It was an amazing read. The novel was well-paced, and the story quite new. It has romance and fantasy, but it is not a fantasy in the negative sense, where characters are one-dimensional, very stereotypical. Quite the contrary, the characters are so well thought out, their relationships and interactions are "natural", they make sense, and it was such a pleasure to read about all of them. I absolutely loved the FMC as a knight ( well/Lady) and the fact that although the relationship between Grey and Kier is an important aspect of the story, it is not written as a story of obsessive/immature love. The only thing I would have loved to read more of is the description of the settings to make it a bit more atmospheric. I definitely want to read more of the author.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for sending me a copy in exchange for a review.

This book blew me away and is exactly the kind of thing that I didn't know I have been looking for. Where have you been all my life?!

The magic system, the world building - this was written so fantastically that I was fully immersed from page one line one, but it was truly the relationship between Keir and Grey that had me staying up until the wee hours. The yearning, the touching, the way the gender roles normalised by the patriarchy were just swiped off of the table - men get emotional in this book, they cry, they talk of their feelings - it just echoed Tolkien and the Fellowship for me.

This book was filled with fear, grit, blood, grief but also love for friends and family, that just comes together with the fantastic world building to create my favourite read of this year.

You'd be a fool not to pick this book up.

The Second Death of Locke is dark, atmospheric, and completely absorbing. V.L. Bovalino has crafted a story that feels both chilling and deeply human, full of tension and heart in equal measure. From the very first chapter, I was pulled into Locke’s world and couldn’t look away.

What I loved most was how the novel balances gothic atmosphere with real emotional weight. The setting is eerie and haunting, but it never overshadows the characters. Locke’s journey is full of grief, longing, and the search for truth, and that emotional undercurrent made the more unsettling moments hit even harder.

Bovalino’s writing is beautiful and cinematic, full of rich detail without ever slowing down the story. There’s a constant feeling of unease, like the ground might give way at any moment, which kept me hooked right to the end. It’s a story about death and mystery, but also about love, loyalty, and what it means to keep going when everything feels lost.

I'm so hyped for the current Lady Knight trend in books. This was the first book featuring that trope that I've read, and if they're all like this, sign me up for LIFE. The author knocked it out of the park with this one, I need you all to get on this. This is a book, and especially a romance, to go feral for.

At first I wasn't sure what to make of this one, I'll be honest. It seemed very complex and it took me a while to get into it. That was really just the first bit though, because once I had a feel for the story and its characters, it didn't feel needlessly complex anymore at all.

For a long time, I thought this would be a 4 star read, because while I enjoyed the character dynamic and the writing, I did crave just that little bit more world building. I'm a very visual reader, and I missed descriptions to help me imagine everything.

This did change a little for me towards the end, but more importantly, the author drew me in so much with her characters and their amazing dynamic that I felt too emotionally invested not to give this 5 stars. I felt like I was losing my mind while reading this because I felt consumed by the emotions in the book. I almost burst out sobbing at certain parts, and was giggling and kicking my feet at others.

My favourite part of this book is for sure the romance, but especially how it plays into the story. Grey and Kier's connection is so deep and steady that it made me feel so safe while reading, sure nothing would ever be able to come between them. This balanced the high-stakes plot in a delicious way - it was truly them against the world.

I just loved this. The characters were so fleshed out and I was made to care for them in such a relatively short time. The story was amazingly well written and kept me engaged throughout. The author has an amazing ability to evoke setting - Locke felt so real to me, and you could really feel the gritty, rough scenes of battle.

The magic system was also so interesting and unique, though I would have loved for the different kinds of mages to have been explained a little more.

I would love to see more from this world, whether it be with Grey and Kier or other characters.

WHAT?! This book has ruined me!

The kingdom is grappling with the aftermath of the fall of Locke, a once powerful island that was their source of magic. Since its destruction, the kingdom’s magical abilities has been fading. The intricate magic system involves Mages, individuals capable of wielding magic, siphoning power from Wells, magical conduits who serve as knights and sources of energy. We follow Grey, a loyal knight bound by duty and devotion to her mage and best friend, Keir.

