This was EXCELLENT.

Easily one of my top reads for 2025 and one of my new favourite fantasy books.

This book will deliver:
- lady knights
- quests
- childhood friends to lovers
- YEARNING
- queer normative worlds
- found family
- gorgeous writing
- unique magic systems
- rich mediaeval fantasy settings
- political intrigue
- magical bonds

If you love any of the above, please do yourself a favour and read this book.

A romantic epic fantasy that I will be thinking about for a very long time.

Unsure what to think of this book, I'm still not completely convinced by the adventure it took us on. I found some of the writing really engaging and I didn't want to put it down in parts, but found myself slogging through at the same time. I thought the concept of a lady knight would be exciting, but found it fell flat. The relationship between Keir and Grey was well developed, we love a long standing friendship into romance. But something was missing as we entered the second half of the book. My review is all over the place, as are my thoughts. Overall, I thought this was a new perspective on fantasy, and that was fun, but the plot needed more development through to the end.

The Second Death of Locke brims with adventure and magic where we get introduced to our female protagonist, Grey, a well who secretly holds the power of the island Locke and is the hand to her childhood friend, Kier, a Seward who is protecting her from other forces.

Initially, I was intrigued by the plot and how the narrative could progress further in the story, but, I found myself bored at times where my mind would linger and want the plot to be more exciting. There definitely were moments where I was caught off guard and thought that the writing excelled when big moments were revealed. However, through waiting for those big reveals to happen it seemed like the story cruised.

Also as a reader who is not a big fan of childhood friends to lovers, I felt that the romance was lacklustre as there was no tension between the characters. It honestly seemed that everyone else around them acknowledged that they were in a relationship except for the characters themselves, they just needed to communicate.

The world building didn’t draw me in. It just felt like they told me about the world with no bother to ‘show’ me. My main takeaway from this book is that I didn’t care enough for this story to intrigue me and after finishing my mind has not changed.

[Thank you to NetGalley & Hachette for sending this book in exchange for an honest review.]

I absolutely loved The Second Death of Locke! The romance plot was excellent with lots of yearning. The magic system was unique and so much fun to read. The book is set in a world where using magic requires two people. One to draw and hold the magic (the well) and one to siphon and use the magic (the mage). The story follows Grey and Kier as they navigate secret identities, lost islands ,and warring nations. The plot kept me hooked and the book had a wonderful atmosphere. I found the writing a little clunky and confusing at points but overall it was such a great read! Grey and Kier’s development was perfect and it was refreshing to see love interests with already so much history with each other.

The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy that had me utterly hooked from the very first page. At its core, it is a story about love, loyalty, and sacrifice, the kind of bond between a knight and their mage that feels raw, unbreakable, and utterly consuming.

Grey Flynn is no ordinary warrior. She is the magical well, a source of immense power that fuels her mage, Kiernan Seward. Their relationship is breathtaking in its depth and intensity. It is the kind of friends-to-lovers dynamic built on a foundation of quiet devotion, unspoken trust, and simmering tension that the book beautifully explores. You can feel their connection in every glance, every shared moment, they are truly intertwined in mind, body, and soul.

The worldbuilding here is rich and immersive, with a wonderfully dense medieval fantasy setting full of political intrigue and ancient secrets. The mystery surrounding Grey’s origins and the lost island of Locke, the root of all magic, unfolds gradually, layered with gorgeous detail and a sense of melancholy that lingers. It is the kind of storytelling that invites you to savour every chapter and get lost in the atmosphere.

One of the things I loved most was how queer-normative and warm the world felt. The cast of characters is diverse and nuanced, and themes of found family, selflessness, and sacrifice echo throughout the narrative. Grey’s journey is as much about understanding her power and place in the world as it is about protecting those she loves, even if it means risking everything.

The slow burn romance between Grey and Kier is heart-wrenching and hopeful, full of tender moments that feel earned and real. Kier’s respect and adoration for Grey, despite the inequalities their world expects, was especially moving. This is love that fights to exist and endure through war, secrets, and impossible odds.

If you are a fan of Gideon the Ninth or The Six Deaths of the Saint, this book will feel like home. It is dark, emotional, and utterly compelling, with the kind of characters and storytelling that stays with you long after the last page.

