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The Lost Queen #1
The Lost Queen
The Mists of Avalon meets the world of Philippa Gregory in the thrilling first novel of a debut trilogy that reveals the untold story of Languoreth—a forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotland—twin sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin.
I write because I have seen the darkness that will come. Already there are those who seek to tell a new history...
In a land of mountains and mist, tradition and superstition, Languoreth and her brother Lailoken are raised in the Old Way of their ancestors. But in Scotland, a new religion is rising, one that brings disruption, bloodshed, and riot. And even as her family faces the burgeoning forces of Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons, bent on colonization, are encroaching from the east. When conflict brings the hero Emrys Pendragon to her father’s door, Languoreth finds love with one of his warriors. Her deep connection to Maelgwn is forged by enchantment, but she is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king. As Languoreth is catapulted into a world of violence and political intrigue, she must learn to adapt. Together with her brother—a warrior and druid known to history as Myrddin—Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way and the survival of her kingdom, or risk the loss of them both forever.
Based on new scholarship, this tale of bravery and conflicted love brings a lost queen back to life—rescuing her from obscurity, and reaffirming her place at the center of one of the most enduring legends of all time.
I write because I have seen the darkness that will come. Already there are those who seek to tell a new history...
In a land of mountains and mist, tradition and superstition, Languoreth and her brother Lailoken are raised in the Old Way of their ancestors. But in Scotland, a new religion is rising, one that brings disruption, bloodshed, and riot. And even as her family faces the burgeoning forces of Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons, bent on colonization, are encroaching from the east. When conflict brings the hero Emrys Pendragon to her father’s door, Languoreth finds love with one of his warriors. Her deep connection to Maelgwn is forged by enchantment, but she is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king. As Languoreth is catapulted into a world of violence and political intrigue, she must learn to adapt. Together with her brother—a warrior and druid known to history as Myrddin—Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way and the survival of her kingdom, or risk the loss of them both forever.
Based on new scholarship, this tale of bravery and conflicted love brings a lost queen back to life—rescuing her from obscurity, and reaffirming her place at the center of one of the most enduring legends of all time.
545 pages, ebook
First published September 4, 2018
2963 people are currently reading
60328 people want to read
About the author
Signe Pike
11 books2,134 followersTHE LOST QUEEN SERIES is currently in development for TV with the award-winning production company Made Up Stories.
Critics have lauded the series as "Impressive historical fiction. Highly recommended" (The Historical Novel Society).
THE LOST QUEEN was awarded "Best Book of 2018," (Library Journal) and "Best Debut Novel," (New York Public Library) among others, while THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM was named one of Bustle and PopSugar's "Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2020."
Originally slated as a trilogy, it has now become a series, with the third book coming in Sept. 2024, and a fourth book to follow.
Pike's first book -- the travel memoir FAERY TALE -- chronicles her travels to England, Ireland, Scotland and beyond in search of healing and a new-found sense of enchantment after the unexpected death of her father in 2006.
Critics have lauded the series as "Impressive historical fiction. Highly recommended" (The Historical Novel Society).
THE LOST QUEEN was awarded "Best Book of 2018," (Library Journal) and "Best Debut Novel," (New York Public Library) among others, while THE FORGOTTEN KINGDOM was named one of Bustle and PopSugar's "Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2020."
Originally slated as a trilogy, it has now become a series, with the third book coming in Sept. 2024, and a fourth book to follow.
Pike's first book -- the travel memoir FAERY TALE -- chronicles her travels to England, Ireland, Scotland and beyond in search of healing and a new-found sense of enchantment after the unexpected death of her father in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,476 reviews
December 3, 2018
There’s something magic about the past.
I don’t mean the recent or immediate past, mind you—as the late, great George Carlin once noted derisively when talking about one-hour photo developers, “You just SAW the f@cking thing!” (Kids: physical photos used to be a thing; just take my word for it.)
No, I mean a past beyond living memory, a time that can only be evoked through a combination of copious historical research and vivid imagination. Whether it’s the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London, the brightly frescoed walls of Renaissance Florence, the wondrous castles of feudal Japan, or the newly marbled columns of ancient Athens, the past, in the hands of a well-informed and skilled writer, becomes something you can truly visit, a place you can tangibly experience in the same way you would a trip to modern-day New York, Beijing, or Dollywood (okay, so, not all that much like Dollywood, because the only thing that one tangibly experiences there is a visceral desire to destroy every hidden speaker disguised as a rock that keeps pumping cheerfully bland country music directly into your cerebral cortex).
Thankfully, sixth century Scotland is nothing like Dollywood, especially in the gifted typing fingers and nimble brain of Pike, who has fashioned—using the aforementioned combination of copious research and vivid imagination—a majestically sweeping story that feels as big as it does small.
(Yes, I hear you over there, tapping your foot and muttering, “‘Feels as big as it does small?’” That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’ve read some of your other reviews, Gibson…you’re as skilled at saying dumb things as the good people of Dollywood are at hiding speakers in such ingenious ways that it’s impossible to find and smash them.” Hang with me for a second.)
What I mean by that is that it’s an epic story featuring legendary warriors, a long-forgotten Queen with an unbreakable spirit, the man who would be Merlin, and a host of opposing forces primed for a clash of ages. But, it’s also the intimate tale of closely connected siblings and the world they inhabit, and the level of detail—from the trees and plants they cultivate to formulate tinctures and salves to the simple but mouthwatering foods they prepare every day to the smell of sweat and leather that clings to them—makes it feel so incredibly lived in that the physical details linger long after you’ve flipped the final page.
And this is only the beginning, the opening salvo in what promises to be a terrific triptych of tales. Perhaps the primary appeal for me is that it’s set at a time when magic was, if not real, something that was believed to be real, and that belief infuses the story with a wonder that transcends whatever actually happened historically to create something truly special.
(I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t note that there are kissing parts. I mean, like, lady nethers getting hydrated kissing parts. Intense kissing parts. I mean, it’s not thrusing-your-purple-helmeted-warrior-into-a-quivering-mound-of-love-pudding kissing parts, but still…be prepared. And yes, you have to read the kissing parts, Fred Savage. They’re integral to the story.)
Well worth checking out for all fans of historical fiction, epic sagas, family stories, and, yes, romance.
I don’t mean the recent or immediate past, mind you—as the late, great George Carlin once noted derisively when talking about one-hour photo developers, “You just SAW the f@cking thing!” (Kids: physical photos used to be a thing; just take my word for it.)
No, I mean a past beyond living memory, a time that can only be evoked through a combination of copious historical research and vivid imagination. Whether it’s the fog-shrouded streets of Victorian London, the brightly frescoed walls of Renaissance Florence, the wondrous castles of feudal Japan, or the newly marbled columns of ancient Athens, the past, in the hands of a well-informed and skilled writer, becomes something you can truly visit, a place you can tangibly experience in the same way you would a trip to modern-day New York, Beijing, or Dollywood (okay, so, not all that much like Dollywood, because the only thing that one tangibly experiences there is a visceral desire to destroy every hidden speaker disguised as a rock that keeps pumping cheerfully bland country music directly into your cerebral cortex).
Thankfully, sixth century Scotland is nothing like Dollywood, especially in the gifted typing fingers and nimble brain of Pike, who has fashioned—using the aforementioned combination of copious research and vivid imagination—a majestically sweeping story that feels as big as it does small.
(Yes, I hear you over there, tapping your foot and muttering, “‘Feels as big as it does small?’” That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard, and I’ve read some of your other reviews, Gibson…you’re as skilled at saying dumb things as the good people of Dollywood are at hiding speakers in such ingenious ways that it’s impossible to find and smash them.” Hang with me for a second.)
What I mean by that is that it’s an epic story featuring legendary warriors, a long-forgotten Queen with an unbreakable spirit, the man who would be Merlin, and a host of opposing forces primed for a clash of ages. But, it’s also the intimate tale of closely connected siblings and the world they inhabit, and the level of detail—from the trees and plants they cultivate to formulate tinctures and salves to the simple but mouthwatering foods they prepare every day to the smell of sweat and leather that clings to them—makes it feel so incredibly lived in that the physical details linger long after you’ve flipped the final page.
And this is only the beginning, the opening salvo in what promises to be a terrific triptych of tales. Perhaps the primary appeal for me is that it’s set at a time when magic was, if not real, something that was believed to be real, and that belief infuses the story with a wonder that transcends whatever actually happened historically to create something truly special.
(I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t note that there are kissing parts. I mean, like, lady nethers getting hydrated kissing parts. Intense kissing parts. I mean, it’s not thrusing-your-purple-helmeted-warrior-into-a-quivering-mound-of-love-pudding kissing parts, but still…be prepared. And yes, you have to read the kissing parts, Fred Savage. They’re integral to the story.)
Well worth checking out for all fans of historical fiction, epic sagas, family stories, and, yes, romance.
February 11, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wowza! This book! Have you heard of Languoreth, a queen of Scotland during the 6th century? She was the twin sister of the magical man, Lailoken, who inspired the legend of Merlin. We so often hear of Merlin, but what of his sister?
My thoughts: Scotland in the 6th century, as you can imagine, is wondrous and full of superstition. Christianity is on the rise, just as the Anglo-Saxons begin to invade. Languoreth falls in love with a warrior, but is forced into marriage with the son of a Christian king.
The storytelling is rich, the scope is epic. My friends who love historical fiction will fall right into this story. If there were more than five stars available, this book has earned every single one. I loved everything. Everything. Even more exciting is this is a trilogy. I can’t imagine adoring a strong character as much as I do Languoreth. Signe Pike has written a marvel.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader and my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
My thoughts: Scotland in the 6th century, as you can imagine, is wondrous and full of superstition. Christianity is on the rise, just as the Anglo-Saxons begin to invade. Languoreth falls in love with a warrior, but is forced into marriage with the son of a Christian king.
