What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shadow Watch #3
The Darkling Queen
A new queen rules the world.
Only the Gallows Girl knows she is a tyrant.
The Saints have prevailed. The chancellor has been defeated, and a new empire has risen in his place. An empire built by lowborns and sorcerers from many nations. Led by the newly crowned Queen of Light, Medea Lorzarre, they seek to spread their message of freedom and revolution across the New World. Only the Gallows Girl knows that the queen has fooled them all.
Believed to be dead and stripped of her magic and allies, Tori Burodai longs for a chance to expose the Darkling Queen for what she truly is. Her quest for allies takes her to new and dangerous parts of the world. But Medea is not the only looming threat.
The chancellor maneuvers his way into a new position of power, with a terrible scheme to take back his throne, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, a new threat lurks in the shadows. A mysterious hunter who is abducting sorcerers across the Southern World for an unknown purpose.
All dark secrets must come to light, but the truth may change everything.
Can Tori find a way to regain her magic and resist the Darkling Queen?
If she fails, the revolution she began may succeed in destroying the world.
Only the Gallows Girl knows she is a tyrant.
The Saints have prevailed. The chancellor has been defeated, and a new empire has risen in his place. An empire built by lowborns and sorcerers from many nations. Led by the newly crowned Queen of Light, Medea Lorzarre, they seek to spread their message of freedom and revolution across the New World. Only the Gallows Girl knows that the queen has fooled them all.
Believed to be dead and stripped of her magic and allies, Tori Burodai longs for a chance to expose the Darkling Queen for what she truly is. Her quest for allies takes her to new and dangerous parts of the world. But Medea is not the only looming threat.
The chancellor maneuvers his way into a new position of power, with a terrible scheme to take back his throne, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, a new threat lurks in the shadows. A mysterious hunter who is abducting sorcerers across the Southern World for an unknown purpose.
All dark secrets must come to light, but the truth may change everything.
Can Tori find a way to regain her magic and resist the Darkling Queen?
If she fails, the revolution she began may succeed in destroying the world.
418 pages, ebook
Published May 26, 2020
84 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
S.A. Klopfenstein
14 books127 followersChildren of the Gods out Sept. 30.
Author of the Shadow Watch Saga, and the Rogue System trilogy.
Author of the Shadow Watch Saga, and the Rogue System trilogy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 14, 2021
4.5 Stars
Another winner in this series. This book was full of action, plot twists, and sadness. I actually teared up at one point. Off to the last book and hopefully Tori will finally rise and conquer the evil as The Gallows Girl.
Another winner in this series. This book was full of action, plot twists, and sadness. I actually teared up at one point. Off to the last book and hopefully Tori will finally rise and conquer the evil as The Gallows Girl.
February 17, 2024
A new era begins but dark intent dwells beneath the light. A lost power schemes. Resistance looks for hopes resurrection.
Just a totally epic series with politics, war, creatures, twists, deception & magic. Incredible book 3. This is not to be missed.
Just a totally epic series with politics, war, creatures, twists, deception & magic. Incredible book 3. This is not to be missed.
June 12, 2020
This was a much faster read for me, maybe because it was more action. Well done thank you but did I read that correctly? 5/21 for the next book?
Read
June 13, 2021The audiobook is out now!
February 16, 2025
4.5 stars but I’m rounding up this time!
Despite taking so long to read this book, it might be my favorite so far, because the buildup towards the final battle that’ll be book 4 was full of intrigue and excitement, but also because it felt like the characters really shone. There were so many great interactions between characters who don’t always get time together; there were reunions aplenty; there was growth on behalf of pretty much every character in the book. Despite having such a large cast, this series manages to have unique, memorable characters!
As with the end of book 2, I have no idea what’s coming next, and that is such a wonderful feeling. Give me an ending that’s unpredictable and that’ll punch me in the gut, I can’t wait!
Despite taking so long to read this book, it might be my favorite so far, because the buildup towards the final battle that’ll be book 4 was full of intrigue and excitement, but also because it felt like the characters really shone. There were so many great interactions between characters who don’t always get time together; there were reunions aplenty; there was growth on behalf of pretty much every character in the book. Despite having such a large cast, this series manages to have unique, memorable characters!
