The Forgotten Kingdom (The Lost Queen 2)
Set in the south of Scotland in the 6th century, the second book in a series continues the story of Languoreth, twin sister of Lailoken, whom many researchers identify as the historical figure on whom Merlin is based. It opens with the Battle of Arderydd (573 AD) and concludes with the Battle of the Caledonian Wood (580 AD). The narrative point of view shifts between Languoreth, her brother, and her daughter Angharad as they struggle to cope with the terrors of the battlefield and the psychological toll they exact: though a princess, the impetuous Languoreth is confined and unable to help as those she loves face deadly dangers; as battle rages, Lailoken is torn between anger against his foes and fear for his niece and nephew; eight-year-old Angharad flees from the battlefield, desperately struggling to escape predatory foemen.
The opening section is very dark, as sadistic men mercilessly pursue refugees, warriors and their families both, torturing, raping, and slaughtering unchecked; but the survivors endure and begin the slow, painful progress towards healing and recovery. Among the lessons they must learn is to lay aside old enmities and resentments if they are to drive back new threats to the hard-won security of those who depend upon them: Languoreth at the court of Strathclyde, Lailoken in the wilds of the Caledonian Wood, Angharad amongst the Picts, where she trains to be a priestess. And to find unlikely allies. Like Prince Artur of Dalriada.
Though Pike laments the scarcity of reliable sources, she creates a very plausible picture of Scotland in the 6th century. She excels too at conveying the fears and anxieties of her narrators and involving readers in their fate. It is, nonetheless, a relief to end on a more optimistic note than in The Lost Queen.
Impressive historical fiction. Highly recommended.