I cannot wait for the next book in this series. The Second Death of Locke is easily one of the best fantasy debuts I have read this year, a truly unforgettable journey of magic, heart, and sacrifice.

"The Second Death of Locke" was heartbreakingly romantic and just the thing to further feed my new found penchant for lady knights.

Mages pull magic from their wells, but Grey's unrequited love for Kier goes beyond the tether between a mage and his hand. She is not only his source of power, but as the missing heir to Locke, she is the source of all power.

I adored the equal devotion between Grey and Kier. The story expressed so beautifully the tension of sacrificial love. The writing was very atmospheric and I felt swept away in the story.

This was a good book. A well developed world with an interesting magic system. Definitely for people who like friends-to-lovers.

I think I psyched myself out at the beginning, I am not the biggest fan of friends-to-lovers and I didn’t really connect with the magic system. It was an excellent book, I just didn’t connect with the characters all too much.

I definitely recommend though! It was a great, well written book, it just wasn’t for me.

*Thank you NetGalley for the arc :)*

2025 is the year of medieval fantasy and KNIGHTS. I'm happy to say that The Second Death of Locke delivers on the action, angst and yearning. Decades ago, the isle of Locke was destroyed, leaving Grey an orphan and scrambling to hide her true identity. Now, Grey is a warrior and Hand to her best friend since childhood, Keir. When they are tasked with delivering a young girl who claims to be the long lost heir of Locke to the ruler of their nation, Grey must confront her past and decide what she is willing to sacrifice to reclaim her birthright.
I loved the relationships built in this book within the company. Grey and Keir, are so loyal and protective of each other and I especially enjoyed the developing bond between Grey and Sela. The writing style worked well for me, I especially liked the flashbacks that linked to present day and helped develop the story. I'll admit I wasn't completely hooked with the quest storyline and found it a little slow but once it wrapped up and the next phase of the story kicked in, I was all in.
Overall, a fantastic story. I will definitely pick up a physical copy to add to my collection and I'm looking forward to reading more set in this world.

I loved the yeeeearrrnning—oh, the yearning!, enjoyed the slightly toxic co-dependency of the MCs, and deeply appreciated that this is a pan 4 pan romance, in a queer normative world with trans and nonbinary side characters.
But what made this novel a standout, 5-star read for me was the realistic stakes. The gritty war-torn world and that title added to it, but the author has also done some magical indefinable thing that makes all the character emotions ring true. Even though I knew this is a romantasy, and would likely follow the conventions of the genre, I fully panicked every time a character was in peril, as if I was reading GAME OF THRONES. I was completely invested in these characters (side ones included) and Bovalino had me convinced anyone could die at any time.
If you want romantasy with an incredibly strong plot, high stakes and believable characters, this is for you!

A devastatingly romantic fantasy about the undying bond between a knight and their mage in a gloriously haunting story with a searing chivalric romance that burns bright and bittersweet. A masterfully crafted world of warring knights, fierce friendships and breathtaking romance. 

𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 & 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐙𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 | 𝐎𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐆𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐕.𝐋. 𝐁𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐨

Synopsis: In the aftermath of the sudden disappearance of the Island of Locke - the source of their world's magic- an endless war rules the remaining nations, all desperate to find and control the heir to Locke and restore power as their magic begins to fade. When the heir is found, Captain Kiernan Seward and his Hand Captain Grey Flynn are given the dangerous task of delivering the child to the capital. The problem? Grey is the heir hiding in plain sight on the battlefield. Knowing the truth behind her Island's destruction, Grey refuses to reveal herself and claim her rightful place, content with fighting beside the man she yearns for. But when Grey's power is recognised, she must decide what she is willing to sacrifice to save those she loves.

Review: This will surely be my 2025 book of the year! What an outstanding beautiful story of yearning and devotion, painful sacrifices, ever-present hope, and the treasure of found family. The writing and world building was rich and full, and I loved Grey and Kier's relationship.

With thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I live for those books that absolutely consume me, and The Second Death of Locke had me in a chokehold from page one. Grey is a trained warrior and magical well: the Hand to her best friend Kiernan who draws from her to access his magical ability. Even though it is a common dynamic in their world, as mages and wells can be interchanged, their relationship feels so much more intimate. I was so invested in their relationship. Friends-to-lovers is rarely seen in fantasy and V. L. Bovalino really captured the deep connection, familiarity and unspoken trust between them. I loved the slow, aching tension of uncovering the sheer depth of devotion between them.

Grey’s origins and the secrets surrounding her are revealed piece by piece through letters and flashbacks of her childhood as she grapples with her future and how her decisions will affect everyone. She is fierce, loyal, and immensely capable. Kiernan is confident, affectionate, and kind. They play off each other so well. I really enjoyed how steadfast Kier is as well.

I found everything about the world to be immersive and compelling. The atmosphere and world building Bovalino has created is so rich and lush, with the deep, entwined history and political undertones that hover just below the surface. The concept of mages and wells as a magic system is so fascinating and unique, especially as we unwind the mystery of Grey’s past and what the Isle of Locke means to the world.

It is queer-normative world with a wide range of queer characters and identities. The found family aspects of the book are so well done, and I loved each character in their rag-tag little group with all my heart. Themes of family, sacrifice, love, selflessness and freedom are interwoven throughout the story.

I don’t think I can recommend this book enough. It’s just so beautifully written and gorgeously told. I’m obsessed and can’t wait for more.

It’s been nearly two decades since the Isle of Locke was destroyed in battle, taking with it the lands’ raw source of magic. In this world where magic is increasingly scarce, the remaining nations are locked in a desperate brawl for power, hoping to win control over the lost Locke’s magic for themselves.

Amidst this tiresome battle we follow two soldiers, Kier who is a mage, and Grey who is his well- the source of power he must draw on to perform his magic. They are sent on a mission which appears simple at first, but soon threatens to spill decade old secrets, upending their lives as they know it. Grey and Kier must accept that they are no longer mere pawns in this war, and must decide how much they are willing to sacrifice.

The magic system in this book was simply delicious to read, and helped create the most compelling character dynamics. As a well Grey must act as Kier’s right hand in all that he does, she must be his closest protector, utterly and entirely devoted to his safety…. devoted to him, as he has been devoted to her since childhood. The levels of relentless yearning in this book are delectable. And the exploration of shared desperation, differently felt grief, and loyalty above all else, was exactly up my alley.

My only critique of this book was that in its latter half the writing and pacing were at times a little disjointed or jumpy. Though this did not hinder my overall enjoyment of the book. And I also would’ve appreciated some more in-depth explorations of the other mage-well pairs and their relationships.

Overall this book is brimming with tension, uncertainty, and sacrifices, all drawn out by its vivid, emotional writing. If you loved Throne of Glass, if you crave knights in shining armour, and if you want a with deep unabashed yearning (and who doesn’t want that?)… then PICK. UP. THIS. BOOK.

4.5 stars

Wow this felt like a whole trilogy in one book. I was really into the first 40%, though it did start to slow a bit for me towards the end as we moved away from the quest fantasy that I was anticipating. In saying that I think it had a satisfying ending and was a very engaging start to this anthology series.

The sheer amount of yearning between Grey and Kier made me feel like I need to take breaks or else I was going to start yelling at them just to kiss already. The codependency of the magic system was really interesting - in this part of the world Mages (Kier) draw their powers from other people known as Wells (Grey). This did not help the yearning. I’m very interested to see what magic will be like in other parts of this world.

I feel like books are always try to sell you on found family but I don’t often feel they succeed. This however was delightful and I loved the dynamic and growth between the main group. Bovalino’s inclusion of many different queer identities with ease and grace made me really happy and excited for her future books.

So happy to have enjoyed another of the queer lady knight books we’re being treated to this year.

Thank you Hachette AUS & NZ and NetGalley for the ARC!

UPCOMING RELEASE: The Second Death of Locke by V. L. Bovalino

I know we’re barely halfway through the year…but I think this may be my favourite read of 2025.

Everything about this was perfect. The characters, the writing, the magic, and the pacing. Let’s explore.