The storytelling is rich, the scope is epic. My friends who love historical fiction will fall right into this story. If there were more than five stars available, this book has earned every single one. I loved everything. Everything. Even more exciting is this is a trilogy. I can’t imagine adoring a strong character as much as I do Languoreth. Signe Pike has written a marvel.
I received a gifted copy from the publisher.
Many of my reviews can also be found on instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader and my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
August 2, 2024
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. I love historical, especially biographical fiction, so when I saw some GR friends' favorable reviews of a story about an early medieval queen in Scotland, I just had to add it to my WTR list;
2. it's a free loan through cloudLibrary; and,
3. August 2024 is my self-declared "Biographical Fiction" Month!
Praises:
1. author Signe Pike sure did her homework, which must have been quite daunting, since not a lot has been recorded about Languoreth, a 6th-century queen who reigned in Scotland with her husband, King Rhydderch. It is known; however, that she is the twin sister of Lailoken, a warrior and a druid, who inspired the legend of Merlin;
2. told in 1st person, this character-driven novel is well-developed. The close relationship between Languoreth and Lailoken is thoughtfully portrayed. Languoreth's personal views of her father-in-law, High King Tutgual, and of Bishop (Mungo) Kentigern (who becomes Glasgow's patron saint), are understandably hateful without these characters appearing cartoonish. Even her adulterous affair is explored;
3. the disruptions and bloodshed between the pagan believers and the Christian converts are very descriptive; and,
4. narrator Toni Frutin's Scottish accent makes this story feel all the more authentic.
Niggle:
Unfortunately, Languoreth's lover, the warrior Maelgwin, is given a one-dimensional role. After a night of passion with Maelgwin (in which she is impregnated), Languoreth marries Rhydderch and bears 4 children while her lover is away fighting various battles. Unbelievably, Maelgwin stays faithful to Languoreth for seventeen years! When they finally do meet again, Languoreth is pissed at him for not answering any of her letters, even though he rightfully explains why he couldn't. Of course, they make mad, passionate love again.
Overall Thoughts:
During an excavation in 1830, the remains of an unknown noblewoman were found, only to be misplaced and lost forever. Dang! Was this mysterious woman the one and only Languoreth?
Overall, I found this well-researched debut novel to be utterly fascinating! When I Google to find out more about a subject, then that story has me invested and, most likely, will be memorable for a long time.
Recommended for avid fans of historical fiction who are looking for an underrepresented time and character.
1. I love historical, especially biographical fiction, so when I saw some GR friends' favorable reviews of a story about an early medieval queen in Scotland, I just had to add it to my WTR list;
2. it's a free loan through cloudLibrary; and,
3. August 2024 is my self-declared "Biographical Fiction" Month!
Praises:
1. author Signe Pike sure did her homework, which must have been quite daunting, since not a lot has been recorded about Languoreth, a 6th-century queen who reigned in Scotland with her husband, King Rhydderch. It is known; however, that she is the twin sister of Lailoken, a warrior and a druid, who inspired the legend of Merlin;
2. told in 1st person, this character-driven novel is well-developed. The close relationship between Languoreth and Lailoken is thoughtfully portrayed. Languoreth's personal views of her father-in-law, High King Tutgual, and of Bishop (Mungo) Kentigern (who becomes Glasgow's patron saint), are understandably hateful without these characters appearing cartoonish. Even her adulterous affair is explored;
3. the disruptions and bloodshed between the pagan believers and the Christian converts are very descriptive; and,
4. narrator Toni Frutin's Scottish accent makes this story feel all the more authentic.
Niggle:
Unfortunately, Languoreth's lover, the warrior Maelgwin, is given a one-dimensional role. After a night of passion with Maelgwin (in which she is impregnated), Languoreth marries Rhydderch and bears 4 children while her lover is away fighting various battles. Unbelievably, Maelgwin stays faithful to Languoreth for seventeen years! When they finally do meet again, Languoreth is pissed at him for not answering any of her letters, even though he rightfully explains why he couldn't. Of course, they make mad, passionate love again.
Overall Thoughts:
During an excavation in 1830, the remains of an unknown noblewoman were found, only to be misplaced and lost forever. Dang! Was this mysterious woman the one and only Languoreth?
Overall, I found this well-researched debut novel to be utterly fascinating! When I Google to find out more about a subject, then that story has me invested and, most likely, will be memorable for a long time.
Recommended for avid fans of historical fiction who are looking for an underrepresented time and character.
December 24, 2018
I wanted to like this so much. It has great reviews and I love me a good woman-centric Arthurian legend. But I deeply disliked this book. Deeply. I won't say I hated it, because that's a bit strong, but I have a clear memory of getting about 80% of the way through and getting so worked up I had trouble falling asleep.
First of all, it's too long. It's a lot of book in which nothing much happens besides the same repetitive tropes you get in of these books. It ended SO ABRUPTLY, as well, so all of that effort and it leaves off on a stupid cliffhanger. I understand it's a trilogy, but what a stupid gimmick. I don't actually care what happens next so I'm not overly bothered by the cliffhanger end, but come on.
And the other problem that is associated with the book being too long and in need of an editor is that the protagonist is insufferable. It was around that 80% mark that I realized I could not stand Langoureth. She's supposed to be this great queen but she's as dumb as a box of rocks and as about as interesting as football (which isn't interesting and don't tell me it is. Soccer is interesting. Basketball is interesting. Tennis is interesting. Football is boring.) She lives a life of extraordinary privilege in a loving family and she just makes stupid decisions over and over again that jeopardize herself and the people she loves. She is too dense and too trusting to have lived as long as she does and the one show of "queenliness" is required because she was so fucking stupid (*spoilerish alert*) she got a person killed in a gruesome way (and he was an idiot, too).
Also the romantic relationship between her and Maelgwyn (what a name *insert eye roll*). Ugggghhhhhhhhhhh. Many years ago I took a class on Ancient Greek fiction (my first year of college was a bit of a hodgepodge). Great class, great professor, but I was driven absolutely bananas by all of the Greek stories that featured teenagers falling in love at first sight and ruining their lives and the lives of everybody else around them. I was so frustrated that lust and love were used interchangeably in a way that, to me, cheapens the hard work that goes into a relationship. Her husband, Rhydderch is awesome! I would so much rather be married to him! She could have been married to his shit ass brother or that chicken-head eating guy but she got the good, kind, hot one and she has the audacity to whine and mope about her one time lover from 17 years ago? Let me tell you something, you dumbass, your life would have sucked so much had you married him. Desire and lust are not enough to make a good life.
And we are supposed to buy that she is some ancient sage and an inheritor of great powers. All I see is someone who has lived such a pampered and privileged life that she has absolutely no common sense and is completely driven by her emotions. She has to be repeatedly reminded to not display emotions that could get her and her entire family killed because, you know, she lives in a dArK tImE or whatever.
Ugh she's the worst. I would so much rather have read about almost anybody else in the book. Her mother-in-law was a badass lady and she actually displayed brains after having been pretty heavily traumatized her whole life. She took shit and made a good life out of it. Langoureth, on the other hand, was given gold and whines about it. And then Ariane! So awesome! I would have preferred a book about her and her spooky witch stuff and her hella sex positivity. But nooooo we have to read about some dumb queen who was gawky and then a hottie.
Blech.
First of all, it's too long. It's a lot of book in which nothing much happens besides the same repetitive tropes you get in of these books. It ended SO ABRUPTLY, as well, so all of that effort and it leaves off on a stupid cliffhanger. I understand it's a trilogy, but what a stupid gimmick. I don't actually care what happens next so I'm not overly bothered by the cliffhanger end, but come on.
And the other problem that is associated with the book being too long and in need of an editor is that the protagonist is insufferable. It was around that 80% mark that I realized I could not stand Langoureth. She's supposed to be this great queen but she's as dumb as a box of rocks and as about as interesting as football (which isn't interesting and don't tell me it is. Soccer is interesting. Basketball is interesting. Tennis is interesting. Football is boring.) She lives a life of extraordinary privilege in a loving family and she just makes stupid decisions over and over again that jeopardize herself and the people she loves. She is too dense and too trusting to have lived as long as she does and the one show of "queenliness" is required because she was so fucking stupid (*spoilerish alert*) she got a person killed in a gruesome way (and he was an idiot, too).
Also the romantic relationship between her and Maelgwyn (what a name *insert eye roll*). Ugggghhhhhhhhhhh. Many years ago I took a class on Ancient Greek fiction (my first year of college was a bit of a hodgepodge). Great class, great professor, but I was driven absolutely bananas by all of the Greek stories that featured teenagers falling in love at first sight and ruining their lives and the lives of everybody else around them. I was so frustrated that lust and love were used interchangeably in a way that, to me, cheapens the hard work that goes into a relationship. Her husband, Rhydderch is awesome! I would so much rather be married to him! She could have been married to his shit ass brother or that chicken-head eating guy but she got the good, kind, hot one and she has the audacity to whine and mope about her one time lover from 17 years ago? Let me tell you something, you dumbass, your life would have sucked so much had you married him. Desire and lust are not enough to make a good life.
And we are supposed to buy that she is some ancient sage and an inheritor of great powers. All I see is someone who has lived such a pampered and privileged life that she has absolutely no common sense and is completely driven by her emotions. She has to be repeatedly reminded to not display emotions that could get her and her entire family killed because, you know, she lives in a dArK tImE or whatever.
