Scan barcode
A review by kimiloughlin
The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike
4.0
The Forgotten Kingdom, the second of Signe Pike's Lost Queen Trilogy, is just as magical and well-researched as the first. It is fascinating to read a fictionalized historical account of the Britons, especially as they relate to the Merlin legend as it is known today. I especially love learning this forgotten history of the strong women of the time, Languoreth and Angharad. Though The Lost Queen focused mainly on Languoreth, the expansion of perspectives to include both Lailoken and Angharad added depth to the story. I slightly missed the simplicity of a single timeline but Pike did a good job to keep it all reigned in and reveal the story in an exciting manner, from all sides. This magical trilogy is perfect for fans of the King Arthur and Merlin legends, Outlander (books or TV show), historical fiction buffs, and of strong, powerful women.
It is obvious the care and time Pike has taken to do research and to fill in gaps with evidence but also a strong, creative voice. Though the story is deliciously dramatic and thoroughly enjoyable (also heart breaking), it's Pike's Author's Note where her true passion shines. She details her journey on historical research and even gives apology and explanation around where details may have taken more creative license. As a reader, I care less about proof whether something is historically accurate or not (as long as it makes for good reading) but I can appreciate Pike's desire to be as transparent as possible and to build this story from the evidence/historical records up.
I listened to the first book. The Lost Queen, in audiobook format. Though reading physically is just as thrilling, having a native Celtic speaker (I especially loved the Language section of Pike's Author's note that goes into the branching of the Celtic language into modern Welsh and Godelic/Gaelic languages) like Toni Frutin pronounce the names and terms truly elevated the experience for me. Having that preface helped me immensely in holding the names of these characters in my head while reading The Forgotten Kingdom physically - I often read the names aloud as I continued, to keep the lilting language at the top of my mind. Though this book can be consumed in any format, if you want a truly immersive storytelling experience, I highly recommend the audiobook for this novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
It is obvious the care and time Pike has taken to do research and to fill in gaps with evidence but also a strong, creative voice. Though the story is deliciously dramatic and thoroughly enjoyable (also heart breaking), it's Pike's Author's Note where her true passion shines. She details her journey on historical research and even gives apology and explanation around where details may have taken more creative license. As a reader, I care less about proof whether something is historically accurate or not (as long as it makes for good reading) but I can appreciate Pike's desire to be as transparent as possible and to build this story from the evidence/historical records up.
I listened to the first book. The Lost Queen, in audiobook format. Though reading physically is just as thrilling, having a native Celtic speaker (I especially loved the Language section of Pike's Author's note that goes into the branching of the Celtic language into modern Welsh and Godelic/Gaelic languages) like Toni Frutin pronounce the names and terms truly elevated the experience for me. Having that preface helped me immensely in holding the names of these characters in my head while reading The Forgotten Kingdom physically - I often read the names aloud as I continued, to keep the lilting language at the top of my mind. Though this book can be consumed in any format, if you want a truly immersive storytelling experience, I highly recommend the audiobook for this novel!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy in exchange for an honest review.