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joliebean's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Hate crime, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Mass/school shootings, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Lesbophobia, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and War
minervacerridwen's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Just like Her Majesty's Royal Coven, this was a fast-paced read with spy movie elements in a magical world. I did feel like it dragged a bit in the middle of the book, though the point-of-view changes helped to keep me intrigued about other things that were going on enough to keep reading. Overall the atmosphere was a little darker and less magical, with more focus on characters fucking each other over than on sisterhood (which makes sense, considering the new main character, but also made it a little less appealing to dive back in after a reading break). The pacing of the ending was a lot more satisfying to me than in the first book, and once again there were some interesting twists to make me very curious about the next part!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Infidelity, Misogyny, and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Transphobia, Violence, Vomit, Grief, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Animal death, Bullying, Racism, Blood, Abandonment, and Alcohol
readwithria's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Shadow Cabinet was an amazing continuation of the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series! The plot thickened, the characters developed, and everything expanded while also weaving threads together.
I’m so sad that this book is over. It is an excellent exploration of redemption, self identity, gender politics, morality, addiction, and so much more! I love this series, and Juno Dawson has given us a world with high stakes where anything can happen and nothing is as simple as it seems.
I cannot wait for book 3! Five stars
I’m so sad that this book is over. It is an excellent exploration of redemption, self identity, gender politics, morality, addiction, and so much more! I love this series, and Juno Dawson has given us a world with high stakes where anything can happen and nothing is as simple as it seems.
I cannot wait for book 3! Five stars
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, and Blood
Moderate: Cursing and Murder
keya_caivalur's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Toxic relationship, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Misogyny, and War
Minor: Bullying, Child death, Cursing, Genocide, Hate crime, Suicidal thoughts, Dementia, Car accident, Death of parent, and Abandonment
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I read the first book in this trilogy, Her Majesty's Royal Coven, just a few months ago and thought it was a fantastic start to the series. I had a few critiques (which you can read more about in that review), but for the most part I was on board, invested in where the rest of the plot was going to take me, and ready for this next installation.
This book picks up pretty close to where the last one left off. (I'm going to include a few spoilers for the first book in this little blurb about the plot of this second book, so beware if that's a concern for you!) We open with Leonie, Elle, and Niamh (or really, Ciara), along with Holly and Theo and some of the rest of the HMRC witches, at the funeral for Ciara (or really, Niamh, though none of them know it yet). And the novel quickly opens from there into a new set of dramas and threats: Ciara in Niamh's body trying to figure out who brought her back and why and preparing to take over as High Priestess (a role she never dreamed of having) while not letting on to anyone that she's an imposter, Leonie takes off to search for her brother who is missing in his efforts to recapture Dabney Hale, Theo is struggling with how she got her new body and what it means for the rest of her life/future and a mysterious lessening of her powers, Elle is trying to hold it together as all her friends have scattered and are struggling in their own ways and she becomes aware of her own troubles at home, and Holly is probably the most typical of them all with her worries about her best friend Theo falling for her brother (ew!) and her father's familial betrayal. And of course, along with all their individual struggles, the greater forces around them are coming together: mundane politicians, secret witch hunter societies, Hale's bloody search for power and control, and the oracles' constant visions about the plans of the demons to bring down the world as we know it to an end.
Alright, the growth from the first novel to this one, in Dawson's writing and plot development and general depth, was so solid. There was a lot more background and bigger picture look at the interactions between witches and the mundane world and how they coexist. It's hard not to make this comparison, so I'm going to, but I want to recognize that it's not an uncommon trope in coexisting magic/non-magic societies fantasy novels, but there are some aspects that are reminiscent of HP, with magically hidden building facades, parallel governmental structures that the "mundane" leaders find out about after election, etc. But also, Dawson takes it further, recognizing the actual current-day politics of the developed world (and how they're getting ever more intolerant) within all those tropes. The gender politics in these overlapping groups have gotten deeper and more nuanced here, including the same witch-warlock tension as before, but now with an additional incel-vibes mundane-males group, and more. I appreciated that increase in complexity as the story unfolds more, it's great series-level arc growth. Related, these additional nuances and development extended to other areas as well, even within the witch community, and while there is always room for growth on this front, I thought the intersectionalities of womanhood and femininity were definitely better addressed here than in the first.
