The Second Death of Locke (The Hand and the Heart, 1)

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

BUY THE BOOK

Published Sep 23, 2025

480 pages

Average rating: 7.24

33 RATINGS

|

Join a book club that is reading The Second Death of Locke (The Hand and the Heart, 1)!

For the Girls and the Fae

Do you love to get lost in new worlds? This monthly in-person book club is dedicated to building an inclusive and engaging community.

Reno Romantasy Readers

Hello romantasy readers in the Reno/Sparks area! We’re a local book club for women who love fast-paced fantasy romance.

Community Reviews

Karla
Apr 10, 2026
10/10 stars
Very well done fantasy book, I’m not sure how or why but most fantasy is enemies to lovers, grumpy man, frail girl child. This one is NOT that. Grey is so fierce and Kier is such a sweetheart. There’s so much yearning, the world building is easy and unique to follow. I loved how she was the knight/well instead of how they normally make the man do it.

And for the first time, neither main character was a stupid annoying person. The only annoying part was how they both don’t realize how much they yearn for each other after being BEST friends for so many years.
I love how they’re both grown adults with their own trauma but their loyalty to one another from the very first page is SO intense.
5 stars ⭐️
Reader95
Jan 27, 2026
9/10 stars
This book was good it just took me a while to read it. It had some boring spots but I got through it and YES !
Tierney
Feb 02, 2026
2/10 stars
Time of Death.....11:51:09. 75% through and I think I gave it a solid shot. It was just too slow and bland for me. DNF.
Dhruti
Oct 30, 2025
10/10 stars
4.5 stars. It was kind of slow, but very worth it.

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.