Thank you Atria Books and Netgalley for the eARC

I had been waiting years for this book, so that is a lot of expectation to live up to!! I read book 1 three times and book 2 twice in the wait for book 3, so I think I had strong ideas of where I saw this story going and I can't say it really panned out how I expected.

In books one and two, I felt intensely connected to the characters (both primary and secondary) and their journeys. I'm not sure if it's the fact that we go from 1 to 3 to 5 POV's by book 3, but I felt less connected to each individual story with this book than I have in the past books and it therefore didn't have the heft of emotion for me. I also felt like certain character interactions that were being set up in book 2 didn't really pan out in this book as they primarily spread out.

I started this on ebook and started the audio on pub day, but didn't like the two new narrators, which was a disappointment as I loved the other narrators.

This may sound like a negative review, but this was still 5 stars for me, it just didn't leave the impression that the first two books did. I plan to revisit this in the future and see if I feel differently about it.

Incredible. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and Signe Pike for the chance to read the third book in one of my all time favorite series.

I have waited years for this book. Years. I read The Lost Queen when it first came out and fell in love with the characters. I love Arthurian legends. I still remember how it made me feel. I cried such tears of sadness for Languoreth. She truly made this story. At how she chose duty over her true love. I understood but hated it. I was heartbroken right alongside her. That book changed my whole world. I recommend it to everyone. I scoured the internet for a signed copy. It has a place on the top of my bookshelf, right alone with the Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Harry Potter. A truly incredible masterpiece of a book.
Then I waited impatiently for the second book, which broke my heart all over again. But in such a great way. I loved it. Scoured the internet again for a signed copy, but no luck. I love this story with all my heart.
Again, I waited years for the third book to bring back my favorite characters, so I could what happened to them and how they survived. And I was not let down. I have no problem waiting this long for a book to be sure the quality of the writing, research, and feelings are top tier. Which they are, as I never doubted.
Languoreth remains one of my all time favorite literally character. She in an incredible pillar of strength, love, motherhood, and warrior. I love her deeply.

If you want a book to break you and put you back together and touch your soul, pick up this series. Signe Pike is one of the most incredible authors I’ve ever encountered. She brings such feeling to her books, I have no idea how she does it. It’s truly amazing. I would give this book 10 stars if it were possible. Thank you, thank you for letting me read ak ARC of it!!

This is tough. I was so excited for this book, I waited years for this book. I fully expected to be drawn in immediately, but instead I found myself struggling.
This book is rich in detail and I can really appreciate the research that went into this book, but it felt like just that. All research no story.

The other two books felt like a love story to my childhood. There was something nostalgic and magical about them, but I did not get that same feeling with The Shadowed Land.

This is the 3rd book in The Lost Queen series and I’d suggest you read them in order. It is a combination of historical/mythical/fantasy, based on the legend of King Arthur. The book takes place in 580 AD in England, Scotland and Wales. Full of characters, battles, revenge, love and tragedy, it’s an epic series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my review!

I was so excited to get an ARC of this novel! I have been a fan of the previous two books in The Lost Queen series since they came out and have anxiously been waiting to read this novel. This was a great continuation of this series.

I will forever be blown away by the use of landscape in these novels. Signe Pike writes very atmospherical and at times it feels as if the land becomes a character in its own way. We have the familiar Cazdow forests that feel like coming home but also the introduction to new lands as Anagharad continues her journey to become the priestess that she has always dreamed of becoming. I think that Anagharad's chapters were some of the more interesting parts of the book and I am excited to see where the story takes her as she grows into her role. It's interesting to reimagine the setting of Camelot and the legend of King Arthur in Scotland but after reading these novels I don't think that I could picture it any other way.

While this was still a great book and continuation of the series it was definitely not my favorite in this series. Some of the scenes felt a little repetitive from the first two books and the pacing was a bit slower. This seemed to be more of a filler book that could not have been split between The Forgotten Kingdom and the next book in the series. My biggest complaint of the novel were that there were a few scenes that should have been told from a different characters view and actually shown to the reader instead of summarized and glossed over in a few paragraphs or less. I think that it took away some of the satisfaction of reading the novel. I hope that it doesn't continue as the series goes on.

Overall I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and will go back to stalking the author's website for the release date of the next book. I am really interested to see what is going to come next to make this trilogy now a series.