Another thing I loved about this second book was the growth past the characters of the first. There were a couple of characters that played huge roles in the first novel that are no longer around, and Dawson filled those gaps with new voices and/or with developing other voices more and I was impressed with how smoothly she made that transition happen. As part of that, a couple explorations in particular were well done. One sort of reminded me of a concept from Wrath Goddess Sing - feeling guilty about actually getting the body that you want, while so many can’t - and how that shows up really makes you think about all the different ways our brains and society can sabotage our happiness, no later how joyful something could/should be. Another is that, as Ciara's memories came back and we learn more about Luke's background (and things got gorgeously complex!), there was a real reckoning with the individual responsibility versus being forced to do things because you have less power or are under someone's (or a substance's) will/influence or exist within the confines of a system that you cannot fight or bring down alone. Dawson addresses difficult questions like where does that line of personal culpability exist and what can you be forgiven for doing under those circumstances and what takes it too far and how do you atone (internally and externally)? She also brings up questions around what is acceptable in the fight to make a better/more equal power structure. Just, such multifaceted issues to grapple with and it's done really well as this second book helps grow the series into something more.
A few final notes. I still love the magic. So much. It's such classic feminine witch power and while that's not everyone's jam, it's definitely mine (more concrete than, but similar vibes to, the magic in VenCo). I still hate the body-switching trope, but since it got resolved within this book, I'm letting it go and moving forwards because the rest is good enough that I want to. The ending was great. (I was confused about Milo for a while, but there was a break between my reading the first and second books and I have spotty detail memory so I just kinda went with it, but then the final little twist was like, whoa.) And it was a well-balanced cliffhanger situation - enough for me to be somewhat edge of my seat for the next one, but not uncomfortably so (which I really dislike the feeling of, so I'm glad for that).
So yea, a great second book. I didn't get any of the slow bridge-between-opening-and-closing that the middle book in a trilogy sometimes brings, which is fantastic and hats off to Dawson for that. The plot was action-packed and interesting (still no punches pulled with deaths and the responses of remaining characters - so good) and the human emotions and traumas and decisions are so messy and nuanced. This book really took all of that to the next level. It was a dramatic ride and I'm very excited for the finale!
“Other people’s memories of your life are unreliable narration at best.”
“Inside every witch there are two crows: one saying you can't use your powers to fix the world to your liking, and another cawing, why not?”
“She hadn’t even started to think about her life beyond becoming a girl. That had been her only goal. It turned out there was a whole lifetime of stories waiting after that happy ending.”
“Absolute certainty is the language of fools, and the demagogues who exploit those fools.”
“They say love is blind, but it makes you blind.”
“I will live to see the day when men no longer fear powerful women.”
“He believed he was in love with her, and isn't that more or less love itself?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
wishbea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This was definitely a step down from book 1 for me, I was disappointed. I hoped Ciara would make for a compelling POV read, but I preferred Niamh and missed the found family vibes of Elle, Holly, Niamh, Theo and Luke from the first book.
We get Theo, Chinara and Luke POVs here. I liked Theo's a lot, but found Luke's so boring that I started skipping his POVs when they came up (except for the very last one).
You can really feel the loss of the characters who died in the last book. I found it difficult to care about the characters or the plotlines, Ciara's one was okay, but Leonie's was boring, Theo's was just to set up the cliffhanger and Elle's was for shock value.
Hale took a dive from a potentially interesting villain in book 1 to a generic evil-doer that is hard to take seriously in this book.
I do think my main issue is Ciara. I don't know what to make of her. She has a lot going on mentally, yet I feel like she lacks depth and she isn't compelling to read. Also she rapes Luke multiple times (he thinks she is Niamh) and that is treated as okay within the narrative. I disliked her immensely and hated how Dawson seemingly wants the reader to root for her despite all the reprehensible things she does.
I felt like I had a good grasp on how the magic works in book 1, but there were points where I was incredibly confused by it in this book.
I've completely lost interest in this series and will not be reading the third book when it comes out.