Ugh she's the worst. I would so much rather have read about almost anybody else in the book. Her mother-in-law was a badass lady and she actually displayed brains after having been pretty heavily traumatized her whole life. She took shit and made a good life out of it. Langoureth, on the other hand, was given gold and whines about it. And then Ariane! So awesome! I would have preferred a book about her and her spooky witch stuff and her hella sex positivity. But nooooo we have to read about some dumb queen who was gawky and then a hottie.
Blech.
September 27, 2020
I swear on sword and stone, every bone in my body adored this!
Setting: 6th century, Scotland
A geographical map is included at the beginning of the book, I enjoyed referring to this whenever travels were being taken.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Weaved with Royalty, Folklore, Sacrifice/Death, Botany/Herbalism/Healing (this was my favorite), Magic, Romance, and War.
Cover: Best cover of all the books I have right now! The bronzed copper to ombre gold lining the foggy background is breath-taking. The symbols incorporated are perfect! The dreariness of the rolling mountains in the background against the foiled outline is absolutely stunning. In the middle, pulling everything together with her firey red hair and gorgeous contrasting dress, we have the Lost Queen, Lady Languoreth. Sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin.
Font: Way too small!
I understand this would be ridiculously long, (already weighing in at 527 pages) if the font were any bigger, but I'm young, don't have trouble with my eyes and I struggled with how small the font was. I LOVED this read but admittedly, I had to read in shorter intervals then what I was wanting to, because the pain in my eyes would overwhelm me. (Which was unfortunate because the story is so good!)
Characters:I loved watching the characters grow from such a young age into adulthood! I highly admire when writers bring back heroes that have been buried by history, especially female heroines such as Languoreth. This is her trilogy.
I was extremely grateful for the phonetic pronunciations and character key included alongside the map, so I knew how to say the names correctly and could keep straight which kingdoms the characters belonged to. I referred to this quite a few times until I got used to pronouncing the names appropriately.
THE LOST QUEEN was extremely descriptive but well worth it. This could have been 2,000 pages and I would have continued to read it. I absolutely loved it! This is a new author for me, I have not read her debut yet, but plan on checking it out at some point. I'm definitely in for the next two books in this series.
The action and romance had my heart pounding. I adored this so much. I shed a few tears over the sacrifices and losses women of these times suffered, these were portrayed exceptionally well by the author.
"For there are bound to be days in every lifetime dark enough to drown what little light we might gather."
There were powerful scenes rooted in the landscape of the pages so intensely that I woke up in the middle of the night, wanting to see what would happen next, that I forced myself awake and ended up reading all night long! Every spare moment I found myself delving selfishly into this other world, incompetent to anything else going on around me. This is highly unusual for me.
I now highly anticipate book 2 coming out in September, this one ended in the middle of an intense action scene. I must know what happens!
Much gratitude to the publisher Atria Paperback for the ARC I won from the Goodreads Giveaway Program. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
Setting: 6th century, Scotland
A geographical map is included at the beginning of the book, I enjoyed referring to this whenever travels were being taken.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Weaved with Royalty, Folklore, Sacrifice/Death, Botany/Herbalism/Healing (this was my favorite), Magic, Romance, and War.
Cover: Best cover of all the books I have right now! The bronzed copper to ombre gold lining the foggy background is breath-taking. The symbols incorporated are perfect! The dreariness of the rolling mountains in the background against the foiled outline is absolutely stunning. In the middle, pulling everything together with her firey red hair and gorgeous contrasting dress, we have the Lost Queen, Lady Languoreth. Sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin.
Font: Way too small!
I understand this would be ridiculously long, (already weighing in at 527 pages) if the font were any bigger, but I'm young, don't have trouble with my eyes and I struggled with how small the font was. I LOVED this read but admittedly, I had to read in shorter intervals then what I was wanting to, because the pain in my eyes would overwhelm me. (Which was unfortunate because the story is so good!)
Characters:I loved watching the characters grow from such a young age into adulthood! I highly admire when writers bring back heroes that have been buried by history, especially female heroines such as Languoreth. This is her trilogy.
I was extremely grateful for the phonetic pronunciations and character key included alongside the map, so I knew how to say the names correctly and could keep straight which kingdoms the characters belonged to. I referred to this quite a few times until I got used to pronouncing the names appropriately.
THE LOST QUEEN was extremely descriptive but well worth it. This could have been 2,000 pages and I would have continued to read it. I absolutely loved it! This is a new author for me, I have not read her debut yet, but plan on checking it out at some point. I'm definitely in for the next two books in this series.
The action and romance had my heart pounding. I adored this so much. I shed a few tears over the sacrifices and losses women of these times suffered, these were portrayed exceptionally well by the author.
"For there are bound to be days in every lifetime dark enough to drown what little light we might gather."
There were powerful scenes rooted in the landscape of the pages so intensely that I woke up in the middle of the night, wanting to see what would happen next, that I forced myself awake and ended up reading all night long! Every spare moment I found myself delving selfishly into this other world, incompetent to anything else going on around me. This is highly unusual for me.
I now highly anticipate book 2 coming out in September, this one ended in the middle of an intense action scene. I must know what happens!
Much gratitude to the publisher Atria Paperback for the ARC I won from the Goodreads Giveaway Program. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
March 1, 2025
RATING BREAKDOWN
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 4⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.5⭐️
The Lost Queen is a stunning series starter. It gives historical fiction but is steeped in mythology, folklore, and the pagan arts. The political maneuvering was emotionally gripping, and believably complex. It had nuance and felt like a game of chess played out in reality. The religious tensions were high, the forbidden romance was smoldering, and the arranged marriages were intriguing. This single installment covers so much ground, almost three decades, and yet it takes time to breathe in each scene. I found it unpredictable and was so invested. The payoff here is just immaculate. I take a bit off a perfect rating for pacing because I was singing for my supper a bit in Part 1. Some of the characters could use more development, but I can only imagine I will feel even more invested in the characters and feel even more emotional impact as the series continues.
Thematically, I love the exploration of duty and love for one's role and responsibilities when it is at odds with individualistic desire. This book perfectly describes the temptation of the forbidden, the folly of pride, and the weight of patience. It dives into the strategic rationalization of being complicit in order to get the chance to put things right later; and displays the moral quandary of love for a child over loyalty to a spouse. It questions piety, it begs the question of whether acts of anger done in the name of righteousness can be pardoned. The Lost Queen tackles grief, faithfulness, and sacrifice, gender roles, parenthood, and the sibling relationship, often in a beautifully complex way.
This one is as fun as it is brilliant. It takes a minute to unfold, so settle in, and prepare for satisfying payoff with a brutal cliffhanger.
Characters: 4⭐️
Setting: 5⭐️
Plot: 5⭐️
Themes: 4⭐️
Emotional Impact: 4⭐️
Personal Enjoyment: 4⭐️
Total Rounded Average: 4.5⭐️
The Lost Queen is a stunning series starter. It gives historical fiction but is steeped in mythology, folklore, and the pagan arts. The political maneuvering was emotionally gripping, and believably complex. It had nuance and felt like a game of chess played out in reality. The religious tensions were high, the forbidden romance was smoldering, and the arranged marriages were intriguing. This single installment covers so much ground, almost three decades, and yet it takes time to breathe in each scene. I found it unpredictable and was so invested. The payoff here is just immaculate. I take a bit off a perfect rating for pacing because I was singing for my supper a bit in Part 1. Some of the characters could use more development, but I can only imagine I will feel even more invested in the characters and feel even more emotional impact as the series continues.
Thematically, I love the exploration of duty and love for one's role and responsibilities when it is at odds with individualistic desire. This book perfectly describes the temptation of the forbidden, the folly of pride, and the weight of patience. It dives into the strategic rationalization of being complicit in order to get the chance to put things right later; and displays the moral quandary of love for a child over loyalty to a spouse. It questions piety, it begs the question of whether acts of anger done in the name of righteousness can be pardoned. The Lost Queen tackles grief, faithfulness, and sacrifice, gender roles, parenthood, and the sibling relationship, often in a beautifully complex way.
This one is as fun as it is brilliant. It takes a minute to unfold, so settle in, and prepare for satisfying payoff with a brutal cliffhanger.
June 27, 2018
An extraordinary historical page-turner. Pike brings a creative eye, unique voice and immaculate research to the world of historical fiction - the people and lands of this novel will not leave me. The Lost Queen is more than a book; it is a profound experience. Languoreth has emerged from the mists of Scotland to assume her rightful place on the throne where she belongs.
I can not tell you how much I love this book -- I devoured it; I dreamt about it; I love it!!!
I can not tell you how much I love this book -- I devoured it; I dreamt about it; I love it!!!
August 3, 2020
Have you ever wondered how the legend of King Arthur, Merlin, and the cast of what has become known as Camelot came about? Is it pure legend or is there maybe a small scrap of evidence that these people did indeed roam the earth?
The setting is sixth century Scotland. The main characters are Languoreth, a forgotten future queen and her twin brother Lailoken. These children were raised in the time of the old ways, ways that preceded them and possessed mystery, power, and a touch of magic. The old ways are being challenged by the new faith known as Christianity that brings with it bloodshed, turmoil, and heartbreak. The lands that the twins inhabit are being attacked by the Anglo Saxons and in all of this conflict Emrys Pendragon, a hero to many, arrives at her father's home and along with him comes a strong and fierce warrior, Maelgwn. There is an immediate attraction to Maelgwn and Languoreth finds herself deeply in love and Maelgwn feels the same.
However, their love is not to be as Languoreth is betrothed to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king. She is bound by duty and is thrust into a world of turmoil, violence, and political dealings. Languoreth, together with those she loves, including a mysterious Druid, Myrddin, fight to keep the old ways in a time where things are changing and lives are at risk.
Ms Pike brings extensive research into this tale and it is quite remarkable as the subjects are real and although this is fiction, some parts of it could just be true. The settings described are lush and beautiful, but it is the people who draw us into the intrigue and danger that spur this book to its conclusion.
