I adored the Lost Queen, and I'm so pleased to say The Forgotten Kingdom was just as good, if not better. Languoreth is such a compelling character to follow, and I love the introduction of new perspectives into this novel. I'm dying to see what will happen in the sequel (I think there will be a sequel..?) and I'm so glad I found this series.

Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley for granting me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pike immerses readers in 6th-century Scotland, bringing to life the political landscape, religious conflicts, and daily life of the period through vivid descriptions and detailed historical references. The story features several complex and compelling female characters, including Languoreth, a future queen imprisoned in her chamber, and her daughter Angharad, who embarks on exciting adventures in the Scottish highlands. Lailoken, Languoreth's twin, features prominently, too. There are multiple secondary characters, and keeping them straight all the time can be confusing. I enjoyed the balanced blend of history and fantasy. The novel seamlessly weaves historical events with Celtic mythology and magic elements, creating a unique and fascinating world. Pike's prose is lyrical and immersive, drawing readers into the story and keeping them engaged.
The pacing felt uneven. It is a slow start, and the number of characters engaging in mundane activities can feel irrelevant. The Celtic magic adds a layer of intrigue, but there was not as much as I expected.
The romantic subplot is an underlying thread but buried too far beneath it. It is a wisp and doesn't play an intricate part in the novel.
The Forgotten Kingdom is a well-written and engaging historical fantasy novel with strong female characters and a detailed historical setting. However, the slow pacing and lack of romance might appeal to only some readers.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!!

The Forgotten Kingdom is the second in the Lost Queen series and I am anxiously awaiting book 3. This story has it all - incredibly drawn characters, an engaging storyline, and a fierce female protagonist. Just read it, please.

If you read the author's note at the end of this incredible book, you can't help but be in awe of the amount of research that went in to this extraordinary story. I'm actually a little jealous. But it's interesting when you think about whether or not this book should be considered historical fiction or historical fantasy. I'll let you read it and decide. You can read the synopsis so I don't know how much I can add, other than to say this book blew me away. It's not a book I thought I would enjoy, but it is *easily* one of my favorites of the year.

Book two of a trilogy, and The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike .
This story continues where book one left off. Languoreth is in prison, awaiting her fate. The book continues on to include the story of Languoreth’s daughter, Angharad, who studies to become a Wisdom Keeper. A new religion which is Christianity and in a constant battle with the old traditions.

Now with this second book, I can say that these books are amazing . The story is sweeping and magical while also features characters you will absolutely adore . It’s also a story you probably aren’t familiar with, the author Signe Pike, does her research on Languoreth, and I appreciate a this story that really needs to be shared. I can hardly wait for book three.

This is an excellent conclusion to the story begun in "The Lost Queen" (which is also excellent.) The characterizations are well-done and vivid. Personalities are distinct and realistic. Rarely isthe plot moved forward by someone doing something stupid, which is a nice change of pace from other books I've read. The descriptions of mthe landscapes and interior settings give you a real sense of where the story is taking place and have a cinematic quality to them.

While you do need to read "The Lost Queen" first to understand the story, I highly recommend both books!

The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike
Book #2 in The Lost Queen series, The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike, was much more exciting and action packed than the usual middle book in a trilogy. It is a tale of historical fiction and fantasy, and I loved every bit of it.
Angharad is the main character in The Forgotten Kingdom. The daughter of Languoreth is thrown into an epic journey as she struggles to return home to her mother. Her training as a Wisdom Keeper/ Priestess with numerous battles and captures lead her finally back home.
Book three of this series is expected out in September 2024 and there are mentions of a possible book four. Hollywood is currently working (?) on a TV series.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC and the opportunity to read and review The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike.

I thought this was such an AMAZING book. Once I got started it was hard to put down. I thought this was a great sequel to The Lost Queen. I liked how it was done in three different points of view. From Languoreth, to Angharad, and Lailoken. It is interesting to read about Britain before it was Britain. This series takes place in the 500s AD. I think out of the three I like Angharad the best. Languireth is also good, but we got most of her story in the first book and Angharad is her daughter and just like her. At a young age she left with her Uncle Lailoken to be trained as a Seerer. I love the mix of historical fiction and the splash of fantasy. I can not wait to continue with the series when more books are added. I think it could be a great saga with amazing characters and learning about history.

A fantastic continuation to a series dedicated to highlighting a long forgotten time period and its people. Pike shed light on a forgotten queen and the multiple legends surrounding her family. It was a time infused with violence, corruption, and fantastical beliefs. It's a hefty read and at times it felt every bit the length. Overall a wonderfully immersive look inside a time and place we will never fully appreciate.

I received a copy of this title via NetGalley.

I am such a fan of Signe Pike. She does an amazing job at capturing a marvelous story, including real elements and fictionalized elements. The story is excellent. The characters are well developed. The last 10 chapters or so I could not stop and just had to keep reading because of the tension and the excitement just felt so much. I cannot wait for the third of this book series. Definitely one of the great historical fiction writers in my opinion.

YES to all things King Arthur. YES to Signe Pike. YES to Languoreth. YES to this book.

