The Forgotten Kingdom
By Signe Pike

So happy to be able to read this amazing Lot Queen trilogy. The Forgotten kingdom is the second book in the series and I really enjoyed this book so much for its exciting premise and a complete page turner for me. Both books so far have swept me away in this epic saga. The research that went into writing these books by Signe Pike definitely shows in this amazing Historical Fiction Fantasy novel.

Pick this series up before the release of the third book. You will love the characters and the story will definitely capture your heart.

Signe Pike has not let us down with this follow-up to The Lost Queen. While I missed being with Langoureth for parts of the novel, I fell more in love with Lailoken and the other characters Pike creates. And more than anything, Pike has a gift for cultivating a sense of place. I loved this book and looking forward to being in this world more.

The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike is the second installment in The Lost Queen trilogy and it definitely did not disappoint!

Signe's first book in this series, The Lost Queen, brilliantly created the historical setting of 6th century Scotland. Her research is so thorough, and recreates so many stories that have been lost for centuries.

I was thrilled for this second installment of Langoureth's journey, and quickly got lost in her world. Angharad featured in much of the story, and her journey is possibly my favorite. Lailoken and Eira's story is also so interesting, and I can't wait to see how it develops.

I enjoy the slow and mesmerizing pace, the rich detail, and the well rounded cast of characters. The map and character pronunciation are also helpful! I'd say the first book is a 4, this one is a 4.25. I can't wait for the final book in this trilogy, and hope that many of these storylines get wrapped up.

I loved Signe's first book in The Lost Kingdom so I was very excited for the next installment of Langoureth's journey. While her books aren't the most fast pace, the writing is steady throughout and so realistic I could vividly picture myself alongside the characters. Pike has beautifully set up this world, and I got lost in it once again. This sequel may be even better than the first novel. I loved that we got to see more of Lailoken and her daughter Angharad. I can't wait for the next book.

I absolutely loved this book! I fell in love with the first book of the series, The Lost Queen, and was beyond excited to get my hands on the sequel. If you are a fan of the Outlander series, Arthuriana, and enjoy historical fiction, I am positive you will love this series! The characters in this book are so well developed and I love the journey we get to take with Langoureth and Lailoken. 10/10 would recommend!

This is the second installment in The Lost Queen trilogy and thankfully it did not disappoint! I often find with trilogies that the middle book is less exciting than the first, and that I'm bored reading it. With The Forgotten Kingdom, however, this is not the case! If you haven't read book one, I'd skip my synopsis because I couldn't write anything without spoilers.

We pick up right where we left off in book one - Languoreth is torn between two sides of a war, and is struggling with what choices she needs to make to protect the ones she loves. Lailoken is Wisdom Keeper for the Dragon Warriors and about to wage war on Languoreth's husband and son. Based on one of the bloodiest battles in early medieval Scottish history, no one could foresee the results and how they would effect everyone involved. When Languoreth's daughter, Angharad, goes missing, Languoreth stops at nothing to ensure she sees her daughter again. Angharad embarks on a journey that no one could have guessed, and grows into the woman she was always meant to be.

I really loved the first book, and the second book was also wonderful! From being super invested in the characters after The Lost Queen, I was happy with how this second installment was told from multiple perspectives, giving me all the information I needed. While it did end on another cliffhanger, I know that means the third book should be amazing and hopefully tie up loose ends!

5 stars!

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#TheForgottenKingdom is The Second Volume in The Lost Queen Trilogy. Battle scenes,Mystical, Historical are main themes of this one. ⁣
Bitter rivalries are ignited, lost loves are found, new loves are born, and old enemies come face-to-face with their reckoning in this compellingly fresh look at one of the most enduring legends of all time."⁣

This series is one of my favorite historical fiction series! In this book, we get the perspectives of other characters besides Languoreth, like her brother Lailoken and her daughter Angharad. Because of this, we get three different, equally intriguing storylines and settings. Although I did find myself missing having more of Languoreth's perspective sometimes, Lailoken's and Angharad's perspectives were where most of the action was. Angharad's story in particular drew me in as she grew from an eight or nine year old girl to a seventeen year old Wisdom Keeper. I got to see a lot of familiar characters (Ariane!) as well as see all three main characters grow. I'm so excited for the third book!

