On paper, this is my ideal fantasy romance - a knight and his right hand woman, who are childhood friends, yearning for each other, and fighting to stop the war that has been raging for the majority of their lives.

But, this book had a fundamental problem - for it being a fantasy romance, it didn’t handle either of those elements particularly well.

THE FANTASY ELEMENT:

Ever since the Isle nation of Locke was attacked 16 years ago, its royal family murdered and the island itself sunk under the sea, the surrounding nations have been at war and magic has been slowly diminishing.

Sadly, we never get much information on the origin of this magic, how and why it works like does and what is the extend of what people could do with it. We could have dived a bit deeper into the politics, could have explored other nation’s types of magic, but the conflict was covered a very superficial way. I was surprised to see a very viable magic alternative exist within this world, but no one attempted to adapt to it or usurp it?
The war conflict was also resolved in a very quick and clean way, without much complexity, which made me raise an eyebrow.

That being said…

THE ROMANCE:

There was so much telling - telling us how much these two would sacrifice for one another, how much they love each other. Aside from being quite repetitive, they also constantly say this to one another, which killed any kind of tension/ yearning between them. Yearning works when we don’t know for sure the main protagonist’s feeling are returned, but since this was so bluntly hammered into us, their inability to communicate for such large portion of the book felt very annoying and some scenes felt extremely tedious to read through. I felt I was reading about teenagers, not adults, who supposedly knew each other since childhood and have had multiple adult physical relationships.

In a way, the romance felt a bit performative - they said the right things and were are constantly jumping at the chance to sacrifice their lives for one another, but we don’t get to see the small moments, the ones where they fall for each other or build a genuine connection. I know this is partially because they fell in love when they were younger, but we could have seen flashbacks of this or some moments of emotional connection which wasn’t life of death.

THE CHARACTERS:

Overall, the main characters felt very distant for the majority of the book - I didn’t get much depth from either lead, despite all they’ve been through. I enjoyed Keir’s character - he is very much the epitome of “golden retriever” boyfriend you will find in a contemporary romance, but I wish he wanted more for himself.

The side characters were there, but they didn’t really have big impact on the story.

There were important characters from both Grey and Keir’s past like Lot or Severin - I wish we saw some flashbacks to actually be able to meet them, instead of being told about them.


THE PLOT:

The greatest sin of this book is that it get’s boring. I know - a book about besotted knights in the middle of war gets boring? I didn’t expect that either, but it does.

Because nothing really happens until the last 70% of the book, no one surprises you - there are no twists, no betrayals, not unexpected allies/enemies, no war politics. We pretty much get told one of the essential mysteries of the book outright within the first 30% of the book, which is such a crime! I appreciate this is more of a Romantasy, but this would have been so much more intriguing if we had to uncover it for ourselves.

There is a choice Grey has to make later in the book, which she doesn't discuss with Keir and I’m still not sure I like the way that conflict was handled.

Overall, the plot was pretty straightforward and uncomplicated.

TL:DR

All of this being said, this is a pretty inoffensive book that has a sweet romance, and I know many others would absolutely love it.

For me, this book was just okay and I needed a bit more complexity in the character and the world to give it a higher rating.
You should pick it up if you want a romance and don’t want to worry about complex fantasy world-building. Despite what the synopsis says, this is not really epic fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for providing a complimentary digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sixteen years ago, the Isle of Locke disappeared from the sea, leaving its neighbouring states to fall into never-ending war. Each of the four nations has its sights set on one goal: finding the last heir of Locke, resurrecting the isle, and therefore controlling the source of magic.

Kier Seward, a powerful mage, and his assigned well, Grey Flynn, are childhood best-friends turned soldiers, who have grown tired of the gruelling reality of warfare. When their commander discovers a young girl claiming to be the missing heir of Locke, Grey and Kier are tasked with delivering her to safety in exchange for their retirement from the military. But Grey and Kier both know the girl must be an imposter - because Grey is the last true daughter of Locke.

I thoroughly enjoyed the dual nature of magic in this novel. To use magic, a mage must draw power through a well - a person born with the ability to funnel magic through their body, but who themselves is unable to wield it. The limitation of a mage to rely on a well created an interesting dynamic within the military but also between our main characters, Grey and Kier.

