It was absolutely wonderful to be back in this world with the original Queen and coven started - Anne Boleyn.
This book was perfect well almost, my main criticism is that it just wasn't long enough! I can't wait for more of this series.

NetGalley arc

I love everything set in the Her Royal Coven universe. It was good getting insight into the founding of the coven

Sorry to say this was a little disappointing; as a fan of the HMRC series I had hoped for more, but it was still pacy and easy to get through.

I love Juno Dawson’s writing – all her books I’ve read make me so sad. This *Her Majesty’s Royal Coven* series prequel about Anne Boleyn is making me even more impatient to be devastated further by Human Rites. Please come and rip my heart out, Juno!

I have somewhat accidentally been on a witch marathon recently and *Queen B* has reminded me why witch narratives are so great. Discourse about witches often reflects attitudes towards real women, somethign which Dawson consistently uses intentionally and effectively in her writing.

*Queen B* is a slight departure from the rest of the HMRC series. Dawson proves she can master a compelling novella (more difficult that it seems!) as well as a fantastical epic. The shift in historical vs. modern settings feels seamless – Dawson’s voice and style translate well to the historical context and has retained its social commentary and modern politics.

I received the advanced reader copy of Queen B but also listened to the audiobook narrated by the incomparable Nicola Coughlan, whose talents elevated my reading experience.

This was a really interesting read, I was impressed by how well Juno's writing lent itself to historical fiction. I definitely wanted more, I want to know about how HMRC came to be and what happened next!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book

When I first read the description I definitely expected to have Anne Boleyn feature a lot more prominently in the main action. But despite that not being the case and us not getting her PoV even in flashback chapters, I loved how the author has woven in historical events, the vibes from SIX the musical, and prequel elements setting up the world of her main story!

Juno KNOWS how to grab an audience - witchcraft AND Tudor England, ofc I was going to enjoy this! It's rare a prequel is done as well as this one, but I should, well, I suppose bow down to Juno (jokes, I adore her, I already do) at the good job done here -History and magic combined, similarly to Emilia Hart type stories is a top combination..!

Queen B is the delicious prequel to the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy. Her "Majesty’s Royal Coven" and "HMRC: Shadowcabinet" are already available and the final book is due for publication in 2025.

Now, I'm a big fan of this series, owning both digital and physical copies of the first two books. So, you can imagine my excitement for a prequel, especially one concerning such an infamous figure as Anne Boleyn, the second wife of Henry VIII.

Our protoganist is one Lady Grace Fairfax, contemporary of Anne, and a member of both her household and Coven. Treachery is ever-present at the Court, and our Coven face multiple betrayals, which becomes a focus of the novel, beginning with the execution of the Queen, and then jumping back to relate the events leading upto this stage. Through Grace's eyes, we see the rise of Anne at court, through her complex marriage and eventual death, and the attempts by the Coven to seek revenge.

The mix of historical facts, with fiction provides for an intriguing storyline with a refreshing take on real events. Also, as Anne is also shown through Grace's memories, she remains a somewhat enigmatic figure in the storyline. And though the storyline is about Anne, this approach allows the theme of the importance of sisterhood shine through - an essential theme in the HMRC trilogy.

Witch and Queen offers an enthralling exploration of Anne Boleyn’s rise and fall, blending ambition and enchantment. In this latest instalment of Dawson’s acclaimed HMRC series, we return to the origins of the story, beginning with the beheading of a witch who became queen. As her coven is thrown into chaos, a traitor remains at large, and her dreams of witchcraft in power are shattered, Anne faces her executioner with grace and a final, cunning plan.

Dawson masterfully intertwines events before and after Anne’s death, presenting the narrative through the perspectives of Lady Grace Fairfax and Cecilia De La Torre—witches and ladies-in-waiting. This prequel delves deeply into themes of female power and the struggles surrounding love, fear, birth, and death. Despite its compact length, the novel is rich with romance, drama, and danger, making it a compelling read that sets the stage for the HMRC series.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

I have enjoyed the HMRC series by this author and this prequel was great.
Witches at the court of Henry VIII and the original witch coven.
Light and fun

Apologies for the late review on this. Covid, family unexpectedly hospital long term for my sister and a house purchase, just wiped me out.

