The Lost Queen is a great start to Signe Pike's series The Lost Queen Trilogy. I thought it was a fabulous read. It is getting five stars from me.

I absolutely could not stop reading this book! The author does a fantastic job of weaving together history, myth, and legend, all with richly developed characters. Please tell me there's more!

This book was the perfect blend of historical fiction and fantasy, and I loved it!

Set in 6th century Scotland, this story is loosely based around real figures in Scottish history, one of the most powerful early medieval queens in British history, Languoreth, and her twin brother Lailoken, a Wisdom Keeper who later becomes the inspiration for the character, Merlin. Set in a time where a new system of belief, Christianity, is threatening the ancient Pagan beliefs of her kingdom, Languoreth makes selfless choices within her family and her own life to strengthen the kingdom and see herself in a position of power and influence. Forbidden love, tyrannical kings, bloodthirsty warriors and family on both sides, Languoreth has braced herself for a war that she will lose no matter what the outcome.

If that synopsis didn't do it for you, I don't know what will. I couldn't even say the good parts, or it would've been filled with spoilers! While it started off slowly, it didn't take long for me to be completely devoured by the story, the history, the characters and the conflict. I'm so happy to already have book two in my possession, because this one ends on a CLIFF HANGER and I needed to immediately see what happens.

5 stars

Thank you! I reviewed this book for THRIVE GLOBAL
https://thriveglobal.com/stories/escape-into-fiction-this-fall/

I read both The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom written by Signe Pike who researched extensively about Languoreth who was a twin to Lailoken who inspired the legend of Merlin. She was a queen in sixth-century Scotland but the first book starts at Cadzow Fortress, Strathclyde Land of the Britons Late Winter, AD 550 when the ten-year-old twins lose their mother, Lady Idell. Although they have been brought up in the Old Ways of signs and omens, Languoreth is not to be a Wisdom Keeper or druid like her twin. She must deal with betrayal, bloodshed, brawls and a very handsome soldier named Maelgwn although she is pledged to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king.

I felt like I was walking in the woods with her as the descriptions are so vivid. We are now dealing with violence and political intrigue, and like Languoreth we must learn who we can trust and how to adapt to changing times. As Cathan tells her, “Each of us has the power to fight.” Languoreth tells us, “We are a people of choices, and in these choices we find our freedom. I choose for whom I fight.”

I am so glad that Pike has shared the story of Languoreth with us as we need these stories of strong women. Ariane told Languoreth that, “We may not always have the choice we would like. But we always have a choice.” Please use your choice to vote in our upcoming elections and be part of making a change.

When we are allowed to travel again, I will visit Scotland and the sites Ppike describes. Pike tells us, “My hope is that these novels will encourage you to undertake a journey of your own. For although the legends of Arthur and Merlin have their roots in events that took place nearly 1,500 years ago, their enchantment and ability to enrapture us has failed to diminish over time. But their magic is still accessible to any who seek it.” Where will your journey take you?

The Forgotten Kingdom, Book 2, starts with an imprisonment which mirrors how many of us have felt during COVID, stuck at home. As Trish Todd, Vice President & Executive Editor of Atria Books, shared: “In recent months, we’ve all felt like Languoreth, locked inside our homes waiting for the battle outside to be over. What will the world look like when we open the door? Who has survived? When will we see our loved ones again? The Forgotten Kingdom echoes the frightening uncertainty of our time while showing us that disasters that seem unprecedented or insurmountable have always inspired us.”

I hope you enjoy both of these books as much as I did. I will be waiting for the arrival of Book 3 in September 2023. I wonder what will happen with Angharad. I wish I could read it right now!

I love anything that is remotely related to the Arthurian legends so I was super excited to read “The Lost Queen” by Signe Pike. This book, though, tested my resolve to never give up on a book. It started very, very slowly. There are ALOT of characters, and ALOT of settings, and there are factions and alliances to keep straight. Then there are those who are Picts, those who are Christian, and those who follow the Old Way. Thankfully, there is a “cheat sheet” of who’s who at the beginning of the book. I struggled through the story of Lailoken (who would later be known as Myrrdin, now Merlin) and how twin sister, Langoureth until around page 300, when Langoureth is now married though she carries another man’s child. The story took off from there as the women formed alliances, and the men fought amongst themselves, ultimately coming together to wage war on the Pendragon. The writing is a bit wordy, and the pace could have been quicker if more dialogue were involved, but overall, I enjoyed “The Lost Queen” and look forward to the next installment in this trilogy.

I love this take on the well known legend of Merlin. In this story, we get the scope of Languoreth, the twin sister of Lailoken (who the Merlin legend is inspired by). This book brings you historical fiction, with adventure and war, action, and romance. Best of all of the worlds!

