Thank you NetGalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I listened to an audio of The Lost Queen just a week before The Forgotten Kingdom was released. I have to admit, I quite enjoyed the audio and found it’s much easier to hear names and terms read to me than allowing myself the opportunity to butcher them myself.

While The Lost Queen did an excellent job setting the stage of the story & establishing many of the main storylines, The Forgotten Kingdom still seemed as though a stage was being further set. This time our storytellers have expanded to three, rather than the one we got from The Lost Queen as they each explored their own destiny. I love dual perspectives so this was right up my alley! While I struggled a little with the varying timelines of the three protagonists, I felt it wasn’t too overwhelming where it took away from the story.

The world within this story greatly expands compared to the first one. It’s interesting seeing the two faiths of Christianity and “The Old Way” and seeing a point where it grows to cause so much conflict. It’s heartbreaking to see something so wrapped into how to be a good person causes so much war and turmoil…seems a bit contradicting this religion thing. It was intriguing because I’m really able to see how it grew to have the religions there are today in that part of Europe, solely off this one example of a chunk in history.

Definitely worth reading for anyone who enjoyed Outlander or Game of Thrones!

The Forgotten Kingdom is the second in a trilogy that takes us back to right before Arthur, telling us the story of Merlin’s sister whose existence is suggested by a 13th-century poem of him in dialogue with his sister. Signe Pike did a lot of research on the literature and history of the era and of the different tribal groups sharing the British Isles and used that knowledge to take a wild leap into her imagination, crafting an incredible story of a woman the world only barely knows existed.

This story weaves together three narrative threads, Lailoken (Merlin,) his sister Languoreth, and her daughter Angharad, or as they are named. Lailoken had taken Angharad with him to Uther Pendragon’s kingdom to teach her the ways of the Wisdom Keepers as those with magic were called. Lailoken’s husband joins with Uther’s enemies to attack them even though his daughter is there and she is lost after the battle and Lailoken barely survives, retreating to an ancient hermitage for an ancient and dangerous ritual. Angharad tries to get home but instead ends up far away among the Picts, an ancient tribe of people whose history is lost to memory, giving Pike a lot of freedom to invent. There she grows up among her grandmother’s people. How they are brought back together again is the stuff of legends.



I have mixed feelings about The Forgotten Kingdom. On one hand, it was thrilling to read, bold, imaginative, and breathless in pacing. On the other hand, I read it a week ago and my sleep schedule is still out of whack from staying up to read it from beginning to end. I loved it. I want to read “The Lost Queen” which is the first and frankly, September 2023 when the third book will be published cannot come soon enough.

So, I nearly gave up on the book during the first few chapters, though I think this was a product of reading a second book without reading the first. Overall, the first book was not necessary to enjoy the second or understand the story. Pike did an excellent job of carving out space for this book to stand on its own. However, since people were introduced in the first, she didn’t spend a lot of time introducing them in the second, so at first, I was overwhelmed by the names of people and places. I think it likely that would not have happened if I had read “The Lost Queen” before The Forgotten Kingdom.

And let’s just admit those ancient names are hard. So many consonants! People who avoid books written by African, Asian, or Arabic writers because of difficult names obviously have not read books about ancient Celts and Britons. Anyway, once I just stopped resisting the names and let myself sink into the story, I didn’t come up for air until the end. It is that good.

I received an e-galley of The Forgotten Kingdom from the publisher through NetGalley

The Forgotten Kingdom at Atria Books | Simon & Schuster
Signe Pike author site

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I had some doubts going into book two of this series. I really had enjoyed The Lost Queen but had issues with the central romance. It drove me nuts. So I didn't want to go into book two with Languoreth still pining. Every other aspect of The Lost Queen was wonderful. So I decided to continue. I'm pretty happy I did.

Pike is really great in her world-building, you feel like you are in Medieval Scotland. I love the politics that are constantly at play. This book also had multiple perspectives which was wonderful. I enjoyed Angharad's the most. Watching her journey was great. These book play like a tv show. I love seeing how the plot-lines all came together.

