Closer to the Heart
core novel 2015 Valdemar
Record
| First published | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Original language |  EN |
| Work type | novel |
| Canon status | core |
| Reader rating | 4.16 (4,583 ratings, collected 2026-09-12) |
| Page count | 330 |
| First-edition ISBN | 978-0-7564-0900-5 |
| First-edition date | 2015-10 |
Synopsis
Closer to the Heart is the second book of the Herald Spy series, continuing Mags and Amily's investigative work protecting Valdemar's throne. The novel opens with the couple secretly marrying ahead of their planned state wedding, giving them a private moment of stability before returning to their duties. Their work is interrupted by an ambassador from Menmellith, who brings troubling news that someone has been supplying weapons to a rebellion in his country, and that the trail leads back into Valdemar itself. Convinced that someone within Valdemar's own Guard may be involved in the scheme, Mags and his network pursue leads that involve smuggled gemstones, while Amily uses her intelligence contacts and diplomatic skill to try to keep the discovery from tipping into open war between the two kingdoms.
Where it sits
- Universe: Valdemar
- Series: The Herald Spy core; position 2 of 3 in the series' recorded order
- Author: Mercedes Lackey
Neighbouring works
Publication order and internal chronology are tracked as two separate orderings and are never conflated: a book's place in one says nothing about its place in the other.
- Publication order, within the series The Herald Spy: position 2 of 3: previous Closer to Home (2014) · next Closer to the Chest (2016)
Sources
- Mercedes Lackey official site
- Valdemar Wiki (Fandom)
- https://www.isfdb.org
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes_Lackey
- https://valdemar.fandom.com/wiki/Closer_to_the_Heart
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