Legend of the Lakes

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!

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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 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!

OMG. I will forever be in love with this series, despite the emotional turmoil Clara O'Connor has put me through. I mean seriously... she tears my heart out, starts to put the pieces back together again, then ambushes me and rips my heart out again (I was ready to throw my Kindle across the wall let me tell you) and then puts the pieces back together again. Like what?! CLARA... MY HEART.... CAN'T!! But it did. And now I feel whole again.

So after the end of the second book, I was upset to put it lightly. By upset I mean my world felt empty and devoid of light and happiness. I mean... who in their right mind creates a character like Devyn... and then KILLS HIM?!?!?! WHAT?! I was 100% convinced that this author was not going to be able to redeem herself, despite a tweet telling me that it was going to be ok lol! 😂 I did not believe her AT ALL but I held out hope.

Needless to say, she redeemed herself. I was very grudgingly brought over to Team Gideon, but was soon a very enthusiastic fan. Gideon was an excellent character. Loyal, loving, dark, straightforward... everything I love in a male lead. I didn't think I would ever like Cassandra with someone other than Devyn but alas... I was proven wrong. Gideon is literally perfect. I can't even.

Cassandra herself was excellent in this final book. Far from the naïve, slightly self-absorbed person she was in the first book, Cassandra is now self-assured, eager to help her people, and more in tune with her magic. She has to go through quite a bit in this book, but faces everything with heart and determination.

It speaks to the skill of the author that I was able to fall so thoroughly in love with two different love interests. I cannot wait to read anything and everything that Clara O'Connor comes out with. Perhaps a spinoff featuring Féile? 😉👀 Lol whatever it is, this author has me as a fan for life. Now I have to buy actual physical copies of this trilogy because... how beautiful are these covers right?!

I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and Clara O’Connor for providing me with an ARC of ‘Legend of the Lakes’ – the third and final instalment in ‘The Once and Future Queen’ series – in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I would just like to say WOW, what a book and what a fantastic series! Following the rollercoaster of emotions that ‘Curse of the Celts’ took the reader on, I was looking forward to reading the next in the series and ‘Legend of the Lakes’ did not disappoint!

What first drew me to the trilogy was the fascinating concept of a world where the Roman Empire never fell and where the past and future collided to create intriguing worlds of Londinium and the ancient Celtic kingdom.

Following from where the second book in the series left off, the reader finds themselves immediately immersed into the world of Cass and the struggles that she is left facing. Feeling lost, confused and overwhelmed with grief, Cass struggles to come to term with her new life outside of Londinium, her place in the family she has created, her responsibility as the Lady of the Lake and the magic within her.

O’Connor certainly did not disappoint with this dramatic and wonderful rollercoaster of a finale. Filled with magic, danger, and fantastically well-developed characters I was hooked since the first book and have enjoyed the entire series.

There is so much about this book, and the series, that I just adore that it is difficult to talk about it without saying any spoilers. All I can say for certain is this was a perfect ending to a magical trilogy.

I would certainly recommend this book to any reader that is interested in young/new adult fiction filled with magic, danger and romance with a twist.

Legend of the Lakes is the dramatic conclusion to the Once and Future Queen series. As a word of caution, this series is meant to be read in order as each novel takes place where the other leaves off, so many events from the previous will either be spoiled or not make as much sense if you skip one or two. I am beyond excited to review this novel as it exceeded every expectation and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I admit that I was not the greatest fan of Secrets of the Starcrossed (#1) as it just did not grab me enough, but Curse of the Celts (#2) drew me in and I never wanted to let go. As a whole, this series is amazing and I have a new appreciation for book one as some events came full circle and now I need to go and read them back to back.

This thrilling conclusion picks up after the extreme cliffhanger that happened at the end of book two. Cass/Cat now has to find out what to do next as she has her mission/duty, but also a lot of emotions to work through. This novel handles this situation extremely well as the reader not only experiences Cat’s own situation but sees how everyone around her also has to move on. I am thrilled that there is a character like Gideon in this novel as I loved every single thing about him since he first showed up on the page. I was rooting for him since book two and loved that his amazing character shined through during this novel. I personally was never a huge fan of Devyn, as I just never thought he was a super amazing person. This is not based on how the author wrote him, as she did a great job, but just something about him I never clicked with. Immediately, I connected with Gideon (Rion, too) where I found myself loving when they were featured in book two and this feeling continued in book three. Gideon, especially, was one of the best things about this novel, among many other great qualities.

