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

this one took me a minute to settle into. the worldbuilding felt a little overwhelming at first, like i’d been dropped into the middle of a fully formed universe without much guidance. but as the story unfolded, everything slowly started to click into place, and by the end i felt like i knew the world and was really invested. the characters are what truly shine in this book. grey and kier’s bond is the heart of the story, and i loved the slow-burn progression of their relationship. it never overshadowed the plot, which made their love feel authentic and earned. the side characters were also fleshed out enough to feel real and interesting! the mage/well dynamic was unique and compelling. the magic system itself was intriguing, though I do wish we’d gotten a bit more explanation during some of the heavier magic scenes. overall, this was a 4 star read full of loyalty, sacrifice, yearning, and a romance that feels genuine rather than rushed.