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The Hand and the Heart #1
The Second Death of Locke
Love. Loyalty. Sacrifice.
Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier.
She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier's to use. Grey would do anything for Kier - be anything for him - if he would only ask.
When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into the dangerous heart of their nation's war, Grey and Kier will need to decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their secret.
For Grey is no ordinary magical well, but heir to the lost island of Locke - the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her.
The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy and about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of The Knight and the Moth and The Six Deaths of the Saint.
Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier.
She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier's to use. Grey would do anything for Kier - be anything for him - if he would only ask.
When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into the dangerous heart of their nation's war, Grey and Kier will need to decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their secret.
For Grey is no ordinary magical well, but heir to the lost island of Locke - the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her.
The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy and about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of The Knight and the Moth and The Six Deaths of the Saint.
504 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2025
2522 people are currently reading
84251 people want to read
About the author
V.L. Bovalino
3 books453 followersV.L. Bovalino is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now lives in the UK. She loves obscure academic facts, folklore, and oversized sweaters. Find her on online as @toribovalino.
She also writes books for young adults as Tori Bovalino.
She also writes books for young adults as Tori Bovalino.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,430 reviews
October 11, 2025
3.5 stars ✨
Okay, hear me out. This was good, REALLY GOOD but the second half especially the ending kinda killed it for me. It's definitely an original and enjoyable read but there were issues that i cannot overlook now that I've finished it.
It starts off amazing tbh. I was immersed in it especially with how different it is from other fantasies. The world building, the war zone and political intrigue had me utterly captivated. The writing is beautiful though it might take some time getting used to with how slow the pacing is.
The main characters Kier and Grey have such an amazing chemistry between them. I loved the fact that Grey is the one more obsessive and ready to die for him, ready to burn for him, instead of the majority of the books where it's the man who's burning the world apart. The childhood friends to lovers trope with such painful yearning and slow burn was something that had me in a chokehold 🤌
Grey has such a fierce personality, the feminine rage in her was something I adored. Though one of my issues was Kier is caring, kind and sweet but I feel like I just know him through Grey's eyes. I feel like even after the book ended, I didn't really get to know him. He was just someone who Grey loved 😅🥴
My other issue was the fact that when they got together, I was kinda like oh, okay... Now what? Their romance flatlined after that and it definitely wavered my interest. Like the chemistry was there but so toned down.
Coming to the ending , it was extremely underwhelming for me. All that builds up throughout the book for that? Nah, not a fan of that. Overall, quite a fun book but not something I would remember in the long term especially with how it ended.
~•~•~
I've heard there's YEARNINGGGGGG. I'm ready for it 😩
Okay, hear me out. This was good, REALLY GOOD but the second half especially the ending kinda killed it for me. It's definitely an original and enjoyable read but there were issues that i cannot overlook now that I've finished it.
It starts off amazing tbh. I was immersed in it especially with how different it is from other fantasies. The world building, the war zone and political intrigue had me utterly captivated. The writing is beautiful though it might take some time getting used to with how slow the pacing is.
The main characters Kier and Grey have such an amazing chemistry between them. I loved the fact that Grey is the one more obsessive and ready to die for him, ready to burn for him, instead of the majority of the books where it's the man who's burning the world apart. The childhood friends to lovers trope with such painful yearning and slow burn was something that had me in a chokehold 🤌
Grey has such a fierce personality, the feminine rage in her was something I adored. Though one of my issues was Kier is caring, kind and sweet but I feel like I just know him through Grey's eyes. I feel like even after the book ended, I didn't really get to know him. He was just someone who Grey loved 😅🥴
My other issue was the fact that when they got together, I was kinda like oh, okay... Now what? Their romance flatlined after that and it definitely wavered my interest. Like the chemistry was there but so toned down.
Coming to the ending , it was extremely underwhelming for me. All that builds up throughout the book for that? Nah, not a fan of that. Overall, quite a fun book but not something I would remember in the long term especially with how it ended.
~•~•~
I've heard there's YEARNINGGGGGG. I'm ready for it 😩
October 7, 2025
Move over Ross + Rachel, Cher + Josh, Harry + Sally. Grey + Kier are like:
“I’d die for you.”
“Cool, me too.”
… “Anyway, guess we’re just friends.”
The yearning with these two co-dependent stubborn magical medieval jerks who think it would be easier to die for one another than admit they’re in love starts immediately, right from chapter one. I wish we’d had a dual POV, because half the time I could hear Kier pining off the page and I really wanted to get inside his brain too. But even from Grey’s one POV, the way Kier worships her is outrageous.
But TSDOL goes beyond romantic love.
It’s about all kinds of love from platonic devotion to familial and found family. The ways we protect and hold onto each other. There’s banter and wit, grief and pain, enveloped in some kind of Scottish-or-Icelandic-inspired world of towering cliffs, forests, wild oceans and obsidian isles. And through it all is a reflection of choice, autonomy and carving your own path even when the world puts impossible expectations on your shoulders.
I laughed, I may have teared-up, I squealed. I had the urge to throw my book every time someone almost confessed their feelings and then didn’t. But it paid off. It broke me and healed me in one go. And I’d do it all again. FRIENDS TO LOVERS DONE RIGHT.
Thank you so much to Hachette Australia & New Zealand & NetGalley for the ARC!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
When your lady knight situationship insists it’s “just duty” but she’s making heart eyes.
“I’d die for you.”
“Cool, me too.”
… “Anyway, guess we’re just friends.”
The yearning with these two co-dependent stubborn magical medieval jerks who think it would be easier to die for one another than admit they’re in love starts immediately, right from chapter one. I wish we’d had a dual POV, because half the time I could hear Kier pining off the page and I really wanted to get inside his brain too. But even from Grey’s one POV, the way Kier worships her is outrageous.
But TSDOL goes beyond romantic love.
It’s about all kinds of love from platonic devotion to familial and found family. The ways we protect and hold onto each other. There’s banter and wit, grief and pain, enveloped in some kind of Scottish-or-Icelandic-inspired world of towering cliffs, forests, wild oceans and obsidian isles. And through it all is a reflection of choice, autonomy and carving your own path even when the world puts impossible expectations on your shoulders.
I laughed, I may have teared-up, I squealed. I had the urge to throw my book every time someone almost confessed their feelings and then didn’t. But it paid off. It broke me and healed me in one go. And I’d do it all again. FRIENDS TO LOVERS DONE RIGHT.
Thank you so much to Hachette Australia & New Zealand & NetGalley for the ARC!
﹏﹏﹏﹏﹏
When your lady knight situationship insists it’s “just duty” but she’s making heart eyes.
August 1, 2025
Don't look at me and my criminally low rating for this book, because I'm the problem here, probably. I'm on a mission to read all the lady knight books that are brought to us this year and I already got to five or six vastly different stories, but this one didn't work for me at all. At first I wanted to rate it 3 stars, but I actually can't think of a single thing that I truly liked in here. (Also, there's very little lady-knighting and maybe I had the wrong expectations regarding that in general, but the cover just screams lady knight in my opinion.)
Grey is the hand to her childhood best friend and mage Kier, meaning that she protects him with her life and that she serves as the source of his magic. They are basically part of the military and live in an unstable land at war. Peace can only be brought by the lost heir of Locke, but no one knows who they are or if they are still alive at all. Grey and Kier get involved in the whole lost-heir situation when they are sent on a mission to escort the presumed heir. But they also know fully well that they are escorting an imposter, because Grey is the real lost heir of Locke. Not gonna lie, I was gagged by this revelation, but it literally says so in the synopsis. The plot sounds appealing when I write it out like that, but in reality nothing about this story was intriguing in any way for me:
- the characters: In one word – bland. Grey had the most potential, being a warrior and a healer and the heir, but she still didn't have an actual personality and I couldn't stand her as a protagonist. She's obsessed with Kier for some reason, a man I know like three things about. He's a mage, his brother is dead and he's dull … I mean kind.
- the romance: I saw other reviews praising the slow burn friends to lovers romance, and I'm happy that people liked it, but it was not working for me. Grey has been in love with Kier since forever and how lucky that after 15 years or so, he finally says that he loved her all along too. You may call it yearning, but I call it being in denial for no reason. They are both adults and they undoubtedly have a connection and there's a lot of physical touching before they ever get together, so what is their problem? It was also kinda criminal how the lady knight main character was not embracing in a sapphic relationship, but Grey is actually bisexual, so that did check out in the end.
- the world building: There's one big infodump in the very first chapter and it made it really hard for me to care, because the characters just sit around in tents for a long while after that. I think there's a good concept at the basis of it all with singular people representing an entire nation and them being the power source for the whole land, but it also lacked depth. The book is really heavy on the political part and nothing about that was presented in an intriguing way.
- the pacing: In the first half of the book they talk and then they walk for a sheer endless amount of pages, and then it's politics time for the whole second half of the book. The thought that this story is a trilogy is kinda outrageous to me when I think about how little substance this book actually had. A book this boring should not get a sequel, let alone two.
- the plot: I can't speak of the political stuff, because I just didn't care enough to make any notes, but the whole lost-heir situation in the beginning was so confusing to me. Apparently anyone can claim to be the heir and everyone will just believe it. Grey – an adult woman - is the actual heir, so why would anyone believe that a 15-year-old girl is the heir? I probably missed the explanation for this, but the age component of this whole situation didn't make sense to me at all. And later Kier claims to be the heir to protect Grey and that is also believed right away. Like, give me a break.
- the fantasy elements, or more so, the lack of them: There's barely any fantasy in here and when magic appears after all, it really lacks description. There's only ever talk of "the power". Grey feels the power rise inside her, and Kier uses her power, and the power has to be restored, and she calls on her power, and the power exploded out of her. Do you maybe care for literally any deeper explanation? No? Well, ok. I guess I will not care either then.
Overall, this book missed the mark in every possible way for me. Sure, I expected something else, but I still can enjoy a story even if it's different from what I thought. But what I got here was really not enjoyable for me and I will remember nothing except that it was one very boring book.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK / Orbit Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
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Pre read: Yet another lady knight book for 2025 has entered the chat. Good. *rubs hands*
Grey is the hand to her childhood best friend and mage Kier, meaning that she protects him with her life and that she serves as the source of his magic. They are basically part of the military and live in an unstable land at war. Peace can only be brought by the lost heir of Locke, but no one knows who they are or if they are still alive at all. Grey and Kier get involved in the whole lost-heir situation when they are sent on a mission to escort the presumed heir. But they also know fully well that they are escorting an imposter, because Grey is the real lost heir of Locke. Not gonna lie, I was gagged by this revelation, but it literally says so in the synopsis. The plot sounds appealing when I write it out like that, but in reality nothing about this story was intriguing in any way for me:
- the characters: In one word – bland. Grey had the most potential, being a warrior and a healer and the heir, but she still didn't have an actual personality and I couldn't stand her as a protagonist. She's obsessed with Kier for some reason, a man I know like three things about. He's a mage, his brother is dead and he's dull … I mean kind.
