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The Hand and the Heart #2
The Thief and the Traitor Bride
Not yet published
Expected 29 Sep 26The second standalone romantic fantasy set in the world of the USA Today bestselling novel The Second Death of Locke.
A ruthless spy. A deadly mission. A thief who could ruin it all.
Nore Gordon is a woman of many she can speak a variety of languages, disguise herself in plain sight, and has made a name for herself as a successful wine merchant. But unbeknownst to those closest to her, it is all a front for Nore's true role as the favoured spy of the Lindle crown.
Tasked with infiltrating enemy lands in search of a powerful relic, Nore is forced to engage the services of a great thief. Unfortunately, the only person for the job is her estranged husband Caspian. Both Nore and Caspian bear the scars of the disastrous end of their marriage, but if they are to survive their deadly new assignment, they must pose as a happily married couple to avoid detection.
As danger closes in, Nore finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit-and though Caspian is at the centre of it all, she may not hate him as much as she once did. But Caspian has betrayed her before, and trust can be far more deadly than deception.
A ruthless spy. A deadly mission. A thief who could ruin it all.
Nore Gordon is a woman of many she can speak a variety of languages, disguise herself in plain sight, and has made a name for herself as a successful wine merchant. But unbeknownst to those closest to her, it is all a front for Nore's true role as the favoured spy of the Lindle crown.
Tasked with infiltrating enemy lands in search of a powerful relic, Nore is forced to engage the services of a great thief. Unfortunately, the only person for the job is her estranged husband Caspian. Both Nore and Caspian bear the scars of the disastrous end of their marriage, but if they are to survive their deadly new assignment, they must pose as a happily married couple to avoid detection.
As danger closes in, Nore finds herself tangled in a web of lies and deceit-and though Caspian is at the centre of it all, she may not hate him as much as she once did. But Caspian has betrayed her before, and trust can be far more deadly than deception.
590 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 29, 2026
About the author
V.L. Bovalino
5 books850 followersV.L. Bovalino is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and now lives in the UK. She loves obscure academic facts, folklore, and oversized sweaters. Find her on online as @toribovalino.
She also writes books for young adults as Tori Bovalino.
She also writes books for young adults as Tori Bovalino.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
May 28, 2026
thank you SO MUCH to netgalley for providing this arc!! i just about squealed when it landed in my inbox
i absolutely adored being back in this world - the second death of locke was one of my absolute favourite books of last year, and two of the main reasons i adored it so much were the unique magic system, and v. l. bovalino’s writing. i can safely say that both of those carried through to this book - the atmosphere was wonderfully crafted, the storyline was interesting, the writing was gorgeous, and the magic continued to be incredibly interesting. the romance was also incredibly sweet and felt very real to me, similar to the romance in the first book. i will say i got lost a few times in this one - you need a pretty extensive understanding of all of the territories and alliances for this plot to make sense, so it’s not a quick read by any means, but still incredibly enjoyable. if you loved the first book, you are almost guaranteed to adore this one too!!
i absolutely adored being back in this world - the second death of locke was one of my absolute favourite books of last year, and two of the main reasons i adored it so much were the unique magic system, and v. l. bovalino’s writing. i can safely say that both of those carried through to this book - the atmosphere was wonderfully crafted, the storyline was interesting, the writing was gorgeous, and the magic continued to be incredibly interesting. the romance was also incredibly sweet and felt very real to me, similar to the romance in the first book. i will say i got lost a few times in this one - you need a pretty extensive understanding of all of the territories and alliances for this plot to make sense, so it’s not a quick read by any means, but still incredibly enjoyable. if you loved the first book, you are almost guaranteed to adore this one too!!
priority-tbr
August 17, 2026── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
ִֶָ. 𓂃˖꣹ pre-read ꧔⟢ ִֶָ࿐
omg say what. i literally requested the arc 30 minutes ago and it's already here?!😭😭😭😭
yayayy🥹
oml i love tori bovalino sm. 'the devil makes three' is one of my all time favorite books. and 'the second death of locke' singlehandedly battled my reading slump. gosh i loved that book sm.
needless to say, so excited to read this one💘
~•~•~
desperately need this book in my hands. like right fucking now!!!?!!!
ִֶָ. 𓂃˖꣹ pre-read ꧔⟢ ִֶָ࿐
omg say what. i literally requested the arc 30 minutes ago and it's already here?!😭😭😭😭
yayayy🥹
oml i love tori bovalino sm. 'the devil makes three' is one of my all time favorite books. and 'the second death of locke' singlehandedly battled my reading slump. gosh i loved that book sm.
needless to say, so excited to read this one💘
~•~•~
desperately need this book in my hands. like right fucking now!!!?!!!
Currently Reading
August 16, 2026The Second Death of Locke was one of my favorite fantasy books of 2025.
I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THIS ARC ❤️
Jumping in!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever Grand Central Publishing and the author for sending me an early ARC!
Publication date: September 29, 2026
I AM BEYOND GRATEFUL FOR THIS ARC ❤️
Jumping in!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever Grand Central Publishing and the author for sending me an early ARC!