My gripes with the book are pretty minor. I wish she would write more. Some relationships are built on the show not tell method. I wish that she was able to spend more time developing these relationships more. And also just flush out the plot more. It feels like we rush to get to a battle only for a time jump. Personally, I'd rather read 5 books in the series and those things are accomplished but I understand that she has publishers and isn't in control of that. But even with that critique, the books are really great. I'm looking forward to book three.

Oh, my. This book picks up right where The Lost Queen Ends. Once again it is a spectacular thrill ride. Don't make any plans when you start this book. You will not be doing anything until you read the last page.

I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike is the 2nd novel in The Lost Queen Trilogy. To give a fair review, I read the first book, The Lost Queen.

This novel is told by 3 points of view, unlike the 1st novel, which had two. We continue to follow Langoureth and Lailoken and are introduced to Langoureth's daughter, Angharad.

The Forgotten Kingdom opens with Languoreth still locked in her chamber, awaiting news of her husband and son who have ridden to wage war with her brother, the love of her life, and the rest of the Dragon Warriors. While you could start reading the trilogy with this part, Pike beautifully sets up the world, allies, and enemies in book one. Reading it would give a clear understanding of the actions in book two.

Rarely does it happen, but I enjoyed this sequel more than book one. Pike's writing is detailed but not overly done. She built a vibrant world that is as magical as the characters within.

Unlike book one, the story could end after book 2, but with the introduction of Arthur to Merlin, who would want it to stop? Goodreads does not list a release date for book three.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com on 9/24/20.

Following the events of The Lost Queen, Languoreth is locked in her room as her brother Lailoken is set to defend himself against her husband and son. Her brother Lailoken has been watching over her daughter Angharad, but in the ensuing battle, Angharad is lost, and Lailoken witnesses events that send him spiraling into PTSD. In the aftermath, Languoreth must face her grief, manage alliances, and protect her kingdom the best she can. Lailoken's trauma spurs a transformation that will marshal his existence into legend, and Angharad, young as she is, must survive in enemy territory. As the Druids, the Christians, and the Angles jockey for land, culture, and control, these three people, separated by violence and distance, must find a path to preserve their life and those they care about. To fail is to be forgotten.

Why aren't more people talking about this series? The writing is wonderful in each book. In The Lost Queen, we were introduced to Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken at the tender age of ten. Their family is Druidic, and they worship the old gods, but Christianity begins crawling over the countryside, causing a shift in culture and creating rifts among the people. Languoreth dreamed of becoming a Wisdom Keeper, but was forced to become a healer because she was destined to lead her people. The Lost Queen followed Languoreth into her mid-30's when she had an established family, and her daughter Angharad had gone with her brother Lailoken to learn from him.

The Lost Kingdom is told from the viewpoints of the three primary characters, and each of them is so different and interesting. I love Angharad! She is fierce and smart, definitely her mother's daughter. Lailoken is fleshed out more, and we get to experience all of the PTSD he is feeling after so many people died in battle, after the death of somebody important to him, and his missing, possibly dead niece Angharad. He was supposed to be training his niece to be a Wisdom Keeper since she had the gift of foresight, but with her gone, how can he face Languoreth again? One of the things I most love about Languoreth is that she is fierce and unforgiving but also kind and just. I love it because women don't have to be one thing or the other in order for them to be admired, respected and to be taken seriously. I loved how even in that era, women wielded their own forms of political power, though the common perception might have been that women were "powerless."

After the battle occurs and she learns of its outcome, Languoreth's heart lingers over the many who fell defending what they believed in, and how their stories will not be remembered or retold. She starts writing everything down in the hopes of preserving a part of who they were as people, as well as their ways and beliefs. I really liked this because it alludes to the fact that history is written by the victors and it is not always kind or accurate when the losing side is depicted. I think it also plays into the title of The Lost Queen, since she was a very powerful queen, yet we hear more of Merlin than her.