Grey is a force to be reckoned with; she’s tough as nails, full of fire but also vulnerable in ways that make her painfully real. The depth of her loyalty to Kier, burns so impossibly bright. Keir is the axis on which Grey spins. He is the kind of character who doesn’t need to announce himself because you feel him in every scene. The other members of their group are just as vital to the plot however, the found family here isn’t sunshine and hugs, it’s complicated. They argue, clash and push each other’s buttons; but when it counts, they bleed for each other, fall apart, and hold the line together.

The world building is of epic proportions; you’ve got fractured kingdoms where loyalty shifts like sand, a complex, unpredictable, and frankly, terrifying magic system. However, the plot really shines in how it weaves together the personal and the epic; there’s court politics, betrayals, and battles, but at its core this is a story about love, loyalty and how far people are willing to go for each other. The stakes are huge from the start and they only get bigger. The pacing is relentless but very deliberate & by the last page, I was dehydrated and my heart hurt.

The ROMANCE?!!!! The friends to lovers trope is my kink but who allowed Tori to write a love story this intense?? This was an emotional mugging, I was clutching my kindle like it was oxygen. From the very beginning, the devotion between the two MCs is exquisite and can be seen in every move/decision they make. But the yearning! Ahhhh the yearning! The yearning, on both sides, is ravenous, unrelenting and so beautiful. The looks, the words left unsaid, the quiet touches, the banter, the wound cleaning! Help! How has Tori made first aid romantic?! Second Death has me in a chokehold! And Keir, Keiran Seward is the soul wrecking love interest you’ll never recover from; his love is quiet but all consuming.

Second Death is a story that grabs your attention, holds you by the throat and refuses to let go. The world is rich & intriguing, the characters are heartbreakingly real, the romance is a fire that doesn’t go out, & the plot never lets you breathe! I would recommend going into this completely blind, this is a story you’ll want to unwrap yourself. Five stars isn’t enough. This is a six-star read because anything less would fail to capture the depth of love I have for this book, the characters and Tori. 2025 is definitely the year of the lady knights and this just might take the top spot! It certainly has for me!

“You are everything I’ve ever wanted.”
That’s it. That’s the review. 😭

How do I even begin to explain how much this book destroyed me?? This wasn’t just a read, this was an experience. You know those books that wrap around your ribs and don’t let go? That’s exactly what this was.

I devoured it in a couple of sittings, stayed up til 2am clutching my Kindle like it was oxygen, and then forced myself to stop because I knew if I didn’t, I’d finish it all at once and just sit there emotionally wrecked with nothing left.

This book is pitched as a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy — and it delivers.
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🌌 The world & magic system
Grey is a “well” — basically, she’s her mage, Kier’s, entire power source. He can only do magic because of her. She heals him, fights for him, and literally is his strength. The magic system was so clever, with this deep bond between wells and their mages — part intimacy, part responsibility, part sacrifice.

But Grey is no ordinary well. She’s the heir to the lost Isle of Locke, which is basically the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her. Can you imagine carrying that secret around while trying to fight in a decades-long war??

The way Bovalino explains the fall of Locke — the choices her parents and Severin made — I was gutted.
"I thought you loved her."
"I love you more."
That line cut me right open.

The history, the lore, the politics — it all felt rich and fleshed out without ever being info-dumpy. And it had that perfect balance of epic scope and deeply personal stakes. Rich, layered, and so unique. It gave me a little bit of Lightlark vibes (lost island heir, high stakes), but in a way that felt way more mature and original.
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🗡️ Grey & Kier — the yearning to END all yearning
This bond between them? It’s… feral. Soul-deep. Torturously slow-burn.
“They’d known each other for so long, grown into each other like roots of neighboring trees rather than neighboring children…” — tell me that’s not the most devastatingly romantic line you’ve ever read??

