This,the second in the series in the Lost Queen trilogy was a definite page turner. We follow the lives of Languoreth, her twin brother, Lailoken., and her young daughter Angharad, who is in training to become Wisdom Keeper.

A huge battle is forthcoming and in all of this turmoil, death, and destruction, Angharad is lost. Guided by her uncle, Lailoken, Angharad travels a difficult road, having to learn, practice, and recall all the things that a Wisdom Keeper acquires as well as the struggle to say alive., and grow into a young women who is special and talented in the ways of the old. She arrives in the land of the Pics, a land that is both mysterious and secretive where she must maneuver a pathway that is fraught with danger and menace.. Her path crosses with many and as she grows, she becomes stronger in the art of the Wisdom Keeper.

In the meantime, the new faith of Christianity seems to be at battle with the old ways. Alliances are formed and the land is divided in those who love and cherish the ways of the old, and those who are flocking to the ways of this new belief system called Christianity.

The rivalries continue and eventually they boil over as Lanfuoreth, now queen and all those she loves enter a time of battles fought, lives lost and rivalries brought to the forefront.

Truly a marvelous addition to this series, this book with its excellent research done once again by Ms Pike, is a joy to read as we sit in judgement and worry over these real people caught up in the land of confusion and violence. Of course into this time of turbulence, comes Artur and “Myrddin.” and a myth and legend is born.

Thank you to Signe Pike, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this thrilling tale due out September 20, 2020

Thank You Publisher for Sending me and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book, but just couldn't get into it. I think it could have been really fun but I just couldn't get into the writing style. I actually accidentally downloaded this one!

It’s late summer, 572 A.D., and the Dragon Warriors are heading back to Kingdom of the Pendragons after visiting Cadzow Fortress. Angharad is accompanying them as Lailoken’s ward; she is to be trained as a Wisdom Keeper. In the Fall of the following year, the Kingdom of Strathclyde, allied with three lords of the south, bring war upon Uther Pendragon’s door. In the aftermath of the Battle of Arderydd, the losing parties head to exile. Some will regroup, forge new alliances and plan revenge, others will mourn the losses and find new strength to go on, yet others will shed their skins and forge new identities—strong, resourceful, and resilient ones, full of shadows and wisdom. The next eight years in these characters lives will prove instrumental if they are to preserve their ways of life.

The Forgotten Kingdom picks up in the late summer of 572 A.D. after the Dragon Warriors left Cadzow Fortress in the first installment. The story is narrated through Lailoken’s, an all-knowing narrator standing for Angharad, and Languoreth’s points of views. Because Signe Pike spends the first 15% or so giving a broad overview of the characters and the politics the kingdoms and their chieftains are enmeshed in, the story works well as a stand-alone. For those who read The Lost Queen right before, like me, the first part of The Forgotten Kingdom will appear repetitive, and the rest, substantially less sensual and cinematic than the first installment, though not entirely devoid of charm. For me, there was a point when the story slowed to a crawl —right about the 70% mark. It could be that by then, I had been immersed in this world for almost a month and needed a break.

The passages describing travel, nature, and battles, are more vivid than the rest of the story combined but, never fear, there are plenty of those passages. It is interesting that this sequel picks up earlier than the end of the previous book because the reader gets to know what is happening parallelly in another theater of operations. It is that “other theater”—the one where the Battle of Arderydd takes place and the few survivors are scattered almost literally to the four winds—that becomes center stage this time around. In fact, Rhydderch and Languoreth are almost afterthoughts in this installment.

The Forgotten Kingdom starts with a battle, one that obliterates a kingdom, and ends with one, one that, if lost, will change the makeup of the land known to us as Britannia. Both battles are brilliantly rendered, cinematically so, and had the book fail to be interesting enough, those descriptions would have earned the price of admission; luckily for readers, that is not the case at all. As survivors of the first battle are scattered to the four winds, readers get a panoramic view of all the kingdoms and customs that rule Scotland in the 6th century, and what a world that is!