Publication date: September 29, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
what if we mr. and mrs. smith’d while on a spy mission to a mysterious island of great power….and got further enlisted into greykier found family antics
greymaryse the woman that you are (grey kier crumbs fueled me here)
from “kill him to spare me the torment” to “i love your tricks. i love your lies”
In her second Hand & the Heart novel, V.L. Bovalino says bring back the yearning and makes it a second chance between a spy and the thief she married, then betrayed. The Thief and the Traitor Bride returns us to the world of The Second Death of Locke, one reeling in the aftermath of return and resurrection. Estranged spouses reunite for a mission that could grant them a boon—if they can separate their heart's truest desires. V.L Bovalino asks what if we Mr. and Mrs. Smith’d while on a spy mission to a mysterious island of great power and rediscovered the love that was still there while being in cahoots with one another. Scars—both tangible and unseen, knives to the throat, one reluctant cat with a tendency to dole out violence, angsty letters, and untenable alliances dot the landscape of this second installment. This novel is a clever dance, a sly interrogation of loyalty and desire, freedom and servitude. V.L Bovalino’s talents for gripping, gritty fantasy is revitalized with The Thief and the Traitor Bride. Where magic is the utmost power and the price of keeping it ever costly. Fantasy has never landed to such a degree as it has with The Hand and the Heart series and yearning is reinvented in V.L. Bovalino’s hands.
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
greymaryse the woman that you are (grey kier crumbs fueled me here)
from “kill him to spare me the torment” to “i love your tricks. i love your lies”
In her second Hand & the Heart novel, V.L. Bovalino says bring back the yearning and makes it a second chance between a spy and the thief she married, then betrayed. The Thief and the Traitor Bride returns us to the world of The Second Death of Locke, one reeling in the aftermath of return and resurrection. Estranged spouses reunite for a mission that could grant them a boon—if they can separate their heart's truest desires. V.L Bovalino asks what if we Mr. and Mrs. Smith’d while on a spy mission to a mysterious island of great power and rediscovered the love that was still there while being in cahoots with one another. Scars—both tangible and unseen, knives to the throat, one reluctant cat with a tendency to dole out violence, angsty letters, and untenable alliances dot the landscape of this second installment. This novel is a clever dance, a sly interrogation of loyalty and desire, freedom and servitude. V.L Bovalino’s talents for gripping, gritty fantasy is revitalized with The Thief and the Traitor Bride. Where magic is the utmost power and the price of keeping it ever costly. Fantasy has never landed to such a degree as it has with The Hand and the Heart series and yearning is reinvented in V.L. Bovalino’s hands.
thank you to edelweiss and the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy.
Bookstagram | Blog
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
We're 2/2 on the book covers 😍
The Thief and the Traitor Bride is being marketed as a standalone, but it's worth clarifying that while we follow a new couple, it remains firmly connected to the same world. Original characters from the first book are reintroduced later in the story, and the way the author brought the two casts together was the most interesting part.
At first, this second installment read more like a historical fiction. The FMC is 30+ which is always a bonus in romantasy, but I don't necessarily think she carried herself like a woman of that age.
Because the source of the couple's conflict is withheld for hundreds of pages, their "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic lacks emotional weight. We don't understand why they hate each other, so it's difficult to invest in their relationship.
If you gave The Death of Locke a glowing 5-star review, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. But if you found the first book underwhelming, the sequel will feel even more lackluster.
Thank you to Netgalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and the author for this eARC.
The Thief and the Traitor Bride is being marketed as a standalone, but it's worth clarifying that while we follow a new couple, it remains firmly connected to the same world. Original characters from the first book are reintroduced later in the story, and the way the author brought the two casts together was the most interesting part.
At first, this second installment read more like a historical fiction. The FMC is 30+ which is always a bonus in romantasy, but I don't necessarily think she carried herself like a woman of that age.
Because the source of the couple's conflict is withheld for hundreds of pages, their "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic lacks emotional weight. We don't understand why they hate each other, so it's difficult to invest in their relationship.
If you gave The Death of Locke a glowing 5-star review, you'll probably enjoy this one as well. But if you found the first book underwhelming, the sequel will feel even more lackluster.
Thank you to Netgalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and the author for this eARC.
July 22, 2025
The way this will skip to the front of my TBR as soon as I get my hands on it
Want to Read
August 15, 2026honored to have received an arc!! the second death of locke was one of my favorite reads last year and so i am beyond excited to dive into another angsty, yearn-y read set in the same universe
Want to Read
October 22, 2025I went to a book event and she confirmed it’s coming in September 2026 and the fmc is a spy 👀 also can I just say what a lovely person she is???
About to scream. It’s confirmed that it’s in the same world but features new main characters, I need it 😭 the mc are nore and caspian
About to scream. It’s confirmed that it’s in the same world but features new main characters, I need it 😭 the mc are nore and caspian
May 29, 2026
I've been looking forward to this book for quite a while so when it appeared in my inbox I was so thrilled.