Signe Pike's "The Shadowed Land" weaves an enchanting tale of power, destiny, and ancient Celtic traditions in 6th-century Scotland. This historical fantasy follows multiple compelling storylines: Queen Languoreth navigating political tensions, the warrior Artúr answering his father's mysterious call, and the young priestess Angharad pursuing ancient druidic arts.

Pike skillfully balances political intrigue with mystical elements, particularly in her portrayal of the conflict between Christianity and the Old Ways. The rich historical detail and atmospheric writing bring Dark Ages Scotland vividly to life. The multiple perspectives add depth to the narrative, though occasionally this can make the pacing uneven.

While the story excels in world-building and character development, some plot threads feel less resolved than others. However, Pike's evident research and thoughtful exploration of faith, duty, and personal destiny make this a satisfying read for fans of historical fantasy.

As always, Signe Pike’s books are so lush and evocative I’m instantly transported to the world she’s built.
This, her third book in The Lost Queen series, follows Languoreth, her children, and her brother Lailoken, but also focuses on the POV of Artur, whose life seems interwoven with Angharad’s, Languoreth’s daughter. As the battles between warring kingdoms continue, so do the battles between the new faith (Christianity) and the Old Way. And this rift is not only felt between kingdoms, but also between families.
I can’t wait to see where this story goes next, this series is one of my absolute favorites and I eagerly await each new chapter!

Unfortunately I grabbed this arc not realizing it was the 3rd in a series. I have not read the first two books and although I attempted to read this one, was completely lost in the storyline. I’ll grab a physical copy of this book once I be read the first two. I love this author and look forward to reading her again!

Amazing! Queen Languoreth is a pillar of strength and grace. Her continues to face struggles and difficult decisions, and she is able to meet each one with dignity. Her daughter Angharad experiences so much hardship and heart-break, it’s a miracle she is still sensible and kind. I am so excited for the next installment, to see Artur’s story evolve.

Delve back into the world of Languoreth and Lailoken in this immersive series following the real life figures that are the basis of the Arthur legend.

I was happy to return to the beautiful world Signe Pike has created around the historical figures living in the land of myths and mist in 580 AD Scotland. It has been a while since I read the second book so it took a beat to get back into the world but I was soon pulled in by Pike's signature flowing prose and heavily researched descriptions of life back in 580 AD. I rejoiced at the reunion of Languoreth with her missing daughter Angharad, and saddened when their paths diverged from each other one again.

In this volume we follow the perspective of multiple characters as the tale unfolds, and although I loved seeing what was in store for Angharad, Lailoken and Artur, I confess I wanted more from Languoreth's perspective than what we got, probably because the series has been from her perspective from the beginning. At times the pacing seemed slow, and I wonder if that's because this has turned from a 3 book series to 4.

Still, I loved seeing the story unfold and can't wait for the next in the series. I also really hope this series does get developed for TV because it would make such a perfect show.

4.5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After thoroughly enjoying the start of this series from Signe Pike, I was equally pleased with the opportunity to read this follow-up to the Artur and Langoureth characters and their fight for independence both from Romans and their fellow countrymen. A satisfying story that was built on a strong foundation from the earlier novels in the series.

The third installment of The Lost Queen series did not disappoint and was worth the wait!!

We continue to follow the lives of Langoureth, Lailoken, and Angharad, and Pike adds in the story of Artur to the mix. This is a story of self-discovery and growth as we see these characters learn and rise to new challenges before them. Langoureth and Lailoken fight to preserve their way of life, Angharad continues in her studies as a Wisdom Keeper, and Artur must decide the kind of man he will become. I will say, I fell in love with this series because of Langoureth and Maelgwyn and I do wish there was a lot more of their story, but I understand the path the author took. I continue to be in awe of this story and the research that went into bringing these historical figures to life. Please do not skip on the author's note - it's as good as the story itself.

I initially thought this was the final book, but it ended rather abruptly so I think there will be at least one more (please, please, please!!)

Unfortunately I did not finish this one as I didn’t realize it was part of a series. I was very confused at first! However, I do want to go back and read the first two so I can enjoy this one. From what I could tell it is going to be an interesting read when I get to it!

