Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the unabridged audiobook edition in exchange for an honest review.
This was an up and down book for me, I had moments when the dialogue was beautiful and the storyline flew, however, I sometimes felt like I was being preached to. I support trans rights, but a lot of the dialogue was explosions of LGBTQI+ rants that I didn’t think were necessary.
On that note, however, I loved the plot line, it was intriguing and had some wonderful characters, one person that I would have liked to have explored more was Ciara, it seemed like her storyline was a side note, and didn’t really add anything to the plotline. I loved, loved, loved Nicola Coughlan as the narrator, she had a lovely voice, and her accents were excellent.

This book was well written and i did find myself intrigued but whilst reading i did realise that im just nt the biggest fan of witchy books. I've read several witchy books and i always get a bit bored or fed up.

This book was still enjoyable though i just struggled with it at some points. I am very intersted at looking at this authors other books as i did enjoy their writing style

I absolutely loved this audiobook. First of all, the narrators accent was so pleasant to listen to and it really felt like it fit in with the book being set in the UK.
Secondly, it wasn't what I was expecting but I loved the humour in this, how the author has kind of taken the mick from our own government system and played it out well.
I would have liked to have read more about this "war" that they keep bringing up, maybe as a prequel novel.
Otherwise loved it.

My thanks to HarperCollins U.K. Audio for a review copy via NetGalley of the unabridged audiobook edition of ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ by Juno Dawson. It is narrated by Irish actor, Nicola Coughlan. I bought its ebook edition for reference as I needed to check on plot points.

I have been excited for months about this novel with its premise of a royal sanctioned coven. However, it proved different to what I was expecting, which is a lesson in itself. My response was mixed. In some respects the writing felt very YA or Chicklit. I enjoyed this playfulness at times but other times it just didn’t work for me.

‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ is the first in a series centred around a secret government agency tasked to use magic to protect Britain from various supernatural threats. The original coven was created by Queen Anne Boleyn and has continued down through the centuries to the present day.

When they were young, five friends took the Oath and entered the HMRC. Twenty five years pass in the turning of a page. The eldest, Helena, has risen to be the organisation’s High Priestess. Leonie left the coven to found Disporia, an inclusive and intersectional coven. Elle left the magical world completely and is a housewife, though her daughter, Holly, is showing signs of magical powers so Mum might have to come out of the broom closet. Niamh is semi-retired and using her magical gifts as a country veterinarian. The fifth of the young witches, Ciara, Niamh’s twin, has been in a hospital for some years in a coma like state. Intriguing!

All is well until a Minority Report style prophecy about a ‘sullied child’ who will summon the Leviathan and the end of witchkind and men resurfaces. A young warlock (the term Juno uses for male witches) has been captured after displaying remarkable powers. Helena begs Niamh to return to the HMRC to help ascertain whether this young warlock is dangerous …. Niamh does and makes a connection with Theo, the ‘boychild’. So, Theo is entrusted to her care.

However, when Theo confides to Holly that she is not a boy but trans and Holly shares this with her Mum who shares it with… (you get the idea), it is panic time - well at least for Helena. She is seriously triggered, ‘end of the world as we know it’ style. I won’t say more to avoid spoilers but yeah. Still, the majority of characters are supportive of Theo, who certainly seems innocent enough even if her powers are in need of training.

In parts this novel was quite good though I did have some issues. I am not a fan of magic and witchcraft in fiction that involves teleportation and these kind of physical feats and pyrotechnics. It’s okay in fluffy witchy fantasies but I had expected this to be more grounded in historical witchcraft and magic.

Also, while I appreciated that Dawson wanted to address issues associated with identity, it felt as though this quickly dominated the plot. It just felt far too political for my taste. Also, Helena morphs into such a cartoon baddie: sent bonkers by the idea of a young transwoman being admitted to ‘her’ coven. It seemed to be a wasted opportunity to demonstrate that people can get over their limited world-views.

Also, Juno Dawson has created a magical world that is very polarised by gender. In the real world covens are made up of both women and men, so the idea of a witch getting the vapours over seeing male bits was just bizarre. How much Dawson was informed by the occult and witchcraft community was unclear to me. There have been ‘women only’ covens arising from the feminist movement and these may be closer to her vision for HMRC.