Fortunately, I have the next book in the series, The Forgotten Kingdom due out on September 15, 2020. I will continue the fascinating tale of Languoreth, the forgotten lost queen, Lailoken, Myrddin, Malgwn, and those who cross her path.
The setting is sixth century Scotland. The main characters are Languoreth, a forgotten future queen and her twin brother Lailoken. These children were raised in the time of the old ways, ways that preceded them and possessed mystery, power, and a touch of magic. The old ways are being challenged by the new faith known as Christianity that brings with it bloodshed, turmoil, and heartbreak. The lands that the twins inhabit are being attacked by the Anglo Saxons and in all of this conflict Emrys Pendragon, a hero to many, arrives at her father's home and along with him comes a strong and fierce warrior, Maelgwn. There is an immediate attraction to Maelgwn and Languoreth finds herself deeply in love and Maelgwn feels the same.
However, their love is not to be as Languoreth is betrothed to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king. She is bound by duty and is thrust into a world of turmoil, violence, and political dealings. Languoreth, together with those she loves, including a mysterious Druid, Myrddin, fight to keep the old ways in a time where things are changing and lives are at risk.
Ms Pike brings extensive research into this tale and it is quite remarkable as the subjects are real and although this is fiction, some parts of it could just be true. The settings described are lush and beautiful, but it is the people who draw us into the intrigue and danger that spur this book to its conclusion.
Fortunately, I have the next book in the series, The Forgotten Kingdom due out on September 15, 2020. I will continue the fascinating tale of Languoreth, the forgotten lost queen, Lailoken, Myrddin, Malgwn, and those who cross her path.
September 30, 2018
I had to force myself to finish this today. I’m happy to report that despite the anachronisms I really enjoyed the last 200 or so Pages... but those first 300.. oh man. What. A. Drag.
This is about the man behind the myth of Merlin... more specifically, Merlin’s twin sister, Langoureth. Set in sixth century Scotland, we watch Langoureth grow from a child to a teen, and eventually an adult.
I want to start by saying the “romance” in this book is nonsensical to the point of being comedic. I wish I was exaggerating. This is the absolute worst case of instalove I have ever seen. The author interpreted “Love at first sight” quite literally. By the end of the book I think they’ve actually spent a running total of four days together, and if you’ve only counted the hours of those days it’s probably less than 24 hours.
Secondly, this is written like it was set in renaissance times.. with talk of royalty and princesses and cavalry and generals and Arabian dancers from overseas... To be fair to the author- for all I know, they did have such things in 6th century “Scotland”, but I for one have surely never read a book set in this time period that used words like that. The language could have used some heavy editing to make the book feel more authentic. At one point I read “fleece lined couches” and I sort of wanted to scream in rage. Yes, let’s gather the Knights of the Round Table in the great room by the hearth and set them on couches. Then we’ll grab General Lancelot and send him on a mission of chivalry. WTF.
Sorry. Rant over. If you manage to stick it out, and can eventually let all that nonsense go, the book does become rather enjoyable. I’m so used to reading books set from the battlefield, that to see the women working behind the scenes to support husbands, fathers, brothers, etc. was a nice change. Even though the romance was ridiculous, I found the story itself quite romantic, and was able to just sit back and appreciate the making of Merlin and Uther Pendragon.
The author did manage to include lots of Celtic rituals and lore and at least on that front, I do think she has done her research (although- as stated above, wth do I know). The characters were sort of flat and one sided. I did appreciate Elufed because I felt like you never really knew where she stood. I loved Ariane and Cathan but there weren’t enough of them. Some character’s stories felt unfinished. I also felt the author projected some rather modern feelings and ideas on to these characters, that again, wouldn’t have fit the time.
So if you are itching for a lighter fantasy, another facet of Arthurian lore, this wouldn’t be a bad book to pick up. I do recommend you don’t go into it expecting authentic feeling history though. You’ll be disappointed.
This is about the man behind the myth of Merlin... more specifically, Merlin’s twin sister, Langoureth. Set in sixth century Scotland, we watch Langoureth grow from a child to a teen, and eventually an adult.
I want to start by saying the “romance” in this book is nonsensical to the point of being comedic. I wish I was exaggerating. This is the absolute worst case of instalove I have ever seen. The author interpreted “Love at first sight” quite literally. By the end of the book I think they’ve actually spent a running total of four days together, and if you’ve only counted the hours of those days it’s probably less than 24 hours.
Secondly, this is written like it was set in renaissance times.. with talk of royalty and princesses and cavalry and generals and Arabian dancers from overseas... To be fair to the author- for all I know, they did have such things in 6th century “Scotland”, but I for one have surely never read a book set in this time period that used words like that. The language could have used some heavy editing to make the book feel more authentic. At one point I read “fleece lined couches” and I sort of wanted to scream in rage. Yes, let’s gather the Knights of the Round Table in the great room by the hearth and set them on couches. Then we’ll grab General Lancelot and send him on a mission of chivalry. WTF.
Sorry. Rant over. If you manage to stick it out, and can eventually let all that nonsense go, the book does become rather enjoyable. I’m so used to reading books set from the battlefield, that to see the women working behind the scenes to support husbands, fathers, brothers, etc. was a nice change. Even though the romance was ridiculous, I found the story itself quite romantic, and was able to just sit back and appreciate the making of Merlin and Uther Pendragon.
The author did manage to include lots of Celtic rituals and lore and at least on that front, I do think she has done her research (although- as stated above, wth do I know). The characters were sort of flat and one sided. I did appreciate Elufed because I felt like you never really knew where she stood. I loved Ariane and Cathan but there weren’t enough of them. Some character’s stories felt unfinished. I also felt the author projected some rather modern feelings and ideas on to these characters, that again, wouldn’t have fit the time.
So if you are itching for a lighter fantasy, another facet of Arthurian lore, this wouldn’t be a bad book to pick up. I do recommend you don’t go into it expecting authentic feeling history though. You’ll be disappointed.
March 14, 2025
3.5 ⭐️s
A very beautiful and well written story, just wasn’t my speed. If you’re a fan of A Discovery or Witches, I think you’d love this.
A very beautiful and well written story, just wasn’t my speed. If you’re a fan of A Discovery or Witches, I think you’d love this.
August 17, 2019
So I heard that the next book doesn't come out until 2020. Sooooo I'm just going to write a recap and write important plot points because I am not going to reread this book. So this isn't a real review.
(And I'll probably spell all the character names wrong since I listened to this on audiobook and this will be in be particular order)
Brodin (Langoureth's brother) and Elefid (the queen) are having an affair 😱😱
Langoureth's son Rhys is actually Maelgwn's son.
Lailoken took Angharid to train with him while he is with the pendragon's.
Lailoken is a wisdom keeper and works for pendragon.
Langoureth and Lailoken are about 35 at the end of the book and Langoureth has 4 kids.
Elefid and Langoureth are allies. Elefid is a pict and when she was among her people she was training to the equivalent of a wisdom keeper.
Mongo's men killed Cathan.
Mongo is exiled (I forgot why)
Mongo requested grain from Morcan and Morcan refused. Mongo staged a raid and Lailoken was disfigured. His face was sliced opened. Langoureth flet this in her sleep and stole away in the middle of the night while she was pregnant with Rhys. When she got there and her brothers face she cauterized it and for a while lailoken resented her. When Langoureth returned she was punished publicly with a smack from Tutgail.
Gwenthilae is injured (almost to the point of ot being debilitating) and he is now the uther pendragon since emrys pendragon has died.
Maelgwn is uther pendragon's second in command.
Maelgwn doesn't know Rhys is his son.
At the very end Tutgail orders an attack on the pendragon warriors because they won't swear fealty to him. This means Brodin and Rhys and Ruthark has to fight against Rhys's real dad, Lailoken (Rhys's uncle) and this puts Angharid in danger. Tutgail has allied with
Desdemona betrayed Langoureth and this leads to Cathan's death. Langoureth didn't know Desdemona was a Christian or spy. And Lnagoureth ordered her death.
Maelgwn (and the pendragons) visited clyde rock before all hell broke lose and at this time Langoureth was upset because she didn't get word from Maelgwn for 17 years despite sending him messages. He apologizes and explain why he didn't send word. And they get it on in the woods. And he promises to send messages.
After hearing that the attack is going down, Langoruth sends word to the pendragon via a stable hand who owes her.
At the very end Rhys comes to say goodbye to his mother, who has been locked up. Ruthark doesn't come to say goodbye.
(And I'll probably spell all the character names wrong since I listened to this on audiobook and this will be in be particular order)
Brodin (Langoureth's brother) and Elefid (the queen) are having an affair 😱😱
Langoureth's son Rhys is actually Maelgwn's son.
Lailoken took Angharid to train with him while he is with the pendragon's.
Lailoken is a wisdom keeper and works for pendragon.
Langoureth and Lailoken are about 35 at the end of the book and Langoureth has 4 kids.
Elefid and Langoureth are allies. Elefid is a pict and when she was among her people she was training to the equivalent of a wisdom keeper.
Mongo's men killed Cathan.
Mongo is exiled (I forgot why)
Mongo requested grain from Morcan and Morcan refused. Mongo staged a raid and Lailoken was disfigured. His face was sliced opened. Langoureth flet this in her sleep and stole away in the middle of the night while she was pregnant with Rhys. When she got there and her brothers face she cauterized it and for a while lailoken resented her. When Langoureth returned she was punished publicly with a smack from Tutgail.
Gwenthilae is injured (almost to the point of ot being debilitating) and he is now the uther pendragon since emrys pendragon has died.
Maelgwn is uther pendragon's second in command.
