this book was not for me. I didn't like the feel of a young writing with an adult cast. It felt like it was written once, and then just a few details were changed.

Alternate timeline that integrates Celtic folklore, Arthurian elements, and fantasy.   Secrets of the Star Crossed is a traditional YA novel that is a quick and easy read with some predictable tropes. The world building and magic system is well developed.  Pacing is off a bit as the start of the novel is a slow build. Overall it is a fun, easy read that you will breeze through. Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to review this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Secrets of the Starcrossed had one of the most interesting concepts, combine that with the cover, I knew I had to read this. But unfortunately, what I thought was going to be a great novel, I got a cliche YA book filled with your typical YA tropes. There is insta-love, a love triangle, and your typical good girl main character until she meets

While I can get past the insta-love and a love triangle, I couldn't get past how inappropriate the relationship between Cassandra and Devyn felt. When they engage in sexual acts, Cassandra has taken a "lust" drug given to her by her mother. And while she says she only had a little, she still had some and still seemed to be under the influence. And I waited for the big moment of Devyn telling Cassandra that it can wait until she is fully sober, she said no and they went and did it anyway. It just didn't feel okay to me.

The world-building was hard to understand, this seemed to be an alternate timeline where they are still living in the Roman Empire but have the technology of modern science. So add a dash of dystopian, but there were so many info dumps that I found it hard to process all this confusing info.

It finally got to the point that I couldn't continue this book anymore. I tried really hard to finish it and skimmed the rest of the book but it still felt like a 1 star read for me.

Secrets of the Starcrossed takes place in an alternate timeline where the Romans regained control of Londinium and the Britons remained in the 'English' countryside. This book mixes Celtic folklore, Arthurian legend, magic, and alternative history - all things I love, so I was excited to pick up this book. I feel that it both delivered and didn't deliver what I expected at the same time. I'll break the pros and cons down.

Pros:
World building - I thought the world building in this was great - definitely one of the novel's strengths. I was able to pick up the 'feeling' of Londinium pretty quickly, with its unique rules and regulations. As a lover of history, I loved seeing how this timeline played out - seeing what did and did not happen and how that affected things down the line.

Characters - I enjoyed reading about these characters and their lives. HOWEVER, I didn't much care for the male lead, Devyn. I much preferred Marcus as he seemed the more interesting character. I loved meeting people from the different 'worlds.'

Magic system/Rules - The 'rules' of this society are well thought out and very interesting. While we don't get tons of magic in this first book, there are a lot of rules about magic. Not to mention well thought out rules of the Roman's technology which is their version of magic - without leading into spoilers.

Cons:
Slow start - It took a while for me to get into this book. The start was slow. I felt a number of things could have been edited out to get the reader engaged faster while still communicating the information.

The first conflict - Something about this was unbelievable. Cassandra has known this classmate for as long as she remembers, and now she decides that she has to help him. It seemed out of nowhere. I would have liked to have seen either their relationship start differently or have some type of build up.

The ending - While there isn't anything inherently wrong with the ending, it seemed rather abrupt. And personally when reading a series, I prefer each book to wrap with some of the story while setting up the next and leading into the next conflict. This book ended on a total cliffhanger with nothing being really wrapped up. Again, this isn't something that's wrong with the book; it's a personal preference.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book after I got past the slow start. The marrying of the different cultures with the alternative history was intriguing and well thought out. I will definitely being finishing the series as the next books come out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC. The review is my own.

This alternate history fantasy works on the premise that the Roman Empire never fell and that Britain remained at least partially a part of it. While the logic and code of the republic holds sway over Londinium, the magic of the Wilds and Celts is still strong and pervasive. Along the ley lines, magic still courses and even shorts out the modern technology used in the Roman-held city. One girl, caught between her muddy past and her obligations, defies the system and the Code to follow her heart.

I was intrigued by the world that was built and the magic that infringes upon it. The characters were a bit flat and shallow, but their dilemmas were interesting.