They’ve spent their entire lives side by side, protecting each other, killing for each other, and hiding unthinkable secrets together. The tension is exquisite. Grey aches for him, but she’s terrified of admitting it, of risking everything. And Kier? He’s been in love with her for YEARS, just quietly breaking himself open to protect her.

When he finally confesses?? I screamed.
“I adore you. No – no. Listen. I… I’m in love with you. I’ve been in love with you for years, maybe forever. Sometimes it’s all I can think about, and I can’t breathe because it’s so heavy on my chest…”
HELLO??? HOW am I supposed to function after that???

And the way he treats her — tender but fierce, protective but never possessive.
“Losing you, living without you would be a fate worse than death.”
😭😭😭 He is the gold standard.
_________________

👥 The side characters — found family vibes
This book wasn’t just Grey and Kier in their bubble (though I would’ve happily read 500 pages of that). The side characters were absolute stars.

✨ Brit & Ola — Brit and Ola had me laughing at their banter with Eron and Sela. That chaotic energy paired with dry humour gave me life.

“I’m a disaster.”
“Generally, or…?”

"...but what does that mean?"
"When a mommy well and a daddy mage love each other very much..."

Peak comedy 👏

✨ Eron — I adored him. Ride or die. Fiercely loyal. Always stepping up for Grey and Kier.

✨ Leonie — warm, kind, one of Grey’s closest friends.

✨ Sela — brought out Grey’s protective, maternal side as they fought to protect the child they were charged with.

At the start, Grey is so closed off, only letting Kier in. But slowly, she begins to form these deep friendships, letting people past her walls, and it was so beautiful to watch.
_________________

⚔️ The quest & the stakes
Grey and Kier are sent on this dangerous mission to protect the child of an enemy kingdom. Their reward if they succeed? Retirement. But the whole thing is basically a death sentence. And throughout the journey, we see not only the external battles but also Grey’s internal war: who she really is, what she owes the world, what she owes herself, and whether she can finally admit what she feels for Kier.

The pacing? Perfect. Fast enough that I was hooked, but with plenty of quiet, yearning, intimate moments to rip my heart out.
_________________

💔 The heartbreak & the beauty
The fall of Locke. Grey’s family. The impossible choices. The secrecy. The devotion. This book is drenched in sacrifice and longing.

But it’s also drenched in love. Love that’s messy, self-destructive, all-consuming, and yet also healing.

“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.”
That line broke me.

And then there’s this:
“I am yours and I have been since the day we were bound, and even before that. I don’t care for the name, or the title, or even for the power. I care for you.”
...I’m never recovering.
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🌟 Final thoughts
This book isn’t just good. It’s special. It’s the kind of romantasy that makes everything else feel pale in comparison — a story of war and power, yes, but more importantly of love that burns so deeply it transcends everything else.

Five stars. No hesitation. If you love romantasy with high stakes, devastating yearning, and characters who will burrow into your chest and live there forever — read this immediately.

DNF @ 50%. *Spoilers* I really wanted to love this book, and although the concept is intriguing and initially drew me in, it just wasn't working for me. The world building was presented through a lot of info dumping rather than learning about it organically and the two main characters had potential but started to feel very two-dimensional once I reached the midway point. I was really excited to read a childhood friends-to-lovers romance but there was very little tension. They acted like a couple without their feelings being verbalised. I did love the magic system and how mages got their power source from wells. I hadn't read anything like that before but the description of the power was repetitive. The pacing and plot reveals felt off and were the biggest reasons I ended up DNFing.

The concept is good and I imagine a lot of people will like this story but it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown for approving the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.

I haven't read a proper fantasy with knights and wars and whatnot in a while, so I found this book to be quite a chore to get into at the start, and for a while this confusion remained, but I found Grey's relationship with Kier so endearing that I found it easier to focus on the characters instead of the world-building, and it turns out that I have made the right call.
Grey and Kier are just the sort of characters you find you have to root for, even if by rooting you mean yelling at your iPad about what an idiot Kier is (he's a big idiot IMO).
The characters all have a very distinct voice that makes it easy to follow along, and for those people who know of Bovalino's background in writing horror, you will not be disappointed by the battlefield descriptions.

