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readingqueerly's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
It has been a long time since a book has been able to surprise me multiple times. But this one did. I legit slapped a hand over my mouth for all of the last chapter. This book left me GAGGED y'all.
The characters were incredible. I love an ensemble cast, and this was done so well. I could feel these women. I was yelling and crying and cheering and booing at them.
A truly magical (ha!) story about sisterhood, betrayal, and beliefs with surprisingly great rants on white feminism, racism, intersectional identities, queerness, etc. Basically, this whole book has a great message of what it means to be a woman, but how women (especially those with privilege) have a very rigid idea on this; and how the system upholds this rigid idea since it benefits them under the guide of tradition. It includes, of course, a lot of representation for WOC, LGBTQ+ people, and disabled people.
I cannot wait to read the second one. I might actually go buy it asap because holy shit this was good.
The characters were incredible. I love an ensemble cast, and this was done so well. I could feel these women. I was yelling and crying and cheering and booing at them.
A truly magical (ha!) story about sisterhood, betrayal, and beliefs with surprisingly great rants on white feminism, racism, intersectional identities, queerness, etc. Basically, this whole book has a great message of what it means to be a woman, but how women (especially those with privilege) have a very rigid idea on this; and how the system upholds this rigid idea since it benefits them under the guide of tradition. It includes, of course, a lot of representation for WOC, LGBTQ+ people, and disabled people.
I cannot wait to read the second one. I might actually go buy it asap because holy shit this was good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse and Sexual content
katcass's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Transphobia
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Car accident, Toxic friendship, and Alcohol
Minor: Animal death
ninaleonie's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Transphobia, and Violence
Minor: Death, Eating disorder, and Self harm
scruffygirlvix's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia and Violence
Minor: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, and Racism
chanlo1994's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Transphobia, Blood, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Homophobia and Violence
Minor: War
tayleigh's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I will come back to write a review when I’ve thought and processed everything but I loved it right until the last few chapters and now I don’t know if I want to continue with the series.
Okay, it’s been a few days. I stand by the 4 stars I gave it. I loved this book so much until the last few chapters. It wasn’t the climax that was disappointing it was the resolution and set up for book two that really threw me off. It’s hard to explain why without crazy spoilers so I will put the spoiler tag on:
I thought that the “trial” at the end was jarring and abrupt, like why even keep her alive if you are going to put her to death like 3 pages later. But I’m also in the camp in fantasy if you don’t see the body don’t believe they are dead so I could see some shenanigans happening in future books. Also what happened with Ciara and the random info dump of what the demon was up to without us being aware felt cheap. We were following the POV, we saw one memory gap scene but having it be more and more apparent would make the reveals at the end much more purposeful and not just thrown in there for the cliffhanger and the READ THE NEXT BOOK heavy handed ness of that ending. It felt like she just put all the info dump in for shock value to hope to hook people in without proper set up. Which felt so jarring to me. Making me question if I want to continue.
Okay back to safe space:
This book followed the lives of four women (witches), who were best friends growing up, and how each of their lives changed as they grew older and after a devastating war among witches that took place about 10 years prior. Looking back on it having 4 POVs was a lot and I felt like two of the four I wanted more from or could have been cut out, though I feel that those two were the stories that I was most interested in.
The main plot though was about a doom brining child who is said to bring the ending of days and life as we know it. You know the normal doom and gloom of apocalyptic prophecies.
I loved following the women’s stories and more of the slice of life content we got as well as the heartbreaking story of Theo’s past and fining hope and friendship as the story progressed.
Major trigger warnings for Transphobia, we have a POV of a TERF, and on page violence against a trans woman.
This book took on many different social commentary issues, mainly in one of the POVs I wish we had more of from, about systemic racism, elitism, transphobia, homophobia, and feminism benefiting straight white women. We also had grief from the loss of a loved one during the war (sister, fiancé and husband) and the guilt associated with moving on which I found really touching.
Okay, it’s been a few days. I stand by the 4 stars I gave it. I loved this book so much until the last few chapters. It wasn’t the climax that was disappointing it was the resolution and set up for book two that really threw me off. It’s hard to explain why without crazy spoilers so I will put the spoiler tag on:
Okay back to safe space:
This book followed the lives of four women (witches), who were best friends growing up, and how each of their lives changed as they grew older and after a devastating war among witches that took place about 10 years prior. Looking back on it having 4 POVs was a lot and I felt like two of the four I wanted more from or could have been cut out, though I feel that those two were the stories that I was most interested in.
The main plot though was about a doom brining child who is said to bring the ending of days and life as we know it. You know the normal doom and gloom of apocalyptic prophecies.
I loved following the women’s stories and more of the slice of life content we got as well as the heartbreaking story of Theo’s past and fining hope and friendship as the story progressed.
Major trigger warnings for Transphobia, we have a POV of a TERF, and on page violence against a trans woman.
This book took on many different social commentary issues, mainly in one of the POVs I wish we had more of from, about systemic racism, elitism, transphobia, homophobia, and feminism benefiting straight white women. We also had grief from the loss of a loved one during the war (sister, fiancé and husband) and the guilt associated with moving on which I found really touching.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Violence, and Murder
tiredgirlreads's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! The cast of characters was wonderfully fresh, although I wish a tiny bit more time was spent on Leonie and her coven, as well as Clara’s backstory. That said, the pace probably would’ve suffered as a result. I really loved the inclusivity and clear message about how important intersectional feminism is. And all of the witchy lore was delightful!
The one thing I was NOT ready for was that ending. By god… there better be a resolution and notNiamh’s utterly unfair death!!!! I’m hoping that her spirit is still there and when Ciara gets defeated (pleaaaaaase), Niamh’s spirit can go back into her body. Please.
The one thing I was NOT ready for was that ending. By god… there better be a resolution and not
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Violence, and War
rowan92579's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Homophobia
kayleighoneillonwheels's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, and Outing
readwithria's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Her Majesty’s Royal Coven was the political, witchy-sisterhood book I didn’t know I needed.
I really enjoyed this book, and the characters took the cake. The POV characters, their children and wards, their partners, and all of the side characters felt so fleshed out and real. Their relationships were so fun to read about, even the bad ones.
I will say that it wasn’t until well into the book that I felt like I understood how the magic system worked. The delineation between the different types of witches and what they can do, plus the elemental aspect of witchery, made for a lot of information that I still don’t fully grasp.
I’m very excited to read The Shadow Cabinet! 4 stars.
I really enjoyed this book, and the characters took the cake. The POV characters, their children and wards, their partners, and all of the side characters felt so fleshed out and real. Their relationships were so fun to read about, even the bad ones.
I will say that it wasn’t until well into the book that I felt like I understood how the magic system worked. The delineation between the different types of witches and what they can do, plus the elemental aspect of witchery, made for a lot of information that I still don’t fully grasp.
I’m very excited to read The Shadow Cabinet! 4 stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Transphobia, Violence, Murder, Outing, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Animal death, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Kidnapping, Car accident, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Fire/Fire injury