The magic system was slightly convoluted and the lines between the magic and the Code were blurred a bit as the plot wore on. The total cliffhanger was kind of a turnoff, but there are two more installments to come.

I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley and the publisher and posted my honest opinion.

In a modern society of a world where the Roman empire never fell, citizens of Londinium live by the Code. Cassandra whose life seems to be on the right track, with her being an Elite and promised to Marcus, the most eligible bachelor for the city, suddenly violates the Code for Devyn. And she doesn't know why she helped him. And why she feels connected to him.

You can't help but be intrigued by this connection from the very beginning. And who he thinks she might be. Also the illness that plagues people with magic in their blood.

The author's imagination when it comes to the world building is something to be admired, with an inquisitive eye for the necessary detail to paint a vivid picture. How she brings the Roman Empire into the future and how many things seem to be the same but with modern twists. I loved recreating this intricate world in my head.

I must comment on the originality of the descriptions, for example "heart was beating a wild tattoo in my chest" Definitely exciting, the author succeeds in gifting us with suspense that the narrative draws out with nail-biting tension. The story moves along at an adequate pace as secrets are unraveled and truths revealed. But there's that elusive mystery at the center of everything that keeps you turning those pages with gusto. Believe me when I say your predictions will keep changing.

Also Cassandra's evolution as a person is done quite well. From being a compliant, dutiful social butterfly to a important part of a budding revolution. Devyn is deliciously enigmatic, a puzzle you want to solve. I believe they compliment each other, so I am definitely Team Devyn.

Sometimes the mentions of the past and the politics are confusing (had to read 2-3 times to comprehend them) and other times utterly enthralling. So that part of the narrative is uneven. Also Cassandra's musings do become in some instances repetitive and it feels like she's whining.

Societal injustices between the upper and lower classes are pronounced and a lesson in respect. What do you do when your fundamental beliefs start troubling you and you start to doubt them? When you start to changer? Are you your beliefs? Are you your societal class?

Captivating and thrilling, things get crazier as the book gets to part 3. There will be instances you will want to scream. Then cheer. Then scream again. Eventually I wanted to throw the book at the wall. What an ending! This was an amazing beginning to what promises to be a great series.

Unfortunately I have to dnf this book. I was so excited to read this but I really wasn't a fan of the writing and i just wasn't getting invested in the story. There was so much description and it dragged a lot. I also didn't like the main character so that didn't help.

I have to dnf this book. Maybe it gets better the more you read, but I just can not get through it. I had high hopes for this book. I love fantasy and sci-fi, not to mention overbearing governments and protagonists who push the boundaries of their world. But something about this book just is not working for me. I love the world building premise, but this book failed to find a balance between infodumping and explaining nothing, leaving me bored and confused. The love interest read like every mid 2000s internet dream boyfriend, and I just couldn't see these characters as anything more than stock stereotypes. I really wish this book had worked for me, but we just weren't meant to be.

Interesting world building but I jut didn’t connect with the characters. A romance first reader would probably enjoy this in the sense that its romance with an alt historical/ fantasy trim, and its quite true to the expected tropes of the genre. Not really for me I’m afraid.

I was really pleasantly surprised by this book! The blurb sounded good, but I wasn't expecting to be so completely engrossed.

Cass is a lucky member of the Elite in an Alt-History version of London ruled by the Roman Empire where technology is master and magic is outlawed.

The world building in the book is fantastic - I loved the little nods to British history and would love to read all about the different events of this timeline!

The action was full on and kept me hooked from the beginning. I did find the ending a little disappointing since it felt like it was dragging slightly with nothing properly happening for the last 10-15% of the book. However, this didn't detract from the fact that I'm desperate for the next book in the series!

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

The bad thing about reading ARC is loving the book so much and not having people to share it with!!! Not to mention waiting for publication day and then waiting for next book’s release date!!

This was such a great read. I had a bit of hard time getting into it, especially when Cassandra goes over the history of the Empire. Once she becomes fixated on Devyn, that’s when the fun starts. Throw Marcus into the mix and it’s shaping up to be such a great series.