I did enjoy the use of pop culture throughout the novel and fun dialogue between the characters.

With respect to the audiobook, full marks to Nicola Coughlan. I have adored her work in Derry Girls and Bridgerton. (Team Penelope!) She was a splendid narrator, handling a variety of accents with ease and her timing was excellent. Please may she narrate the series!

Overall, while I found ‘Her Majesty’s Royal Coven’ heavy-handed on gender identity politics (and don’t get me started on the ending!) it will be interesting to see how the plot unfolds and characters develop in the next book.

In terms of rating, the novel on its own was an ‘it’s okay’ 3 stars for me; yet Nicola Coughlan’s narration was so good that my rating is higher for the audiobook and so 4 stars.

I have to admit I struggled quite a lot with this book. I read another review on here where they said that they liked the message but didn't like the way it was written, and that basically sums up my feelings. It was clearly written as a bit of a hate letter to JK Rowling and her fellow TERFS and I have no issue with that, but I felt like the story got lost in trying to say that that rather than anything else.

Fiction when done right can pass on experiences and viewpoints you might not have otherwise considered. Some of my favourite books are the ones that made me think, and it's clear Juno Dawson tried to do that here. Unfortunately, it felt like by trying to say so much that nothing really ended up being said at all. Most of the people who would pick up a Juno Dawson book, one that discusses discrimination, gender identity politics, feminism and racism are unlikely to agree with TERF viewpoints. There's nothing wrong with preaching to your choir but you can still choose how you portray your message. Helena who was clearly meant to be JK, was portrayed as increasingly unhinged and unrealistic. And Theo felt more like a plot device to Helena's villain story than a person in their own right. We were not really given anything to understand why Helena might be this way, trauma was hinted at but largely glossed over. It made her read like a cardboard cutout of a villain and it made reading her passages a bit of a slog to get through.

Furthermore, the 'good' characters in the book also felt very a bit off. Niamh for example basically mind wiped her sister out of revenge and faced no consequences for her actions. What about due process? Am I meant to side with Niamh just because Ciara, her sister, was accused of being a murderer? A murder that happened off the page, so we the reader do not know what happened other than what we are told by Niamh and Helena. Leonie spent most of her chapters lecturing the reader, but then wasn't mentioned at all for about a third of the book. It felt like her character, especially at the beginning was just used as the token black lesbian character to highlight further discrimination. A whole book could have been written on her story and instead we got a couple chapters on how white witches do not understand their own privilege.

I did enjoy the last chapters, particularly the battle scenes, they were well written and action packed. But the scenes leading up to the battle, particularly with Helena and her demon, just felt totally disconnected from the story so far. Overall I give this a 2.5 stars.

This book really is just not for me. It reads more as a contemporary novel with magical elements than a fantasy book.
There is a super unique atmosphere throughout this one. It was really great to read about England/Ireland in a fantasy setting. With cozy witches cottages and high rise magical institutions. Her Majesty's Royal Coven is about saving the world while saving yourself. Its about picking up the bits and pieces of your life even when its been shattered time and time again.
Great books with a Great narrator - just not one for me

This is an amazing story and perfect as an audiobook. The different accents and voices are perfect for the characters.
The story is engrossing and I found myself listening to it at every opportunity. The questions around transgender witches is so interesting and leads to important questions being answered.
The twists and betrayals in the story draw you in, wanting to find out what is going to happen.

This isnt just wonderful fantasy, it is also a thought provoking book. First the writing deserves 4 stars, but there are a couple of things that didn’t sit well with me - teleportation and the way the general populace were supposedly unaware of witch activities. This apart I enjoyed the story. I couldn’t work out if the author chose gender issues and wrote the story or the other way around; either way gender choice and the effect it has them and their community is embedded through the book. I look forward to the next in the series. Thank you to Penguin Books and NetGalley for the audio ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.

Her Majesty's Royal Coven was a wonderful witchy ride from start to finish. I had the pleasure of listening to this book and I have to say it was incredible! Nicola Coughlan was fantastic, her voice really added something extra special to the story and I loved it!

The premise behind this book was really what attracted me to it. I loved the idea that there were witches and warlocks living amongst us, protecting us from all kinds of evil. Very Men In Black, but better! I enjoyed the use of prophecy in this book too and especially loved the focus on history and lore, it really added an extra layer.