I do have to give V.L. Bovalino props for keeping the magic system and the atmosphere from book one, still key and present in this book. Although it wasn't the most interesting plot at first, I'll be honest I found myself struggling to attach myself to Nore & Caspian since I loved Grey and Keir so much, but once I really got into the story I found myself attached especially to Nore.
Nore & Caspian have such an interesting relationship. They matched each other in the most wonderful way, and although there was secrets & issues they were working through I found myself loving their dynamic.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
I do have to give V.L. Bovalino props for keeping the magic system and the atmosphere from book one, still key and present in this book. Although it wasn't the most interesting plot at first, I'll be honest I found myself struggling to attach myself to Nore & Caspian since I loved Grey and Keir so much, but once I really got into the story I found myself attached especially to Nore.
Nore & Caspian have such an interesting relationship. They matched each other in the most wonderful way, and although there was secrets & issues they were working through I found myself loving their dynamic.
I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
Thank you to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) | Forever for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Want to Read
December 12, 2025i’m seated. the bookstore employees are scared and asking me to leave because it’s “not september yet” but i’m simply too seated.
Want to Read
March 12, 2026WE HAVE A TITLE!!!!! These covers really do it for me. absolutely in love.
I hope this fills the void that The Second Death of Locke has left me with :' )
I hope this fills the void that The Second Death of Locke has left me with :' )
August 17, 2026
I love the way this story unfolds as we are told of events both in the past between the main characters and events from her previous book (this is a stand alone but nicely fits with her other book as well .) Intrigue , schemes and so much manipulation !! I had a fun time trying to keep up with what was going on as the puzzle pieces slowly fall into place. I think the most magical part for me was not knowing what was real right along side Nore the whole time. You can just feel her emotions on each page and it really pulled me into the story. This world and its magic just keeps growing in complexity and I constantly fall more in love the more I read about them. Really enjoyed the read !!
June 20, 2026
if you love “I hate him to death but I love her to death” then this is for you
phenomenal no words I LIVE FOR THE TENSION AND YEARNING
I cried I laughed I loved I need more
phenomenal no words I LIVE FOR THE TENSION AND YEARNING
I cried I laughed I loved I need more
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Second Death of a Locke was such a banger that I was chomping at the bit to get into the sequel. Here’s the thing: if you haven’t read the first book recently, this book will be a little frustrating. You need to remember the secondary characters from the first book, the different nations, and their politics to get the most out of the first 3/4 of this story.
I enjoyed the writing, but not the number of times I wondered why something was happening.
Examples:
-Just remembering the well/mage magic system from the first book isn't sufficient. There's calculation-based magic (I can't even explain it after reading about it), magic with ink (perhaps from another country, where the MMC might be an aristocrat? Who knows.), and artifacts that amplify or allow certain other kids of magic. 560 pages and a lot goes unexplained.
-Our main characters find a spell that isn’t translated for us, but it’s used in a major, climatic scene. What was it? What did it mean? Don’t worry about it! It worked!
-Kier from the first book is in a strange state at the end of the first book. He’s part of Locke’s retinue in this book with a different name. Locke needs to marry someone from another country and the reader is wondering why it can’t be Kier. Is it because of his strange state? Then how…I can’t go on without spoiling.
-We know that the Locke magic system has wells and mages. In this book, a third role, the typic, is mentioned once in chapter 9. In chapter 36, they need two people who are this role for a REALLY important reason, but the actual purpose is never explained.
The main characters are wonderful, but they plod along for the first 3/4 of the book as we wait for something to happen. The last quarter of the book has much more action and it’s nice to see, but it wasn’t enough to forget how slow the pace was before. I'm going to guess a lot got edited out since there are so many unexplained aspects of the story, but it was not done well.
The ship captain who is introduced at the end has spin-off possibilities. They're introduced as if they'll be important, but they're gone two scenes later.
I enjoyed the writing, but not the number of times I wondered why something was happening.
Examples:
-Just remembering the well/mage magic system from the first book isn't sufficient. There's calculation-based magic (I can't even explain it after reading about it), magic with ink (perhaps from another country, where the MMC might be an aristocrat? Who knows.), and artifacts that amplify or allow certain other kids of magic. 560 pages and a lot goes unexplained.
-Our main characters find a spell that isn’t translated for us, but it’s used in a major, climatic scene. What was it? What did it mean? Don’t worry about it! It worked!
-Kier from the first book is in a strange state at the end of the first book. He’s part of Locke’s retinue in this book with a different name. Locke needs to marry someone from another country and the reader is wondering why it can’t be Kier. Is it because of his strange state? Then how…I can’t go on without spoiling.
-We know that the Locke magic system has wells and mages. In this book, a third role, the typic, is mentioned once in chapter 9. In chapter 36, they need two people who are this role for a REALLY important reason, but the actual purpose is never explained.
The main characters are wonderful, but they plod along for the first 3/4 of the book as we wait for something to happen. The last quarter of the book has much more action and it’s nice to see, but it wasn’t enough to forget how slow the pace was before. I'm going to guess a lot got edited out since there are so many unexplained aspects of the story, but it was not done well.