There was nothing I disliked about this book.

All in all, I struggle to put my feelings about this book into words, but Bovalino managed her grand breakthrough into the fantasy genre with flying colors.
This book is perfect for people who want to read more women fantasy writers, the gays and sapphics who heard the word ladyknight and started foaming at the mouths, those of us who love a paladin for a D&D campaign, and those of us who dream of one day being able to read a thousand page epic fantasy novel, because I just know that The Hand and the Heart will be the perfect gateway trilogy! I can't wait to see what's next!
Definitely the fantasy release of the fall 2025 season!

Love. Loyalty. Sacrifice.

“Grey Flynne has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier. She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector no matter the cost.

However, they both hold a precious secret, that is put at risk when a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into the heart of their nations war and a fight for the root of all power.”

Ladies and Gents, welcome to your new favourite knight and mage! Grey Flynne, our FMC and key player in the story of The Second Death of Locke, is a sarcastic, but fierce badass who will pull you into her world and take you along for the ride.

Grey is strong, resilient and it can be hard to pierce the shell of her emotions but deep down she cares for those she loves. Although she has a bit of an attitude, she is always by the side of her mage and childhood friend Kier, with kindness and understanding seeping out of her pores as you grow to see their friendship and bond flourish.

I am usually an enemies-to-lover kinda girl, and don’t feel as strong as an emotion when it starts as friendship. However, I will eat my words and accept that THIS is how an author can write a fantastic friends-to-lovers romantasy. I will take no slander for our MMC Kier, who although to his superiors and fellow soldiers he is all business, respect and authority, he couldn’t be further than that with Grey. Kier is kind, gentle, understanding and protective.

The Second Death of Locke will take you on a journey with Grey, Kier and other loveable side characters, with the fate of their magical kingdom at their finger tips. The magic system is really unique, the world building is excellent with history and context weaved throughout and a love that is as deep as a well (you’ll know what I mean when you read this book).

If your looking for a book that you don’t want to end, but you can’t get enough of, then this is a book you will want to read! And when you do finish, don’t worry, its going to be part of a trilogy so there will be more one day!

Thank you to the author and littlebrownbookgroup_UK for the advanced copy of this book, I loved it!

This was my most anticipated release of the year, and I must admit, it was mostly on the strength of that cover. It conveys such a feeling of tragedy and romance and honor, not to mention, of course, the lady knight in armor, which is everything I want in a book and more. The story accurately contains all the above, but something in its execution prevented me from enjoying it fully.

The premise is fantastic: hidden identity, a submerged isle that used to hold an entire nation's magic before its ruling family was killed, magic that can only be worked in pairs. There is a story I would love here, but it was not the same one the author was interested in telling. Several conflicts that I saw arise did not come to pass, and others that I found less compelling were instead given the page time.
The first half of the book has barely any tension. Instead, the romantic plot is what's supposed to keep the pages turning, but while I liked both characters, on their own and as a couple, the way their relationship is written did not grip me. I believe it is a case of less is more, or in this case, more is less. The pining is on every page. Grey thinks about Kier and her supposedly unrequited love for him constantly, often rehashing the same exact thoughts every few pages. And because it's so clear that he feels the same, there's not even the curiosity of the "will they, won't they"—and why should there be, Kier is literally perfect. No flaws, and what I could glimpse of his personality was often buried under his unending devotion to Grey and her needs.

The second half was more interesting, action-packed and full of conflicting choices for our characters, but still, it's the romance that's pulling the strings of the plot rather than the opposite. The resolution happened very fast, and was surprisingly easy considering how much buildup there was around the themes of choice and sacrifice. That said, several aspects of the plot were original enough to be compelling nonetheless, and I had fun following Grey as she fake-it-till-you-made-it her way into her rightful role. The banter was cheesy but entertaining, and never did I doubt that she and Kier had known each other all their lives and were a perfect match.

