I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Historical fiction is one of my favorite genre's to read. I loved this so much. This was an easy read! I blew right through it. I enjoyed this so much. The writing style was flawless!

Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

This one was a little slow to start so I had to put it down for a while. I think I'll pick it back up in month or so to see if I enjoy it a little better.

The Old World versus the New world if Christianity in Scotland. Feudal battles are interspersed among a beautiful love story. The novel is a thrilling glimpse into changing times. I loved it.

The Lost Queen (Book 1 of The Lost Queen Trilogy) – Signe Pike

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher in order to provide an honest review.

Signe Pike is an American author who has a love of history. Her first book was “Faery Tale: One Woman’s Search for Enchantment in a Modern World”.

“The Lost Queen” is the first book in Signe Pike’s The Lost Queen Trilogy, book two is called “The Forgotten Kingdom” (I haven’t read this unfortunately!).


Many of us know and have heard of the legends of Arthur, Merlin and the warriors of Pendragon. Yet who knew that Merlin had a sister, Languoreth, and he was born with the name Lailoken.

“The Lost Queen” follows the tale of Languoreth as she fights against her fate, the fate of a girl who is the only daughter of a king. A princess who dreams and can do nothing to pursue her dreams and must sacrifice her happiness to do her duty – for her father and her people. Yet her twin brother Lailoken is able to follow the path she has always dreamed of, the path of becoming a Wisdom Keeper.

Yet she defies them all and lets herself have one night, one night of happiness and passion with whom she has given her heart too – Pendragon’s general. Yet as a princess she must marry who her father says she must marry – the son of the High King Tutgual.

And shortly after their wedding young Languoreth is pregnant with a son – though she alone knows who his true father is. Yet the years pass and she habours her secret alone. Her brother has left to follow his own path, the path that will one day lead him to be known as the famed Merlin.

Then one day Uther Pendragon and his army visit Languoreth and her husband in their home – and he is there, her son’s true father. It is dangerous for him to be so close yet as they look at each other they both know their love cannot be denied yet it must stay buried for both their sakes and the sake of their unknowing son.

But to Languoreth’s horror the worst is yet to come. Her husband and her son ride off to war against Uther Pendragon and ultimately her son’s true father and her dear brother Lailoken. Locked in her room and unable to prevent the war that is coming Languoreth must wait and see what the fates have in store for her and her family. Yet she knows it will only end in blood, war always ends in blood.

“The Lost Queen” is a wonderful historical fiction novel that is full of suspense and the rich history of the Arthurian legends and of course the mysterious Merlin. I have read many stories centering around the legend of King Arthur, his knights and the famed Merlin but this is the first story that I have read that talks about Merlin having a sister, a twin sister at that and that his name was something other than Merlin. It’s truly an original story that I was sneaking every minute I could to read what was coming next, eager to know what would befall Languoreth and her brother.

It is intriguing, engaging and utterly captivating. I cried along with Languoreth, I felt her passion, her loneliness and utter despair and rage at the unfairness of her fate. I yearn so much to read the next story and hope that her fate and the fate of her family does not end in blood. I am also curious to know if and when the secret of her son’s true father, will ever be revealed and the consequences that shall rain down. But more than anything I hope that Languroeth will get to spend the rest of her days with her true love – we also deserve that.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

I loved this book. The atmosphere was everything I wanted it to be. I loved the plot and storyline in the book. I loved the characters in this story. It gave me all the feels I was looking for when I started reading this. I highly recommend this author. I loved the writing. I will be looking for other works in the future from this author.

Due to my love of the Outlander series and an enduring interest in Arthurian legend, The Lost Queen meets multiple qualifications for my reading list. In recent years I have learned of my family’s ties to Scotland, in particular my relation to Robert the Bruce (and there are more than one of those fellows). So taking a peek through the window of history into a country with familial ties is intriguing. Author Signe Pike is a highly educated writer in the arena of British history, in particular the role that Scotland plays in the story of Uther Pendragon and his advisor Merlin. She brings this knowledge to bear in the opening volume of a trilogy, The Lost Queen.

