What a wonderful conclusion to the Once and Future Queen series. There were lots of tears on my end! I wasn’t sure how things were going to conclude but I found the ending satisfactory. I do think the second book in the series was the strongest but this one had some great moments. I highly recommend this whole series to those who love alternate histories mixed with fantasy!

Reviewing without spoiling is quite hard but I will try by telling you what I felt, and realized about this unusual finale.

War is brewing while Cassandra mourns, and in the face of adversity and motherhood, slowly starts to become stronger than she ever believed. The author has gifted us with a far from perfect hero, one still searching for herself, but a hero trying her best. Trying to be a proper Lady of the Lake.

Words are placed together in fascinating ways, for O'Connor's signature descriptions, that evoke the appropriate emotion at the appropriate time. The narrative is laced with foreboding and melancholy, but also hope. The protagonist's musings are heart-wrenching but also inspirational.

The 1st part of the book was completely different from what I was expecting. The protagonist's emotional journey is well written, especially the situation with Gideon, pained and comical at the same time. The truth is I expected the war or revenge on the Empire to begin much sooner. Her emotional journey is warranted and explained, but I still wish it hadn't taken up so many pages. Also sometimes her thoughts get repetitive and she ponders on things that have just been mentioned.

Part 2 and 3 are much better with parts of them being brilliant. Presenting a quicker pace, color by action and revelations, with a crazy plan the characters are bringing to fruition. Things really get crazy then. Also Calchas is such a wonderfully despicable villain.

The corruption of the ley lines is an allegory for humanity's corruption of Earth. A prominent theme here is being true to yourself and what you want. Also duty plays a major role and doing what is right.

An emotionally charged finale, with deep character development, to such an imaginative series.

Legend of the Lakes is an emotional rollercoaster of a finale for the excellent Once and Future Queen trilogy by Clara O’Connor.

What I Loved

I loved how much the main character, Cassandra/Catriona matured from the first book to the last. She started as a shallow, two-dimensional young adult who was very hard to connect to or even like. But through the second and third installments of the trilogy, she learned about love, experienced profound losses, and became a multidimensional, caring, and relatable young woman who can carry the reader through the despair of feeling like there is no way out to the highs of her successes.

The world-building through the trilogy is so comprehensive and sensory that it pulled me in instantly. Once you are outside the walls of Londinium, you forget that you are in a version of a current day world and think you are in a historical fantasy taking place in King Arthur’s time. Instead, Londinium, an ancient Greek-inspired dystopian world, reminds you that you are in the present through the technology they use but otherwise feels every inch ancient. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition of two very different civilizations that enhance the themes of power and corruption.

The magic system, found outside of the walls, is nature-based and is dying due to the corruption of the ley lines. The magic is not unlike folklore of Arthurian legend, but I enjoyed that the story stuck to what we know and added on to that system. The Lady of the Lake, other than giving Excalibur to Arthur, is an enigma, but through this story, I got a much deeper look at a possible version of the life and purpose of the Lady.

To Read or Not to Read

If you want to immerse yourself in an Arthurian-inspired fantasy world, you need to look no further than this immersive, emotional, and wondrous one found in the Once and Future Queen.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Legend of the Lakes is the third and final installment of The Once and Future Queen. Now it was a good book but I'll admit that I was bored for most of it. Don't get me wrong, it had some interesting parts and betrayals throughout it but nothing really happened that caught my attention until the book was basically over. I just think that I wanted more. Especially when it came to revenge.

Now in the beginning, I just felt bad for Cassandra. She kind of seems to be in a constant zombie mode. She was hurting and just not there for the people who surrounded her. It also broke my heart that she was kept away from her own daughter.. but then again - she wasn't in the right mind frame either.

Other than that, I feel like I got all my questions answered from this series but I just kept hoping for something else to happen. I was suspicious of so many people and I kept thinking we weren't seeing the truth at times as well. It definitely made my brain hurt since most of this was happening right on top of one another.

In the end, it was a cute conclusion that definitely put a smile on my face. I just wanted more action and revenge.

** spoiler alert ** Thank you HarperCollins UK One More Chapter and Netgalley, for a digital copy of Legend of Lakes in exchange for an honest review!

Real Rating: 2.75/5

Wow! I can't believe it's over! Legend of the Lakes by Clara O'Connor dives deeper into the emotional turmoil that the main character Cassandra faces as she finds herself drained by a multitude of factors, all while trying to navigate her new role as a mother. As she struggles with debilitating grief, she makes questionable choices in terms of familial roles and disregarded priorities.

