Poetic, thoughtful, and crafted with great care. There’s a bit of something for everyone — action, romance, heartbreak, and my personal favorite, the tale of a journey toward one’s fate. The Shadowed Land is a wonderful addition to the series, and I’ll be waiting with bated breath for the next installment.

Signe Pike’s 3rd installment of the The Lost Queen Series, The Shadowed Land, showcases her  wonderfully researched story based on the real people from King Arthur history. The Shadowed Land is a  continuation of the lives of Artur, Languoreth and Lailoken , Angharad and their struggles to keep the peace between the Christians and those who practice the Old Ways. There are kings, druids, battles and magic all taking place in a beautifully crafted medieval world based in Scotland. I cannot wait for the next book!

To see some of the research described so intricately in the book, please follow Signe Pike on Instagram @signepike.

Thank you,  #NetGalley/#AtriaBooks for the advance copy!

The way that I have driven myself insane waiting on this book, Y'all.

As of right now, this is singlehandedly THE most epic Arthurian retelling that I have ever read. Mainly because Signe Pike tells the story in her own way, with her own flair. The characters (I am NOT ready to say goodbye to them) are brilliantly fleshed out, each with their own personalities and quirks. The plot is fast-paced and magical, chalk-full of fantasy, adventures, battles, and self-discovery. I may have turned the last page on this book, but the characters have taken up permanent residence in my heart. Truly, you need this entire series in your life. A perfect Autumn read.

I loved this and loved it as a continuation of the previous story. I'm new to reading Signe Pike and the writing and story is so beautifully told.

The Shadowed Land has been a few years in the making, and the wait has been worth it! As the title suggests, the story ventures deep into the heart of Pictland and spends a significant amount of time exploring the generations-long conflict between the Picts and the Scots. The care with which Signe Pike builds her characters and the societies around them I shines on every page.

I’m not often a fan of books with many points of view, but this one, which volleys between Langoureth, Lailoken, Artur, Angharad and Gladys, is the exception. The different points of view give the reader the opportunity to view each conflict from opposing sides and come to care for people on each end of the conflict (Scots vs Picts, and keepers of the Old Way and the Christians). We see that at the heart of each of these battles and struggles are people simply trying to care for their own and keep their loved ones safe. The effect is that every escalating conflict is that much more painful for the reader to watch; I cared for these characters, and because they are at war, some will be hurt, and I didn’t want that for any of them. That is powerful storytelling, to complicate these conflicts with such care and skill.

I love a book that makes me want to know more, and I love that Signe puts an in-depth author’s note at the end which explains her research, her source material, and the places she visited so she could do this story justice. Each time I read her work, I am hungry for more, and it’s truly a shame that so little literature exists about Langoureth and this particular origin of the King Arthur legend. I echo the author’s wish that this book can inspire new research and hopefully uncover new truths of what happened and who these people were.

I cannot say enough good things about this series. As soon as I finished this book I began to long for the next. I know it will take time for Signe to get it right, and I wish her luck and peace on that journey! Until then, I will escape back into these pages to relive the heartbreak and joy, the struggles and triumphs, the mysticism and trust of these characters all over again.

My few critiques of the Shadowed land:

- I wish we had seen the negotiation between Rhydderch, Lailoken, Mungo, and Brother Thomas when Langoureth is imprisoned. We could have seen it through Lailoken’s eyes without introducing any new perspectives.

- I know Signe was referencing what Adam Ardrey believes inspired the “pulling the sword from the stone” myth in Artur’s final moments becoming tanist, but the scene was a bit…lame? I’m not sure how to fix it if that’s what they think happened. But it read as incredibly meh to me.

Other than those two notes, I LOVED it.

The Lost Queen series is one of my all-time favorites, so I was ecstatic to get an early copy. And to no surprise, this next installment totally lived up to my expectations.
The Shadowed Land is of course a continuation of the previous two books, and picks up pretty much right where <i>The Forgotten Kingdom</i> ends. This time, however, we also get Artúr's point of view, and it soon becomes clear that both he and Angharad's stories become progressively more the focus. Both of their journeys are the most compelling and fleshed out, and were definitely the highlights of the book for me.
I loved this book wholeheartedly, but just a few minor critiques on my end:
• I felt the pacing / POV chapter order was ever so slightly off. However I'm curious if this perhaps will change in the final version.
• I'm not sure we needed Gladys' point of view. While I understand her inclusion, unfortunately (at no fault of her own), I just don't feel her story is that interesting, and it feels like she is simply there to be a foil to Angharad and a mirror to Langoureth. But perhaps we'll get more development in the next book.
• I wish the final conflict with Langoureth / Mungo etc was more drawn out, and I felt the stakes could have been made a bit higher. At no point was I concerned that she wouldn't triumph and that Mungo would finally be exiled.
• The use of the word cavalry repeatedly by characters felt pretty anachronistic and pulled me out a bit. In my brief research the use of "cavalry" wasn't used until the 1500's, and I felt some other time-appropriate word could have been used instead. I think this stuck out so much to me because Pike's books are SO well-researched.

