I suspect that this series will break me like Outlander broke me. I fell in love with the characters like they were my friends, my family. I lived their emotions with them, their joy, their rage, their sadness. I didn't realize how much I missed historical fiction before reading these two books. I do not like to read about wars, but learning about them is so much interesting that I only want more.

Can't wait to see what book 3 will bring (and already my heart is breaking because it'll be the last book of the series).

I will 1000% buy myself a physical copy of this one. I want to cherish it.

Many thanks to Atria Books for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Okay, so I saw The Lost Queen trilogy being talked about online, and someone said it's like 'Outlander meets Camelot.' I immediately thought nope, don't do it. You've heard such high praise about other books and more often than not, you've come away disappointed. And, I did it anyway. I dove in, and lo and behold, I was not at all disappointed. Signe Pike writes beautifully, and these characters get to you in the best possible ways. They also get to you in the worst possible ways because I can pretty much guarantee that things are going to happen that you aren't going to like, and it's going to make you mad. Maybe that's just me? It's entirely possible, but all I know is these characters sucked me right in and held on tight. This author is definitely a master of her craft because it's been awhile since I read a book set this far back and felt like I was there, witnessing everything. I'm not going to give anything away, so I'll just say this is a must read story. If you enjoy historical fiction or fantasy, you don't want to miss this one.

I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately I could not get into it. I do not think this was the one for me. The premise was super interesting, but towards the end to me it just fell apart.

Wow was this sequel a page turner! I loved the first book but this one was a whole new level!
The new faith of Christianity is at battle with the old ways. This was very interesting to read about and probably one of the most compelling parts of the story to me personally.
I loved all the characters also. We follow Languoreth, Lailoken, and Angharad. I loved Angharad’s perspective was my favorite by far because she is in training to become Wisdom Keeper and her path is a very difficult one but also very interesting.
Can’t wait for book 3!

I’ve always felt drawn toward the Arthurian legends. There was just something about the way in which the stories combined tragedy and romance that called to my own melancholia, and I was especially drawn to those retellings that leaned away from the fantastic and into the historical. I was loved reading and re-reading books like Bernard Cornwell’s magnificent (and heartbreaking) The Warlord Chronicles and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s groundbreaking The Mists of Avalon (before it was made clear that she was a monster). These books, I felt, managed to capture what it must have felt like to live in Britain after the Romans left, as the old civilization crumbled and the barbarians swept in to replace them, that sense of dislocation and sadness that always accompanies the passing of an old world and the birth of a new.
Thus, when I read the first book of Signe Pike’s series, The Lost Queen, I was hooked, and I knew that it was going to hit the same spots as Cornwell and Bradley and others like them. Here was that rare gem, a book that immersed you in the barbaric world of post-Roman Britain, where the various tribes struggled against one another, each attempting to gain supremacy, all of them heedless (or uncaring) about the danger posed by the invading Angles. What’s more, it featured a truly badass heroine, in the figure of Languoreth, a woman whose fate is to become queen yet feels the call of forbidden love.
The second novel, The Forgotten Kingdom, picks up where the previous book left off. Lailoken and Angharad have ridden off so that she can begin her apprenticeship under her uncle’s guidance. However, war is coming, and soon she is separated from him, and she spends most of the novel learning more about her powers under the guidance of various tutors and priestesses. Lailoken, meanwhile, manages to survive a brutal battle, only to have his sanity tested in ways that he never dreamed possible, while Languoreth must try to fashion some measure of peace and contentment with her husband, even as she still yearns for Maelgwyn, the Pendragon.
All three of the main characters — Lailoken, Languoreth, and Angharad — come alive in Pike’s deft hands. She allows us to see the ways in which these three people, so alike and yet so different, are all very much caught up in the tides of history, and each of them has to face intense tragedy as they try to prepare their people for the great conflict to come. None of them are as simple as they might appear on the surface, and none of them are either entirely good nor entirely evil but are, instead, complex people with competing loyalties and interests. Despite their shortcomings, we come to appreciate their strength, their sheer ability to survive in this unforgiving world of blood and violence.
However, Pike’s greatest strength as a novelist is in her power to capture the physical sensations of this world. With Lailoken, we encounter the brutal and visceral terrors of war; with Angaharad, we encounter the strange and terrifying world of the gods and spirits; and with Languoreth, we see the myriad ways in which politics shape the lives of everyone they touch, even a powerful queen. What’s more, we actually feel as if we are walking the same breathtakingly beautiful Scottish countryside as the characters, looking up at the bleak mountains, wandering through the shadows of the forest, and gazing raptly at the savage beauty of the lochs. Having been to Scotland several times, I can say that Pike’s haunting prose took me back, and for that she deserves a lot of credit and gratitude.
And, of course, one of the central conflicts in this novel, as with its predecessor, is that between Christianity and the faith of the Keepers. Given that all three of our protagonists are adherents of the old ways, it’s no surprise that it comes down pretty squarely on the side of the Keepers, while the Christians (such as the man who would become known as St. Mungo) are usually painted as zealots and butchers. There is an important exception, however, in the character of Brother Thomas, a monk who takes Angharad under his wing. He shows himself to be a good man, one who doesn’t let his religious blind him to the fact that there others who do not trod the same path as he does, and I hope that we get to see a bit more of him in the concluding volume to the trilogy.
The central premise of this series, that the Arthurian legends have their basis in ancient Scotland — as opposed to Wales, which is the more commonly accepted origin story — is an intriguing one. Pike has clearly done her homework on the issue, and it does seem like there’s good reason to believe that the Scots may have played a larger role in the development of these stories than most people think.
There are, naturally, some fantastical elements — particularly when each of the characters touches upon the spirit world — but, as Pike notes in her author’s note, she really does see this as primarily a work of historical fiction. I totally agree. In fact, I think that these books, more than many others, really do immerse us as readers into the mindset of those dwelling in this particular period. They are people of profound feelings, to be certain, but they also have a certain detachment when they look at the world around them. Given the horrid traumas that they endure, and given the precariousness of life in their world — people die in war, or in childbirth, or simply by accident — it would make sense that they would view the world around them with more practicality than we moderns do. At the same time, of course, they are also in a world where gods and spirits are very much a part of the landscape, and their psyches reflect this.
All in all, this is a worthy continuation of the story begun in The Forgotten Queen. Both historical fiction buffs and those who love the Arthurian legends will find much to enjoy here. If only we didn’t have to wait so long for the third volume!