As with the end of book 2, I have no idea what’s coming next, and that is such a wonderful feeling. Give me an ending that’s unpredictable and that’ll punch me in the gut, I can’t wait!
June 15, 2021
Now I really enjoyed this book as I was hoping. I thought it was so much better than the previous ones and there is a lot of character growth. I was beyond happy to see Alyk and Tori together again. Now, they just need to rescue Kale and Salla. I loathe Ren. I can’t wait to see what his fate will be. I wasn’t too surprised by what happened to Darien but I was shocked by who did it. I wasn’t expecting that and holy smokes, Cyrus’s plans never work in his favor 😂 that guy should just give up now cause that’s just too much failure on his part.
Alright. I’m ready to find out what becomes of everyone and get out four missing people back safely.
Alright. I’m ready to find out what becomes of everyone and get out four missing people back safely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2022
The more I read in this series, the more I'm loving all the planning and sweat and tears Klopfenstein put into this world. The world-building is phenomenal and the characters are so complex and multilayered. Besides Tori, you get to know several other characters very well. In this book, Tori and her friends are separated for most of the book and as you learn, each one is doing the best they know how and has made choices about who they should ally themselves with. There are three major groups, those who have allied themselves with the Darkling Queen being the majority of the folks. But there are two major players who have chosen to work together with Cyrus, and then there is Tori and her small group, who are licking their wounds after the second book and just trying to survive. The author does a great job wrapping up the major arcs in this part of the saga and sets us up very nicely for the final conclusion. As for the audio, I'm really enjoying the narrator and read along with about half the book when I was able to sit down with the book. The entire series has been bundled in a single credit on audible and is so well worth the credit. I believe this is a very underrated/underread series and hope more readers discover it.
August 13, 2020
The thrilling story of the Gallows Girl Continues
SA Klopfenstein, has continued to create an excellent story. the characters and situation inspire imagination and encourage the reader to hope. I look forward to the next exciting book...
SA Klopfenstein, has continued to create an excellent story. the characters and situation inspire imagination and encourage the reader to hope. I look forward to the next exciting book...
September 16, 2025
Rating 3.5 /5
It is an incredibly difficult thing to follow up a previous book with so much action, intrigue, and world development in one. It makes sense to give the reader some room to breathe and catch up. "The Darkling Queen" is very much a regrouping. Instead of nonstop action and twists of the last it tries to take it back to spy craft and lore. It makes for large swings in plot but misses the mark slightly in its ambitions to tackle intrigue.
What I did enjoy was that the breaking of our well loved groups gave other characters the change to really feel their feet. It brought a less common challenge to Tori. Or, at the very least, in the circumstances of her newest hurtle. Though I wish they had focused more on her truly having to craft a new identity not just to others but herself. Certain reunions contained responses and adequate caution moving forward without sticking to exaggerated stubborn static for the sake of drama.
That the book took the time to deal with the fallout and how factions can be an opportunity was something I really appreciated. Through the people and places new powers were ramping up we continued to learn more about the social structures of the world. It is also not entirely devoid of action, with an incredible maritime battle proving the author is versatile in ability to write in different conditions. While there are a few twist that didn't come off as surprising, the end does pack its own unique punch with even more at risk for the conclusion.
A decent set up for the finale but not as enticing as the last.
It is an incredibly difficult thing to follow up a previous book with so much action, intrigue, and world development in one. It makes sense to give the reader some room to breathe and catch up. "The Darkling Queen" is very much a regrouping. Instead of nonstop action and twists of the last it tries to take it back to spy craft and lore. It makes for large swings in plot but misses the mark slightly in its ambitions to tackle intrigue.
What I did enjoy was that the breaking of our well loved groups gave other characters the change to really feel their feet. It brought a less common challenge to Tori. Or, at the very least, in the circumstances of her newest hurtle. Though I wish they had focused more on her truly having to craft a new identity not just to others but herself. Certain reunions contained responses and adequate caution moving forward without sticking to exaggerated stubborn static for the sake of drama.