The ship captain who is introduced at the end has spin-off possibilities. They're introduced as if they'll be important, but they're gone two scenes later.
Want to Read
July 21, 2026screaming because i got the arc for this 🤭🥳🥰🙂↕️😛🤠
![Profile Image for Saskia [University era].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1781978693i/149946010._UX200_CR0,0,200,200_.jpg)
Want to Read
March 15, 2026THE COVER WOWOWOW
second chance romance between a spy and a thief
i cant wait to read this omg
second chance romance between a spy and a thief
i cant wait to read this omg
Read
July 30, 2026Another lovely story and a worthy sequel to The Second Death of Locke. 4.5/5
Admittedly, I'm a hard sell on both friends-to-lovers and second-chance-romance so it's kind of incredible that I love these books as much as I do. Thankfully both books have a hefty helping of yearning that really satisfies my need for pining. Nore and Cas took a while to grow on me, but I immensely love being in this land and how Tori Bovalino weaves the world-building into the story. In the end of course I was fully taken with their romance and devotion.
Though the romance is standalone, and technically you could read this without first reading Locke, the primary plot is entirely dependent on the events of the first book and will spoil what happened there (and also be much less fleshed out and easy to follow for a new reader). It's not impossible to read independently, but I wouldn't personally recommend it. A brush up on names and events might not be a bad shout if your memory's a bit rusty, but I think the book did a good job at dropping reminders if it's been a while and you've forgotten key elements.
Overall I really love these stories and highly recommend them if they sound remotely interesting to you. Can't wait for the third!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Admittedly, I'm a hard sell on both friends-to-lovers and second-chance-romance so it's kind of incredible that I love these books as much as I do. Thankfully both books have a hefty helping of yearning that really satisfies my need for pining. Nore and Cas took a while to grow on me, but I immensely love being in this land and how Tori Bovalino weaves the world-building into the story. In the end of course I was fully taken with their romance and devotion.
Though the romance is standalone, and technically you could read this without first reading Locke, the primary plot is entirely dependent on the events of the first book and will spoil what happened there (and also be much less fleshed out and easy to follow for a new reader). It's not impossible to read independently, but I wouldn't personally recommend it. A brush up on names and events might not be a bad shout if your memory's a bit rusty, but I think the book did a good job at dropping reminders if it's been a while and you've forgotten key elements.
Overall I really love these stories and highly recommend them if they sound remotely interesting to you. Can't wait for the third!
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for granting me an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2026
A fantastic sequel that cements this as one of the best fantasy series out there.
I was lucky enough to get a copy of the proof at an author event and hugged it all the way home.
This series means a lot to me and this book was the perfect sequel to The Second Death of Locke. And that's how I recommend you read it; as a sequel even though it is billed as a standalone in the same world.
The magic system was expanded, and the lore of the world was given to us in greater detail, cementing this series as one of the best fantasies I've read in a long time.
We follow two new characters, Nore who is a spy and Caspian who is a renowned thief; both were married until they found out each other's secrets and things got stabby. The yearning for me wasn't as strong as the first one, but the chemistry was off the charts, the plot was one full of twists and turns that had me reading until the early hours of the morning.
I wait impatiently for the third in the series!
I was lucky enough to get a copy of the proof at an author event and hugged it all the way home.
This series means a lot to me and this book was the perfect sequel to The Second Death of Locke. And that's how I recommend you read it; as a sequel even though it is billed as a standalone in the same world.
The magic system was expanded, and the lore of the world was given to us in greater detail, cementing this series as one of the best fantasies I've read in a long time.
We follow two new characters, Nore who is a spy and Caspian who is a renowned thief; both were married until they found out each other's secrets and things got stabby. The yearning for me wasn't as strong as the first one, but the chemistry was off the charts, the plot was one full of twists and turns that had me reading until the early hours of the morning.
I wait impatiently for the third in the series!
Want to Read
December 12, 2025Locke wasnt as good as I had hoped, but THIS sounds incredible !!
July 6, 2026
One of the book releases I’ve been looking forward to the most!! Thank you so much, Forever and Netgalley, for sending me an ARC.
This second standalone book in the series was a good read, but unfortunately, it didn’t really stand out for me (I’m the first to admit I’m sooo disappointed).
I loved The Second Death of Locke and couldn’t wait to return to this rich universe.
Let’s start with the positives:
- The book was objectively good; I still love the author’s writing and the characters she creates—and especially the romantic relationships she portrays. This is a strong second-chance romance; her story grabbed my heart, destroyed and repaired it in the best possible way.
- I cried A LOT. Seriously, Caspian and Nore’s relationship, the past they shared, and the wounds their reunion reopened, it was SO good; I loved reading their story.
- We also get to see characters from The Second Death of Locke again, and I was so happy to see them (my Shaylas).