Maelgwn doesn't know Rhys is his son.
At the very end Tutgail orders an attack on the pendragon warriors because they won't swear fealty to him. This means Brodin and Rhys and Ruthark has to fight against Rhys's real dad, Lailoken (Rhys's uncle) and this puts Angharid in danger. Tutgail has allied with
Desdemona betrayed Langoureth and this leads to Cathan's death. Langoureth didn't know Desdemona was a Christian or spy. And Lnagoureth ordered her death.
Maelgwn (and the pendragons) visited clyde rock before all hell broke lose and at this time Langoureth was upset because she didn't get word from Maelgwn for 17 years despite sending him messages. He apologizes and explain why he didn't send word. And they get it on in the woods. And he promises to send messages.
After hearing that the attack is going down, Langoruth sends word to the pendragon via a stable hand who owes her.
At the very end Rhys comes to say goodbye to his mother, who has been locked up. Ruthark doesn't come to say goodbye.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 1, 2018
This book left me with pretty mixed feelings. First, the good: it's a pleasure to read something set in this early medieval period- a time that can seem so obscure- which really does make it a living, tangible, vivid place. The scenes of festivals in particular are wonderful: you are right there with Languoreth, smelling, seeing, and feeling all the magic, darkness, light, and nature. There were some inaccuracies that bothered me, given the author's claim to extensive research (whiskey being mentioned frequently when distilled liquor came much later than the time period of this book, for example; Rome being discussed as though it were still a unified entity), but they didn't really interfere with the story.
The plot was oddly paced sometimes (especially at the end), but generally clipped along; I read the book quickly. There were many vivid characters, though it was mostly the secondary ones that grabbed me. I didn't much care for Languoreth herself, but that's partly because the book builds up expectations for her that are never really fulfilled. It is constantly implied that she is clever, but in fact she is mostly foolish; she trains with a knife, but then fails spectacularly every time she tries to use it, and so forth. Still, you do get a strong sense of her feelings, especially her love for her family.
However, in the end, despite the new setting for Arthurian stories, this is a very traditional fantasy, and I don't especially mean that as a compliment. It has some common tropes that really need to die. For starters, everyone good is slender and attractive, or, if they are men, very muscled, and every villain is fat, not able-bodied, or has some defect (an underbite, for example). We are even told that noble breeding is visible in peoples' faces. People are extremely gender normative. Even the people you might think would inhabit more ambiguous spaces- the Wisdom Keepers- are slender and beautiful (if women) or strong and muscled and sexy (if men).
Second, hierarchy is rigid and constantly invoked. Noblemen are the only people that matter: slaves (who are usually called "servants," but occasionally referred to as slaves) are fawningly devoted if meant to be "good" characters, and disloyal if meant to be "bad." The noble characters spout lines saying that one can never trust a servant, because they are always envious, etc. You could say that since this book is told in the first person from a noble's perspective, we couldn't expect otherwise....and yet. There are ways the author could have avoided uncritically reproducing these attitudes, by having slaves that are real characters. The entire storyline of Desdemona infuriated me. She is introduced suffering and having suffered immense trauma, and she suffers this trauma seemingly for no other reason than to make us think she should be grateful to Languoreth. She is used and abused from then on; her desire for equality is presented as evil, and her desire for love as something to be mocked. Ugh, all around.
So, an entertaining read in many ways. But I'm not sure I'll read the next two, because I don't think I want these same old fantasy tropes anymore.
The plot was oddly paced sometimes (especially at the end), but generally clipped along; I read the book quickly. There were many vivid characters, though it was mostly the secondary ones that grabbed me. I didn't much care for Languoreth herself, but that's partly because the book builds up expectations for her that are never really fulfilled. It is constantly implied that she is clever, but in fact she is mostly foolish; she trains with a knife, but then fails spectacularly every time she tries to use it, and so forth. Still, you do get a strong sense of her feelings, especially her love for her family.
However, in the end, despite the new setting for Arthurian stories, this is a very traditional fantasy, and I don't especially mean that as a compliment. It has some common tropes that really need to die. For starters, everyone good is slender and attractive, or, if they are men, very muscled, and every villain is fat, not able-bodied, or has some defect (an underbite, for example). We are even told that noble breeding is visible in peoples' faces. People are extremely gender normative. Even the people you might think would inhabit more ambiguous spaces- the Wisdom Keepers- are slender and beautiful (if women) or strong and muscled and sexy (if men).
Second, hierarchy is rigid and constantly invoked. Noblemen are the only people that matter: slaves (who are usually called "servants," but occasionally referred to as slaves) are fawningly devoted if meant to be "good" characters, and disloyal if meant to be "bad." The noble characters spout lines saying that one can never trust a servant, because they are always envious, etc. You could say that since this book is told in the first person from a noble's perspective, we couldn't expect otherwise....and yet. There are ways the author could have avoided uncritically reproducing these attitudes, by having slaves that are real characters. The entire storyline of Desdemona infuriated me. She is introduced suffering and having suffered immense trauma, and she suffers this trauma seemingly for no other reason than to make us think she should be grateful to Languoreth. She is used and abused from then on; her desire for equality is presented as evil, and her desire for love as something to be mocked. Ugh, all around.
So, an entertaining read in many ways. But I'm not sure I'll read the next two, because I don't think I want these same old fantasy tropes anymore.
January 3, 2025
Character driven book taking place in 6th century Scotland?????? Sold.
Love the characters, love the romance and I cried. Need nothing more.
Love the characters, love the romance and I cried. Need nothing more.
December 10, 2018
oh worm.
i was promised arthuriana. i did not receive or indeed find any worthy arthuriana.
the lost queen promises to be a feminist retelling of the arthurian myth, from the point of view of languoreth, the sister of a druid who could be the inspiration for merlin. i longed to love it.
however. the novel itself is uneven and lacking in nuance. languoreth is so distant and thinly drawn; her emotions are completely inaccessible. she's too polished as a child and too amateur as an adult. some of her decisions and thought processes are so incredibly irritating. and her story moves so slowly; the arthur figure isn't even truly an entity for most of the book. i get that it's her story, and this is a trilogy, but come on. i. was. promised. arthuriana.
and her romance is just. yeah. insta-love with a nice twist of major creepy age differences.
the tension between the druids and the christians was interesting, but i wish it had been more immediate and more deeply drawn. the same goes for the worldbuilding in general. i absolutely hated pike's habit of having characters tell each other their shared beliefs and customs. it was done entirely for the benefit of the reader and was not subtle at all.
mostly, i just didn't care about any of the conflict in the lost queen. not the druid ceremonies, not the murders, not the prophecies, not the court politics. and i usually adore all those things (well, not murder, but you know what i mean).
i fully appreciate the research that went into this novel. signe pike's ideas about arthur, which she talks about in her author's note, are part of a different scholarship than the mainstream (she places him in scotland) which makes me somewhat uncomfortable, as i'd love a few references to her sources. still, it's clear she did research and thought a lot about history, language, politics, religion, etc etc etc.
but research doesn't constitute story, and this one did not come to life.
i was promised arthuriana. i did not receive or indeed find any worthy arthuriana.
the lost queen promises to be a feminist retelling of the arthurian myth, from the point of view of languoreth, the sister of a druid who could be the inspiration for merlin. i longed to love it.
however. the novel itself is uneven and lacking in nuance. languoreth is so distant and thinly drawn; her emotions are completely inaccessible. she's too polished as a child and too amateur as an adult. some of her decisions and thought processes are so incredibly irritating. and her story moves so slowly; the arthur figure isn't even truly an entity for most of the book. i get that it's her story, and this is a trilogy, but come on. i. was. promised. arthuriana.
and her romance is just. yeah. insta-love with a nice twist of major creepy age differences.
the tension between the druids and the christians was interesting, but i wish it had been more immediate and more deeply drawn. the same goes for the worldbuilding in general. i absolutely hated pike's habit of having characters tell each other their shared beliefs and customs. it was done entirely for the benefit of the reader and was not subtle at all.
mostly, i just didn't care about any of the conflict in the lost queen. not the druid ceremonies, not the murders, not the prophecies, not the court politics. and i usually adore all those things (well, not murder, but you know what i mean).
i fully appreciate the research that went into this novel. signe pike's ideas about arthur, which she talks about in her author's note, are part of a different scholarship than the mainstream (she places him in scotland) which makes me somewhat uncomfortable, as i'd love a few references to her sources. still, it's clear she did research and thought a lot about history, language, politics, religion, etc etc etc.
but research doesn't constitute story, and this one did not come to life.
November 18, 2018
This is now one of my favourite books ever. I am so happy I found this book, a mix of Celtic folklore and historical fiction all in a book set around the Glasgow area in central Scotland where I live?! It's basically the book I've been searching for for years. If you're a fan of books like Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier then I definitely recommend.
This book begins in the year 550 where we meet Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken, they are the children of Morken, a petty King in the Strathclyde area. This book follows the twins through their lives starting from quite a young age, I really liked that the author used quite big time jumps to keep the story moving at a quick pace. I love when we follow historical characters from their beginning.
If you don't know much about Scotland around the 6th C I think this book explains well, of course with the author taking a few creative liberties which she explains well at the end of the book. I went into this book with an awful lot of background knowledge of this country, the area where I live and aspects of Celtic folklore, so it was just the perfect read for me right now. I can't explain how happy I am to have found this book, it really feels like the book I have been waiting for.
This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover and a gorgeous map at the start, I saw on Goodreads that the sequel isn't out until May 2020, which is terrible news, but I will eagerly wait!
This book begins in the year 550 where we meet Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken, they are the children of Morken, a petty King in the Strathclyde area. This book follows the twins through their lives starting from quite a young age, I really liked that the author used quite big time jumps to keep the story moving at a quick pace. I love when we follow historical characters from their beginning.