The biggest negative is the biggest positive as well, namely, the worldbuilding. The author put a lot of thought into the lore of the world, and it shows. It’s certainly my favorite part of the story, and what makes me interested in trying the sequel as well. She however seems to have put very little in the actual setting, and that unfortunately pulled me out of reading more than once. It’s a medieval-like period, with knights and swords and inns and candles as the main means of illumination, so why are there so many modern terms and concepts? More than once there were references to electricity (metaphorical, but still), watches (”the timepiece on his wrist”), and, the worst offender, collapsible bowls. I understand one of the types of mages can manipulate materials, but I’m not sure that applies to inventing plastic or silicone. The healers have a modern-age understanding of medicine since they often refer to vitamins and nutrients—which however could be explained by a more thorough knowledge of the human body due to it being the focus of another of the magical affinities. But in the first part of the book, Grey uses a lot of common psychological terms to talk about her relationship with Kier, like “unhealthy co-dependency”, “anxiety-induced habits”, “compartmentalization”, which are not words I associate with the period the story was set in.

I’m really sad not to have liked it more, but I’ll be keeping my eye out for the blurb of the second book. I know there are stories in this world I would absolutely love, and I’m hoping different main characters and a different focus may do the trick.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book! All of the opinions stated here are my own.

The vibes were indeed immaculate but something about the romance in this didn’t do it for me. I think it was the complete and total lack of tension between these two-while yes there was the “we don’t want to ruin our friendship/working relationship” of it all, they felt inevitable throughout the entire book. I will say i actually was shocked by the reveal which very rarely happens to me in romantasy!

I was immersed in the story straight away, drawn in by the strong gothic atmosphere and the intriguing premise. I really enjoyed the bond between Grey and Kier. The magic system was interesting, and I loved the found family aspect and development of the side characters. I find flash backs can be really hit or miss but they worked effectively in this story.

That said, I felt the pacing struggled towards the end, and some elements were confusing, especially the overlapping use of names for places, titles, and family names. I also didn’t fully agree with a decision the FMC makes at the end. Overall, though, it was an engaging read with rich characters and a compelling setting.

Grey is a well, a person who can provide mages the magical energy that they can use, but the only one she wants to provide her power to is, her childhood friend, Kier.
When they are sent on a mission to protect and deliver a child to the country's ruler, they have to decide what they want to sacrifice to keep their secrets.

I have to start this by mentioning that it has one of my favourite romance tropes, but it was so masterfully done that I could not get enough of it. The pinning had me glued to the pages, I loved these characters and they frustrated me in the best way possible. These two were so sweet to each other even before they realized their feelings for each other were mutual.
But the main characters were not the only ones that I enjoyed, the friendships formed throughout their journey.

The worldbuilding was intriguing, but easy to understand, I would like to find out more about the world and the other types of magic. It would also be interesting to get the perspective of a mage.
Having the story from her perspective led to some really emotional moments, which made me understand her character better and see all that she had to go through for her to become the person she was.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK / Orbit Books for the eARC of this book.

2025 is the year of the lady knights and I am so here for it! The Second Death of Locke is the second knight-related book that I have absolutely come to adore. Charming, full of yearning and tension, this had everything I could possibly ever want in a book.

The world-building was so gorgeous and immersive. It felt quite akin to the setting of a D&D campaign and was packed full of adventures, of which I enjoyed every single bit. The magic system, at least to me, reminded me a little bit of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, but at the same time, had a uniqueness which made it stand out. This very magic system added so much to the tension that is intertwined throughout the book. Trust me, reading the story, with its immersive world building felt like going on an adventure with these characters yourself. And if you're a fan of very adventurous, tightly paced and action packed fantasy, then this is for you.

Speaking of the characters, the yearning! Seriously, the words were dripping with yearning and that made me want to scream into my pillow (in the best way possible). That yearning and the bond between Grey and Keir added an intensity to the story, which made it very hard to look away from it. This was yearning done right. Grey and Keir's dynamic felt symbiotic in nature, and I feel it's so hard to write about these two separately because they are so deeply connected. One can't (and shouldn't really) exist without the other. Their friendship and their love is indescribable and when you read it, you will understand. The bond Grey and Keir have goes far beyond what some simple words can describe.

