The Shadowed Land

6 min read

Welcome friend! It has been four years since I read The Forgotten Kingdom by Signe Pike. Coming back to The Lost Queen series with The Shadowed Land was exciting but also a bit disorienting because there was so much I did not remember. Here is what this book is about:

Signe Pike | Goodreads | The Lost Queen #3

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.

The Shadowed Land – Review

Picking up in 580 AD where The Forgotten Kingdom ended, The Shadowed Land continues the history of Britain, Scotland and surrounding areas through Languoreth and her family.

The Characters

The last book had perspectives from Languoreth, her brother, Lailoken, and her daughter, Angharad. In this book, a new point of view is introduced of the Scot warlord, Artur, and Languoreth’s eldest daughter, Gladys.

Languoreth and Lailoken have been central to this series from the very beginning. While Languoreth wanted to be a Wisdom Keeper in the old ways, her destiny was to become a Queen and the protector of her religion. Lailoken had more freedom than her and succeeded in becoming a Wisdom Keeper, though was exiled in the last book. In The Shadowed Land, Languoreth continues to strike a balance between being open to her husband’s adoption of Christianity and welcoming it into her kingdom while also ensuring that the ways of her own religion survive. She has people who are loyal to her but there are also others like Bishop Mongo who despise her and want to bring her down. I liked the court intrigue in her story. I also liked the heartbreaking conversations around the loss of her oldest son. She is Queen and held to high standards. She sees to it that justice is delivered to the victims and that should she make a mistake, she is not exempt from the consequences.

Her daughters, Gladys and Angharad, are parallel to herself and Lailoken in their destinies. Gladys too dreamed of being a Wisdom Keeper but was meant to be married and rule another kingdom. She is pregnant in this book and longs to see her mother but duties keep them apart.

Angharad continues to be a favorite character for me in this series. After being reunited with her mother at the start of this book, she must set out to seek a teacher if she is to become a Wisdom Keeper. This leads her to the kingdom of the Fortriu in the Land of the Picts. There is a Wisdom Keeper there of the name Briochan who has not taken an apprentice in many years. Facing the challenges to prove herself worthy, Angharad succeeds in securing this reverted position. The land of the Picts is known as the Shadowed Land and Angharad finds her true calling here. She is patient and strong. The battles she saw as a young child have made her resilient and the teachers of her past have helped instill a self-belief in her. I liked the relationships she built over time. I also liked getting a glimpse of what the court of the kingdom of the Fortriu was like and their rivalry with the Scots.

In The Forgotten Kingdom, Angharad had crossed paths with Artur, one of the Scot warlords. The Shadowed Land is the first time I learned about his history and culture.

Christianity vs the Old Ways

Ever since Queen Languoreth’s husband, King Rhydderch adopted Christianity to extend his kingdom, there has been a tug of war between the new and old religion. I have always enjoyed this side of the lost Queen series, exploring the tensions between two religions and the efforts to keep the old ways alive. As I mentioned before, Languoreth is in a delicate position. She has to balance her beliefs with the commitments of her husband.

There are a few Christian figures in The Shadowed Land. I particularly loved Brother Thomas and his connection to Angharad. His interactions with Rhydderch , Languoreth and the people who live in the kingdom of Strathclyde give a glimpse into the peaceful existence that is possible. His role in the final chapters of the book was fun to read. In contrast to Brother Thomas, Mungo approaches the mission to spread Christianity in an aggressive manner, making enemies and inciting violence. His efforts to undermine, at times outright harm, Languoreth and Lailoken form an important part of the plot.

The Fantasy Elements

I have always thought of The Lost Queen series as a historical fantasy. One reason is its connection to King Arthur and Merlin which I will write about more in the next section. The other is the old ways and their gods. Angharad’s perspective as an apprentice Wisdom Keeper and the ceremonies she takes part in and her efforts to change the weather are subtle magical elements in the story. Though the plot may not use magic in the sense that most Fantasy stories do, the world itself is magical. The old religion mixes religion and magic while Christianity offers a contrast.

The Note from the Author – The Legend of King Arthur

I love the legend of King of Arthur and Merlin and have grown up watching TV shows and movies about it. Signe Pike through the Lost Queen series has done extensive research on both Arthur and Merlin. In her note, she goes into details about the historical texts that have inspired numerous Arthurian stories, locations of the various castles and sites mentioned in the series so far as well as the existence of druids that are the inspiration for the Wisdom Keepers.

I thought for the longest time that Lailoken was supposed to be Merlin but as the series has progressed and Signe has introduced Artur in The Shadowed Land, I need to drop my original expectation. Artur is so different from the King Arthur I knew of and it is a fascinating adventure to be exposed to a well researched version of a loved figure.

Originally thought to be a trilogy, the Lost Queen series will continue in book 4. I look forward to reading it! If you enjoy audiobooks, the second and third books are done in full cast and quite immersive.

Many thanks to Atria Books for a complimentary copy of this book for an honest review. Check out the other books in the series below. They were great to discussions with Erynn.