Book 2 does not disappoint, as someone who loved Book 1, The Lost Queen, I was so thrilled to be transported back into 6th-century Scotland. Signe Pike's narration and research make this novel shine.
Seeing the names Gwenddolau and Myrddin brings the whole book to a new level bringing forth the research the author has done, and the nostalgia that the stories we grew up with knowing.
I loved seeing Angharad's story as a young woman growing up. Languoreths grief is done in a way that will touch the hearts of readers, and Lailoken's magic gives this book the fantasy elements that we so often associate with King Arthur's story.

I want to thank the writer for giving us Languoreth. A woman whose story does not end with marriage and childbirth, but rather it is PART of her story, and her story continues, her adventures continue. This book fills the gap that so many fantasy novels have left us with, this is a story of a MOTHER.

Would I recommend? Yes, I recommend this book all the time
Would I reread? Yes, I will reread before Book 3 comes out!

Arthurian historical fiction ✔️
Strong female protagonists ✔️
Well-researched historical tie-ins ✔️
Timeline appropriate Celtic mysticism ✔️

Pure perfection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I’m always on the hunt for a good Arthurian novel. Bonus points if it’s a series! Finding an adult book with the above 4 criteria is nearly impossible. The Mists of Avalon is the only other book that can easily meet these requests. But MoA is written for a very specific audience and comes with a lot of author baggage. Whereas Signe Pike’s Lost Queen series is universally written in a way that anyone can enjoy, all without quelling the female leads - a balance that other authors in this genre fail to achieve.

Book 3 cannot come soon enough! ❤️

This is the 2nd book in the lost queen books. This book is full of magic, history, battles, rivalry, and intrigue. It kept me up readingbfor hours. So good!!
I just reviewed The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike. #NetGalley
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Although a very well-written sequel to "The Lost Queen," I just didn't find myself as enthralled with this book as I did with the first one of the trilogy. I had looked forward to seeing what would happen with all the characters from the first novel but found myself struggling to continue to care about them through their journeys. I probably will still read the final book just to see how the trilogy wraps up. I hope I can connect with that one a little better.

I really love this series—the research that went into it is so interesting and perfectly woven into the background of fiction. I can’t wait for the third book!

Signe Pike's well researched novel of twins, Languoreth, future Queen of Scotland and her brother Lailoken, future Merlin of Arthurian legend, is a deeply satisfying read as the second book in The Lost Queen Trilogy. A page turner that I read in a record 2 days. If you loved Mary Stewarts's Merlin and King Arthur books or Marion Bradley Zimmer's "Mists of Avalon", I guarantee you will love this. Looking forward to the final book that is due out in September 2023.

I tried the first book and unfortunately it did not work for me. Therefore I did not try this one as it is a sequel.

This series is a masterclass in merging history and legend. In the first book, “The Lost Queen”, the characters and setting were well introduced. In this second installment, the action of battle and its consequences drives the plot. War is being waged
between the old ways and the new. Some warriors rise as others fall. While Myrddin is on the retreat, he meets Artur and the stage is set for the final book in this trilogy. I can’t wait!!
*Thanks to Atria books and NetGalley for this ebook copy for review.

So good, even as a standalone novel! (Details below)

I’ll be honest, I’m not sure how to go about this review. I was pretty far into the novel when I realized it was book two of a series. However, I was too invested as it was, so I kept on reading! The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike is a completely captivating read, even if you haven’t read the first book in Pike’s The Lost Queen series.

Signe Pike’s writing style is easy to follow, flowing and natural to read. Each chapter starts with a character’s name, so you are oriented as the story jumps around both geographically and, sometimes, temporally.

What I found most fascinating, though, was the author’s insights at the end of the novel. Pike discusses the historical events described in the novel, along with things she changed and other literary choices she made along the way. She also describes the historical figures present in the novel, many of whom grew into the Arthurian legend we know today. Really, just a fascinating way to top off an already great book!

Read my full review of the novel here: https://catsandcoffee.me/the-forgotten-kingdom-by-signe-pike/

This was a strong follow-up to The Lost Queen and I’m definitely going to keep my eye out for the final book in this trilogy.

While The Lost Queen focused on Languoreth’s POV, The Forgotten Kingdom adds two more perspectives: her brother Lailoken (the future Merlin) and her daughter Angharad. I’ll admit that I was less interested in Lailoken’s chapters than in the two women; I appreciated his inclusion but it seemed to distract from Pike’s original goal in the first book of resurrecting a lost queen from the depths of history. That said, I really enjoyed Angharad’s journey and this comparison between that and Langoureth’s path in the first book.

The writing here is strong though the jumps in time sometimes caught me off-guard. The chapters are mostly marked with dates, but I would sometimes forget what the last date was and be a bit confused where we were in time. That’s more on me, though, than the book itself I think.

Like with the first book, I really appreciated the author’s note at the end for how it unpacks the historical context of this story. You can tell that Pike has done her research, which cannot always be said of historical fiction. She also explains where she took liberties with the story, which was interesting.

Overall, this is an interesting book that explores a little-covered period in historical fiction. If you like the genre, or are interested in the history of Merlin or Scotland, this is definitely one to check out.

I was so excited to continue reading the adventures of Languoreth and her family/friends. This story is such a sweeping and epic story, yet Pike really draws you in with her characters and plot. Pike's writing is so beautiful, and I can't wait to see what happens in the final part.