This story drew me in and I was lost in another world. The writing was very atmospheric and rich with history. Amazing!
Many thanks to Atria Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I tend to read a lot of synopses and then choose my books far ahead of reading them, resulting in my forgetting most of what they were supposed to be about before I read them. Thus, I went into my read of The Lost Queen without knowing the connection to history/myth/legend. This may have worked both to my advantage and disadvantage in this case. Pro: I had no preconceived notions of where I expected the book to go or how it should turn out. Con: I had nothing to propel me forward in moments where the pacing was slow, adding some frustration to some pieces of my reading. Spoiler: I think the pro outweighed the con this time around.

This is a good historical fiction that both felt comfortable in the familiarity of its construction and new in its endeavors. I very much enjoyed the historical setting of the novel. 6th century Scotland still has the castles and warring factions of later history, but is rare to find a book of historical fiction from the British Isles that does not encompass the Renaissance or Plantagenet/Tudor England. This was refreshing. However, I will admit that I am a frequent reader of the latter, being a fan of the Philippa Gregory novels about that time period. Because of that, I was happy to have the same sort of focus in this novel. Told from a female point of view, encompassing some true historical fact, and still managing to balance war/politics with normal life and maybe a touch of a romantic side. The addition of the magical/natural healing element also made things interesting, though I definitely wanted more of this content than was provided.

The writing style is comfortable, both presenting historical detail and keeping things lyrical. There is fantastic description of the surroundings and some good background on the political and religious state of the region at the time of the story. I don't have the ability to judge the historical accuracy in full, but there seems to be good attention to different pieces of life during the time, so I would like to assume that the majority of the detail is correct.

The characters are interesting with a mix of both dynamic and static character builds. The primary characters are well described and seem to have unique and identifiable personalities. The secondary characters are a bit more cardboard in their feel, so this could have been improved. There were a few instances where having them better developed could have enhanced the richness of the prose and the overall story, but this didn't pose a big problem for me.

Pacing was my biggest issue with this novel. Though I very much enjoyed the writing style, there were some moments that slogged along a bit. That's quite difficult to brush aside when you've got a 500+ page book staring you in the face. But, the slow start eventually built up speed and there was still enough along the way to keep me intrigued. Once things got moving consistently, I became more wrapped up in the political intrigue of the story and the characters began to gain a little more footing. At that point the pages began to fly by pretty steadily.

There was a bit of cringy instalove, but at the same time the characters involved were both teenagers...so I give it a little latitude because of the whole irrationality of the teenage heart. Don't say you weren't prone to the same type of thing when you were a teen...we all know you were. Crushes happen...this one just had a little more tenacity.

I was really finding myself wrapped up in the story and turning the pages with ferocity when the ending came upon me. Dang it! Because of this, I was a little frustrated with where the book ended. The epilogue in particular made it feel both like a quick wrap up and a cliffhanger. However, I will admit that it does set up the second novel nicely and the approach worked...because I am antsy to get to the sequel.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

A wonderful Merlin (Arthurian)Tale. I read at least one Arthurian/Guinevere/Merlin series a year. I only say this to point out how many are written. This one stands heads and shoulders ABOVE most of them.
It does what excellent historical fiction does at its best it puts you in the time period and makes you live it. I briefly read the blurb and asked to read for review without going any further. Thank you #NetGalley for review copy. I’m so glad I did. To my mind it is one of the first truly unique takes on this tale in a very long (insert Mists reference here) time. Using the female voice to recount the tale of what it was like to live in Briton, Anglo Saxons being the enemy and the co-existence up to this point of Druids/pagans and the threat to ways of life from population of growing Christian beliefs. Varied stations in life are looked at realistically, the wisdom that could be found from ancient beliefs and ugly side of being royalty are shown with clarity. I loved the main character even though her anguish over not being able to marry for love but for her country was repeated one time too many. But as a woman I get it. Her life will drastically change and quite possibly not for the better. Who else will speak up for those who have lived on these for as far back as anyone can remember?
Overall, I loved this story and already downloaded the second book. The Narration was outstanding especially in light of so many characters. I never got lost or was unable to recognize who was speaking. I highly recommend this book. #NetGalley #TheLostQueen

Oh boy. I STRUGGLED with this book. It felt like a cross between Pride and Prejudice and Game of Thrones — a complex plot with writing that drones on. However, given the timeline, I do understand that this makes sense. Epic fantasies are typically harder to get into. I loved the main characters as children but not so much as adults and I found myself getting bored and really having to pull myself through. At that point I honestly would have rated it two stars because reading it felt like work — although I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of the church sector all the way through. But THEN — we get to the end and it’s exciting and action-packed and now I can’t wait for the sequel. I just hope that it’s more immediately exciting than its predecessor. Although it was a little hard to slog through, it’s also worth noting that the writing was BEAUTIFUL and the complexity of the plot is a testament to the author.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genre's to read. I loved this so much. This was an easy read! I blew right through it. I enjoyed this so much. The writing style was flawless!