This series has been incredibly well-researched by Signe Pike, and while many readers would classify it as historical fiction, I believe it hews more closely to history than to fiction. The Lost Kingdom recreates many historical events, and though literary flourishes may be inevitable, I felt like these events were represented with care and nuance. If you enjoy the history of Western Europe, or the legend of King Arthur, or love reading about strong women, run out today and buy this book! You won't be disappointed.

Sometimes the second book in a trilogy isn't as good as the first, but The Forgotten Kingdom builds upon all that was great in The Lost Queen and steers clear of the not-so-great parts, making it a really exciting and excellent addition to the series. I can now understand the first book as working to really establish the historical and personal context for the story, and it really helped create solid ground for the second book to build upon.

The Forgotten Kingdom focuses way more on plot and the religious (and political) machinations that we got a peek of in the first book. We are thrown right into a battle, and watch as its consequences unfold across a harrowing eight years. Langoureth's daughter, Angharad's, perspective is introduced, and I loved watching her grow up. It seems as if in this book all of the characters learn to grab ahold of their own power, and we finally see Langoureth take the place that we knew was destined for her all along. It was lovely to read about her taking ahold of her power as an older woman. I feel like a lot of fantasy/historical series focus on young adult protagonists, so it was nice to see Langoureth continue to create change and forge new strengths as an older woman.

I also loved reading Pike's historical note at the end of the novel. Reading about her research and the historical basis for much of this story is really astonishing and brings me lots of joy. I have never learned much about early history on the British Isles, so it is great fun to read about all the different societies that lived there. I appreciate how Pike brings these groups to life on the page as accurately as she is able, allowing us to learn pretty accurate information through a rip-roaring plot. I am especially intrigued by the Picts, who play a part in Angharad's life, and are endlessly fascinating and mysterious. I'm definitely intrigued to read more about them after reading Pike's thoughts on them in the historical note.

This was a really fun and breathtaking entry into the trilogy, and it kept me flipping pages constantly. I appreciated that there was no super weird young/old age gap romance (though maybe a hint towards a new one, but not as cringe-worthy as in Langoureth's case). I'm so excited to see where Book 3 will go, though I definitely have my suspicions.

What would you do if your husband was at war with your brother? The Forgotten Kingdom starts up right where The Lost Queen ended. Languoreth is a woman in the Middle Ages, the daughter of a king, and wife of the presumptive heir to the throne of Strathclyde (in what is now Scotland). Her husband, Rhydderch and eldest son have just left to battle the Dragon warriors, who are led by her foster brother, Uther Pendragon, and where her twin brother Lailoken, and young daughter Angharad live. Lailoken is a Wisdom Keeper and is training Angharad in being a Wisdom Keeper as well. In the future, Lailoken will be known as “Myrddin” or Merlin. Who will survive and how will this divided family move forward?

I loved The Forgotten Kingdom even more than I loved The Lost Queen. I loved the action in this novel, and I love that the viewpoint was split three ways. This time we see the story through Languoreth, Lailoken, and Angharad’s point of view. The battle scenes were riveting. It was particular exciting with Lailoken and Angharad on the run separately for much of the book. I love that it also delves deeper into the background story of many of the characters. It was an exciting story that kept you on the edge of your seat. It was also an interesting look into the Middle Ages, a time when Christianity was moving into Scotland and at odds with the old religion. I can’t wait to see how this trilogy will conclude.

Favorite Quotes:
“Hell is watching a man you once trained in weapons take a spear through the chest.”

“Time is not a masterful healer, but at least it is persistent.”

“Memory, when preserved, can never be taken.’

“Who would sing of their heroism? Who yet lived to remember them? There is you, I told myself. But when I was gone? Theirs would become a forgotten kingdom.”

Overall, The Forgotten Kingdom is an exciting look into war, love, and religion in the Middle Ages of Scotland.