What a wonderful second book in this series! I am blown away by how fantastic this story is!

The research that went into creating this book is amazing, and it really comes through in the story. I would highly recommend starting at book 1 before picking this one up because there is so much backstory that you need. This one picks up right where book 1 stopped, so you can just jump right back into the awesome story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series. It just sounded so good I just had to read it. There is a synopsis of The Lost Queen at the beginning so it didn't leave me feeling too lost. This is a fantastic work of historical fiction that I couldn't put down. I plan on going back to read the first book and I look forward to the third and final book.

#' The Forgotten Kingdom' is #2 in author # Signe Pike's Lost Queen' trilogy. Back to medieval Scotland in a wonderful historical tale. #" Memory is a danger. It unlocks the door to madness.🌟💜🐾🐾

The Forgotten Kingdom is a fantastic sequel to The Lost Queen and I actually liked it better than the first book in the trilogy. Signe Pike's writing continues to be wonderful to read. Her prose is easy to fall into, yet presents so much information. The constant feed of historical content was nearly effortless to absorb and it was all given in a way that felt interesting and compelling.

The pace is really fast in this installment and there is a lot of action that kept me on the edge of my seat for a good majority of the novel. The multiple POV approach again worked wonderfully for this story and allowed for so much more of the picture to be painted. I particularly enjoyed the Angharad storyline, though she is mostly a fictionalized character. I loved how Pike was able to weave in so much historical content and introduce so many of the players during this tumultuous time in Scottish history. It is incredibly clear that a lot of research went into the construction of the novel and that a lot of care was taken to piece all of it together. I am not able to verify its accuracy as my knowledge of this location and time period is very minimal, but others with greater knowledge than mine have stated that the contents do largely ring true.

The characters continued to improve in this installment. They grew quite a bit of depth, becoming even more rounded and complicated as individuals. The introduction of new characters created an additional level of complexity to the story that worked quite well. The actions and interactions of the characters felt more natural in this than the original novel and the overall feel of the book was one of greater writing maturity. I enjoyed being able to witness this progression.

I have really enjoyed this series so far and I am itching to read the final book in the trilogy. This is a section of historical fiction that I am not well versed in, but reading Pike's work has definitely inspired me to look for more works written during this time period.

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

I am enjoyed this story and The Lost Queen so much. Pike's writing is so beautiful and I adore this story of Languoreth.
I haven't read too many stories set in the sixth century, but I feel the authenticity of the time. The beliefs of Scotland before the influence of Christianity is really interesting and the author captures this mystical time period beautifully!

The battle rages in the valley below you as you hide behind the shelter of trees. You shouldn’t be here, but something draws you toward the rage flowing between men. The clash of swords sends sparks into the air, blood drips down their silver blades. The enemy has yet to retreat and you know there is little time left. The sun sets in the distance, but the cloak of night will not bid well for the warriors you love. You hang you head in defeat as a single tear drips down your face, a smooth trail in the dusty layer. It is over. They have lost.

The Forgotten Kingdom, book two of The Lost Queen trilogy, picks up right where book one left off. While it does have a bit of retracing into the story of book one, I still recommend reading them in order. There is a lot of detail and imagery that will be easier to remember and retain if the books are read together.

That being said, I enjoyed this book as much as the first and the battle scenes were spectacular. Book one was told from Languoreth’s perspective, while this book was told from her perspective, her brother Lailoken, and her daughter. I enjoyed the viewpoints of all three.

This trilogy is not just a fantasy tale. It’s based from true Scottish history, which makes it even more intriguing for me. As a fan of historical fiction, tying the two genres together (fantasy & hist. fiction) has been such a treat.

I highly recommend this book and can’t wait for the third book in the trilogy to be released!

TW: War, Murder, Torture/Beatings, Gruesome Descriptions of Bodies from Battle, Infidelity, Death of a Child.

I enjoyed diving back into the land of Scotland AD 550. The Celtic portions of this book are so much fun. The writing geared towards those parts of the story are just fun.

I have a hard time navigating between the three stories provided. It was a bit too much at times.

While I really enjoyed this read I do not feel book was as well told as the first in the trilogy. I am looking forward to the third to help round out the story.