While I enjoyed the general world-building and set up of the novel (I love a quest!), where this book fell flat for me was in the romantic relationship between Grey and Kier. I would 100% recommend this to fans of friends-to-lovers and deep (like, Mariana Trench deep) yearning - that being said, I really dislike romance in general, and I underestimated how much of a central focus it would be in this novel. I also felt that the reasons for why these two adults were withholding their feelings for so long were a little contrived, and the constant remarks of yearning were getting too repetitive. Simply put, not my personal cup of tea.

My one other tiny pet-peeve was how often the phrase “I am Locke” was used. It became extremely hard to ignore when it appeared every two pages, whether a grand declaration or a throw-away comment from Grey.

Overall, this book was a little too heavy on romance for my personal taste, but I think lovers of romance who want a little more plot to the side of the yearning will thoroughly enjoy this. I am a huge supporter of the lady knight books, and this one has an especially stunning cover.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I had heard such good things about the Second Death of Locke, so I was really excited going in.
There’s absolutely lots to love here. The prose is very well written. Also, female knights!!
I loved the queer norm world and how aspects of it were visible quite often; it was not just mentioned once and then forgotten about.
The romance is, of course, the main star. So. Much. Yearning. I loved Grey and Kier together. Their dynamic was refreshing since it was very different from a lot of popular romantasy. While friends to lovers is not my romance trope of choice, it really made the story what it is here.
However, there were a few reasons why I never fully got hooked on the story.
There was supposed to be a found family element to this but the side characters never came to life properly. They felt quite interchangeable to me.
The pacing especially in the first half was very slow and the central mystery didn’t stay a mystery for very long.
I also found the nations and their politics very confusing even though I read quite a bit of high fantasy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I loved The Second Death of Locke. It’s a rich, emotional fantasy that balances magic, duty, and a slow-burn romance. Grey and Kier’s relationship felt heartfelt and mature, a breath of fresh air among the romantasy genre, and the world-building was intricate and fleshed out. Some characters are a little simplistic and I wanted to learn more about them, but it didn't overshadow my enjoyment of the book. I really loved the way it's written - atmospheric and lyrical - similar to Rachel Gillig. I read it within 24 hours and have already recommended it to my friends.

3.5 stars. Very nice book, I enjoyed it.

Interesting magic concept and good story. Some mysteries and we uncover them at nice pace. Book concludes well and could easily be a standalone. I am very curious what we other books in the series be about.

I like both Grey and Kier. They are very nice characters and their romance is slow and realistic for friends that grow into a couple. There are some sex scenes, decently well described, but I skipped them as I don't like reading them. Few bits I did read were not super explicit.

I look forward to reading more of The Hand and the Heart.

One of my favourite books I have read in ages. Couldn’t put this one down and have already recommended it to a few people. The premise felt so new, especially in a genre that has been oversaturated with books recently. Cannot wait to read more by this author.

*this e-arc was kindly provided by NetGalley*

I want to start this review by saying that I actually liked this book a lot. Grey and Kier are extremely compelling characters, surrounded by other very interesting characters. While the beginning felt a little slow-paced, I enjoyed the life at the camp, and I actually would love to see more of their past as soldiers!
I am curious for what will come in the next two books, since this one can be considered also as a standalone.

Overall: 3.75/4

Thank you NetGalley and V.L. Bovalino for the ARC!

The Second Death of Locke
⤷ ⭑⭑⭑⭑.𝟮𝟱

❝ A well without a mage is nothing. ❞

꒰ It has been sixteen years since the fall of the Isle of Locke. With the island’s source of power vanished, the nations of Idistra are embroiled in conflict, each trying to restore the Isle because the wells have continued to dwindle since its fall. Hand Captain Grey Flynn of Scaela is a powerful well who is completely devoted to her mage, Captain Kiernan Steward, a highly skilled mage aiming to become a master. They have been lifelong friends and an inseparable duo known throughout the military. With a promise of an early retirement, they are tasked with transporting a prisoner believed to be the long-lost Heir of Locke, whose return could revive the Isle and reignite its lost power. But they know that’s not true, as Grey Flynn is Gremaryse Locke, High Lady of the Isle. ꒱

⌞ release date: september 30, 2025 ⌝

ꕤ This is the first book in the “The Hand and The Heart” series, and I actually requested a copy after hearing it was perfect for fans of ‘The Six Deaths of the Saint,’ and it DELIVERED. If V.L. Bovalino keeps this up, then we are being spoiled with an amazing series!