I don't want to spoil anything for people, because I want you to go in blind to this. Trust it is full of adventure, and really, the perfect pacing, which makes for such a great fantasy read. This was one of the best fantasy books I've read and the writing style makes it even more better; I've always enjoyed Bovalino's YA books, and now I'm so in love with her adult fantasy debut. The Second Death of Locke was such an incredible read and I cannot wait to hold a physical copy in my hands.

The Second Death of Locke ARC Review ⚔️

"I promise on your name, Kiernan Trevaine Seward, sworn Locke. As I am your Hand and your power."

V.L. Bovalino what have you done to me? This book had me in an emotional chokehold. I was excited, happy, sad, devastated, elated and broken at different points in this book. I apologise for the amount of quotes that are in my review but this book was just so highlightable.

"He laced his free hand together with the one she had on his knee, and the power flowed through them, a full unbroken circuit."

I loved Kier and Grey so much! The absolute yearning that was felt from the get go, and the pining, affection, trust and respect they had for each other right was written so well. From chapter one you knew their relationship and their dynamic and you believed they've known each other for years just based on the dialogue, I was in it for the long haul after chapter two.

"She let him press a kiss to her forehead and did not allow herself to think what would happen if she asked for more of him."

Although this has a strong romance line, the actual plot is so compelling as they're given a mission to deliver an important young girl, on foot, across dangerous lands. But it's more than this, but I can't say because of spoilers arrrr! The other knights and members of their group are absolute found family material. I can't say much more because there are some twists and turns and I really do not want to spoil anything for anyone wanting to read it. And you should because it's a masterpiece, 5 stars just isn't enough!

"She ached for him to reach out and push the hair out of her face like he sometimes did when they were on the edge of sleep, as if he couldn’t bear to drift off without seeing her face."

Even as friends these two were inseparable, their connection and understanding of one another, the utter devotion for each other too!

"Keep dreaming," she muttered, because it was what he expected of her; because they always flirted, and nothing ever came of it; because he didn’t know how much she wished he could be sincere and let her down easy, for once."

I already want to reread, I need to go back to the beginning to experience it all over again.

"She loved him in every way it was possible to love a person. And for the most part, she knew he loved her back, in his own way – but as she stared into the emptiness of the mountains, she wondered for the first time if that would be enough."

My instagram review is being posted on Tuesday and I will update the link here once done too.

The Second Death of Locke was a fascinating read — full of ambition, unique magic and a story that mixes political tension with personal stakes. I really enjoyed the idea of mage-and-well pairings and thought the world had so much potential, with glimpses of great lore and found-family dynamics. Grey and Kier’s relationship was compelling to follow, especially as secrets and survival pulled them in different directions.

That said, some parts felt a little uneven, certain choices didn’t quite land for me, and at times I wanted more depth and emotion to really carry the weight of the story. Still, it’s a creative and distinctive fantasy that will no doubt appeal to readers who love magic systems that stand apart and characters caught between loyalty, survival, and love.

3⭐️ and that’s me being generous because forehead kisses are cute| 1🫑

When people said this book was “unlike anything I’ve read before,” I thought they were exaggerating. Now that I’ve read it, I get it — because I still have no clue what this was supposed to be. Fantasy? Romance? Political drama? Worldbuilding held together with duct tape and vibes? Who knows.

First of all, the worldbuilding made my brain hurt. There are apparently six nations, but each ruler is literally just called the same thing as their country, and you’re just sitting there trying not to cry. One of these “nations” is basically one broke dude with no army, no money, no people — yet still treated like a superpower. The politics are even worse: alliances form because… feelings, wars happen for no reason, rulers make choices that would get them laughed out of a Model UN meeting. It’s giving “cosplaying as a ruler” rather than actually ruling.