- We learn more about the different kingdoms we got a glimpse of in the first standalone novel and that’s cool
- The dialogue is well-crafted
What I didn’t like so much:
- I found the book too long; the first part is great, but then the rythme slows and I thought i lacked action and fights!! It’s about spies and thieves, so I was expecting a few more moments of tension and conflict… although I have to say: the espionage aspect is very realistic in this book (but I wanted a little more James Bond, if I may say so)
- I was left wanting more from the resolution of the romance; I felt it was rushed to make way for the conclusion of the main plot.
- I didn't connect as much with the secondary characters introduced in this volume or with the group dynamics (but to be fair, that's to be expected—the dynamics are very different from those in the first volume).
Also, I’m not sure you can call it a standalone; honestly, the plot is very closely tied to The Second Death of Locke, you can’t read The Thief and the traitor Bride without a good understanding of the plot from the first book. I feel like it’s more like a book series with a common plot, one where you follow different couples in each book.
To conclude, I did enjoy the book (and I cried a lot), but I didn't like it as much as The Second Death of Locke, much to my disappointment.
This second standalone book in the series was a good read, but unfortunately, it didn’t really stand out for me (I’m the first to admit I’m sooo disappointed).
I loved The Second Death of Locke and couldn’t wait to return to this rich universe.
Let’s start with the positives:
- The book was objectively good; I still love the author’s writing and the characters she creates—and especially the romantic relationships she portrays. This is a strong second-chance romance; her story grabbed my heart, destroyed and repaired it in the best possible way.
- I cried A LOT. Seriously, Caspian and Nore’s relationship, the past they shared, and the wounds their reunion reopened, it was SO good; I loved reading their story.
- We also get to see characters from The Second Death of Locke again, and I was so happy to see them (my Shaylas).
- We learn more about the different kingdoms we got a glimpse of in the first standalone novel and that’s cool
- The dialogue is well-crafted
What I didn’t like so much:
- I found the book too long; the first part is great, but then the rythme slows and I thought i lacked action and fights!! It’s about spies and thieves, so I was expecting a few more moments of tension and conflict… although I have to say: the espionage aspect is very realistic in this book (but I wanted a little more James Bond, if I may say so)
- I was left wanting more from the resolution of the romance; I felt it was rushed to make way for the conclusion of the main plot.
- I didn't connect as much with the secondary characters introduced in this volume or with the group dynamics (but to be fair, that's to be expected—the dynamics are very different from those in the first volume).
Also, I’m not sure you can call it a standalone; honestly, the plot is very closely tied to The Second Death of Locke, you can’t read The Thief and the traitor Bride without a good understanding of the plot from the first book. I feel like it’s more like a book series with a common plot, one where you follow different couples in each book.
To conclude, I did enjoy the book (and I cried a lot), but I didn't like it as much as The Second Death of Locke, much to my disappointment.
July 12, 2026
The Thief and the Traitor Bride is the perfect follow up to The Second Death of Locke.
In TTATB, we return to the same world as TSDOL, but the worldbuilding dives deeper into other magic systems and governments of nearby countries. (While The Hand and the Heart series is marketed as interconnected standalones, I have to respectfully disagree and would encourage you to read this series in order.) The lore in this world builds upon itself, and I love that we pick up after the events of the first book to check on some of our faves. Outside of the epilogue, it's rare to see the aftermath of what comes next in the story, so I'm glad we got a bit more after book one's HEA. 👀
This time we're following a separated husband (Cas) and wife (Nore) duo, and their love story unfolds in flashbacks as we learn how they fell in love and how everything fell apart. Second-chance romance is usually not my thing, but just like with friends-to-lovers in TSDOL, V.L. Bovalino made me eat my words with my preconceived notions about certain tropes. The way Bovalino writes about love is devastating. It’s like she reaches inside, grabs that secret spot where you can physically feel a crush, and twists as you read her words. How dare you! (Please do it again.)
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the eARC; I screamed internally when the widget hit my inbox! ❤️🔥
In TTATB, we return to the same world as TSDOL, but the worldbuilding dives deeper into other magic systems and governments of nearby countries. (While The Hand and the Heart series is marketed as interconnected standalones, I have to respectfully disagree and would encourage you to read this series in order.) The lore in this world builds upon itself, and I love that we pick up after the events of the first book to check on some of our faves. Outside of the epilogue, it's rare to see the aftermath of what comes next in the story, so I'm glad we got a bit more after book one's HEA. 👀
This time we're following a separated husband (Cas) and wife (Nore) duo, and their love story unfolds in flashbacks as we learn how they fell in love and how everything fell apart. Second-chance romance is usually not my thing, but just like with friends-to-lovers in TSDOL, V.L. Bovalino made me eat my words with my preconceived notions about certain tropes. The way Bovalino writes about love is devastating. It’s like she reaches inside, grabs that secret spot where you can physically feel a crush, and twists as you read her words. How dare you! (Please do it again.)
Thank you to Forever and Netgalley for the eARC; I screamed internally when the widget hit my inbox! ❤️🔥
Want to Read
April 29, 2026The cover looks gorgeous and I can’t wait to read it, though I really need to finish Book 1 first.
July 16, 2026
The Thief and the Traitor Bride
I was so exited for another story set in the same world as Second Death of Locke as I really enjoyed that book, and while there are soooo many things to love about this book it didn’t fully work for me. Thank you to Forever Pub for the advanced digital copy!
