This series had me in a complete chokehold. After finishing The Lost Queen and learning where Pike got her inspiration and all of the history the story is built on, I was even more fascinated to read The Forgotten Kingdom.

The character development of everyone we met in The Lost Queen, as well as new characters was incredible and the pace kept moving throughout the timeline. I loved exploring new settings like the Caledonian Wood and Pictland.

I am anxiously awaiting book three in the series which is set to (hopefully) come out this year!

DNF at 30%. I really didn’t enjoy the first book in this series — I had to push myself through it, but I found it unnecessarily dense and the writing style just wasn’t for me. However, I ended up really connecting with the main characters by the end and decided then and there that I’d give this one a shot. Unfortunately I had the same problems with the writing and orienting myself in this world, and decided just to give up while I was ahead. I’m sure it’s just me and my aversion to historical fiction, as I know lots of people who thought the writing was lovely and lyrical.

Book two in a trilogy. This book is under appreciated. Its compared to Outlander meets Camelot and I totally agree! I'm going to be waiting a while for book three and man this wait has been rough. Truly entertaining and unique. Signe Pike is a beautiful author. Reminds me of Philippa Gregory style.

Wow! I received a copy of this story not realizing that it was the second book in a series. To give this a fair review I decided to start with the first in the series. What a captivating series this is! I love the strength of the characters! The author made this time period come alive for me! What a beautiful story! Other reviews have said that this book could be read as a standalone. I agree however I believe you’ll wish you’d read the first one anyway. I cannot wait to hear the rest of the story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for giving me the opportunity to read a nod review this book!

This book was well written, but I hadn’t read the first one, which was my mistake. Nevertheless, I recently went back and read the first, and reread this one, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Recommending it to my work book club.

This sequel to The Lost Queen continues to follow the sixth century Queen Languoreth of Cadow in what is now Scotland, her daughter Angharad and her twin brother Lailoken, who becomes known to legend as Merlin. Like The Lost Queen, this book is meticulously researched, covering a poorly documented time of shifting and conflicting religious influences and alliances as the Old Ways of the Picts struggle against encroaching Christianity and invading Angles. Signe Pike brings all of the characters to life and tells the story through their eyes, exploring their beliefs, lives, politics and even the epic battles in vivid detail. This entry covers the introduction of Lailoken, exiled after battle, to a young warrior named Artur, and the beginnings of an alliance between Christians and pagans. It is to be followed by the third book in the sweeping trilogy, which promises to be equally compelling and exciting, giving some historical context to the Arthurian legends.

This book is the much anticipated sequel to The Lost Queen. An incredible retelling of the legend of King Arthur, this book is told from the points of view of Languoreth, her twin brother Lailoken, and Languoreth’s daughter. Depicting the battles, the intrigue, and the betrayals of sixth century Scotland, this book is full of vivid imagery, drawing you in to the story from the first words.

Taking over where The Lost Queen left off, Languoreth has sent her daughter Angharad to train to be a Wisdom Keeper with her twin brother Lailoken. She has been imprisoned in the castle by her husband, as he sets off with their eldest son to wage battle against the Pendragon. Christianity and the old ways are warring for supremacy in the hearts and minds of the citizens of the lands.

Full of epic battles, mystical and spiritual quests, and a lot of soul searching, The Forgotten Kingdom is one of the most epic books I have read in a long time. I felt attached to the characters and as though I was actually there, experiencing these events with them. Full of twists and turns, The Forgotten Kingdom is full of love, heartbreak, grief, survival and perserverence.

Signe Pike has done a ton of research of the historical and archaeological record to really bring the reader a sense of what it would have been like in the sixth century Scotland. For fans of Arthurian legend, this series is a must.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the advance copy for the purposes of an honest review.

A return to a time long ago... I so enjoyed this second book by Signe Pike. It continues the tale of Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken during mid 500 A.D. Life’s brutal twists and turns have pitted their families against each other, as they meet on the battlefield to face their fates. .The ever reaching influence of Christianity violently clashes with the traditional ways of the Wisdom Keepers, which add yet another layer to this drama. Lailoken and his niece have sought the ways of the traditional arts and this is much a tale of their spiritual journey as it is one of wars and treachery.

For almost a decade, Signe has conducted research about Languoreth and Lailoken, and strived for historical accuracy when describing Scottish life during this time period. The author has truly written a piece of historical fiction which reads more like fact. I am intrigued by the strong woman who once ruled a far away land but has virtually disappeared in historical accounts. What a shame for time and mankind to have diminished her legacy and contribution. I suppose it is because of this, that I so enjoyed reading and listening to The Forgotten Kingdom. Signe allowed me to feel as if I was able to have a glimpse into this woman’s life, and that of her children.

I suppose the only fault I can find is that you need to pay close attention to the timelines presented. Some parts of this novel jump ahead almost a decade, while at other times characters are giving accounts of events within days of each other. I would also have enjoyed more detail about Languoreth’s reign as queen. I found that this an area which was underdeveloped.

If you are inclined to pick up audiobooks, this one is a must! I have both the novel and the audiobook and I must admit, listening to this story transported me to another world!