If you don't know much about Scotland around the 6th C I think this book explains well, of course with the author taking a few creative liberties which she explains well at the end of the book. I went into this book with an awful lot of background knowledge of this country, the area where I live and aspects of Celtic folklore, so it was just the perfect read for me right now. I can't explain how happy I am to have found this book, it really feels like the book I have been waiting for.
This book has an absolutely gorgeous cover and a gorgeous map at the start, I saw on Goodreads that the sequel isn't out until May 2020, which is terrible news, but I will eagerly wait!
December 31, 2024
4.5 stars
Loved this! If you liked Gael Song, you should read this immediately! What a great way to end the year.
Loved this! If you liked Gael Song, you should read this immediately! What a great way to end the year.
August 19, 2022
I have been in a serious book slump for maybe a month. I've started several audiobooks, a couple of paper babies, umpteenth ebooks but NOTHING was clicking. And then I found this in my audible library way at the bottom of my library. I love this! It reminds me of the Disney movie Brave that's what I keep picturing.
October 24, 2018
This magical, historical tale, which is the first in a trilogy, had me glued to the pages. The setting is vivid, the characters vibrant, and the writing is beautiful.
Set in sixth-century Celtic Britain, now known as Scotland, the story revolves around Arthurian lore, specifically Merlin. We follow Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken, who we later know as Merlin. The story begins when Languoreth and Lailoken are ten years of age and have just lost their mother. Both children were born with a gift and brought up in the Old Ways as their mother was a powerful healer and wisdom keeper. However, Languoreth is not able to follow in her mother’s footsteps as her father, the King, has demanded she marry for political reasons to secure the survival of the kingdom. This is essentially a coming-of-age story about Languoreth and how she navigates her way within a legendary royal family.
I love being whisked off to another place and time and Pike’s rich, descriptive language really does the trick. We are transported to medieval Scotland’s beautiful countryside where Christianity is on the rise during a time of Druid faith and Languoreth knows she has to defend her family’s heritage even if it comes with consequences. I enjoyed the pacing of the story very much - the ebb and flow of it is perfect. Pike’s attention to detail is fantastic as she includes a character reference, phonetic pronunciations, a map, and an Author’s Note which is all very thoughtful and much appreciated. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, love Camelot and illuminating characters, will be enticed and enamored with this story, the story of the tragically forgotten queen known as THE LOST QUEEN. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment!
Set in sixth-century Celtic Britain, now known as Scotland, the story revolves around Arthurian lore, specifically Merlin. We follow Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken, who we later know as Merlin. The story begins when Languoreth and Lailoken are ten years of age and have just lost their mother. Both children were born with a gift and brought up in the Old Ways as their mother was a powerful healer and wisdom keeper. However, Languoreth is not able to follow in her mother’s footsteps as her father, the King, has demanded she marry for political reasons to secure the survival of the kingdom. This is essentially a coming-of-age story about Languoreth and how she navigates her way within a legendary royal family.
I love being whisked off to another place and time and Pike’s rich, descriptive language really does the trick. We are transported to medieval Scotland’s beautiful countryside where Christianity is on the rise during a time of Druid faith and Languoreth knows she has to defend her family’s heritage even if it comes with consequences. I enjoyed the pacing of the story very much - the ebb and flow of it is perfect. Pike’s attention to detail is fantastic as she includes a character reference, phonetic pronunciations, a map, and an Author’s Note which is all very thoughtful and much appreciated. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, love Camelot and illuminating characters, will be enticed and enamored with this story, the story of the tragically forgotten queen known as THE LOST QUEEN. I absolutely cannot wait for the next installment!
September 10, 2020
I was brutally disappointed by this book. Miraculously I was able to finish it.
I was expecting a 6th century creation myth of Arthur with a focus on a forgotten but influential woman. Unfortunately said woman (she's a girl at the start) came across as ignorant, impetuous, incapable of making anything but the most stupid choices and I couldn't care about her or relate to her in the slightest. There was no greatness conveyed nor any sense at all of her having been influential or accomplished in any way.
The first part of the book was very boring and nothing happened. The middle part I found cringe-worthy and eye-rolley with stupid romance, forced drama, and bad decisions with unrealistic consequences. And towards the end things started to get interesting but it ended with no conclusion.
I expected this to be historical fiction with some fantasy. It is actually fantasy with a small pinch of historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I was expecting a 6th century creation myth of Arthur with a focus on a forgotten but influential woman. Unfortunately said woman (she's a girl at the start) came across as ignorant, impetuous, incapable of making anything but the most stupid choices and I couldn't care about her or relate to her in the slightest. There was no greatness conveyed nor any sense at all of her having been influential or accomplished in any way.
The first part of the book was very boring and nothing happened. The middle part I found cringe-worthy and eye-rolley with stupid romance, forced drama, and bad decisions with unrealistic consequences. And towards the end things started to get interesting but it ended with no conclusion.
I expected this to be historical fiction with some fantasy. It is actually fantasy with a small pinch of historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2019
2 stars - Meh. Just ok.
I had such high hopes for this one but at 40% through, I’m indifferent to finishing it. DNF’ing as there’s no excuse to not be engaged after reading over 200 pages. While not bad, the plot moves along so slowly that the reader constantly feels like they are just waiting for something interesting to happen.
The narrator of the audiobook does a really nice performance, and it is only because of her I made it this far before deciding to put this one aside.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: You burn young and bright. Death comes to steal your breath, your eyes go sightless, and you are snuffed out, a candle burned to its wick. They tell those who loved you, This is the way of the Gods.
First Sentence: I was dreaming of the forest.
I had such high hopes for this one but at 40% through, I’m indifferent to finishing it. DNF’ing as there’s no excuse to not be engaged after reading over 200 pages. While not bad, the plot moves along so slowly that the reader constantly feels like they are just waiting for something interesting to happen.
The narrator of the audiobook does a really nice performance, and it is only because of her I made it this far before deciding to put this one aside.
-------------------------------------------
Favorite Quote: You burn young and bright. Death comes to steal your breath, your eyes go sightless, and you are snuffed out, a candle burned to its wick. They tell those who loved you, This is the way of the Gods.
First Sentence: I was dreaming of the forest.
December 1, 2024
2024: It's been 4 years I first read The Lost Queen and I was so excited to pick it back up in anticipation of the third installment in this mesmerizing story. I still can't find the words - incredible story, incredible characters, incredible author. Please do not miss the author's note at the end!!
2020: I have no words. When I finished this one I immediately wanted to start it over and fall back into this world. Incredible.
2020: I have no words. When I finished this one I immediately wanted to start it over and fall back into this world. Incredible.
October 24, 2018
I only needed to see this book marketed as a cross between Outlander and an Arthurian legend and I was immediately excited about reading and reviewing this one.
This book is a debut novel and what a debut it is! I was blown away by the story and you need to immediately move this one up on your TBR list, the hype for this book is real. I was torn between devouring the book to find out what happened and slowing down because I didn’t want the magic to end.
On it’s surface, this book promises all the great things that people love about Arthurian legend…..battles, magic, romance, and court intrigue. But at it’s heart, it’s more than just that. Pike explores the depths of religion—-Christianity meets the Old Ways—-and the impact it has on the characters and the landscape of Scotland. It’s a remarkable novel and to say that I am excited about the remaining books is a vast understatement.
One of the things that stood out most in this story was the directness of the plot. Sometimes with epics (and certainly an epic legend of this magnitude), the authors tend to get caught up in sub plots and other details to bring authenticity to the story. Pike has a much more direct prose that gives the reader only the details that they need and lets the readers imaginations take over.
For example, we meet Languoreth first as a young girl when her mother has just died, and rather the pour over her mother and their bond that they shared and spending too much time on this part, Pike touches on it and moves on but it doesn’t lessen the impact. She brings impact with symbolism rather than words.
Much of the story continues in this way and it moves the story without letting it get bogged down by too much world building and epics descriptions and explanations.
At first I was worried that the strange names and places would be distracting, I often struggle with names that I can’t pronounce. But the Arthurian legend and the characters are quickly evident so that the reader can recognize their characters and focus on the story rather than the names.
This book is neither too short or too long…..it ends at just the right moment and doesn’t get overly long and detailed. At roughly 500 pages, it’s a very appropriate length and shouldn’t be intimidating to most readers. I was surprised that I read it as fast as I did. I was easily done in a few days and happily set down my other books in favor of reading this one.
I can’t sing this books praise enough. It’s beautiful, enchanting, and a story that will stick with you long after you are done. Many have praised this book as a feminist Arthurian legend, and sure it has feminist qualities, but for me it was subtle and that was just fine. Had it been overly feminist, it would have had a ring of falseness when it came to a representation of the period.
Pike has written an impressive debut and I am eager to read the next book in the series.
One last thing…..that cover is to DIE for. Do not waste your money on an e-copy…..spring for the hard copy because it’s truly stunning and will find a place of honor on your bookshelf, both for the story as well as the cover.
See my full review here
This book is a debut novel and what a debut it is! I was blown away by the story and you need to immediately move this one up on your TBR list, the hype for this book is real. I was torn between devouring the book to find out what happened and slowing down because I didn’t want the magic to end.
On it’s surface, this book promises all the great things that people love about Arthurian legend…..battles, magic, romance, and court intrigue. But at it’s heart, it’s more than just that. Pike explores the depths of religion—-Christianity meets the Old Ways—-and the impact it has on the characters and the landscape of Scotland. It’s a remarkable novel and to say that I am excited about the remaining books is a vast understatement.