This is the second book in The Lost Queen trilogy, and it did not disappoint. This book picks up right where we leave off with book one. I have become super invested with the character, and was so happy to be back with them. This one is told in multiple POV, which I love. It ends on a cliffhanger, which makes me excited for book three! I would recommend this trilogy!

This follow up book was a great addition to the series, and carried on the beautiful historical background of the first book. One thing I really loved was how beautiful and lush the descriptions were — I felt like I was right there with the characters. And, the characters themselves were so compelling and strong, and I really enjoyed the character arcs. All in all, I loved the historical setting and thought it was incorporated so well into the amazing story of these characters.

The Forgotten Kingdom
By Signe Pike

So happy to be able to read this amazing Lot Queen trilogy. The Forgotten kingdom is the second book in the series and I really enjoyed this book so much for its exciting premise and a complete page turner for me. Both books so far have swept me away in this epic saga. The research that went into writing these books by Signe Pike definitely shows in this amazing Historical Fiction Fantasy novel.

Pick this series up before the release of the third book. You will love the characters and the story will definitely capture your heart.

Signe Pike has not let us down with this follow-up to The Lost Queen. While I missed being with Langoureth for parts of the novel, I fell more in love with Lailoken and the other characters Pike creates. And more than anything, Pike has a gift for cultivating a sense of place. I loved this book and looking forward to being in this world more.

The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike is the second installment in The Lost Queen trilogy and it definitely did not disappoint!

Signe's first book in this series, The Lost Queen, brilliantly created the historical setting of 6th century Scotland. Her research is so thorough, and recreates so many stories that have been lost for centuries.

I was thrilled for this second installment of Langoureth's journey, and quickly got lost in her world. Angharad featured in much of the story, and her journey is possibly my favorite. Lailoken and Eira's story is also so interesting, and I can't wait to see how it develops.

I enjoy the slow and mesmerizing pace, the rich detail, and the well rounded cast of characters. The map and character pronunciation are also helpful! I'd say the first book is a 4, this one is a 4.25. I can't wait for the final book in this trilogy, and hope that many of these storylines get wrapped up.

I loved Signe's first book in The Lost Kingdom so I was very excited for the next installment of Langoureth's journey. While her books aren't the most fast pace, the writing is steady throughout and so realistic I could vividly picture myself alongside the characters. Pike has beautifully set up this world, and I got lost in it once again. This sequel may be even better than the first novel. I loved that we got to see more of Lailoken and her daughter Angharad. I can't wait for the next book.

I absolutely loved this book! I fell in love with the first book of the series, The Lost Queen, and was beyond excited to get my hands on the sequel. If you are a fan of the Outlander series, Arthuriana, and enjoy historical fiction, I am positive you will love this series! The characters in this book are so well developed and I love the journey we get to take with Langoureth and Lailoken. 10/10 would recommend!

