak, as I read and waited for something that was relevant to the plot to come up.

[J.L. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had the awkward job of pushing along a trilogy plot that I don't quite understand and a relationship that is already solid. I keep reading Valdemar books because this world has such a special place in my heart, but at this point the drama and intrigue is no longer there for me in this particular section of the world with these particular characters.

I do genuinely still care about them, and this is reflected by the fact that my favorite moment in the book was Mags and Amily's wedding. But that's probably because I'm a sucker for weddings. Before anyone screams "spoilers!" at me, if you're reading the series, you already knew that this was a forgone conclusion four or five books ago. Every other moment of this novel faded into the endless descriptions of spying in Haven and court drama that has persisted for seven books by now. At this point, I am certainly reading for Amily's journey to become King's Own rather than for anything on Mags' part.

I think that the biggest problem with this particular section of the Valdemar series is that Lackey has been swept up in her own propaganda that Heralds are perfect. All of the conflict in this trilogy is completely external, and Mags and Amily find the perfect solution at the perfect moment every time. Right now, reading these books is like wrapping myself in a cozy blanket and having some tea on a rainy afternoon. Excellent comfort fare, but getting boring and predictable. Which is a shame, because I know that there is so much possibility elsewhere in the world of Valdemar (even for Heralds), and I know how good of an author Lackey can be.

[Roger - president of NBR United - · Rating 5 out of 5]

My goodness I still think that Mercedes Lackey can do no wrong in Valdemar. I just love all her story that are set in this universe. this is no different. each story is new and fresh and each series is interesting.

[Kathryn Ford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable as always. :)

[Silvara Wilde · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Kristy Halseth · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story was a good story but these books are starting to suffer from the same problem. The main characters are all too good and smart. The problems are all caused by external forces. The characters themselves always come up with just the right ideas and inventions just before they need them. No one is making mistakes or bad choices that result in problems. Everything is just too pat and easy. Even when people are in trouble, they have just the tools they need, when they need them, because they got this great idea just in time to have it ready. Same with plans relating to actions rather than tools. No one has to think on their feet because they had the brilliant ideas before hand.

[Denise]

Not as good as the first in this trilogy

It was mostly a good story, but left with many holes, particularly at the end when Amily is so concerned about the guard. Did he live or not?

[Erin Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

On its own merits, it is fair to middling. But I'm plumb tired of Mags.

[Lark of The Bookwyrm's Hoard · Rating 3 out of 5]

NOTE: I reviewed the hardcover edition here on Goodreads (as well as on my blog, The Bookwyrm's Hoard.)

[Olga Godim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wrote the same review for all three novels of this series. I actually liked these books. The writing is lousy, explaining why I didn’t read this writer for so long, but the stories are interesting. They kept me reading till the end.

What I didn’t like:
Too much moralizing and explaining, as if all the readers are fools and need all the pontifications they can get from the writer. If Ms. Lackey cut off all her preaching and explanations, the books would’ve been much shorter and much better.
Also I didn’t like the phonetic speech. The hero, Mags, speaks with an atrocious accent, and the author feels it is necessary to spell out each of his word as spoken, with lots of apostrophes between the letters. As a result, half the text is written in such a mangled English, it made me want to hit something.

What I did like:
Closer to Home
There are two interwoven stories in this novel. One is about two young Heralds, Mags and Amily, loving each other and doing their jobs. It’s OK, sweet but banal. Another, a much more interesting story is a rendition of Romeo and Juliet, which is a rather more realistic version than the Shakespearean one. While the silly girl Violetta is almost a facsimile of Juliet, her lover is anything but Romeo. No lovelorn beau or romantic ideal, this guy Brand. He is a villainous antagonist the story revolves around. He makes this novel fascinating, provides all the conflict and all the spice, deceives everyone, and changes everything around him. A revolting fellow, really, and a sociopath, but he makes the nice characters even nicer in comparison.

Closer to the Heart
Someone is trying to start a war between Valdemar and one of its neighboring kingdoms. Amily and Mags are trying to find this agent of chaos and stop him before it is too late.