Book Source: Review Copy from Simon & Schuster. Thank-you!

Book two of a trilogy, and The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike did not disappoint! It was another sweeping tale of Celtic history and war in AD Scotland. Languoreth is back, but there are also viewpoints from her brother Lailoken and daughter Angharad as well. I appreciated getting a couple other viewpoints in this one, but Languoreth is still my favorite of them all. There is more violence in this book of course since it is war, but not too many super disturbing parts or anything that isn't skippable if you really wanted to. I listened to the audio again and of course it was fantastic. Toni Frutin is back as Languoreth, while Gary Furlong and Siobhan Waring voice Lailoken and Angharad, respectively. I liked all of them and was very happy to have Frutin back again.

I loved the ending of The Forgotten Kingdom, and while you know there will be a third book since it's a trilogy, I was pretty satisfied with it considering who knows how long we will have to wait for the final book. I don't love cliffhangers, and while there are definitely questions, it doesn't really end in a cliffhanger in my opinion which is something I appreciated. You definitely can't go wrong with reading it or doing the audio, and I highly recommend both. I like the book because it has a map and the author's note which the audio I listened to was missing.

I highly recommend reading these books in order, although they could also be read as standalones. I think you will get more of the story though if you read them in the correct order which is what I'm doing. I said it before and I will say it again, if you have any interest in Celtic history or historical fiction with a dash of fantasy, I highly recommend checking out both The Lost Queen, and The Forgotten Kingdom. They have both been five star reads for me, and I will be anxiously awaiting the third and final book in this moving tale.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

Book two of The Lost Queen Trilogy has not disappointed. Once again Ms. Pike has delivered a well researched, and entertaining world for Lailoken and Languoreth. Like the last book, I could not put this book down!

To see all my favorite characters grow through the change of their worlds. The strength and fight to not let their trials take them down. To continue on their journey’s paths all the while feeling as if i was standing by their sides is what makes a great story teller which Ms. Pike has shown over and over again . The pain of motherhood, sisterhood, lover through war and loss is so very well covered in this series. I cried and cheered at so many moments in reading, The Forgotten Kingdom.

I truly believe that this is my favorite historical fiction of the last year and I am so glad to read the continuing sage of the twins and also their progeny. I will be on pins and needles waiting for the last book of the Trilogy.
Btw- Atria Books, this would make a fantastic movie!!!

Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Forgetten Kingdom in Lieu or my honest review.

The Forgotten Kingdom is actually book 2 in a series, book one being The Lost Queen and book 3 not yet out. I have not read The Lost Queen and don’t feel like I was lost in the story, so if you haven’t read the first book, that doesn’t mean you can’t jump in with this book.

I’ve gotten into reading historical fiction lately, though none quite as historical as this! The story takes place around 570-580 AD. I knew absolutely nothing about that time frame, so this was all new to me.

It is the story of the many battles that took place in medieval Scottish history. The different kingdoms are fighting for land and their beliefs. Some are fighting for Christianity and some are fighting for the old ways (think - Celtic pagans.)

The central characters are Langoureth and her brother Lailoken and Langoureth’s daughter, Angharad. There are many more characters, more lords and ladies, lots of warriors, but it would take me forever to copy and paste their names over, since they are all tricky to spell!

This is a fantastic mix of battles, friendships, loyalties, old ways, all set in an amazing setting. Signe Pike makes you feel like you are fighting in the battle, that you are walking through the woods with the muffled sounds of the leaves under your feet.

This is a challenging read, with all of the unusual names, however it is well worth the read. When you get to the end of the book, be sure and read the author’s note at the end, the amount of research that went into exploring this time in history is astounding.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an ARC of the book.

