The Lost Queen (The Lost Queen Trilogy, #1)

by Signe Pike

Paperback, 2019

Status

Available

Call number

FIC J Pik

Publication

Atria Paperback

Pages

527

Description

Fantasy. Fiction. Literature. Historical Fiction. HTML:"Outlander meets Camelot" (Kirsty Logan, author of The Gracekeepers) in the first book of an exciting historical trilogy that reveals the untold story of Languorethâ??a powerful and, until now, tragically forgotten queen of sixth-century Scotlandâ??twin sister of the man who inspired the legendary character of Merlin. Intelligent, passionate, rebellious, and brave, Languoreth is the unforgettable heroine of The Lost Queen, a tale of conflicted loves and survival set against the cinematic backdrop of ancient Scotland, a magical land of myths and superstition inspired by the beauty of the natural world. One of the most powerful early medieval queens in British history, Languoreth ruled at a time of enormous disruption and bloodshed, when the burgeoning forces of Christianity threatened to obliterate the ancient pagan beliefs and change her way of life forever. Together with her twin brother Lailoken, a warrior and druid known to history as Merlin, Languoreth is catapulted into a world of danger and violence. When a war brings the hero Emrys Pendragon, to their door, Languoreth collides with the handsome warrior Maelgwn. Their passionate connection is forged by enchantment, but Languoreth is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of the High King who is sympathetic to the followers of Christianity. As Rhydderch's wife, Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way, her kingdom, and all she holds dear. "Moving, thrilling, and ultimately spellbinding" (BookPage), The Lost Queen brings this remarkable woman to lifeâ??rescuing her from obscurity, and reaffirming her place at the center of the most enduring legends of all time. "Moving, thrilling, and ultimately spellbinding, The Lost Queen is perfect for readers of historical fiction like The Clan of the Cave Bear and Wolf Hall, and for lovers of fantasy like Outlander and The Mists of Avalon" (BookP… (more)

Collection

Barcode

3858

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2018-09-04

Physical description

527 p.; 8.25 inches

ISBN

150119142X / 9781501191428

User reviews

LibraryThing member BooksCooksLooks
Let me just note that I have been looking forward to this book since I first received it several weeks ago. I haven’t had a big, thick historical like this to sink my reading teeth into for a while. It takes place in the 6th century in Scotland so we are somewhere in history I love to go hide for
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a while in a book. I will begin this review by noting that I was enthralled from the start, I was sorry the book had to end and I am beyond thrilled it’s a trilogy.

The book starts with the introduction of twins Languoreth and her brother Lailoken who are mourning the recent loss of their mother. The children are bereft at her loss and not sure how to deal with her absence. At the open of the tale they are 10 years old and their world is changing. Lailoken is training to be a Keeper – one who learns and passes the knowledge of the people down from generation to generation and his sister desires the same but she is the daughter of a king and destined to be married. Languoreth is not pleased with this destiny but life does not always play out as it is ordained.

As restlessness in the land grows a name starts being heard among the nobles – Emrys Pen Dragon has developed a reputation as determined fighter and one who will get his way. As the High King calls all to a meeting Pen Dragon wants to meet with Languoreth’s father. He is unsure as to the advisability of this but feels he cannot refuse. This sets in motion the future for his daughter, his son and his country.

Languoreth grows from that 10 year old child to a woman in love to a wife of a powerful man to a mother in the course of this first book. Her brother plays a vital role and it is his tale too as legend would have it that it is he who became Merlin of King Arthur fame. But it is ultimately her tale as Ms. Pike weaves the story of this forgotten woman of history to piece together the tiny threads left in the written record to bring her back to life. In that she does an excellent job of bringing the ancient world to life.

It’s a time of religious conflict (when is it not?) as the new Christian religion is making inroads and the old ways are starting to fade away. Both Languoreth and Lailoken are believers of the old ways and are resistant to the Christian God. The book ends at the start of a definitive battle that pits the new way against the old and Languoreth’s husband against her brother.

The book is rich in detail from descriptions of the lives of the people, both rich and poor to the food and clothing that are worn. All of these bits of information allow the reader to feel like they are living within the book and existing with the characters. At least it did for this reader. I felt fully immersed in the 7th century world and it took me a while to shake out when I was finished with the book. It was a real let down when I did finish because I just wanted to keep reading. I will anxiously await the second and third books in the series.

There is a detailed author’s note at the end of the book explaining how Ms. Pike came to write the books and what she had as research materials. I so enjoy when a book is based on real people. I am happy to learn of this lost queen from history.
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LibraryThing member Aronfish
Loved this book! It's advertised as the story of the twin sister of the man who inspired the Merlin legends. The author's prose is compelling and this is a woman's story, with tensions of obligations vs her desire to live her own life. While anyone who had read Arthurian legends has also heard this
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story of the conflict between magic and the Old gods vs. the rise of Christianity, Signe Pike tells it in a fresh way with a wonderful new heroine.
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LibraryThing member japaul22
[The Lost Queen] by [[Signe Pike]]

I really liked this historical fiction based in 6th century Wales. The main character is Langoureth, who is twins with Laikolen. Laikolen, in some historical accounts, is the given name of Myrddin, better known as Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian times. When Signe
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Pike discovered that some accounts say that Laikolen had a twin sister, Langoureth, who was a Queen, she became enamored of her story.