Closer to the Chest
Someone is sending nasty letters to the ladies of the court and to female Heralds and Trainees. Several shops owned by women in the city and a couple of religious women orders are vandalized. Although nobody is being killed or hurt physically, yet, women are terrified. The culprit (or culprits) obviously hates all females, but he is clever and resourceful. Nobody knows who he is. Amily and Mags are trying to find out.

All three books are structurally cozy mysteries. The heroes, Mags and Amily, are a pair of Heralds of Valdemar. They are married and in love, but they also are doing their jobs, keeping the kingdom of Valdemar safe. When a problem arises, they investigate, find the bad guy, and stop him. Searching for clues is a slow business, so all three books move slowly. All three books share the same flaws (see above), but the stories seem interesting, the bad guys clever and intriguing, different from book to book, and my wish to discover the culprits kept me following the heroes to the last page.

[Marina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give this book 4.5 stars. I love this world of Misty's and was real glad to come back to it. The read was quick and entertaining. It was very interesting to read the history of the Heralds spy network and learn how the Queens Handmaidens came to be. Can't wait to read the next book. =0)
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Spoiler:
Note to Self: Valdemar
Herald Mags(King's Spy,ex-mine orphan/child slave, Chosen,unusually strong Gift—Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, not just others who were Gifted, Sleepgivers heir, cousin) & Companion Dallen + Amily (new King's Own Herald,daughter, animal Mindspeech) & Companion Rolan

Nikolas (ex-King's Own Herald, Amily's dad,Spy, former Chosen of Rolan,Mag's mentor,gift Mindspeech) & Companion Evory

Kyril (King of Valdemar)
Crown Prince Sedric (his son) +Princess Lydia (niece)
Master Soren (Lydia's uncle,merchant)

Aunty Minda (retired cleaning lady, Mag's house mother for orphans).
Berk (orphan,hall boy)
Ray (orphan,hall boy)
Sally (orphan, lady's maid)
Starling (orphan,hall boy)
Kip (orphan,hall boy)
Jo (orphan,hall boy)
Renn (orphan,roof runner & Amily's instructor)
Provo (orphan)
Coot (orphan,ex-thief,Mag's star pupal)

Lady Dia (dog breeder and trainer, Amily's pal)+Lord Steveral Jorthun (silent owner of three of the most honest brothels,Nikolas mentor,ex-Royal Spymaster)
Miana (Dia's handmaid)

Keira Tremainet (orphan maiden,first volunteer for the Queen's Handmaidens)

Ebon Aleric (the Lord Martial, part of the king's Inner Council).
Lord Barethias (the Treasurer, part of the king's Inner Council).
Herald Yvan (the Seneschal's Herald).
Herald Gerd (the Lord Martial's Herald).
Herald Tarlin (Gift of Farsight, is on the Karse border).
Herald Jacinth (female,relatives on the border in Menmellith).
Herald Asher (border)
Herald Alissa
Herald Sai (border)
Herald Marga
Herald Fenris
Herald Danil

Tiercel Rolmer (one of the young sons of mine chain owner, Attlebury).
Mendeth Rolmer (father, owns several gem mines, Attlebury).

Attlebury's local kirball teams are split into Hara and Laon and the players include Merdeth Hara, Malcon Laon, Landen Wallis is the one who broke his wrist, Medoes Kiren is a team captain, Retner, Tem Hara, and Reg Killian. The ponies the young sons send Mags include Jess, Jumper, and Dust.

Tuck (simple minded inventor,new pal)
Linden Pardorry (Tuck's friend,trinket seller,new pal)

Lord Aurebic Lemanthiel (Menmellith's Ambassador)[Menmellith is a kingdom on Valdemar's southern border with a child king, Klerence.]
Maranthenius Vorthelian (Rethewell's Ambassador).
Kleventhalaril (Rethewell's ambassador's secretary).

