emilyrbedwell's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, Maureen Johnson. I just…
Okay, here’s the thing.
This series makes me happy.
Even though it’s creepy.
And a little dark.
And a little confusing.
And more books than I thought it would be.
It’s about ghosts (not my favorite topic). It’s about the line between living and dying. It’s about the supernatural. It’s about London. It’s about first loves. It’s about first heartbreaks. It’s about finding yourself. It’s about finding out you’re stronger than anyone ever thought. It’s about the ordinary moments between the “big” moments of life. It’s about finding out the truth. It’s about the truth being the thing that hurts the most. It’s about love being stronger than death.
It’s hard to talk about The Shadow Cabinet without bringing up the rest of the series. It’s hard to talk about this book without wanting to give you all the back story on Rory and Stephen and Callum and Boo. But, I’m not going to do that. Just read the other two books (The Name of the Star and The Madness Underneath). And then read this one. And then be mad with me that the next one isn’t even written yet. Because seriously, Maureen, you’re killing us here. (And I follow you on twitter, so I know your body is also trying to kill you. Sorry about that).
In The Shadow Cabinet there is this thing that has happened that must be fixed. Except no one knows how to fix it, or if it really can even be fixed. Rory will risk anything to try, though. She’s impulsive and dangerous like that. But, she might be the only one willing to take a big enough risk to make the impossible happen.
The Shadow Cabinet is all Maureen Johnson. She is a fun, flirty writer who creates just enough madness and confusion to keep her readers coming back for more. “The Shades of London” series is amongst her best. I’ll wait for the fourth one. Mostly because I don’t have a choice.
Okay, here’s the thing.
This series makes me happy.
Even though it’s creepy.
And a little dark.
And a little confusing.
And more books than I thought it would be.
It’s about ghosts (not my favorite topic). It’s about the line between living and dying. It’s about the supernatural. It’s about London. It’s about first loves. It’s about first heartbreaks. It’s about finding yourself. It’s about finding out you’re stronger than anyone ever thought. It’s about the ordinary moments between the “big” moments of life. It’s about finding out the truth. It’s about the truth being the thing that hurts the most. It’s about love being stronger than death.
It’s hard to talk about The Shadow Cabinet without bringing up the rest of the series. It’s hard to talk about this book without wanting to give you all the back story on Rory and Stephen and Callum and Boo. But, I’m not going to do that. Just read the other two books (The Name of the Star and The Madness Underneath). And then read this one. And then be mad with me that the next one isn’t even written yet. Because seriously, Maureen, you’re killing us here. (And I follow you on twitter, so I know your body is also trying to kill you. Sorry about that).
In The Shadow Cabinet there is this thing that has happened that must be fixed. Except no one knows how to fix it, or if it really can even be fixed. Rory will risk anything to try, though. She’s impulsive and dangerous like that. But, she might be the only one willing to take a big enough risk to make the impossible happen.
The Shadow Cabinet is all Maureen Johnson. She is a fun, flirty writer who creates just enough madness and confusion to keep her readers coming back for more. “The Shades of London” series is amongst her best. I’ll wait for the fourth one. Mostly because I don’t have a choice.
freesien's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 Sterne
Ich fand Rory in diesem Teil richtig dumm und behindert. Hat die auch nur einmal nachgedacht, bevor sie gehandelt hat?! Und wie naiv ist die denn? Aber trotzdem, ich bin durch das Buch praktisch geflogen, Maureen Johnsons Bücher lassen sich immer so leicht in einem Rutsch lesen.
Ich fand Rory in diesem Teil richtig dumm und behindert. Hat die auch nur einmal nachgedacht, bevor sie gehandelt hat?! Und wie naiv ist die denn? Aber trotzdem, ich bin durch das Buch praktisch geflogen, Maureen Johnsons Bücher lassen sich immer so leicht in einem Rutsch lesen.
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
when i found out this wasn't the final book in the series, i was afraid it would just be filler. let's be honest, that happens to a lot of YA series. but the action continued, many questions were answered, and some interesting new characters showed up.
so now i wait, yet again, for the conclusion.
so now i wait, yet again, for the conclusion.
lhanson2022's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Really good read - am expecting more!
kbaird's review against another edition
4.0
"The Shadow Cabinet" picks up where "The Madness Underneath" left off. Stephen has died in the hospital and Rory tried to save him and bring him back as a ghost. The group tries to find Stephen's ghost and he is no where in site. Rory is convinced she brought him back and is worried they can't find him. Rory, Boo, Callum, and Thorpe must now try to find Rory's schoolmate, Charlotte, who was taken by Jane. Jane had tried to take Rory but Stephen hit her car to rescue Rory. Rory is feeling guilty that Stephen risked his life to save Rory and now he is gone. The gang try to discover where Charlotte has gone while coming to terms with Stephen no longer being with them. They quickly find Charlotte, almost too easily, and find out that she is not the same. She is oddly calm about her kidnapping and is not showing any signs of struggle. Since Rory has gotten turned into a terminus, she is weary of ghosts and her role in terminating them. She puts herself in danger with a ghost in order to try and find Stephen. Charlotte only wants to talk to Rory and tricks her into coming to her.
The ending of this book was more satisfying than "Madness" but it is still a cliffhanger. The Stephen situation partially resolves itself and a whole other situation presents itself. I thought this book was a good, fast read and kept me entertained. I enjoyed reading this and want the next one to come out quickly!
