Second Death of Locke

£12.99

Second Death of Locke

the devastatingly romantic instant Sunday Times bestseller!

Dark fantasy

Author: V.L. Bovalino

Dinosaur mascot

Collection: The Hand and the Heart

Language: English

Published by: Orbit

Published on: 23rd September 2025

Format: LCP-protected ePub

ISBN: 9780356524542


‘This is how you do chemistry!’

The Second Death of Locke is a masterful epic that combines classic fantasy worldbuilding with an addictive love story. Alternately charming and hauntingly dark, this one will stay with you long after the last page. Heather Fawcett, author of Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries

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 use. Grey would do anything for Kier — be anything for him — if he would only ask.

When a quest to protect the child of an enemy kingdom pulls them into the dangerous heart of their nation's war, Grey and Kier will need to decide what they are willing to sacrifice to protect their secret. For Grey is no ordinary magical well, but heir to the lost island of Locke — the root of all power. If she dies, all magic dies with her.

The Second Death of Locke is a devastatingly romantic epic fantasy about the undying bond between a knight and their mage, perfect for fans of The Knight and the Moth and The Six Deaths of the Saint.

Epic quest for belonging and a romance for the ages

Samantha Shannon, author of The Priory of the Orange Tree says, “With unique magic, a rich and war-torn world, and a retinue of characters I would pledge my life to defend, The Second Death of Locke is an epic quest for belonging and a romance for the ages. The yearning is off the charts and I'm here for it.”

Gritty, romantic, and fierce

Tasha Suri describes it as, “Gritty, romantic, and breathlessly fierce, The Second Death of Locke will grip your heart and never let go.”

Rich exploration of love, friendship, and sacrifice

Megan Whalen Turner, author of The Thief, notes, “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. Impressive and transporting.”

Glorious themes and haunting storytelling

Olivie Blake, author of The Atlas Six, says, “This book has it all: Arthurian themes of devotion and betrayal, the carnage of courtly politics and combat, every manner of unadulterated yearning. Glorious.”

Haunting romance and vivid imagination

Georgia Summers, author of The City of Stardust, states, “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.”

Perfect blend of romance and epic fantasy

Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King, describes it as, “An intricately imagined and deftly told tale, the perfect pairing of romance, pining, and sprawling epic fantasy.”

Exploration of love and what it truly means

Brigitte Knightley, author of The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, calls it, “An epic tale that explores what it truly means to love.”

Friendship, sacrifice, and bonds

M.H. Ayinde, author of A Song of Legends Lost, shares, “A gripping tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power to be found in the bonds we make.”

Loyalty, sacrifice, and romance

Holly Race, author of Six Wild Crowns, states, “An astonishing tale of loyalty, sacrifice and loss, and at its centre — a sweeping romance that will melt the iciest of hearts.”

Epic fantasy with heartfelt romance

Hadeer Elsbai, author of The Daughters of Izdihar, describes it as, “A heady, unputdownable epic fantasy with a heartfelt romance at its core.”

Marriage of magic and swordplay

Kate Dylan, author of Until We Shatter, says, “Sweeping, epic and deliciously romantic, The Second Death of Locke is the perfect marriage of magic and swordplay.”

Warring knights, fierce friendships, and breathtaking romance

A. S. Webb, author of Daughter of Chaos, shares, “A masterfully crafted world of warring knights, fierce friendships and breathtaking romance. This story broke my heart and made it anew.”

Show moreShow less