This is the second installment in The Lost Queen trilogy and thankfully it did not disappoint! I often find with trilogies that the middle book is less exciting than the first, and that I'm bored reading it. With The Forgotten Kingdom, however, this is not the case! If you haven't read book one, I'd skip my synopsis because I couldn't write anything without spoilers.

We pick up right where we left off in book one - Languoreth is torn between two sides of a war, and is struggling with what choices she needs to make to protect the ones she loves. Lailoken is Wisdom Keeper for the Dragon Warriors and about to wage war on Languoreth's husband and son. Based on one of the bloodiest battles in early medieval Scottish history, no one could foresee the results and how they would effect everyone involved. When Languoreth's daughter, Angharad, goes missing, Languoreth stops at nothing to ensure she sees her daughter again. Angharad embarks on a journey that no one could have guessed, and grows into the woman she was always meant to be.

I really loved the first book, and the second book was also wonderful! From being super invested in the characters after The Lost Queen, I was happy with how this second installment was told from multiple perspectives, giving me all the information I needed. While it did end on another cliffhanger, I know that means the third book should be amazing and hopefully tie up loose ends!

5 stars!

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#TheForgottenKingdom is The Second Volume in The Lost Queen Trilogy. Battle scenes,Mystical, Historical are main themes of this one. ⁣
Bitter rivalries are ignited, lost loves are found, new loves are born, and old enemies come face-to-face with their reckoning in this compellingly fresh look at one of the most enduring legends of all time."⁣

This series is one of my favorite historical fiction series! In this book, we get the perspectives of other characters besides Languoreth, like her brother Lailoken and her daughter Angharad. Because of this, we get three different, equally intriguing storylines and settings. Although I did find myself missing having more of Languoreth's perspective sometimes, Lailoken's and Angharad's perspectives were where most of the action was. Angharad's story in particular drew me in as she grew from an eight or nine year old girl to a seventeen year old Wisdom Keeper. I got to see a lot of familiar characters (Ariane!) as well as see all three main characters grow. I'm so excited for the third book!

What a wonderful second book in this series! I am blown away by how fantastic this story is!

The research that went into creating this book is amazing, and it really comes through in the story. I would highly recommend starting at book 1 before picking this one up because there is so much backstory that you need. This one picks up right where book 1 stopped, so you can just jump right back into the awesome story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't realize this was the second book in a series. It just sounded so good I just had to read it. There is a synopsis of The Lost Queen at the beginning so it didn't leave me feeling too lost. This is a fantastic work of historical fiction that I couldn't put down. I plan on going back to read the first book and I look forward to the third and final book.

#' The Forgotten Kingdom' is #2 in author # Signe Pike's Lost Queen' trilogy. Back to medieval Scotland in a wonderful historical tale. #" Memory is a danger. It unlocks the door to madness.🌟💜🐾🐾

The Forgotten Kingdom is a fantastic sequel to The Lost Queen and I actually liked it better than the first book in the trilogy. Signe Pike's writing continues to be wonderful to read. Her prose is easy to fall into, yet presents so much information. The constant feed of historical content was nearly effortless to absorb and it was all given in a way that felt interesting and compelling.

The pace is really fast in this installment and there is a lot of action that kept me on the edge of my seat for a good majority of the novel. The multiple POV approach again worked wonderfully for this story and allowed for so much more of the picture to be painted. I particularly enjoyed the Angharad storyline, though she is mostly a fictionalized character. I loved how Pike was able to weave in so much historical content and introduce so many of the players during this tumultuous time in Scottish history. It is incredibly clear that a lot of research went into the construction of the novel and that a lot of care was taken to piece all of it together. I am not able to verify its accuracy as my knowledge of this location and time period is very minimal, but others with greater knowledge than mine have stated that the contents do largely ring true.

The characters continued to improve in this installment. They grew quite a bit of depth, becoming even more rounded and complicated as individuals. The introduction of new characters created an additional level of complexity to the story that worked quite well. The actions and interactions of the characters felt more natural in this than the original novel and the overall feel of the book was one of greater writing maturity. I enjoyed being able to witness this progression.

I have really enjoyed this series so far and I am itching to read the final book in the trilogy. This is a section of historical fiction that I am not well versed in, but reading Pike's work has definitely inspired me to look for more works written during this time period.

** Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. **

I am enjoyed this story and The Lost Queen so much. Pike's writing is so beautiful and I adore this story of Languoreth.
I haven't read too many stories set in the sixth century, but I feel the authenticity of the time. The beliefs of Scotland before the influence of Christianity is really interesting and the author captures this mystical time period beautifully!