The ending of this book was more satisfying than "Madness" but it is still a cliffhanger. The Stephen situation partially resolves itself and a whole other situation presents itself. I thought this book was a good, fast read and kept me entertained. I enjoyed reading this and want the next one to come out quickly!
mehsi's review
5.0
To all: this is the official Paperback, not the ARC. I pre-ordered the paperback at amazon.de some time ago, and apparently it is out now at their site. So please don't ask me about it. Go to amazon.de and ask them why it is out.
Wow, this book was magnificent. Thankfully I remembered enough (it has been around 2 years since the last book came out) so I wasn't confused that long. Only the prologue confused me, because I forgot who Jane was. :) But that was solved in the first chapter.
Rory is once again making me shake my head. She is ordered to do this and that, but she never cares/follows instructions. We know this from the first book and also the second, but it seems no matter how close she gets to death each time she goes against orders or instructions, she never learns and just goes out again. With consequences and all that. Seriously, you would think she would learn, or would care about the people surrounding her, but she never does. (And then she complains about Stephen doing it, but never cares to look at herself.)
That is really the only thing I really hate about Rory. Other than that she is a wonderful character and an interesting one at that. With her being a terminus, with her just being able to explode ghosts with only being touched or only touching a ghost.
I also still like the fact that she is an American. An American stuck in the UK, which gives us a few hilarious situations in which she still thinks as an American or looks at the UK with American-tinted glasses.
Stephen, sadly I can't really say much about him, due to the huge amount of spoilers that would give, and I don't want to spoil the epicness of the whole Stephen situation to anyone.
Then we have a whole slew of characters, including some new ones. Freddie, Sadie and Sid. Freddie who is a good person, but Sadie and Sid are our new antagonists and will probably be featured heavily in the next book. On the one hand I can't wait for that battle to come, on the other hand I don't want it to come. Since I fear for the good characters we have. I don't want to lose anyone in this war.
I loved the plot in this one, and I was amazed that the whole book (all 300 or so pages of it) is all about only 2 or so days. Wow, it felt so much longer.
We have various new things happening, things I can't wait to know more about. Like the Shadow Cabinet, I want to know more about it, want to know how it works exactly, want to know how they keep up the secrecy in a time with computers and internet.
The ending of the book is interesting, intriguing and I didn't expect that to happen.
All in all though I am very happy with this book, and also big plus points for having the old cover and not that crappy new one. I do hope that they will continue with keeping the old (aka the girl somewhere in the cover + different colours + monuments) cover and not suddenly switch over. Because then I might just not buy the next book. I already have enough series were they decided it was fun to just switch covers and I absolutely hate it. You would have 2 or 3 different kinds of covers.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Wow, this book was magnificent. Thankfully I remembered enough (it has been around 2 years since the last book came out) so I wasn't confused that long. Only the prologue confused me, because I forgot who Jane was. :) But that was solved in the first chapter.
Rory is once again making me shake my head. She is ordered to do this and that, but she never cares/follows instructions. We know this from the first book and also the second, but it seems no matter how close she gets to death each time she goes against orders or instructions, she never learns and just goes out again. With consequences and all that. Seriously, you would think she would learn, or would care about the people surrounding her, but she never does. (And then she complains about Stephen doing it, but never cares to look at herself.)
That is really the only thing I really hate about Rory. Other than that she is a wonderful character and an interesting one at that. With her being a terminus, with her just being able to explode ghosts with only being touched or only touching a ghost.
I also still like the fact that she is an American. An American stuck in the UK, which gives us a few hilarious situations in which she still thinks as an American or looks at the UK with American-tinted glasses.
Stephen, sadly I can't really say much about him, due to the huge amount of spoilers that would give, and I don't want to spoil the epicness of the whole Stephen situation to anyone.
Then we have a whole slew of characters, including some new ones. Freddie, Sadie and Sid. Freddie who is a good person, but Sadie and Sid are our new antagonists and will probably be featured heavily in the next book. On the one hand I can't wait for that battle to come, on the other hand I don't want it to come. Since I fear for the good characters we have. I don't want to lose anyone in this war.
I loved the plot in this one, and I was amazed that the whole book (all 300 or so pages of it) is all about only 2 or so days. Wow, it felt so much longer.
We have various new things happening, things I can't wait to know more about. Like the Shadow Cabinet, I want to know more about it, want to know how it works exactly, want to know how they keep up the secrecy in a time with computers and internet.
The ending of the book is interesting, intriguing and I didn't expect that to happen.
All in all though I am very happy with this book, and also big plus points for having the old cover and not that crappy new one. I do hope that they will continue with keeping the old (aka the girl somewhere in the cover + different colours + monuments) cover and not suddenly switch over. Because then I might just not buy the next book. I already have enough series were they decided it was fun to just switch covers and I absolutely hate it. You would have 2 or 3 different kinds of covers.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
missamandamae's review against another edition
4.0
I don't know why I thought that Shades of London was going to be a trilogy, but it's not! This was yet another installment in the saga of Rory in London. Very exciting developments, and I read it all in an afternoon. I'm with my friend Renata - all you gotta know is GLAM. 70s. DEATH. CULT. Oh yeah.