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questingnotcoasting's review
adventurous
dark
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
4.0
Her Majesty's Royal Coven is one of my favourite reads of 2023 so far so I was extremely excited to read this one. I listened to the audiobook again because I love Nicola Coughlan's narration. She does a wide range of accents perfectly and the different character POVs feel so distinct. I think I preferred HMRC a tiny bit more because the main characters were more often in the same place at the same time but this was still great. Dawson continues to include social commentary within her urban fantasy world, this time mainly through the introduction of the witchfinders. They made me absolutely furious and this was just as tense as the first one, mainly because of them. The ending of the first one was an interesting choice and I wasn't sure I'd enjoy the repercussions of it but actually I found it a really clever and interesting direction to take the story in. I was prepared for another cliffhanger ending but I couldn't predict what it would be. I slightly regret reading this one so soon after its release because now I have to wait at least a year for the next one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Infidelity, Misogyny, Hate crime, Kidnapping, Death, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Torture, Violence, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury and Grief
amy_reading_23's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Wow this was an incredible sequel to the first book! I'd recommend anyone read these books, they're written really well and are really gripping. There were loads of unexpected twists and turns in this one but overall it was really enjoyable.
I really enjoyed the themes of why people do the things they do and how you can come back from it. I love Ciara's storyline and ended up really liking her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Drug use, Misogyny, and Grief
Moderate: Death, Sexism, Racial slurs, Addiction, War, Abandonment, and Body horror
Minor: Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Medical trauma, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, and Toxic relationship
meliemelo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
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? Yes
4.75
An excellent sequel! The new points of views (especially Ciara's, but also Luke's ) really open up the story in sometimes hilarious, although dark, ways. The storyline works really well on its own and brings up very, very interesting developments to the overall arc. Will the references read as dated in a few decades (and perhaps much sooner)? Yes, probably, but that's ok.
I don't know when the (I assume) final book will be out, but I really can't wait for it!
I don't know when the (I assume) final book will be out, but I really can't wait for it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Death, Animal death, Addiction, Sexism, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, Racism, Misogyny, Sexual content, Infidelity, Gore, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Dysphoria, Child abuse, Transphobia, and Alcohol
Minor: Torture
macaronoui's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
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? N/A
5.0
This second book is packed full of twists and a more in depth look at the surviving characters from the first book.
Ciara (pronounced Kyra), is pretending to be Niamh (pronounced Neeve). Dabney is still missing.
This book introduces witch hunters (and killers), and was one of the best and scariest plot lines of the book as it mirrors real life sentiments of some men towards women.
The book really rounds out more of the characters which I loved.
The broad LGBTQ+ representation is beautiful and so important. As well as Bipoc women. So much happens in this book, that I’m still processing and I cannot wait for the third installment.
This book is definitely more scary than the first, but even better.
I listened to the audio version as I loved Nicola (Bridgerton and Derry Girls) reading book one. She is a truly fantastic narrator giving different inflections and accents to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Misogyny, and Death
wordsofclover's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
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
5.0
The HMRC is in a bit of a shambles - the previous High Pristess is dead, and the one that's about to take her place is not who people think she. Other than that, young Theo is struggling with her failing powers, Leonie travels to rescue her brother from one of the worst villains the world has known and Elle deals with marital issues in possibly the worst way imaginable.
It's official that the HMRC trilogy is now probably one of my favourites of all time - the two books I've read have just been soooo good and given me everything I wanted, and missed, for a novel about magic and witches but aimed at adults who have been through stuff, just like the readers. I just love and admire how Juno Dawson has brought this world to life - it genuinely feels so real, and the world-building is just so, so good as is the magic - the dark, the good, and the limitations of it.
I'm always so impressed how Juno Dawson brings real world issues into her books and explores them through character actions and how these movements affect and hurt people. In the first book, we saw a main character, Helena, become a full-blown TERF and how it hurt her relationship with her best friends and ultimately brought about her demise, mostly by her own hand. There isn't as much blatant transphobia in this book from characters which is a relief though we see trans-character Theo still struggling with her transition and what it means for her in a very realistic way. In this book, we see the topic of women-hating men in the form of the Hard Working Men witchfinders group (a couple of twists/reveals about this one that had me shocked!!). This group is very much what you would expect from the type of women-hating incel groups you'd find on 4chan and the dark web in how they rile each other up about how awful women/witches are and how they've been hard done by by them. The way Juno Dawson explores this subject (and rising issue in today's modern society) through witchcraft is just genius.
The characters are a bit more scattered in this one so although we will always have our main Spice Girls, they are a little on their own adventures here. Leonie and Ciara as well as Theo and a bit of Luke are the main POVs in this story with Elle taking a little bit more of a backseat apart from a couple of crazy moments. I loved Leonie's journey to different covens - especially her discovery of a sacred coven/safe place.
Our main POV in this book is the most interesting one as it's darker and more twisted than the ones we have had before (even Helena's) and it's a story we have heard a bit about in the previous book but now we're getting, and feeling it, through the actual source and it's different from what I would have imagined it to be. I thought I would hate this character as we've been told how evil they were but after this book, I don't think this at all and I'm just so excited for book 3 when we will have all the Spice Girls back together, even Geri, to kick some Lucifer butt.
Also, screaming, crying, throwing up at the last scene.
It's official that the HMRC trilogy is now probably one of my favourites of all time - the two books I've read have just been soooo good and given me everything I wanted, and missed, for a novel about magic and witches but aimed at adults who have been through stuff, just like the readers. I just love and admire how Juno Dawson has brought this world to life - it genuinely feels so real, and the world-building is just so, so good as is the magic - the dark, the good, and the limitations of it.
I'm always so impressed how Juno Dawson brings real world issues into her books and explores them through character actions and how these movements affect and hurt people. In the first book, we saw a main character, Helena, become a full-blown TERF and how it hurt her relationship with her best friends and ultimately brought about her demise, mostly by her own hand. There isn't as much blatant transphobia in this book from characters which is a relief though we see trans-character Theo still struggling with her transition and what it means for her in a very realistic way. In this book, we see the topic of women-hating men in the form of the Hard Working Men witchfinders group (a couple of twists/reveals about this one that had me shocked!!). This group is very much what you would expect from the type of women-hating incel groups you'd find on 4chan and the dark web in how they rile each other up about how awful women/witches are and how they've been hard done by by them. The way Juno Dawson explores this subject (and rising issue in today's modern society) through witchcraft is just genius.
The characters are a bit more scattered in this one so although we will always have our main Spice Girls, they are a little on their own adventures here. Leonie and Ciara as well as Theo and a bit of Luke are the main POVs in this story with Elle taking a little bit more of a backseat apart from a couple of crazy moments. I loved Leonie's journey to different covens - especially her discovery of a sacred coven/safe place.
Our main POV in this book is the most interesting one as it's darker and more twisted than the ones we have had before (even Helena's) and it's a story we have heard a bit about in the previous book but now we're getting, and feeling it, through the actual source and it's different from what I would have imagined it to be. I thought I would hate this character as we've been told how evil they were but after this book, I don't think this at all and I'm just so excited for book 3 when we will have all the Spice Girls back together, even Geri, to kick some Lucifer butt.
Also, screaming, crying, throwing up at the last scene.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence, Death, and Misogyny
jamieleepilk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Sexism, Sexual content, Drug abuse, Drug use, Blood, Body horror, Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Grief, Misogyny, and Death
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