"The Forgotten Kingdom" is the compelling second book in Pike's series and it's hard to put down. With lush details and rich characters, it's easy to get caught up in the story of Langoreth, now a queen, her brother, and Langoreth's children. The story places Langoreth in a regretable situation where her husband battles against her brother and lover. And her daughter, taken away for training as a Wisdom Keeper, is in the perilous position of being with Langoreth's brother when war breaks out. This tale weaves through the mystical and dips into dreams as blood pours across the landscape in a battle between the new religion and the ancient one, between the tribes, and the invaders.

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.

I have always loved Arthurian legends, and assumed that they had their origin in real men and women whose actual stories were lost to the mist of time, whose legends were shaped by the norms and values of those telling them in the centuries after they lived. Now author Signe Pike has researched the lands of the Britons as they were in the sixth and seventh centuries, read source material, and filled in gaps to weave together a fantastic new Arthurian legend for our time.

Myrddin (the double d is pronounced th) was also known as Lailoken, and he had a twin sister named Languoreth. In AD 580, Lailoken is a Wisdom Keeper and follows the Old Way and the old gods. Languoreth is married to a local chieftain whose father, a minor king, has chosen to follow a version of Christianity. As the book opens, Languoreth’s husband and son are going to battle against her brothers and cousins, and her husband locks her in her room to prevent her from trying to stop them. Her young daughter Angharad, age 8, has been sent to live with her uncle Lailoken for training as a Wisdom Keeper, and she’s there when her father and brothers show up for a battle that will leave the Pendragon’s Dragon Warriors severely depleted. Lailoken goes into exile, and Languoreth uses her wits to preserve her kingdom.

The Forgotten Kingdom follows the story lines of Lailoken, Languoreth and Angharad, who grows from a child into a young woman over the course of the book. It’s really well done, and presents us with a world in which the Britons (modern day Welsh and Scots) are living uneasily beside the Picts and fighting to preserve their lands from the invading Angles. The two religions are also uneasily co-existing. Languoreth is a wise and canny woman who is able to take matters into her own hands. Angharad is shown to have powers as her attempt to escape the battle lead her to travel all over the island, into the land of the Picts and beyond.

This is the second book in the trilogy but I had no trouble reading it as a stand alone. I will be reading the first, and I’m waiting with great anticipation for the 3rd book to release. Signe Pike has done a marvelous job of recreating an ancient world. While I suspect she hasn’t entirely captured how ancient people thought, her world-building is spot-on and her story-telling skills are marvelous. This is a book to read and re-read. Highly recommended.

4.5 stars

The Lost Queen was one of my favorite reads of last year and I raved about it to everyone I knew. Not to mention I gave it to all my friends and family as a Christmas present too.

So it’s easy to say that I had this next book on my TBR the instant I was done with the first book. The second it was available on Netgalley, I downloaded it and started reading.

Not going to lie, this one took me a lot longer to read than I was anticipating. Not because it was bad (not at all!) I just started it at a time when I was busy and couldn’t get to it as often as I wanted.

Summary
The story continues in The Forgotten Kingdom, the second book in the astonishing Lost Queen trilogy, already hailed as “Outlander meets Camelot” (Kirsty Logan) and “The Mists of Avalon for a new generation” (Linnea Hartsuyker).

AD 573. Imprisoned in her chamber, Languoreth awaits news in torment. Her husband and son have ridden off to wage war against her brother, Lailoken. She doesn’t yet know that her young daughter, Angharad, who was training with Lailoken to become a Wisdom Keeper, has been lost in the chaos. As one of the bloodiest battles of early medieval Scottish history scatters its survivors to the wind, Lailoken and his men must flee to exile in the mountains of the Lowlands, while nine-year-old Angharad must summon all Lailoken has taught her and follow her own destiny through the mysterious, mystical land of the Picts.

In the aftermath of the battle, old political alliances unravel, opening the way for the ambitious adherents of the new religion: Christianity. Lailoken is half-mad with battle sickness, and Languoreth must hide her allegiance to the Old Way to survive her marriage to the next Christian king of Strathclyde. Worst yet, the new King of the Angles is bent on expanding his kingdom at any cost. Now the exiled Lailoken, with the help of a young warrior named Artur, may be the only man who can bring the Christians and the pagans together to defeat the encroaching Angles. But to do so, he must claim the role that will forever transform him. He must become the man known to history as “Myrddin.”