Disclaimer: I received from the publisher a free e-book via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved The Forgotten Kingdom, a sequel to The Lost Queen, by Signe Pike. I devoured this book in 2 days and was delighted to once again be transported to sixth-century Scotland. The book is rich in detail and the characters are so well written that I feel like I know them. Sometimes the second book of a trilogy can be very "filler" in content but not so with this one. This felt a slightly faster pace than the first book and there is a lot of action but it's also filled with much emotion.

While the first book focused mainly on Langoureth, this one features her daughter Angharad who's story I become very invested in. I really liked seeing her growth while being separated from her family and rooting for the moment when they would be reunited. The journey of Lailoken to become Merlin also continues and I'm so excited about what the next book will bring for him.

I loved reading the Author's Note and learning more about the history of the people and the time. It's fascinating to learn about Langoureth's role in history and how it's been mostly forgotten. You can tell while reading that Signe Pike did a lot of research to create this world and it is full of historical detail. I can't wait for the third book.

If you like historical epics filled with magic, mystery, and lots of emotion, this trilogy is for you.

Big thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for providing the ARC.

A fantastic follow up to the Lost Queen. The richness of the story across three points of view, over several years is magickal. You can feel the icy water of the Falls, smell the earth and the death rattle of battle. Definitely read the Authors Note at the end which gives more texture to the books setting and characters.

Wow! I feel incredibly fortunate to have received an ARC of Signe Pike’s second book in her Lost Queen trilogy. After reading the first one I wasn’t sure how The Lost Kingdom would compare but once again she leaves me breathless with her outstanding research and her ability to draw me into a world that I never want leave! The Lost Queen was my most recommended book of 2018 and now The Lost Kingdom will be my most recommended book of 2020. Only Signe Pike could tell this story with as much magic and as much heart as she has done!

AD 573. Imprisoned in her chamber, Languoreth awaits news in torment. Her husband and son have ridden of to wage war against her brother, Lailoken. She doesn’t yet know that her daughter has been lost in the chaos. Lailoken and his men flee to exile in the mountains of the Lowlands, and with the help of a young warrior named Artur, he may be the only man who can bring Christians and Pagans together to defeat the Angles. But to do so he must become the man known to history as “Myrddin”.

This is the second book in the Lost Queen trilogy and the story keeps getting better.
In this novel we follow the story of Myrddin, the character we now know as Merlin, and his firsts encounters with young Artur. Reading Pike’s work is a magical experience, this book is beautiful, thrilling and fascinating. The best series I’ve read in a long time.
If you like Historical Fiction and epic sagas this is a must read.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books and Singe Pike for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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**Full review to be added to NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon closer to publication date!**

I loved The Lost Queen and was so excited to see that there would be a sequel with The Forgotten Kingdom. This duology has been such a delight in historical fiction and I have had such an amazing time exploring this world with all of these characters, both familiar and new. If you like descriptive, compelling, and masterful writing, then The Forgotten Kingdom is exactly what you need to pick up (and don't forget to read The Lost Queen!)!

I received this ARC via the publisher & netgalley but all opinions are my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the second installment in this trilogy. Signe Pike weaves the world of ancient Scotland and England in such a way that you fully grasp the magic and weight of the time period, the book is so well researched and she brings the character portrayal of the people from our history books to life - you can’t help but feel attached to each and every persons struggles and emotions. I love the book and can not wait for the final one- I want to know what happens and I’ll read everything she’s writes during her career!

A triumph of historical fiction The Forgotten Kingdom manages to outpace its predecessor in plot, action, and detail..

The Lost Queen was spectacular enough to put Pike's new trilogy on my must-read list when it arrived on bookstore shelves in 2018. It captivated with explorations into pagan thought, belief, and histories at a time in our past when critical changes to common ideologies in the British Isles were being battled out between two overarching rules for being: Paganism and Christianity. The continuation of this smart series with The Forgotten Kingdom has only escalated in skill and presentation. Pike introduces new characters to the fold (but without neglecting old ones), delivers action packed scenes of battle, escape, and tragedy, and recreates the world of our now distant past with exquisite accuracy.

