⭐️ 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.

Grey and Kier, childhood friends, hand and mage, maybe more. The plot involves killing, saving each other, close calls with death, yearning, fearsome lady knights, a lot of yearning, and resurrecting a lost kingdom. The underlying events of the book only start near the half way mark while the first half mostly focuses on Grey’s angsty inner monologues about unrequited love. The speculative elements felt a bit underdeveloped but the love story is really the highlight of this book. Not perfect but heartwarming, nudging at the greatest expressions of love: banter, sacrifice, and sharing clothes. Somebody please tell me how to get a physical copy of this book yesterday.

publication forthcoming sept 2025
many thanks @netgalley @readforeverpub

It was the stunning cover and intriguing blurb that first caught my attention, but it was the characters and plot that truly enraptured me.

Bovalino excels at crafting dimensional, emotionally rich characters. Grey Flynn, a trained warrior with powers that make her a "well" for her best friend Kiernan Seward, is a compelling heroine. Kiernan, a mage who draws from Grey’s energy, shares a bond with her that radiates chemistry and unwavering loyalty. Their connection is shown—not told—through every action, every thought. What I wouldn’t give for a Kier POV. Their devotion forms the beating heart of the story.

The side characters are just as refreshing. Even without detailed backstories, each feels distinct and real. The found family element was unexpected but authentic, adding warmth and emotional depth to the story.

The worldbuilding is equally masterful—rich, immersive, and alive with old magic and older secrets. Political tensions simmer just beneath the surface, enhancing the atmosphere without overshadowing the characters. The magic system is unique and fascinating, and I’m eager to see more in future installments, even if we’re following different protagonists.

If I had one minor critique, it’s that the pacing occasionally lagged. Still, the slower moments felt true to the story’s emotional arc and character development.

Thank you NetGalley, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars!!

The Second Death of Locke is sacrifice, loyalty, and pain in a bottle. We follow a co-dependent dynamic between Kier, a mage, and Grey, his hand/knight. The magic system is interesting, but definitely not the center point (a little underutilized imo).

This was a highly anticipated read for me and I do think it's worth putting on your tbr and checking it out! The plot is interesting, queer-normative world, and I will always enjoy a little found family. Kier x Grey relationship was much different than I expected, it was more of a childhood friends to lovers situation, people who know each other inside and out.

What worked for me:
- Quest vibes!!
- Mages x Hands dynamic
- Found family
- Every bit of lore of the Isle and the little letters at the start of each chapter
- The soft intimacy between Kier and Grey

Why I docked off a star:
- The set up of the relationship was giving more miscommunication and so I didn't get too fully enjoy when they "happened". I wanted yearning, but it felt hollow. I guess I didn't believe in the slow burn of it all. The relationship was good enough that I did enjoy their scenes and kept reading for the story though.
- Worldbuilding was definitely secondary, a couple plot holes here and there, some of the reveals felt convenient
- Sometimes the dialogue was more modern than what the setting called for, I think it clashed sometimes.

If you're interested in a romantic fantasy with devotion that has no bounds, pick this up!

4 / 5 stars

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC!

The Second Death of Locke is a story set in a uniquely magical queer-normative world. In this world, magic flows along a bond between Mages and their Wells. Mages draw power and Wells serve as both conduit and protector (like a knight). This book is an elegant story tracing the sorrow and trauma of loss as well as coming into your own power when faced with the choice of duty or love. Kier, a Mage Captain in the army, and Grey, his Hand (or Well), are long time companions tasked with transporting a special "package" across the country in exchange for their early retirement.

This is a story of yearning; of a slow-burn romance (emphasis on SLOW). Kier and Grey have spent years together to the point they know each other intimately. Their connection is laced with gentle touches and unspoken emotion (see my points below about that) in a delightfully tender way.

