Thank you to NetGalley, Juno Dawson, and the publisher for the ARC audiobook for Her Majesty's Royal Coven.
I love Juno Dawson, and was really intrigued by the politics and witchcraft elements combined. Gave me American Horror Story: Coven feels.
This book read like a direct reply to JKR's very vocal opinions on transgender people and I loved that about this book. It holds such an important message.
Thr downside for me that was I felt like a lot of the main characters were very similar, to the point where I would often forget who's poi t of view I was listening to until their name was mentioned. Some more diversity in personality would have made this book a four star for me.
The narrator was wonderful, and read the book fantastically.

This book was incredible and added much needed diversity to the fantasy genre. Absolutely brilliant narrator who I hope carries on with the series. The ending left me with many unanswered questions- which is good for a series. Really looking forward to the next one! Don’t want to give spoilers so just read this!

3.5/5.0

HMRC is a secret arm of English government dealing with all things witchy. Helena is current high priestess and after a bloody war she is trying to maintain peace across England. But that's easier said than done when the oracles prophesise that "Leviathan will rise" bringing with him the destruction of all witch kind.

I so wanted to enjoy this book more than I actually did after being on my tbr list for most of 2022.

I unfortunately found the prose of this book to be a little too cliche and cheesy for my liking - soo many pop culture references and at points it felt like I was reading a teenagers diary, it felt like this was in an effort to make your usual witchy fantasy read more relevant.

This book definitely explores some very important themes regarding transgender and racial biases but overall not the great read I was hoping for.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook.

An enjoyable novel about witchcraft and politics tying in to current conversations about gender identity. Nicola Coughlan was the perfect choice of narrator and made the story come alive.

I got a copy of the audiobook for Her Majesty’s Royal Coven through NetGalley. First, I just want to say that Nicola Coughlan is the most fantastic narrator. I wish she could narrate all audiobooks I listen to in future - just brilliant!

Overall I really loved the premise of the story. There are some really great ideas, and I thought the way real life gender politics were explored in this fantasy world was really well done.

I have to admit there were a couple of moments I found quite jarring, which is why I’m only rating this 3.5 stars. As someone who grew up in the 90s I liked a lot of the pop culture references (boyzone/ spice girls etc) but I felt these just got a bit much as the story went on. Most notable being the Kate Hudson fabletics reference in the middle of the main action scene, and the sporty spice reference at the very end. Those in particular really pulled me out of the moment, when there was so much happening already.

Given that a lot of the marketing and reviews for this book focused on how diverse the characters are, I felt a little disappointed that most of the story is told from the POV of the cis white women. The main plot is centred around a trans character, but we never get to hear their POV, and only get a glimpse into how they’re feeling through the POVs of the other characters. I thought this was a missed opportunity, and I really hope we hear more from this character’s perspective in the next book.

Other than that, I did enjoy it. I loved the ending - I didn’t see it coming at all and it definitely took me by surprise. I’m really looking forward to reading the next one now.

Stunning from start to finish and expertly narrated. I hope Nicola is back for the whole trilogy. She did such a good job. That ending though! Good god. I need book 2 now!

Thank you to the publishers Harper Collins UK Audio and NetGalley for providing me with an audiobook copy of this book to read and review.

This was a great book that I could not put down. I really enjoyed it and the fantastic narration by Nicola Coughlan. I loved all of the accents and how she portrayed the characters.

For me, this wasn’t quite a five star read. The pacing of the book was a little slow to start, with the action mainly happening towards the very end of the book.

I would have liked to see the perspective of some of the younger witches and their experiences joining the coven in contrast to the older witches.

I really liked the world building and characters. There was so much depth to the magical government / political system in the book.

I think Juno Dawson is a great writer and I am keen to read more of her work. I can’t wait to read the sequel… especially after the cliffhanger ending! I need to know what happens next.

Excellent narrating from the magical Nicola Coughlan. What an exceptional storyteller, with each accent and character so distinct and memorable. Juno Dawson's writing is wonderful, and I will definitely be adding more of her books to my TBR list!! Would highly recommend this book (especially as an audiobook!)

An exciting story of a group of childhood friends in their different lives as young witches. Elle, Neve, Helen and Leonie are navigating their 30s: relationships, careers, family life, and most of all, their witchy covens. When trouble is brewing ahead will the women stand together as they had before, or will politics and power get in the way of their friendship?

A thoroughly enjoyable fantasy with heart-warming scenes and relatable characters. I can't wait to read more from Dawson.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of Her Majesty's Royal Coven audio book, narrated by Nicola Coughlan.

✨ Audiobook Review ✨

Her Majesty’s Royal Coven - Juno Dawson.

I don’t know where to begin with this one if I’m completely honest. I feel like the political issues and they way they were dealt with were pretty spot on however it felt like nothing really happened.

A group of witches, know as Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, are hidden as a secret government department. They use their magic to protect the crow at all costs. However, when a young Warlock appears, with the threat to bring everything to its knees, the coven is split. They cannot agree on the best course of action.

For such a long books, nothing really happened during this? I was on the edge of my seat, ready for the action to start throughout this but it just lacked any atmosphere. The plot line, though highlighted many important societal issues, was actually pretty bland. The world building was lacklustre and I didn’t connect with any of the characters at all.

