Once and Future Queen is the first book in C.M. Hano’s Constellina series. War is brewing in Constellina and infighting swirls all around. Who do you trust? Where can you turn when it appears that trust is something easily tossed aside? Or is it? Once and Future Queen takes readers to a fantasy world where the threat to this princess’s life is about to create a whole new shift.
Once and Future Queen provides a rather enticing cover. Readers are presented with what appears to be a dagger or a sword with magic swirling around it. Are these two images preludes of what is to come? Is there some hidden significance to it? While the cover may tease you closer, the blurb unfortunately...leaves some to be desired. But the story holds potential, so let’s see where things go, shall we?
Once and Future Queen is told from dual POV – Gwen’s and Alex’s. Gwen is preparing to assume the role of being queen. Sounds pretty straight forward, right? She’s about to come of age, and then she will be able to take the throne and hold the power that is hers to control. First things first though...reach the age of 24 and then get rid of the sniveling worm who is the Lord Regent. No, we’re not exaggerating...author Hano sees fit to show that this “man” has no qualms bloodying the heir. Makes you think...he really doesn’t believe that she’ll live long enough to claim the throne and see him lose a particular piece of his anatomy. What does he know that you don’t? Also, why doesn’t Gwen do more to check him? Things that make you go...hmmmmmm.
This novel shifts POV between Gwen and Alex. Alex is a dragon shifter. He’s also an “infamous” Mafia King of Gwen’s kingdom. He’s there at the behest of his father, but Alex has taken on his own agenda, and it’s one that doesn’t line up with his father. Sounds like some trouble brewing in the family tree, huh? Well, there’s more to this than just Alex looking to step out of his father’s shadow. There’s some sticky family history here, and it’s worth reading more about.
The beginning of this story, overall, is pretty interesting. You get to see the play of powers at work and who truly holds it. Apparently Gwen holds little to none, meanwhile, Alex appears to hold quite a bit. This is showcased by the way that he handles particular situations in the beginning.
Readers, know that this book is an urban fantasy romance mixed with some medieval elements/aspects to it. We say this because you have modern technology – phones, internet, casinos with slot machines, and the like alongside more mundane aspects from a less technologically advanced time. Does this bring it’s own unique element to the story? Yes, it does. However, it creates a stir of confusion as well. You get settled into one aspect of the story and your brain says “medieval-ish” times, and then you get something modern like phones and video calls thrown at you and everything goes out the window. LOL!
For this reader, Gwen is a difficult character to truly get behind. She has her moments of appeal, but then it just reads like she’s snarky and sarcastic just to be that way. If there was a basis for the attitude – that someone has tried to mold her to be more submissive and controlled, we might be able to see it. But other than a couple of interactions with the Lord Regent...it’s just not there for us.
She’s quick to flip, too. One minute she’ll trust you, and then you say the wrong word (yes, singluar) and she’s turning on you and calling you a liar.
There are some...race-”ist” elements of where she has a particular negative viewpoint of all shifters simply because they are shifters. Granted, she’s been told a story that was a lie, but her disdain for shifters is rampant throughout the story. But we can only deduce that this is the author’s twist on a familiar fairytale as well. You’ll see what we mean, because one of the characters Gwen briefly interacts with points it out.
Alex is the more interesting of the characters...well, that is until his brother makes a surprise appearance. Alex is a dragon shifter. Yes, you get to see him spread his wings, and even partially shift. It’s disappointing that he never shifts completely, but there’s a story behind that, and you’ll get to discover this in due time in the story. It’s a sad story, but apparently, when it comes to Alex, he’s packed chock full of sad stories. Can he get a win? Probably not.
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