What I loved!
✨The romance wasn't overly sexual / didn't take away from the plot. With many books seem like they are trying to see how to max out the spice meter, it's refreshing to see a genuine relationship grow between two people without sex being the main focus. (🌶️/5).
✨Fantastic displays of non-toxic masculinity. Kier is a genuine man. He takes care of Grey without any expectations
✨ Lady Knights. That's an easy enough reason to 4-star a book in and of itself!
✨ Well-done, queer-normative world. A lot of the characters are LGBT+, but they're well-written and their expression/identity isn't their entire personality. Of the main cast, a few are nonbinary, transgender, and pansexual, so there is a diverse array of representation!
✨The Magic system. I love the idea of Mages and Wells. Mages can wield the power but the Wells POSSESS the power. A Well cannot access their magic without a Mage, and a Mage cannot do magic without a Well to draw from. Wells cannot be harmed by magic either, so they typically take up the role of physical protector of their mage and power source.
✨A bittersweet ending. This isn't your neatly tied-up, happily ever after fairy tale. I love when a book leaves me aching with equal parts joy and sadness.

Why I docked a star:
✨The Codependency. Grey and Kier's relationship is cute and I love the yearning between the two, but they really cannot do anything without each other. They haven't been apart for more than a few hours in...years...and it shows in how much they have to be up under each other. It detracts a little from the romance for me.
✨The slow story. The first half of the book is about the journey across the land to return the "package" and the second half is a lot more fast paced plot. The beginning of the book was a little slow for me and, while I love a good steady world building and character introduction/building, I found myself slogging through the read up until a big reveal that made the story start FLYING forward.
✨ The Slow romance. As stated above, Grey and Kier haven't been apart for longer than a few hours in YEARS. Yet their entire relationship (or lack of romantic one) is based on an inability to communicate. Both clearly have feelings for each other, spend every moment together, talk about everything from mundane topics to deepest secrets, yet neither in the years they've been together have insinuated interest in each other. It's a very frustrating amount of Grey going "I like him but there's no way he likes me like that" when she could just...said something

All in all I really liked this book! I think it's another fitting successor to the lady knight trope that is widely popular right now. I will definitely be purchasing this book for my self when it comes out!

4.5 stars.

Thank you to V.L. Bovalino, Forever, & NetGalley for providing the eARC!

I am not a huge fan of friends to lovers, in fact, I never read books with that trope. But I got sucked in because, hello, lady knight??? protecting her little bf (best friend)(unless.....) and highly enjoyed it. It definitely had moments where it felt a little too wordy, but it's also the first book in a fantasy trilogy, so I would expect there to be quite a bit of build-up/set-up for the next books. That being said, I don't think it was dull, or slow. It had enough action and banter to keep me interested and I quite honestly was going to rage at the end when you know what happened to you know who.

I'm interested to see how Bovalino moves forward with the story bc I think this would've been a good standalone, but I shan't complain

*chef's kiss*

I really enjoyed this one it was a fun adventure. The magic system was interesting but a little confusing at first and some of the world building was clunky. I liked the slow burn romance. It took me a little bit of time to get hooked into it and there were a couple slow parts.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grey has dedicated her life as a well to her mage and childhood friend Kier. She will heal and protect him on the battlefield and allow him to draw from her power. After a young girl arrives under the guise of someone else, they are tasked with returning her to her kingdom while keeping secrets of their own. This is a story about love, loyalty, and what you will sacrifice for the ones you love.

I loved Grey and Kier’s relationship in this so much. It is on the slower burn side as it turns from friends to lovers. I love how they protect and look out for each other no matter what. They sacrifice for each other ❤️ I loved the magic system where the mages were able to pull powers from their wells when fighting, and I loved all the political aspects. I think this is supposed to be a series but it ends off in a good place and not on a cliff hanger. I am excited to see where the series takes our characters next.