- the romance: I saw other reviews praising the slow burn friends to lovers romance, and I'm happy that people liked it, but it was not working for me. Grey has been in love with Kier since forever and how lucky that after 15 years or so, he finally says that he loved her all along too. You may call it yearning, but I call it being in denial for no reason. They are both adults and they undoubtedly have a connection and there's a lot of physical touching before they ever get together, so what is their problem? It was also kinda criminal how the lady knight main character was not embracing in a sapphic relationship, but Grey is actually bisexual, so that did check out in the end.
- the world building: There's one big infodump in the very first chapter and it made it really hard for me to care, because the characters just sit around in tents for a long while after that. I think there's a good concept at the basis of it all with singular people representing an entire nation and them being the power source for the whole land, but it also lacked depth. The book is really heavy on the political part and nothing about that was presented in an intriguing way.
- the pacing: In the first half of the book they talk and then they walk for a sheer endless amount of pages, and then it's politics time for the whole second half of the book. The thought that this story is a trilogy is kinda outrageous to me when I think about how little substance this book actually had. A book this boring should not get a sequel, let alone two.
- the plot: I can't speak of the political stuff, because I just didn't care enough to make any notes, but the whole lost-heir situation in the beginning was so confusing to me. Apparently anyone can claim to be the heir and everyone will just believe it. Grey – an adult woman - is the actual heir, so why would anyone believe that a 15-year-old girl is the heir? I probably missed the explanation for this, but the age component of this whole situation didn't make sense to me at all. And later Kier claims to be the heir to protect Grey and that is also believed right away. Like, give me a break.
- the fantasy elements, or more so, the lack of them: There's barely any fantasy in here and when magic appears after all, it really lacks description. There's only ever talk of "the power". Grey feels the power rise inside her, and Kier uses her power, and the power has to be restored, and she calls on her power, and the power exploded out of her. Do you maybe care for literally any deeper explanation? No? Well, ok. I guess I will not care either then.
Overall, this book missed the mark in every possible way for me. Sure, I expected something else, but I still can enjoy a story even if it's different from what I thought. But what I got here was really not enjoyable for me and I will remember nothing except that it was one very boring book.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK / Orbit Books for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
-----
Pre read: Yet another lady knight book for 2025 has entered the chat. Good. *rubs hands*
September 24, 2025
all the best fantasy novels feature a ragtag group of people on a quest (including two people repressing their feelings) and one feral child.
in yearning and tori bovalino we trust
becoming the weapon to protect your love from danger who is also made a weapon in your hands???
yearning of the year!!
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy. full review to come
Bookstagram | Blog
in yearning and tori bovalino we trust
becoming the weapon to protect your love from danger who is also made a weapon in your hands???
yearning of the year!!
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing the advance review copy. full review to come
Bookstagram | Blog
December 15, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
I dare say we need more lady knights in literature!!! The yearning in this was fantastic and once you get into the story, is so hard to put down!! Loved!!
I dare say we need more lady knights in literature!!! The yearning in this was fantastic and once you get into the story, is so hard to put down!! Loved!!
August 28, 2025
thank you so much to netgalley for providing this arc!
oh this was absolutely WONDERFUL. when i said bring back yearning, this was exactly what i meant - some of the quotes from this had my jaw on the floor. i am honestly astounded that this is a debut novel!!
just some of the things i absolutely loved about this book:
- the atmosphere - this was so moody and gothic, and i feel like the setting was literally jumping off the page. a lot of this takes place on the battlefield and i literally felt like i was there in places. i love me a good medieval fantasy, and this felt like one of the most authentic ones
- the ROMANCE!!! this was the definition of written-in-the-stars, meant to be, mutual pining and obsession, but in the most beautiful way. some of the quotes surrounding the romance were absolutely gorgeous (again - in shock that this is a debut!!!! v.l. bovalino is clearly incredibly talented). although i have been known to love the more contemporary/spicy books, there is always space in my heart for these profound, beautiful love stories. i have a strong suspicion these characters are going to live in my head for a very long time
- the found family aspect - i know this gets thrown around a lot, but the dynamic of this group was so so heartwarming to me
- the magic system - i found the magic system in this book to be so unique and wonderfully thought out. i always love when i pick up a fantasy book and it is able to shock and intrigue me when it comes to the magic and the world building - this did exactly that
- the representation - if you are someone who values seeing characters with varying gender indentities/sexualities, you will also adore this book. we had so many characters that were trans/bisexual/non-binary etc., and it was just a fact of life in this book, which i always find super comforting
- the writing in this was STUNNING. i feel like i have said my piece regarding the fact that some of the quotes in this had me in shambles, and also the fact that this being a debut novel is insane
- the lady-knights - need i say more
overall, this book was an absolutely wonderful gothic, lady-knight centric, romantic masterpiece. i would highly, highly, highly recommend that you pick this up when you can. i now totally understand all of the glowing reviews i have seen for this book so far. i implore you to read it!!!
vibes:
- quest story
- lady-knights
- written in the stars, childhood best friends to lovers romance
- found family
- some of the most stunning writing i have read in a while
oh this was absolutely WONDERFUL. when i said bring back yearning, this was exactly what i meant - some of the quotes from this had my jaw on the floor. i am honestly astounded that this is a debut novel!!
just some of the things i absolutely loved about this book:
- the atmosphere - this was so moody and gothic, and i feel like the setting was literally jumping off the page. a lot of this takes place on the battlefield and i literally felt like i was there in places. i love me a good medieval fantasy, and this felt like one of the most authentic ones
- the ROMANCE!!! this was the definition of written-in-the-stars, meant to be, mutual pining and obsession, but in the most beautiful way. some of the quotes surrounding the romance were absolutely gorgeous (again - in shock that this is a debut!!!! v.l. bovalino is clearly incredibly talented). although i have been known to love the more contemporary/spicy books, there is always space in my heart for these profound, beautiful love stories. i have a strong suspicion these characters are going to live in my head for a very long time
- the found family aspect - i know this gets thrown around a lot, but the dynamic of this group was so so heartwarming to me
- the magic system - i found the magic system in this book to be so unique and wonderfully thought out. i always love when i pick up a fantasy book and it is able to shock and intrigue me when it comes to the magic and the world building - this did exactly that
- the representation - if you are someone who values seeing characters with varying gender indentities/sexualities, you will also adore this book. we had so many characters that were trans/bisexual/non-binary etc., and it was just a fact of life in this book, which i always find super comforting
- the writing in this was STUNNING. i feel like i have said my piece regarding the fact that some of the quotes in this had me in shambles, and also the fact that this being a debut novel is insane
- the lady-knights - need i say more
overall, this book was an absolutely wonderful gothic, lady-knight centric, romantic masterpiece. i would highly, highly, highly recommend that you pick this up when you can. i now totally understand all of the glowing reviews i have seen for this book so far. i implore you to read it!!!
vibes:
- quest story
- lady-knights
- written in the stars, childhood best friends to lovers romance
- found family
- some of the most stunning writing i have read in a while
October 3, 2025
this book have a PHD in yearning😝
October 8, 2025
"What is love, without freedom?"
"What is life, without you?"
After spending literal months trudging through disappointing romantasy after disappointing romantasy, I am so incredibly happy to say I finally found something that completely blew me away. And I don't say this lightly—out of all the romantasy novels I've read this year, I can literally count on one hand the ones that haven't let me down, and The Second Death of Locke now sits proudly at the top of that list. This is by far the best romantasy I've encountered all year, and it's honestly become one of my favourite reads, period. For a debut novel, this was incredibly impressive.
The story centres on Grey Flynn, a knight whose devotion to her mage Kier runs soul-deep. She's bound to him as warrior, healer, and guardian. Their bond faces its ultimate test when they are thrust into the brutal centre of a raging war where everything they hold dear is at stake. As danger mounts, they both must grapple with how much they're prepared to lose to keep Grey's true identity hidden.
I'm completely obsessed with the moody, gothic atmosphere that V.L. Bovalino created throughout this entire world. The medieval fantasy setting, particularly those brutal and vivid battlefield scenes, felt so immersive that I could literally picture myself standing alongside these characters, feeling their fear and determination. You know you've discovered exceptional romantasy when you're able to picture the world so clearly that it feels like a place you could actually visit.
The world-building does take its time to unfold at the beginning, but I was never once bored because the writing was so beautifully crafted that I didn't mind the gradual way the world revealed itself. I appreciated how the information about this world isn't dumped in massive, overwhelming chunks, but instead, relevant knowledge is shared between characters who realistically wouldn't otherwise know all the answers.
The magic system was so unique. The concept of wells and mages created a power dynamic that felt both intimate and dangerous, and the storyline surrounding the mysterious island of Locke had me captivated from the moment it was first mentioned. I kept finding myself craving more and more details about this magical framework.
The mystery behind Grey's powers and the way the pieces of this intricate puzzle are revealed piece by piece throughout the story was very satisfying to experience as a reader. Each chapter features an epigraph that provides tantalising clues about the secrecy surrounding Grey's origins and homeland, and it's all done in a way that never weighs down the story or confuses it; it's just an example of perfectly balanced storytelling that builds suspense while respecting the reader's intelligence and ability to piece things together.
Grey is absolutely everything I've ever wanted to see in a protagonist, and I mean that with my whole heart. Her unwavering strength, fierce determination, and protective instincts toward those she loves made her incredible to follow on every single page. She's ruthlessly efficient and courageously bold—truly a force of nature with killer instincts, but beneath that surface, there's this vulnerability where she speaks the language of grief with a fluency that only comes from lived experience. She's forever carrying the weight of sacrifices made by others to ensure her survival, and my heart broke for her while I simultaneously cheered her on with every decision she made.
Watching her character development was so awe-inspiring because we get to witness Grey slowly learn to open her heart and allow others to truly know her, learning not to be afraid of being seen and understood in all her complexity. I really appreciate how she's not just an insanely badass character who's somehow flawless—she's a fully realised person with flaws that feel fitting with the life experiences we see her navigate through. I love how the author portrays her flaws as completely understandable given everything she's endured and survived. Her character arc of learning to release the pain she's been holding onto and gradually learning to trust others beyond Kier is something I found so cathartic. I was genuinely impressed by how smoothly Grey's emotional transitions felt throughout the story and how authentically she learned and grew from her mistakes.
