“My love is yours, as that which beats within my heart is yours, and that which powers the fabric of the world is yours through mine own hand. Take from me, that I may be thine.”

Yearners, this one’s for you. If you’re looking for lady knights, magic, devotion, and sacrifice, you’ll find all of that in The Second Death of Locke. I loved so much about this book: the magic system, the characters, the setting, and did I mention the yearning? Grey and Kier are great main characters, and there’s a lovely band of side characters that I also adored. There’s also a horse named Pigeon, which I LOVE. I absolutely vibed with the writing style, and I especially liked the use of epigraphs for each chapter. There was one specific one towards the end that hit so hard it was actually diabolical (as Kier would say, I suffer and I suffer)—but they’re also a fun way to add more dimension to the world building and characters.
The pacing does start out a bit slow, but I think it’s worth it—we’re sorting through Grey’s trauma with her, and I like a slower reveal of things because the character themselves cannot face those things head on. And there were a lot of great reveals in this—I didn’t know where the the story was going to take me, and I found myself swept away as the events unfolded.
Long live year of the lady knight! The Second Death of Locke will definitely have a forever home on my bookshelf, and I look forward to what comes next!

I’m a sucker for “it’s always been you”.


This was beautifully written and such a wonderfully told story. I loved Grey and Kier so much!! Friends to lovers has become one of my favorite tropes recently. The yearning! The need for each other!! I think everyone should go in blind and not read the synopsis. I would’ve loved for it to be more of a secret who grey was. It didn’t seem impactful enough. Other than that, this book was fantastic! I know it will be a huge hit when it releases. I look forward to reading more in this world. I wonder who will be the next couple. I think I have an idea.

Thank you Forever Publishing for sending me an early review copy. All thoughts are my own.

3.75 stars rounded up... I think?

If you like:
- Lady knights.
- Golden Brown by the Stranglers.
- Hopelessly devoted men.
- Yearning!!!
- The medieval revival aesthetic.
- Queer-normative worlds.
- Angst, angst, and more angst
Then The Second Death of Locke will probably be a hit for you.

Hell, it was a hit for me with the caveat that I thought it relied too heavily on the pre-existing dynamic between Camilla Hect and Palamedes Sextus (and honestly every necro-cav duo) from The Locked Tomb to be as compelling and unique as it could have been. More on that later.

But overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and fast-paced, and subverted a lot of the things that currently seem to be super popular in fantasy romance novels as of late. There's no domineering alpha man with shadow powers (thank GOD) or an unconvincing enemies-to-lovers plotline. Instead, The Second Death of Locke relies on friends-to-lovers with a well thought out and convincing relationship that really sells the story and raises the stakes.

Grey and Kier are a lovely duo with a dose of codependency that--you guessed it--leads to quite a bit of angst as the story progresses. I definitely get the impression that they're Bovalino's little meow meows and for good reason! They're easy to root for and even easier to love. I'm not usually an emotional reader, but there were several interactions between these two that hit me like a punch to the gut. I love my romance with a healthy dash of slow burn yearning, and though I would be lying if I said this was a true slow burn, each page is still drenched in longing between our two mains.

All that said, there are some parts of this novel that feel eerily uncanny to The Locked Tomb. The author herself has stated that Camilla and Palamedes's relationship could be comped to this book and that is very, very obvious. Which isn't a huge problem, but I wish it wasn't so... overt? Honestly, the only reason I'm not rating this book higher is because of how much of the central themes appear lifted from the world that Tamsyn Muir put together. Of course, there's no monopoly on devoted, codependent duos, but the marketing mentioning Gideon the Ninth in particular does invite the comparison.

I definitely believe that this one is going to be a huge hit when it hits the shelves in September though, and I am excited to add a copy of it to my shelf. Lady knights, 2025 is your year. <3

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This was one of my most anticipated releases of the year with the comp titles of 'Gideon the Ninth' and 'The Seven Deaths of the Saint' and this did not live up to either of those books.