The titular character is Languoreth, a historical Scottish queen who has been somewhat “lost” to antiquity. We meet her as a young girl, long before she is wed and witness her development as a youthful twin sister to brother Lailoken, growing to a young maiden, then to a mother with many concerns weighing upon her heart. Languoreth is surrounded by a varied cast of characters: from family members, villains, spiritual advisers and men who covet her heart. Her journey as a woman involves political intrigue, religious conflict and romantic entanglement. This first novel of the trilogy concludes on the eve of the dawning of a new chapter in her life, one that seems to bear destruction and disgrace for many whom she loves.

The comparisons to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander are not unreasonable, but Pike’s writing and focus are much different than Gabaldon’s. The romantic element is far less pronounced, and there is more emphasis on druidic traditions than the time travel “magic” seen in the Outlander series. Religious conflict is a major theme of the novel, and unfortunately the Christians seen within this narrative are rarely Christlike in their manners. As a Christian myself, I dislike this type of personification of “believers”, as they are most likely not believers at all, but those who would use the name of Christ to achieve their political ends. In today’s culture, it’s all too easy to see the same in some of our leaders, which makes the portrayal of characters like Mungo all the more difficult to read. I acknowledge that “men of the cloth” such as he have existed for millennia, but it’s a shame that some of the worst behaviors in The Lost Queen are seen in the church. For the Christian reading The Lost Queen, it is important to keep in mind that this is merely one perspective of history. As Pike mentions in her post-novel note, history is fluid. I would agree that it is fluid in that we are almost constantly receiving new information about the past, data that alters our view of events from centuries gone by. The perspective of The Lost Queen is very much from the view of the druid, and is very sympathetic to it. As I have a firm hand on my own beliefs, I am able to read this narrative in the same way that I do when reading Outlander. My faith may be different from the characters in the novel, but I can still enjoy the journey of Languoreth, Lailoken and the others.

Aside from the religious-themed conflicts, The Lost Queen also deals with political alliances, loyalties and the threat of war. Languoreth finds herself in the midst of a love triangle, and must make difficult decisions and sacrifices for the sake of her family. Should she merely follow her heart, the repercussions could spell disaster for many whom she loves. Although she is a woman of strong temperament, her standing in society is still affected by the powerful men surrounding her.

I did enjoy The Lost Queen, and do plan to continue with the series as the story continues in The Forgotten Kingdom. Signe Pike has done fine work in capturing a certain perspective of 6th century Scotland, with well-drawn, captivating characters and thoroughly researched writing. In this new series the legacies of Languoreth, Merlin and Uther Pendragon have been given a particular Scottish (and presumably accurate) slant, one that I look forward to taking in as the trilogy continues. There is more to the Arthurian legend than I realized, and The Lost Queen is an entertaining beginning to a new retelling.

This book was amazingly written. It was very detailed and very action packed. A true page turner. This is about Languoreth Merlin's twin sister. Who doesn't want to read about that? If you like Arthurian stories this one was definitely worth reading.

My thanks to Signe Pike, Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC of THE LOST QUEEN. I love historical fiction, but sometimes I find it a bit overdone. The names of the characters were not easy to remember and the story is similar to many I've tried to read previously. Unfortunately not for me.

This is a fantastic first book in this trilogy. This is the story of twins, Languoreth and Lailoken, children of King Morken. They are being tutored by Cathan during an uprising and difficult time in Scotland. They are during the transition between the Old Ways into Christianity and this is a main theme. They are also prematurely forced into battles due to the circumstances of the time.
This is a thrilling and wild ride with incredible atmosphere.
Because this is an older release, I was able to listen to the audiobook as well as physically read the eARC. This is a wonderful audiobook. The narration and narrator infuse the atmosphere into the words. You feel as though you are in a Castle in Scotland, snuggled by a blazing fire and drinking a hot cup of tea as you listen/read.
I highly recommend.
#TheLostQueen #Netgalley #Atria

“What sort of journey?” I asked. “Oh, an epic sort, always. Filled with dashing heroes, wicked villains, battles, enchantments, and lionhearted feats of bravery. This is the stuff of stories told around the fire.”