Now, Kier—the man that he is! He shows such complete, unwavering care and genuine respect for Grey in every single interaction they share, treating her like the extraordinary person she is. He truly loved Grey with his entire heart, holding absolutely nothing back, and his love confessions quite literally wrecked me emotionally in ways I'm still recovering from. He doesn't have quite as visible a character arc as Grey does since we mostly follow Grey's pov throughout the story, but that didn't stop me from completely adoring his character—he's easily one of my favourite male love interests I've ever encountered in romantasy.
Now onto my absolute favourite part—the romance! It was pure perfection, and I seriously mean that with every fibre of my being. Friend to lovers is rarely encountered in romantasy, which is honestly criminal because when it's executed right, it's pure magic, and this book delivered on every single promise the trope holds. The streets definitely weren't lying when they said this book had top-tier yearning, because wow, there was YEARNING—so much beautiful, aching yearning combined with trust and protection that made me desperately want a bond with someone the way Grey and Kier have it.
Their connection was represented so beautifully throughout every moment of the story. The sheer amount they loved each other before ever finding the courage to admit those feelings was blindingly obvious to everyone around them, except themselves, and even their magical binding, which wasn't inherently romantic in nature, felt very romantic because of the profound emotional connection that already existed between them long before.
Their shared history stretching back to their childhood was beyond beautiful—the way their actions consistently spoke louder than words, the selfless things they continuously did for each other, their eventual confessions, and the way they'd do absolutely anything for each other had me actively tearing up toward the end because I love these characters so much. These two are truly equals, matching each other perfectly in strength, intelligence, loyalty, and love in ways that felt completely natural and unforced.
We're talking about two souls who spent literal years yearning desperately for each other, carefully hiding their true feelings, aching with the beautiful agony of loving someone so intensely while believing that love could never be returned or acted upon.
The found family aspect woven throughout this book was something that I was surprised to find that I ended up appreciating so much. All the side characters played genuinely important roles, each bringing unique, well-developed personalities that felt memorable. I have to mention how wonderful it was that the author incorporated queer characters so naturally into this world, making diversity feel organic and realistic rather than performative. I loved how this was a world where acceptance was simply the norm, which felt both refreshing and hopeful.
I could honestly spend hours talking about how amazing this book was and analysing every beautiful detail, but here's what I know for certain: after finishing this book, I have developed an urgent need to read more books featuring lady knights who are allowed to be complex and vulnerable. I'm also really thrilled that this didn't end on some cruel cliffhanger designed to manipulate readers, and I'm so excited knowing that it's planned as a series of interconnected standalones, which means we'll get to explore more of this incredible world while still having complete, satisfying stories that don't leave us hanging!
If you're looking for a romantasy that features a truly unique magic system and yearning that'll make your heart physically ache then you absolutely need to read this book! Trust me when I say the emotional payoff is worth every single page of beautiful, agonising buildup.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.
Thank you to my love, Maria, for reading this with me, even though I finished before her because I was so obsessed I literally couldn't stop reading 😭
_________
this was so good 😭😭😭😭😭 rtc!!!
__________
this is one of my most anticipated reads because it sounds like it has everything I want in a romantasy—especially since the yearning is apparently immaculate 🤭
br with my fav girl maria💓
December 1, 2025
thank you V.L. Bovalino for reminding me that i love romantasy!!!
November 11, 2025
I often struggle with romance-centric books that have pre-established relationships, and this was no different. Would recommend without hesitation to most fantasy readers.
November 18, 2025
thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. all opinions are my own.
4.5***
“She looked at him, something inexplicable rising within her. Perhaps all she wanted, after all this time, was to be soft.”
this was SUCH a good book!! for a quick review: pick this up if you want to read a story lush with longing, found family, friends to lovers in a fantasy setting, & quotes that will knock the breath out of your lungs. ALSO: for all my shadowhunter lovers, this was giving angsty parabati in the best possible way.
the writing was beautiful. the story was SO atmospheric. i really, really enjoyed the setting and the magic system. the lore was so intriguing and i LOVED reading about the FMC’s background, in addition to the little letters or journal entries we got with each chapter.
“‘Never ask me to leave you,’ she said, voice cracking. ‘Use my power well. Protect me. It has always been this; it has always been us. Let it be us until the wars end or we find our deaths - whatever comes first.’”
you’ll likely see many reviews that discuss the yearning in this book, & i’m here to add to that because the YEARNING!!! WAS SO!!!! GOOD!! from the very first pages you could feel the longing and desire that our FMC has for the MMC. i don’t think i’ve ever highlighted this many passages on my kindle before - truly amazing.
i also can guarantee that you’ll see sacrifice being discussed as a central theme. sacrifice, what it means to truly love someone, and to learn to understand that sometimes, it’s okay to accept certain sacrifices.
also i feel like i don’t often see friends to lovers in fantasy books - usually because the FMC’s male best friend tends to be the first love interest, not the end game. i was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed the romance - the author did a fantastic job at establishing their relationship and allowing the readers to feel the depth of their emotions, rather than simply telling us. it really is so beautiful to be completely seen and understood by someone (the good, the bad, the ugly) and still be loved, unconditionally.
“It’s an inevitability, in some ways, that all I am would be yours.”
ALSO THE SIDE CHARACTERS!!!! one thing about me is i LOVE an ensemble cast or an unlikely group of people that slowly, reluctantly become family. this did not disappoint. there was also one of my favorite types of scenes in this - where all of the characters planned to save one person without that person knowing. i will eat that up EVERY time.
in a similar vein, i adore when characters all rally around one person who can’t, for the life of them, figure out why someone would care for them that way, why other people would want to rally around them. chef’s kiss, truly.
“It was just…it was just, he was the same as always, her favorite person, her beloved person, and she could not fathom that he felt any fraction for her of what she felt for him, no matter how much he insisted he did.”
4.5***
“She looked at him, something inexplicable rising within her. Perhaps all she wanted, after all this time, was to be soft.”
this was SUCH a good book!! for a quick review: pick this up if you want to read a story lush with longing, found family, friends to lovers in a fantasy setting, & quotes that will knock the breath out of your lungs. ALSO: for all my shadowhunter lovers, this was giving angsty parabati in the best possible way.
the writing was beautiful. the story was SO atmospheric. i really, really enjoyed the setting and the magic system. the lore was so intriguing and i LOVED reading about the FMC’s background, in addition to the little letters or journal entries we got with each chapter.
“‘Never ask me to leave you,’ she said, voice cracking. ‘Use my power well. Protect me. It has always been this; it has always been us. Let it be us until the wars end or we find our deaths - whatever comes first.’”
you’ll likely see many reviews that discuss the yearning in this book, & i’m here to add to that because the YEARNING!!! WAS SO!!!! GOOD!! from the very first pages you could feel the longing and desire that our FMC has for the MMC. i don’t think i’ve ever highlighted this many passages on my kindle before - truly amazing.
i also can guarantee that you’ll see sacrifice being discussed as a central theme. sacrifice, what it means to truly love someone, and to learn to understand that sometimes, it’s okay to accept certain sacrifices.
also i feel like i don’t often see friends to lovers in fantasy books - usually because the FMC’s male best friend tends to be the first love interest, not the end game. i was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed the romance - the author did a fantastic job at establishing their relationship and allowing the readers to feel the depth of their emotions, rather than simply telling us. it really is so beautiful to be completely seen and understood by someone (the good, the bad, the ugly) and still be loved, unconditionally.
“It’s an inevitability, in some ways, that all I am would be yours.”
ALSO THE SIDE CHARACTERS!!!! one thing about me is i LOVE an ensemble cast or an unlikely group of people that slowly, reluctantly become family. this did not disappoint. there was also one of my favorite types of scenes in this - where all of the characters planned to save one person without that person knowing. i will eat that up EVERY time.
in a similar vein, i adore when characters all rally around one person who can’t, for the life of them, figure out why someone would care for them that way, why other people would want to rally around them. chef’s kiss, truly.
“It was just…it was just, he was the same as always, her favorite person, her beloved person, and she could not fathom that he felt any fraction for her of what she felt for him, no matter how much he insisted he did.”
September 26, 2025
⭐️ 3.5
I'm not sure why I found this book so middling, but I did. It has everything I should like. A knight-like fmc, a fantastical setting with a unique magic system, an attempt at deeper world politics and world building... These pieces are all interesting and could've made a compelling fantasy story but something is missing.
Honestly, I think my problem with the story mainly lies in the characters. I actually enjoyed Grey as a protagonist, which is an incredible feat as I usually dislike the whole long lost princess trope, but Kier is just sort of...nice. He's nice! He's very nice and loves Grey and he's a good guy who'd do anything for her. That's it. I do like what others would call a "golden retriever boyfriend" type but Kier lacks substance, he's all sugar, which has the consequence of making him a dull character to have in basically any scene. He is so devoted to Grey in general that I never bought the idea that Grey, a woman of almost 30, wouldn't have realized that he's in love with her. It's also this overt affection that really gave me the feeling that I was missing a book and had somehow read the second installment of a series, skipping over plenty of the important building of such a relationship. Actually, there was plenty in this book that made me think it was a second book and not first. If you read it, I think you'll understand what I mean.
That being said, a good story can absolutely start with an already established relationship between the main couple but it seemed out of place in The Second Death of Locke as the romance is so heavily the focus of Grey and the plot. The woman is obsessed when there's a perfectly okay plot for her to focus on instead. And I say okay because I genuinely think it was just okay. There's nothing wrong with okay! I never really had a problem with the prose or dialog or magic or setting (although, I did sometimes find the war in general confusing), and the main plot was alright. But when there's so many books in the world, you probably could spend your time elsewhere and have a much more fulfilling time.
Just as a small aside, I didn't really ever feel Grey was a knight, per se. There's not a lot of battle in this book and I don't think she's ever called a knight? I could be wrong. She uses a sword and has armor but it didn't strike me as knight-ish. So, if you're looking for a fem!knight book, I'm not sure you'll be satisfied. If you love sugary friends-to-lovers romance, you might love it! Overall, I had a fun enough time with the book, despite my complaints.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not sure why I found this book so middling, but I did. It has everything I should like. A knight-like fmc, a fantastical setting with a unique magic system, an attempt at deeper world politics and world building... These pieces are all interesting and could've made a compelling fantasy story but something is missing.
Honestly, I think my problem with the story mainly lies in the characters. I actually enjoyed Grey as a protagonist, which is an incredible feat as I usually dislike the whole long lost princess trope, but Kier is just sort of...nice. He's nice! He's very nice and loves Grey and he's a good guy who'd do anything for her. That's it. I do like what others would call a "golden retriever boyfriend" type but Kier lacks substance, he's all sugar, which has the consequence of making him a dull character to have in basically any scene. He is so devoted to Grey in general that I never bought the idea that Grey, a woman of almost 30, wouldn't have realized that he's in love with her. It's also this overt affection that really gave me the feeling that I was missing a book and had somehow read the second installment of a series, skipping over plenty of the important building of such a relationship. Actually, there was plenty in this book that made me think it was a second book and not first. If you read it, I think you'll understand what I mean.
