The Hollow Queen Series

This space exists to chart the rise of The Hollow Queen—from first spark to final ascension.

Here, you’ll find behind-the-scenes insights, cover reveals, worldbuilding notes, and updates as the series unfolds. It is a record of creation and conquest, chronicling the journey of a story as vast and dark as the queen at its heart.

For longtime readers of Lani Lenore and new ones alike, this blog offers a glimpse into the shadows where stories are born—and where sovereigns are made.

What is The Hollow Queen series?

A dark fantasy romance saga about power, possession, and the woman who would rule them all.

At the edge of ruin and divinity stands Leila Morana—a queen not born, but made.

The Hollow Queen is an ongoing epic fantasy romance series that follows the rise of a sovereign who claims not only thrones, but lovers, gods, monsters, and the very shape of fate. Rich with gothic atmosphere, sensual intrigue, and mythic ambition, the series explores what happens when a woman chooses to reign on her own terms.

Told primarily from Leila’s perspective, this is a story of shadow-marked lovers, divine hunger, and a queen who wears desire as armor. Across ten or more volumes, readers will follow Leila’s ascension from reluctant bride to legend, and beyond—through battles, betrayals, awakenings, and the unraveling of worlds.

This is not the tale of a woman becoming good.
This is the tale of a woman becoming sovereign.

How does The Hollow Queen differ from Lani Lenore’s previous works?

While still steeped in the dark fantasy and gothic fairytale sensibilities that define Lani Lenore’s storytelling, The Hollow Queen marks a departure in form and focus. Rather than centering around a single plot or romantic arc, the series is deeply character-driven—following one woman, Leila Morana, through every stage of her becoming. Told entirely from Leila’s point of view, the story offers an immersive, singular lens into her mind as she navigates power, identity, desire, and dominion.

Unlike earlier works that shifted between multiple perspectives, The Hollow Queen stays with Leila alone. Her voice is the constant—sharp, sensual, and sovereign. While future companion novels may explore other characters in more detail, this series is hers entirely.

Another distinction lies in the romantic structure. While Leila engages in many complex, ongoing relationships throughout the series—each revealing a different facet of her power, vulnerability, or ambition—her central romance remains with Drazan Virel, the warlord to whom she was first bound. No matter how far she strays, how high she ascends, or how many hearts she commands, everything circles back to him. Drazan is not just a lover—he is the axis of her fury, her softness, her sovereignty. And the heart of the series may very well break with him.

In essence, The Hollow Queen is not just about love, power, or darkness. It’s about one woman’s unrelenting path to become what she was never meant to be—and what it costs her to get there.