CW: Violence, War, Spousal Abuse, Death

Summary: The Lost Queen follows our heroine, Languoreth, a sixth-century Scottish woman torn between love and duty, who is thrust into the middle of the increasing conflict between the Anglo-Saxons and the new faith, Christianity, with the Old Ways she was raised in.

As a young woman, she meets and falls in love with the warrior Maelgwen, who arrives at her father’s door with the Dragon Warriors - the forces of Emrys Pendragon who are trying to fight off the Anglo-Saxons. However, Languoreth is promised to another man, Rhydderch, the son of a Christian king who is quickly forsaking the Old Ways. Told over the course of the first 30 years of Languoreth’s life, we see a strong-willed and stubborn young girl turn into a brave and tenacious woman, who will do anything to protect those she loves.

Review: This book was magical. I like to think that some parts of our history and ancestors live with us and this was a story that I felt in my bones, masterfully woven in the hands of Signe Pike. Am I related to a queen from sixth-century Scotland? Probably not, but I felt so invested in Languoreth’s story. I would be remiss if I didn’t add that there were also some steamy bits - every scene between Languoreth and Maelgwen had me fanning myself. The tension between these two characters was so well written and I found myself holding my breath every time they were together. Incredibly researched and vividly told, I could not put this book down. 5 stars without question.

You should read this book if you like: Historical Fiction; Arthurian legends; Strong Female leads
Similar: Cursed (Netflix Show), Outlander, Game of Thrones, Philippa Gregory

It's Arthurian legend retold time again. This time we focus on Languoreth, a future queen, and her brother Lailoken. They are raised in Scotland as royalty in the old ways - with mysticism and magic. But a new religion is on the rise, threatening their way of life and their future - Christianity.

Languoreth has been promised to wed Rhydderch, son of a Christian king, in order to secure her reign over a larger swath of Britain. But the forces of magic have her in love with Maelgwn, a soldier in the army of Emrys Pendragon. This new landscape of politics and violence could be tough on a gentle soul like Languoreth, but she has her brother and a tough old druid named Myrddin to help her.

I found this book to be boring.

It was clear quite early that this was a romance novel with an Arthurian setting. Which is fine, except 500 pages of mooning and pining gets old. There is more that happens, of course, but none of it is important to Languoreth. so it doesn't seem important to the reader either.

What makes the book most boring, though, is that Languoreth is not a particularly interesting character. When you narrow it all down and describe her in one paragraph or so, she looks, indeed, like a fascinating character to write about ... but she needs something to do other than be confused about love and how to act like a queen.

I had high hopes that this was going to be another <em>Crystal Cave</em> or <em>Mists of Avalon</em>, but it's not. It's an angst-y, brooding, YA-like romance that drags on too long.

Looking for a good book? It's hard to go wrong with a story in the Arthurian legend, but <em>The Lost Queen</em> by Signe Pike does just that.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

The Lost Queen makes me feel as cozy as a hot cup of tea by the fireplace. The beginning of this trilogy follows our heroine, Langoureth as a child. Her peers felt as though she were incapable of handling herself, but as her father reminds her she has descended from warrior kings! I love this book. Time will tell that it will be popular for ages to come I am sure of it. I cannot wait to see how the rest of the books in the series plays out.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for this free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Game of Thrones meets Camelot. Do that stir your interest in this book? If not, it should. The majority of people know the story of Merlin but what about his twin sister? This book tells the story of Languoreth, twin sister to the famed Merlin. I hope you get a big cup of coffee and a snack because you will be reading this until you have read the last page.

"The Lost Queen" has been compared to "The Mists of Avalon", a book I love. I think the comparison is justified, I fell equally in love with "The Lost Queen". Langoureth's story is fascinating from the beginning to the end as she tries to save the "Old Way" from the new Christian religion. I adored the magical world of medieval Scotland, all the references to Scottish mythology, and the connection to the Arthurian Legend.
I will definitely read the next book of the series and would highly recommend this one.