When I first read the first chapter, I instantly knew that this story was going to blow up once it’s released. V.L. Bovalino captured a dark and gritty atmosphere, introduces a unique thread-like magic system, and most notably, vividly portrays the longing and romance between the characters. The writing, especially the scenes of yearning and romance, is so beautifully crafted that it feels lyrical and poetic.

˖᯽ ݁˖ ❝ Losing you, living without you would be a fate worse than death. ❞

I remember feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information we received about the magic system. However, I came to appreciate the rundown because the concept of the thread and tether was fascinating, especially during the action-packed scenes. How they are interconnected, both in terms of powers and mentally, adds a deeper layer to a mage and well’s relationship. This also explains why our characters’ devotion to each other makes perfect sense.

❝ That was the problem with feeling someone else’s emotions, even someone as close to her as Kier: there was not always a direct translation from his heart to hers. ❞ ༄

The yearning expressed in this book is both painful and one of its most compelling aspects. It’s a complicated yet realistic portrayal of depth of emotion and passion, conveyed so softly. We follow her longing for their relationship to develop into something more, even as she remains content with the platonic friendship she has with Kier.

⌗ ❝ What is love, without freedom? ❞
❝ What is life, without you? ❞ ⟢

Another aspect I appreciated about the book was the quirky nature of some characters, which added a touch of humor despite the serious mission and emotional weight. Grey tends to be distrustful of others, even her comrades, especially given the secret she’s hiding. Watching her gradually warm up to her squad was truly heartwarming. And as a little inside joke, think of HANDS IN INTESTINES, if you know what I mean!

⌗ ❝ Liking them, caring about them–it was a vulnerability she could not afford. ❞ ⟢

We have a found-family trope that I became so attached to and wanted more of. During these scenes, we get bits of comic relief, and each character has a distinct personality, which I really enjoyed. I'm hoping to see more of this in the next book.

❝ Give me a new task. Reassign me,’ Eron was saying. ‘I can’t cook for you. ❞ ⟡

I also appreciated how we explored the themes of grief and loss in the book. These flashback scenes moved me so deeply because something avoidable ended up blowing up into the inevitable, explaining why things unfolded the way they did. I felt Grey’s feelings of regret, anger, sadness, and grief, which were written beautifully.

Although I had some minor issues about the pacing at the end and felt certain areas could have been developed more, I still thought this was a great read and a good introduction to V.L. Bovalino. I can’t wait for the next book to be released so I can see more of the story and our characters.

⋆˙⟡ ❝ It’s yours, Gremaryse Locke, High Lady of the Isle and keeper of my heart, just as I am yours. Take it. Take it all. ❞

⟢ Thank you to NetGalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and of course, V.L. Bovalino for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Please remember that this opinion is my own. ⭑

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆

First of all, I would like to thank Netgalley and Orbit for the advanced copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review!

I have adored this story. I do often find myself wishing fantasy books were a little easier to step into—world building is not an easy thing, and I’ve always found it a bit hard to step into something new. The second death of Locke was extremely easy to fall into from the start, and I could not put it down past the 10% mark.

I have loved both our main protagonist and their stories. We often hear a lot about enemies to lovers especially in fantasies, but I had yet to find a friends to lovers story that gave me both the yearning and familiarity that came with knowing someone for so long. Kier and Grey were both incredible characters to follow through this journey, and I need at least three more books in this series at LEAST.

The only tiny downside I would have pointed out would be that the book’s climax comes a little early into the story (around the 70% mark if i’m not mistaken), and there were a handful of moments that felt a little “longer” than the rest after that. But then again, nothing to make it any less incredible and worth reading.

4.5 ⭐️

*Screams in yearning* this my friends is yearning! This is what I have been asking for. This is everything. From start to finish it was perfection. The magic system is soooo cool and the characters were amazing.

I adore found family and this one was just *chefs kiss* I loved getting to know everyone and I could have quite happily spent hundreds more pages adventuring with them here there and everywhere!

And can we take a moment to appreciate how beautiful this cover is?? It's all about the lady knights at the moment and I'm living for it!