That being said, a good story can absolutely start with an already established relationship between the main couple but it seemed out of place in The Second Death of Locke as the romance is so heavily the focus of Grey and the plot. The woman is obsessed when there's a perfectly okay plot for her to focus on instead. And I say okay because I genuinely think it was just okay. There's nothing wrong with okay! I never really had a problem with the prose or dialog or magic or setting (although, I did sometimes find the war in general confusing), and the main plot was alright. But when there's so many books in the world, you probably could spend your time elsewhere and have a much more fulfilling time.
Just as a small aside, I didn't really ever feel Grey was a knight, per se. There's not a lot of battle in this book and I don't think she's ever called a knight? I could be wrong. She uses a sword and has armor but it didn't strike me as knight-ish. So, if you're looking for a fem!knight book, I'm not sure you'll be satisfied. If you love sugary friends-to-lovers romance, you might love it! Overall, I had a fun enough time with the book, despite my complaints.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 4, 2025
"Blood of my blood, soul of my soul, thine hand is over my heart. When you ache, then shall I ache; when you perish, then I shall perish."
NOT ONLY one of my favourite books of the year but equally one of the best fantasies I have ever read!!!
When we said bring back yearning this is what we meant! The Second Death of Locke was so full of angst, such a warranted sense of desire, found family and a magic system that felt so fresh amongst the current wave of fantasy romance releases. I adored these characters so much and would find myself simultaneously blushing, giggling and yet, trying not to cry in SO many chapters.
I would highly recommend if you love:
- a quest
- childhood friends to lovers
- a lady knight!!!! (I need more of this in my life)
- found family
- gorgeous writing
- the dreamiest medieval fantasy setting
I'll be thinking about this one forever!
NOT ONLY one of my favourite books of the year but equally one of the best fantasies I have ever read!!!
When we said bring back yearning this is what we meant! The Second Death of Locke was so full of angst, such a warranted sense of desire, found family and a magic system that felt so fresh amongst the current wave of fantasy romance releases. I adored these characters so much and would find myself simultaneously blushing, giggling and yet, trying not to cry in SO many chapters.
I would highly recommend if you love:
- a quest
- childhood friends to lovers
- a lady knight!!!! (I need more of this in my life)
- found family
- gorgeous writing
- the dreamiest medieval fantasy setting
I'll be thinking about this one forever!
December 15, 2025
Obsidian born and iron made.
Want to read
December 3, 2025I’ve heard this book carries the most exquisite yearning—and just a few pages in, I already believe it.
May it fill the quiet void of longing we didn’t even know was missing, but deep down, we all know we deserve to be yearned for at least once in our lifetime.
May it fill the quiet void of longing we didn’t even know was missing, but deep down, we all know we deserve to be yearned for at least once in our lifetime.
October 9, 2025
☆☆☆☆☆
The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino completely pulled me in from the very first page. The writing is super engaging, sharp, emotional, and just flows so effortlessly. It made it really easy to fall into the story and stay hooked the whole way through.
Grey and Kier are phenomenal main characters. This is exactly how a friends-to-lovers arc should be done: slow-burn, full of tension, and so emotionally satisfying. I was rooting for them the entire time, and their relationship felt real, earned, and just right.
The supporting cast is also incredibly strong. Each side character felt purposeful and well-developed, never just background noise. They added depth, diversity and warmth to the story without ever taking away from the central arc.
The magic system is really unique and well thought out, it's creative without being confusing, and it felt like a natural part of the world rather than something tacked on. I loved how original it was.
Having read Not Good for Maidens, I already knew Bovalino could craft an eerie, compelling world but this book takes it to another level. I truly can’t wait to see where the story goes next in books 2 and 3. There’s so much more I want to learn about this world.
Highly recommend if you’re into immersive fantasy with strong characters, great romance, and a fresh magical world. Loved it!
The Second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino completely pulled me in from the very first page. The writing is super engaging, sharp, emotional, and just flows so effortlessly. It made it really easy to fall into the story and stay hooked the whole way through.
Grey and Kier are phenomenal main characters. This is exactly how a friends-to-lovers arc should be done: slow-burn, full of tension, and so emotionally satisfying. I was rooting for them the entire time, and their relationship felt real, earned, and just right.
The supporting cast is also incredibly strong. Each side character felt purposeful and well-developed, never just background noise. They added depth, diversity and warmth to the story without ever taking away from the central arc.
The magic system is really unique and well thought out, it's creative without being confusing, and it felt like a natural part of the world rather than something tacked on. I loved how original it was.
Having read Not Good for Maidens, I already knew Bovalino could craft an eerie, compelling world but this book takes it to another level. I truly can’t wait to see where the story goes next in books 2 and 3. There’s so much more I want to learn about this world.
Highly recommend if you’re into immersive fantasy with strong characters, great romance, and a fresh magical world. Loved it!
July 5, 2025
5.0 ★— I’ve always loved the friends-to-lovers trope and the way it’s built upon deep familiarity, unspoken trust, and all the delicious tension that comes from the denial, fear, and hesitation in crossing those boundaries into something more. It’s a trope that’s surprisingly underused in fantasy romance, in my opinion, so I’m always happy to see it when I do.
The Second Death of Locke not only features this trope, but executes it perfectly.
Through our heroine, Grey Flynn, we learn of the world she resides in. She is a trained warrior with powers that make her the magical well of her best friend, Kiernan Seward, a mage who draws on her for power.
It’s a dynamic that’s common in this world, but it feels especially intimate between them.
From the very beginning, there’s this quiet, aching devotion between Grey and Kiernan that makes it clear theirs isn’t a simple friendship. It’s in their every glance, their every decision. They are a part of every facet of each other’s lives, and the book does a phenomenal job of slowly showcasing the sheer depth of their connection and how it came to be.
It’s bone-deep love and trust — the kind that feels foundational, inevitable — and makes their relationship quite literally the heart of the book.
I don’t think I can explain it other than saying there’s this constant sense of them looking for each other, looking at each other, and looking out for each other. Always, always each other.
Surrounding this beautiful central relationship is the mystery of Grey’s origins — her power, her home, and the secrecy wrapped around it all. The book reveals pieces of this with a quiet finesse: through letters, in-universe book quotes, and childhood memories Grey is grappling with. It’s all layered throughout the narrative, and gorgeously so! The atmosphere is rich and immersive, and it lingers.
Then there’s the worldbuilding, which is just wonderfully dense. You can feel the long, tangled history of this world and the political undercurrents running just below the surface. But even with all that complexity, love and devotion remain the book’s steady central themes — not just between Grey and Kiernan, but among the other characters as well. Family, selflessness, sacrifice, and loyalty echo throughout the story.
And I have to say, I really appreciated how queer-normative this world felt. There’s a wide range of queer characters and identities woven throughout the story, and they’re written with such warmth and care.
What else, what else? I know there’s more I want to say, because this book stayed on my mind so much as I read it, but this is the kind of story that deserves to slowly reveal itself to the readers without being spoiled.
So I’ll stop here and say: long live Year of the Lady Knight 2025. It’s truly been and continues to be such a joy literary-wise.
_________________________________________________
Thank you to Forever Publishing for the ARC in Exchange for my honest review.
The Second Death of Locke not only features this trope, but executes it perfectly.
Through our heroine, Grey Flynn, we learn of the world she resides in. She is a trained warrior with powers that make her the magical well of her best friend, Kiernan Seward, a mage who draws on her for power.
It’s a dynamic that’s common in this world, but it feels especially intimate between them.
From the very beginning, there’s this quiet, aching devotion between Grey and Kiernan that makes it clear theirs isn’t a simple friendship. It’s in their every glance, their every decision. They are a part of every facet of each other’s lives, and the book does a phenomenal job of slowly showcasing the sheer depth of their connection and how it came to be.
It’s bone-deep love and trust — the kind that feels foundational, inevitable — and makes their relationship quite literally the heart of the book.
I don’t think I can explain it other than saying there’s this constant sense of them looking for each other, looking at each other, and looking out for each other. Always, always each other.
Surrounding this beautiful central relationship is the mystery of Grey’s origins — her power, her home, and the secrecy wrapped around it all. The book reveals pieces of this with a quiet finesse: through letters, in-universe book quotes, and childhood memories Grey is grappling with. It’s all layered throughout the narrative, and gorgeously so! The atmosphere is rich and immersive, and it lingers.
Then there’s the worldbuilding, which is just wonderfully dense. You can feel the long, tangled history of this world and the political undercurrents running just below the surface. But even with all that complexity, love and devotion remain the book’s steady central themes — not just between Grey and Kiernan, but among the other characters as well. Family, selflessness, sacrifice, and loyalty echo throughout the story.
And I have to say, I really appreciated how queer-normative this world felt. There’s a wide range of queer characters and identities woven throughout the story, and they’re written with such warmth and care.
What else, what else? I know there’s more I want to say, because this book stayed on my mind so much as I read it, but this is the kind of story that deserves to slowly reveal itself to the readers without being spoiled.
So I’ll stop here and say: long live Year of the Lady Knight 2025. It’s truly been and continues to be such a joy literary-wise.
_________________________________________________
Thank you to Forever Publishing for the ARC in Exchange for my honest review.
October 6, 2025
1 ⭐️ (DNF @ 52%)
GUYS DON'T HATE ME. 😭
I couldn't subject myself to something I was so disinterested in, so here I am DNFing it. I'm not proud, and I wanted to love this, hell, even LIKE this. But unfortunately I was let down.
As always, I will be talking about the parts of the book I HAVE read, not the entirety of the book.
The fact that I only got this far in 4 days of reading this book says a lot. I really didn't enjoy it and I wasn't captivated in the slightest. Something about the writing and how the story played out just didn't appeal to me.
I didn't care about the characters, honestly. Nothing good or bad about them they just kinda felt...bland. I WILL SAY, HOWEVER, the love and angst and tension between Grey and Kier was pretty good and I did enjoy the scenes when they were together. That's about all the good I can say right now.
Now, my biggest gripe with this book was the magic system. It didn't feel all that fleshed out and I think the author meant for there to be higher stakes than what it actually felt like. I wasn't getting goosebumps; I wasn't on the edge of my seat; I wasn't anxiously turning the pages. I was, to put it plainly, bored.