Instead of deeply romantic and full of knightly charm, I found this story to be over-written and in need of a stricter copy-edit as so much of the exposition and info-dumping could be cut. Grey and Kier did nothing for me romantically, but I did like their friendship. There was nothing in the summary to suggest that this was going to be so Romance focused - and I'm a Romance reader!, so I was surprised and honestly displeased at Grey's attraction to Kier being mentioned in the first chapter.

I am just so sad. I wanted to love this book, and the concept is great. The comp titles will sell the heck out of this! But instead of an Adult Fantasy with hints of romance, this read like YA Romantasy which is not something I wanted.

Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the Arc!

5🌟

I was keeping notes while reading this then gave up almost immediately because I was so absorbed with the story to manage it. This was a rollercoaster of emotions and I absolutely adore this book; one of the best romantasies I've ever read. I almost can't get my thoughts together to fully review this book but I will try my best!

This fantasy world feels so real and grounded that I had no trouble following all the lore and political intrigue. The setting was beautifully illustrated and I could feel the inspiration of of the British isles as I read. And in contrast, the war and fighting was so visceral and bleak that it gave a grit to the story that a lot of romantasies are really lacking. It helped create a more fantasy leaning story than just a light hearted or overdone romantasy like dozens of other books tend to be. This book also has so much happening in it! And it didn't feel rushed or burdened at all; I feels like there was no wasted space and everything was truly essential. It was also so well paced that we were able to feel every scene and change without rushing through to next plot point; we were able to sit with every heavy moment and just feel what Grey was feeling.

I was absolutely floored with the level of devotion and love that Grey carried around with her. It felt so heavy and smothering in the best way, if that makes sense at all. I could tell that she was holding such a weight with her that it defined so much of her life and her choices and you could really start to feel that desperation to keep hold of it towards the end of the book. I have such a weakness for devotion boarding on obsession and detrimental that this just hit the exact feeling I was hoping it would.

This book exceeded my expectations by miles and I can't wait to get my own copy soon! Thank you NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this ARC!

The Second Death Of Locke was such a fun fanatsy with a great take on magic. I loved the magic aspect the most in this book. The magic and worldbuilding worked in a interesting way. I loved the plot overall and how relevant the magic was to the focus of this story. Also the characters were fantastic with some amazing side characters too.

I absolutely loved this book. The bond between Grey and Kier had me hooked from the start, soft, loyal, and full of quiet yearning! I was especially drawn to the magic system and the way their relationship felt both intimate and epic. The world felt lived-in and layered, and I didn’t want to leave it. If you’re into stories about devotion, slow-burn tension, and queer knights and mages, this one’s will fit into your taste well.

🌶️yes

This book seriously made me stop and go “and what’s the point of ever reading another book after this? This is it. This is my white whale. Pack it in send the rest of your books to the aether because you found it. You found the book you’ve spent your whole career searching for.”

And it’s all because of the relationship dynamic. Codependent, hyper attached, friends to lovers, forced proximity WITH YEARNING?!

I read this as an earc and I think I genuinely left teeth marks from where I was gnawing on my kindle over the YEARNING. platonic bed sharing/ clothes sharing/ backrubs and forehead kisses?!!!! Slay me. Literally please slay me because that’s everything to me.

This is the dynamic I’ve been bloodhound searching for since I’d read it once in a ff as a young impressionable kid 😭 and to find it WITH LADY KNIGHTS. I’m ruined. RUINED.

- magic bonds
- War
- Found family
- Queer norm world
- Lost heirs
- Healer FMC
- Quests

Look here. I can’t be bias about this I’m not joking when I say these two idiots in love is all I’ve ever wanted to read about BUT that doesn’t mean I didn’t notice a few things but I LITERALLY DONT CARE. NOT ONE OUNCE OF ME CARES because what do you MEAN I just read a spicy lady knight story with two people going “I’m going to sacrifice myself for you” “lol not if I sacrifice myself first” because they haven’t told the other how they feel?! Guaahhhhhhhhhhhh

Anyways I loved it in the Taylor swift 🎶help I’m still in the restaurant 🎶 kinda way. Le sigh. *kicks feet on the ground*

The book it’s self can be read as a standalone imo but there is more to come.