Bailiff Creed(law court)
Judge Bryon (law court)
Judge Madows (law court)
Brother Elban (Healer, tends the Shrine of Alia of the Birds).
Father Gellet (High Priest, friend of Mags and Amily).
Healer Cuburn (exiled Healer, gave Bear a hard time in the past).
Ethan Dalliger (new Hardorn spy with a chandlery in Haven).
Bey (The House of the Sleepgivers clan leader,cousin) + assassin wife

[Harmony Williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am so very disappointed in the ableism of these books. I probably should have expected it, given that Amily was healed from her disability as a "cripple" in the last series. But I had hoped for better. I like that Amily's leg still gives her some pain and tires her out quicker, that she has to concentrate on running and mind her limits. But she wasn't the only disabled person in this book.

If I have to read one more thing about Tuck (who is nonverbal) not being "right in the head" I will burn all my Valdemar books. The fact that Amily, who has a kind of Animal Mind-reading ability can read his thoughts easily because he things not in words but in experiences is just...no. Lackey (kind of?) made an effort to exaggerate how although nonverbal, Tuck is not unintelligent, but that doesn't make it better. He isn't a character worthy of more respect because he is "intelligent". I didn't like the way for most of the book (until Amily discovers she can express things in such a way as he will understand) that Tuck was talked over and about and around instead of being talked to. He never seemed in control of what he was doing despite being a brilliant inventor. And, although it is made very clear with every other person that reading their thoughts without permission is morally wrong, with Tuck it was treated as a thing to be celebrated rather than a violation.

But, I mean, at least this one wasn't a Shakespeare retelling?

I was going to finish out the series, but after this I think I might be done with it and with Valdemar for good.

[Amena · Rating 5 out of 5]

another excellent book!

The best part of this series is all these crises are happening and it feels so natural to experience them alongside the characters! Also loved the sort of pleasant turn showed about the gem mines — and the various ways Amily and Mags establish their lives and their callings.

[Ted Bade · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun tale in this series.

[Noah · Rating 3 out of 5]

No please... No more Kirball. I thought I escaped that god forsaken sport in the Collegium Chronicles.

The book was o.k. Lackey built up more of the world surrounding Valdermar. Getting sick of the accent dialogue. I don't know whats going on half the time.

As usually, Lackey takes about 200 pages to get interesting and wraps up the whole story in the last 20. I suspect this is something I need to get used to.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While still an enjoyable read, Closer to the Heart felt like a backwards step for the series. This is the second book in the "Herald Spy" series, but the seventh to feature main character Mags and his Companion Dallen, who has at this point been the protagonist of far more Valdemar books than any other character. Unfortunately, he just keeps getting less interesting.

With his enigmatic backstory now completely resolved and his love life secure, Lackey doesn't quite seem to know what to do to continue to develop the character. So, in this book, we revisit a lot of earlier themes, the gem-mining background, the Kirball hero (to be fair, the Kirball sequences had some of the most passion and life out of all the book), the spy-training. The problem is that none of it breaks any new ground. Mags doesn't seem to grow as a character; we are simply reminded of how much complexity he used to have. He's still not a bad or unlikable character by any means, he just seems to be stagnating.

Stagnation is an overall problem for the book and for the Herald Spy series. In the Collegium Chronicles, the previous series, every book pushed forward a greater narrative. In every book, not only were the current book's problems resolved, but we got new developments on the characters and more clues to overarching mysteries and plots. In Closer to the Heart, as in Closer to Home, the book seems to be spinning its wheels, trying to come up with enough for the characters to do to pad out the length. Lackey's tendency to overexplain everything is out in full-force, and far too many pages are made up of exposition of random background details that ultimately go nowhere. For example: Was the "Queen's Handmaidens" thing supposed to go someplace? They only recruit Keira, who is useful, but does approximately none of the things the Queen's Handmaidens was set up for. Keira also has a huge amount of page-time, but only a small plot impact, and the narrative suggests she might end up marrying her gem-miner mark after all, which would remove her from ever being a "Queen's Handmaiden."