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. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
So I am going to say this first—I liked the first book better. That’s not to say that this book wasn’t good, I just loved the first book so much that I knew going into this one that it would probably not replace the first one. As I mentioned, I started this one when I was reading a couple of other books and also starting a new job that was busy. So I went days sometimes before coming back to this one which I think caused me to feel a little disconnected with parts of the story.

As always the writing was wonderful and the research—there is no other word for it than impeccable. I remember marveling at the research in the first book and this book is equally thought out and researched. I also read the author notes at the end of this book and was even more in awe of the painstaking research the author must have done in order to create such a wonderful saga.

Her writing and descriptions—especially of the battles—were elegant, haunting and full of action and interest. But this isn’t a book that you want to rush through. There is a lot to digest and process so reading it quickly isn’t something that I would recommend, though I think I would have preferred to read this book a little faster than I did so I could keep everything fresh in my mind.

I did have a hard time recalling certain characters and their role in the story. This book basically picks up right where the first book left off so don’t try and pick this one up if you haven’t read the first book. I recalled the principal characters just fine but I struggled a little at first to place characters and their history or connection to the larger narrative at first. But once I got back into the world and the characters I was perfectly fine.

The cover is stunning and one that you will definitely want on your shelf. It’s truly one of the most eye catching, show stopping covers I’ve seen in a while. I am in love with it. Plus the story is unique and magical. I cannot wait to see how things come to an end in the upcoming book that marks the end of the trilogy.

Though I liked the first book a little better, this was a superb installment and a worthy follow up to an amazing book. If you love historical fiction with a hint of magic, or if you love Arthurian legends, this book right here is a treat for you!

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 496 pages
Expected publication: September 15th 2020 by Atria Books
ISBN 1501191454 (ISBN13: 9781501191459)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Atria Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Genre: historical fiction

Picking up right where the The Lost Queen left off, the Forgotten Kingdom continues to follow the different paths of Langoureth, Lailoken and Angharad as their fates carry them to pivotal points in their kindgom's story. Our characters are put through some incredibly difficult times that both change and shape them. They are complex, fleshed out and feel very real. There is so much richness and texture to the story, and I am particularly intrigued by who Angharad is shaping up to be. This book takes place at the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon invasion of Scotland, and so there are plenty of battles and skirmishes, and even some 'Battle of the Five Armies' vibes for fans of Tolkein as the whole of Scotland tries to protect their home.

These books are also incredibly well-researched. For me in particular, knowing that all of the places in the book are based on real sites in Scotland makes me want to book a trip to Scotland immediately upon finishing the read. Pike really makes the history come alive, rooting her characters deep into the land they live on and the historical writings that have survived from that era.

This book gets 5 stars from me, I was pulled in right from the beginning, the characters and setting are so well-done, and the plot has a huge scope that is very well played out. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, Arthurian legend, and I would also recommend this for fans of epic fantasy, because the beliefs of the characters themselves shapes how they interpret what occurs in their world - and so there are definitely a few somewhat magical elements at play as well.

I read and reviewed the first book in The Lost Queen series by Signe Pike on this blog here. I was interested in Signe Pike’s approach to the Arthurian mythos. That’s why I decided to join The Forgotten Kingdom Blog Tour and accepted an ARC from the publisher via Net Gallley.

I felt that The Lost Queen was a concept driven novel, and that the concept was original. OTOH, The Forgotten Kingdom is character driven. There’s a cluster of primary characters who are portrayed with genuine psychological depth.

My favorite character was the mysterious Eira whose hidden past emerges over the course of the narrative. As a feminist, I admired her strength that allowed her to overcome all that she had to endure. I liked the fact that Languoreth, the female protagonist, also was impressed with her.