The Second Death Of Locke is out on 23rd September so please go and order it now. Thank you.

Thank you to @netgalley and @orbitbooks_uk for the eARC!!

The Isle of Locke has mysteriously disappeared and magic is dying in its absence. Grey and Keir fight alongside one another in a seemingly unending war over power and the hope of resurrecting the isle to return the source of magic. The mysterious heir of Locke is being actively hunted and Grey and Keir may know too much.

This is a lovely friends-to-lovers romance that is a welcome change of pace when most recent romantasy is full of enemies-to-lovers (my favourite trope, don’t get me wrong). It was nice to see two people that yearned for one another from the beginning but were perhaps a little dense towards realising it.

I think there are a lot of strengths in this story, but also some points to learn from. To keep it short and sweet, I’m just going to do this in dot point form, but with suggestions for my critique:

Strengths:
-Yearning is fantastic
-Premise is gripping
-The main threads of the magic system are unique and interesting
-Keir is wonderful and soft and I love seeing men represented this way
-Queer normative and abundant!
-Gritty and visceral settings
-Great spice, and the switch to fade-to-black so not to get repetitive was welcome
-Well researched regarding terminology in places like the army, etc.

Things that need work:
-Pacing
Explanation: overall the pacing felt quite choppy. I think this could be improved by removing some of the more mundane things like bathing, changing clothes, cooking, etc. This interrupts the story quite frequently. Also, things that felt like they should have been a focal point of action were over in a page or two (Grey’s reveal of power towards the midpoint). There’s a lot of backstory told throughout the narrative that interrupts action. This might be better in the print version with some kind of visual indicator (italics or font change, etc) but I felt myself getting confused when we would slip into backstory and then restart exactly where we left off in action, sometimes in the middle of a conversation so I would have to scroll back to remember what was happening. This happened more at the beginning of the book, understandably

-Inconsistencies
Explanation: Some plot points felt like they needed a bit more consideration. The power of Locke. I don’t fully understand why the sequence of events in Grey’s childhood unfolded the way they did. If Grey and her brother were able to ‘form a circuit’ and ‘detonate’, why could her mother and father not have done this? I can forgive this in the way that no mother wants to wipe out her children and her husband in order to keep magic alive. So I’m willing to accept that she sent one of her children to his death to save the other, as a last resort. But then, at the end, we find out through the ghost of her mother that she knew all along how to take magic away from wells. Any wells, highly selectively and en masse. She teaches Grey how to do this in a moment where Grey is incredibly vulnerable and it wins them the war. Why did her mother not do this on the night they were attacked? If the breakbloom was affecting her mother, why did it not affect Grey that night? Or why did the soldiers not bring it to the battle on Locke in part 4? Why did her mother not escape with her children to then allow the breakbloom to wear off and then take the attacking wells power away? I think to avoid this slippery line of questioning Grey could have developed this power on her own. Then it would have been something new that solidified her as even more important and worthy of all the death that led to her being saved.

-Language
Explanation: sometimes I felt like I was reading a more modern war story just due to the words used. People can get a bit stuck on this, and I don’t think it needs to be perfect (sometimes modern words just work well!) but words like ‘detonate’, ‘circuit’ and phrases like ‘tune out’ made me slip into a more WW2 feeling of war. Tune out is obviously for a radio, detonate makes me think of bombs and circuit makes me think of computers. Some replacements for these are ‘stop listening’ ‘explode’ and ‘link’. Explode is still quite modern but it doesn’t make me think of technology in quite the same way.

All in all, the book was engaging and the romance was fun and so deliciously full of yearning. It’s something to be proud of!

˙₊➴ ꒰ 4-stars★ ꒱ ꒷⊹࣪˖

📜┆ ARC ⤿ Little Brown Book Group UK & NetGalley
✒️┆ Author ⤿ V.L. Bovalino
💌┆ Pub Date ⤿ 09/23/25

❝ 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?

⊹ ࣪ ˖ੈ 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 ₊˚⋆
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.

‧˚ ꒰ 🗝️ ꒱ 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😮‍💨❤️‍🔥

‧˚ ꒰ 🌊 ꒱ 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. As 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)!🍽️💓

➳ 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.