Both the characters and the narrative felt entirely too pleased with their own cleverness, and there is very little tension in any of the book. While plot problems are presented, the stakes feel very distant and unlikely to come to pass. In an effort to present Mags and Amily as cool, competent, professionals, it instead feels like the problems must not be very serious because no one reacts emotionally to them. Case in point: Mags and Amily's wedding. Within the first twenty pages, Mags and Amily, who have been an established couple for several books, learn their wedding is going to be turned into a political pageant and decide to have a quiet, private wedding ahead of time so they won't be bothered by any of it. They do, and then, they aren't. Literally, for the rest of the book, they don't care at all when the wedding is planned, postponed, re-scheduled, etc. because they got married in the first tenth of the book. So, the reader doesn't care either. Yet, the story acts like we're supposed to care.

Also, also, also, the huge pet peeve that bugged me all throughout the book was Mags' stupid accent. I get it. The character didn't learn to talk good 'cuz he got no edjumacation. But this is the SEVENTH book. He's had YEARS and YEARS of interacting with intelligent, well-spoken people. We know he CAN talk properly--he did it for most of the last book. It's one thing for him to use his dialect as part of a lower-class disguise. But in his head and when interacting as characters as himself, can we please, PLEASE get rid of the annoying dialect?

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Mercedes Lackey fan. I love everything about Valdemar, and I have since the first time I picked up Arrows of the Queen. (Which, by the way, I almost didn't do. Have you seen the cover of that one? So pink and little-girly and twee. My first thought on seeing it was My Little Pony Meets Girl With Unfortunate Haircut and thought there's no way I'd find anything entertaining about it. Ha!)

That said, every now and then, Lackey gets a little bit too...hmm...coincidental for my tastes. By that, I mean that she writes scenes that don't really pass the sniff test, as though she didn't spend a great deal of effort on plausibility, and she expects us readers to accept her characters' actions no matter how unlikely or thin the reasoning. I've seen it in several of her books – especially her later ones; Owlknight got a little ridiculous there for a while – but while I overlook it out of my abiding love of all things Valdemar, the Mags books are rife.

Indeed, it was an issue I remarked on in my review for the last book, Closer to Home, and I'm most glad to report that this one is a distinct improvement! I won't say my credulity was never stretched, but at least this one didn't have me saying “wait...uh, really?” in a skeptical tone of voice far too often for a story by an author who knows better.

Here, Mags and Amily have settled in to their roles as Crown Spy and King's Own, respectively. Things in Valdemar are going well, which is why it surprises exactly no one that a major plot against the crown and Life As We Know It is uncovered. And then? Then it's a race against time.

I'd probably call this one 4.5 stars, even though my official rating is a full 5. Like I said, there were a few strains on my ability to accept Lackey's words as realistic, and as well, there was a plot point or two that didn't seem to bloom the way I thought they would. The climax – or rather, the explanation for the climax – seemed a bit “out of nowhere,” especially since it didn't seem like she was trying to foreshadow or tie future books into this one. (But that's just an impression; I'll be perfectly happy to be proved wrong.)

But even if it's not perfect, it's another dose of the Valdemar I love so very much; the only reason I didn't post this the day after it was released is because I forgot it was coming and wasn't paying attention to my pre-orders.

If you're a Valdemar fan (and you really ought to be, you know) this is a must-read. Of course, you'll want to start with the first book in the Mags arc (Foundation); there's a lot of history in the Collegium Chronicles series that wouldn't be adequately explained to a reader who's missing all the background. But for those who have been keeping up, and maybe especially for those who were a bit disappointed by some of the turns the story took in the last book, I think you'll like this one.

[Ria Bridges · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stories about Mags seem to be Mercedes Lackey’s current passion when it comes to Valdemar, as there are currently two series involving this character in a central role. I don’t think any other character of hers can claim an equal amount of time in the spotlight, and previously, starting a new series in the Valdemar timeline, even if familiar characters were involved, typically switched to a new primary character or characters. I think the only other character who could come close to claiming that would be The Herald Spy series in general offers a bit of a break from that tradition.

