The Thief and the Traitor Bride Review (The Hand & The Heart, #2)

Hello, all!

Let's chat about The Thief and the Traitor Bride by V.L. Bovalino. Big thanks to the publisher for the copy! You can read my review of the previous book here.

Pub Date: 9-29-26
Adult - Fantasy

Nore is a successful wine merchant, but her business is just a front for the intricate spy network she's been a part of since she was young. Her handle of languages, her mastery of disguise, and her intelligence have made Nore an asset to the crown. Nore has never turned down a mission, but her latest assignment may be her most difficult yet, as she is tasked with working alongside her estranged husband, Caspian.

Nore and Caspian met when they were fresh-faced and full of hope for the future, and decided to marry after a whirlwind romance. The pair enjoyed a few blissful years together, but everything came crashing down when Nore discovered that Caspian was a notorious thief working against Lindle, whom she had been hunting. Both carry scars from their last encounter, but if they hope to survive their assignment, they must pose as a happily married couple. Soon Nore begins to uncover truths about the organization she works for and how Caspian may not be the enemy she was taught to believe. But is the truth worth throwing away the only life she's ever known?

The Second Death of Locke was one of my favorite reads of 2025, so I couldn't wait to read the next installment in the series. Bovalino's writing continues to be lush and atmospheric, and I enjoyed learning more about this world and magic system. This book had a lot more maneuvering, betrayals, and political intrigue than the previous, and while it wasn't my favorite plot, it was still interesting. I liked both of our main characters a lot. They were both so slick and you never knew what plans they had up their sleeves. I also loved their whole lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Their thought processes were either kiss or kill the other, and I was here for it. I liked how Bovalino tied in Locke and the characters and storyline from the first book, and I'm looking forward to seeing where the series will go from here.

Rating: 4/5

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