Elinore (Nore) is a spy, when she is tasked to work a job with her estranged thief of a husband (Cas) they set off on an epic adventure that lands them embroiled in increasingly complicated and dangerous situations. Will this bring them back together or drive them further apart?
I will start by saying the writing is, unsurprisingly, stunning! If you are a fan of Second Death of Locke then you know that Bovalino really has a way with imagery and that works so well throughout this book!
Nore and Cas are also both very fun characters, though I feel like we didn’t end up really getting to know Cas all too well. He’s clearly a lovesick, down bad, yearner but I would have loved a bit more about him. As a Miscommunication Hater their interactions did drive me a bit nuts but that’s a me problem.
My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. There is a LOT of exposition that is spread throughout the book in little, inconsequential scenes that take up a lot of page time and really bog down the pacing. For a solid chunk of the book we’re going house to house selling wine and spying and getting little bits of info that we then low key get again later in the novel. While I was very invested in the romance and espionage of it all, the pacing felt so slow at times and made me increasingly frustrated.
Additionally, the last 15-20% or so of the book moves extremely quickly, in direct contrast with the first 80% of the book and there are certain scenes that I felt needed to be fleshed out. There’s an entire section of the book around the 80% mark that I feel could have been taken out and the revelations that occur in it could have been spread throughout the book and then we could have spent more time on the third act that I feel was very rushed.
Overall it’s a good book, beautifully written, and if you want to know more about the world of Locke then definitely pick it up!
I was so exited for another story set in the same world as Second Death of Locke as I really enjoyed that book, and while there are soooo many things to love about this book it didn’t fully work for me. Thank you to Forever Pub for the advanced digital copy!
Elinore (Nore) is a spy, when she is tasked to work a job with her estranged thief of a husband (Cas) they set off on an epic adventure that lands them embroiled in increasingly complicated and dangerous situations. Will this bring them back together or drive them further apart?
I will start by saying the writing is, unsurprisingly, stunning! If you are a fan of Second Death of Locke then you know that Bovalino really has a way with imagery and that works so well throughout this book!
Nore and Cas are also both very fun characters, though I feel like we didn’t end up really getting to know Cas all too well. He’s clearly a lovesick, down bad, yearner but I would have loved a bit more about him. As a Miscommunication Hater their interactions did drive me a bit nuts but that’s a me problem.
My biggest issue with this book is the pacing. There is a LOT of exposition that is spread throughout the book in little, inconsequential scenes that take up a lot of page time and really bog down the pacing. For a solid chunk of the book we’re going house to house selling wine and spying and getting little bits of info that we then low key get again later in the novel. While I was very invested in the romance and espionage of it all, the pacing felt so slow at times and made me increasingly frustrated.
Additionally, the last 15-20% or so of the book moves extremely quickly, in direct contrast with the first 80% of the book and there are certain scenes that I felt needed to be fleshed out. There’s an entire section of the book around the 80% mark that I feel could have been taken out and the revelations that occur in it could have been spread throughout the book and then we could have spent more time on the third act that I feel was very rushed.
Overall it’s a good book, beautifully written, and if you want to know more about the world of Locke then definitely pick it up!
July 31, 2026
I was thrilled to be back in this world, but I'll admit it took me a little while to warm up to Nore & Cas after falling for the characters from book one. Once I settled in, though, I was completely hooked.
The lovers-to-enemies dynamic between them was so well done, and the fact that they're both spies added a great layer of intrigue, there's this constant push and pull, never quite knowing who's playing who, that had me flipping pages just to see how far the tension would go before it broke. Their relationship carried the whole book for me.
As an added bonus, getting glimpses of what Locke and Kier were up to throughout was such a treat. Seeing familiar faces woven into the new storyline made this feel like a true continuation of the series rather than just a spinoff with new leads.
VL Bovalino's magic system is once again unique and immersive, adding depth without ever slowing the pacing down. If you loved book one, don't let the character switch-up deter you — give Nore & Cas a few chapters, because the payoff is absolutely worth it.
The lovers-to-enemies dynamic between them was so well done, and the fact that they're both spies added a great layer of intrigue, there's this constant push and pull, never quite knowing who's playing who, that had me flipping pages just to see how far the tension would go before it broke. Their relationship carried the whole book for me.
As an added bonus, getting glimpses of what Locke and Kier were up to throughout was such a treat. Seeing familiar faces woven into the new storyline made this feel like a true continuation of the series rather than just a spinoff with new leads.
VL Bovalino's magic system is once again unique and immersive, adding depth without ever slowing the pacing down. If you loved book one, don't let the character switch-up deter you — give Nore & Cas a few chapters, because the payoff is absolutely worth it.
July 31, 2026
DNF @ 46%
I loved The Second Death of Locke, but unfortunately this just didn’t have the same spark for me.
I couldn’t bring myself to care about these characters, their mission, or what great “betrayal” happened in their past that separated them.