╴╴╴╴╴⋅˚₊‧ ୨ Full and more detailed review is on Goodreads & Fable! ୧ ‧₊˚⋅ ╴╴╴╴╴

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for an e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Grey Flynn is a well, a source of magic, and thus a Hand to her Mage Kiernan Severance; who uses her magic to fight in the war they both fight in, while she protects and heals her Mage. The nations have been at war ever since the Isle of Locke vanished in a big explosion. With the main source of their magic gone but magic hasn't vanished yet, rumors go about that a child of the Sovereign Locke survived. Caught up in the war looking for possible heir to Locke, Grey protects her Mag, her childhood friend, while we learn more about their relationship, their history and the secrets Grey holds deep in her, next to her seemingly bottomless well. An anomaly, something that no one can know...

A co-dependent magic system where Mages need Wells to use the magic that linger in the depths of a Well. This magic system comes with political power and demands Wells to endure discrimination as there are so little of them ever since the Isle of Locke disappeared. They need to be flexible and always there to offer a Mage a tether to their magic well. I loved and hated this part of the magic system. They are dependent on each other but the Wells suffer from clear abuse as they are so needed. Getting tethered without permission feels like a violation of ones person for instance. I wished there was a more in depth part of this and the consequences in the book, wouldn't have mind it being a duology.

I loved every part of this book. I had to hide my e-reader to not read non-stop.
The best part of the book is how we follow Grey tiptoe around her love and feelings for Kier. The yearning is a big part of this book and the last 25% had me in a choke hold. I had a hard time reading through my wet eyelashes, the amount of yearning and feelings in this book, the sacrifices people make for love in war time... The side characters are divers and flawed which makes them perfect.

If you love fantasy in a war time with battles, deep secrets, political times, yearning, queer inclusive and lady knight I highly recommend you pick up this book.

This book was a 4 star throughout until the last third and then it transcended.
First thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of this book, I probably would never have picked it up normally as the cover doesn’t appeal to me but the premise sounded good.
This is a great book, the magic system is so different, mages and wells cannot use magic independently so need each other, wells provide the magic but can’t use it and mages use the magic but can’t produce it. Very different and was explored so well in terms of battle scenes and the bonds between mage and well.
Romance in this book is important to the story but doesn’t take over, the story is ultimately about sacrifice and what you are willing to sacrifice for the greater good, your own happiness and the happiness of others.
At times it’s tragic, I cried a lot, the back story is heart breaking, the choices the fmc has to make also had me sobbing.
The mmc is a golden retriever in my opinion, perfect partner to the fmc who finds happiness more difficult to feel. No shadow daddies in this book.
There is a quest and this was the best part of the book for me, the side characters were excellent, funny and every part of it felt relevant.

There is some major world building going on in this book, countries, histories, royal families, political warfare so there is a lot going on in the first third to set the scene but if you stick with it then it’s completely worth the initial struggle to understand what’s going on. I don’t know if the finished edition will have a family tree somewhere but I would have appreciated one.

I don’t know if this is a standalone, it could be and I’d be happy if it was.

The storytelling was epic, the relationships that were explored were done so beautifully, I felt for all these characters. I couldn’t predict what was going to happen every time I thought I knew the story changed subtly to a new angle but it was perfect for the story.

Excellent 5 stars from me and a lesson to not judge a book by its cover.

The Second Death of Locke was one of those books that, at five pages in, I knew was going to be special. This book is the perfect blend of fantasy and romance. No scene is wasted and every word, every line is impactful.

We follow Grey and her mage Keir on a secret mission - one, if successful, could mean reprieve from their place at the frontline of an endless war. She is his blade on the battlefield, his protector and healer.. she is also helplessly and secretly in love with him; and despite everything they have been through, she does not know if he feels the same way. Grey knows Keir is wholly devoted to her, would die for her - and yet he has never said anything...neither of them had, really.

I could find no fault with Bovalino's story telling - the pacing was excellent, the atmosphere rich, and the yearning and pining was delicious. This was one of my stand out reads this year. Thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for the ARC.

I gave this book five stars because it opened my eyes to something I could love in fantasy books, something I thought I never could.

I loved this book for completely different reasons than those I usually do. I loved it for the world-building and its originality, its depth and the fact that it was grounded in history. I liked how the political aspects played a perfect role in the story, not just generally, but specifically in the love story between Grey and Kier. The magic system was also something new and played a big role in their love story.

