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smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
A great sequel to the Lost Queen, continuing the story where it left off in 6th century Scotland, shifting the focus more away from Languoreth to her brother, Lailoken (bonus: the narrator that voices this character has an extra yummy Scottish accent!) and her daughter, Angharad (who is training to be a Wisdom Keeper). Anyone who is a fan of Celtic history and the Arthurian legends/mythology will enjoy this story, especially with the strong female characters. Signe Pike puts a LOT of historical detail in her books and I'm REALLY hoping there will be another in this series! Highly recommend these books :)
emmsicle7's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Such a good read that has you immersed in 6th century Scotland!
lporto's review against another edition
5.0
The combination of history and story is well done here. For me there is nothing like a well researched historical story with strong women leading the way.
salderson's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second book in The Lost Queen Trilogy. Overall I really liked it, despite some previous historical misgivings.
The first book was difficult for me, owing to the fact that medieval Welsh poetry and warrior society is my main field of study, and Pike uses a lot of that poetry, along with Scottish poetry, to place the myth of King Arthur in Scotland, rather than Wales, and that her research is based on the findings of a lawyer who took an interest in Scottish history, rather than an historian. However, she does note that she has tried to use as much other data, from archeologists and historians, in order to help recreate the world of sixth-century Scotland as much as she can while still allowing for an engaging story, which I can respect. While I feel like the element of and ties to the Welsh is overlooked and left out (there were very old ties between the two), and I do not agree with all of her conclusions, I felt like she did justice to the world of sixth-century Scotland with the evidence available. As much as I would LOVE for writers to be perfectly true to fact in historical fiction and fantasy, that is often not possible, especially in the misty regions of late antiquity.
I really enjoyed the way Pike used the concept of magic in pagan religions. In her Author's Note, she talks about how in modern society we allow for miracles in Catholic and Christian belief, but the same miracles are magic and fantasy in pagan beliefs. I felt like her portrayal of "magic," such as the rivers talking to Angharad and other Priestesses, visions, and the ghosts Lailoken encountered were all just as valid to their realities as any Christian seeing saints or hearing the voice of God. The way Pike wrote these experiences made sense and were believable to our reality, and I loved seeing them on the page.
This book was more exciting, less wooden and better paced than the first. I really enjoyed the buildups to battles, the different points of view, and the different reasons for things. Her characters are multi-faceted, and most are neither absolutely good or bad, they are just people, and this makes for a richer reading experience. There is no doubt that Pike is a talented story-teller and writer, and I love how she brought the old Welsh and Scottish stories to light. It is nice to see someone who appreciates the old stories as much as I have, which has become more apparent in this book than in the first.
Overall, I would still call this historical fantasy, because this particular history is so hazy and the nature of poets was to make kings and heroes seem grand in the history, and we know so little of these famous characters. I would also say, however, that I hope and would believe that this book could spark historical interest in the region and time period. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good historical fantasy/fiction set in late antiquity/early medieval Scotland, or who likes Arthurian sagas.
The first book was difficult for me, owing to the fact that medieval Welsh poetry and warrior society is my main field of study, and Pike uses a lot of that poetry, along with Scottish poetry, to place the myth of King Arthur in Scotland, rather than Wales, and that her research is based on the findings of a lawyer who took an interest in Scottish history, rather than an historian. However, she does note that she has tried to use as much other data, from archeologists and historians, in order to help recreate the world of sixth-century Scotland as much as she can while still allowing for an engaging story, which I can respect. While I feel like the element of and ties to the Welsh is overlooked and left out (there were very old ties between the two), and I do not agree with all of her conclusions, I felt like she did justice to the world of sixth-century Scotland with the evidence available. As much as I would LOVE for writers to be perfectly true to fact in historical fiction and fantasy, that is often not possible, especially in the misty regions of late antiquity.
I really enjoyed the way Pike used the concept of magic in pagan religions. In her Author's Note, she talks about how in modern society we allow for miracles in Catholic and Christian belief, but the same miracles are magic and fantasy in pagan beliefs. I felt like her portrayal of "magic," such as the rivers talking to Angharad and other Priestesses, visions, and the ghosts Lailoken encountered were all just as valid to their realities as any Christian seeing saints or hearing the voice of God. The way Pike wrote these experiences made sense and were believable to our reality, and I loved seeing them on the page.
This book was more exciting, less wooden and better paced than the first. I really enjoyed the buildups to battles, the different points of view, and the different reasons for things. Her characters are multi-faceted, and most are neither absolutely good or bad, they are just people, and this makes for a richer reading experience. There is no doubt that Pike is a talented story-teller and writer, and I love how she brought the old Welsh and Scottish stories to light. It is nice to see someone who appreciates the old stories as much as I have, which has become more apparent in this book than in the first.