Someone suggested I read Signe Pike’s first novel, “The Lost Queen”, but I was loaded up with books to read, so I hesitated.

“What’s it about?” I asked.

“I’ll give you a hint,” she told me. “It’s lauded as ‘Outlander meets Camelot’.”

SOLD. I set all other books aside and read both Part 1: “The Lost Queen” and Part 2: “The Forgotten Kingdom”. And it was SOOOOO worth it!!! This was the closest I have come to reading an “epic” story in so long, and I lost myself in the delicious details, both historically accurate and based on myth or mysticism. The characters were captivating, their adventures gripping, and I learned so much! I have no idea how Ms Pike did such incredible research, to be honest. And yet it reads so poetically … It’s no wonder we will have to wait a few years for Part 3. But I will be the first to PreOrder. 10/10 on this series for me!

I absolutely loved this book! As the second in the series, it added a number of new perspectives to Languoreth's from The Lost Queen. Fighting against family inflicts deep wounds and the road to the throne is full of pleasing someone's whims and dreams. Christianity and the Old Way continue to clash in this sequel. Brother and sisters are separated, with no news and no hope. Fast-paced, covering the new two decades of Languoreth's time and her reign as queen, this was a book I could not put down.

Angharad is one of my favorite characters in the book! She is a little girl who has seen so much and has unbound potential. She has had an amazing set of teachers and I don’t think she would have developed as much if the terrible things had not befallen the Dragon Warriors. I enjoyed how she connected with the people in her mother’s past too.

I am curious to learn how this trilogy will end and eagerly await the next book. Many thanks to the publisher for proving me a review copy of the book! It has been wonderful to discover a new series and read it with my friend, Erynn.

Check out my review and discussion of The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom on my blog.

This is the 2nd book in the Lost Queen Trilogy, and follows Languoreth and her search for both her daughter Angharad and her brother, Lailoken, who is destined to serve Arthur as his advisor, Merlin. Excellent historical fiction and well worth reading!

I love this series! I knew I wanted to read this series when I found out it was a origin story for Merlin. The story is one I have never heard before. The author has done a fantastic job researching the characters and telling her interpretation of their story. The writing is atmospheric and you feel like you are living in the Caledonian forest with the characters. I am so invested in this series and can not wait to pick up the finale of this trilogy! It’s a must read!

The Forgotten Kingdom is the exciting sequel to Signe Pike's The Lost Queen, in a mystical series reminiscent of The Mists of Avalon.

As The Forgotten Kingdom opens in AD 573, Languoreth's eight-year-old daughter Angharad is with Lailoken to the Borderlands, training to be a Wisdom Keeper like her uncle. Languoreth has been imprisoned to keep her from warning her brother of the High King's war against the Dragon Warriors.

It's a massacre but both Angharad and Lailoken survive and readers follow their adventures (and Angharad's training as a priestess) in the years that follow and lead up to another critical battle.

The forgotten kingdom picks up where book 1 left off. With love, war, loss, joy and mysticism this story takes you on a journey with Languoreth, her brother Lailoken, and her Daughter Angharad. Thank you NetGalley and Signe Pike for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

In 573 AD, Langoureth waits in her locked bedroom for news of her husband and son who have gone off to start a war with her brothers. She also worries about her daughter, who was training with her brother to be a Wisdom Keeper. In the chaos of the battles, her nine-year-old daughter, Angharad, is lost. Angharad has to find her way back home or at least to safety. Langoureth’s brother, Lailoken was one of the survivors of the battle. Lailoken holds the special place as someone who can unite the Christians and pagans, which may help them win the battle.

This historical novel had a slow and steady pace, but it is quite tense. Each chapter and scene is so descriptive that I felt like I was right there with the characters. The descriptions were detailed and seemed so realistic, that it’s amazing that the author can write this with the limited research available about the sixth century.

This was a great second book in the trilogy. The first book just followed Langoureth, while this one also followed her brother Lailoken and her daughter Angharad. They were each in different positions and stages of life. Langoureth was a Queen who was trying to keep her family together. Lailoken was a warrior who had a connection to the natural world. Angharad was a little girl who had to survive on her own and find her way back to her family. These characters show a wide range of lifestyles during that time period.

This is an amazing historical series.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I read the first volume quite a while ago, and GoodReads tells me that I didn't give it the most favourable review. I think that this second installment is actually much stronger. I think the addition of Angharad's voice was quite helpful, because Langoreth can be a bit too perfect and dutiful.

It's a bit of a long read, and quite a few years are meant to pass between parts, but I'm quite pleased to have read it, and I can only hope that the last installment is as good or the best yet.