Second chance is hard enough, but when the book starts after the break up and constantly hints at what happened without telling you… it’s very annoying to me.
The MMC felt arrogant and uncaring to me. The FMC was overly obsessed with this loser and I couldn’t understand why.
I loved The Second Death of Locke, but unfortunately this just didn’t have the same spark for me.
I couldn’t bring myself to care about these characters, their mission, or what great “betrayal” happened in their past that separated them.
Second chance is hard enough, but when the book starts after the break up and constantly hints at what happened without telling you… it’s very annoying to me.
The MMC felt arrogant and uncaring to me. The FMC was overly obsessed with this loser and I couldn’t understand why.
July 18, 2026
Estranged husband and wife needs to be the new enemies to lovers. “The Thief and the Traitor Bride” follows Nore Gordon, who is a wine merchant by day and a spy by night. One of her tasks as a said spy, requires her to work with her estranged husband Caspian, who happens to be an excellent thief. Their mission requires them to work very closely, and forces them to face the past they have together as well as successfully complete this dangerous mission of retrieving an ancient relic that may or may not exist. I decidedly liked this a lot more than its predecessor, I wanted to read this one after finishing “The Second Death of Locke” because I do find this world and its magic systems very interesting. Plus I was very intrigued by the “separated husband and wife” trope, since that is not something you see every day. Adding to that, the reason for Nore and Caspians separation, both parties were very much at fault, so it was a very different way of looking at things when both sides are equally to blame. This also made the reconciliation all that more lovely. They faced their pasts with each other and worked through all the secrets and the lies and come out on the other side. Mind you, all the while they are on a strict deadline to find this ancient relic right under the nose of a new ruler. So the stakes here are quite high. The unfortunate things that kept me from giving this book a full five stars was the pacing. The story was off to a slow start, picked up about halfway through, then hit its crescendo at about 80%. With about 20% of the story left to go, it made me become disinterested. Also in that first 50%, Nore is spending a lot of time gathering information, and while she is doing that, some of the things she gathered ended up not being relevant, but were described in detail anyway, making things get a bit dull at times. Overall though I enjoyed my time here and I believe this is a series that is going to get better with each book. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever publishing for allowing me to read this early and give an honest review.
June 12, 2026
The way I screamed when this showed up in my inbox is a testament to how excited I was this book!! The Second Death of Locke was one of my favorite books from 2025, so I had exceedingly high expectations for this one. I definitely recommend it if you enjoyed Bovalino’s writing but just be aware that this storyline is quite different from Kier and Grey’s story! It delivered in a lot of ways, but I felt it lacked some of the magic I felt in The Second Death of Locke. Perhaps I’m just forever chasing that high? It’s a hard one to beat.
It has a ton of things that work and especially appeal to me on paper: a delicious second chance romance, spy and espionage networks, enemies to lovers, cameos from beloved characters, and an fmc in her thirties. All things I love! And these things were fun and worked well, but I did find myself struggling with the pacing and just overall wanting more action. I also found it hard to initially connect to Nore and Caspian, as they had an established relationship. It took a fair chunk of the book for it to really develop, and while I had fun with it, I was hoping for some of the yearning we got from Grey and Kier. I know, I’m forever comparing the two, but can you blame me??
While this is a standalone in an interconnected series, I wholeheartedly believe that The Second Death of Locke should be read before this!! There was a ton of info dumping on various lands in this world, and I struggled with some of that even though I read book one. Lots of amazing world building, but it felt a bit heavy at times.
Overall a very fun read. It had me giggling and kicking my feet at 1 am when I should have been asleep, so a win’s a win. 💪
3.75/5 (so close to being four but damn that pacing ugh)
It has a ton of things that work and especially appeal to me on paper: a delicious second chance romance, spy and espionage networks, enemies to lovers, cameos from beloved characters, and an fmc in her thirties. All things I love! And these things were fun and worked well, but I did find myself struggling with the pacing and just overall wanting more action. I also found it hard to initially connect to Nore and Caspian, as they had an established relationship. It took a fair chunk of the book for it to really develop, and while I had fun with it, I was hoping for some of the yearning we got from Grey and Kier. I know, I’m forever comparing the two, but can you blame me??
While this is a standalone in an interconnected series, I wholeheartedly believe that The Second Death of Locke should be read before this!! There was a ton of info dumping on various lands in this world, and I struggled with some of that even though I read book one. Lots of amazing world building, but it felt a bit heavy at times.