The story gave me Matched by Allie Condie vibes. Government dictating who to marry, what to buy, what to do, where to go and anyone who deviates from that is a rebel. And of course, there always has to be a rebel group against said government.

Cass is such a great character. She falls for her guy and does just about anything to have him and also keep him safe. Devyn can be a little frustrating but such an interesting setup. Marcus was a curveball. Kind of reminds me of Xander from Matched, perfect boy in the eyes of the government but that’s not really who he is.

I really wanted to enjoy this one, and for the most part I did. While I did find it a bit predictable and the plot didn't move exactly the way I like, I found the characters were engaging and the setting was plausible. Overall, I Like the book, but it definitely didn't hit where I thought it was going to for me.

In a world where the Roman empire never fell, two star crossed lovers must walk the delicate path between destiny and expectation as the city of Londinium is thrown into chaos by a deadly sickness.

I loved the original concept of this. Roman history is chock full of lore and legend, rich in stories of magic and heroes so I was excited to read a YA fantasy that manages to channel some of this history into a new story. Unfortunately I was left a little disappointed. There's nothing really new here, with recycled YA characters I've seen many times over and a plot that is predictable. We seem to skim over a lot of the Roman and Celtic elements that could have made this stand out, instead focusing on tired tropes and a romance that felt a little instant and convenient.

I also think this lacked any depth to its world building. We get glimpses of how Britain interacts with the rest of the world, but I thought more could have been to describe and integrate this interesting world into the plot. Information we do get is thrown in, often in long paragraphs, that make the writing feel clunky instead of organic. That said, I did like the atmosphere the author created of a corrupt city built on political intrigue and machinations. I just wish it had been expanded more.

I also wasn't keen on any of the characters. Cass is a very typical YA protagonist, naive and sheltered from the corruption of the world who is forced into making tough decisions. She's very weak willed, with no real back bone, letting decisions be made for her while mooning over boys. She's not particularly well developed, and I don't think she had enough of a personality to carry the story. The make characters follow a similar vein, and I couldn't find myself interested in anything that happened to them.

Wonderful ideas with hints of intrigue, but this fell a little short for me in execution.

Secrets of the Starcrossed is the first novel in The Once and Future Queen series. The world is one in which the Roman Empire never fell, which completely caught my attention! I love a good alternative historical fiction/fantasy book. The summary had me so freaking pumped and I was so excited to see where this went. Unfortunately, I was sorely disappointed with this book.

I felt the whole love story and love interests were just super cringe and not believable. I feel if maybe there was more attention to the details to the book, such as the magic, world-building, and characters given more dimension, then maybe it would be a better read. Unfortunately, this just completely missed the mark for me completely. It wasn't a horrible read, but definitely not a series I will continue.

I was able to receive an ARC from NetGalley with approval from 'Once More Chapter' an imprint of HarperCollins UK.

To quote the book, 'I felt nothing'.

When I read the description for 'The Once and Future Queen' I was pumped to get a fun fantasy romp with English, Celtic, Welsh, and Irish mythology. What I got was another run of the mill YA dystopia with 'adult' characters. This book reads like a YA but the characters are too old to be in the category. Devyn is 26, and Cassandra is 22. They're full-fledged adults but they both act like teenagers.

I had hoped that this world would have some interesting world-building, giving English myths their own chance to shine. Instead, it felt like a copy and paste of a number of other books that have been out on an already saturated market.

It took me a long time to get into the book, and I never really got attached to anyone. I think the pacing issues stem from the fact that Cassandra has no reason to be doing all the things she does. Her only reason is she has a 'feeling' about Devyn and even then he tells her not to join him but she still does because... 'reasons'. Cassandra gets pulled along and in the end, I just didn't care about anything that was happening.

If this is your first attempt to read a dystopian or an older YA Fantasy novel, I would say read the Grishavers, Six of Crows, or Hunger Games and leave this book alone. I hope the writer can continue to grow and learn a bit more about stakes and pacing for the next book of the series, but I myself won't be giving it a shot.

