April 15, 2024
Secret magic, forbidden love, and courtly intrigue abound in this passionate and richly rendered sapphic historical fantasy, a prequel to Dawson’s HMRC series. The year is 1536 and Queen Anne Boleyn is dead, beheaded by vicious, fickle Henry VIII. From there, the story flashes back to 10 years earlier, when Grace Fairfax, a newly made lady for whom joining the court of Queen Catherine means an escape from her much older husband, arrives at the palace knowing she must at all costs hide the gifts that give her control of the elements. But Grace soon finds there are more women like her than she could have imagined, foremost among them the beguiling Lady Anne, whose coven gathers power in secret at court. As Anne’s influence grows and her circle of ladies’ with it, the splendor and excitement soon sour, and a tangle of unrequited loves and bitter betrayals puts the entire coven at risk. In the palace the walls have ears: witchfinders are abroad, backed by powerful enemies. This taste of the founding lore of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven will delight series fans and stands well enough on its own to draw in newcomers as well. Dawson leaves readers wanting more. Agent: Katelyn Dougherty, Paradigm Talent Agency.
January 1, 2025
For centuries, Her Majesty's Royal Coven (HMRC) has been a haven for countless young witches. Dawson returns to the world of the HMRC in this sequel to The Shadow Cabinet that takes listeners back to the days of the HMRC's founder, Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII. Dual timelines follow the decade leading up to Anne's beheading, as witch hunters wielded the Malleus Maleficarum to persecute women, and a young Anne wooed a powerful and capricious monarch. The story also covers the tense hours and days that followed Anne's death, when those who loved and were loyal to the queen sought to protect her legacy. When the coven of ladies-in-waiting is torn between fear and friendship, mistrust and betrayal abound. Dawson presents an intricate, engaging historical fantasy origin story for HRMC. The fast-paced blend of suspense and sapphic romance is riveting, and narrator Nicola Coughlin utilizes her acting expertise to infuse each moment with tension. Her expressive delivery yields an atmospheric and evocative listening experience. VERDICT This audio will appeal to listeners seeking a short but cinematic story of witchcraft and womanhood. Recommended for fans of Deborah Harkness and Freya Marske.--Lauren Hackert
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