We get Theo, Chinara and Luke POVs here. I liked Theo's a lot, but found Luke's so boring that I started skipping his POVs when they came up (except for the very last one).
You can really feel the loss of the characters who died in the last book. I found it difficult to care about the characters or the plotlines, Ciara's one was okay, but Leonie's was boring, Theo's was just to set up the cliffhanger and Elle's was for shock value.
Hale took a dive from a potentially interesting villain in book 1 to a generic evil-doer that is hard to take seriously in this book.
I do think my main issue is Ciara. I don't know what to make of her. She has a lot going on mentally, yet I feel like she lacks depth and she isn't compelling to read. Also she
I felt like I had a good grasp on how the magic works in book 1, but there were points where I was incredibly confused by it in this book.
I've completely lost interest in this series and will not be reading the third book when it comes out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Kidnapping
Minor: Transphobia
writeronherway's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Murder, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, and Abandonment
mariasmusings's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
What on earth? How? But, but .... Ok, I need book three now! Simply put, Juno Dawson has done it again and left readers entranced and desperate for more.
I've heard of the name Juno Dawson in the fantasy genre for a number of years and reviewers seem to have raved about her books for YA, so I was uber excited two years ago to read "Her Majesty's Royal Coven ", the first book in her trilogy for adults. I loved it and referred to HMRC as the group of witches that Hermione Granger wants to join!
The series encompasses a powerful, intelligent, diverse and sassy as hell group of witches, that are tough, in charge and not afraid of their emotions.
The group of Leonie, Chinara and Elle are struggling to accept the aftermath of events from the previous novel. And of course, Ciara has now secretly returned and is intent on revenge, while Holly, Theo and Milo are facing their own problems.
Dawson sets her story in a contemporary setting, a world that is easily recognisable to readers and does not shy away from tackling issues such as Racism, Transphobia, and Homophobia, along with examining the problematic, and often cruel treatment of people of colour and inclusion issues. She does so very effectively by providing her characters with the opportunity to express and explore their own identity with the story. Actually allowing the character to grow, rather than simply placing them in a box with labels. And one of my favourite aspects is that Dawson represents that world around us - so yes, the LGBTQIA+ community are represented, and two of our protoganists are women of colour. The portrayal of being a young trans person and the confusion felt by Theo is shown through her confusion and internal conflict is shown.
Likewise the attitudes of society are shown through the characters and there are several amusing moments of social commentary, especially when the politicians put in an appearance.
The bonds between the original group has been sorely tested and are now facing their greatest test.
The e-audiobook is narrated by Nicola Coughlan who brings the characters to life: she perfectly embodies the characters that she narrates.
I've heard of the name Juno Dawson in the fantasy genre for a number of years and reviewers seem to have raved about her books for YA, so I was uber excited two years ago to read "Her Majesty's Royal Coven ", the first book in her trilogy for adults. I loved it and referred to HMRC as the group of witches that Hermione Granger wants to join!
The series encompasses a powerful, intelligent, diverse and sassy as hell group of witches, that are tough, in charge and not afraid of their emotions.
The group of Leonie, Chinara and Elle are struggling to accept the aftermath of events from the previous novel. And of course, Ciara has now secretly returned and is intent on revenge, while Holly, Theo and Milo are facing their own problems.
Dawson sets her story in a contemporary setting, a world that is easily recognisable to readers and does not shy away from tackling issues such as Racism, Transphobia, and Homophobia, along with examining the problematic, and often cruel treatment of people of colour and inclusion issues. She does so very effectively by providing her characters with the opportunity to express and explore their own identity with the story. Actually allowing the character to grow, rather than simply placing them in a box with labels. And one of my favourite aspects is that Dawson represents that world around us - so yes, the LGBTQIA+ community are represented, and two of our protoganists are women of colour. The portrayal of being a young trans person and the confusion felt by Theo is shown through her confusion and internal conflict is shown.
Likewise the attitudes of society are shown through the characters and there are several amusing moments of social commentary, especially when the politicians put in an appearance.
The bonds between the original group has been sorely tested and are now facing their greatest test.
The e-audiobook is narrated by Nicola Coughlan who brings the characters to life: she perfectly embodies the characters that she narrates.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Cursing