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axel_p's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Body horror, Child abuse, Confinement, Deadnaming, Death, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, and Outing
Minor: Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Pregnancy, and War
rorikae's review against another edition
- 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
Niamh, Helena, Elle, Leonie, and Ciara all grew up together as budding witches. As kids they were fast friends but as women in their mid-30s and after the fallout of a war, life has changed for all of them. Helena is head of Her Majesty's Royal Coven, Niamh is a veterinarian living in a small town, Elle is taking care of her two children, and Leonie has started her own coven dedicated to marginalized witches. Ciara is in a coma after the events of the war. When Theo, a teenager with incredible magical power is discovered, Helena fears that they are the prophesized Sullied Child that will destroy the witches. Niamh on the other hand just sees a young child with too much power who has never been shown care in their life. With differing views, tensions begin to rise as they each determine what is the appropriate step forward.
Dawson has written an adult fantasy that is hard to put down while dealing with a number of different subjects. It is clear that this book is in large part inspired by She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and her transphobia. Dawson delves into a number of different subjects while creating a cast of characters that it is easy to love. She also does a good job of showcasing how a belief in how things should be can escalate into full bigotry. There is a twist at the end of this first book that makes me excited and terrified for where this story is going next. Dawson's writing is straightforward but the plot and characters made this a story I had a hard time putting down. If you are looking for a fast paced fantasy set in our world and dealing with many of our current issues, 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' is a great book to pick up.
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: War
Minor: Abandonment
cozywithraven's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body horror, Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Toxic friendship, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Death of parent
amberinpieces's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Transphobia
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Misogyny, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racism, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Outing, Gaslighting, Colonisation, Dysphoria, and Classism
questingnotcoasting's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Mental illness, Torture, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Outing, and War
clairew97's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
katiewhocanread's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Body horror and Transphobia
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Violence, Murder, Toxic friendship, and War
Minor: Car accident
grrrlbrarian's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Transphobia, Blood, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Self harm, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Abortion, Murder, Outing, Gaslighting, and War
Minor: Eating disorder, Racism, Terminal illness, Vomit, and Dysphoria
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
- 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
4.75
UK Release - 27/7/2022.
The first book in what is set to be a very exciting series!
In 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' we meet a group of witches who grew up as childhood friends. As a dreaded prophecy seems to be coming true their friendship & powers will be tested to the limits.
Spoiler Free review. Wow. What a book.
I'm a sucker for a witch book anyway so as soon as this was announced it sounded right up my street. I throughly loved it. The characters are all (well mostly all, if you know you know) extremely loveable and we get very attached to them very quickly.
I loved the magical system in this and the fractions of the different covens. Juno brilliantly weaves real day, real life issues into a world that isn't that different from our own.
I love a book where each character has there own storyline that eventually all comes together.
Niamh Kelly is a brilliant main character, the story is largely set through her eyes and her struggles.
Leonie & Chinara's relationship was so lovely and felt extremely real. Hopefully in the rest of the series we get a POV from Theo?
I also can't tell you how chuffed I am that this book is largely set in the North of England. The base for HMRC is in Manchester which was just an incredible added detail, also the shopping centre I work at is mentioned which made me insanely happy!!!
I'm honestly so excited to see where Juno takes this series and these brilliant characters.
Graphic: Death, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, and Classism