Overall, this just wasn’t for me. I’m not hugely into politics and all this book seemed to do was spout ideologies at me. I’m a huge plot-centred reader and this lacked all things plot. I was waiting for the story to commence but it just didn’t. It just felt like political conversations from start to finish. Pass… next!

Unfortunately that was not for me at all. I would have loved to like it but I did not.
Someone else will probably like it more. The audio was really good.

Firstly thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.

Now for my review, this might be slightly controversial as this is one of the most talked about books at the minute, but I only feel this was a 2 star. However, I think it may be because it was an audiobook and not the actual book! For probably 80% whilst I understood the plot, I didn’t fully have an idea what was going on and I was only hooked when Helena did her final act. It’s such a shame because even the narrator was captivating…maybe this is why I continued and did not give in.

However, all this said, I actually have preordered the next book! So despite feeling I didn’t get into the book, it has at least hooked me in for the next one and got me curious to find out what happens next.

This is an expertly narrated edition of an absolutely superb novel by superstar author Juno Dawson. everything she writes is pure gold, and Her Majesty's Royal Coven is brought to life by Nicola Cochrane whose has such a spellbinding manner, I was totally transformed in time and space to the secret coven. an absolute joy to listen to, even the most emotional bits... but especially the most emotional bits! Vivid and sparkling. I can't wait for book 2!

This was a really great book to listen to as an audiobook.
Nicola Coughlan’s narrative is second to none! I have never enjoyed a narrator this much. Her accent skills are so diverse and worked so well with the storytelling.
I really enjoyed the storyline too, the characters were both likeable and at times unlikeable which I think gives them a good amount of depth.
Great for witch-lit fans but also for anyone who likes a bit of fantasy. Sort of reminded me of Harry Potter at times with the wizarding world mixing with the ordinary.

The social commentary aroud the topics discussed - mainly that of gender and transphobia with a little bit of race and feminism thrown in there too - is honest, brutal, and done really well.

Enjoy probably wouldn't be the right word to use, due to my visceral feelings of discomfort and anger (intentional I'm sure), but I was invested in the fast paced and compelling plot.

I do feel however that the author invested too much time on the above and neglected character development. The potential for complex characters that I could be invested in was there but instead got surface level generalisations that left me not really caring.

Despite it's flaws this book evoked very intense feelings from me, and I applaud it for that.

HMRC is a book filled with a tonne of great elements. The social topics regarding the LBGT community were very relevant to the current state of real life. Issues that are really important to be spoken about. I loved the book for this. My only complaint is I would've liked some more actual magic and witchy feels. I will definitely read the sequel. Overall very enjoyable.

ok conceptually, this was a really cool premise for an urban low fantasy. i was especially hopeful about queer and POC representation within a magical community.

however, the way that this book was written felt extremely “othering” in regards to diverse representation. 3/4 of the main characters are all cishet white women. the 4th is the token black biracial lesbian that covers a whole bunch of diversity in one fell swoop. and of course, harmful stereotypes (deadbeat black father, angry black woman, etc.) are perpetuated. any other diverse character, queer or POC alike, are very minor and underdeveloped side characters who are just carelessly written. (one of these side characters is non-binary and referred to as a “queen” in the very first sentence that they’re established as non-binary)

Really enjoyed the book with a different magic system that I've read before. The book deals with more mature themes and definitely very political in both the book setting and also bleeds over into real life. This book makes you consider people's opinions from different points of view. It’s mainly set in a small English town where witch Niamh is trying to live a normal life as a vet who may dabble with magic whilst trying to forget the war that witches fought years before. Niamh is asked by HMRC to look after a young warlock who has more natural power than they should. The book is filled with past localities, betrayal and also is full of feminism.

4 stars

[TBA: I received an ARC of the audiobook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

I was not prepared for how much I liked this book!

Granted, it took me a little while to get into it and to make sense of all the characters, but at about a fifth of the way in, I was utterly invested.

We’re following the lives of four out-of-touch childhood friend witches in contemporary England, each of them with their own issues to deal with. But when a prophecy forecasts the rise of the demon Leviathan through the help of a young warlock with extraordinary capabilities, their world is about to be turned on its head.

Witches and intersectional feminism - what more could you want from a low urban fantasy? The book touched on so many topics, particularly trans issues, which were explored well. Not to mention all the millennial pop culture references that made me feel right at home.

The characters were great - well rounded and very easy to care about and/or be intrigued by. They were given additional depth by the wonderful Nicola Coughlan who narrated the audiobook I listened to. (Not only does she have a lovely voice, but she also does accents very well.)

I genuinely can’t wait for the next instalment of the series because I’m dying to know how the story unfolds!

Fast paced and well written, modern story of witches, womanhood, friendship and power.
We follow the story from the point of view of 4 friends - witches, who years ago joined the coven and sworn an oath to protect it. Years later after a civil war they grew apart but strange and dangerous events bring them together once again.

With thanks to Juno Dawson and Harper Collins for an advanced audio copy of this book.

5*

I loved this audiobook! I'm really glad I chose to listen to it rather than read, the narrator brings so much life and love to the story.

The powerful but subtle undertones of race, oppression and the all to present glass ceiling add a level of depth to what is a world full of fun characters, laughs, and dry wit. I especially love the "they see HMRC and continuing walking by", living in the UK that tickled me a lot.

Very much looking forward to the next instalment.