Thank you foreverreads for the earc

I had to take several day to digest this book before I could form words, this book was not what I was expecting it to be.
The Second Death of Locke is a modern day classic literature. V.L. Bovalino created a world that felt solid and rich in its mythos.
The characters were human and the trials Gray went through were reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.
I was hooked start to finish and, quite frankly, blow away by this writing.

I’m not sure I’ll be able to get over the trauma, yearning, romance, and heartbreak of it all. A stunning read. Eager to reunite with these characters again next year in book 2!

I’ve always loved the friends-to-lovers trope and the way it’s built upon deep familiarity, unspoken trust, and all the delicious tension that comes from the denial, fear, and hesitation in crossing those boundaries into something more. It’s a trope that’s surprisingly underused in fantasy romance, in my opinion, so I’m always happy to see it when I do.

The Second Death of Locke not only features this trope, but executes it perfectly.

Through our heroine, Grey Flynn, we learn of the world she resides in. She is a trained warrior with powers that make her the magical well of her best friend, Kiernan Seward, a mage who draws on her for power.
It’s a dynamic that’s common in this world, but it feels especially intimate between them.

From the very beginning, there’s this quiet, aching devotion between Grey and Kiernan that makes it clear theirs isn’t a simple friendship. It’s in their every glance, their every decision. They are a part of every facet of each other’s lives, and the book does a phenomenal job of slowly showcasing the sheer depth of their connection and how it came to be.

It’s bone-deep love and trust — the kind that feels foundational, inevitable — and makes their relationship quite literally the heart of the book.

I don’t think I can explain it other than saying there’s this constant sense of them looking for each other, looking at each other, and looking out for each other. Always, always each other.

Surrounding this beautiful central relationship is the mystery of Grey’s origins — her power, her home, and the secrecy wrapped around it all. The book reveals pieces of this with a quiet finesse: through letters, in-universe book quotes, and childhood memories Grey is grappling with. It’s all layered throughout the narrative, and gorgeously so! The atmosphere is rich and immersive, and it lingers.

Then there’s the worldbuilding, which is just wonderfully dense. You can feel the long, tangled history of this world and the political undercurrents running just below the surface. But even with all that complexity, love and devotion remain the book’s steady central themes — not just between Grey and Kiernan, but among the other characters as well. Family, selflessness, sacrifice, and loyalty echo throughout the story.

And I have to say, I really appreciated how queer-normative this world felt. There’s a wide range of queer characters and identities woven throughout the story, and they’re written with such warmth and care.

What else, what else? I know there’s more I want to say, because this book stayed on my mind so much as I read it, but this is the kind of story that deserves to slowly reveal itself to the readers without being spoiled.

So I’ll stop here and say: long live Year of the Lady Knight 2025. It’s truly been and continues to be such a joy literary-wise.



Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for the ARC in Exchange for my honest review.

The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly beautiful story of a knight and her mage - an exploration of love, sacrifice, and unwavering devotion. I went in mostly blind (all I saw was "lady knight") but I was instantly swept away.
V.L. Bovalino has crafted a rich, queer-normative world full of history, magic, and battles. I loved the lore behind the Isle of Locke, and the magic system was so unique - wells as living sources of power, and mages who draw magic from them.
Kier&Grey completely stole my heart! Their relationship had me in a chokehold from the first chapter - tender, loyal, and deeply rooted in years of shared trust. They're not quite lovers, but what they share goes far beyond friendship: they fight beside each other, protect one another, and love so fiercely it made my chest ache. Kiernan really graduated from the school of yearnalism and I wanted to scream whenever he did something to show his affection for Grey.
The only reason this wasn’t a 5 star read for me is that the ending felt a little underwhelming, but the story's heart - Kier&Grey's bond - makes it unforgettable. I'm so excited to read more books set in this world!
～Thank you to Forever and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Second Death of Locke is my gothic fantasy dream! What a fun, immersive, and beautifully written story. The pacing was wonderful, the characters likable, and the epilogue was such a nice ending for our main characters. Excited to read more from Bovalino.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

I received a free copy from Forever via Netgalley in exchange for a fair review. Publish date 23 September.

