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axel_p's review
- 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, Misogyny, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Confinement, Outing, Domestic abuse, Deadnaming, Murder, Kidnapping, Emotional abuse, and Eating disorder
Minor: War, Racism, Sexism, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, and Transphobia
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: Grief, Kidnapping, Body horror, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gaslighting, Murder, Transphobia, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: War
Minor: Abandonment
cozywithraven's review
- 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, Transphobia, Homophobia, and Deadnaming
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual content, Death of parent, Violence, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Classism, and Colonisation
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: Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Cursing, Misogyny, Toxic friendship, Blood, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Dysphoria, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Outing, Child abuse, Infidelity, Racism, Animal death, Classism, Grief, Car accident, Colonisation, Gaslighting, and Kidnapping
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: Murder, Torture, Blood, Body horror, Kidnapping, Car accident, Death, Grief, Animal death, Mental illness, Outing, Transphobia, Violence, 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: Classism, Confinement, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Misogyny, Abandonment, Abortion, Blood, Addiction, Alcohol, Child abuse, Kidnapping, Violence, Body horror, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Murder, Outing, Sexism, Sexual content, Transphobia, Car accident, Medical content, Toxic friendship, Animal death, Bullying, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and War
katiewhocanread's review
- 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: Transphobia and Body horror
Moderate: War, Violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic friendship, Murder, and Gore
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: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Blood, Body horror, Car accident, Child abuse, Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Transphobia, Sexual content, Kidnapping, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Abortion, War, Torture, Self harm, Outing, Murder, Gaslighting, and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Eating disorder, Vomit, Racism, Terminal illness, and Dysphoria
jamieleepilk's review
- 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: Blood, Classism, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Murder, Transphobia, Violence, and War
Moderate: Body horror and Blood
Minor: Car accident, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Toxic friendship