ARC Review: Queen B (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #0.5) by Juno Dawson

 

This next spellbinding installment of Juno’s “irresistible” fantasy series Her Majesty's Royal Coven (Lana Harper) takes us back to the reign of Henry VIII and the origins of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven under the beautiful, the bewitching, Anne Boleyn.

It’s 1536 and the Queen has been beheaded.

Lady Grace Fairfax, witch, knows that something foul is at play—that someone had betrayed Anne Boleyn and her coven. Wild with the loss of their leader—and her lover, a secret that if spilled could spell Grace’s own end— she will do anything in her power to track down the traitor. But there’s more at stake than revenge: it was one of their own, a witch, that betrayed them, and Grace isn’t the only one looking for her. King Henry VIII has sent witchfinders after them, and they’re organized like they’ve never been before under his new advisor, the impassioned Sir Ambrose Fulke, a cold man blinded by his faith. His cruel reign could mean the end of witchkind itself. If Grace wants to find her revenge and live, she will have to do more than disappear.

She will have to be reborn.

In this gripping, propulsive, sultry short novel, Juno Dawson takes us back to the bloody beginnings of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven to show us the strength, steel and sacrifice it takes to make a sisterhood.

Title: Queen B (Her Majesty's Royal Coven #0.5)

Author: Juno Dawson

Publisher: Penguin Group

Expected Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Review:

I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Books for providing me with an egalley of this book to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Someone betrayed Anne Boleyn and her coven, and Lady Grace Fairfax is determined to find out who. But Grace is not the only one looking for the traitor. Kind Henry has his witch hunters out determined bring them to the light and punish them for their crimes.

I have been really enjoying this series by Dawson. I loved this chance I had to go back to the beginnings of how Her Majesty's Royal Coven and see the strength and fortitude it took to keep their coven alive. I love an origin story. Dawson takes us from present to past with alternating chapters as we watch the relationship between Grace and Anne develops as well as how their coven joins to ensure the continuation of their group.

All the characters are well developed despite the short nature of the story. I really enjoyed the twist on the relationship between Anne and one of her ladies; the love and intimacy they shared. And the fear involved in them potentially being found out. Dawson expertly shows the important connections between the witches, how they protect each other, and their determination to be kept safe from those who want them eradicated. She easily weaves in drama and emotion between her characters and touches on the power love, betrayal, fear, and death.

There is action and suspense making the story fast paced and impactful.

For those who know the story of Boleyn, this story truly delves into the idea of what if she were really a witch and how that played out behind the scenes. While this is part of the HMRC series, it can definitely be read as a stand alone, if you choose to do so. But if you're a fan of the series, it will give you a wonderful background of how HMRC was formed and how they continued to be enmeshed in the politics that are the royal family.

Author: 

Juno Dawson is a #1 Sunday Times best-selling novelist, screenwriter, journalist, and a columnist for Attitude Magazine. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, THIS BOOK IS GAY and CLEAN. She won the 2020 YA Book Prize for MEAT MARKET. Her first adult fantasy trilogy HER MAJESTY’S ROYAL COVEN launched in 2022, becoming an instant best-seller.

She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US. Her debut short film was THE BIRTH OF VENUS (BBC 2020) and she created the first official Doctor Who scripted podcast DOCTOR WHO: REDACTED (BBC Sounds 2022). An occasional actress and model, Juno had a cameo in the BBC’s I MAY DESTROY YOU (2020), a recurring role in HOLBY CITY (BBC 2021) and was the face of Jecca Cosmetics Play Pots campaign.

Juno grew up in West Yorkshire, writing imaginary episodes of Doctor Who. She later turned her talent to journalism, interviewing luminaries such as Steps and Atomic Kitten, before writing a weekly serial in a Brighton newspaper. Her writing has appeared in Glamour, The Pool, Dazed and the Guardian. She has appeared on Pointless Celebrities, BBC Women’s Hour, Front Row, ITV News, Channel 5 News, This Morning and Newsnight.

Juno lives in Brighton. She is a part of the queer cabaret collective known as CLUB SILENCIO. In 2014, Juno became a School Role Model for the charity STONEWALL.