YA ARC Review: Spy, Spy Again by Mercedes Lackey

Spy, Spy Again
Author: Mercedes Lackey
Series: Valdemar: Family Spies Book 3
Publication: DAW (June 9, 2020)

Description: In this third novel of the Family Spies series, set in the bestselling world of Valdemar, Heralds Mags and Amily's youngest child must follow in his parents' footsteps to protect both his family and the realm.

Thirteen year old Prince Kyril and Mags and Amily's fourteen-year-old son Tory "share" the Gift of Farsight--although neither of them are Chosen. They are self-trained, though currently, their shared Gift only allows them to see what is happening with their immediate family members.

After much debate, the Herald's Collegium has decided to test and train them anyway. That's when the surprises start. They do not share a single Gift; they have two complementary Gifts working together in a way that the Heralds have never seen before. Tory is the Farseer--Kee's Gift is to extend his range beyond a few dozen feet.

Their Gifts become crucial when Mags gets a desperate message from his cousin Bey, the head of the enigmatic assassin-tribe, the Sleepgivers. Bey's eldest daughter has been kidnapped, but he doesn't know why or by whom. He's calling in the debt Mags owes him to find his daughter before it's too late.

Tory is certain that if anyone can find her, he can. But that will mean traveling out of Valdemar into an unknown, dangerous country.

And it will mean taking a Royal Prince with him.

My Thoughts: It is time for the youngest of Mags and Amily's children to have his own adventure. Tory is a talented spy but he hasn't been Chosen by a Companion. He and his best friend Kee, who is the fourth child of the King and Queen of Valdemar, have a shared psychic talent which allows them to Farsee their relatives when they work together. They also have been trained by Mags to use some of the Sleepgiver's tricks to help them be better spies.

When they get a strong signal from a source they don't recognize, they don't know what to do. But when a sleepgiver named Ahkhan comes to Valdemar to ask Mags for help to locate a missing person and offers a deal Valdemar doesn't want to refuse, Tory and Kee agree to go along to help find the missing young woman.

Meanwhile, Sira tells her story about her life as a sleepgiver and what happens when she is captured by Karsites who control demons. Sira is also a mage who is looking at some of the talismans found by their mages and it is a good thing she had them with her. Each talisman contains and afrinn who is a personification of one of the elements. When she frees them from the talismans they are able to help her escape from the Karsite prison which coincides with Ahkhan, Tory, and Kee's arrival at the prison.

Then it is necessary for them to flee across Karse while being chased by demons in order to reach the safety of Valdemar. Along the way Kee and Sira fall in love which is wonderful for them, or it will be, once all the problems are solved. Kee learns he is a powerful mage which means he can't live in Valdemar anymore since spirits prohibit magic in Valdemar. And Tory doesn't know what he will do in his future since he doesn't have any powers except when he works with Kee.

This was a great adventure which was also a great story about friendship and change.

Favorite Quote:

And now he understood his father's ambivalence about Ahkhan's own father, Beshat. Ahkhan was honest, reliable, trustworthy, and charming.

And a cold-blooded murderer for money.

Which was used to support the needs of his people.

But nevertheless--

Argh.

I received this one in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. You can buy your copy here.