I also really liked the representation in this book! I loved how POC, trans and LGBTQ+ were all represented in one book and how the issues they face were intermingled with the story of the witches and the Coven. The messages in this book were really powerful and it was interesting to read about them in an urban fantasy!

I will say I did struggle at first with the number of POVs. I found it very difficult to figure out who was who, but that eventually became more apparent as the story progressed and characters developed.

Overall, Her Majesty's Royal Coven was a great listen and I really enjoyed it. The pacing was a bit slow and it felt like it was building up to something, which unfortunately came right at the end! It was a proper cliffhanger which shocked and surprised me! I just wish there had been a bit more of this pace and twistiness in the rest of the book!

If you’re a fan of contemporary or urban fantasy with strong political themes you will love Her Majesty’s Royal Coven (HMRC).

We follow four witches Helena, Leonie, Niamh, and Elle. All were childhood friends but have grown up to be very different people. Helena is the high priestess of the HMRC, Leonie has started her own coven for BIPOC witches, Niamh works with animals and uses her magical gifts to help care for their needs, and lastly Elle has completely abandoned her magic living a normal life with her family. A new adept Theo is discovered and sent to live with Niamh. Things happen and create a snowball effect of issues that will bring the four friends back into the magical world.

I loved all the political aspects of this book. There is a lot of discussion around racism, and transgender people. My favourite part of this book is how Juno Dawson was able to tear down TERF arguments around if Trans people should exist. It definitely felt like a direct response to terf k. Rowling and all the things we would like to say to her.

I didn’t vibe with all the millennial references as it took me out of the fantasy aspect. Definitely a me issue not the book. I also just wanted more out of the action scenes, it just felt a little bit flat. The ending has me intrigued so I will be eager to read the sequel when it comes out to see how things end.

3.5 starts – thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook arc for review. The accents of the narrator were perfect for each of the characters. It was easy to follow along and get lost in the story.

Oh my goodness, I absolutely devoured this book. I love witchy books but don't read a lot of them, however things are about to change thanks to this book! I loved the narration (Nicola Coughlan, what a babe), I loved all the voices and got completely lost in the story. I loved that this book was set in the real world and in a current time period, it left out some of the complicated world building that can be a little off-putting in books like this. I was hooked from the start and the ending had me a little shook, so I cannot wait to see where this series goes!

DNF @ 27%

Not throwing any shade at all, I just couldn’t get into the story. I am so thankful for this arc and have the utmost respect for Juno as an author.

Thank you so much to HarperVoyager for sending me a copy of this book.

This book was SO good, I highly recommend it. I found the first 10% a little slow but once I had got into it I just could not put it down! It had great characters and I loved all the LGBTQIA+ representation as well as dealing with issues around racism and all the important topics you expect to be covered in a 2022 book were done so well.

The magical world was really enticing and exciting and I loved all the world building and character development. I think I’m probably in the minority but I’m not a huge fan of Niamh at the minute, as I question some of her moral decisions (wiping memories etc) but I love all the different character types.

I literally cannot wait for the next book (even though this one is still yet to be released LOL).

Highly recommend for a magical and witchy read.

P.S. THAT ending. My goodness.

“If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the trenches; Suffragettes; Bletchley Park oracles; land girls and resistance fighters.”

CW: Transphobia, misgendering, racism, violence, injury, attempted murder, death, kidnapping, war, car accident, animal sacrifice, death of grandparent, death of parent, abusive relationship (hinted at, remembered)