Something I struggled with throughout this series is Cassandra’s forced dependence on men. She is a strong character on her own, but certain circumstances in her world force her to depend on them for her own survival. The storyline also felt very repetitive in all three books- her being tied to a man, losing all emotions if not near said man, and seemingly being in a relationship that, more often than not, is one-sided. I struggled to connect with her throughout her journey; maybe I was not supposed to, but her inability to admit her true feelings and wrongdoings to those around her was infuriating at times.

Gideon and Cassandra’s relationship also fell a bit flat. I found it difficult to like them together due to their incredibly toxic nature. At one point, Gideon initiates a sexual encounter, and the morning after, he insinuates that Cassandra used him. When Cassandra awakens after months of being on the brink of death, no one gives her time to adjust. They immediately begin to point out her flaws and seem infuriated that she was not a good mother even though they know it had to do with her not being close to the Griffin.

Overall, the book didn’t go in the direction I wished it had, I was hoping for more epic battles and for some more of Cassandra’s past to be revealed, but the ending was wholly satisfying. I especially love the bond between Cassandra and her daughter and justice finally being served.

An absolutely incredible end to The Once and Future Queen trilogy. I couldn't put it down. There were times when I gasped, when I cried and when I felt my jaw drop. The world Clara O'Connor has woven together is so intricate and real and the storytelling is flawless. Absolutely my favourite series I have read this year. I absolutely love that the whole trilogy was published so close together, a year-long wait between books would have been agonising!

The third book in the trilogy does not disappoint! This book is full of magic, love, friendship, betrayal, and legend. As with both of the other books I couldn't put it down and wanted to know what was going to happen next. There were some surprises and some things I predicted but overall I really enjoyed this series. I can't say a whole lot without spoiling the other two books but I will say that the story continues to follow Cass's discovery of who she is and where she comes from. She faces a lot of trials and tribulations on her journey... and there is still some inner monologue that annoyed me from time to time 😂 but not enough to detract from the story. She really discovers who she can trust and rely on and finally comes into her own. I would definitely recommend this to my friends....and I have!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This book, despite being a long and slow-paced burn, had a satisfactory ending. I was so invested with the first two that I needed to see it through until the end. This is by far my favorite of the three and I BLEED Gideon over the other guy. I finally felt like there wasn't as much information withheld from me...which was the biggest frustration as in the other two books.

My, my goodness.......it's just so, so good.....but why is it over??? Honestly, that's all I could think when I finished, why can't it just go on!!! I am in love with these people, this story and this world and I just didn't want it to end and as each book in the series just was better and better and this conclusion just brings it all home beautifully. After the tragic events at the end of The Curse of the Celts, we pick up immediately with Catriona, Gideon and Rion heading back to Carlisle for the birth of her child and her training to take up the mantle of the Lady of the Lake. Catriona's entire journey through this book, all of the emotional trauma, the effects of using her magic, her connection to the Griffin are such a roller coaster of feelings, hurt betrayal, love, loss, duty and you feel every bit of it as she works to save herself and the people of the North. But I wasn't prepared for Gideon to be the heart and soul of this book, and his journey from snarky, aloof warrior to devoted father, lover and husband was heart-warming, heart-breaking and he has become one of my favorite characters. The push, pull, give, take of his relationship with Cat and all the revelations of his past and how they affect all he does are wonderfully written and I love their story. Such great twists, betrayals and Calchas has become one of my most hated villains, the glee and joy as he manipulates all around him is just marvelously done. I cannot recommend this series enough, the world is beautifully realized, the combination of Roman and Druid worlds, plus characters you truly care for make this an absolute must read!!

I really enjoyed this book. I had not read the other books in the series prior to this one but I flew through the others and did the same with this one. I could not put it down! The characters were fantastic and so was the storyline. Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for this ARC but all opinions are my own.

OH MY HEART AND SOUL! This is the final book in The Once and Future Queen series by Clara O'Connor and that ending does not disappoint! I am still reeling from this book and its been a week since I read it! Seriously it is one of those books where you cannot pick up a new one because it leaves you breathless. I think I cried throughout the whole thing! I know I didn't stop crying until 1/4 through the first time i started crying. I definitely recommend to have a box of tissue with you when you are reading this and don't be reading this in public!

The third book follows Cass as she navigates through grief, her numerous newfound responsibilities and her unexpected relationships. Clara O'Connor writes this so well and experiences Cass' raw grief and disconnection from reality as Cass notices how everyone around her is moving on as the years go by. She grows so much throughout the trilogy and throughout this novel alone. I love, love, love Gideon (seriously he reminds me of my husband! Tall, strong and brooding haha.). I was really hoping to see a lot more of him after meeting him in Curse of the Celts and he did not disappoint. I hoped that things would work out for all the characters. Although, I loved Devyn and miss his sense of duty; I am glad that there was a more healthy relationship shown in this novel, despite its problems and their fighting. The side characters are also so well-written and you loved to hate them. Marcus, well the jury is still out on him...

