#66 Closer to the Chest by Mercedes Lackey

The third book of the second trilogy featuring Mags has him very much in the roll of King’s Spy.  The main baddie in this book has been leaving nasty messages to women all over the Palace and with the trainees at Bardic, Herald and unaffiliated students.  Some of the notes actually reveal secrets no one should know about.  Overall the story was ok but came across as a bit preachy about the villains.  In a way it is nice that the kingdom isn’t in the balance in this story. It was more of a keeping peace in the city than a lives in balance.

Digital review copy provided by the publisher through Netgalley.

#67 Once Broken Faith by Seanan McGuire

So the fallout of discovering a counter spell to elfshot causes a political uproar of should the cure be put out in the Faerieworld.  Toby must attend a convocation of the area Kings and Queens along with representatives of other interested parties as they decide with the High King and Queen in attendance to figure out the ramifications of the discovery.  The usual changeling bias works against her but now she seems comfortable claiming that her mother is Firstborn and it helps that the Sea Witch backs her claim.  The majority of the book is a variation on the locked room murder mystery but substitute a locked knowe for a room.  As usual it was a great read and then the bonus story with the POV being Arden was nice as well.