I think this was more of a personal opinion rather than it being the book itself. I have seen so many people, many my friends, absolutely adore this book!! I just don't think it was for me. Please still give this a shot if you're interested though!! I can see why others would enjoy it more than me and that's totally okay. 🤎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🗡️🤎
Desperate for a good fantasy, and I've heard amazing things about this! 🤎
Please don't disappoint me 😭
GUYS DON'T HATE ME. 😭
I couldn't subject myself to something I was so disinterested in, so here I am DNFing it. I'm not proud, and I wanted to love this, hell, even LIKE this. But unfortunately I was let down.
As always, I will be talking about the parts of the book I HAVE read, not the entirety of the book.
The fact that I only got this far in 4 days of reading this book says a lot. I really didn't enjoy it and I wasn't captivated in the slightest. Something about the writing and how the story played out just didn't appeal to me.
I didn't care about the characters, honestly. Nothing good or bad about them they just kinda felt...bland. I WILL SAY, HOWEVER, the love and angst and tension between Grey and Kier was pretty good and I did enjoy the scenes when they were together. That's about all the good I can say right now.
Now, my biggest gripe with this book was the magic system. It didn't feel all that fleshed out and I think the author meant for there to be higher stakes than what it actually felt like. I wasn't getting goosebumps; I wasn't on the edge of my seat; I wasn't anxiously turning the pages. I was, to put it plainly, bored.
I think this was more of a personal opinion rather than it being the book itself. I have seen so many people, many my friends, absolutely adore this book!! I just don't think it was for me. Please still give this a shot if you're interested though!! I can see why others would enjoy it more than me and that's totally okay. 🤎
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
𝓟𝓻𝓮-𝓡𝓮𝓪𝓭: 🗡️🤎
Desperate for a good fantasy, and I've heard amazing things about this! 🤎
Please don't disappoint me 😭
December 8, 2025
This is the year of the lady knights and I am 100% here for it!
LADY KNIGHT + QUEST + YEARNING <— a Jenny trifecta.
I put this book off for an embarrassingly long time after soft dnfing it, and I have two thoughts.
1 - I’m glad I waited for the right time.
2 - The hype is well deserved.
I’m a firm believer in the right book, right time school of thought. If you push through when you’re not feeling it, a book that might have been 5 stars, ends up being disappointing. But put that book down for a bit and return when you’re in the right mood and BAM it’s a knockout book.
So why did I soft dnf this originally? In my humble opinion, the beginning is a bit of a slog. There is a ton of info being thrown at you all at once, which is my least favorite way to world build, and because it’s the beginning you’re not yet invested.
So I waited for the right moment when I was feeling a bit more ready to make an investment and BAM! The Second Death of Locke was absolutely worth the initial investment (slower start)!
What’s to love…
- QUEST (my fav!)
- Really cool magic and world
- Found family
- YEARNING
- Lady knight!
- Queer normative world
- It also has another of my fav tropes but that might be a spoiler so *no comment*
What’s not to love…
- Slower paced
- A bit of an info dump commitment required right at the beginning
One last thought… This is yearning to the max (from her) and you get a bit of yearning from him via dialogue but by gawd I wanted to be in his f-ing head. I don’t typically make this kind of stmt, bc I do think the POV choices are that, a choice by the author and for good reason, and “I wish it had xx pov” isn’t really a great critique — but dang it, I wish we got a tiny, teeny, itty bitty bit of his POV. I’m manifesting his POV for book 2!
Audio Narration: 5/5 Great performance! I’m really glad I put this off for the extra benefit of getting to consume this via audio!
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
LADY KNIGHT + QUEST + YEARNING <— a Jenny trifecta.
I put this book off for an embarrassingly long time after soft dnfing it, and I have two thoughts.
1 - I’m glad I waited for the right time.
2 - The hype is well deserved.
I’m a firm believer in the right book, right time school of thought. If you push through when you’re not feeling it, a book that might have been 5 stars, ends up being disappointing. But put that book down for a bit and return when you’re in the right mood and BAM it’s a knockout book.
So why did I soft dnf this originally? In my humble opinion, the beginning is a bit of a slog. There is a ton of info being thrown at you all at once, which is my least favorite way to world build, and because it’s the beginning you’re not yet invested.
So I waited for the right moment when I was feeling a bit more ready to make an investment and BAM! The Second Death of Locke was absolutely worth the initial investment (slower start)!
What’s to love…
- QUEST (my fav!)
- Really cool magic and world
- Found family
- YEARNING
- Lady knight!
- Queer normative world
- It also has another of my fav tropes but that might be a spoiler so *no comment*
What’s not to love…
- Slower paced
- A bit of an info dump commitment required right at the beginning
One last thought… This is yearning to the max (from her) and you get a bit of yearning from him via dialogue but by gawd I wanted to be in his f-ing head. I don’t typically make this kind of stmt, bc I do think the POV choices are that, a choice by the author and for good reason, and “I wish it had xx pov” isn’t really a great critique — but dang it, I wish we got a tiny, teeny, itty bitty bit of his POV. I’m manifesting his POV for book 2!
Audio Narration: 5/5 Great performance! I’m really glad I put this off for the extra benefit of getting to consume this via audio!
4.25⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you NetGalley and Forever for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
October 7, 2025
"What is love, without freedom?" she murmured against his skin. He leaned close to kiss her shoulder, then to whisper in her ear. "What is life, without you?’
INCREDIBLE! I had such a phenomenal experience reading this book. I was **tortured** by yearning and tension, I laughed, I paced and wanted to launch my Kindle at the wall, and, oh, how I cried. And cried some more.
The writing is beautiful and immersive and it completely transported me to this gritty, perilous world with this brilliant, flawed, lovable group of characters and a magic system and plot that totally captivated me from the very first page. Don't get me started on Kier and Grey's romance. It's one for the ages.
This book wraps up in such a way that it could stand alone (so refreshing. So satisfying), but I am thrilled that there are apparently two more books planned?! I'll drop everything when the next one is released. The Second Death of Locke is now one of my favourite books. I'll be shouting from the rooftops for everyone to pick this up!
‘Why must you always sacrifice yourself, and call that love?’
Thank you so much to Little Brown and Netgalley for the earc.
INCREDIBLE! I had such a phenomenal experience reading this book. I was **tortured** by yearning and tension, I laughed, I paced and wanted to launch my Kindle at the wall, and, oh, how I cried. And cried some more.
The writing is beautiful and immersive and it completely transported me to this gritty, perilous world with this brilliant, flawed, lovable group of characters and a magic system and plot that totally captivated me from the very first page. Don't get me started on Kier and Grey's romance. It's one for the ages.
This book wraps up in such a way that it could stand alone (so refreshing. So satisfying), but I am thrilled that there are apparently two more books planned?! I'll drop everything when the next one is released. The Second Death of Locke is now one of my favourite books. I'll be shouting from the rooftops for everyone to pick this up!
‘Why must you always sacrifice yourself, and call that love?’
Thank you so much to Little Brown and Netgalley for the earc.
Currently reading
December 23, 2025finally getting around to reading this despite it being on my queue for literal months… 😅
October 30, 2025
The Second Death of Locke was a five-star prediction for me. With the comparison to Gideon the Ninth, themes of loyalty and betrayal, and promise of yearning, I thought this would be a guaranteed win. It took me a MONTH to finish this book because at no point did I actively want to be reading it. No one is more disappointed than I am that I didn't like this.
It's not that I actively disliked The Second Death of Locke . But I felt so indifferent towards this story. I didn't care about the plot, the adventure, the characters, and certainly not the romance. I kept waiting for the story to hook me, pushing through my desire to DNF it because surely I was going to start enjoying it eventually. I really couldn't be bothered to pick this up most of the time. And I think that really sums up me feelings on The Second Death of Locke. It doesn't do anything wrong, but by playing it too safe and underutilizing some fascinating concepts, the story lacks impact and threatens to bore.
I think the characters, in particular, play it a little bit too safe. To the point that they feel borderline one-dimensional. Kier is just... nice. So nice that he's boring. He's just a good guy who is obviously in love with Grey and does everything right all of the time. Even Grey almost thinks of herself as a more complex character than we actually see her to be. She just goes along with the plot while making heart-eyes at Kier and the plot moves out of the way for her. I was really disappointed in her as a "lady knight" character. I think there is so much more that could have been done with her character. I really wanted to see more from both of these characters—more moral conflict, tension, internal debate, etc.
The plot felt pretty slow, though admittedly, taking an unusually long time to read it did not help. Everything just works out for the characters. It lacks a lot of tension or significant conflict, especially considering the scale of what is accomplished in this book. Even the moments of "betrayal" lack the suspense of a misunderstanding (that's how bored I was, I yearned for MISCOMMUNICATION).
The romance, admittedly a very significant part of the book, really did nothing for me. They are in love from the beginning of the book. The only thing stopping them from being a couple is an unnatural refusal to have a conversation about their very obvious feelings. And these characters are supposed to be adults. Seasoned soldiers who spend every waking moment together and have known each other almost their entire lives. It completely kills the romantic tension to have their feelings so clearly established that early in the book. It's not yearning if they just aren't talking about it but acting like a couple anyway. There was no satisfaction to the moment they got together. I understand a crush or friends-to-lovers, but none of the romantic development actually happens on page. It almost feels like you're reading a sequel.
I am really devastated that I didn't enjoy this more. Unfortunately, I felt like The Second Death of Locke lacked the depth and impact I was promised.
Thank you Orbit for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books
It's not that I actively disliked The Second Death of Locke . But I felt so indifferent towards this story. I didn't care about the plot, the adventure, the characters, and certainly not the romance. I kept waiting for the story to hook me, pushing through my desire to DNF it because surely I was going to start enjoying it eventually. I really couldn't be bothered to pick this up most of the time. And I think that really sums up me feelings on The Second Death of Locke. It doesn't do anything wrong, but by playing it too safe and underutilizing some fascinating concepts, the story lacks impact and threatens to bore.
I think the characters, in particular, play it a little bit too safe. To the point that they feel borderline one-dimensional. Kier is just... nice. So nice that he's boring. He's just a good guy who is obviously in love with Grey and does everything right all of the time. Even Grey almost thinks of herself as a more complex character than we actually see her to be. She just goes along with the plot while making heart-eyes at Kier and the plot moves out of the way for her. I was really disappointed in her as a "lady knight" character. I think there is so much more that could have been done with her character. I really wanted to see more from both of these characters—more moral conflict, tension, internal debate, etc.
The plot felt pretty slow, though admittedly, taking an unusually long time to read it did not help. Everything just works out for the characters. It lacks a lot of tension or significant conflict, especially considering the scale of what is accomplished in this book. Even the moments of "betrayal" lack the suspense of a misunderstanding (that's how bored I was, I yearned for MISCOMMUNICATION).
