The Second Death of Locke

By: V. L. Bovalino

Narrated by: Samara MacLaren

A devastatingly romantic epic fantasy about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of Rachel Gillig and Alix E. Harrow.

"Intricately imagined and deftly told, The Second Death of Locke is the perfect pairing of romance, pining, and sprawling epic fantasy." ―Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King

Love. Loyalty. Sacrifice.  

Grey Flynn has dedicated her life to her mage, Kier. She will be his blade on the battlefield, his healer and protector. The deep well of raw power inside her is Kier’s to wield. They are bound together by blood and magic, but there is one truth Grey dare not reveal … not even to Kier.

When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into a dangerous mission, Grey will need to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to protect her secret. For Grey is no ordinary magical well, and if she dies, all magic dies with her.

The Second Death of Locke is the first in a collection of interconnected standalones set in the same world.

"Gritty, romantic, and breathlessly fierce, The Second Death of Locke  will grip your heart and never let go." ―Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

Critic reviews

"Intricately imagined and deftly told, The Second Death of Locke is the perfect pairing of romance, pining, and sprawling epic fantasy."—Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King

"This book has it all: Arthurian themes of devotion and betrayal, the carnage of courtly politics and combat, every manner of unadulterated yearning. Glorious."—Olivie Blake, New York Times bestselling author

"Gritty, romantic, and breathlessly fierce, The Second Death of Locke will grip your heart and never let go."—Tasha Suri, author of The Jasmine Throne

"A gloriously haunting story, with a searing chivalric romance that burns bright and bittersweet, The Second Death of Locke will hold your heart in its fist until the very end."—Georgia Summers, author of The City of Stardust

"This is how you do chemistry! The Second Death of Locke is a masterful epic that combines classic fantasy worldbuilding with an endearing ragtag found family and an addictive love story. Alternately charming and hauntingly dark, this one will stay with you long after the last page."—Heather Fawcett, Sunday Times bestselling author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

"The lovely and diverse cast of characters has my whole heart, particularly our two leads, immensely competent in their respective roles and immensely idiotic when it comes to their feelings. An epic tale that explores what it truly means to love."—Brigitte Knightley, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

"A masterfully crafted world of warring knights, fierce friendships and breathtaking romance. This story broke my heart and made it anew."—A. S. Webb, Sunday Times bestselling author of Daughter of Chaos

"The Second Death of Locke is an astonishing tale of loyalty, sacrifice and loss, and at its centre - a sweeping romance that will melt the iciest of hearts."—Holly Race, author of Six Wild Crowns

"The Second Death of Locke has the 'intelligent truthfulness' that LeGuin said was so essential to a fantasy story. It’s smart and engaging, its characters and its world building so vivid, I could smell the mildew on the army tents. It’s a rich exploration of the way the ties of love and friendship can be complicated, the way the sacrifices we make can be easier to accept than the sacrifices others make for us. It was impressive and transporting."—Meghan Whalen Turner, author of The Thief

"A gripping tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power to be found in the bonds we make. The Second Death of Locke introduces a truly unique magic system and a wonderful cast of characters fighting back against impossible odds."—M.H. Ayinde, author of A Song of Legends Lost

"A heady, unputdownable epic fantasy with a heartfelt romance at its core."—Hadeer Elsbai, author of The Daughters of Izdihar

Good magic and romance!

Heard about this book from tik tok. Really enjoyed it. Good narration and well written!

Best audio fantasy

Loved this book so much. Great narration. Beautiful story. Could have asked for more sparkle and spice, but otherwise, it was perfection.

Wonderful story!

This author is new to me. Wow what a story. It grabbed me from the first chapter. The world building and side characters were perfect and of course the romance between the two main characters was lovely. Can't wait for the next book.

I loved it!!!

I really loved the magical side to the story and the constant adventures. I gotta say I’m impressed.
Definitely recommend if you like fantasy and beautiful world building.

Grey and Kier

5 ⭐ 1.5 🌶️ 5 🎧

YOUR HONOR I LOVE THEM. Omggggg these two were so sweet and cute and fun and adorable. And the yearning was top freaking notch. I'm such a sucker for dual unrequited love and "It's always been you." and these two hit that spot sooooo well. Just chef's freaking kiss.

I actually thought this was a true trilogy and was bracing myself as I neared the final chapters only to get hit with a perfect ending. I loved this whole story. The twists, the adventure, just all of it was exactly what I was hoping for.

The audio was fantastic too. Samara MacLaren was so great and I loved this listen.