1. Do not read this book if you haven't read the first two books in this series: The Lost Queen and The Forgotten Kingdom. You will be completely lost.
2. Go into this knowing that it is NOT the final book in the trilogy, and temper your expectations of the ending accordingly.

If you have those two things in mind, you won't have the slight feeling of letdown I had at the end, because I was expecting a full resolution.

Until that point, however, this was excellent as Signe Pike's books always are: beautifully written with an incredible depth of research.

I didn't reread the previous book before diving into this one, and I was a little worried I would be completely lost, because there are a million characters and kingdoms. But Pike did a good job of somehow reminding us who was who and what was going on without any info dumps or clumsy devices.

Our main characters are Angharad, who is off in search of the training that will transform her into a Wisdom Keeper; Languoreth, still married to Rhydderch, who continues to straddle the Christian faith and the Old Way; Languoreth's brother Lailoken; and Artúr. The wretched Mungo makes an appearance or two, and so do, more satisfyingly, the monstrous Gwrgi and Peredur. They all play a part in various machinations as the kingdoms of early medieval Scotland shift and merge and fracture. There are a lot of moving pieces, but Pike did a pretty good job of keeping things straight, although I did feel a little lost at the end. I'll have to study the map closely once I get a physical copy.

While this series is grounded in historical research and many of the characters are based on real figures, I would still consider this a fantasy. We meet the Loch Ness monster and are witness to supernatural happenings, and we meet people who can control the weather. In her end notes, Pike shies away from calling it a fantasy because, she says, it's written from the viewpoint of the people of this time (who didn't know any better), but from our modern viewpoint (and, in particular, my atheist one), it can't be anything else than a successful blending of history and the fantastical.

Thanks to Atria Books for the advance copy.

The Shadowed Land
by Signe Pike
Pub Date: Dec 03 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another 5 star Book from this incredible Author !!

Kingdom of Gododdin, AD 580: After defeating the Angles at the Battle of the Caledonian Wood, Languoreth, her daughter Angharad, brother Lailoken, and the warrior Artúr mac Aedan are reunited. But all too soon, fate pulls each back to their own path.

Artúr receives a mysterious summons from his father in Dalriada. Languoreth and Lailoken return to Strathclyde with the dangerous former bishop Mungo in tow, determined to maintain the fragile peace between the Christians and the people of the Old Way. Meanwhile, Angharad must travel deep into the shadowed land of the Picts, hoping to become the initiate of Briochan, a druid who practices the secret Celtic art of summoning weather.

As they rise to their destinies, they are pushed to impossible new frontiers as each must decide whether they are willing to do what it takes to be the heroes their harrowing days demand. This “rich, immersive” (Kirkus Reviews) saga transports the reader to a vivid world of mysticism, beauty, and meticulously researched early medieval history.

Shadowed land is just as good as book 1 and 2 (you must read them to follow along), continuing the journey of Langoureth, Lailoken, Angharad. There's a lot going on with war / land grabs still going on, religious differences causing strife, romance, and heartbreak.

Cannot wait for the next book.

#netgalley #TheShadowedLand

I love the Lost Queen series. Set in 6th century Scotland the series initially tells the story of one of early Scotland’s most powerful queens and her twin brother, Lailoken, the historical figure thought to be the basis of the legendary Merlin. It’s a bit like Outlander meets Camelot.

This 3rd book in the series continues their stories as well as Langoureth’s children’s and we are also introduced to Artur. The book is told from each of their points of view. Pike’s books are all impeccably researched and this one is no different. She tells of epic battles, historic sites, ancient traditions and its magical.

However, in this book I didn’t feel like Gladys’s chapters had much bearing on the overall story. Maybe more will be discovered in the next book though. I would have loved a chapter from Lailoken about the negotiation for Langoureth. I am so curious about how it went with all the different characters involved. I also wish the last battle had been detailed and drawn out more. There weren’t huge climatic events in this book like her other two. I wish this last battle had been given a little more time. Still loved the book though despite these critiques.

As always, read her authors note at the end to learn more about the people and places in the book and the research that shaped the characters. I thought this was a trilogy and that this book was the last but I was wrong! Pike’s author note says this book is not the last. Yay! And if you are trying out this series, start with book 1 and I recommend the audiobook to help you with all the ancient names and pronunciations.

Thank you #NetGalley and #AtriaBooks for the ARC of #ShadowedLand

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this advance copy.

I have read and enjoyed the first two novels in this series...I probably should have reread them before tackling this third book. I didn't really remember all of the history, and I found it difficult to keep track of a lot of the minor characters/who begat whom.

The book continues the story of Languoreth, the sister of the man Lailoken who will be known as Merlin. Languoreth is a queen who follows the "Old Ways" (druid teachings) while her warrior king husband is a Christian. Their long lost daughter Angharad also follows the old Celtic ways as a priestess. POV shifts between Languoreth, Angharad, Lailoken and Artur (King Aruthur) as they all must balance traditions, new religions, land grabs, and love. I enjoyed the female perspectives best and the battle/gore scenes not at all.

A must read if you have read the first two in the series but sometimes tricky to follow.

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.