Which is fine enough, since Mags finds himself tangled up in numerous kingdom-changing issues. But for my part, I find Mags one of the least interesting Heralds to read about. Much of what he does seems small in comparison to things done by other characters in other novels. Vanyel was the most powerful and last Herald-Mage for a long time in Valdemar. Elspeth was central in bringing magic back to Valdemar. Even Karal, who mostly got caught up in events bigger than himself, was instrumental in saving the world from the backlash of a historical magical apocalypse. Mags? I think so far his biggest claim to fame is all in the title of the series: he’s a spy. He works in secret to uncover events and does his job in stopping enemies to the Crown.

Maybe this is what Lackey meant all those years ago when she said she’d someday write stories about a more typical Herald, one less involved with giant world-changing things.

Closer to the Heart is told from both Mags’s and Amily’s viewpoints. Amily, being King’s Own, is heavily involved with court intrigue, whereas Mags does his part to don disguises and ferret out wrongdoing in other parts of Haven. When word reaches them that a rebel force in a neighbouring kingdom is acquiring and stockpiling Valdemaran weapons somehow, it’s up to them to uncover the truth behind the plot. And that involves confronting some painful memories for Mags, as the mystery takes him back to the heart of mining country, where he was once enslaved.

That’s the meat of the plot. There are definitely side plots, as are typical in Valdemar stories, and mostly they consist of the little ways that Amily and Mags seek to make initiatives that can improve lives for people. Mags has his group of messengers that report anything odd to him, and makes connections with a neuroatypical man who has the uncanny ability to make anything. Amily gets involved in a program to train overlooked and underappreciated women as handmaidens, so that they’re offered opportunity for advancement and are also well-placed to be eyes-and-ears for additional wrongdoings amongst the nobility. Little steps toward social improvement, which are great, though I can only assume that at least whatever Amily set up with her handmaiden project doesn’t pan out in the long-run, because this is something that’s never mentioned in any form during books that take place further along on the Valdemar timeline.

All of this sounds like an interesting story with plenty of social commentary and the notion of small ideas that, with proper support, can change lives for the better. And on its own, this would be a pretty good book. Nothing amazing, but still enjoyable, the kind of book that makes for good comfort reading.

But this is the second book in the series that feels like a one-shot rather than a piece of something larger. In the first book, Amily and Mags foil a Romeo-and-Juliet-esque plot that could have resulted in noble families warring or else being utterly destroyed. In this book, they foil a plot that might have seen Valdemar and Menmellith go to war over someone’s dislike of a political situation. And that’s it. Unlike the first series starring Mags, where each book generally told a contained story and yet contained hints of a larger overarching story to come, the Herald Spy series has so far just been a couple of self-contained stories with no connection to each other beyond characters and linear sequence. There’s nothing to tie them together. There’s no hint that Amily and Mags are part of anything larger than any other Herald, which begs the question of why are we reading about them? Yes, Heralds do wonderful things and, for many readers, have an element of wish fulfillment (I’m sure most Valdemar fans have contemplated being Heralds at some point), but there’s nothing here that’s made me go, “Ah, yes, this is why we’re reading about these two instead of, say, Jakyr or Lena or even Dia.” Who are all doing their own important things too.

I’ll be honest; while I enjoyed this book as I was reading it, and felt the usual comfort I get from diving back into Valdemar, a mere two weeks after finishing it, I couldn’t remember what happened. I had no touchpoint. I couldn’t think of what happened in Closer to Home and remind myself that the story established there continued on. And that’s its biggest downfall. Closer to the Heart is adrift, with no plot connections to tie it to anything else that’s happened previously. It doesn’t feel like part of an actual series. On its own, taken as a one-shot that happens after the Collegium Chronicles, it would be a pretty good and enjoyable story, because you don’t expect it to tie into anything else. But in context, knowing that it’s part of a series, it comes across poorly, with no central plot arc to bring it all together, and I’m left mostly with the impression that Mags’s story would probably have been best ended after the final book in the Collegium Chronicles.