Characters
There is a unique type of fear in the minds of many readers when characters in a series shift. Perhaps it is a fear that a new character will too much take the place of an older one or perhaps that any new character may be too unlikable or uninteresting to satisfy them for the rest of the story. While The Forgotten Kingdom does focus on some newer main additions, like that of Languoreth's daughter, their inclusion only brings more enjoyment to the plot, increasing its level of complexity and allowing the reader to more widely explore this era of history.

Plot

Book one, The Lost Queen, took a more unhurried pace through Languoreth's childhood and early adutlhood as we came to know her realm. This technique offered the understanding we needed in order to grasp the potential scope of this epic story. The Forgotten Kingdom plot, on the other hand, runs swiftly with action, tension, and grace in the particularly satisfying way that only a good sequel can. I was so enamored by the speed and suspense of the first thirty to forty percent of the novel I almost felt relief to have a more measured pace for the middle third. This effect, like a rest between heartbeats, only served to increase my own as the excitement of the final pages raced to their delicious end.

Recreating A Forgotten World

Pike herself admits in her authors note that she can not stop many readers from placing The Lost Queen trilogy into the historical fantasy genre. However, she makes the important argument that her work is more based in historical fact than fiction. This common false assumption is likely for two main reasons. One, The Lost Queen deals with the story of Merlin and his sister, a story which has been fantasized over time, being made into a variety of spin-off legends, movies, books, and television shows in which magic plays an overarching role. This role of magic in the Merlin myth has become an integral part of the modern view of this story. Two, we live in a world so far removed from that of our pagan ancestors that we may now find it difficult to truly imagine what it may have been like within in a culture that fully believed in spiritual gifts (like second sight, for example) and in a godly reverence of the natural world. This distance from ancient beliefs leads many of us to reassign pagan belief as fantasy or magic. Pike offers the example of Judeo-Christian prayer as a way for modern audience to understand a common basis in pagan spirituality. I agree with Pike that this distinction of genre should be made and it is a mistake I made myself in my own review of The Lost Queen, which I referred to as of the magical realism and fantasy-light genres. The differentiation is critical not only for the viewpoint of the reader, but most especially so that the reader may fully appreciate and acknowledge the tremendous research effort of the author into a history that has become esoteric at best and lost to time at worst.

The detail of historic information Signe Pike has gathered for these books and the accuracy with which she presents it (within the realm of her own creative license for story) is something I would be remiss not to applaud in any conversation regarding her work in The Lost Queen trilogy.

I eagerly await the next book in her landmark series and will gladly invite other readers to find the same vivid escapism into a world so similar, yet so distant to our own until such time as the third book is revealed—and likely long after.

This second volume of the Lost Queen trilogy was just as captivating as the first. This book follows Langoureth and her daughter, Angharad, through events in 6th century Scotland, through bloody battles and spiritual journeys. As with the The Lost Queen, Pikes historical notes at the end were nearly as fascinating as the novel itself. I can hardly wait for the final volume.

I've always been really intrigued by Arthurian legends and this one takes the classic stories and sets it through the perspective of Langoureth as she is imprisoned in her own home. As the sequel, it is stated that you can read each novel individually but I did choose to pick up the first book before to get a better picture and I definitely recommend doing the same. I was able to track the character development throughout the books and despite the events being two separate story arcs, it's still helpful to know the backstory. With that said, the author does do a good job in setting up The Forgotten Kingdom so that if you haven't read the first, you're still presented with a very solid story arc that makes sense. This was both magical and incredibly atmospheric to read, I'll definitely be keeping an eye for the next book and any of Signe Pike's future works!

Seldom does a sequel surpass a first part, especially when the first pat was a wonderful as The Lost Queen. For me, this was perfect. I was drawn into a story that was as rich and character driven as it was complex and plot driven. I didn't even realize it was possible to have both with such intensity in the same story. It's a sweeping historical epic that despite its length has me craving more. When the world is as absorbing and the story as thrilling, I don't imagine it'd be possible to get enough.

