It's Arthurian legend retold time again. This time we focus on Languoreth, a future queen, and her brother Lailoken. They are raised in Scotland as royalty in the old ways - with mysticism and magic. But a new religion is on the rise, threatening their way of life and their future - Christianity.

Languoreth has been promised to wed Rhydderch, son of a Christian king, in order to secure her reign over a larger swath of Britain. But the forces of magic have her in love with Maelgwn, a soldier in the army of Emrys Pendragon. This new landscape of politics and violence could be tough on a gentle soul like Languoreth, but she has her brother and a tough old druid named Myrddin to help her.

I found this book to be boring.

It was clear quite early that this was a romance novel with an Arthurian setting. Which is fine, except 500 pages of mooning and pining gets old. There is more that happens, of course, but none of it is important to Languoreth. so it doesn't seem important to the reader either.

What makes the book most boring, though, is that Languoreth is not a particularly interesting character. When you narrow it all down and describe her in one paragraph or so, she looks, indeed, like a fascinating character to write about ... but she needs something to do other than be confused about love and how to act like a queen.

I had high hopes that this was going to be another <em>Crystal Cave</em> or <em>Mists of Avalon</em>, but it's not. It's an angst-y, brooding, YA-like romance that drags on too long.

Looking for a good book? It's hard to go wrong with a story in the Arthurian legend, but <em>The Lost Queen</em> by Signe Pike does just that.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Queen makes me feel as cozy as a hot cup of tea by the fireplace. The beginning of this trilogy follows our heroine, Langoureth as a child. Her peers felt as though she were incapable of handling herself, but as her father reminds her she has descended from warrior kings! I love this book. Time will tell that it will be popular for ages to come I am sure of it. I cannot wait to see how the rest of the books in the series plays out.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Game of Thrones meets Camelot. Do that stir your interest in this book? If not, it should. The majority of people know the story of Merlin but what about his twin sister? This book tells the story of Languoreth, twin sister to the famed Merlin. I hope you get a big cup of coffee and a snack because you will be reading this until you have read the last page.

"The Lost Queen" has been compared to "The Mists of Avalon", a book I love. I think the comparison is justified, I fell equally in love with "The Lost Queen". Langoureth's story is fascinating from the beginning to the end as she tries to save the "Old Way" from the new Christian religion. I adored the magical world of medieval Scotland, all the references to Scottish mythology, and the connection to the Arthurian Legend.
I will definitely read the next book of the series and would highly recommend this one.

The Lost Queen is an exquisitely written, expansive historical fantasy that brings to life Langoreuth, sister of the man who would go into expire the legend of Merlin. Langoreuth has been raised by the Old Way, but as Christianity spreads across Strathclyde, she and her family find themselves fighting for survival as they navigate a time of social unrest and upheaval. As tensions rise, Langoreuth must use all of her power and her wits to ensure the preservation of her family and her country, as well as her heart.

The Lost Queen is one of those books that deserves 5 stars because it is just so beautifully written and thoroughly researched. Pike effortlessly transports her readers into the world of 6th century Scotland in all of its myths and culture. I also loved learning about Langoreuth and her world, and how she moved through a world that viewed her value as solely her potential as a wife and heir-producer. This book was gorgeous and enrapturing. I do wish that we could have seen how her relationships with her significant men developed and more lead up, but this book was still excellent. The Lost Queen is a story about claiming our autonomy and freedom of choice in the circumstances we found ourselves in, and about how we can forge ahead our destiny when others seek to direct it for us.

I enjoyed this book. It had a lot of action and the main characters were great in this story. I would highly recommend reading it.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
5 stars

503 Pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: September 4, 2018

Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The book is about a sister, Languoreth, and her twin brother, Lailoken. They are raised in sixth century Scotland with the Old Religion as the rise of the Christianity comes to the country. Their mother dies when they are nine years old and they see a red stag standing in the water which they take as an omen from the Gods.

As the two siblings grow, so does the unrest between the two religions. As the daughter of a Chieftan, Languoreth is destined to marry a nobleman while Lailoken will follow the path of a Wisdom Keeper. Languoreth cannot help but feel jealous since that is all she ever wanted to be. Unfortunately, when she marries, it will be for political reasons to protect her family’s land and people.

This is the first in the series. I was enthralled with it and immediately got the second book. The story is fast-paced, and the characters are well developed. It is told from the first-person point of view.The information in the book has accurate historical references with a few twists. The people in the book were based on real people that lived in Scotland. It is thought Lailoken is the man behind the Merlin story. This book description says it is compared to Outlander and Mists of Avalon. I completely agree except without the time travel. If you like these books, you will enjoy this one.