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven was a highly anticipated read for me. Written by Juno Dawson (who, admittedly, I have only read one book from before but I absolutely loved said book) about feminist witches, featuring LGBTQ+ characters, it was a combination I was confident in. Plus the audiobook is narrated by Nicola Coughlan (Derry Girls, Bridgerton).
I really enjoyed the book. It was easy to read, even whilst covering difficult issues (like transphobia and white privilege). Witches were scattered into the everyday, and it was fast paced so I wanted to keep reading.
The characters were such a huge aspect of the book, and I think they were really well developed. Each had a sense of identity and motivations, although there was certainly a sense of kinship and sisterhood between the women in this - a shared history and shared love (The Spice Girls).
I enjoyed that the narrators were (often) mothers, but that that didn’t define them. They loved fiercely, both those they already knew and those they came to know during the course of the book. Motherhood simply added another layer to their character.
I loved how Leonie was there to point out other flaws in HMRC. She challenged accepted cis white norms. It was realistic for her to have created her own alternate coven.
I liked that there was almost a sense of the mundane to the witchiness. Yes they are witches, but witches that have already fought a war, that are ready to move on. They live a normal life that being a witch is simply a part. It was enjoyable to see the characters teaching magic they already knew, and I liked how magic linked into science to make it feel more realistic.
Niamh and Theo’s relationship was amazing. I loved it so much. A queer child/parent relationship like this, I imagine, would be really comforting, so it was lovely to read it in this book. Niamh didn’t immediately get it right, but she tried *so* hard and she supported Theo as she made her own decisions. The topic is an uncomfortably still persistent issue, but I really enjoyed characters arguing with TERFs in a book about (young) witches.
The end threw a couple of big surprises in the air, so I’m really looking forward to reading another book in this series - I’m not sure how the book will be able to carry on from the end!

I adored this book. First the audiobook is fantastic, Nicola Coughlan is just fabulous she gives so much to each of the characters and it was just such a joy to listen to her narration. She was a perfect choice for this book.

The book itself is so hard to describe without spoilers but I will try. Juno Dawson sets up a fantastically relatable sisterhood right on page one. As a Brit in her 30’s I have had the exact fight with my friends in my youth. Who got to be what Spice girl? Which Boyzone member you were going to marry (I like the girls in the book was a Stephen Gately girl)? It just drew me into the book. Then how those bonds grew up and twisted as these girls became grown women and moved away from each other and the different directions their lives take them yet they still have that bond is just such a beautiful through line for this book. Juno Dawson also just beautifully captured the cost of maintaining those friendships, exploring the darker sides, the back stabbing, feelings of being left out or behind, the gaslighting that can happen, the bully of the group and how these friendships can become toxic and end. The characters are so strong in each of their unique perspectives and outlooks, that you can’t help but want to learn more about them. There was just so much depth to them all.

The world building was so complex, the history of this world, how witches live within it, how the magic works, where witches of colour and queer witches stand in the community, how those with daughters of there own work with the knowledge of magic, magical wars, prisons, hospitals, government. All of these elements are explored and they play into the plot so well. I love that we don’t just get a glimpse into the wonderful aspects of the magic but the political matters too.

The plot is also fantastic, it explores female friendship, motherhood and a splash of romance in a way that just keeps you glued to the page (or in my case extending my walk so I could keep listening). Dawson was not afraid to go dark, there are twists in this book that had me tearing up, that had me raging with the same anger as the characters, and elated with joy and pride in others. Without spoiling, the story has so much fierce love in it but also isn’t afraid to wade into those darker elements and ask why? I just thought it was a really powerful way to explore these topics.

I honestly cannot wait for book two. The ending was both satisfying but bitter sweet. there was also a sneaky little epilogue that left on such a fantastic cliff-hanger and I need to know what happens next. Its definitely a book I am going to re-read and a highlight of my 2022 reads so far.

I am reviewing the audio version of the book- wow what an utterly fantastic choice of narrator in Nicola Coughlan is there anything that they can't do- they brought the story to life, their different accents and voices for each character was great - chefs kiss!

This is the first in a supernatural fantasy series from Juno Dawson. The book tells the story of four life long friends who happen to be witches they are brought back together by a prophecy that a sullied child will bring about the apocalypse and the total destruction of the HMRC (Her Majesty's Royal Coven.)

The story weaves social commentary seamlessly with a fantasy world.

Things I really enjoyed about this book- the diverse range of characters, the individual storylines and character building, Helena's hanging on to her resentment over a missed trip to Tammy Girl- I am 100% in on that level of pettiness, I felt that the book was well paced and I honestly felt like I was listening to a screen play, I could see this working so well on the screen (hint, hint I want to see this on a screen.)

Things that I felt could have been done better- I was so excited about the idea of a secret government department and I wanted to see how that world worked, I felt we only saw glimpses. Theo's character was really central to the storyline however we didn't hear that much about them or from them however I know that this is the first in the series so is there more to come from them in the future.

