Her Majesty's Royal Coven
A Novel
(Sprache: Englisch)
A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installmant of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.
'If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the...
'If you look hard enough at old photographs, we're there in the background: healers in the...
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A Discovery of Witches meets The Craft in this the first installmant of this epic fantasy trilogy about a group of childhood friends who are also witches.'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. Why is it we help in times of crisis? We have a gift. We are stronger than Mundanes, plain and simple.'
At the dawn of their adolescence, on the eve of the summer solstice, four young girls-Helena, Leonie, Niamh and Elle-took the oath to join Her Majesty's Royal Coven, established by Queen Elizabeth I as a covert government department. Now, decades later, the witch community is still reeling from a civil war and an attempted coup and Helena is now the reigning High Priestess of the organization. Yet Helena is the only one of her friend group still enmeshed in the stale bureaucracy of HMRC. Elle is trying to pretend she's a normal housewife, and Niamh has become a country vet, using her powers to heal sick animals. In what Helena percieves as the deepest betryal, Leonie has defected to start her own more inclusive and intersectional coven, Diaspora.
And now Helena has a bigger problem. A young warlock of extraordinary capabilities is being detained and seems to threaten the very existence of HMRC. Everyone knows that warlocks shouldn't be this powerful and when it's revealed that Theo is transgender, it makes sense. But Helena has absolutely no intention of inducting a trans girl into HMRC, and her subsequent actions send ruptures through not only her group of friends, but the whole community - and this time, it looks like there's no turning back.
Juno Dawson explores the big topics concerning women today: gender, feminism, the patriarchy and the corrupting nature of power, in an explosive, conversation-starting novel that is sharp, funny, provocative and joyous. Most of all, HMRC is the story of female friendship. Dealing with
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all the aspects of 30-something womanhood today, as well as being phenomenally powerful witches, Niamh, Helena, Leonie and Elle may have grown apart but they will always be bound by the sisterhood of the coven.
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CHAPTER ONEHigher Science
Niamh
In her dreams, Conrad was still alive.
They were banal, domestic little scenes: she could still smell whatever dinner he d cooked, and she d be washing the dishes when he d slide his arms around her waist. She d feel the brush of his lips against the nape of her neck, The Archers low in the background. The oddest fragments returned to her: Sunday morning toast crumbs in bed coming back to haunt them on Sunday night; leaning over him to look out of the plane window as they were coming in to land at Dublin; walking the dog through Hardcastle Crags on a lazy Saturday afternoon - that smell of damp mulch and wild garlic.
Other times she d simply dream she was listening to him breathe. He always fell asleep the second his head touched the pillow, like he had narcolepsy or something, and so Niamh, a fitful sleeper at best, would often fixate on his peaceful tide to quiet her chatty brain.
Awaking now, she reached for him, only to feel the cold side of the bed.
It was like pressing a thumb on a bruise every single time.
Why am I awake?
Her phone. Her phone was ringing. She remembered she was on call. Shite.
She kicked off the duvet and pushed a nest of auburn hair out of her face. Her phone vibrated on the nightstand, the display reading BARKER FARM. It was 00.53. Still the Witching Hour, she thought ruefully. A common misconception; any hour s grand for witching.
Niamh cleared her throat. She always thought it seemed unprofessional to sound like she d been sleeping while on call, although it was rare for someone to phone this late.
Hello? Mrs Barker?
Oh hello, Dr Kelly, Joan said in her best telephone voice. I do hope I didn t wake you?
Not at all, Niamh lied. Are you OK out there?
It s Pepper again . . . No further explanation was necessary.The horse was old. Old and tired.
I ll be right over in ten, Niamh said.
She threw on whatever mismatched clothes were piled
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on the back of her dresser chair, and pulled her hair into a ponytail. Tiger barely stirred from his basket as she tiptoed through the kitchen, offering only a nasal huff to express his irritation at being awakened. The Border Terrier was quite used to her nocturnal comings and goings.
It was a cold night for late March, not quite cold enough for a frost, but not far off either. A shame, she d hoped to file winter away for another year. She wrapped a scarf a gift knitted for her by one of her clients around her neck as she walked. Niamh reached her Land Rover and, checking in the rear-view mirror, pressed her eyes with the pads of her thumbs, trying to look less bleary. It didn t entirely work, needless to say.