Lailoken, the historical Merlin whose discovery inspired the series, begins to develop an understanding of his purpose by undergoing both a traumatic life event and a ritual ordeal. As a fan of Richard Carpenter’s TV series Robin of Sherwood in which Robin Hood worships Herne and is called Herne’s Son, I was delighted to see how much Lailoken identified himself with Herne in this book.

Languoreth’s daughter, Angharad, began as an amazing child of destiny at the age of nine. Her inner conflicts over the choices she made as she matures, define her as a complex character. Angharad’s training to become a priestess eventually awakened paranormal gifts.

In her author’s note, Signe Pike questioned whether her book should be categorized as fantasy when the people in that era considered paranormal gifts very real. This would require a complete re-evaluation of the historical fantasy sub-genre since rationalism didn’t become more widely accepted until some time in the later half of the 19th century. What about novels taking place in a contemporary context in which all the characters are Wiccans or believe that paranormal gifts are genuine because of their experiences? Should those books also not be considered fantasy? My feeling is that genres exist to help readers find content that they prefer. What definition of fantasy would be most helpful to you as a reader?

Arthur as Artur first appears as a character in The Forgotten Kingdom. This caused me to speculate about how Signe Pike’s characters might be equivalent to conventional Arthurian personages within the myth. Is there already a Guinevere or a Morgan Le Fay? Has the equivalent of Lancelot appeared yet? Perhaps Signe Pike’s alternate vision of the myth doesn’t contain all or even any of these equivalent characters. We’ll just have to continue reading the books in this series in order to find out.

When I read The Lost Queen, I was impressed with the story, and the writing style, both background and description. With so much information, the author made it possible for the reader to gain all the perspective needed, and I love that type of writing style. I was blown away when reading The Forgotten Kingdom. I was immersed in a world that I so badly wanted to be a part of.. know the characters, be within the environment.

In The Lost Queen we were presented with the story of Languoreth, in what I can describe best as her coming of age story, finding her purpose, and seeking all the answers.

The Forgotten Kingdom is her next adventure, or lack there of (if you know what I mean). She is confronted with.. let’s be honest.. family drama, and her along side her family have to figure out what they must do to make things right.

It is heartfelt, sad, heartbreaking at moments, but it’s a true test of family togetherness, and it just make you go through all the feels.. how long must I wait for the third novel? *sobs when realizing the second released only yesterday*

If you love historical fiction, with an Outlander touch.. I highly recommend this series. I like to think also that it’s a blend of Merida from Disney’s Brave, and Game of Thrones.

Sooo so good, and the cover art is so beautiful!

I have not read the first book of The Lost Queen trilogy but that did not keep me from being able to read this book. There is enough summarizing from the first book so I was able to dive right in. This book is a real page turner. There had to be a tremendous amount of research put into this book by MsPike as it is brilliantly written.

Angharad, daughter of future Queen Lanuoreth is preparing to become a Wisdom Keeper. With the help of her uncle Lailoken, Angharad trains and thru a lot of practice, she becomes a strong Wisdom Keeper. There are also many battles being fought to hat change the lives of many.

Thank you have the advance copy of this incredible book!!

I’m so glad I got to jump right into this book after reading the Lost Queen! I think I loved this book even more. The first book is told from the perspective of one character and I was pleasantly surprised to see this novel switch into multiple perspectives. I think that was a smart choice, because it deepened our understanding of certain characters and expanded the world for us. We got to see places and perspectives we wouldn’t have gotten if we’d stuck to the one. For me this book was about the cost/sacrifices of war and went further in exploring their complex relationship with Christianity. The writing was as beautiful as the last book and dropped us right into the time. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a gateway into historical fiction and love books with the epicness of Game of Thrones.

The Lost Queen trilogy is inspired by who they believe was the origins of the stories of Merlin and King Arthur. The first two books felt more like an origin story and I’m looking forward to what will happen next!