Overall I really enjoyed listening to the book and I've pre ordered the Hardback so will be looking forward to reading it again in the future to see how it reads as opposed to listens.

I am, as I think a lot of speculative readers are, always intrigued by the idea of a hidden magical world. That idea that witches could be real if only you could peep behind some kind of glamour or receive an invitation to join. For that reason I just knew I was going to like Juno Dawson's 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' but I don't think I could have anticipated how much I would get drawn into the story - so much so that I would like to offer at least one organ to anyone who is able to provide me with a manuscript for book two!
The story itself is intriguing, I can't say I had any idea where things were going to go once the book started and it's the kind of plotline that you just have to let take you where it will, having shocking realisations along with the characters. Sometimes I like to know everything and have a very clear plot structure, sometimes I just want to be told a story and this time I enjoyed the latter.
This book doesn't shy away from the issues one might expect in a Juno Dawson book, with transphobia being front and centre as a theme. I think because I am someone who already knows a lot of the language and arguments around this topic (firmly on the side of 'let's let trans people live their lives please stop being awful' let me be clear) some of the moments in the story felt a little bit 'explainy' in a way that I don't always love but I think it was important that those things be in there for an audience who might be less comfortable or familiar. I'll also be very interested to see what reviewers of colour think of the depiction of the women of colour in the story as I'm not in a place to comment on that but it did feel well considered when I was listening to the story.
Overall I think I would recommend this to anyone wanting a story in a world where there are witches. I wouldn't say you get a good picture of exactly how the world functions beyond the scope of the story so it doesn't quite scratch the same itch as other books with secret magical worlds but it is my theory that we'll get a bit more of that in the sequel - and at any rate I don't think this book set out to be another 'let me show you how witch society works in every way' kind of story, instead focussing in on particular characters and their changing relationships to one another. I would especially recommend the audiobook which is how I consumed this particular title.
My rating: 4.5/5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley - all opinions are my own.

I really liked the audiobook narrator, and felt the voice was clear and pleasant to listen to. I liked the different accents used for different characters and felt the speed was good and the words were clear.

However, whilst the plot has great potential, I felt this was not achieved. The political commentary was spot on (about gender, race, classism) however it really fell through with the prose. I thought the writing was very cliche and often hard to understand. Initially I also struggled to identify which character the chapter was following, as most of the voices blended into each other.

I really wanted to enjoy this book, but ultimately could not.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to love this book. I Loved the POC and the LGBTQ+ rep and the HMRC stuff was quite Novel and different but I just didn't care about the story or any of the characters. I struggled to get through it.

The audiobook was well read I think if I had the physical Book I would have dnf the audio got me through.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK Audio and Juno Dawson for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest Review

I devoured Juno Dawson's first foray into adult fantasy and I can't wait for the sequel. Dawson effectively uses the feminist witch genre to depict the growing rise and dangers of transphobia in modern-day Britain. It's a damning indictment of powerful women manipulating feminist ideals to directly attack a marginalised group. I loved the in-depth worldbuilding of the witches and how it mirrors real-world injustices which made this fantasy book so realistic to me. One of my favourite parts was Leonie's coven and her Black Sabbath meetings. Created out of frustration at HMRC for prioritizing white witches, it becomes a welcoming beacon for witches of colour with a wide spectrum of genders and sexualities. It provides key discussions on the lack of intersectionality and the harm produced but institutions dominated by white women. Overall this is a fantastic start to a fantasy series that utilizes the themes of witchcraft to sharply critique the state of modern Britain.

I only have a few gripes with it. Firstly, for a book about transphobia and the violence perpetrated by terfs, we don't see much of the central trans character Theo, who is the catalyst for the plot. I really want to see more from her, and have some POV chapters with her which I'm hoping we'll get in the rest of the series. Secondly, the plot does stop so characters can have these in-depth political discussions, which while I enjoyed I wished they had been tied more seamlessly into the plot.

I listened to the audiobook and Nicola Coughlan's performance was brilliant. It made what might have been a slow read for me, an exciting binge-read that I couldn't put down. Her accents for all the different characters were perfection and her acting talent shines through.