The Barker farm was only a short drive away, on the other side of Hebden Bridge. Niamh knew the route in her sleep, but thought it best to play the radio real loudly, just in case. The road from Heptonstall village towards Hebden Bridge town, in the gutter of the valley, was winding and perilously steep, slick with earlier rain. She drove carefully, windows open wide to wake herself up. Normally bustling, Hebden Bridge was almost eerily quiet. The pubs, bars and restaurants had kicked out hours ago and Market Street was dark. Niamh drove until the cottages and old mills opened out into the dark sprawl of Cragg Vale. On the horizon, the farmhouse was the
last light for miles.
The gates were open, ready, and she swung the Land Rover down the bumpy dirt track towards the riding school. Joan Barker was waiting, a wax jacket over her flannel pyjamas, tartan legs tucked into her wellies. Niamh turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, dragging her kit bag
It was a cold night for late March, not quite cold enough for a frost, but not far off either. A shame, she d hoped to file winter away for another year. She wrapped a scarf a gift knitted for her by one of her clients around her neck as she walked. Niamh reached her Land Rover and, checking in the rear-view mirror, pressed her eyes with the pads of her thumbs, trying to look less bleary. It didn t entirely work, needless to say.
The Barker farm was only a short drive away, on the other side of Hebden Bridge. Niamh knew the route in her sleep, but thought it best to play the radio real loudly, just in case. The road from Heptonstall village towards Hebden Bridge town, in the gutter of the valley, was winding and perilously steep, slick with earlier rain. She drove carefully, windows open wide to wake herself up. Normally bustling, Hebden Bridge was almost eerily quiet. The pubs, bars and restaurants had kicked out hours ago and Market Street was dark. Niamh drove until the cottages and old mills opened out into the dark sprawl of Cragg Vale. On the horizon, the farmhouse was the
last light for miles.
The gates were open, ready, and she swung the Land Rover down the bumpy dirt track towards the riding school. Joan Barker was waiting, a wax jacket over her flannel pyjamas, tartan legs tucked into her wellies. Niamh turned off the engine and stepped out of the car, dragging her kit bag
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Autoren-Porträt von Juno Dawson
Juno Dawson is a bestselling novelist, screenwriter, and journalist. Juno’s books include the global bestsellers, This Book is Gay and Clean. She also writes for television and has multiple shows in development both in the UK and US. An occasional actress and model, Juno appeared on HBO's I May Destroy You. This is her adult debut.
Bibliographische Angaben
- Autor: Juno Dawson
- 2022, 448 Seiten, Maße: 14,1 x 20,9 cm, Kartoniert (TB), Englisch
- Verlag: PENGUIN BOOKS
- ISBN-10: 014313714X
- ISBN-13: 9780143137146
- Erscheinungsdatum: 23.07.2022
Sprache:
Englisch
Pressezitat
A Most Anticipated Novel of Summer '22 in The Washington Post | Goodreads | LitHub | PopSugar | Parade | Bustle | Tor | Paste | The Nerd Daily | SheReads | Gizmodo | Book Riot | LifeSavvy | Distractify"There s so much humor and sadness here, so much tenderness and compassion and a deep love of women. The book draws a gentle thread through the visions we have for ourselves, the memories from which we build our relationships and the ways in which we comprehend the present, and then it pulls that thread taut. Superb and almost unbearably charming, Her Majesty s Royal Coven is a beautiful exploration of how foundational friendships age, and it expertly launches an exciting new trilogy." --The New York Times Book Review
Her Majesty s Royal Coven is a shimmering, irresistible cauldron s brew of my favorite things: a thrilling, witchy plot; a diverse, compelling, and beautifully drawn cast; complex relationships with real heart; laugh-out-loud banter; and the kind of dazzling magic I wish existed. You won t be able to put it down.
Lana Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Payback s a Witch
Juno Dawson is at the top of her game in this vibrant and meticulous take on witchcraft. Her characteristic wit and grit shine through Her Majesty's Royal Coven, which paints a convincing picture of how magic might converge with the modern world.