The Lost Queen series is based on both Arthurian legend and British history. I haven’t made an intense study of the history of sixth-century Britain, so I can’t judge whether Pike’s rendition is accurate or not. Given that there is very real magic in her world, though, I’m not inclined to be picky about accuracy. At the very least, these books feel grounded in reality and contain the sort of richness I would expect of a story set in a multi-cultural area where kings and warlords vied against each other for power and resources, and new religions clashed with old. The characters are vibrant and belong to their time, and the main female character, Langoureth, chafes against the expectations her society has for women without feeling like she’s a twenty-first-century girlboss railing against the patriarchy by shouting that she’s not like other girls. Langoureth is a richly developed character, and her development from book to book feels true and makes sense, given what she goes through. The other characters are almost as well-developed, though there are points where a side character seems to only be hitting the same handful of notes every time. Still, with a cast as large as The Lost Queen’s has grown to be, it’s difficult to develop every character to their fullest extent.
I plowed through each of the first two books of this series- The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom. I was entranced by the story and enjoyed how Pike combined history with legend to create a fascinating narrative she conveyed with lyrical and atmospheric prose, but when I heard no news regarding the third book for some four years, I wondered if there would be a third book at all. Imagine my delight when The Shadowed Land appeared in my bookish circles. I asked for and was granted an advance copy, and jumped right in when I received it.

The prose, atmosphere, and politics were everything I expected- richly developed, and not falling for the notion that early medieval people in northern and western Britain must have been dirty, uneducated, and scraping a meager living from rocks. The people of Pike’s world are as complex and cultured as any you might find in continental Europe. Pike doesn’t use the tired excuse of “the mists of history” to either over-romanticize the period or make it dirty and brutal because they don’t have the printing press.

That said, I am ambivalent about the developments of The Shadowed Land. In the first two books, our main character is Langoureth, a young woman of one royal house who marries into another royal house to shore up political alliances as the growing Saxon incursions threaten to destabilize all of Britain. Langoureth is a passionate and intelligent woman who agrees to this marriage, even though it destroys her dreams of studying magic and healing, the way her twin brother Lailoken does. Still, Langoureth finds ways to defend her faith and her people as she bears and raises children of her own.

But in The Shadowed Land, Langoureth becomes a secondary character in her own story. And sure, the story is growing to become a multigenerational saga, but as Langoureth was the anchor to the first two books in the series, it is a shame that she feels so sidelined in this installment. She is but one of five viewpoint characters now, and instead of affecting the course of events, it often seems as though she is there to establish where certain characters are so they don’t come out of nowhere later in the story. She has lost that fire she had in the first installments- to the detriment of the story as a whole.

There is a chance for Langoureth’s redemption, however. Though it’s not listed on the publisher’s or author’s website, a post on Pike’s Instagram feed states that The Shadowed Land will have a follow-up due out in autumn 2027. So I’ll have plenty of time to reread the series and see how The Shadowed Land lands for me upon reread.

For now, my feelings about The Shadowed Land are mixed. I enjoyed my time in this version of historical Britain and I want to see how the characters’ stories turned out, but I was also underwhelmed by two of the viewpoint characters’ narratives and spent a lot of my time with them wondering why they were there in the first place. But I’m invested enough that I want to see if Langoureth gets her fire back, and what that prophecy meant for Artur. It’s a long wait until autumn 2027, but I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next.

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Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a free ebook in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my opinion.

I was fortunate to get ARCs of the first two books in this series, which introduced me to the writing of Signe Pike and the historical basis for the Arthurian legends. The first book hooked me so quickly, and I couldn’t get through it fast enough. I did a quick audiobook reread of the first two books, and combined this ebook with audiobook reading. Throughout the entire reading of this book, I was under the impression that this was the final book in a trilogy. Upon finishing, I raced to the author’s website to see if there would be another book, since there was a cliffhanger ending, and luckily, this trilogy is not over, but there’s another book in store.

To start with, the amount of historical detail that the author has researched and put into these books is staggering. Even more so when thinking about these events occurring in the 6th century, when source material was biased and often incomplete. The reasons for this vary, but it was really fascinating to see how Pike was able to build such a realistic and believable world that encompasses all the senses.