This is the first of a trilogy. Langoureth grows up in the Old Ways and has gifts as a healer, but her role is to be married to a future king and secure her family that way. Her twin, Laikolen, leaves to train as a Wisdom Keeper.

There is plenty of drama, a love story, and epic events are starting to unfold by the end of the book. The characters are rich and believable. Pike paints a good picture of the ancient times, especially the conflict between the Old Ways and the arrival of Christianity.

I've tried a lot of historical fiction trying to find something that appeals to me the way [[Sharon Kay Penman]]'s work does. This is almost as good, the telling is too narrowly focused on Langoureth to have Penman's depth, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I definitely recommend it - I want the next two books to be published so would love to see people reading this!

Original publication date: 2018
Author’s nationality: American
Original language: English
Length: 518 pages
Rating: 4 stars
Format/Where I acquired the book: library hardback
Why I read this: like this kind of historical fiction
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LibraryThing member Elysianfield
I haven’t read that many books based on King Arthur so I was curious enough to try this and there aren’t too many books set in sixth-century Scotland either.

Languoreth is a twin of Lailoken who will be known as Merlin. Growing up Languoreth wants to become a Wisdom Keeper, a druid, like her
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brother and hates the fact that her fate lies in marriage. She is wed to Rhydderch, son of a Christian High King, but she has fallen in love with Maelgwn, one of Pendragon’s man.

Languoreth is an easy character to like. Strong and fearless who soon learns the ways of the court intrigues. Her marriage to Rhydderch doesn’t start in a promising way but in time they develop mutual respect for each other.

It was interesting to see the coming of Christianity and slowly losing the Old Ways. Anglo-Saxons are coming and there are wars and bloodshed. The book is from Languoreth’s point of view and I think it kind of restricts the story. It would have been nice to see what happens elsewhere, like in battles and such.

One real complaint from me is that Languoreth and Maelgwyn’s romance was a bit too instalove for me. They meet and in a manner of days, they’re so in love with each other that they’ll pine for each other for nearly 20 years.

The start dragged a bit but once things start to happen it flows nicely. In the end, I just wanted to know what happens next. All in all, I think this was an enjoyable read and I’m looking forward to the next book.
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LibraryThing member Twink
Okay, I'm going to lead off with this blurb from Simon and Schuster about Signe Pike's new novel, The Lost Queen.....

"Compared to Outlander and The Mists of Avalon, this thrilling first novel of a debut trilogy reveals the untold story of Languoreth—a forgotten queen of sixth-century
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Scotland—twin sister of the man who inspired the legend of Merlin." Hmm, okay - definitely caught my interest. After listening to the first few chapters? Hooked!

Signe has taken a few obscure historical references to an actual sixth century Celtic queen and created an addicting, unputdownable tale of love, honour, duty, fealty, war, intrigue, religion and yes - magic.

Pike's research is so rich with detail. The settings sprang to life - the castles, the forest, the details of everyday life, clothing, food, family and more. The time period encompasses the clash between the Old Ways and burgeoning Christianity and the wars between kingdoms. Again, well detailed and presented.

The characters will draw you in and transport you back to the sixth century. Languoreth is so well drawn - strong and fierce. Her family and friends are just as well drawn. The 'bad guys'? You'll have no trouble identifying them. The romance angle offers up two very different men in Languoreth's life. This part of the plot is not overwhelming to the main story or overdone, instead it's just right.

I love Arthurian legends and it was this part of the book that captured me - the legends, the portents, the signs and the magic.

I chose to listen to The Lost Queen - the reader was Toni Frutin - and she was amazing. She has a wonderful Scottish accent that is so easy to understand and pleasant to listen to. It immediately embodied the mental image I had created for Languoreth. It's rich and full and her narration is so very, very expressive, capturing all the nuances of Signe's book.

Pike's writing is so very good. This first volume of a planned trilogy is satisfying on it's own. But the last few chapters gives us a hint of what will come next for Languorethe's next challenge. I can't wait for the second book and more of The Lost Queen.
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LibraryThing member karen813
I loved everything about this book! The epic history, the thoughtful characters, the action, the romance and everything else! I can't wait for the next installment!
LibraryThing member wagner.sarah35
I love finding books (even fictional books) about women who have been overlooked by history. To be fair, the written documentation about Languoreth is limited, as one might expect of a early medieval queen. Her twin brother Lailoken has plenty written about him, though - he inspired the Arthurian
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character of Merlin. In fact, hints of the Arthurian legend abound in this novel and one wonders if the roots of the story so well-known today might look similar to the events portrayed in this book. The author has clearly done her research into Celtic history and culture and I look forward to the continuation of this fascinating story.
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LibraryThing member Asheley
AMAZING story. So, so good!

