“The Lost Queen” by Signe Pike
By: Vipula Gupta
Tags: Reading, Books, History, Book Review, Fiction

A Book Review

“The Lost Queen” by Signe Pike

Strong prose, well-researched storytelling, and popular legends can’t help save this novel from its frustrating heroine.

Photocredit: Shadesofwords.com ©

In The Lost Queen, Signe Pike dives deep into Welsh and Scottish myth to bring a fresh look at the legend of Arthur & Merlin. Pike takes readers back to 550 A.D to Goddeu, a small kingdom in Scotland, where Languoreth, a ten-year-old princess, and her twin brother, Lailoken, are mourning the death of their mother. Bereft and grieving, both young kids are fearful of what the future holds for them.

In this historical-fantasy novel, first of a planned trilogy, Pike covers thirty years of Languoreth’s life in medieval England, where her people are fighting a physical battle for land against the invading Anglo-Saxons, and a spiritual battle against the rise of Christianity.

Through Languoreth’s eyes, readers learn of the bravery of the Dragon Warriors who fight under the leadership of Emrys Pendragon (decades before King Arthur’s time). Readers get a glimpse of the machinations of Tutagual’s court as he ruled the kingdom of Strathclyde from Dumbarton Rock. Lailoken, her brother, is none other than the man who will one day be known as Merlin. The political climate of Briton pushes the twins on different paths, and one day they find themselves on the opposing side of a major battle.

“Languoreth, the earth is very old. Tragedies will occur on nearly every patch of land, given enough time.” — Signe Pike

Photo by Connor Mollison on Unsplash

Pike’s writing is transportive, both geographically and historically, making it the book’s strongest feature. However, strong historical premise and beautiful writing do not make up for the silly, impetuous, and frankly uninteresting protagonist that is Languoreth.

To read the entire book from Languoreth’s point of view is exhausting and infuriating. She comes across as a spoiled, entitled princess who thinks herself the epitome of grace and intellect. As the novel is narrated through her point of view, the frequent self-aggrandizement is jarring to read.

“And so with each tip of my glass I became bolder, more cunning….my face was calm as a forest pool. I smiled and laughed, willed my eyes to light with merriment. With intellect. And as the evening wore on, I willed them to smolder.” — Languoreth, The Lost Queen by Signe Pike

It’s not only that Languoreth seems bland, but that everyone else around her seems far more interesting.

For instance, what is going on in Lailoken’s head, who has been itching to be a warrior since he was ten years old? What makes Ariane appear at King Morken’s court and serve his family so faithfully, and why are her ways different from other Wisdom Keepers? Or why is Lord Rhydderch, Languoreth’s suitor, so different from his tyrant father and brother?

Readers don’t really get to dive into any of these characters, and instead all we hear are the inner self-serving ramblings of a teenage girl.

From a style perspective, the narration could have enjoyed multiple first-person POVs or just a simple third-person narration.

Photo by Martin Zangerl on Unsplash

The pacing is also uneven, as some pages drag on, and some move with breakneck speed. Sometimes, Pike gets carried away with the beauty of medieval Scotland and provides long and detailed descriptions of flora and the landscape which, to be fair, some readers might enjoy.

“There were tales of Wisdom Keepers from long ago who could call forth a tempest from the bluest of skies, or lay a curse upon a man with a murmur of breath.” — Signe Pike

Pike’s novel is well-researched and richly detailed on the governing issues of the time. I am more knowledgeable having read it. However, the importance of the myths and legends that Pike has built her novel around is lost by placing Languoreth at the center of the story.

I felt a sense of relief as the book ended, and I am not yet entirely convinced if I will pick up the sequel. I hope that Pike leans on the Arthur-Merlin legend in the upcoming novel and expands the POV narrators to add a more balanced view to what readers see. I don’t think I can spend another book inside Languoreth’s head.

The Forgotten Kingdom, the second book of The Lost Queen trilogy, comes out in September 2020.