Overall, I would still call this historical fantasy, because this particular history is so hazy and the nature of poets was to make kings and heroes seem grand in the history, and we know so little of these famous characters. I would also say, however, that I hope and would believe that this book could spark historical interest in the region and time period. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good historical fantasy/fiction set in late antiquity/early medieval Scotland, or who likes Arthurian sagas.
linesuponapage's review against another edition
4.0
Book two of The Lost Queen Trilogy has not disappointed. Once again Ms. Pike has delivered a well researched, and entertaining world for Lailoken and Languoreth. Like the last book, I could not put this book down!
To see all my favorite characters grow through the change of their worlds. The strength and fight to not let their trials take them down. To continue on their journey’s paths all the while feeling as if i was standing by their sides is what makes a great story teller which Ms. Pike has shown over and over again . The pain of motherhood, sisterhood, lover through war and loss is so very well covered in this series. I cried and cheered at so many moments in reading, The Forgotten Kingdom.
I truly believe that this is my favorite historical fiction of the last year and I am so glad to read the continuing sage of the twins and also their progeny. I will be on pins and needles waiting for the last book of the Trilogy.
Btw- Atria Books, this would make a fantastic movie!!!
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Forgotten Kingdom in lieu of my honest review.
To see all my favorite characters grow through the change of their worlds. The strength and fight to not let their trials take them down. To continue on their journey’s paths all the while feeling as if i was standing by their sides is what makes a great story teller which Ms. Pike has shown over and over again . The pain of motherhood, sisterhood, lover through war and loss is so very well covered in this series. I cried and cheered at so many moments in reading, The Forgotten Kingdom.
I truly believe that this is my favorite historical fiction of the last year and I am so glad to read the continuing sage of the twins and also their progeny. I will be on pins and needles waiting for the last book of the Trilogy.
Btw- Atria Books, this would make a fantastic movie!!!
Thank you, NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Forgotten Kingdom in lieu of my honest review.
kandih's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved The Forgotten Kingdom, a sequel to The Lost Queen, by Signe Pike. I devoured this book in 2 days and was delighted to once again be transported to sixth-century Scotland. The book is rich in detail and the characters are so well written that I feel like I know them. Sometimes the second book of a trilogy can be very "filler" in content but not so with this one. This felt a slightly faster pace than the first book and there is a lot of action but it's also filled with much emotion.
While the first book focused mainly on Langoureth, this one features her daughter Angharad who's story I become very invested in. I really liked seeing her growth while being separated from her family and rooting for the moment when they would be reunited. The journey of Lailoken to become Merlin also continues and I'm so excited about what the next book will bring for him.
I loved reading the Author's Note and learning more about the history of the people and the time. It's fascinating to learn about Langoureth's role in history and how it's been mostly forgotten. You can tell while reading that Signe Pike did a lot of research to create this world and it is full of historical detail. I can't wait for the third book.
If you like historical epics filled with magic, mystery, and lots of emotion, this trilogy is for you.
Big thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for providing the ARC.
While the first book focused mainly on Langoureth, this one features her daughter Angharad who's story I become very invested in. I really liked seeing her growth while being separated from her family and rooting for the moment when they would be reunited. The journey of Lailoken to become Merlin also continues and I'm so excited about what the next book will bring for him.
I loved reading the Author's Note and learning more about the history of the people and the time. It's fascinating to learn about Langoureth's role in history and how it's been mostly forgotten. You can tell while reading that Signe Pike did a lot of research to create this world and it is full of historical detail. I can't wait for the third book.
If you like historical epics filled with magic, mystery, and lots of emotion, this trilogy is for you.
Big thank you to Atria Books & NetGalley for providing the ARC.
amr2024's review against another edition
3.0
This book was good but also difficult to follow at times with the time skips and multiple POVs. I felt that our main characters from the first book became more developed while the new main characters in this book were not as fleshed out because there's no time in the story left. Overall, I enjoyed it but it was a slow start until after the first 100 pages.
jordana_dear's review against another edition
5.0
A favorite along with its predecessor. I look forward to the third installment of this trilogy! So much time and many events are covered in the books but its well blended. This book bounced between multiple perspectives but I didn't mind as much as I thought I would and appreciated the notes on the historical accuracy and stories/people inspiring this telling.
lbriss11's review against another edition
4.0
Deeply researched, magical, and pretty fast-paced. Can't wait for book 3.
kuyemura's review against another edition
1.0
Characters reflecting for hundreds of pages on upcoming wars and general mysticism does not constitute entertainment nor character development.