The romance, admittedly a very significant part of the book, really did nothing for me. They are in love from the beginning of the book. The only thing stopping them from being a couple is an unnatural refusal to have a conversation about their very obvious feelings. And these characters are supposed to be adults. Seasoned soldiers who spend every waking moment together and have known each other almost their entire lives. It completely kills the romantic tension to have their feelings so clearly established that early in the book. It's not yearning if they just aren't talking about it but acting like a couple anyway. There was no satisfaction to the moment they got together. I understand a crush or friends-to-lovers, but none of the romantic development actually happens on page. It almost feels like you're reading a sequel.
I am really devastated that I didn't enjoy this more. Unfortunately, I felt like The Second Death of Locke lacked the depth and impact I was promised.
Thank you Orbit for the eARC
Links to my TikTok | Instagram | Bindery Books
October 4, 2025
4.25⭐️
Wow what an amazing debut!! Bovalino can WRITE!
A very well thought out world and magic system with an impeccable yearning romance at the heart of the story.
The reason it wasn’t 5 stars for me is mainly because I was unaware this was a standalone so was really underwhelmed by the ending.
Even with it being a standalone it could have used a more climactic ending since the build up was so good.
I really hope the author returns to this world even if it’s with different characters because it really is a fantastic world/magic system.
This story has a lot of political warfare rather than epic battle scenes so I can see people finding it slow at certain parts but I really enjoyed the politicking aspects so didn’t mind.
So sad I won’t be seeing these characters again
Wow what an amazing debut!! Bovalino can WRITE!
A very well thought out world and magic system with an impeccable yearning romance at the heart of the story.
The reason it wasn’t 5 stars for me is mainly because I was unaware this was a standalone so was really underwhelmed by the ending.
Even with it being a standalone it could have used a more climactic ending since the build up was so good.
I really hope the author returns to this world even if it’s with different characters because it really is a fantastic world/magic system.
This story has a lot of political warfare rather than epic battle scenes so I can see people finding it slow at certain parts but I really enjoyed the politicking aspects so didn’t mind.
So sad I won’t be seeing these characters again
interested-in
October 5, 2025i have high expectations for this 🤞🏽
September 24, 2025
the second death of locke is the perfect example of the type of story that is created through the artful weaving of romance, magic, and heart-wrenching stakes.
grey flynn is a fierce yet vulnerable heroine whose devotion to kier and to the fate of locke kept me completely hooked and rooting for her the entire book. the bond between well and mage was beautifully written, adding depth to every battle and quiet moment and making me truly feel the romantic connection between our two characters.
the romance was so well done and felt grounded in genuine emotional risk. their relationship only further proved to me why friends to lovers is such an underrated trope when done well! it’s the type of romance that feels rare, earned, and deeply moving after years of laying down the foundation.
this is a must-read for those who love an epic fantasy with a strong romantic subplot. this story will stick with me for years to come! I’m so excited to see what else bovalino does in the adult fantasy genre 🫶🏼
thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
grey flynn is a fierce yet vulnerable heroine whose devotion to kier and to the fate of locke kept me completely hooked and rooting for her the entire book. the bond between well and mage was beautifully written, adding depth to every battle and quiet moment and making me truly feel the romantic connection between our two characters.
the romance was so well done and felt grounded in genuine emotional risk. their relationship only further proved to me why friends to lovers is such an underrated trope when done well! it’s the type of romance that feels rare, earned, and deeply moving after years of laying down the foundation.
this is a must-read for those who love an epic fantasy with a strong romantic subplot. this story will stick with me for years to come! I’m so excited to see what else bovalino does in the adult fantasy genre 🫶🏼
thank you to NetGalley, Forever Publishing, and the author for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 19, 2025
I love a satisfying epic fantasy that could be read as a standalone filled with yearning and a LADY KNIGHT.
Grey is a Hand to her childhood best friend and long-time unsaid crush, Kier - a Well to his Mage. They cannot be separated and are running from a secretive, dark past.
Magic is declining and the only way to restore power is if the heir to the Isle of Locke is found. Grey and Keir are sent to find and protect the heir amidst war.
Due to the nature of the bond between Mage and Well, there is co-dependency, intimacy, close knowledge. Add in the childhood friends with a crush and you just know there is quiet longing.
They were fools when they were young: so often on the edge of death, so desperate for someone else to fall into the chasm alongside them, as if the reaper’s teeth would not gnash them to nothing as long as they remained together.
I went in knowing nothing except LADY KNIGHT and I think that made it all the better. Yes, some of the reveals were obvious, but this felt like a more character focused story than an epic high fantasy.
There is magic, but it is interwoven with the roles and lifestyles of the characters adding depth.
I loved the found family, I enjoyed the fade to black, I liked the internal conflict.
’Grey, if I don’t spend the rest of my life washing gore out of your hair, then it’s not a life worth living.’
I wasn’t a huge fan of one of the plot devices used near the end, but that’s a personal preference.
Major gripe - I have seen this marketed as queer knight fantasy by some reviewers. This is not that. It is a queer normative world, but the main relationship is heterosexual. There is trans, bi, pan etc representation, and side relationships, but this is not what I would call a queer lady knight story in terms of sapphicness.
Another note, on Goodreads it is shown to be a book one, so I’m curious to see if it is a start because this felt satisfying on its own.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
Grey is a Hand to her childhood best friend and long-time unsaid crush, Kier - a Well to his Mage. They cannot be separated and are running from a secretive, dark past.
Magic is declining and the only way to restore power is if the heir to the Isle of Locke is found. Grey and Keir are sent to find and protect the heir amidst war.
Due to the nature of the bond between Mage and Well, there is co-dependency, intimacy, close knowledge. Add in the childhood friends with a crush and you just know there is quiet longing.
They were fools when they were young: so often on the edge of death, so desperate for someone else to fall into the chasm alongside them, as if the reaper’s teeth would not gnash them to nothing as long as they remained together.
I went in knowing nothing except LADY KNIGHT and I think that made it all the better. Yes, some of the reveals were obvious, but this felt like a more character focused story than an epic high fantasy.
There is magic, but it is interwoven with the roles and lifestyles of the characters adding depth.
I loved the found family, I enjoyed the fade to black, I liked the internal conflict.
’Grey, if I don’t spend the rest of my life washing gore out of your hair, then it’s not a life worth living.’
I wasn’t a huge fan of one of the plot devices used near the end, but that’s a personal preference.
Major gripe - I have seen this marketed as queer knight fantasy by some reviewers. This is not that. It is a queer normative world, but the main relationship is heterosexual. There is trans, bi, pan etc representation, and side relationships, but this is not what I would call a queer lady knight story in terms of sapphicness.
Another note, on Goodreads it is shown to be a book one, so I’m curious to see if it is a start because this felt satisfying on its own.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
September 22, 2025
˙₊➴ ꒰ 4-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖
📜┆ ARC ⤿ Little Brown Book Group UK & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ V.L. Bovalino
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 09/23/25 ~ Happy Release Week .ᐟ
For years, the land of Idistra has known nothing but war. Since the fall of the Isle of Locke, the heart of all magic has been slowly dying. Now, a desperate mission to deliver the last surviving Locke to the High Lord falls into the hands of Captain Kier and Hand Captain Grey. For them, this is more than duty. It’s their final chance to restore balance before their service comes to an end.
But beneath the surface of duty lies a dangerous truth. Grey knows the girl they’re protecting isn’t who they think she is. Because she is the true Maryse, lost heir of Locke.
Haunted by the destruction of her home and the unbearable weight of her past, Grey has hidden her identity for years. Now she must face a choice: Will she reclaim the power and legacy she’s long denied, risking all to save what remains? Or will she keep running from the past that still haunts her?
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Characters
⟡ Grey Flynn - is a Hand Captain in Scaela’s army. She is a protector and anchor for her mage, Kier. But Grey is no ordinary well. She is the last Locke, a name long missing. When her home vanished, she let the sea swallow her past, rights, and identity, never wanting to experience loss again.
⟡ Kier Seward - is a Captain in Scaela’s army, a mage (internal affinity) to Grey. At just twenty-six, he has risen through the ranks due to his strength, power, and loyalty, earning him one of the army’s highest honors. But beyond titles and command, Kier is something more. He is Grey’s childhood friend, keeper of her silences, and one of the few who sees not just the soldier she became, but the truth she hides.
⟡ Brit Wyvern - is a Mage (material affinity) to Ola. They are known for their power and humor, bringing both magic and laughter wherever they go. As a materialist, they are the mind behind the weaponry for the quest.
⟡ Ola Et-Kiltar is - is Brit’s well. She is sharp of mind and blade. Ola is also a skilled navigator, which made her the one in charge of their routes for this mission. She is also known for her blunt honesty and sharper tongue. Ola balances her fierce attitude with expert swordsmanship.
⟡ Eron Fastria - is one of Kier’s skilled typic officers. Though he speaks little, his presence offers calm amid the chaos. With no strong preferences beyond his duties, Eron was assigned as the group’s cook. Much to everyone’s dismay, his meals often come in the form of watery, flavorless soup.
⟡ Sela Naudé - is the supposed Maryse, the last known survivor of Locke. Her true identity remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: she may hold the key to restoring the lost Isle and saving magic from fading entirely. Kier and his team have one mission. To deliver the girl to Scaela, unharmed and alive, no matter the cost.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
‧˚ ꒰ 🪶 ꒱ world & magic ₊˚⋆
The Second Death of Locke carries a rich layered world of Idistra, full of conflict, battles, and chaos. It’s a book that makes you focus and stay locked in. Coming from a previous no-brainer read, this book was a mental jolt that stimulated parts of my mind I didn’t even know needed scratching. The deeper I got, the more invested I became. But what really drew me in was the magic system. It wasn’t entirely new, but it was presented in a fresh way that made it feel unique in its simplicity. I especially appreciated that it went beyond your typical bonded dynamic. There was a real sense of partnership built on trust, support, and protection (not because the story told us, but because the characters genuinely lived it). Their roles felt earned, not just assigned, which added even more depth to their connection🪄
‧˚ ꒰ 🗡️ ꒱ characters ₊˚⋆
What made me stay were the characters. They were built to be stone soldiers, cold and resolute. Yet it was the unexpected warmth beneath the surface that will stay with you. Each one had their own spark, bringing something special to the group. ~ Ola and Brit were the life of the group. Eron, the charming caretaker. Sela, the baby of the team. Kier, the not-so-serious leader. And Grey, the ever-watchful guard dog. ~ The found family in this story is one I’ll always treasure. Despite being brought together by a mission, they slowly became something more. Through sleepless nights, bloodshed, and war, they stayed by each other’s side, supporting, protecting, and growing stronger together. 🗣️Special mention: Torrin you’re the best unc ever!🗣️
📯 And now drumroll, please! We've arrived at the part where I’ll yap even more. Buckle up, because this is about to get real real gushy. Eeee ehem! Last but definitely not least ... THE ROMANCE! 📯
‧˚ ꒰ 🗝️ ꒱ romance ₊˚⋆
The romance in this might just be my favorite part! The ✨yearning✨ was bleeding through every single page. I don’t usually read just for the romance, but in this case, I was devouring every moment of it✋🏻🤓. From the tender backstories, those subtle, electric touches, to the quiet glances and eye-to-eye conversations that said more than words ever could. It was everything😭. The flirty banter, the sacrifices, the emotional push and pull, had me grinning like a crazy person one second and ready to tear my hair out the next, just waiting for them to finally realize the love that’s been simmering between them all along.