One of the things that stood out most in this story was the directness of the plot. Sometimes with epics (and certainly an epic legend of this magnitude), the authors tend to get caught up in sub plots and other details to bring authenticity to the story. Pike has a much more direct prose that gives the reader only the details that they need and lets the readers imaginations take over.
For example, we meet Languoreth first as a young girl when her mother has just died, and rather the pour over her mother and their bond that they shared and spending too much time on this part, Pike touches on it and moves on but it doesn’t lessen the impact. She brings impact with symbolism rather than words.
Much of the story continues in this way and it moves the story without letting it get bogged down by too much world building and epics descriptions and explanations.
At first I was worried that the strange names and places would be distracting, I often struggle with names that I can’t pronounce. But the Arthurian legend and the characters are quickly evident so that the reader can recognize their characters and focus on the story rather than the names.
This book is neither too short or too long…..it ends at just the right moment and doesn’t get overly long and detailed. At roughly 500 pages, it’s a very appropriate length and shouldn’t be intimidating to most readers. I was surprised that I read it as fast as I did. I was easily done in a few days and happily set down my other books in favor of reading this one.
I can’t sing this books praise enough. It’s beautiful, enchanting, and a story that will stick with you long after you are done. Many have praised this book as a feminist Arthurian legend, and sure it has feminist qualities, but for me it was subtle and that was just fine. Had it been overly feminist, it would have had a ring of falseness when it came to a representation of the period.
Pike has written an impressive debut and I am eager to read the next book in the series.
One last thing…..that cover is to DIE for. Do not waste your money on an e-copy…..spring for the hard copy because it’s truly stunning and will find a place of honor on your bookshelf, both for the story as well as the cover.
See my full review here
November 18, 2024
Historical Fiction • High Fantasy • Romance
Pub Date • 4 September 2018
Thank you so much to @atriabooks for gifting me all 3 books in this series!
Marketed as “Outlander meets Camelot”, I went into this book with high expectations — and they were met.
This is the untold story of the trials and tribulations of the sister to Uther Pendragon and Merlin, a veritable heroine in her own right.
If you were a child who loved Arthurian legend and old school Gaelic inspired fantasy, I urge you to pick this up. Character driven but still with a compelling plot, we follow the coming-of-age of Lady Languoreth, daughter of a King. Set in ancient Scotland shortly before the rise of the Jesuit faith, wars will be fought for territory and honor in the name of the new Christian faith.
Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken have different preordained paths in life due solely to their difference in gender. While Lailoken will be trained as a warrior and Wisdom Keeper of the Old Way, Languoreth will be groomed to be wife of a King to someday unite neighboring lands.
I appreciated the perspective shift to Languoreth, who despite the injustice of being born a woman, and all the discrimination inherent therein, still comes into her own to make an indelible mark on history.
Full of politics, court scheming, betrayals, knights, religion, and romance, this has the makings of the start of an epic historical fantasy series. It has less fantasy than I thought there might be, but it’s there in the healing and mystical arts of the Old Way. This book was beautifully written and a pleasure to read.
TW: War, Murder, Death
Pub Date • 4 September 2018
Thank you so much to @atriabooks for gifting me all 3 books in this series!
Marketed as “Outlander meets Camelot”, I went into this book with high expectations — and they were met.
This is the untold story of the trials and tribulations of the sister to Uther Pendragon and Merlin, a veritable heroine in her own right.
If you were a child who loved Arthurian legend and old school Gaelic inspired fantasy, I urge you to pick this up. Character driven but still with a compelling plot, we follow the coming-of-age of Lady Languoreth, daughter of a King. Set in ancient Scotland shortly before the rise of the Jesuit faith, wars will be fought for territory and honor in the name of the new Christian faith.
Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken have different preordained paths in life due solely to their difference in gender. While Lailoken will be trained as a warrior and Wisdom Keeper of the Old Way, Languoreth will be groomed to be wife of a King to someday unite neighboring lands.
I appreciated the perspective shift to Languoreth, who despite the injustice of being born a woman, and all the discrimination inherent therein, still comes into her own to make an indelible mark on history.
Full of politics, court scheming, betrayals, knights, religion, and romance, this has the makings of the start of an epic historical fantasy series. It has less fantasy than I thought there might be, but it’s there in the healing and mystical arts of the Old Way. This book was beautifully written and a pleasure to read.
TW: War, Murder, Death
December 4, 2024
Absolutely without question one of the most beautiful, well crafted, and impeccably researched books from my 2024 reading year.
The Lost Queen is a journey to womanhood, full of resilience, family loyalties, and longings. From the first few pages I was transported back to Medieval Scotland where I came to deeply love Languoreth and her family that surrounds and challenges her.
The setting is gorgeous and true to the time period. Having just visited Scotland a couple of years back I saw the valleys, hills so vividly in my mind. The bonds between family members were deep and meaningful especially when it came to her twin brother. I loved the coming of age elements as Languoreth grew into the woman she was meant to be.
This is the kind of feminist book I love that shows the power of women and what they were able to do, even despite having the limitations of the time, that simultaneously doesn't villainize men to get a point across. The circumstances are real and raw and at times horrific but so much love and hope was woven into the rich tapestry of their lives.
I was spell bound from start to finish. The audiobook narration was perfection and I cannot wait to dive into book two this month.
For sure a favorite read of the year.
**content: 1/2 brief open door, not too explicitly described
The Lost Queen is a journey to womanhood, full of resilience, family loyalties, and longings. From the first few pages I was transported back to Medieval Scotland where I came to deeply love Languoreth and her family that surrounds and challenges her.
The setting is gorgeous and true to the time period. Having just visited Scotland a couple of years back I saw the valleys, hills so vividly in my mind. The bonds between family members were deep and meaningful especially when it came to her twin brother. I loved the coming of age elements as Languoreth grew into the woman she was meant to be.
This is the kind of feminist book I love that shows the power of women and what they were able to do, even despite having the limitations of the time, that simultaneously doesn't villainize men to get a point across. The circumstances are real and raw and at times horrific but so much love and hope was woven into the rich tapestry of their lives.
I was spell bound from start to finish. The audiobook narration was perfection and I cannot wait to dive into book two this month.
For sure a favorite read of the year.
**content: 1/2 brief open door, not too explicitly described
March 28, 2020
This book was absolutely fantastic.
I assumed it was a historical fantasy but there aren't really any classic fantasy elements.
Even so, I loved it.
It has everything I like: An interesting setting, healers, political intrigue, super high stakes, and engaging characters.
I cannot wait till the second one comes out!
I assumed it was a historical fantasy but there aren't really any classic fantasy elements.
Even so, I loved it.
It has everything I like: An interesting setting, healers, political intrigue, super high stakes, and engaging characters.
I cannot wait till the second one comes out!
December 31, 2020
September 27th, 2020 Review (Reviews keep disappearing.💔)
I swear on sword and stone, every bone in my body adored this!
Setting: 6th century, Scotland
A geographical map is included at the beginning of the book, I enjoyed referring to this whenever travels were being taken.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Weaved with Royalty, Folklore, Sacrifice/Death, Botany/Herbalism/Healing (this was my favorite), Magic, Romance, and War.
Cover: Best cover of all the books I have right now! The bronzed copper to ombre gold lining the foggy background is breath-taking. The symbols incorporated are perfect! The dreariness of the rolling mountains in the background against the foiled outline is stunning. In the middle, pulling everything together with her firey red hair and gorgeous contrasting dress, we have The Lost Queen, Lady Languoreth. Sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin.
Font: Way too small!
I understand this would be ridiculously long, (already weighing in at 527 pages) if the font were any bigger, but I'm young, don't have trouble with my eyes and I struggled with how small the font was. I LOVED this read but admittedly, I had to read in shorter intervals than what I was wanting to, because the pain in my eyes would overwhelm me. (Which was unfortunate because the story is so good!)
Characters: I loved watching the characters grow from such a young age into adulthood! I highly admire when writers bring back heroes that have been buried by history, especially female heroines such as Languoreth. This is her trilogy.
I was extremely grateful for the phonetic pronunciations and character key included alongside the map, so I knew how to say the names correctly and could keep straight which kingdoms characters belonged to. I referred to this quite a few times until I got used to pronouncing the names appropriately.
THE LOST QUEEN was extremely descriptive but well worth it. This could have been 2,000 pages and I would have continued to read it. I absolutely loved it! This is a new author for me, I have not read her debut yet, but plan on checking it out at some point. I'm definitely in for the next two books in this series.
The action and romance had my heart pounding. I adored this so much. I shed a few tears over the sacrifices and losses women of these times suffered, these were portrayed exceptionally well by the author.
"For there are bound to be days in every lifetime dark enough to drown what little light we might gather."
There were powerful scenes rooted in the landscape of the pages so intensely that I woke up in the middle of the night, wanting to see what would happen next, that I forced myself awake and ended up reading all night long! Every spare moment I found myself delving selfishly into this other world, incompetent to anything else going on around me —until my eyes could take no more that is. This is highly unusual for me.
I now anticipate book 2 coming out in September, this one ended in the middle of an intense action scene. I must know what happens!
Much gratitude to the publisher Atria Paperback for the ARC I won from the Goodreads Giveaway Program. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
I swear on sword and stone, every bone in my body adored this!
Setting: 6th century, Scotland
A geographical map is included at the beginning of the book, I enjoyed referring to this whenever travels were being taken.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Weaved with Royalty, Folklore, Sacrifice/Death, Botany/Herbalism/Healing (this was my favorite), Magic, Romance, and War.
Cover: Best cover of all the books I have right now! The bronzed copper to ombre gold lining the foggy background is breath-taking. The symbols incorporated are perfect! The dreariness of the rolling mountains in the background against the foiled outline is stunning. In the middle, pulling everything together with her firey red hair and gorgeous contrasting dress, we have The Lost Queen, Lady Languoreth. Sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin.