You will enjoy this story if you like

✨ Knight + Mage relationship
✨ Lady knights
✨ Found family
✨ Hidden identity
✨ Slowish burn
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Love loyalty & sacrifice
✨ Perfect mixture of plot and romance

Thank you to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

Such an amazing new novel (and adult debut)by Bovalino ! As a fan of her YA works, I was so excited for this new novel and it was everything I could have hoped for. Full of yearning and humor and magic...so so good

Thank you so much for the ARC of this book. I went into this book with very little knowledge of the story or this author and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the magic system and the world building. The queer positive storyline was engaging and encouraging, seeing that all genders were treated equally no matter their pronouns or preferences. The story focused on the plot, with political intrigue and mystery, with a romance subplot. The relationship between the main characters was beautiful, with the yearning and longing being felt on every page. The found family with the secondary characters was nicely done and you really felt the love and acceptance between the characters.

The story did seem to slow down in the final portion, with some repetition that might not have been needed to understand and feel the story, but overall this book was a great read and absolutely worth the time. I greatly enjoyed the ride and was sad to see it end.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an e-Arc of The Second Death of Locke. (Otherwise titled as one of my most anticipated reads of this year.)

The Second Death of Locke is a story of war, loyalty, loss, sacrifice, betrayal, and what it means to love and be loved. The world-building is beautiful. Bovalino paints a clear picture of the politics of the world both with and without Locke. The magic system is really interesting. The dynamic between Hands and Mages was a unique one that I have not seen before. Additionally, this is a queer-normative world. We are to understand that both main characters have been sexually involved with members of the same sex (not romantically, however). It is important to note that this is marketed as a romance novel. As I said, the world-building, political landscape, and magical system are all really cool. But, Second Death of Locke does not shy away from being romance forward. Kier and Grey are devoted to each other in every sense, but prepare for A LOT of pining and yearning. (So. Much. Yearning.)

The novel tells the story of Hand Captain Grey and Captain Seward Kier. Grey is a knight who is devoted to Kier, a mage. We are told in the beginning few chapters that Grey and Kier have grown-up together and have rarely been apart. Grey and Kier both enlisted in the army and became devoted to each other, as Hand (basically a knight but also a conduit for magic) and Mage (one who can draw from the Hand to do magic). The first half of the book is a typical quest narrative in which Kier and Grey are sent on an assignment to deliver the Heir to the fallen land of Locke. If they are successful, Kier and Grey will be permitted to honorably discharge from the army and retire forever. What happens next is...well...

SO. MUCH. YEARNING. We learn Grey has been in love with Kier since forever. She does not dare tell Kier how she feels as to not disrupt their dynamic. This is one of the slowest burns I have read. Frankly, it is obvious that they both care for each other as more than Hand/Mage but are too...dense to cross that line. (This may sound like a criticism, but I guess I love being in pain because I did not mind wanting to scream at them and push them together.) I only wish we could have seen any yearning/pining from Kier's POV. However, The Second Death of Locke is limited to Grey's POV.

As much as this is a love story, the world also focuses on the mystery of Locke and what finding (or killing) the heir to the isle will do to the greater world. There are also a decent amount of side characters who become a found family not only to Grey but also to Kier. Love, Loyalty, and Sacrifice are HEAVY themes in the novel. (Painfully so.) The idea of love as self-sacrifice (in a positive way and a negative way) comes up more than once.

The later half of the novel goes quickly and the main plot is resolved almost as fast as it began. Part of that is likely wanting to wrap up Kier and Grey's story (as they will not be the focus of the second book). Another part of that may be that the political intrigue is a secondary element to the book. The world is beautiful and we are treated to a picture of several different nations on the main continent. However, at the end of the day, the take away of the novel is less about the world and the politics and more about Kier and Grey. Their relationship is the heart and soul of this novel.

To caution, there is ALOT of dialogue. The middle of the book has a lull of action where it is just walking and talking. This is typical of a questing story, so I didn't mind. However, others may find it a bit too much talking.

In the end, this is a story about love, loyalty, and sacrifice.

And yearning. SO. MUCH. YEARNING. (5/5 would yearn again.)

The Second Death of Locke is primarily centered on the relationship between childhood friends-turned-mage and well: Kier and Grey. Kier draws magic from Grey, who we come to find out is the heir to Locke, a long lost island.