I was hesitant to read this book even while wanting to do so. The story of Merlin is so overdone at this point that it has become boring and predictable unfortunately. Then you pick up this book and quickly lose yourself in a unique telling of the Merlin story and discover yourself so engrossed in the the historical fantasy that you forget to feed your family. That surprised me and delighted me. The characters and atmosphere are exquisite and exciting.

The Lost Queen is an exquisitely written, expansive historical fantasy that brings to life Langoreuth, sister of the man who would go into expire the legend of Merlin. Langoreuth has been raised by the Old Way, but as Christianity spreads across Strathclyde, she and her family find themselves fighting for survival as they navigate a time of social unrest and upheaval. As tensions rise, Langoreuth must use all of her power and her wits to ensure the preservation of her family and her country, as well as her heart.

The Lost Queen is one of those books that deserves 5 stars because it is just so beautifully written and thoroughly researched. Pike effortlessly transports her readers into the world of 6th century Scotland in all of its myths and culture. I also loved learning about Langoreuth and her world, and how she moved through a world that viewed her value as solely her potential as a wife and heir-producer. This book was gorgeous and enrapturing. I do wish that we could have seen how her relationships with her significant men developed and more lead up, but this book was still excellent. The Lost Queen is a story about claiming our autonomy and freedom of choice in the circumstances we found ourselves in, and about how we can forge ahead our destiny when others seek to direct it for us.

I enjoyed this book. It had a lot of action and the main characters were great in this story. I would highly recommend reading it.

The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
5 stars

503 Pages
Publisher: Atria Books
Release Date: September 4, 2018

Historical Fiction, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

The book is about a sister, Languoreth, and her twin brother, Lailoken. They are raised in sixth century Scotland with the Old Religion as the rise of the Christianity comes to the country. Their mother dies when they are nine years old and they see a red stag standing in the water which they take as an omen from the Gods.

As the two siblings grow, so does the unrest between the two religions. As the daughter of a Chieftan, Languoreth is destined to marry a nobleman while Lailoken will follow the path of a Wisdom Keeper. Languoreth cannot help but feel jealous since that is all she ever wanted to be. Unfortunately, when she marries, it will be for political reasons to protect her family’s land and people.

This is the first in the series. I was enthralled with it and immediately got the second book. The story is fast-paced, and the characters are well developed. It is told from the first-person point of view.The information in the book has accurate historical references with a few twists. The people in the book were based on real people that lived in Scotland. It is thought Lailoken is the man behind the Merlin story. This book description says it is compared to Outlander and Mists of Avalon. I completely agree except without the time travel. If you like these books, you will enjoy this one.

I am so surprised about how much I enjoyed this book! The Lost Queen by Signe Pike is based on the history of the man they believe inspired the story of Merlin, called Lailoken. The main character is Lailoken’s twin sister Langoureth and the journey her life takes. The story is epic, full of love & passion, beautiful family relationships, the sacrifices of women and so much more. The way Pike has written this draws you in and surrounds you with the world. There were a couple times I found myself tearing up a couple of times and that took me by surprise... I don’t usually cry when I read.

There was also an underlying storyline about the spread of Christianity and the way it destroyed sacred spaces, eliminating the old ways/beliefs from their people, and converting people. It’s something that kept the historical trauma of Indigenous peoples in the front of my mind. Those aspects of the story really broke my heart to read. I couldn’t stop thinking about all the lost knowledge and spaces.

I highly recommend it even if you don’t generally read historical fiction, because the story is so engaging. It ended on a big cliffhanger, so I’m really glad to have the sequel ready to go!

I found this book to be riveting. I was picturing a cinematic event as I read this. The book is an epic, the first in a trilogy. I’m glad I read it now, so I don’t have to wait long for book 2! The story of Languoreth and Lailoken, twins in 6th centrury Scotland, is based on the story of Merlin. Of course there is magic, plenty of wars and family politics. It is a long and complex story that draws you in and doesn’t let you go. And leaves you wanting more.