3,75/5

First of all I would like to thank Netgalley and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read the first book of the Once and Future Queen series written by Clara O’Connor.

I was quickly drawn into the narrative and it definitely felt like a (digital) page turner for me which is why I gave this a high rating despite some issues I had with it.

We follow Cassandra in her journey of getting to know herself and her origins together with her realisation of the world she is living in, exposing and unraveling some aspects that she no clue about before the day the story begins.

I enjoyed the writing style and the main character’s depiction of inner struggles of identity and taking sides.

Spoilers ahead.

Some things that annoyed me;
I did not really understand the world and the magic around it. It was a not thoroughly explained whatsoever and it felt like it tried too hard to mix a lot of real world history but ending up being messy in my opinion.
I did not understand the dialogue sometimes with as it felt unrealistic and at times repetitive. ‘No you are not read to know about..’ ‘but yes, I am. Why don’t you jest talk to me?’ I did not care for that vibe at all.

That being said, I am curious to find out what happens and I would like to continue with the series nonetheless as this is a debut novel for the author and the second book might shed some light on all the above that irritated me at times.

DNF'ed...

It was very underwhelming, the beginning is just a lot of info-dumping which I struggled to make sense. Slow pace. The setting of this Roman history with technology wasn’t credible. I didn’t like Cassandra and the love interest was just too cheesy, the insta-love scene made me laugh and cringe at the same time.

I wish this was not compared to Grishaverse or Marie Lu as this book is too focused on the romance and not on the fantasy element. It's poor marketing and it makes a disservice to the writer as I see this book having more success with fans of J.L. Armentrout.

I will not add a rating on my review in Goodreads,

I really enjoyed that this book is basically a what if story. I love when authors try to rewrite history but sadly this one fell a little short. I don't regret reading it but I probably won't finish the series. The world building was confusing and the love story just wasn't something that I enjoyed. It definitely made the story worse in my opinion because of how over the top it was.

Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC in return for an honest review. I had really high hopes for this book after reading the description. The idea behind the book and the alternate history was very intriguing but it fell a bit flat for me. The historical aspects on which the book is based on was at times very confusing and seemed to jump around. I am a fan of English history and am in no way an expert so I was able to connect the dots but anyone who does not have any idea about the history, will find themselves pretty lost, I found myself having to reread previous pages because I was getting lost from one page to another.

I did not really feel connected to any of the characters and found myself very frustrated with Cassandra. The insta-love was a bit too much and felt forced along with the potential love triangle. Honestly, I found myself not really caring about who she ends up with.

This book does end in a cliffhanger so I am interested in reading the second book to see what happens but overall this was a 3 star book for me. Not my new favorite book but I am interested enough to finish the series.

Secrets of the Starcrossed is the first book in The Once and Future Queen Trilogy by Clara O'Connor and what a fantastic start it is. The world building is phenomenal and the characters are fully formed and engaging from the outset. In a world where magic is banned and feared, and punishable by death, technology and the code is what keeps the people safe. Cassandra has lived by the code all her life and believes in everything it stands for until she meets Devyn and breaks more rules than she ever has before. Matched with Marcus, the most eligible bachelor in the city, Cassandra is set to lead a life abiding by the code. Unfortunately, things are not as straight forward as they seem. For one she's adopted and she is drawn to Devyn and his quest to find a girl with magic in her blood.

The tension in the story builds as the author takes the reader on a journey where nothing is as it seems and for any readers worried about a love triangle, let me just assure you that this is not what this story contains. It's a story about finding out who you are and who you can trust.

I loved the mix of Roman empire and London along with the hints of history from the Celts to the Tudors. The world building is exceptional and there are plenty of twists and turns in the plot that will keep you reading well into the night. The cliffhanger ending was the only thing to disappoint but I do know I will definitely be reading book 2 and no doubt book 3 in this trilogy as I am fully invested in Cassandra and Devyn's story and want to know what happens next.