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

This one was a little slow to start so I had to put it down for a while. I think I'll pick it back up in month or so to see if I enjoy it a little better.

The Old World versus the New world if Christianity in Scotland. Feudal battles are interspersed among a beautiful love story. The novel is a thrilling glimpse into changing times. I loved it.

The Lost Queen (Book 1 of The Lost Queen Trilogy) – Signe Pike

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.

Signe Pike is an American author who has a love of history. Her first book was “Faery Tale: One Woman’s Search for Enchantment in a Modern World”.

“The Lost Queen” is the first book in Signe Pike’s The Lost Queen Trilogy, book two is called “The Forgotten Kingdom” (I haven’t read this unfortunately!).


Many of us know and have heard of the legends of Arthur, Merlin and the warriors of Pendragon. Yet who knew that Merlin had a sister, Languoreth, and he was born with the name Lailoken.

“The Lost Queen” follows the tale of Languoreth as she fights against her fate, the fate of a girl who is the only daughter of a king. A princess who dreams and can do nothing to pursue her dreams and must sacrifice her happiness to do her duty – for her father and her people. Yet her twin brother Lailoken is able to follow the path she has always dreamed of, the path of becoming a Wisdom Keeper.

Yet she defies them all and lets herself have one night, one night of happiness and passion with whom she has given her heart too – Pendragon’s general. Yet as a princess she must marry who her father says she must marry – the son of the High King Tutgual.

And shortly after their wedding young Languoreth is pregnant with a son – though she alone knows who his true father is. Yet the years pass and she habours her secret alone. Her brother has left to follow his own path, the path that will one day lead him to be known as the famed Merlin.

Then one day Uther Pendragon and his army visit Languoreth and her husband in their home – and he is there, her son’s true father. It is dangerous for him to be so close yet as they look at each other they both know their love cannot be denied yet it must stay buried for both their sakes and the sake of their unknowing son.

But to Languoreth’s horror the worst is yet to come. Her husband and her son ride off to war against Uther Pendragon and ultimately her son’s true father and her dear brother Lailoken. Locked in her room and unable to prevent the war that is coming Languoreth must wait and see what the fates have in store for her and her family. Yet she knows it will only end in blood, war always ends in blood.

“The Lost Queen” is a wonderful historical fiction novel that is full of suspense and the rich history of the Arthurian legends and of course the mysterious Merlin. I have read many stories centering around the legend of King Arthur, his knights and the famed Merlin but this is the first story that I have read that talks about Merlin having a sister, a twin sister at that and that his name was something other than Merlin. It’s truly an original story that I was sneaking every minute I could to read what was coming next, eager to know what would befall Languoreth and her brother.

It is intriguing, engaging and utterly captivating. I cried along with Languoreth, I felt her passion, her loneliness and utter despair and rage at the unfairness of her fate. I yearn so much to read the next story and hope that her fate and the fate of her family does not end in blood. I am also curious to know if and when the secret of her son’s true father, will ever be revealed and the consequences that shall rain down. But more than anything I hope that Languroeth will get to spend the rest of her days with her true love – we also deserve that.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Due to my love of the Outlander series and an enduring interest in Arthurian legend, The Lost Queen meets multiple qualifications for my reading list. In recent years I have learned of my family’s ties to Scotland, in particular my relation to Robert the Bruce (and there are more than one of those fellows). So taking a peek through the window of history into a country with familial ties is intriguing. Author Signe Pike is a highly educated writer in the arena of British history, in particular the role that Scotland plays in the story of Uther Pendragon and his advisor Merlin. She brings this knowledge to bear in the opening volume of a trilogy, The Lost Queen.

The titular character is Languoreth, a historical Scottish queen who has been somewhat “lost” to antiquity. We meet her as a young girl, long before she is wed and witness her development as a youthful twin sister to brother Lailoken, growing to a young maiden, then to a mother with many concerns weighing upon her heart. Languoreth is surrounded by a varied cast of characters: from family members, villains, spiritual advisers and men who covet her heart. Her journey as a woman involves political intrigue, religious conflict and romantic entanglement. This first novel of the trilogy concludes on the eve of the dawning of a new chapter in her life, one that seems to bear destruction and disgrace for many whom she loves.