The Lost Queen is told from one perspective only – that of Langoureth, a queen of Scotland in the 6th century. This time the story was broadened to include the perspective of two of Langoureth’s close relatives – her brother Lailoken and her daughter Angharad. While Langoureth’s perspective was still my favorite I was glad for the addition of other perspectives because it allowed the story to really expand into new territory (it turned out that none of these characters were together for much of the book). I also really enjoyed Angharad’s perspective and I loved how some of the additional characters in the story ended up being connected to each other. Battles abound in this book and they were descriptively written without being gory and disturbing. I’m definitely looking forward to the final installment in this saga and have some particular hopes as to how it will wrap up – don’t break my heart please! Also, the author’s note was definitely worth the read - I was super impressed by all the research she has done in order to bring us this series – it’s impressive! This series is such an amazing mixture of historical fiction and fantasy, you should read this series if you enjoy world building, epic sagas and Celtic history and mythology. I really liked it!

If you haven't read The Lost Queen, it will take some time to figure out where you are in the story of The Forgotten Kingdom. I'm only saying that for those who haven't realized that this is the second book in a trilogy. Unlike some book series, you need to read The Lost Queen trilogy in order.

Now onto the real review. The Forgotten Kingdom is a fast-paced and enjoyable read. It is a page-turner, constantly keeping you on your toes, making you wonder what will happen next. It's not that you want to know what will happen to the characters, but you need to know. Each section about individuals will leave you delving deeper into the book to want more.

Signe Pike doesn't bog the book down with historical references, either. While there are some for the context of the plot, the focus is on the character development and the world-building. It's on the battles to come and the journey all three of our main characters are on.

For those who need more historical fantasy fiction in their lives, this is the book (and the series) for you.

I did enjoy this one. I found it was just as good as the first book. I read it on the weekend and good thing I had nothing that I needed to do because I couldn't put this one down.

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for granting me access to an ARC of The Forgotten Kingdom in exchange for an honest review.

The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike is the sequel to The Lost Queen in what will eventually be a trilogy, but it does read easily as a stand-alone title. (I haven't read The Lost Queen yet and I was not lost.) My research tells me The Lost Queen was a coming of age story about Languoreth and Lailoken told entirely from Languoreth's point of view (POV.) The Forgotten Kingdom continues on with adult Languoreth and Lailoken and Languoreth's young daughter Angharad all as different POV characters. It's an interesting take on Arthurian legend with many familiar names used (such as Uther Pendragon and a Gwen-variant), but the relations between traditional Arthurian characters have been remixed and reimagined to better align with real historical figures bearing those names. These are the battles and other conflicts that lead to the rise of King Arthur (Artur) and his Merlin (Myrddin), which we can assume will be the focus of book three.

As someone who didn't read The Lost Queen and wasn't already emotionally attached to Languoreth, it took a long time to enjoy the sections of this book that were written in Languoreth's POV. Her first chapter is full of internal monologue exposition info-dumping and a whole lot of self-pity, which was an unwelcome downer in mood after enjoying a child's perspective on the world in Angharad's chapters and the iron-willed POV of Lailoken. With that said, rest assured that Languoreth's chapters got better and no longer tempted me to skim by about a third to half of the way through the book.

I acknowledge and understand that this was a long book with a lot to say, but I desperately wanted the beginning to be longer. I wanted more of Lailoken learning to handle his niece. I wanted more of Angharad adjusting to life with the Pendragons and learning from Diarmid. I wanted to sit in on conversations between Lailoken and Eira as they got to know each other and fell in love. (Seriously, they were strangers in one chapter and lovers in the next.) The beginning of this book gives us enough of "before the war" to set up who everyone is, where they're starting from, and why we need to know. I don't feel like it gave us enough to make us care about certain characters. We get there eventually, caring about many of the characters, but I feel like one or two more chapters hanging out with the characters in the beginning could have done that before we followed Lailoken into battle.

The different perspectives in this book are well written in that it's immediately obvious whose perspective you're reading even if you skip the identifiers on the chapter title page. As mentioned, I loved the Lailoken and Angharad chapters immediately, and the Languoreth chapters grew on me. Angharad's chapters were my favourites. The timeline was not consistent across the POV shifts, however. Dates are given on chapter title pages but with three perspectives and several years' worth of time difference later on in the book, sometimes those leaps back and forth in time got a little confusing. Most of Lailoken's chapters, for example, follow the outcome of the first battle we see with relatively little fast-forwarding, but by the time Lailoken has only progressed a couple of months from that battle, we've already read a much older Angharad. Some POV shifts required the mental flexibility to realize which parts we had just read will actually be in the future for the character we are now reading.

I'm not overly familiar with Outlander (which this book has been compared to) but my mother loves those books and the NetFlix series, so I will definitely be urging her to pick up these books as well. That said, I do know from her gushing about the Outlander series that it's built around a modern character who travels many centuries back in time, and because of that I went into this book expecting something similar. Minor spoiler: There's no actual time travel in The Forgotten Kingdom other than the timeline jumping between POVs in the latter half of the book.

Overall I enjoyed this book. As mentioned, Languoreth's POV grew on me and Lailoken and Angharad were great from the beginning. My opinion of this title improved along with Languoreth's chapters. At this point, I rate The Forgotten Kingdom a solid 4 stars out of 5 and I look forward to book three. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in historical fiction or fantasy, particularly those who enjoy Arthurian lore and 6th century Great Britain settings.