This book - novella to be more precise - is a delight. It ties in the early formation of HMRC, and while it lacks depth the main books bring because of its short length, I still found it a fascinating insight into the way it started for these women.
It was a quick, easy paced read.
I wasn't expecting the grit and depth from the novels but it was still there on some levels, but if that is what you want from the series, then this isn't going to do much for you. However, if like me, you want every bit of detail, no matter how scant or set in whatever time period, on HMRC, then this is an ideal book for the collection.
A great quick read.

Absolutely fantastic, pure and sheer perfection from Juno Dawson, every time I think I can’t enjoy a book more I am proved wrong and they write something even better, can’t recommend enough

Thankyou to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction | HarperVoyager for a free e-arc in exchange of an honest review.

I loved how this very easily and believably entwined with historical events- it made the book feel very realistic.
-Well paced
-Believable
-Fun (in a sad way?)
-Needed to be longer
-A little bit of a disconnect to the series

I was intrigued when I read the blub for Queen B and had to read this- and the book was an enjoyable and different take on a well-worn period of history. The story is told from the point of view of Grace and Cecila who find themselves caught up in the danger that surrounds Anne.
The plot moves quickly, and the book is easy to read – I read in one sitting. I enjoyed how the book narrative seemed to fit the historical setting. . I could just about believe that Anne Boleyn was a witch and a formidable group of women who surrounded her. It would explain a lot of the historical events during this time. Even though we never directly read about Henry the Eighth, his presence casts a heavy shadow throughout the book. I particularly enjoyed how I could never quite tell what Anne’s motives were right till the end. Fans of her Majesty’s Royal coven will love this instalment.

I love the HMRC series from Juno Dawson, and I also love Tudor history so I thought this combo would be a match made in heaven. Unfortunately though, this novella is just too short for me to sink my teeth into the story. And for someone who knows a fair bit about Tudor history, I was pretty confused by the large cast of characters too. There's bits and pieces of brilliance, with some great action scenes, but I found the relationships between all of the women to be really lacking in depth and meaning - especially that of Grace and Anne, and to a lesser extent Cecilia and Grace too. The lack of development to their relationships really undermines Cecilia's motives as I just didn't find her actions to be all that believable.

If you enjoy the HMRC series, maybe give this a go, but I don't think it's a necessary addition to that story and I even found the tone of this one to be very different.

I don't know why, but going from the main series to this, I did not expect this to be a retelling of Anne Boleyn haha. But I really love this world that Dawson is building and it was a nice short prequel that expanded the witching world that bit more.

Set during the formation of HMRC (Her Majesty’s Royal Coven) the story follows multiple characters as they navigate the time around Anne Boleyn’s execution and the beginning of the witch trials. As a history and fantasy ready this book was the perfect combination and a great addition to Juno Dawson’s world. A refreshing take on a well-known story, I loved reading from the lady in waiting’s POV. It also gives us a welcome back story to the conception of HMRC. This story could be read before the main books however I think it’s better read as a cleanser between the main books.

I thank the publisher, author and Netgalley very much for this opportunity

In Queen B we are taken back to the origins of Her Majesty's Royal Coven in the time of Anne Boleyn.

It's a short novella but we have betrayal, revenge and the HMRC intensity we all like. Unfortunately I don't think this was quite as good as Her Majesty's Royal Coven and The Shadow Cabinet and I think that's due to the extra relationships and getting to know the characters more so in those books. If I had read this before the other two, I think I would have enjoyed it more and rated it higher but I went into this expecting it to hit as hard as those two books.

It was still good and I would still recommend fans of the series reading.

I really enjoyed this novella, the only reason it was a 4 star and not a 5 star for me is because I don't feel it brought anything to the overall story of the series. That being said it was still great seeing some of actual British history mixed in with this fictional world and adding a tragic love story

Set during the formation of HMRC (Her Majesty’s Royal Coven) the story follows multiple characters as they navigate the time around Anne Boleyn’s execution and the beginning of the witch trials. As a history and fantasy ready this book was the perfect combination and a great addition to Juno Dawson’s world. A refreshing take on a well-known story, I loved reading from the lady in waiting’s POV. It also gives us a welcome back story to the conception of HMRC. This story could be read before the main books however I think it’s better read as a cleanser between the main books.