This book hadn't been on my radar before, but I was immediately intrigued by the premise. In The Second Death of Locke, soldier and magical well Grey has survived nearly a decade of grinding war through her fanatical devotion to her mage, Kier. But Grey has a secret, one that could upend the balance of the five kingdoms--she's the last surviving heir of the missing magical island of Locke.

I'm a big fan of lady knights and an unhealthy degree of devotion, and the concept of The Second Death of Locke was like catnip to me. In this world, mages can only use power if they're pulling it from a well, and neither wells nor mages alone can use magic. On the battlefield, wells are expected to physically protect their mages and patch up their gaping wounds with magic if they're injured. Kier and Grey have been friends since childhood, and they're intensely devoted to each other: they're joined at the hip, they frequently share a bedroll, and they're illegally magically bonded even though military wells and mages are supposed to be interchangeable. I will bestow my highest honor on their relationship: I think it would be more interesting if it was entirely platonic. Although Bovalino does an excellent job with the slow-burn pining romance plotline.

The worldbuilding is fairly generic besides from the details of the magic system: an island full of vaguely medieval fantasyland kingdoms, an even more vaguely defined mainland. I did like the detail that many other cultures on the mainland use completely different magic systems. But in The Second Death of Locke, it's the character relationships that support the weight of the plot. As an angst and codependency enjoyer, this worked for me, but you may not like it if you're less fond of the romance or want a bit more crunch in your settings.

Wheeee. WHAT a concept, and Bovalino certainly did it justice. Lady knights! Magical bonds unto death! Angst about suturing your soulmate's wounds! A must-read for fantasy romance fans.

I like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing this for a brief 'to read'.

This was one of my anticipated reads for this year and I expected something stronger than what I was reading. The story focused on the friendship between a mage and her knight. Growing up together, the mage learned to be the siphon that her knight takes his power / magic from. That I understood. I also understood that given her backstory, there was a secret that only the two of them knew of and which would cause consequences for the island they inhabit.

I can't tell if it was a combination of the plot or the author's writing, but the story bugged me. It made it 30% into the book before shutting it. It had a YA tone about it. The mage did not really seem to do much, nor did her knight. They were out looking for someone to bring back to their camp, and the precision and pacing of the action was just devoid of any depth or feeling of the characters. I felt like there was nothing to gleam who they were as people, besides the fact that the knight (her friend) forced her to be his mage.

All in all, it seems like I was the only one who felt this way, but I was expecting something with the tone / seriousness of Robin Hobb.

Oh my gosh this book was absolutely fantastic! It pained me any time I had to put it down because I absolutely wanted to devour it in one sitting. I loved pretty much everything about this book, from the characters, to the world building, to the magic system. It reminded me a bit of The Locked Tomb with the wells and mages so I can definitely see the comparisons. Also I was pleasantly surprised to find out that this was technically a standalone and there was no grueling cliffhanger ending, and that there would be two other standalones set in the same universe. I was interested to pick this up as I heard it was going to be an Illumicrate pick and now I fear I will be a feral animal waiting for it to be in my hands. Easily 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this amazing ARC!

In the Second Death of Locke, we follow lost heir Grey as she confronts her legacy to rule the lost nation of Locke. When we start the story, Grey is a magical well for her mage partner, Keir, her childhood best friend and unrequited love; they are currently placed on the frontline for a longstanding war between nations. Keir and Grey are assigned a challenging new mission and the story unravels from there.

I adored the yearning and devotion between Grey and Keir. I rooted for both of them to find happiness together as well as find themselves as individuals.

While the plot and idea itself were promising. The pacing was too slow for my liking and the further I read, the more it sadly didn't keep my interest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Orbit for the arc! This was meh. Something in the story, may it be the bland prose or underdeveloped secondary characters, lacked emotion. The only thing I felt was apathy, unfortunately. Another giant complaint I have is the telling; holy fuck I wasn’t shown shit. It sucks, because this was a very anticipated release. Oh well! -3 stars

2.5 stars. Decent, but somehow unremarkable to me. I probably would have loved it when I was a teenager.