In this novel, the reader learns a lot about the ley lines that are the magical source for the world. Without them, the world would fall. It is up to those with magical abilities to maintain the lines, but, unfortunately, some might be beyond repair. The divide between magic and technology comes into play again after addressing a little in book one. A lot of the story comes full circle as there was a ton of foreshadowing from the very beginning and perfectly illustrated how well-thought-out this series was when the author put it together. When I reached into my memories from the first two novels, I could predict a lot of the events that occurred in this novel. I loved that nothing was obvious and instead the reader had to focus on the tiny clues to try and piece it together or go in blind to be surprised. Even if you could piece together some of the stories, there were a few moments that absolutely surprised me. Essentially, this novel is a huge roller coaster of emotion as you laugh, cry, get angry, become content, etc. It is impossible to write more detailed explanations or even a fraction of one, as it would spoil the plot and I am attempting to keep most of this review as spoiler-free as I can.

Overall, this was an excellent conclusion. The side characters were amazing as even the “villains” were well-written and you loved to hate them. Cass was a little hit or miss, which she was the entire time for me, as she is not a great communicator. She has a lot of inner thoughts, but her actions rarely reflect these thoughts, so she becomes a walking contradiction. She does grow a lot throughout the trilogy, but it is hard to say if any of it is lasting growth beyond the last page. She is the Lady of the Lake and she fit the role well. It was captivating to read about her learning about who she is and where she came from without being given the information directly. Even the Griffin was a role that never had a direct answer and had its secrets slowly revealed. I love that the series wrapped itself up well with conclusions for the plot and character that did not feel as if it was forced or rushed. All the secrets were revealed in due time and were fantastically written from start to finish. A series that I will gladly recommend and re-read without hesitation!

**I want to give a special thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for a review copy of this captivating and enjoyable novel. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

We jump into this 3rd book from Clara O'Connor with an emotionally bereft Cassandra. We find her married to Gideon, who is also the new Griffin, having taken over the title and role after the passing of Devyn.

The relationship between Cass and Gideon is somewhat strained and only seems to get worse after Cass gives birth to her daughter Félie. In her grief from losing Devyn, Cass throws herself into repairing the damaged ley lines, and also completely neglects her daughter. It is Gideon who steps in, to be the parent Félie needs.

We also see some changes in the relationship between Cass and Gideon, changes that turn out to be for the better. It is difficult today too much without giving.too much away, but this is a trilogy to read. Each book in this series has a different feel to it, but you are still swept up in the storytelling.

This book was the perfect ending to the trilogy! The way that Clara dealt with the grief that Cass/Cat was going through and with the added pressure of her new responsibilities, was so well done. It didn't seem rushed at all and it really enriched the story. The plot was great so much detail and developments that had me on the edge of my seat wondering how it would all work out! A truly great final book!

Legend of the Lakes is the finishing series by Clara o' Connor. What an epic on also! Non stop action, pull on heart strings, knuckle bitting, much of NOOOOOOO.

It left of With Catriona aka Cassandra as lady of the lake. ( Taking their mothers place) her brother Rion Deverell is the King of Mercia. Has his hands full trying to prevent from being attacked by Londinum and making sure his sister doesn't overwork herself up keeping the ley lines.

Gideon the Lady of the lakes Griffth job is to protect and serve. Which includes Making sure she doesn't overwork herself. The leylines are in deep disrepair. ( Magical Ley Lines )

You have alot of beautiful scenery for the imagination, places such as Avalon. I kind of picture Mercia as England with Ireland together.

I'm grateful to get a chance to read this!! Very strong writing and descriptive. Badass characters too.

Book was given to me by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in the series and its just as good as the other two. The story continues and is another rollercoaster of emotions. Beautifully written and one of the best dystopian novels I've read.

You need to read from the start but it's an epic journey you won't forget. I would love to see this made into a film.

What an emotional roller coaster this trilogy was!!!!

I couldn’t put words together when I finished it and now days later, I still have a hard time coming up with what to say!

The continuity of the books has been pretty goos, picks up right where the other ended and I like that. With that said, we (yes, I’m including myself with the characters ) are still trying to cope. Cassandra has a harder time than most and gets pretty ugly to those around her. As I said from the previous book, I don’t like how Cass 2.0 is and was hoping for an upgrade. Her actions and words don’t match her thoughts tans that’s so frustrating.

Gideon!!!!!! 💜💜I need a man like that in my life! Just wow! I have to say he’s my favorite character. Just like Cass, Gideon is also having a hard time coping and adjusting BUT the changes he makes are for the better. He’s too damn good for his partner...

The last book didn’t disappoint. It covered a lot. We got answers, secrets were revealed, the main characters go through quite a journey individually and together which in the end, made it all worth it. Marcus is still on my s*** list. For someone so damn smart he sure let’s his dad handle him. And while at the end some of his actions are good, they’re not good enough to forgive everything else. The bad guys have their power taken away and Cass and co step in and try to forge a better leadership.

I think I’m going to reread the series now that all 3 books are out. The story is just that good!