Grey was smart, fierce, capable, and deeply loyal. She stood her ground without ever tipping into preachy territory—always honourable, always grounded. Kier? Her mirror. Their relationship? Oh my god, I’ve never been this emotionally invested in a fictional couple…but these two? They were everything. Sweet, romantic, and so so solid. The yearning practically leapt off the page, and the emotional safety between them was so powerful. Such a breath of fresh air compared to all the enemies-to-lovers stories saturating the market.

The writing was absolutely gorgeous. There was a fantastical, fairytale-esque quality to it, but it was still brutal and hard hitting when the story called for it, ensuring the stakes seemed genuinely high. The descriptive work was stunning—I could picture every detail as if I were there. The slate skies, the choppy waters. The war camps, and winding mountain passes. Every single setting felt alive.

The magic system was one of the most unique and compelling I’ve ever read—such a clever concept, and executed to perfection. And the pacing? Edge of your seat immaculate.

I also really want to mention that I loved that Grey wasn’t your typical “I-want-to-be-a-warrior-but-I’m-just-girl-let’s-have-a-training-montage’ character. No, she was a fucking Knight. And a high ranking one at that.

In sum, I am so excited that this one is purported to be an upcoming sub box pick—because I’m in dire need of a special edition of this new all time favourite. ⚔️-Mika

Rating: 5 ⭐️

Slow burn light read. Narrative of a female knight poredting their lover. Magic realism abounds. Wasn’t really my thing… perhaps more YA or cosy read? Thank you to the author. Thank you to #netgalley and the publisher for an ARC.

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book but it took a while to get going. I will confess to struggling a bit with part 1, it was very slow and I didn’t like Grey’s POV at first, she seemed a bit pathetic and obsessed if I’m honest.

However, once they assembled their group of wise-cracking soldiers and start out on a mission to deliver a prisoner who claims to be the lost heir to the missing isle of Locke to their high lord, I was completely hooked. This part of the book reminded me so much of the epic fantasies that I grew up loving, with hidden heirs, attacks in roadside inns and unexpected and powerful magic.

The friends-to-lovers storyline between Kier and Grey was such a nice change from enemies to lovers. I liked their banter and the trust between them. I also really liked Grey’s relationship with Sela, her protectiveness of a young girl who reminded her of herself was when I finally warmed to her as a main character.

The magic system of mages and wells was really interesting and there were court politics to follow. Overall, this was a really enjoyable standalone read that I will definitely revisit and read again.

Thank you to Hachette Australia and New Zealand and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I really struggled with this book at first, especially with the writing style for some reason, but around like 30% it really got going. The romance is what kept me going, it was definitely the best part of the book for me.

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Set in a queernormative world The Second Death of Locke is a romantic epic fantasy rooted in loyalty, sacrifice and the kind of love that lingers between every glance.

Grey Flynn is a knight, a magical well and protector to her mage Kier her closest friend since childhood and the one person she’d give everything for. Their relationship is soft, steady and full of suppressed yearning. From the first page you feel the depth of their connection, the tenderness, the dependency, the fear of losing what already feels like everything.

The magic system is unique, personal, and Grey’s true identity adds a layer of tension that carries through the story. I loved the found family, the political threads woven through the world and how deeply this book explores themes of love, freedom, sacrifice and identity. The pacing is a little slower up front and I wished for more insight into Kier maybe with a chapter or two from his POV but once the story hits its emotional stride, it lands.

If you love introspective fantasy with emotional depth, soft angst and magic that binds people together this is a standout.

Tropes & highlights:
- slow burn & friends to lovers
- magical bonds & quiet devotion
- queernormative world
- found family & wartime loyalty
- duty vs desire
- soft ache, emotional payoff

Thank you Hachette Australia & New Zealand | Orbit for the ARC I loved this.

Actual Rating: 4.5

First up, I went into this book with high hopes of loving it. The premise sounded so intriguing, and I really enjoyed the writing style. Unfortunately, though, this ended up a DNF for me—and honestly, I think it’s one of those ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ situations. Even though I loved the prose, I found myself feeling detached from the characters and overall plot, despite a couple of nights trying to get into it. I can absolutely see this being the perfect fit for a lot of readers—it just wasn’t for me.