Upon reading the summary, I knew this would be an interesting read. I enjoy power dynamics that are inverted from what you would typically find in contemporary fantasies, and this is no exception. I was intrigued immediately by Grey's seemingly inordinate power. However, some of my excitement for Grey as a character was dimmed down by the codependency that exists between Kier and Grey. Of course, this is a necessary aspect of their relationship based on the way magic works in this world. Yet I couldn't help but get distracted by the amount of yearning that Grey shows to Kier, especially in the beginning. Although her pining/yearning is meant to demonstrate devotion and selflessness towards the one she loves--Kier, I felt like this weakened Grey's character a little bit. I would have wanted to see her feistier, especially when the two are not being observed by outsiders and expected to perform customs and courtesies. With that said, I think that a dual POV might have served this relationship better. What I would give to see the slow burn from Kier's side!

Despite some of the shortcomings I felt with their relationship, I still rooted for Kier and Grey, and I felt that the author did a good job at drawing you in emotionally--especially with the added tension of Grey's secret identity. Even before this is unveiled, you can feel that something is off--a characteristic that I love in books!

Overall, I am excited to continue reading this series, and I look forward to watching the evolution between these two characters. If you are looking for unique magic systems, inverted power dynamics, and emotional relationships, this book is for you!

A deeply romantic, action-filled fantasy that’s easily my favorite book of the year so far.

The story is about two childhood best friends turned comrade-in-arms… who are keeping a secret - and keeping secrets from each other. He’s a mage, and she’s his protector and source of power. There’s a whole lot of longing.

I want to highlight the rep; this is a very seamlessly queer book, from the main characters (M/F, but queer) to the side characters, including trans and nonbinary.

At its core, this book is about what it means to love and sacrifice. I would have loved a happier ending, but it's just not that type of story. Instead, we get a bittersweet conclusion.

The easiest 5 stars I've given all year.

The Second Death of Locke is one of those books that I'll continue to think about long after I've finished reading it and wish I could read it again for the first time. I laughed, cried.. sobbed, giggled and kicked my feet, and cried some more. This book was overflowing with emotion - between the main characters, the found family, the real family- I could go on and on.

Friends to lovers typically isn't my first choice but this one was done perfectly - Keir and Grey.. I was rooting for them the entire time. And I didn't know how much I could love a hair washing scene until this book! Their declarations, their devotion, it was all felt so richly throughout the entire book.

The world building was complex and dense but I felt instantly pulled in to the rich history, political dynamics, and interesting magic system. This book was mostly plot-driven but not at the expense of character development and solid romance. I loved so many of the characters in this book and hope we continue to see them more in the books to come!

Easy to say the next book in this series will be one of my highest anticipated releases next year. I cannot wait to return to this world!

Thank You Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Believe me when I say I struggled, but it was in vain and I can bear it no longer. I really wanted to love this. It's been on my radar for months and when I got the chance to request it I jumped. But, after over 200 pages I am still not into it.

I wish I could pin-point why. This is a friends-to-lovers (I like), knight and mages (I love) type story which sounded so good and up my alley, but just something about this isn't clicking for me. This feels very slow-paced with not too much happening honestly. From almost the 15% mark this is a journey/quest tale but nothing happens but conversations. I really think this book suffers from being told too early that one of the MC's is the heir of Locke. That's like a spoiler handed to you before you even open the book. If the reader found out later, then maybe you could feel something for the other characters who don't know? I don't know but every important character already knowing and the secondary characters finding out as they go felt lackluster because I don't care about them?

The tone of this book is also all over the place too, with it being very modern language (luckily not suffering from ...'for the win' type language at least) but the setting almost demands something different. Basically the world-building is just not...new enough? as well as it being queer-normative, but that actually just kinda means that it's actually sex-normative? Eh....oh well.

DNF 47%

Where do I even begin? This book? It was the lady knight book of my dreams. From the characters to the world to the magic to the plot. I ate up every inch of this story.

Bovalino's writing was immersive from the first page, grabbing me by the throat and into the story. The prose were lush and exciting, the world-building was vivid and intriguing, and the plot held my attention. If there was one place for improvement, I'd say maybe with pacing at certain portions. But it truly wasnt anything drastic enough to hinder my enjoyment.

