The Shadowed Land (The Lost Queen, 3)
The third novel in The Lost Queen series follows the conflicts between the quarrelsome tribes in Scotland during the sixth century. Despite their defeat of the Angles at the Battle of the Caledonian Wood in 580, the kingdoms of the Celtic Britons remain under threat from hostile neighbors, riven internally by political rivalries and destabilized by a culture that prizes revenge for offenses, no matter how old.
As the point of view shifts between the main characters, the challenges each confronts are exposed. Queen Languoreth and her twin brother Lailoken return to Strathclyde, where they struggle to maintain peace between fanatical Christians and followers of the Old Way; her daughter Angharad travels to Pictland to train to become a Druid weather worker; Artúr is summoned to Dalriada where he learns that his father Aedan, King of the Scots, has arranged a dynastic marriage for him to Vanora, a Pictish princess (Guinevere).
The turbulence and uncertainty of a harsh era are vividly portrayed, especially their impact upon vulnerable people like women, captives, and outsiders. Leaders like Languoreth and Artúr try to preserve peace and build alliances; healers like Angharad diligently treat the injured, friend and foe alike; but their efforts to help others are inevitably swept aside by the ruthless violence unleashed by ambitious warlords.
The skillful integration of elements from Arthurian and Celtic traditions, such as the old hag from the kingship myth, will appeal to scholarly readers; the plausible recreation of a violent Dark Age world will satisfy those looking for historical authenticity; the warning against destructive impulses will resonate with those seeking relevance to conditions in the modern world; and the hope offered by the Arthurian legend will inspire those who struggle against the rising tide of darkness. Highly recommended.