That the book took the time to deal with the fallout and how factions can be an opportunity was something I really appreciated. Through the people and places new powers were ramping up we continued to learn more about the social structures of the world. It is also not entirely devoid of action, with an incredible maritime battle proving the author is versatile in ability to write in different conditions. While there are a few twist that didn't come off as surprising, the end does pack its own unique punch with even more at risk for the conclusion.
A decent set up for the finale but not as enticing as the last.
July 4, 2025
Rough start but great lore
One thing about the beginning half of the story I a small lack of urgency to the plot. But once things were moving into place I started to like it. Especially the talks about the others. Great lore is in this book and I’m all for it. One thing i wish could be better is the queen herself. Yeah she powerful and has big army but i felt that she wasn’t as impressive as I thought her to be. But i think that’ll change in the last book. Here’s to the conclusion 😎
One thing about the beginning half of the story I a small lack of urgency to the plot. But once things were moving into place I started to like it. Especially the talks about the others. Great lore is in this book and I’m all for it. One thing i wish could be better is the queen herself. Yeah she powerful and has big army but i felt that she wasn’t as impressive as I thought her to be. But i think that’ll change in the last book. Here’s to the conclusion 😎
September 2, 2024
The Darkling Queen
I like the way everything comes together so far it keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. And I look forward to the next page to find out I know the gallows girl is going to save the day but don't know how and it keeps me on edge and I like it. I would recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy books.
I like the way everything comes together so far it keeps you guessing what's going to happen next. And I look forward to the next page to find out I know the gallows girl is going to save the day but don't know how and it keeps me on edge and I like it. I would recommend it to anyone that likes fantasy books.
August 9, 2021
The Darling Queen ( books 3 of the Shadow Watch series
I am forcing myself to write this before I dive into book 4! I cannot wait to learn how it all turns out. This story was full of action and surprises! A great read I need to start book 4 now, bye.
I am forcing myself to write this before I dive into book 4! I cannot wait to learn how it all turns out. This story was full of action and surprises! A great read I need to start book 4 now, bye.
May 6, 2024
We’re getting into some big feels, betrayals, accepting loss and love and playing the hand we’re dealt. I love the way there’s a bit of ally reshuffling as the world settles (or rebels) into the new order of leadership.
Fast paced, and more betrayals and twists abound!
It’s a fun listen (I’ve been doing the audiobook version) and it looks like it’s time to start the next book! The writing style and characters have definitely grown and gained depth over the series.
I think it can be a hard choice to kill characters, and where magic is involved, easy for an author to go back on it.
But man oh man, that choice was made, and im not sure there’s any returning for one whose store we’ve become so invested in. ❤️🩹
3.75-4 ⭐️
.5 🌶 mild themes of romance
Fast paced, and more betrayals and twists abound!
It’s a fun listen (I’ve been doing the audiobook version) and it looks like it’s time to start the next book! The writing style and characters have definitely grown and gained depth over the series.
I think it can be a hard choice to kill characters, and where magic is involved, easy for an author to go back on it.
But man oh man, that choice was made, and im not sure there’s any returning for one whose store we’ve become so invested in. ❤️🩹
3.75-4 ⭐️
.5 🌶 mild themes of romance
November 21, 2024
This has been the best one so far!!! I have loved all the new and surprising information that has come to light. I absolutely loved the ending, other than Darien’s death. I’m still hoping that’s not true somehow!
Excited to read the next one!
Excited to read the next one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 30, 2021
Exceeded my expectations! It's getting more and more thrilling at each turn of pages! Definitely love the twist at the end as well.
October 17, 2024
I think I liked this book the best so far. The redemption arcs were incredible, and the deaths were perfectly timed with just the right amount of shock factor. Book four, let’s go!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2025
lil forgetable
April 10, 2024
I’ve enjoyed it! The amount of people and stories each one had was nice to read about. I was surprised at the ending, but the hope that followed was also nice to see. The book was also a bit longer than I would have hoped, still kept reading tho!
January 8, 2021
I have been loving this series since I found it and the author on the Wattpad app. Every time a new chapter was put up, I ended up reading it right away. Since I fell in love with the series from the get-go. I've read all 3 books now and have noticed the change within the plot with the editing process and seen the changes that were made.
I can't wait to see what happens in the 4th book.
I can't wait to see what happens in the 4th book.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews