Preview
  • Closer to the Heart

  • Valdemar: The Herald Spy, Book 2
  • By: Mercedes Lackey
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 10 hrs and 33 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (785 ratings)

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Closer to the Heart

By: Mercedes Lackey
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Publisher's summary

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.

A sequel to Mercedes Lackey's Closer to Home, this adventure continues Mags' journey as Valdemar's herald spy. Cover art by Jody A. Lee.

©2015 Mercedes Lackey (P)2015 Audible, Inc.
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What listeners say about Closer to the Heart

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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Great rendition of a great book

Love the narrator. A great listen of a great continuation of the Valdemar stories. I have listened to this book many times.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Excellent 4/5 stars

A fan of the heralds series. The first 3/4 of the bookcase excellent. The main villian of the book though felt a little weak and rushed through.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hard to put Down

The author has woven many disparate threads, each representing it's own story line - and then merges them all masterly together by the conclusion. I marvel at her imagination.

The narrator is fantastic! I have started other books that I subsequently put down because of the of the narration. He uses inflections of voice and accentuation to deftly portray each character's individuality. I don't think anyone could do a better job.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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great story

loved it! It was a great story and captivating. I highly recommend it to all

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

It's a Valdemar book.

I enjoy a good Valdemar book. Someday I'd love to see a return of the Herald-Mages...

Vanyel is missed.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mags is amazing

Any additional comments?

I always expect big things from Mercedes Lackey, Nick Podehl just brings out the best of her books. He also does a really good with the accents.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

not kirball again ....

I have always thought the collegium series was a bit of a Harry Potter rip off with kirball being their equivalent of quidditch. I was so glad when Mags reached whites and we were done with kirball ..., except not. The Mags stuff is like a bad Harry Potter and Valdemar fan fiction mashup. Reading all the Valdemar books in chronological order and I am not going to be sad to see Mags go

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Mercedes Lackeys Herald series has turned

becoming a bit more realistic problems but retains it's sense of Heraldic Glory, the desire to work to better the whole instead of the individual. the interplay between characters are much more realistic and character growth retains it's symmytry. not so much a story of a girl with a pony but a group dynamic. her writing is still much the same excellence it always had.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another gripping tale

Mags and Amalie are in it again and come out just fine against nasty manipulative men.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A good continuation of the series

If you enjoyed the last book you should fine this one to be satisfactory. This isn't action packed, but rather a continuation of Mag's life and explores his role life as a spy master. Amily has an equal and separate part in this story where she deals with politics at home while Mags will go off undercover on an investigation for the crown. I am happy at the pace this series is going and I would like to see a few more of them.

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11 people found this helpful