The comparisons to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander are not unreasonable, but Pike’s writing and focus are much different than Gabaldon’s. The romantic element is far less pronounced, and there is more emphasis on druidic traditions than the time travel “magic” seen in the Outlander series. Religious conflict is a major theme of the novel, and unfortunately the Christians seen within this narrative are rarely Christlike in their manners. As a Christian myself, I dislike this type of personification of “believers”, as they are most likely not believers at all, but those who would use the name of Christ to achieve their political ends. In today’s culture, it’s all too easy to see the same in some of our leaders, which makes the portrayal of characters like Mungo all the more difficult to read. I acknowledge that “men of the cloth” such as he have existed for millennia, but it’s a shame that some of the worst behaviors in The Lost Queen are seen in the church. For the Christian reading The Lost Queen, it is important to keep in mind that this is merely one perspective of history. As Pike mentions in her post-novel note, history is fluid. I would agree that it is fluid in that we are almost constantly receiving new information about the past, data that alters our view of events from centuries gone by. The perspective of The Lost Queen is very much from the view of the druid, and is very sympathetic to it. As I have a firm hand on my own beliefs, I am able to read this narrative in the same way that I do when reading Outlander. My faith may be different from the characters in the novel, but I can still enjoy the journey of Languoreth, Lailoken and the others.

Aside from the religious-themed conflicts, The Lost Queen also deals with political alliances, loyalties and the threat of war. Languoreth finds herself in the midst of a love triangle, and must make difficult decisions and sacrifices for the sake of her family. Should she merely follow her heart, the repercussions could spell disaster for many whom she loves. Although she is a woman of strong temperament, her standing in society is still affected by the powerful men surrounding her.

I did enjoy The Lost Queen, and do plan to continue with the series as the story continues in The Forgotten Kingdom. Signe Pike has done fine work in capturing a certain perspective of 6th century Scotland, with well-drawn, captivating characters and thoroughly researched writing. In this new series the legacies of Languoreth, Merlin and Uther Pendragon have been given a particular Scottish (and presumably accurate) slant, one that I look forward to taking in as the trilogy continues. There is more to the Arthurian legend than I realized, and The Lost Queen is an entertaining beginning to a new retelling.

This book was amazingly written. It was very detailed and very action packed. A true page turner. This is about Languoreth Merlin's twin sister. Who doesn't want to read about that? If you like Arthurian stories this one was definitely worth reading.

My thanks to Signe Pike, Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of THE LOST QUEEN. I love historical fiction, but sometimes I find it a bit overdone. The names of the characters were not easy to remember and the story is similar to many I've tried to read previously. Unfortunately not for me.

This is a fantastic first book in this trilogy. This is the story of twins, Languoreth and Lailoken, children of King Morken. They are being tutored by Cathan during an uprising and difficult time in Scotland. They are during the transition between the Old Ways into Christianity and this is a main theme. They are also prematurely forced into battles due to the circumstances of the time.
This is a thrilling and wild ride with incredible atmosphere.
Because this is an older release, I was able to listen to the audiobook as well as physically read the eARC. This is a wonderful audiobook. The narration and narrator infuse the atmosphere into the words. You feel as though you are in a Castle in Scotland, snuggled by a blazing fire and drinking a hot cup of tea as you listen/read.
I highly recommend.
#TheLostQueen #Netgalley #Atria

“What sort of journey?” I asked. “Oh, an epic sort, always. Filled with dashing heroes, wicked villains, battles, enchantments, and lionhearted feats of bravery. This is the stuff of stories told around the fire.”

CW: Violence, War, Spousal Abuse, Death

Summary: The Lost Queen follows our heroine, Languoreth, a sixth-century Scottish woman torn between love and duty, who is thrust into the middle of the increasing conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the new faith, Christianity, with the Old Ways she was raised in.

As a young woman, she meets and falls in love with the warrior Maelgwen, who arrives at her father’s door with the Dragon Warriors - the forces of Emrys Pendragon who are trying to fight off the Anglo-Saxons. However, Languoreth is promised to another man, Rhydderch, the son of a Christian king who is quickly forsaking the Old Ways. Told over the course of the first 30 years of Languoreth’s life, we see a strong-willed and stubborn young girl turn into a brave and tenacious woman, who will do anything to protect those she loves.

Review: This book was magical. I like to think that some parts of our history and ancestors live with us and this was a story that I felt in my bones, masterfully woven in the hands of Signe Pike. Am I related to a queen from sixth-century Scotland? Probably not, but I felt so invested in Languoreth’s story. I would be remiss if I didn’t add that there were also some steamy bits - every scene between Languoreth and Maelgwen had me fanning myself. The tension between these two characters was so well written and I found myself holding my breath every time they were together. Incredibly researched and vividly told, I could not put this book down. 5 stars without question.

You should read this book if you like: Historical Fiction; Arthurian legends; Strong Female leads
Similar: Cursed (Netflix Show), Outlander, Game of Thrones, Philippa Gregory