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libervorereads 's review for:
Closer to the Chest
by Mercedes Lackey
***I received this book for free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review, which was first posted on book blog Will Read for Feels.
***Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Any release of an all-new book set in Valdemar is cause for celebration in my book, and Closer to the Chest, book 3 in the Herald Spy series, is no exception. Valdemar is Mercedes Lackey’s fantasy kingdom where spirit-horses called Companions pair up with humans, called Heralds, and together not only ensure the safety and supremacy of the government and their overarching law (“There is no one true way”) but preserve the integrity of the nation.
In this book, newlywed Heralds Mags and Amily find themselves facing an altogether different sort of intrigue. Rather than the game of preemption and prevention they’re used to–especially given that both Mags and Amily’s father are spies–they must investigate a set of crimes and attempt to stop the perpetrator (or perpetrators) before they can escalate from mayhem to murder.
I relished the challenges put to the characters in this volume of the Herald Spy series because Mags and Amily found they had to employ a new way of thinking, focus on playing detective rather than spy, even as they worked to adjust to their newly married state.
This second aspect of the challenge they faced was a bit subtle but I liked how, because they were married now, their relationship problems stemmed from trying to find ways to make each other happy or at least avoid making each other unhappy rather than from working to stay together despite everything that might keep them apart. They ARE together, as is plain to see, and that brings an entirely new set of challenges in the love department. Of course, our heroes hurdle them beautifully.
As far as the big mystery goes, I think I would’ve liked a teensy bit more intrigue, but that’s just because I enjoy it when a book keeps me guessing. Apart from this point, though, I don’t have much to complain about.
In fact, one thing I really enjoyed was how relevant the story was to this day and age, so if I had a child in elementary or middle school I would put this book into their hands immediately, just because the way the book tackles the issues of women’s rights, bullying, and victim-shaming are something that could stir open and critical thinking in people who are still forming their ideas about the world and their place in it.
Closer to the Chest was another win for Mercedes Lackey, reinforcing my fandom and leaving me wishing I didn’t have to wait another several months for the next installation in this series.
***Actual rating: 4.5 stars
Any release of an all-new book set in Valdemar is cause for celebration in my book, and Closer to the Chest, book 3 in the Herald Spy series, is no exception. Valdemar is Mercedes Lackey’s fantasy kingdom where spirit-horses called Companions pair up with humans, called Heralds, and together not only ensure the safety and supremacy of the government and their overarching law (“There is no one true way”) but preserve the integrity of the nation.
In this book, newlywed Heralds Mags and Amily find themselves facing an altogether different sort of intrigue. Rather than the game of preemption and prevention they’re used to–especially given that both Mags and Amily’s father are spies–they must investigate a set of crimes and attempt to stop the perpetrator (or perpetrators) before they can escalate from mayhem to murder.
I relished the challenges put to the characters in this volume of the Herald Spy series because Mags and Amily found they had to employ a new way of thinking, focus on playing detective rather than spy, even as they worked to adjust to their newly married state.
This second aspect of the challenge they faced was a bit subtle but I liked how, because they were married now, their relationship problems stemmed from trying to find ways to make each other happy or at least avoid making each other unhappy rather than from working to stay together despite everything that might keep them apart. They ARE together, as is plain to see, and that brings an entirely new set of challenges in the love department. Of course, our heroes hurdle them beautifully.
As far as the big mystery goes, I think I would’ve liked a teensy bit more intrigue, but that’s just because I enjoy it when a book keeps me guessing. Apart from this point, though, I don’t have much to complain about.
In fact, one thing I really enjoyed was how relevant the story was to this day and age, so if I had a child in elementary or middle school I would put this book into their hands immediately, just because the way the book tackles the issues of women’s rights, bullying, and victim-shaming are something that could stir open and critical thinking in people who are still forming their ideas about the world and their place in it.
Closer to the Chest was another win for Mercedes Lackey, reinforcing my fandom and leaving me wishing I didn’t have to wait another several months for the next installation in this series.