Perspectives keep shifting to include more POV characters as the scope of the series expands. In this book, we get a lot more of Angharad’s chapters, and even some from Gladys as well as Artúr. When I started the series, Languoreth was a teenager, but in this book we see her as a grandmother. She’s undergone so much growth through all the joys and struggles of her life, and I’ve been following her story for all that time, so it was wonderful to see her acknowledge the changes in her thoughts and behaviors from what they would have been as a younger woman.

Lailoken also narrates, and his storyline focuses on his long-running hostilities with Mungo. As Lailoken takes on a role as advisor to Languoreth’s husband, it puts him in direct contact with Mungo, who has also been appointed advisor. While Lailoken is well-aware of Mungo’s underhanded and cruel tactics, King Rhydderch isn’t as willing to believe the worst of a man of god, and it leads to a lot of conflict in the story.

Angharad was the real star of the novel. She’s been following her own path for many years by the time this book starts, and we get to see her first homecoming since she was first separated from Lailoken as a child. In that time, she’s grown to be a wisdom keeper, as the author calls Druids, and has continued to chart her own course among the Pictish people. There is so much conflict in the story between characters, with varying levels of intensity: Gladys is constantly challenged by her overbearing mother-in-law; Languoreth has issues with basically everyone in her life aside from Lailoken, as the weight of her longest-held secret grows ever heavier; the simmering tension coming from Mungo heats up to a boil and threatens all those who keep the old ways.

Despite the number of narrating characters, I never found myself getting lost or confused. Each character has their own distinct voice, making it easy to recall who was speaking even if I had to pause reading in the middle of the chapter. It was each of these characters that I was able to connect to, making their experiences feel more universalized and rescuing these characters from the lost abyss of history.

I can’t say enough positive things about this book and the series, overall. I only just discovered that there will be another book in the works, and that the series is in development for TV, and I’m thrilled about both. One of the most fascinating things about this series, and this book in particular, is seeing echoes of the Arthurian legend in it, and understanding how those characters are connected to these historical figures. This book would work best for people who are intrigued by the history of the British Isles, Arthurian stories, historical fiction, and a world where magic feels real.

This book was absolute perfection.
the history is beautifully done as always.
The characters get a lovely foundation for the next book which will be a finale I know I'll love.
The romance is small but also powerful and vital to the story.

What if the reason that there’s no historical evidence of Arthurian legends is because they weren’t from where we think they were from? What if they originated in Scotland and the people migrated south to England, carrying their tales but in the process losing the historical trail? There is evidence that these legends are based on real people. This author has written AMAZING historical fiction novels exploring what their lives would have been like. The Shadowed Land is the third book of The Lost Queen Series.

The books follow the lives of Langoreth and Lailoken, who are descendants of minor royalty in ancient Scotland. Langoreth eventually becomes a powerful queen, and Lailoken is Merlin. In this installment we are additionally following Langoreth’s children as they come of age and begin to wield their own power. There’s adventure, magic, romance, political intrigue, and a fascinating look into history.

I have always been interested in Arthurian legend. I loved The Sword and the Stone as a kid. I have also enjoyed the more recent movies First Knight, The Last Legion, and King Arthur. These books are a fantastic extension of the existing lore.

These books would make good gifts this holiday season for anyone looking for an escape!

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Such an epic series. So beautifully and perfectly written. I love this setting and these characters and I can’t wait for the next instalment!

The Shadowed Land provides irresistible insight into the brutal reality of war, religion, politics, duty, honor, womanhood, and survival in sixth-century Scotland. A masterclass in historical fiction, Pike’s third novel manages to balance rich worldbuilding with thorough character development, complex political intrigue, moving relational conflict, and nuanced discussion of critical themes like grief, morality, misogyny, and motherhood. Pike is a brilliant new voice in the realm of Arthurian narratives, and her Lost Queen series is sure to go down as an unforgettable interpretation of a time-honored epic.

Thank you, Atria Books, for the copy of this book!
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Read if you like: mythology retellings, Arthurian Legend, strong female characters
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The long-awaited third book in the Lost Queen series is finally here and I loved it so much. The book continues after the second left off with the aftermath of the Battle of the Caledonian Wood. We follow our beloved cast of characters as they battle against enemies and try to maintain a balance of power between many warring groups in Britain. This was such a fun take on the Arthurian Legend and I love the author's attention to detail on the history of the Briton, Scots, and Picts. I highly recommend this series if you haven't started it yet!