Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson

9 reviews

courtnoodles's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

traa's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

th18's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Heres a few points I noted down whilst reading:
  • Fast pace and seemed more YA than anything, too many modern references for me personally but each to their own. 
  •  This also felt like the second book of the series at the start there was just so much unexplained things thrown in.
  •  Whilst the book did deal with modern topics such as race and trans rights, I wish it also talked a bit about harmful beauty standards due to Elle literally hiding her true self from her husband. 
  •  I feel like the amount of swear words was also unnneeded.
  •  I love the idea of queer witches and empowered modern women but I feel like the talk about adulthood was very bleak
  •  The writing and worldbuilding also felt quite underdeveloped which was disappointing 
  •  Finally the use of the d slur was completely unneeded
 Although I've only mentioned the negatives, I did have an okay time reading this and it was quite engaging but it could definitely have been better. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

axel_p's review

Go to review page

adventurous emotional funny medium-paced
  • 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

Slay

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

anxiousnachos's review

Go to review page

challenging emotional

4.5

I have now slept on this and whilst I am still not recovered from that cliffhanger (never will be), I am recovered enough to try write some semblance of thoughts. 

This book really scared me. It took me longer than I would usually take to read what is quite an accessibly written, witchy, adult fantasy, because of the feelings it churned up. It is a horrifyingly close political parallel to transphobic rhetoric, and reading this so close to the recent Melbourne TERF-Nazi rally was particularly frightening. It felt very reminiscent of Helena’s actions throughout the book and at times I found it difficult to read on because things just felt hopeless. 

But beneath this confronting political rhetoric is the heart of queer stories everywhere: the family that makes fighting worth it. The family we’re fighting for. 

Now ummm if someone could like…give me the sequel? 

——

ARE YOU KIDDING ME that cliffhanger?!?

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

kateyhb's review

Go to review page

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious slow-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

4.25

Personally, I loved this book. It is very in your face about transphobia, sexism, and racism. I think it addresses many of the real life harms experienced by marginalized people. I love subtle commentary in books, but this commentary is not subtle at all. It’s spelled out for you by the characters and it was surprisingly refreshing. I can get past how not subtle and sometimes cheesy this book is because it’s honestly so nice to have an antagonist who represents the harm done by Cis-het white women.

TERFs are the villain in so many real people’s stories, and i was all about the way this book was a big FUCK YOU to TERFs. And also a big I LOVE YOU to trans women.


I really liked most of the main characters, and this book is bursting with queer allyship (despite the excruciating bits of TERF garbage we are forced to read).  If you’re a left-leaning queer/ally who likes fantasy, this will be an enjoyable read for you. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings

amy_reading_23's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

4.75

This was an emotional roller coaster! I didn't expect it to be so heavy. I enjoyed it. The chapters are split up by different characters perspectives. Niamh was definitely my favourite character and I enjoyed her chapters. Without adding spoilers, there was one character's chapters I found quite hard to read because of the hate in it. I loved Theo and wanted to protect them. Overall it was a compelling and important book and it definitely seems to be setting up for a sequel so I look forward to reading that. 



Expand filter menu Content Warnings

annelihghh's review

Go to review page

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective 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? Yes

4.5


Expand filter menu Content Warnings

haylzno's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous dark emotional 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? It's complicated

4.75

This book perfectly satisfied my need for a witchy book. I absolutely loved this novel. 

Low/urban fantasy: set in our world but add in some ✨magic✨

I loved the array of creatures they sprinkled throughout and the realistic integration of witches and warlocks with the "mundanes".

Great queer rep. Lots of bad ass witches. 
There are quite a few POVs but I think it served the plot well. You're able to get a better sense of the characters thanks to the POVs. 
Massive cliff hanger right at the end! I can't wait for the next book. 

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
More...