Legend of the Lakes builds on the world building from Secrets of the Starcrossed and Curse of the Celts. So much information is given as Cass learns & explores her magic, and what her role in the Celtic society means to her and those surrounding her. Her understanding of the ley lines and the impact technology has on them is explored. Many questions were answers about the magic, the roles and the kingdoms. Legend of the Lakes completes the series and gives many things a full circle ending. Clara O'Connor did an amazing job looking back at the foreshadowing and planning of these three novels. I cannot wait to read more of her work in the future.

Overall, this was an EXCELLENT novel and series. I do not have enough descriptive words to use for this series. You are probably tired of reading me saying how good this series and book is already, but seriously I would put this series up with the big ones, like Throne of Glass and The Cruel Prince. Legend of the Lakes definitely exceeded my expectations until the very twisty-turny end. This series is amazing and now I need to go and preorder this paperback so I can complete my personal set!

•
Series review!!

“The Once and Future Queen” series by Clara O’Connor.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#1 Secrets of the Starcrossed
#2 Curse of the Celts
#3 Legend of the Lakes

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The stars are EVERYWHERE because these books are FANTASTIC. I loved them.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

——> SWIPE for synopsis of book #1!

In a land where Rome maintained the empire, we visit Britannia in the future?! The book has surreal sci-fi, fantasy, historical fiction references, romance... gosh there are so many strings to this trio of books.

I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting for what would come next, I cried and I laughed! My heart was broken, and mended so many times throughout this trilogy I can’t even explain it.

I am honestly so super excited to share this series with you all - #3 will be released on June 24th so plenty of time to get the first two read in preparation! 😍😍

I loved all the characters and relationships and how they all tie together in Cassandra.

Cass is perfectly flawed, she’s the girl everyone wants to be and then she grows into a woman that everyone can love and respect.

Devyn is exactly what we needed, and his courage amazing!

Rion is a beaut. There’s a specific scene with him that was so unbelievably endearing... and hysterical at the same time!!

Gideon.... oh Gideon... he gives my all the feels, he is just *CHEFS KISS* MWAH 💋 so well written. He’s the perfect broody, cheeky, hulk of a man.

Honestly I could go on and on and on and... well you get the picture. There is so much to love about these books!

Brava @clara_author you’ve certainly captured my imagination and my heart in these wonderful pages - thank you!

#claraoconnor #theonceandfuturequeen #netgalleyuk #arcreviews #scififantasy #epictrilogy #booksyoucantputdown #thatsmissquoted #broodymenaremyaesthetic #fallinlovewithreading

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

After finishing Book 2, I was so glad when I was approved to read Book 3 - Legend of the Lakes in the trilogy. After the surprising ending of Curse of the Celts, I wasn’t exactly sure where this book was going to go. I think the third book is actually my favourite and I raced through it to find out how Cassandra’s story was going to end. Having answered some questions in book 2, I feel that Legend of the Lakes really deepened the characters and their relationships with each other, fleshing out things that were previously mentioned but not explained. I don’t want to say too much as it will not only spoil this book but the ones that come before it. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, but I am a little sad to now leave this world behind.

I have been honored to have been able to read this entire trilogy early, and I am so happy that this book had an ending that did it justice. Cassandra has to deal with her grief while taking up her duty to fight against the empire for her people, the Britons.

This installment starts off with Cassandra working through her grief, and it illustrates so well the many different ways people deal with loss: denial, avoidance, and keeping busy. For Cassandra, there is almost nothing left to live for, and she pursues her power and training at the cost of her relationships with her friends and family.

There were several surprise reveals over the course of this book, and I enjoyed learning more about the magic of the land and actually understanding the role of the Lady of the Lake. I enjoyed seeing the growth of Cassandra over the course of these 3 books, and I feel that her story arc was very well written. By the end of the trilogy, she was no longer a naive damsel in distress, but a powerful woman protecting her family and people. This was a very interesting spin on Arthurian legend, and the plot twist at the end was very satisfying. I would recommend this trilogy to anyone who loves Arthurian legends!

Have you ever finished a book and been gripped by overwhelming sadness? This is exactly how I felt having reached the end of this trilogy. I didn't want the story to end. I didn't want to leave this world and all the characters behind. I wasn't ready.

Legend of the Lakes is the final book in The Once and Future Queen trilogy and I was both excited and apprehensive going into it. I looked forward to continuing Cass's story, but I wasn't sure how it was going to pan out after the ending of book two and the loss of Devyn. How could it?