I love the setup for Artúr, and Pike's assertion that he is in fact the origin of the Arthurian legend we think we know so well. I love even more that we are getting another book and this is not the end! If you have yet to read this series, I cannot recommend it enough!

From the opening page, you can feel Scotlands mists and the heat from Artur's warriors harthfires; horses stomping in the mud and blood of battle.

This book is purely magnificent!! This is my Artur! The War Lord, The Scotsman, the man greater than his greatest myth!

I was humbly gifted an ARC copy of this aymazing book from Net Gallery in exchange for an honest review.

I also love the research of Adam Avery, who wrote Finding Arthur and Finding Merlin, and I am obsessing over where book two will go! This book is building to an incredible followup and I can tell where it's going and I know the next one will be the best yet!

This book is a slow burn that admitted had me questing things at the 60% mark however by 80% the book roars to life and sets the stage for Arthur in all his glory!



🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿💜💜⚔️⚔️

Well, now what the heck am I supposed to do?

Pike has wrapped up her latest Lost Queen tale, which means I have to say goodbye to Languoreth, Lailoken, Angharad, Artur, and all the rest until the NEXT book comes out. Bollocks.

Thankfully, the conclusion of this volume is as satisfying as it is thought-provoking.

This may be the most contemplative volume in the series thus far, at least until the last quarter or so, when, as the kids say, shit* goes down. But the pensive pace is perfectly pitched, with Angharad in particular getting well-deserved time in the spotlight as she grows into one of the story’s most compelling characters.

SHADOWED LAND focuses intensely on the journey of self-discovery. In various ways, all of the core characters come to know, or make peace with, themselves in ways that their younger selves would have been unlikely to have been able to do.

Pike’s lush prose still sparkles with exquisite historical detail that always enhances and never bogs down the narrative. She re-creates a lost world that feels so lived in that every sense is engaged while you’re reading (thankfully, with some stinky exceptions, most of the smells are not described in detail).

This is not your father’s Arthurian saga. It’s something wholly original, epic yet grounded, and believably magical, in the sense that we, as humans, have a historical tendency to believe in magic when we can’t explain something or want to exert influence on phenomena we don’t understand.

Most importantly, it’s engrossingly excellent. If you haven’t begun this journey, pick up THE LOST QUEEN and start now. If you have, you’ll be well served by THE SHADOWED LANDS. It smells (mostly) terrific.

*Or “shite”** as Artur would say when bathing the feet of old ladies

**Like Dan Quayle***, people from the British Isles haphazardly throw e’s on the end of words for no good reason

***Really dating myself**** with that joke, aren’t I?

****I have to, because no one else will

A great end to a brilliant series - I never wanted it to be over. Atmospheric, dramatic, bittersweet. And I really appreciated the level of detail in the author's notes as always, too. This is a perfect autumn read!

"The Shadowed Land" is a breathtaking and immersive experience that beautifully marries history and mythology. Signe Pike's vivid prose transported me back to a time where every decision carried the weight of fate, and I was invested in the journeys of Languoreth, Angharad, Lailoken, and Artúr. Each character's development felt authentic and compelling, making their struggles and triumphs resonate deeply.

I particularly enjoyed how Pike explored the tension between ancient traditions and emerging beliefs, crafting a narrative that highlights the complexities of their world. Angharad's quest, in particular, stood out to me; her determination to connect with her druidic heritage and navigate the shadowed land was both empowering and intriguing.

The rich historical details paired with elements of mysticism created a captivating atmosphere that kept me enthralled throughout the story. Pike’s meticulous research shines through, and her ability to breathe life into these historical figures makes the legend of Arthur and his companions feel fresh and relevant.

I wholeheartedly recommend "The Shadowed Land" to fans of historical fiction and Arthurian legends. It's a tale filled with depth, emotion, and magic that leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in this enchanting series. Signe Pike has established herself as a master storyteller, and I can't wait to see where her inspired narrative takes us next!

Another wonderful book by Signe Pike
Her beautiful writing will send you off into the magical world of Arthurian England, with well rounded characters, vivid descriptions, and a story that will envelop you and cast you into a rich and engaging medieval adventure. A feast for Fiction lovers of Scottish and English legends and history.