--Samantha Shannon, New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Season and The Priory of the Orange Tree
"Talk about a gut punch of a novel. Her Majesty s Royal Coven is sure to have readers who love witchy stories and the queerer, the better salivating from the very first page...this book has more twists, betrayals and drama than a Desperate Housewives episode and I lived for that...A provocative exploration of intersectional feminism, loyalty, gender and transphobia, Dawson s Her Majesty s Royal Coven is an immersive story about what it means to be a woman and a witch and invites
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readers into an intricately woven web of magic, friendship and power." -- The Nerd Daily
"Dawson, in an impressive flex, uses the rules of the fantasy genre to make a statement about people of color and LGBTQ individuals and how organizations can exclude and ignore them. Readers who enjoy witches and watching change ripple through a culture will enjoy this series." -- Booklist (starred)
"A femme-forward story of power, morality and fate that is not shy about its politics...Beyond its politics, what especially makes Her Majesty's Royal Coven shine is its impeccable voice. Dawson's conversational, matter-of-fact tone calls to mind writers like Neil Gaiman and Diana Wynne Jones; it's at times funny, at others heartbreaking, but always perfectly calibrated...A thoughtful entry into the witch canon that intrigues and challenges as much as it delights." -- Bookpage
"Juno Dawson has created your new obsession. Her Majesty's Royal Coven is full of her trademark heart and humour, with a delicious slick of darkness. I fell in love with her coven - and I need the next installment now!"
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies
"Such a joy to read the world building is incredible, the writing sophisticated, and the exploration of gender and identity is done with nuance and care. Utterly compelling.
Louise O Neill, author of Asking for It and The Surface Breaks
The funniest paranormal epic I've ever had the pleasure to read.
--Nicole Galland, bestselling author of Master of the Revels
"Look if the idea of a story about a group of girls living in an alternate England and working for a centuries-old secret government bureau of witches doesn t grab you immediately, I don t know what to tell you. Except that there s also a witch civil war, an oracle that prophecies a young warlock will bring about genocide, and a group of friends torn about how to stop it." --Paste
"Cleverly constructed a gradually building layer of political commentary ultimately reveals a complex metaphor for the U.K. s sociopolitical climate and mainstream transphobia... an exciting new direction for Dawson. Readers will be eager for the next installment."
Publishers Weekly
"This first adult novel by YA author Dawson (Clean; Meat Market) is a story of feminism, matriarchy, gender roles, and tradition...Readers who love a big fight between good and evil, who enjoy seeing magic in the everyday world, and those who like their heroine s journeys to include all facets of heartbreak will savor the cut and thrust of this battle." -- Library Journal
"Dawson, in an impressive flex, uses the rules of the fantasy genre to make a statement about people of color and LGBTQ individuals and how organizations can exclude and ignore them. Readers who enjoy witches and watching change ripple through a culture will enjoy this series." -- Booklist (starred)
"A femme-forward story of power, morality and fate that is not shy about its politics...Beyond its politics, what especially makes Her Majesty's Royal Coven shine is its impeccable voice. Dawson's conversational, matter-of-fact tone calls to mind writers like Neil Gaiman and Diana Wynne Jones; it's at times funny, at others heartbreaking, but always perfectly calibrated...A thoughtful entry into the witch canon that intrigues and challenges as much as it delights." -- Bookpage
"Juno Dawson has created your new obsession. Her Majesty's Royal Coven is full of her trademark heart and humour, with a delicious slick of darkness. I fell in love with her coven - and I need the next installment now!"
Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies
"Such a joy to read the world building is incredible, the writing sophisticated, and the exploration of gender and identity is done with nuance and care. Utterly compelling.
Louise O Neill, author of Asking for It and The Surface Breaks
The funniest paranormal epic I've ever had the pleasure to read.
--Nicole Galland, bestselling author of Master of the Revels
"Look if the idea of a story about a group of girls living in an alternate England and working for a centuries-old secret government bureau of witches doesn t grab you immediately, I don t know what to tell you. Except that there s also a witch civil war, an oracle that prophecies a young warlock will bring about genocide, and a group of friends torn about how to stop it." --Paste
"Cleverly constructed a gradually building layer of political commentary ultimately reveals a complex metaphor for the U.K. s sociopolitical climate and mainstream transphobia... an exciting new direction for Dawson. Readers will be eager for the next installment."
Publishers Weekly
"This first adult novel by YA author Dawson (Clean; Meat Market) is a story of feminism, matriarchy, gender roles, and tradition...Readers who love a big fight between good and evil, who enjoy seeing magic in the everyday world, and those who like their heroine s journeys to include all facets of heartbreak will savor the cut and thrust of this battle." -- Library Journal
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