When I saw this ARC land in my inbox, I had to read it straight away after the ending of Curse of Celts! I enjoyed the first book but the second book really hooked me and this book was no different. Legend of the Lakes picks up right where the sequel ended. This review will contain spoilers for the first two books so if you’re planning on reading them, do not read ahead!

‘You think I haven’t thought of this every day, every night for the last three years.’

This book really had me in my feels, after that shock ending and Devyn being killed, Gideon marrying Cassandra and becoming the Griffin to save her life. Wow! What an emotional rollercoaster! There was a lot of time passing in this novel, which definitely made sense for the story the author is telling. In the beginning, Cassandra, understandably, is grieving and she seems to be handling it okay, but when her child is born, she starts drifting away into her magic. It was really interesting to explore the magic system in more detail in this book as Cassandra starts training properly on how to “clean” the ley lines. I really liked that aspect of the story and how they use of her magic had a physical and mental toll on her and how this was worked into the overall plot.

‘I was yours the moment you stepped into that glade fit to kill me.’

Throughout these books, I was never certain about how I felt for Devyn, he always put his duty before Cassandra and I felt like she was never appreciated enough. In the sequel, we were introduced to Gideon and he grew on me throughout. It was no different in this book, I loved his character. He was very caring and looked after Cassandra’s daughter, Féile when she became affected by her magic. The relationship he had with Féile was lovely. I also really enjoyed watching Gideon and Cassandra’s relationship blossom over the course of this book. And yes, I do like him more than Devyn. Their relationship involved a lot more than lust and love and was about Cassandra accepting herself and understanding how she felt and what she wanted. This couple weren’t quite enemies to lovers but there was a definite dislike or resentment, some form of tension between the characters. I loved reading this book for this development! Cassandra did annoy me at times, but I think it was all part of her journey. The passage of time allowed for this relationship to develop as it wouldn’t have felt right if Cassandra moved on from Devyn quickly. Although, Devyn did play a role in this book, with Cassandra turning her grief into anger towards Gideon, accusing him of not being Devyn. This broke my heart for both of them. As much as this book was about Cassandra and Gideon’s relationship and the overall plot, it was also in a way about overcoming and dealing with grief.

‘Know that if I had a choice, you would be my first choice. Always.’

It’s really difficult to say much about this plot without spoiling the story! But the author has continued to craft a beautiful story in this dystopian world. I felt many emotions in this book, including throwing my kindle to the other side of the sofa after reading something I didn’t want to believe was true, crying, realising I was wrong, and then crying some more. This book felt like a great ending to this story and I’m kind of sad to not read more about these characters and life after the events in this book.

This was the most epic conclusion to the series! And I loved it so much! This book has shown so much...how to always move forward even after the death of someone you love, and not to succumb to the waves of depression and grief. I generally don't like books/series where any of the main characters dies, like what happened in the second book! But this one gave so much hope to move forward with life. I was already too hooked with the plot that I needed to continue the series, even after the events of the previous book of the series.

I hadn't known that I would come so far as to ship Gideon and Cat and to basically live for their interactions throughout the book. This was one of the things in this book that surprised me as all my reactions while reading it went against all that I believed in. The chemistry between the two was unbelievably good. I never expect such chemistry after the MC's love of her life has died. But Clara has pulled that effortlessly and I salute her for it. It wasn't that the chemistry between Devyn and Cass was lacking- oh their interactions were hot- but that Cass also had a lot of chemistry and angst with Gideon too (form book 2 as I had noticed-shame on me).

This book was more fast-paced than the first two in the series, there was less info-dumping but a bit nonetheless,(I still can't understand the story of all the Lady of Lake throughout the ages-there were just so many names and it confused me a lot). There were so many revelations throughout the book and the author just makes you gripping the edge of your seat in anticipation of what happens next.

There was this one thought going around in my mind while reading it that I would like to point out, was that the situation of Cass/ Cat resonates a lot with Meredith Grey. So, every time something happened I was like-just like Meredith and I would cry.

After the second book in this series, Curse of the Celts, ripped my heart from my chest, I wasn't sure how I felt about continuing with the series. I couldn't imagine how Clara O'Connor could make me care again after the events of the previous book had so thoroughly destroyed the characters and the world that I had grown to love.

However, I rallied and decided to give Legend of the Lakes a chance, in the hopes I could get some closure. And now I sit here having finished a book which has completely blown me away. Within the first chapter, I had forgiven the awful events of Celts, and understood why they were necessary. And I fell in love with this world and these characters all over again.

It isn't all good news though - there were certain parts of the book where I found myself once again devastated and feeling betrayed by the author. But then, I suppose that is a reflection of what a talent O'Connor is, making me react so strongly to completely fictional events! I can't wait to see what she does next - although in the meantime I think I need to practice steeling myself ...

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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!!

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!

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!