Langoureth was one of Scotland's queens during the 6th century. She was twin sister to Lailoken, who was the inspiration for the legend of Merlin. When Langoureth was young, she had big dreams for her future, but these dreams did not come to pass. Instead, she was married
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into a powerful family in a political move designed by her father, with hopes that she would be able to bring her people closer to the protection of their king. Langoureth lived during a time when kings, religious leaders, and husbands held all of the power, so even though she was fiercely independent with good insight into the way things ought to be, the choices in her life were often made for her.

This is a story full of religious and political intrigue, set during a time when Christianity was spreading rapidly and therefore polluting the practice of the Old Ways. The religious disagreements in this story are the cause of several of the large conflicts, and they drive many of the political choices of the story's leaders and kings. I loved this. Langoureth lived during a time when there was a ton of change going on, with mountains of confusion and uncertainty, and this imbalance came through in heaps in the story.

Langoureth comes of age in this book, beginning the story as a child and growing into a wife and mother by the end of the book. Some of her experiences made me quite sad, as she lived during a time that was tremendously difficult to navigate. I can't imagine knowing and loving people wholeheartedly, and knowing that if they left home, you may never see them again-and yet, this was often the case during these times. Some of the more emotional parts of the story were when Langoureth lost people very close to her, or when she felt the sting of betrayal from people she trusted. But there were happy times too, and Langoureth deeply loved the people closest to her. All of these emotions came through so well and I felt everything.

These characters are wonderful. I especially love the bond between the twins Langoureth and her brother Lailoken. I enjoyed the slow-burn love that Langoureth nurtured with her husband, the king, and with the other man. I love the way she frequently went against the rules, at great risk to her own life, when she felt something strongly. I really feel like I know Langoureth and how she thinks, and I felt like I was right alongside her throughout the story. The setting is atmospheric and perfect.

This book was a delicious read, absolutely scrumptious, and I cannot wait to start the second book. I'm desperate to continue the story.

Audiobook Notes: I added the audiobook to my read because the audio sample sounded good and OH MY GOSH, this was the best decision. Toni Frutin didn't so much narrate as she performed this story. Her timing and pacing was impeccable and her accent is gorgeous. I loved this book, but I loved it more for having listened to so much of it. It made me think up extra places to drive and extra things to cook, just so I could continue listening to the narrator's beautiful delivery.

Title: The Lost Queen by Signe Pike
Series: The Lost Queen #1
Narrator: Toni Frutin
Length: 17 hours, 44 minutes, Unabridged
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio

I received a digital copy of this story from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review. I listened to the audiobook via my library's digital loan system. I was not required to write a positive review, but I loved the story so much that all I want to do is sing its praises. Thank you, Atria Books!
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LibraryThing member RachDani
4.5 Stars! Wonderful!!
I don't even know where to start with this book. It has everything: history, love, family, duty....it makes you laugh and cry and think, it's just beautiful.
First let me say, I did not breeze through this book. It was much too rich and there were parts that were just
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exhausting, in a good way. The amount of research and love that went into this story is staggering. It is also the first of a trilogy, and does not "end." I believe the second book picks up pretty close to where this one leaves off.
Also, I am not a devout fan of Merlin or the legends that surround him. I enjoy the stories, but I don't specifically seek them out. That being said, I don't know how this story compares to others, historically speaking, and you don't need to be a die hard fan to enjoy this book. This also doesn't read like a history book, even though I learned a lot from it.

"The Lost Queen" is about Languoreth and spans a couple decades of her life. She is a spunky, soft-hearted girl that grows into a tough, fiercely loyal woman, bound by both duty and love. There is romance, but more importantly there is life and all the twists and turns that it takes.
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LibraryThing member Desiree_Reads
I loved the language of this book! It's so lyrical and immersive - you can literally, so-easily imagine yourself walking in the Scottish woods - their magic, their beauty, their calm and peacefulness. I just love books that wrap you in like that!

The story was great too - we meet Langoureth when she
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is ten years old and follow her through the next 5 or 6 years as she grows into a woman, finds her first love, then marries another for political alliance. The story then skips forward about 10-12 years or so. Normally I would find that unsettling, but it is handled well, with the gaps in the story filled out in a satisfying manner.

I was hoping for a bit more of the Merlin and Arthur tale in this novel, as it was advertised as "Outlander meets Camelot". We do get to know Lailoken well, the man who is later known as Myrddin or Merlin, and who is Langoureth's twin brother, but there really are not any references to Merlin or Author in this story, save for the Note from the Author at the end. The story is also not like Outlander, unless you count that it takes place in what is later known as Scotland and is in a medieval setting, although The Lost Queen takes place much earlier (6th Century) than Outlander (18th Century).

Also, I was a bit disappointed to learn this was part of a trilogy, as I do prefer stand-alone books. However, this novel definitely stood on its own, with a satisfactory ending, and did not fall prey to the "trilogy cheat" of expanding what should have been one book over three books instead.

All of that said, The Lost Queen is a beautiful book with engaging characters. Langoureth sneaks into your heart and you root for her and feel for her along the way. And you long to enter her beautiful, forested world of magic and beauty. Definitely recommend!
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LibraryThing member untitled841
Quotes, notes and snippets:
My husband and King had locked me in the blinding dark. And now I call upon my ancestors to give me the power of sight.

Rating

(105 ratings; 4)

Call number

FIC J Pik
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