Thank you Atria for the advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Both The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom are written by Signe Pike. The author transports the reader to AD 550 in both books and to the wilds of Scotland that will forever live on in every readers imagination. This is about Languoreth who was a twin to Lailoken who inspired the famous legend of Merlin. She was a queen in sixth-century Scotland. The atmospheric descriptions of Scotland during that time period are brilliantly written. The book starts at the Land of the Britons Late Winter, AD 550 when ten-year-old twins lose their mother. The author features the many facets of old Scotland and life for the twins including betrayals, war. romance and power. I love her writing as it is mesmerizing and keeps me turning pages into the night. I highly recommend this next in series .

I read The Lost Queen by Signe Pike last year and loved it. When the e-ARC of The Forgotten Kingdom was approved, I re-read The Lost Queen and remembered why I loved it. Then I got to The Forgotten Kingdom and just a little bit of the thrill was gone. The Lost Queen is described as Outlander meets Camelot. Honestly, the only things to compare The Lost Queen to Outlander is they’re both set in the vicinity of Scotland, and there are battles raging. And so far, we’ve met Myrrdin (Merlin) and Uther Pendragon. I think we may have met THE Arthur, but this story differs from traditional King Arthur legend so not entirely sure about that but excited for the follow-up.

The Forgotten Kingdom delves into the battle between Rhyderrech and his allies, and Uther Pendragon and his forces, including his brother-in-law, Lailoken (he who becomes who we know as Myrrdin or Merlin). Caught up in the battle is Rhydderech and wife, Langoureth‘s, 8 year old daughter, Angharad. After the battle is over, the story continues with each the three main characters storylines: Lailoken, Langoureth and Angharad. Of the three, I think I enjoyed Angharad’s the most? Maybe? .

The three storylines frustrated me because they weren’t told concurrently. Angharad’s story, lagged behind the others two by months, so I was constantly trying to keep up with the dates because it felt like there were times especially right after the battle when the stories intersected or went back in time and it was off-putting.

And, there is a lot of description, a lot. It slowed parts of the story down for me. However, Ms. Pike’s research into the history of Scotland and the real-life characters she’s illustrating is fantastic. She has really brought a piece of little known history to life!

Overall, The Forgotten Kingdom was a satisfying follow up to The Lost Queen. For me, I preferred the first book but I’m definitely looking forward to next years conclusion!

Thank you to #netgalley and #atriabooks for the advanced e-book of #theforgottenkingdom.

The Forgotten Kingdom is the second book in the Lost Queen trilogy, and let me tell you this one does not feel like a book two of three. It is so richly detailed and the three points of view within are captivating—Angharad’s in particular—making this novel lose that middle child designation that happens with trilogies.

The story picks up where book one left off with Languoreth, the Lost Queen, imprisoned in her own chamber. Her husband and son are gone, at war with her Wisdom Keeper brother Lailoken in a battle of Briton against Briton for religious control of the kingdom. Christianity is the new religion of the land challenging the old ways of the Lost Queen, who is unfortunately married to the next Christian king. Both the Christians and the Pagans face a new threat in the Angles who are coming to claim their lands (Scotland) for themselves.

Meanwhile, Languoreth’s young daughter Angharad, who was studying under her uncle, has been lost in the commotion of battle and ends up in the mystical land of the Picts. Here she unexpectedly finds family and trains to be a Priestess. No matter where this girl lands, her gifts are noticed. She has a strong personality like her mother, and I can’t wait to see her role in the final book of the trilogy.

This era 573 A.D. is waaaaay out of my historical fiction comfort zone, but I’ve have thoroughly enjoyed both books in the series so far. The amount of research Pike has done is evident in the rich details both political and religious of Celtic history. Her cast of characters are vast in their differences and so incredibly engaging. This trilogy would be an excellent series—do you hear me HBO?

Thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley and of course Signe Pike for the advanced copy. This book along with The Lost Queen are out now. Go get a copy--you won’t regret it!

Thank you!! My only regret in reading this was I realized I should have re read #1 The Lost Kingdom before tackling The Forgotten Kingdom. This trilogy is such a sweeping tale of Celtic history, can't wait for the next one!!

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!