The magic system had potential. I loved the Mage/Well dynamic — one powers the other, cool stakes, neat tension. Except… if wells are the only thing keeping mages' magic alive and no new ones have been born in 16 years, shouldn’t they be wrapped in bubble wrap and guarded 24/7? Nope. They’re treated like overworked pack mules, expected to be soldiers, bodyguards, medics, you name it. Meanwhile, mages are basically one-trick ponies who run into danger with the survival instincts of a cartoon character.

And then there’s the romance. Honestly, it’s the only part that made me smile. Grey and Kier are ridiculously tender with each other. Sharing clothes, forehead kisses, shoulder massages — it’s the softest friends-to-lovers I’ve ever read. At times it was genuinely sweet enough to make me appreciate the trope again. But… it also had zero tension. They’re basically already married, but we’re expected to believe Grey somehow thinks Kier “couldn’t possibly” love her back while he’s literally flirting and doting on her nonstop. That’s not yearning, that’s willful blindness.

Kier himself is the definition of a cardboard cutout labeled “perfect love interest.” His only personality trait is “in love with Grey.” He’s too perfect, too boring, and completely underdeveloped. Grey at least has a little arc about her past and power; Kier just hangs around like an emotional support boyfriend. And then when Grey straight-up betrays his trust by hiding the fact that he actually died and was resurrected on loan? He finds out in the most contrived way possible, gets (rightfully) furious… and forgives her almost instantly. Like, sir, you literally died for her and she still couldn’t give up her power to give you freedom. And then had the audacity to tell you you had no reason to be angry?? Be serious.

The pacing was another beast. The first half? Snooze-fest. I’d read 30 pages and feel like I’d aged a decade. The second half? I stopped caring. The big political themes all dissolved into nonsense. The climax was basically Grey running into battle against her own orders, getting almost killed because she wore ceremonial armor like a rookie, and then ending the entire war with a convenient magic trick that nobody else thought of. Boom. Done. Neat little bow of disappointment.

Overall? This book had flashes of brilliance — the Mage/Well idea, the tenderness of the romance, some really lovely prose. But it drowned in confusing worldbuilding, boring politics, zero-tension romance, and a climax that felt like a parody of itself. I put it down feeling more annoyed than entertained.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for this arc! It was truly a pleasure to read this arc.

What can I say about The Second Death of Locke that hasn't been send before? It is a wondrous story of love and protection; a fearsome mix of birthright and loyalty. It truly pulls at the heartstrings, while also making you kick your feet up in the air and fawn like you just witnessed true love. But the romantic elements aren't the only thing worth talking about this book; if it was, then I don't think it would've worked as well as it did. The elements from the side characters to the world building make this book come alive, in defiance of the title. Grey and Kier are fantastic in their own right, no doubt, but how they interact with their world, their environment...it just adds so much more.

I would be remiss not to mention those side characters in this review. They all form very important parts to the story, and shape how Grey forms as the story goes on. I think Eron and Ola in particular deserve mention, I think they, especially Eron, really step up when the plot requires them too, and they are so full of character. I also want to highlight how queernormative this world feels. Special mention to queer platonic relationships also being described and its sooo vindicating. Its special because it shows that platonic relationships can be strong just as much as romantic ones can be.

Onto the worldbuilding, I like how it was built up over time. In the beginning, I think the book suffers somewhat from it that makes it hard to get into, but once things settle down, its a lot more smoother. It feels so intriguing to hear about other countries and their relationships; I know that there's plans for more books set in this setting, and I honestly can't wait.

All in all, I think The Second Death of Locke was absolutely fantastic and wonderfully bittersweet start to finish. I can't wait to read more from V.L Bovalino in the future!

Oh, this story was just wonderful. Quite aside from being truly enraptured by lady knights - the story, the prose, the yearning? Delicious. Just perfectly delightful. I can’t tell you how refreshing it was to read a truly different magic system and a world that felt unique. I felt fully immersed into their world throughout and enjoyed every single page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Little brown book group and V.L. Bovalino for gifting me this eARC. My thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.