I am so surprised about how much I enjoyed this book! The Lost Queen by Signe Pike is based on the history of the man they believe inspired the story of Merlin, called Lailoken. The main character is Lailoken’s twin sister Langoureth and the journey her life takes. The story is epic, full of love & passion, beautiful family relationships, the sacrifices of women and so much more. The way Pike has written this draws you in and surrounds you with the world. There were a couple times I found myself tearing up a couple of times and that took me by surprise... I don’t usually cry when I read.

There was also an underlying storyline about the spread of Christianity and the way it destroyed sacred spaces, eliminating the old ways/beliefs from their people, and converting people. It’s something that kept the historical trauma of Indigenous peoples in the front of my mind. Those aspects of the story really broke my heart to read. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the lost knowledge and spaces.

I highly recommend it even if you don’t generally read historical fiction, because the story is so engaging. It ended on a big cliffhanger, so I’m really glad to have the sequel ready to go!

I found this book to be riveting. I was picturing a cinematic event as I read this. The book is an epic, the first in a trilogy. I’m glad I read it now, so I don’t have to wait long for book 2! The story of Languoreth and Lailoken, twins in 6th centrury Scotland, is based on the story of Merlin. Of course there is magic, plenty of wars and family politics. It is a long and complex story that draws you in and doesn’t let you go. And leaves you wanting more.

Some books are so great that it makes me actually sad that I reach the end. This is one of those books.

I love books in a historical setting like this one, but only few of them can actually pull it off while portraying the characters as real people instead of ideological or one-dimensional props. This is one of those books that does. There is no way I as a reader could not root for Languoreth, Lailoken, or honestly any of the characters. Except perhaps Mungo. I wanted to kick him in the shins for being a totally sleazy a-hole, but like Languoreth I sat rooted in my chair, unable to do anything. There is no way to feel the total exasperation of a character for not being able to do something but being a reader, right? So, apart from the writing style being beautiful, the plot being great, and the setting being wonderful, the characters and their development were again what kept me glued to my chair with this book.

In a couple of days the second installment will be released. It won't be difficult to convince myself I need more books this time.

Wow, I can tell why this book had so much hype!

It was so clearly researched & with the plot that was so excellently drawn out. It reminded me of the extensive plot that i've read in the Outlander series. Didn't love every moment of it but I ended up listening to the entirety of the story via audio and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley, Signe Pike, and Atria Books for the opportunity to read this book!

I had requested The Lost Queen by Signe Pike on a whim. I loved the cover and the blurb intrigued me. Little did I know it would pull me through space and time and leave me breathless. It is also convenient that my Summer Reading List theme is Arthurian Legend, so it fit right in! This book begins in the year 550 AD. Languoreth and her twin, Lailoken are children of King Morken. Their mother has died and they are being tutored by Cathan, a Wisdom Keeper. Their family believes in the Old Ways but Christianity is on the rise. As they grow, Lailoken will be trained as a Wisdom Keeper and Languoreth will be married off to the High Kings son, even though her heart belongs elsewhere. She wants nothing more than to forge her own path. Little does she know, she will be a huge part of a myth and legend that will stand the test of time.

How is the book not plastered everywhere?! Not only that, but it is a debut novel and it is STUNNING. I am not kidding when I said it took my breath away. This book is disturbingly underrated. In fact, I need this adapted into a Netflix series and stat! First of all, the introduction discusses a body that was found in Scotland in the 1830s. It was a woman buried with nothing but a parchment. All the remains were lost. That sets us on a historical fiction journey. Then begins the development of Languoreth and Lailoken and who they will become which sets us on the legendary journey filled with mysticism and myth.

Now, some parts will be slow with the development but readers need to realize this will be an epic trilogy. The first book takes our main characters from childhood to their mid-thirties. There is death, betrayal, action, magic, romance…everything you can imagine. I broke down in tears, more than once! My favorite aspect is how the author intertwines history and legend. It is such a beautiful blend.

I cannot recommend this book enough and have already begun reading the second book, The Forgotten Kingdom! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

WOW! The Lost Queen, by Signe Pike is an engrossing novel of magic, loyalty, cunning, and love. It was slow to get started with all the uncommon names (thank goodness for the pronunciation key in the front), but once I learned the multitude of characters, I couldn't put this book down! Filled with intrigue, this historical fiction is brilliantly written! I didn't know much about this time period, or these historical figures, and it has been so enjoyable to learn about them and imagine them in the flesh. I can't wait to dive into the next installment in this series!

An epic work of fantasy and historical fiction. Inspired by a time before King Arthur and Merlin, the story centers around Languoreth, a "lost queen" on a mission to become a Wisdom Keeper. The novel is well researched and elements of Druid culture enrich the story. The beginning of a fabulous trilogy that you don't want to miss. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review.