In this part I got to see more of Lailoken, without giving away anything, his story is just so full of emotion. There is a great range to him and what he goes through. It also kept me in Languoreth's world allowing me to keep up with her husband and mother-in-law, whose stories are so intertwined in the most unexpected ways with what is going on outside of their view. But it was Angharad who absolutely blew me away in this part, just wow! I really want to tread lightly on spoilers so I'll back away and say that I never saw any of that coming and it was fascinating as light was shed on a part of the world that had only been hinted at before. The notes at the end of the book shed even more light, and inspired me to do further reading as well.

It's a truly complex story with so many beautiful, heartbreaking, thrilling, and fascinating things going on that I know I'll be reading it again, and again, and it will have a home on my shelf, where I've made room for the third part, which I hope will be announced soon... please, please, I can't wait.

This is hands down the most well-crafted story I've read in a long while, Must read.

This book picks up where The Lost Queen left off. Langoureth's children have grown and the family finds themselves on opposing sides of battle. Lailoken is supposed to take Angharad as a student, but soon she is lost and finds her own way to priesthood by embracing the magic and signs of the world around her. Eventually she is reunited with the people of her ancestors and is introduced to the hero Artur.

I love how the author has included historical notes on her studies and interpretations on the lives of the real man who inspired Merlin and the mystery of the ancient Briton's way of life.

Wow, I had literal goosebumps reading this novel! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of The Lost Queen a couple years ago and it was easily my favorite book of 2018. I was thrilled to be given a chance to read the sequel! I loved that the story wasn't just told from Languoreth's POV this time around and we got to explore more of Ancient Scotland. While I was devastated that she didn't get a proper reunion with Maelgwn, I did really enjoy the author's choice to have her stay loyal to Rhydderch, it was such a hard decision but I admire how she puts duty above all else. Angharad's storyline was probably my favorite for this novel, she had such a tumultuous journey and I can't wait to see where she goes in the final book... especially with Artur! I'm so happy that all three of them had a reunion before the end and I can't wait for the last book!!!

I absolutely love this series by Signe Pike. I read alot of historical fiction, and this series is my favorite by far. She has done an excellent job weaving the plot and array of characters together. I really feel like I'm part of the story with how it elicits my emotions. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!

I went straight into this book on the heels of finishing The Lost Queen, so everything was still fresh in my mind. At first, it seemed as though it was going to be disappointing. Once the pace picked up, and I adapted to three points of view, I enjoyed this a great deal. Very much looking forward to reading volume 3. Be sure to read the author’s note - fascinating.

I absolutely love this series, and was so excited for this book. I was not disappointed. Pike does such an amazing job of both expanding this world we think we know, and taking it into a different direction, It's not Arthurian completely because that is not the royal, nay the person, we really are meant to be interested in. It's the players before Arthur even comes into the picture that we are drawn into. It's very poignant in not only growing in power of each character since in this book most are mature, but it's a very interesting look at the "history", the myth of the time before and during Arthur. And the importance of the battle of religions and the coming of Christianity in a place that followed the Old Ways and the Old Gods and what that means. Such a fun and magical series and I cannot wait for book three.

I loved Signe Pike's previous book, THE LOST QUEEN, and I was thrilled when the second book was announced. I blew through this book in a matter of days. The attention to detail and historical accuracy is really important to me and this book does not disappoint. If you enjoy historical fiction, I highly encourage this book!

This novel is the second in the Lost Queen trilogy, and is set in 6th century Scotland. Languoreth is imprisoned in her chamber, and her husband and his men have set off to fight her twin brother Lailoken. Her young daughter Angharad is traveling with her uncle, training to be a wisdom keeper. There are many tribal rivalries, and followers of the old ways find their beliefs challenged by Christians. Is Angharad dead, as Languoreth fears? Can any of these tribes co-exist when the desire for power is paramount? This book sweeps the reader away to another world, combining history with a compelling family saga. If you enjoyed The Mists of Avalon, consider embarking on this remarkable series. I'm glad that the publisher and Netgalley provided me with an ARC.