Font: Way too small!
I understand this would be ridiculously long, (already weighing in at 527 pages) if the font were any bigger, but I'm young, don't have trouble with my eyes and I struggled with how small the font was. I LOVED this read but admittedly, I had to read in shorter intervals than what I was wanting to, because the pain in my eyes would overwhelm me. (Which was unfortunate because the story is so good!)
Characters: I loved watching the characters grow from such a young age into adulthood! I highly admire when writers bring back heroes that have been buried by history, especially female heroines such as Languoreth. This is her trilogy.
I was extremely grateful for the phonetic pronunciations and character key included alongside the map, so I knew how to say the names correctly and could keep straight which kingdoms characters belonged to. I referred to this quite a few times until I got used to pronouncing the names appropriately.
THE LOST QUEEN was extremely descriptive but well worth it. This could have been 2,000 pages and I would have continued to read it. I absolutely loved it! This is a new author for me, I have not read her debut yet, but plan on checking it out at some point. I'm definitely in for the next two books in this series.
The action and romance had my heart pounding. I adored this so much. I shed a few tears over the sacrifices and losses women of these times suffered, these were portrayed exceptionally well by the author.
"For there are bound to be days in every lifetime dark enough to drown what little light we might gather."
There were powerful scenes rooted in the landscape of the pages so intensely that I woke up in the middle of the night, wanting to see what would happen next, that I forced myself awake and ended up reading all night long! Every spare moment I found myself delving selfishly into this other world, incompetent to anything else going on around me —until my eyes could take no more that is. This is highly unusual for me.
I now anticipate book 2 coming out in September, this one ended in the middle of an intense action scene. I must know what happens!
Much gratitude to the publisher Atria Paperback for the ARC I won from the Goodreads Giveaway Program. I was under no obligation to write a review, my honest opinion is freely given.
September 25, 2024
I am possessed, haunted and consumed by my love for this book. As with most stories I’m head over heels for, this is for a specific audience.
♡ My experience was amplified by the audiobook and the beautiful Scottish narration. She presented a magical performance and that, along with the impeccable historical research, gripping prose, poetic writing, gut twisting plot, with strong, and valiant characters, made this a book I will forever treasure.
♡ This is a historical fiction set in Scottland 550AD that encompasses war, family, religion, folklore, and a host of characters. The stunning romance is only a simple thread amid it all. If you are the reader who wants a heavy love story, this probably isn’t for you.
♡ It's devastatingly beautiful and painful. This is set in a time where savagery is a part of life, so be prepared to cry tears of joy and torture.
♡ Its understandable when readers (and google) label this as a fantasy. With its water, earth and wind spirits, God's, and legends, its comfortable to assume its too fantastical to be historical. However There is evidence to support the Celts culture. This was their life, religion and core beliefs. As such, it should be treated as historical fiction and not assumed as fantasy.* (In my inconsequential bookstagramer opinion.)
*See the authors note in The Forgotten Kingdom for more insight to this topic.
OVERALL:
I cannot put into words the CHOKEHOLD this book series has on me. I was enchanted, and I neeeeeeed the girlies meant for it, to PICK IT UP!! It’s for the person who loved The Nightingale, Lord of the Rings, King Author stories, A River Enchanted, Daughter of the Forest, and any historical fiction set in Scotland.
I've seen people compare this to Outlander but this is not a time travel, or heavy in romance. The only large similarity is the Scottish setting.
▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎
CONTENT: violence, brief open door romance.
FORMAT: Immersive reading is how I'd recommend it. (Combine the audio with the ebook or physical book.)
Book 1: The Lost Queen
Book 2: The Forgotten Kingdom
Book 3: The Shadowed Land (available Dec 3rd)
Book 4: TBA
♡ My experience was amplified by the audiobook and the beautiful Scottish narration. She presented a magical performance and that, along with the impeccable historical research, gripping prose, poetic writing, gut twisting plot, with strong, and valiant characters, made this a book I will forever treasure.
♡ This is a historical fiction set in Scottland 550AD that encompasses war, family, religion, folklore, and a host of characters. The stunning romance is only a simple thread amid it all. If you are the reader who wants a heavy love story, this probably isn’t for you.
♡ It's devastatingly beautiful and painful. This is set in a time where savagery is a part of life, so be prepared to cry tears of joy and torture.
♡ Its understandable when readers (and google) label this as a fantasy. With its water, earth and wind spirits, God's, and legends, its comfortable to assume its too fantastical to be historical. However There is evidence to support the Celts culture. This was their life, religion and core beliefs. As such, it should be treated as historical fiction and not assumed as fantasy.* (In my inconsequential bookstagramer opinion.)
*See the authors note in The Forgotten Kingdom for more insight to this topic.
OVERALL:
I cannot put into words the CHOKEHOLD this book series has on me. I was enchanted, and I neeeeeeed the girlies meant for it, to PICK IT UP!! It’s for the person who loved The Nightingale, Lord of the Rings, King Author stories, A River Enchanted, Daughter of the Forest, and any historical fiction set in Scotland.
I've seen people compare this to Outlander but this is not a time travel, or heavy in romance. The only large similarity is the Scottish setting.
▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎
CONTENT: violence, brief open door romance.
FORMAT: Immersive reading is how I'd recommend it. (Combine the audio with the ebook or physical book.)
Book 1: The Lost Queen
Book 2: The Forgotten Kingdom
Book 3: The Shadowed Land (available Dec 3rd)
Book 4: TBA
December 10, 2020
The Lost Queen
By Signe Pike
When I heard that this was the untold story of Languoreth and the setting of 6th century Scotland and the twin sister of the man that inspired the legend of Merlin, Lailoken. As much as we hear about Merlin, there really was not much that we know about his twin sister and this was such a compeling read that I enjoyed reading about. I was completely sold. I read this in a matter of few days with very few rest in between because yes, I was just that hooked. In the end after a few sleepless nights with my nose stuck in this book, I could not have been more satisfied and ready to read the next books in the series.
The writing was impeccable and I loved the pacing of this book with a lot of excitement for me - the story was easy to follow and I loved how easy it was to get lost in this world of 6th century Scotland. I was in awe the whole time and loved the characters as they were introduced into this magical story of love and adventure.
I loved this so much I highly recommend this book and what an amazing start of the series. i am a fan!!
By Signe Pike
When I heard that this was the untold story of Languoreth and the setting of 6th century Scotland and the twin sister of the man that inspired the legend of Merlin, Lailoken. As much as we hear about Merlin, there really was not much that we know about his twin sister and this was such a compeling read that I enjoyed reading about. I was completely sold. I read this in a matter of few days with very few rest in between because yes, I was just that hooked. In the end after a few sleepless nights with my nose stuck in this book, I could not have been more satisfied and ready to read the next books in the series.
The writing was impeccable and I loved the pacing of this book with a lot of excitement for me - the story was easy to follow and I loved how easy it was to get lost in this world of 6th century Scotland. I was in awe the whole time and loved the characters as they were introduced into this magical story of love and adventure.
I loved this so much I highly recommend this book and what an amazing start of the series. i am a fan!!
January 14, 2024
(Rounded up from 3.5 stars)
When historical fiction is done right, it can be very, very good and you can learn a lot. That’s how I felt while reading The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. It’s a long book, over 500 pages, but it was worth it. At one point, I thought about skimming to get to the end, but then I'd read something that would make me keep going and so I wound up reading the whole book eventually. The story takes place from about 550 to 575 AD in what is now the Glasgow area in Scotland. The story follows Langoureth, from when she is ten years old, the daughter of a local king (but not the “high king”). Her twin brother is Lailoken, who shows talent and will be groomed as a Wisdom Keeper (Druid), as well as being trained as a warrior. Their relationship is very close and Langoureth feels the limitations that being female AND the daughter of royalty mean for her future.
This was a time of change in the area, with Christians starting to take over from the “old ways” of the Britons. There are a lot of references to what will eventually become the Arthurian legends. The author’s note at the end was quite informative.
While I received the eARC from NetGalley (quite some time ago!), I wound up bouncing between the ebook and listening to the published audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio. The narrator, Toni Frutin, did an excellent job with the many voices. It really helped to hear how so many personal names and place names were pronounced!
The Lost Queen was published in 2018 and the next book in the trilogy, The Forgotten Kingdom, was published in 2020, so perhaps the third and final book will be published not be too long in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I am rather late to it. All opinions are my own.
When historical fiction is done right, it can be very, very good and you can learn a lot. That’s how I felt while reading The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. It’s a long book, over 500 pages, but it was worth it. At one point, I thought about skimming to get to the end, but then I'd read something that would make me keep going and so I wound up reading the whole book eventually. The story takes place from about 550 to 575 AD in what is now the Glasgow area in Scotland. The story follows Langoureth, from when she is ten years old, the daughter of a local king (but not the “high king”). Her twin brother is Lailoken, who shows talent and will be groomed as a Wisdom Keeper (Druid), as well as being trained as a warrior. Their relationship is very close and Langoureth feels the limitations that being female AND the daughter of royalty mean for her future.
This was a time of change in the area, with Christians starting to take over from the “old ways” of the Britons. There are a lot of references to what will eventually become the Arthurian legends. The author’s note at the end was quite informative.
While I received the eARC from NetGalley (quite some time ago!), I wound up bouncing between the ebook and listening to the published audiobook by Simon & Schuster Audio. The narrator, Toni Frutin, did an excellent job with the many voices. It really helped to hear how so many personal names and place names were pronounced!
The Lost Queen was published in 2018 and the next book in the trilogy, The Forgotten Kingdom, was published in 2020, so perhaps the third and final book will be published not be too long in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I am rather late to it. All opinions are my own.
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