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ubalstecha's review against another edition
3.0
Nice bit of toothache leaving for Lackey. It's nice to revisit this world again.
bookwyrm_lark's review against another edition
4.0
Lackey’s latest Valdemar novel is better than the last, if not quite a return to her top form.
Instead of a pair of feuding highborn families, the problem facing Mags and Amily is more serious this time around. A rebel force in Menmellith is apparently being supplied with Valdemaran arms, and Menmellith’s regent is on the verge of declaring war. But neither King Kyril nor the Council–nor indeed the Treasury–are aware of any arms shipments. So where are the arms and the funds to pay for them coming from?
Mags goes undercover, traveling back to his old “home”–Valdemar’s mining region–to search for answers, while Amily pursues both information and diplomacy at Court. Two side stories are somewhat integrated into the main plot; one deals with an autistic man with a genius for making and improving things, and the other with a school for handmaidens (lady’s companions) which doubles as a spy school to provide Amily with her own set of “irregulars.” Mags’s irregulars play a role as well, particularly young Coot.
The story is well told, the side characters interesting–particularly the young autistic man. I am not an expert on nonverbal autism, but from my untutored perspective, Lackey’s portrayal is caring and respectful. I enjoyed getting to know Lady Dia and her much older husband better; there’s more to both of them than meets the eye. Other highlights include Mags’s visit to a mineowner’s holdings, where he’s pleasantly surprised with what he finds. (Readers familiar with utopian socialism and 19th-century villages like New Lanark and Cadbury’s Bournville will recognize the inspiration.) Those chapters offered a happy and inspiring contrast to the horrors of Mags’s childhood (Foundation.) Kirball also makes an appearance, having made its way into the countryside. All these and more serve to flesh out the story and lend immediacy; the central danger, while real, seems rather nebulous and far-off through most of the book.
I’m still waiting to see if Lackey plans to introduce an overall arc to the series. I didn’t see one, but I can imagine ways in which a story arc could be built on what happens in this book.
The only other complaint I have, and it’s a minor one, is that neither Mags nor Amily experiences much personal growth. There is some: Amily gains experience and confidence as King’s Own, while Mags is growing into his role as agent and spymaster. Their relationship is strong (thank you, Ms. Lackey, for not manufacturing any romantic problems just for the sake of dramatic tension!) All that is fine, but it means that the book lacks the impact and intensity of Lackey’s best works. In other words, the book is capably written and certainly enjoyable; it’s no Magic’s Pawn or Exile’s Honor, but Closer to the Heart came closer to my heart than several of its predecessors. . . and for that, I’m grateful.
Review originally published on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
Instead of a pair of feuding highborn families, the problem facing Mags and Amily is more serious this time around. A rebel force in Menmellith is apparently being supplied with Valdemaran arms, and Menmellith’s regent is on the verge of declaring war. But neither King Kyril nor the Council–nor indeed the Treasury–are aware of any arms shipments. So where are the arms and the funds to pay for them coming from?
Mags goes undercover, traveling back to his old “home”–Valdemar’s mining region–to search for answers, while Amily pursues both information and diplomacy at Court. Two side stories are somewhat integrated into the main plot; one deals with an autistic man with a genius for making and improving things, and the other with a school for handmaidens (lady’s companions) which doubles as a spy school to provide Amily with her own set of “irregulars.” Mags’s irregulars play a role as well, particularly young Coot.
The story is well told, the side characters interesting–particularly the young autistic man. I am not an expert on nonverbal autism, but from my untutored perspective, Lackey’s portrayal is caring and respectful. I enjoyed getting to know Lady Dia and her much older husband better; there’s more to both of them than meets the eye. Other highlights include Mags’s visit to a mineowner’s holdings, where he’s pleasantly surprised with what he finds. (Readers familiar with utopian socialism and 19th-century villages like New Lanark and Cadbury’s Bournville will recognize the inspiration.) Those chapters offered a happy and inspiring contrast to the horrors of Mags’s childhood (Foundation.) Kirball also makes an appearance, having made its way into the countryside. All these and more serve to flesh out the story and lend immediacy; the central danger, while real, seems rather nebulous and far-off through most of the book.
I’m still waiting to see if Lackey plans to introduce an overall arc to the series. I didn’t see one, but I can imagine ways in which a story arc could be built on what happens in this book.
The only other complaint I have, and it’s a minor one, is that neither Mags nor Amily experiences much personal growth. There is some: Amily gains experience and confidence as King’s Own, while Mags is growing into his role as agent and spymaster. Their relationship is strong (thank you, Ms. Lackey, for not manufacturing any romantic problems just for the sake of dramatic tension!) All that is fine, but it means that the book lacks the impact and intensity of Lackey’s best works. In other words, the book is capably written and certainly enjoyable; it’s no Magic’s Pawn or Exile’s Honor, but Closer to the Heart came closer to my heart than several of its predecessors. . . and for that, I’m grateful.
Review originally published on The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
jrho's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
mleckie's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
jferrell526's review
4.0
Someone is stirring up trouble across the border. Amily and Mags delay their wedding to help figure it out.
krisis86's review
3.0
I liked this one, but I didn't enjoy it as much as Closer to Home. Kirball happened again, which was boring. I still miss Bear and Lena. I thought the ending was rather anticlimactic compared to all the buildup it got. So not my favorite Valdemar book, but not the worst one either.
saemiligr's review
4.0
This is actually a re read but I'm glad I did. While this isn't my favorite series, I still enjoy it a lot. I always do with Mercedes Lackey.