The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike

 What would you do if your husband was at war with your brother?  The Forgotten Kingdom starts up right where The Lost Queen ended.  Languoreth is a woman in the Middle Ages, the daughter of a king, and wife of the presumptive heir to the throne of Strathclyde (in what is now Scotland).  Her husband, Rhydderch and eldest son have just left to battle the Dragon warriors, who are led by her foster brother, Uther Pendragon, and where her twin brother Lailoken, and young daughter Angharad live.  Lailoken is a Wisdom Keeper and is training Angharad in being a Wisdom Keeper as well.  In the future, Lailoken will be known as “Myrddin” or Merlin.  Who will survive and how will this divided family move forward?

 I loved The Forgotten Kingdom even more than I loved The Lost Queen.  I loved the action in this novel, and I love that the viewpoint was split three ways.  This time we see the story through Languoreth, Lailoken, and Angharad’s point of view.  The battle scenes were riveting.  It was particular exciting with Lailoken and Angharad on the run separately for much of the book.   I love that it also delves deeper into the background story of many of the characters.  It was an exciting story that kept you on the edge of your seat.  It was also an interesting look into the Middle Ages, a time when Christianity was moving into Scotland and at odds with the old religion.  I can’t wait to see how this trilogy will conclude.

  

Favorite Quotes:

“Hell is watching a man you once trained in weapons take a spear through the chest.”

 “Time is not a masterful healer, but at least it is persistent.”

 “Memory, when preserved, can never be taken.’

 “Who would sing of their heroism?  Who yet lived to remember them?  There is you, I told myself.  But when I was gone?  Theirs would become a forgotten kingdom.”

 Overall, The Forgotten Kingdom is an exciting look into war, love, and religion in the Middle Ages of Scotland. 

 Book Source:  Review Copy from Simon & Schuster.  Thank-you!