But the highlight? The characters. Grey and Kier were both incredible. They have my entire heart. Their strength, their love, their devotion. All of it rang me dry emotionally. I LOVE them. Bu the added bonus that I was not expecting from this book? The found family and the incredible side character that filled up that family. Each one of them were incredible invidicually, but together they were something so special.

I cannot wait for the sequel. I need in my hands now, honestly. And that is disastrous when I'm reading this first book as an ARC before it is even released. 😅 But truly, Bovalino has written something truly special, here. I cannot wait to see what else she writes.

One of my favorite reads this year. This was filled with so much slow burn and yearning and the links between the Mages and the wells was just so intriguing! I turned the last page and immediately ordered my copy!

I couldn’t put this down - thank you for the early copy for review!

4 stars

I really enjoyed this story. I’d seen ppl compare it to “Nona the Ninth”, which I definitely understand, but honestly the war-torn magic of it all vibed a bit more like “Six of Crows”... anybody? Maybe just me, but I loved it. Unique magic system, queer normative world, action packed. Yes, yes and yes pls.

I’m a sucker for slow burn, but this romance felt like a miscommunication trope disguised as a slow burn.. which didn’t quite do it for me. When our MFC & MMC get together it’s more of a “Finalllyyyy 🙄” than a “Omg finally 😮‍💨”. But that’s really the only complaint I have here and it’s strictly preference. The writing style kept me interested, the tie-bits of letters and lore between chapters kept me intrigued, I thought the Found Family trope was executed beautifully and the ending was my favorite part. Would definitely recommend!

Lyrical, foreboding, bittersweet, bloody. This describes The second Death of Locke by V.L. Bovalino short form for me. It is also unfailingly romantic, filled with yearning and fulfillment that ramps up the stakes rather than letting that tension slide. It is a story of a quest, found family and the rise of a hidden lost power.

Central to the story is Grey, a female knight well (power provider) and her Captain, a Mage, Kieran (he uses the power she holds to use magic), childhood friends that entered the service of their country together in a war that has raged for twenty years since an event that changed the magical fortunes of the island they live on. She has deep feelings for him but feels nothing but sisterly regard from him for her and she struggles mightily with their constant proximity. Additionally, Grey has secrets and he has vowed to help her protect them and keep her safe. When they are sent on a mission to recover a girl that may hold the key to returning magic to the realm things get messy fast.

I have read this book twice now and it one of my top reads this year, along with The Knight and the Moth. While the books share similarities with the gothic setting and woman Knights, that's pretty much where it ends except to say they are both written beautifully. We travel with Grey and Kier on their quest in the dreary misty land while brutality closes in on them as they attempt to complete their quest and survive as it becomes increasingly difficult to do so. As the secrets and story develop and slowly reveal themselves, the span of the story becomes more mythical and heartbreaking. The nature of self, bravery, loss and sacrifice become more central to the second half of the book. The book is also discussion about power, who owns it and what others will do to reap it from others to control it. It does not flinch from the brutality of medieval violence. The displays of magic its full rawness in this book are deeply affecting and powerful.

A big hats off to Bovalino for couching the queerness and equity in this book as an accepted part of the culture and treating the sexuality with a deftness and poetry that was refreshing. There were several places in this book that made me cry, (one on a plane at 30k feet, my seatmate asked me if I was ok). But I digress...

The love story in this was everything. In different places, I was frustrated, cheering, reprimanding and kicking my feet over Grey and Kier's journey and it continued to pay off, again and agin.

Five (six really) amazing stars for this gift of a book, I hope it's a series, I hope it gets picked up for other media.

reading two friends to lovers back to back is FUELING me (although it was a dark romance 😭) this is THE summer of lady knights and from the first chapter i was fully invested in not only our romance- which i love unfolded in such a natural, romantic way!) to the journey our mc’s had to go on throughout this book. i’m left wanting more already and i stayed up past my bedtime to finish!! highly recommend