Speaking of Grey and Kier’s love story.

I’m usually drawn to the enemies-to-lovers trope because of the tension and emotional rollercoaster it provides, but this time I experienced something new—something soft and beautiful.

The friends-to-lovers trope was so beautifully written that it gave me all the feels, just wrapped in a different package. So much yearning and pining that eventually gave way to a soft, safe love meant to last forever. A familiarity between the main characters that highlighted their deep need for each other, transforming into a “Take it. Take it all.” kind of love.

I enjoyed the slow pacing, even if at times it felt like Grey’s thoughts were spiralling or going in a completely different directions. While that was occasionally frustrating, I soon realised it was actually important to the story and to the character development. Everything was beautifully linked, slowly taking guiding you through the story. It also made it more close to reality, I found myself in Grey in those moments.

This book made me want to explore other parts of fantasy genre and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a romantasy with a unique setting and something fresh.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK, for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion! This one will stay with me for a long time.

The amazing cover art is what initially grabbed my attention.

The book had some really great elements, particularly the interesting magic system and the queer-normative world. However, I was disappointed in the underwhelming romance that was promised. I think my biggest issue was not having any emotional attachment to the MC’s. Not having this connection made it really hard for me to care about their journey throughout the book. I became uninterested in the rest of the plot and found myself pushing through to finish.

I think this story has a lot of potential but unfortunately I will not be picking up the next instalment,

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

My first NetGalley book and here goes my first honest opinion: 3.75 ⭐️

What had me hooked from the start was the way of writing and how deeply I felt the connection between the MCs. It went straight from the page into my heart, I’ve read a lot but rarely felt this much in such a deep and emotional way.
The way the magic works in The Second Death Of Locke was probably one of the reasons it worked so well, as it requires two persons to work: a mage and a well.

Which had me a little confused was the blurb, as it kinda spoils a major plot, but I guess it was pretty obvious.

Idk why, but from 10-40% I had such a hard times enjoying the plot. It was kinda stuck and super slowly paced. Luckily it picked up on speed and the story got a chance evolved.

It could have been a standalone but I’ll remain curious on what will happen to Grey and Kier!

Thanks for the earc @NetGalley!

4.5 ⭐

This was absolutely incredible, a fantastic story full of love and ceaseless longing, some loss too.

The first half was a journey/adventure, which introduced the characters and their personalities. The second half included a lot more action, which had me on the edge of my seat.

I loved Grey and Kier together so much, the way their relationship developed from friends to lovers, how they both eventually realised the other did in fact reciprocate their feelings. They had such a strong foundation to their relationship, and the trust and vulnerability really shined through.

Whilst the romance was beautiful, the found family aspect was so very heartwarming and probably my favourite thing about this story.

The plot was also nicely paced and satisfying, I also really liked the magic system. My only slight criticism is that I found myself a little lost when it came to all the different nations and their locations, as well as the exact politics behind them. Otherwise, it was truly wonderful.

Grey Flynn has devoted her life to her mage, Kier — his sword in battle, his healer in need, and the keeper of a deep well of raw magic only he can wield. She would do anything for him, if only he’d ask. When they’re tasked with a nearly impossible mission, they are dragged into the heart of a brutal war. Surrounded by danger and political intrigue, Grey and Kier must decide how far they’re willing to go — and what they’re willing to lose — to protect a secret that could destroy them both.

This book hooked me right away with its super original magic system: every mage is paired with a well — someone who’s a source of magical energy but can’t use magic themselves — and the mage channels and shapes that magic. Add to that a perfectly executed friends-to-lovers arc full of mutual pining and delicious emotional angst, and you’ve got my attention.

There’s plenty of battle scenes and action, a cast you’ll want to adopt, and an author I’ll definitely be watching. My only gripes? Despite all the hardships the MCs face, solutions sometimes felt too convenient, and the slow pacing dulled that “I physically can’t stop reading” effect just a bit. Still, this was an engrossing, heartfelt read with a magic system that stands out from the crowd.

Perfect for you if you like:
♡ lady knights
♡ childhood friends to lovers
♡ found family
♡ political intrigue and secrets
♡ queer-normative world