Blurb:

King Arthur and his contemporaries are boldly reimagined in this “mystical, epic, and captivating” (Hazel Gaynor, New York Times bestselling author) series that resurrects the real historical figures who inspired one of our most enduring legends.

Kingdom of Gododdin, AD 580: After defeating the Angles at the Battle of the Caledonian Wood, Languoreth, her daughter Angharad, brother Lailoken, and the warrior Artúr mac Aedan are reunited. But all too soon, fate pulls each back to their own path.

Artúr receives a mysterious summons from his father in Dalriada. Languoreth and Lailoken return to Strathclyde with the dangerous former bishop Mungo in tow, determined to maintain the fragile peace between the Christians and the people of the Old Way. Meanwhile, Angharad must travel deep into the shadowed land of the Picts, hoping to become the initiate of Briochan, a druid who practices the secret Celtic art of summoning weather.

As they rise to their destinies, they are pushed to impossible new frontiers as each must decide whether they are willing to do what it takes to be the heroes their harrowing days demand. This “rich, immersive” (Kirkus Reviews) saga transports the reader to a vivid world of mysticism, beauty, and meticulously researched early medieval history.

Review:

“You are the last lights of our people. Your beacon must not flicker.”

Oh, how I love to be back in the Lost Queen world!  This historical fiction novel of Artur mac Aedan is brought to life with Signe Pike’s magical writing.  

The Lost Queen has been one of my favorite series ever, and I find myself constantly recommending it to everyone.  The world and the characters are researched so well, and the day-to-day events unfold in a fascinating complex tale.  Unearthing the true Artur mac Aedan and Queen Languoreth of early Scotland is both beautiful, and enchanting. Signe Pike offers a glimpse of the world during the intersection of Christianity and the ancient Druids (here called Wisdom Keepers), in early Scottland. Signe has seamlessly woven actual events into her story, and her Authors note at the end will make you appreciate the book so much more!

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from NetGalley, and I'm so glad I did! I still remember discovering the first book at my local bookstore with a friend and being completely captivated from start to finish. Signe Pike takes the familiar tale of a princess forced into marriage and breathes new life into it, allowing the story to continue beyond the marriage and into the complexities of motherhood. The portrayal of a mother as the central character is incredibly powerful and adds a depth that makes this story even more compelling.

“And motherhood changed a woman more than becoming a queen ever could. Each of these men had been a woman’s babe once, no less beloved than my own.”

This is a highly character-driven story, with the plot focused on positioning all the pieces for the final book. I was thrilled to see new POV characters introduced in this installment, adding fresh perspectives and depth to the narrative.

Languoreth – upon seeing her lost child, now grown into a woman, at the end of the last book we pick up right away with their storyline.  Languoreth’s despair at missing her daughter’s childhood, and pride in seeing her as the priestess she had become was so beautiful and raw.  I’m still grasping to the hope that she gets a happy ending, but I’m not sure we are gonna see that. 

“It is a wonder, is it not, what the heart can survive?”

Angharad –raised by the Picts, Angharad knows she cannot return home to her mother and marry as her sister did. Instead, she chooses the challenging path of weatherwork, to apprentice under Briochan, and old Wisdom Keeper who hasn’t taken on an apprentice in decades. Her training and experiences offer us an extraordinary glimpse to the Pictish culture, their ways, and their gods.

Artur – I was both surprised and thrilled to see that Artur gets to have a POV chapter!  I thought the battle sequences were really well done, and that his introduction of characters was seamless.  Watching him marry a woman who was not Angharad was so sad, but those characters remembering each other was beautiful.

Lailoken – Seeing Lailoken and Eira be welcomed back to his childhood home was beautiful.  This is where Singe Pike’s writing shines, she has made ordinary events into magical stories that we get to witness. Seeing his rage at how his sister was treated, I have huge expectations for him in the final installment of this series. 

Gladys – my heart broke for Gladys I was so happy to see her POV, she reminds me so much of her mother, and her inclusion in the book was emotional for me, I do hope she gets to impact the story in a powerful way.  I highlighted everything in her chapters.

“I was forty-four winters, yet I had lived a thousand lifetimes since I was a girl.”

Languoreth’s love story continues to break my heart, my stomach dropped when she was accused, and my despair was so palpable that I had to take a break because I could not read another word. A true testament to the authors writing and pacing in this section. Memories from the first 2 books are called back, and the characters get to interact with those memories as a new person full of the knowledge and experience of the years since. 

“Fighting for your land only makes it more beautiful. These lands have sheltered me. They’ve given me clear waters to drink to help me survive.”

This book series continues to be one of my favorites, and while I loved this installment, it felt a little bit like the first half of the final book. I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for the Book 4 announcement!

Would I reread? Oh yes, I’ll def pick this one up again and review in advance of the book 4 release. And I can’t wait to get a copy for my mom who has also enjoyed this series with me!

Would I recommend? Absolutely yes.  This series is heart wrenching and its full of characters to cheer for.  I think fans of the Arthurian Legend will enjoy this, fans of Morgan is My Name by Sophie Keetch, and Lancelot by Giles Kristian, and the Winter King by Bernard Cornwell.  I also think fans of Sistersong by Lucy Holland, and Circe by Madeline Miller & Queen Hereafter by Susan Fraser King and the Winter Sea by Susanna Kearsley will enjoy this series!

Recommended for Fans of Arthurian Legend, Historical Fiction and Mythology retellings!

This book comes out December 3, 2024