The desperate urge to just see Keir and Grey kiss was overwhelming because it was painfully obvious these two were utterly and hopelessly WHIPPED for each other. Yet, despite the way they gravitated toward one another, they kept their relationship carefully held back by the chaos and catastrophe constantly surrounding them. From strangers ↝ childhood friends ↝ battle-forged partners ↝ lovers ↝ and beyond.✨ Their bond wasn’t just a romance. It was a journey. A slow, aching one that felt destined. Their love didn’t need grand declarations. It transcended words, transcended time, it transcended everything😮💨❤️🔥
‼️Kiernan Seward, the man that you are! I fear you have raised the bar from the depths of the sea and into oblivion that no man (even fictional) will ever reach it! Heavens, please please please give me my own Kier rn‼️
‧˚ ꒰ 🌊 ꒱ pacing ₊˚⋆
All those positives, were there any negatives at all? tbh the only thing that might have slightly put me off and lessened the rating was the pacing. Some scenes were longer than others, and some scenes felt like a blur. I wasn’t massively bothered by it, but being in the middle of a nail-biting and chilling action scene, you just want to get straight into what happens next asap. While they were scenes that evoke emotional grief and vulnerability (I enjoyed them ofc), I just want to get straight into the big boom of the story. Other than that, maybe more time with the quest crew? cause the travel and time with them felt super short. I wanted more moments with Brit, Ola, and Eron. I just couldn’t get enough of them. They needed more page-time!
‧˚ ꒰ ⚜️ ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
Wrapping up the first book in this trilogy, I see all the potential, and I'm excited to see where the next books will take us (this hasn't even been released yet, but I’m already begging for the next ones🫣)! As I’ve already stated, the politics, history, characters, and romance were already eating and serving us a whole buffet. So would you be surprised if I told you this was a solid 4-star read?🤷🏻♀️ ofc not hihi! Huge applause to V.L. Bovalino for this delicious feast, my brain and heart are still full (but I will always be ready for dessert cause there are still two more books)!🍽️💓
彡🔖 Also made a review post on booksta! You can check it out ⤳ here
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author — Little Brown Book Group UK, V.L. Bovalino & NetGalley — for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
It's pretty clear by now that I'm totally obsessed with female knights!👀⚔️✨
📜┆ ARC ⤿ Little Brown Book Group UK & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ V.L. Bovalino
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 09/23/25 ~ Happy Release Week .ᐟ
❝ We’re going to die in this armor, Mare had told her, gripping her hand, slippery with blood. We’re going to die under Scaelas’s banner, and for what? For what they did to Locke. ❞
For years, the land of Idistra has known nothing but war. Since the fall of the Isle of Locke, the heart of all magic has been slowly dying. Now, a desperate mission to deliver the last surviving Locke to the High Lord falls into the hands of Captain Kier and Hand Captain Grey. For them, this is more than duty. It’s their final chance to restore balance before their service comes to an end.
But beneath the surface of duty lies a dangerous truth. Grey knows the girl they’re protecting isn’t who they think she is. Because she is the true Maryse, lost heir of Locke.
Haunted by the destruction of her home and the unbearable weight of her past, Grey has hidden her identity for years. Now she must face a choice: Will she reclaim the power and legacy she’s long denied, risking all to save what remains? Or will she keep running from the past that still haunts her?
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Characters
⟡ Grey Flynn - is a Hand Captain in Scaela’s army. She is a protector and anchor for her mage, Kier. But Grey is no ordinary well. She is the last Locke, a name long missing. When her home vanished, she let the sea swallow her past, rights, and identity, never wanting to experience loss again.
⟡ Kier Seward - is a Captain in Scaela’s army, a mage (internal affinity) to Grey. At just twenty-six, he has risen through the ranks due to his strength, power, and loyalty, earning him one of the army’s highest honors. But beyond titles and command, Kier is something more. He is Grey’s childhood friend, keeper of her silences, and one of the few who sees not just the soldier she became, but the truth she hides.
⟡ Brit Wyvern - is a Mage (material affinity) to Ola. They are known for their power and humor, bringing both magic and laughter wherever they go. As a materialist, they are the mind behind the weaponry for the quest.
⟡ Ola Et-Kiltar is - is Brit’s well. She is sharp of mind and blade. Ola is also a skilled navigator, which made her the one in charge of their routes for this mission. She is also known for her blunt honesty and sharper tongue. Ola balances her fierce attitude with expert swordsmanship.
⟡ Eron Fastria - is one of Kier’s skilled typic officers. Though he speaks little, his presence offers calm amid the chaos. With no strong preferences beyond his duties, Eron was assigned as the group’s cook. Much to everyone’s dismay, his meals often come in the form of watery, flavorless soup.
⟡ Sela Naudé - is the supposed Maryse, the last known survivor of Locke. Her true identity remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: she may hold the key to restoring the lost Isle and saving magic from fading entirely. Kier and his team have one mission. To deliver the girl to Scaela, unharmed and alive, no matter the cost.
⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ Thoughts
❝ Power in bravery. ❞
‧˚ ꒰ 🪶 ꒱ world & magic ₊˚⋆
The Second Death of Locke carries a rich layered world of Idistra, full of conflict, battles, and chaos. It’s a book that makes you focus and stay locked in. Coming from a previous no-brainer read, this book was a mental jolt that stimulated parts of my mind I didn’t even know needed scratching. The deeper I got, the more invested I became. But what really drew me in was the magic system. It wasn’t entirely new, but it was presented in a fresh way that made it feel unique in its simplicity. I especially appreciated that it went beyond your typical bonded dynamic. There was a real sense of partnership built on trust, support, and protection (not because the story told us, but because the characters genuinely lived it). Their roles felt earned, not just assigned, which added even more depth to their connection🪄
‧˚ ꒰ 🗡️ ꒱ characters ₊˚⋆
❝ You matter more than your power. I beg you to keep that in mind. ❞
What made me stay were the characters. They were built to be stone soldiers, cold and resolute. Yet it was the unexpected warmth beneath the surface that will stay with you. Each one had their own spark, bringing something special to the group. ~ Ola and Brit were the life of the group. Eron, the charming caretaker. Sela, the baby of the team. Kier, the not-so-serious leader. And Grey, the ever-watchful guard dog. ~ The found family in this story is one I’ll always treasure. Despite being brought together by a mission, they slowly became something more. Through sleepless nights, bloodshed, and war, they stayed by each other’s side, supporting, protecting, and growing stronger together. 🗣️Special mention: Torrin you’re the best unc ever!🗣️
📯 And now drumroll, please! We've arrived at the part where I’ll yap even more. Buckle up, because this is about to get real real gushy. Eeee ehem! Last but definitely not least ... THE ROMANCE! 📯
‧˚ ꒰ 🗝️ ꒱ romance ₊˚⋆
❝ It’s not magic when I have it. It takes you to make it into something. ❞
The romance in this might just be my favorite part! The ✨yearning✨ was bleeding through every single page. I don’t usually read just for the romance, but in this case, I was devouring every moment of it✋🏻🤓. From the tender backstories, those subtle, electric touches, to the quiet glances and eye-to-eye conversations that said more than words ever could. It was everything😭. The flirty banter, the sacrifices, the emotional push and pull, had me grinning like a crazy person one second and ready to tear my hair out the next, just waiting for them to finally realize the love that’s been simmering between them all along.
❝ They’d known each other so long, grown into each other like roots of neighboring trees rather than neighboring children until Kier was so intrinsically tied with her understanding of magic that she sometimes had trouble separating the two. ❞
❝ You are a vision, even with blood clots in your hair. But I don’t know if all would share my depraved tastes. ❞
The desperate urge to just see Keir and Grey kiss was overwhelming because it was painfully obvious these two were utterly and hopelessly WHIPPED for each other. Yet, despite the way they gravitated toward one another, they kept their relationship carefully held back by the chaos and catastrophe constantly surrounding them. From strangers ↝ childhood friends ↝ battle-forged partners ↝ lovers ↝ and beyond.✨ Their bond wasn’t just a romance. It was a journey. A slow, aching one that felt destined. Their love didn’t need grand declarations. It transcended words, transcended time, it transcended everything😮💨❤️🔥
❝ Take my freedom, Grey. Everything I have is yours. Everything I am is yours. Take my freedom, and keep your power, and keep my life. If you are here, I want to live. Even if it requires haunting this godforsaken rock for the rest of my life, never being more than an hour’s walk from you at any time – because, honestly, that’s how we would be anyways. ❞
‼️Kiernan Seward, the man that you are! I fear you have raised the bar from the depths of the sea and into oblivion that no man (even fictional) will ever reach it! Heavens, please please please give me my own Kier rn‼️
‧˚ ꒰ 🌊 ꒱ pacing ₊˚⋆
All those positives, were there any negatives at all? tbh the only thing that might have slightly put me off and lessened the rating was the pacing. Some scenes were longer than others, and some scenes felt like a blur. I wasn’t massively bothered by it, but being in the middle of a nail-biting and chilling action scene, you just want to get straight into what happens next asap. While they were scenes that evoke emotional grief and vulnerability (I enjoyed them ofc), I just want to get straight into the big boom of the story. Other than that, maybe more time with the quest crew? cause the travel and time with them felt super short. I wanted more moments with Brit, Ola, and Eron. I just couldn’t get enough of them. They needed more page-time!