Overall a very fun read. It had me giggling and kicking my feet at 1 am when I should have been asleep, so a win’s a win. 💪
3.75/5 (so close to being four but damn that pacing ugh)
August 9, 2026
First, i would like to thank NetGalley, Hatchette Book Group, and V.L. Bovalino for the opportunity to read and review this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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The Thief and the Traitor Bride follows Nore, a spy for her home country of Lindan, and he estranged husband Caspian, a thief who is now a traitor to the Lindle crown. The two are eventually reunited on very unhappy terms because of their tumultuous past, and they must work together to retrieve a magical artifact for Nore’s employer, and maybe just spy on the High Lady of Locke in Idistra👀
this book was good! i really love this world and the multiple magic systems within. while in book one we got a good look at the Idistran magic system with wells and mages, this time around we got to learn more about Nore’s magic, which in Lindan is a formulaic based system involving math. the creativity with the magic is what captured my attention in the first book, and it didn’t disappoint in this one either!
as for the romance aspect of the this story… eh? i felt Nore and Caspian’s connection when they were younger or when they reminisced on their past together, but i wasn’t fully sold when they slowly began to reconnect. i don’t think Caspian really apologized for his past actions, and he played with Nore a bit too much in this novel for my liking. i know Nore was not completely faultless, but i feel like she got the short end of the stick and Caspian blamed her too much for things she had no idea about
but besides that, this really was a good book! i enjoyed it almost the entire time, and i’m excited for the next book
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The Thief and the Traitor Bride follows Nore, a spy for her home country of Lindan, and he estranged husband Caspian, a thief who is now a traitor to the Lindle crown. The two are eventually reunited on very unhappy terms because of their tumultuous past, and they must work together to retrieve a magical artifact for Nore’s employer, and maybe just spy on the High Lady of Locke in Idistra👀
this book was good! i really love this world and the multiple magic systems within. while in book one we got a good look at the Idistran magic system with wells and mages, this time around we got to learn more about Nore’s magic, which in Lindan is a formulaic based system involving math. the creativity with the magic is what captured my attention in the first book, and it didn’t disappoint in this one either!
as for the romance aspect of the this story… eh? i felt Nore and Caspian’s connection when they were younger or when they reminisced on their past together, but i wasn’t fully sold when they slowly began to reconnect. i don’t think Caspian really apologized for his past actions, and he played with Nore a bit too much in this novel for my liking. i know Nore was not completely faultless, but i feel like she got the short end of the stick and Caspian blamed her too much for things she had no idea about
but besides that, this really was a good book! i enjoyed it almost the entire time, and i’m excited for the next book
July 31, 2026
Did I read The Second Death of Locke? Not yet..but that did not stop The Thief and the Traitor Bride from being impossible to put down. So I dare say that if you have read the first book, you will LOVE this one too. It’s a stand-alone, yes, but it gave me an irresistible urge to know more about Locke and her story.
The magic system in this universe is unique, the characters like-able, the tropes are well done. (forced proximity, lovers to enemies to lovers, fake-ish marriage-to name a few)
Having a main character over 20 is hard to find in this genre sometimes and as someone nearing her 30’s-I have been yearning for it. The conflict between the characters fits for their age, making it both believable and relatable. The relationship between Nore and Cas is deep and complex which enabled the tension to be insanely intoxicating. There were moments of deep grief, hope, anxiety, mistrust, yearning. But never boredom. The plot was well-paced and the setting was so gorgeously written that I felt like I was walking along the isle with our characters. 10/10, no notes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
The magic system in this universe is unique, the characters like-able, the tropes are well done. (forced proximity, lovers to enemies to lovers, fake-ish marriage-to name a few)
Having a main character over 20 is hard to find in this genre sometimes and as someone nearing her 30’s-I have been yearning for it. The conflict between the characters fits for their age, making it both believable and relatable. The relationship between Nore and Cas is deep and complex which enabled the tension to be insanely intoxicating. There were moments of deep grief, hope, anxiety, mistrust, yearning. But never boredom. The plot was well-paced and the setting was so gorgeously written that I felt like I was walking along the isle with our characters. 10/10, no notes.
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
August 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this arc!
A solid follow-up to The Second Death of Locke.
I wouldn’t categorize this as a sequel, per say, as it follows two new characters, but this storyline does continue after the events of The Second Death of Locke, and Locke and those characters play an important role in this story as well. I love the medieval feeling of these books and the magic that’s involved, as it doesn’t feel “hoke-y”, but rather mystical and dark. After the Isle has been resurrected, there’s obvious political unrest throughout the kingdoms with Locke’s resurgence to power. Nore has been recruited since young adulthood to play as a spy to her duchess, and her new mission is to work her way into Locke’s inner circle, with her ex-husband also being sent along with her. Nore and Cas have not seen each other in years since they betrayed one another, resulting in the dissolution of their marriage.
Political intrigue and romantic feuds build this enticing continuation of the story of Locke.
A solid follow-up to The Second Death of Locke.
I wouldn’t categorize this as a sequel, per say, as it follows two new characters, but this storyline does continue after the events of The Second Death of Locke, and Locke and those characters play an important role in this story as well. I love the medieval feeling of these books and the magic that’s involved, as it doesn’t feel “hoke-y”, but rather mystical and dark. After the Isle has been resurrected, there’s obvious political unrest throughout the kingdoms with Locke’s resurgence to power. Nore has been recruited since young adulthood to play as a spy to her duchess, and her new mission is to work her way into Locke’s inner circle, with her ex-husband also being sent along with her. Nore and Cas have not seen each other in years since they betrayed one another, resulting in the dissolution of their marriage.
Political intrigue and romantic feuds build this enticing continuation of the story of Locke.
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