The historical setting and characters in this book were so vibrant! Signe Pike did an amazing job of really bringing this story alive. It drew me in and held me close through the entire book! I already have an arc of the sequel so I will be immediately picking that up!

.Wisdom Keepers bowed to no one.

The first half of this book dragged.
I was pretty disappointed with it and I found myself begrudgingly picking it up to read.

Then it took off.
I don't know if it was a slow build, or if something just became interesting to me, but whatever it was I could not put it down. I flew through the final half and started the second book immediately.

There was something almost nostalgic about this book.
It's almost reminiscent of fantasy stories from my childhood.

I absolutely loved this book. I did not know that there is a Scottish character that is thought to have inspired the Merlin character in the King Arthur legend, and while this story focuses on his twin sister, I loved the connection to the Arthur tales.
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The book focuses on Languoreth. We meet here when she is ten years old, and she really wants to become a Wisdom Keeper (Druid) like her brother, but her role as a female of a strong chieftain is to marry and have sons. She is heartbroken but learns to accept her faith and wield power in her own right. I loved her as a character. She was strong and fierce and wants to make her world a better place. I also loved the Druid aspect of the book, and thought the descriptions of their traditions, beliefs, and rites were really interesting.
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I also loved the complicated nature of the land that was represented in the book. That time period was a very turbulent time on the British Isle, and I thought the author did a good job representing the contrast and tension between Christians and those of the old faith, as well as the different warring tribes in the area.
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Overall, if you love historical fiction, you must read this book!
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CW: violence, sexual assault, death.

Once in a while you start reading a book and the author's voice draws you right into a magical world. This was one of those.

It is the untold story of Languoreth—a forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotland—twin sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin, according to the blurb. I checked and there really is such a legend of Languoreth with Arthurian overtones, though the details might vary a little.

Regardless, the story drew me in quickly and put me right into the Dark Ages, a historical period I love reading about. The writing is excellent and I've put the author on my watch list! I've also requested the sequel to this one. Apparently it's to be a trilogy.

The story has everything you would expect from such a tale. Battles, an illicit romance, and an interesting take on healers called Keepers that I haven't seen elsewhere. There's a touch of magic and fantasy elements in just the right amount. It is told from Languoreth's point of view and I found her an easy character to love.

Forget comparing this to other series. It will be one future novels will aspire to be compared to!

The twins Langueroth and Lailoken are raised by their father, king Morken, and mother, a wisdom keeper, in the Old Ways. Lailoken has a calling to become wisdom keeper himself, something Langueroth can only be jealous of. She’s destined to marry to advance her family. But in 6th century Scotland the new Catholic faith will bring chaos and bloodshed, while at the same time men in the North gather under the banner of Emrys Pendragon to defend the country against the Anglo-saxons. Langueroth falls for one of Pendragon’s men but she’ll have to marry the son of the Catholic high king. Can she and her brother Lailoken defend and preserve the old Celtic faith?

The cover says ‘Outlander meets Camelot’, and it’s indeed a historical story with fantasy elements based on the Merlin myth. Pike discovered that a man named Lailoken could have been the inspiration for the character of Merlin. And that this Lailoken had a twin sister Langueroth who was queen of Strathclyde, an ancient Scottish kingdom.

But this is more than a retelling of Merlin. It’s the story about a girl who’d become queen in a troubled kingdom. About a clash between the Old Ways and the new Catholic faith led by the monk Mungo. About new heroes in the North bearing the name of Pendragon. About the love between siblings.

There are so many storylines that’s is difficult to write a summary :). ‘The lost queen‘ is the first part of a trilogy so there’s much more to come. And sometimes it was a bit frustrating that some storylines disappeared a bit towards the end. Probably to come back in the next book. For example the conflict with Mungo is definitely not over yet.

There’s also a heavy focus on Langueroth’s romance with one of Pendragon’s men. That was not my favorite part of the story. I did like Langueroth’s relationship with her brothers Lailoken and Gwendolau, as with her new husband and family. I also was very intrigued by the old Celtic traditions and the wisdom keepers, who were some kind of druids. They had even more power than kings and the mystery surrounding their prophecies gave the story a darker touch.

It may not be the new ‘Outlander’ or ‘Mists of Avalon’. But Pike certainly gives Merlin and Langueroth a new and original voice. I might pick up the next book in the series ‘the forgotten kingdom’ soon.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher to provide me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

THE LOST QUEEN garnered such great reviews that I was excited to read it. I must admit to being in the minority on this tale. I had great difficulty with the author’s writing. For whatever reason, I was not drawn into the world-building or the mystery of the times in which it took place. I found the bevy of difficult names a constant intrusion on the pacing of the story. I understand the author’s goal but I felt locked out of the tale by her vocabulary choices. I obviously am not the right reader for this book. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.