‧˚ ꒰ ⚜️ ꒱ final thoughts ₊˚⋆
Wrapping up the first book in this trilogy, I see all the potential, and I'm excited to see where the next books will take us (this hasn't even been released yet, but I’m already begging for the next ones🫣)! As I’ve already stated, the politics, history, characters, and romance were already eating and serving us a whole buffet. So would you be surprised if I told you this was a solid 4-star read?🤷🏻♀️ ofc not hihi! Huge applause to V.L. Bovalino for this delicious feast, my brain and heart are still full (but I will always be ready for dessert cause there are still two more books)!🍽️💓
❝ But being afraid is better than being hopeless. ❞
彡🔖 Also made a review post on booksta! You can check it out ⤳ here
➳ Huge thanks to the publisher & author — Little Brown Book Group UK, V.L. Bovalino & NetGalley — for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
˚₊ ⟢┊pre-read 🖇️┊⊹࣪⋆
It's pretty clear by now that I'm totally obsessed with female knights!👀⚔️✨
July 26, 2025
This novel took me on a dark, mysterious and adventurous ride that I did not want to get off of! I absolutely loved this book and I cannot wait until the second book in this series comes out! It is emotional, tense and hopeful! It is filled with lovable and diverse characters. It is extremely well written and entertaining! It also comes with a Lady knight protagonist, which I absolutely loved her! The medieval fantasy world building was fantastic.
The magical system in this book is amazing! It’s about sacrifice, loyalty, loss, and a found family. While I was reading this book, it truly took me into a completely different world. The imagination that this author has is remarkable! I honestly did not want this book to end. The only critique I have is it did start off on the slower side, but it picked up about halfway through and continued to get better and better! It’s very engaging, comes with effective visuals and a slow burn romance that is full of tension. The characters have emotional depth and warmth to them!
“The Second Death of Locke” is the first book in “The Hand and The Heart” series. This book centers around a character named Grey Flynn, who is a warrior and has magical powers that fuels her mage, Kiernan. Secretly, Grey is the heir to the lost Isle of Locke. If Grey were to die, so will all of her magic. Grey goes on a quest to protect the child of an enemy, battles and is even willing to sacrifice everything for Kiernan! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Content warnings include death, violence, war, sexual content and mental illness (mainly panic attacks). I think fans of romantic fantasies with emotional depth would absolutely love reading this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, author V. L. Bovalino and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 23, 2025!
The magical system in this book is amazing! It’s about sacrifice, loyalty, loss, and a found family. While I was reading this book, it truly took me into a completely different world. The imagination that this author has is remarkable! I honestly did not want this book to end. The only critique I have is it did start off on the slower side, but it picked up about halfway through and continued to get better and better! It’s very engaging, comes with effective visuals and a slow burn romance that is full of tension. The characters have emotional depth and warmth to them!
“The Second Death of Locke” is the first book in “The Hand and The Heart” series. This book centers around a character named Grey Flynn, who is a warrior and has magical powers that fuels her mage, Kiernan. Secretly, Grey is the heir to the lost Isle of Locke. If Grey were to die, so will all of her magic. Grey goes on a quest to protect the child of an enemy, battles and is even willing to sacrifice everything for Kiernan! Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars rating!
Content warnings include death, violence, war, sexual content and mental illness (mainly panic attacks). I think fans of romantic fantasies with emotional depth would absolutely love reading this book!
Thank you to NetGalley, author V. L. Bovalino and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for this digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This book is expected to be published on September 23, 2025!
September 15, 2025
4.25 / 5 Stars
‘What is love, without freedom?’ she murmured against his skin. He leaned close to kiss her shoulder, then to whisper in her ear. ‘What is life without you?’
This was a beautiful, epic, romantic fantasy that I really enjoyed even though it sometimes felt a little slow. A quick synopsis in layperson terms: Grey Flynn’s whole life revolves around her mage, Kier. As his “Hand,” Grey’s job is to: 1) be a well of power for Kier to use to perform magic and 2) no matter what, keep him alive, as both his protector and healer. There has been war ever since the Isle of Locke disappeared almost two decades ago (the isle legit just vanished into the ocean). Finding the long lost heir to Locke could end the war so when Kier and Grey are sent on a mission to capture and then transport someone who claims to be the heir, their lives, along with the apparent heir’s life, are in danger. Kier and Grey get wrapped up in political chess games as they try to maneuver to save as many lives as possible. (PS, I think the actual synopsis includes a reveal that is fun to find out in the book instead of through a plot summary so I didn’t include it here).
You will probably like this book if you like:
⚔️ Romantic fantasy with a unique magic system based on a magical bond
✨ Female knight FMC x Male mage MMC
⚔️ Childhood best friends to lovers
✨ Found family
⚔️ Epic quest and battles
✨ Lost heir
⚔️ LGBTQ+ rep
I really loved the magical system and how it inherently created an incredibly intimate relationship between Kier and Grey. Kier and Grey have been friends ever since Grey ended up in his village after her parents died. She was taken in by his neighbor, but was basically raised by Kier’s moms. Then, they were paired as mage and Hand. As Hand and mage, they feel a tether between each other so they can sense what the other is feeling and their powers are best shared when they are physically touching. Super intimate. Then you add that decades-long friendship. Then you add secrets that they hold for each other and from everyone else. Then you add Grey’s attraction to Kier. The trust and love is so deep and so ingrained that it is no wonder that the boundaries in their relationship are blurry and confusing. It’s devotion. It’s deep seeded trust. It’s love. It’s really juicy and magical. The only things that took away from their relationship was that 1) they LOVE making sacrifices for each other without consulting the other (a lot of “the words were on the tip of her lips but she could not say them.” Just say them, girl) and 2) when they do cross the line, the explanation for why they hadn’t crossed it prior wasn’t strong enough for me to believe. And yet, I was still very invested in their love story. They say stuff like “I am unmoored without you.” How am I supposed to be not affected by that? I am but a simple lady who loves yearning and pining.
I also loved the world building. It was really medieval and gothic and moody. The political system was complicated enough to be super intrigued and to create great tension but not so complicated that I had to take copious notes to keep up. Things were revealed slowly but everything does get answered in a cool way. Also, the magic system felt unique and really well crafted. It was just cool to read something that felt different and special.
Also, I LOVED Grey. She was badass and soft. Independent and loving. Kind and ruthless. She was just really well written. Yes, she didn’t communicate well sometimes (see my note above), but I will let it slide because lady knights are cool. She wore armor, stabbed people, and carried powers. The best. I wish Kier was a little more fleshed out. I think because it was told from Grey’s POV, Kier came off as kind, flirty, and self-sacrificing which was great but I wanted to know just as much about his backstory as we found out about Grey. All of the side characters were fantastic. It was also a super queer normative world which I loved.
My biggest qualm is that the book felt slow at times and maybe could have been 50 pages shorter. Sometimes the parts between the action felt a tiny bit repetitive or just slow and I found myself checking how much was left until the next chapter. I am someone who tends to focus on relationships and character development so as much as I love the world, I didn’t care as much about scenery or the fighting, but that is a personal preference. Often there would be great reveals that helped me lock back in, which helped.
This is definitely a book I will re-read in the future!
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
__________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I have heard so many people raving about this ARC so I had to jump on the bandwagon. Give me the lady knight and it's a childhood friends to lovers 🤤🤤🤤
‘What is love, without freedom?’ she murmured against his skin. He leaned close to kiss her shoulder, then to whisper in her ear. ‘What is life without you?’
This was a beautiful, epic, romantic fantasy that I really enjoyed even though it sometimes felt a little slow. A quick synopsis in layperson terms: Grey Flynn’s whole life revolves around her mage, Kier. As his “Hand,” Grey’s job is to: 1) be a well of power for Kier to use to perform magic and 2) no matter what, keep him alive, as both his protector and healer. There has been war ever since the Isle of Locke disappeared almost two decades ago (the isle legit just vanished into the ocean). Finding the long lost heir to Locke could end the war so when Kier and Grey are sent on a mission to capture and then transport someone who claims to be the heir, their lives, along with the apparent heir’s life, are in danger. Kier and Grey get wrapped up in political chess games as they try to maneuver to save as many lives as possible. (PS, I think the actual synopsis includes a reveal that is fun to find out in the book instead of through a plot summary so I didn’t include it here).
You will probably like this book if you like:
⚔️ Romantic fantasy with a unique magic system based on a magical bond
✨ Female knight FMC x Male mage MMC
⚔️ Childhood best friends to lovers
✨ Found family
⚔️ Epic quest and battles
✨ Lost heir
⚔️ LGBTQ+ rep
I really loved the magical system and how it inherently created an incredibly intimate relationship between Kier and Grey. Kier and Grey have been friends ever since Grey ended up in his village after her parents died. She was taken in by his neighbor, but was basically raised by Kier’s moms. Then, they were paired as mage and Hand. As Hand and mage, they feel a tether between each other so they can sense what the other is feeling and their powers are best shared when they are physically touching. Super intimate. Then you add that decades-long friendship. Then you add secrets that they hold for each other and from everyone else. Then you add Grey’s attraction to Kier. The trust and love is so deep and so ingrained that it is no wonder that the boundaries in their relationship are blurry and confusing. It’s devotion. It’s deep seeded trust. It’s love. It’s really juicy and magical. The only things that took away from their relationship was that 1) they LOVE making sacrifices for each other without consulting the other (a lot of “the words were on the tip of her lips but she could not say them.” Just say them, girl) and 2) when they do cross the line, the explanation for why they hadn’t crossed it prior wasn’t strong enough for me to believe. And yet, I was still very invested in their love story. They say stuff like “I am unmoored without you.” How am I supposed to be not affected by that? I am but a simple lady who loves yearning and pining.
I also loved the world building. It was really medieval and gothic and moody. The political system was complicated enough to be super intrigued and to create great tension but not so complicated that I had to take copious notes to keep up. Things were revealed slowly but everything does get answered in a cool way. Also, the magic system felt unique and really well crafted. It was just cool to read something that felt different and special.
Also, I LOVED Grey. She was badass and soft. Independent and loving. Kind and ruthless. She was just really well written. Yes, she didn’t communicate well sometimes (see my note above), but I will let it slide because lady knights are cool. She wore armor, stabbed people, and carried powers. The best. I wish Kier was a little more fleshed out. I think because it was told from Grey’s POV, Kier came off as kind, flirty, and self-sacrificing which was great but I wanted to know just as much about his backstory as we found out about Grey. All of the side characters were fantastic. It was also a super queer normative world which I loved.
My biggest qualm is that the book felt slow at times and maybe could have been 50 pages shorter. Sometimes the parts between the action felt a tiny bit repetitive or just slow and I found myself checking how much was left until the next chapter. I am someone who tends to focus on relationships and character development so as much as I love the world, I didn’t care as much about scenery or the fighting, but that is a personal preference. Often there would be great reveals that helped me lock back in, which helped.
This is definitely a book I will re-read in the future!
Thank you Forever (Grand Central Publishing) and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Publication Date: September 23, 2025
__________
Pre-Read Thoughts: I have heard so many people raving about this ARC so I had to jump on the bandwagon. Give me the lady knight and it's a childhood friends to lovers 🤤🤤🤤
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