Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey

Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey  361 pages

Mags was once an enslaved orphan living a harsh life in the mines, until the King's Own Herald discovered his talent and trained him as a spy. Now a Herald in his own right, at the newly established Heralds' Collegium, Mags has found a supportive family, including his Companion Dallen.

Although normally a Herald in his first year of Whites would be sent off on circuit, Mags is needed close to home for his abilities as a spy and his powerful Mindspeech gift. There is a secret, treacherous plot within the royal court to destroy the Heralds. The situation becomes dire after the life of Mags' mentor, King's Own Nikolas, is imperiled. His daughter Amily is chosen as the new King's Own, a complicated and dangerous job that is made more so by this perilous time. Can Mags and Amily save the court, the Heralds, and the Collegium itself?

Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey

Closer to Home by Mercedes Lackey - 361 pages
The Herald Spy, Book 1

Mags and Amily have returned to the palace after their year away.  Mags is no longer being chased by his "relations" as they all believe him dead.  They hope that this will bring a lull to the excitement that has been all pervasive in their lives for years.  Unfortunately, soon after returning there is a terrible accident and Amily is Chosen as the New King's Own Herald.  Now Mags and Amily must work together to stop a feud between two highborn families from erupting and sending the entire kingdom into chaos.

This is the first book in the new Herald Spy series featuring Mags and Amily.  I really like their characters and enjoyed reading further adventures.  I thought the twist of having Amily become a Herald was well done.  However, I thought the feud plot was a little weak.  The characters were very slow to determine the true villains.  It also never really seemed to me to be quite as a big a problem as they were trying to make it seem in the book.