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A review by molly_blackburn
Her Majesty's Royal Coven by Juno Dawson
5.0
Let me start by saying that if you want to read this book, please try the audiobook! Nicola Coughlan does a fabulous job of narrating various accents/characters and bringing the story to life! If someone asks me for a good audiobook rec, this would be in the top 5 I swear.
I loved this story!! I cried (hungover) listening to the last quarter driving along the motorway like my true Bridget Jones self.
I am going to try and keep this review spoiler-free - but THAT ENDING!!!
I went in blind and I'm so glad as it made it even more exciting. At times I thought Juno Dawson may fall foul of including too many important and increasingly relevant subjects but I felt she did a fantastic job at fleshing out each issue just enough to stress its importance while keeping it within a first-in-a-series 500-page novel.
The nuances Juno Dawson used between human rights in the coven against everyday life for people who are not cis-white (males but also females) were bang on and executed brilliantly. I was literally seething through some chapters at the blatant naivety, arrogance and blatant discrimination. However, I think including them was vital to the story as a whole.
I adored the sisterhood and how many differing POVs we get throughout the book. It actually gave me Desperate Housewives (in terms of the range of different characters being thrown together) and also the BBC drama The Split with its range of strong females with differing qualities and beliefs that are united by a single cause - in the case of HMRC, being a witch and the sisterhood.
The relationships and historical ties between the women were beautiful and even heartwrenching at times. I really felt their connection through a shared experience even though all of the characters are uniquely their own.
I highly recommend this book, even more so the audiobook!
What to expect:
- Childhood female friendships
- Very contemporary low fantasy witch vibes
- Rural Northern small town setting
- Loveable characters (and also one you'll hate)
- Trans rights/discrimination
- BIPOC rights/discrimination
- Women's rights
- Smidging of cute romance
- Morality and 'doing the right thing'
- Greif (post-war and loss)
- Action (witches fighting witches)
- Rebellion
One last time, listen to the audiobook!
I loved this story!! I cried (hungover) listening to the last quarter driving along the motorway like my true Bridget Jones self.
I am going to try and keep this review spoiler-free - but THAT ENDING!!!
I went in blind and I'm so glad as it made it even more exciting. At times I thought Juno Dawson may fall foul of including too many important and increasingly relevant subjects but I felt she did a fantastic job at fleshing out each issue just enough to stress its importance while keeping it within a first-in-a-series 500-page novel.
The nuances Juno Dawson used between human rights in the coven against everyday life for people who are not cis-white (males but also females) were bang on and executed brilliantly. I was literally seething through some chapters at the blatant naivety, arrogance and blatant discrimination. However, I think including them was vital to the story as a whole.
I adored the sisterhood and how many differing POVs we get throughout the book. It actually gave me Desperate Housewives (in terms of the range of different characters being thrown together) and also the BBC drama The Split with its range of strong females with differing qualities and beliefs that are united by a single cause - in the case of HMRC, being a witch and the sisterhood.
The relationships and historical ties between the women were beautiful and even heartwrenching at times. I really felt their connection through a shared experience even though all of the characters are uniquely their own.
I highly recommend this book, even more so the audiobook!
What to expect:
- Childhood female friendships
- Very contemporary low fantasy witch vibes
- Rural Northern small town setting
- Loveable characters (and also one you'll hate)
- Trans rights/discrimination
- BIPOC rights/discrimination
- Women's rights
- Smidging of cute romance
- Morality and 'doing the right thing'
- Greif (post-war and loss)
- Action (witches fighting witches)
- Rebellion
One last time, listen to the audiobook!