I hate to have such a mixed opinion of a Valdemar novel. They’ve brought me so much comfort and enjoyment through my life, and even now I’ll still reread trilogies I’ve already read a dozen times over, because I enjoy them that much. I like many of the themes the books address, like social justice, optimism, the ideal that those who have authority over us are held to higher standards. Those things will always appeal to me, even in my darkest times, because they give me hope that great things can arise from the darkness and then thrive. But I’m starting to feel burned out on Valdemar, because the past few books have offered me very little in that regard. The elements are still there, but it feels more superficial, like there isn’t really a story that needs to be told anymore. I’m not going to say it’s just a cash-grab, because maybe the sequel to this book will surprise me by being a masterful showpiece of how disparate story elements can come together if you’re patient, but even so, a multi-book slow burn is a lot to ask of readers, and the books about Mags have held none of the excitement I came to expect from the Valdemar novels over the years. Not since Foundation, anyway.

You can argue that this series is all about personal growth, but really, other characters in other series manage personal growth just fine, and they do so while being part of a larger story. Also, you don’t see much personal growth from them. You see social development and the implementation of ideas more than you see any development in either Mags or Amily’s characters.

In the end, I’m of the opinion that Closer to the Heart is okay, but don’t expect much from it. It’s got a message of hope to it, and it’s interesting to see Mags confront the idea that a mining community can be anything but what he experienced of it, but it’s a story best appreciated for its surface elements and not for what you may hope lies underneath. And also best taken out of context and respected for being the one-shot it really is, rather than part of a series.

[Misi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Writing isn't easy.

I've been a fan of Mercedes Lackey since I first read her in the late '80s. I enjoy the Heralds of Valdemar series, so I'm glad she's chosen to go back into the part of the timeline after an apparent finale.
Those who enjoy details of a much earlier, way less technological society with their fantasy fiction will like this story. Mags and Amily are so far two of the more solidly written characters.

But really? The same plot device? Again?!

I'm rooting for the finish of these books to reveal more and differently about the world the Heralds occupy, and deeper reaches of the new characters' minds, or some new part of Valdemaran geography and history. The last time this series really brought something I could relate to was in Lavan's story, the painful unrequited love. Writing something that good, and deep, and relatable came after quite a break in the Valdemar series. Writing isn't easy.
I'm hoping that the next novel in this series follows this decent effort with something spectacular.

[KelceyTheLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are back on track and it feels so good! If you have not just read these books, start by referring to my review of Closer to Home. The first book in Mags' new series left me shaky and unsure as Mags was edged out of page time by other lesser characters, but in book 2, page time was shared fairly equally between Mags and Amily which is all good in my opinion! Coot returns as a minor character in a perfect role and Violetta was barely mentioned (thank goodness!) We are back to the things that Amily and Mags do best along with even more Kirball slipped in, lots of fun little quips, political intrigue, a wedding that eventually gets underway, and more Companion appearances! There are some subplots that I am not sure what to make of. Are they test runs for main plot points further down the line? We will see! I am back in the realm of Lackey that I love! The year I will have to wait for the next one can't pass fast enough!

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was fine. I think I've found the ticket to not being annoyed with more recent Lackey books and that is to just treat them like fanfiction. I have read better fanfiction than these books, but if I think of it as a fic that is just making a little place in a larger world, I have more patience with them and the weird pacing and minuscule plot.

[Susan Pola Staples · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercedes Lackey's Heralds of Valdemar series is one of my favourites. Telepathic spirit-white horses and beautiful, simply gorgeous Jody Lee covers cannot be beat in a fantasy series.

This is the second in the Herald Spy trilogy/quadrilogy/5 part installment of that universe.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this one, Mags and Amily get married, before and after a separation caused by the need to investigate an odd conspiracy involving arms shipments to a rebellion in a neighboring country. Shipments that threaten to draw Valdemar into an unwanted war. An interesting and entertaining read.

[eyes.2c · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still enjoying Merecedes Lackey. Amily and Mags continue to develop and new characters are being introduced.