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

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Published Sep 23, 2025

480 pages

Average rating: 7.17

30 RATINGS

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

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.

✨🖤 Morally Grey Book Club 🖤✨

Next meeting: April 10th! For Dark Romance, Dark Fantasy & Romantasy lovers. Let us read to our hearts content and discuss our favorites!

Community Reviews

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.

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