The book begins with the pyres being built to burn the dead and Cass suffering the loss of Devyn. It is so well done, my heart broke for her all over again. I wasn't willing to let Gideon in, to feel anything for him bar distrust and loathing, but he won me over in the end. His flawed character, the details of his backstory and the pain he held within. It dripped out slowly through the course of the book and his actions won me over.

This book, this final part of the story, was filled with twists and turns, betrayals I never imagined, and a perfect ending that I honestly didn't think could happen.

I imagined all sorts going into this story. Cass destroying all the Romans. Devyn coming back to life. Things that my heart ached for after reading book two, but the author brought so much more and I absolutely loved the story. The writing is superb, the world building amazing, the use of magic spectacular, and the character growth and plot are perfect. My only negative is that the trilogy has ended and I wasn't ready for that. I do look forward to adding all three books to my bookshelves so I can read them all again.

Clara O'Connor is a wonderful storyteller and I can't wait to read more from her. I'd give this trilogy 100 stars if I could.

I was excited to get into this book after the cliffhanger of Curse of the Celts. While it starts off slow it does pick up and I loved being in this world again. This trilogy has been on that I have absolutely loved especially loving anything to do with King Arthur. It had the perfect pacing and I will definitely be reading the trilogy again. Loved the characters and loved the ending.

Thank you NetGalley and OneMoreChapter for this book in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this world immensely, its a brilliant mixture of fiction and lore and history of the British Isles. Delicately built into a rich world full of magic and beauty, yet riddled with corruption. It’s a story of a young woman coming into her own, dealing with loss and pain, story about healing and finding love in new places. About found family and family acceptance, full of Celtic mythology, a magic and wonder.

We continue after a profound loss in book 2. I must say I struggled. It was hard for me to love this new cast, to come to terms with where the story went, yet I can’t blame the author for taking the story in a direction I didn’t enjoy, wouldn’t be fair. However I couldn’t understand motivation of the main characters in crucial moments. While there was definite growth and character development, story felt like an afterthought. Like there was a disconnect of story and characters at some point.

Having said all this, this series is definitely worth you time and you should pick it up, judge it yourself but make the time to meet this amazing world and its characters.

This is the third instalment in this series and I was so excited to read it.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

I really liked the concept for this world and each book in this series was really nicely divided; each had a necessary piece of the story and was a continuation without much repetition or filler. In this final book, we’ve learned who Cassandra is, she’s grown and matured and she’s on the precipice of something really big.

The pacing of this novel was perfect for me. We get a nice amount of time with Cassandra in the Wilds and then we get the big showdown. There’s nice development of her relationship with Gideon. I’m super biased towards Gideon. I liked him more than Devyn even in the second book, so I was really happy to see them pushed together. That being said, some of the events in this book were wholly unbelievable and detracted from the story telling. I wasn’t impressed with their final heart-to-heart. It’s obvious they start to fall for each other; there was no need to turn it into instalove.

Also, Cassandra is a bit confusing. On the one hand, she can sort out Calchas’ plan, but only sometimes. Other times she’s willfully blind about super obvious things. It was forgivable when she didn’t want to believe Gideon loved her, but it wasn’t when she thought she was going to die.

The final twist was very confusing and I’m not sure how it was pulled off, but I don’t particularly care. This was so satisfying. It wasn’t not obvious, but it also wasn’t cliched. It was such a nice way to end a series. Every important loose end was tied off and I wasn’t left with a weird cliff-hanger or too much information. I didn’t necessarily agree with every tie off (like Oban?), but it wasn’t important. Everyone got just about what they deserved and life was better off in a way that aligned with the rest of the story.

I liked it, but didn’t adore it. It was, as I said, satisfying. A good story with interesting characters set in a unique world.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC of this book. When I saw it in my inbox I was delighted. I liked the first book, loved the second and was really looking forward to the third. I had no idea what direction the story could take.
It starts very slowly and a times you feel a bit disorientated but then you realise that you’re really being taken into Cassandras world. There is a lot about ley lines and their importance to the whole fabric of our lives. It’s quite an angst ridden read but overall I enjoyed this series. It’s a very clever premise. I do confess that in this third instalment I was back to the being irritated by Cassandra; the way I felt in the first book.
It’s a trilogy I would recommend but also know that you can’t read these books independently. They have to be read as a series.

I received a copy via Netgalley. There are some minor spoilers for the other books in the series.

After the events of the previous books, Cassandra feels disconnected from her life and spends her time tending the ley lines. But Londinium is still out there and her magic will be needed to silence them forever.

I loved the conclusion to this series! Cass grew so much and I loved Gideon's development, they made an amazing couple. Along with the other characters, the journey they went on was so exciting and I loved all the twists and secrets that were revealed! Grief was dealt with really well and the ending was perfect!

Overall it's an incredible conclusion and fans of mythology, fantasy and magic should read it!