Joined in 2023 
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Told from the POV's of our four friends, Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle, we see lots of different versions of the HMRC. After splitting from the Coven and starting her own, tensions between her and Helena have been a little high, but Leonie did what she needed to make every Witch feel welcome.
Sides have been picked, battle lines have been drawn and the friends will need to decide whether it's worth dying for what you believe in. Now lead by Helena Vance, the Coven is at it's strongest ever which is good for a prophecy has arisen, one that could lead to the destruction of Witch kind forever. Her first adult fantasy trilogy HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL COVEN launched in 2022, becoming an instant best-seller.
The magic in this book was incredibly well written and pretty commonplace for anyone who is used to reading witchy books. There are whisperings of a prophecy that will bring the coven to its knees, and four best friends are about to be caught at the centre.
We see the people we grew up with become unrecognisable, put things into motion, dangerous things, because their way of life is threatened. It's utterly fantastic, every character makes you connect with them and feel something different for them.But unfortunately that is the state of the world we live in today and Dawson does a great job showing the daily plight of trans people.
The launch book in a trilogy, the first half is largely world-building and the cliffhanger ending is pure torture. Partially my fault because I had it in my head this was a stand alone, but I also just can't believe she went there. The premise doesn't really give away much of the story, which makes it so much more shocking and entertaining whilst reading, but does make it incredibly hard to talk about without giving away any spoilers.Still recovering from the last war Niamh, Elle and Leonie lead their own lives, separate from the Coven, but Helena is quick to draw them back in when trouble rears it's head. When a menacing prophecy is deemed to involve a trans child old rivalries are reopened and new battles fought. It’s the first time I’ve read anything by Juno and I’m thrilled to discover her writing…am very much looking forward to HMRC 2 … oh and the ending of book 1! Irish Niamh, widowed in the war, is a country vet in Hebden Bridge and Ciara, her twin sister who fought on the wrong side, is now incarcerated in magical prison.
Alongside our four MC's we meet a multitude of side characters from fellow Witches, Warlocks to mundanes, people with no magical powers. Her Majesty’s Royal Coven is a fast paced, well crafted page turner in which we get introduced to five friends who are witches - and ceremonially accorded their status when they’re tweens. She's the Switzerland of the group, always trying to keep the peace and keep together her friend's who have slowly drifted apart.A magical civil war has been fought and won and our witches are now navigating life in their late 30s. Fast forward 20 or so years , Helena is head of the English coven, Niamh is a vet, Ellie a nurse, Leonie has formed her own coven and Ciara? Now a doting mother and wife to a family who have no idea of her past, she uses her powers sparingly and only in dire need. I found myself getting incredibly angry throughout the story, that someone could have that limited a belief and be willing to kill for it, be willing to go to such incredible extremes because their way of life is threatened. Against the backdrop of this epic fantasy world Dawson takes a razor-sharp but nuanced look at the political and social landscape of the UK, broaching everything from power structures and discrimination to feminism and transphobia.
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