The Shadow Cabinet
Ratings19
Average rating4.1
15
Ratings19
Average rating4.1
In the second installment of Juno Dawson's "irresistable" fantasy trilogy (Lana Harper), a group of childhood friends and witches must choose between what is right and what is easy if they have any hope of keeping their coven--and their world--from tearing apart forever. Niamh Kelly is dead. Her troubled twin, Ciara, now masquerades as the benevolent witch as Her Majesty's Royal Coven prepares to crown her High Preistess. Suffering from amnesia, Ciara can't remember what she's done--but if she wants to survive, she must fool Niamh's adopted family and friends; the coven; and the murky Shadow Cabinet--a secret group of mundane civil servants who are already suspicious of witches. While she tries to rebuild her past, she realizes none of her past has forgotten her, including her former lover, renegade warlock Dabney Hale. On the other end of the continent, Leonie Jackman is in search of Hale, rumored to be seeking a dark object of ultimate power somehow connected to the upper echelons of the British government. If the witches can't figure out Hale's machinations, and fast, all of witchkind will be in grave danger--along with the fate of all (wo)mankind. Sharp, funny, provocative, and joyous, Juno Dawson's sequel reimagines everything you think you knew about her coven and her witches in a story that spans continents and dives deep into the roots of England and its witchcraft. Ciara, Leonie, Elle, and Theo are fierce, angry, sexy, warm--and absolutely unapologetic as they fight for what they believe in, all in the name of sisterhood.
Featured Series
2 primary books3 released booksHer Majesty's Royal Coven is a 3-book series with 2 primary works first released in 2022 with contributions by Juno Dawson and Juno Dawson. The next book is scheduled for release on 7/17/2025.
Reviews with the most likes.
This second book took a lot longer to get going and was significantly darker. A lot of the heart that made the first book work wasn’t here and there was a lot of tragedy for the characters to cope with.
I enjoyed the climax of the story and I probably will read the next one in the series when it comes out but the first one was a lot more enjoyable.
3.5 stars
I liked this, just not as much as the first one. I'm still excited for the conclusion though.
After reading the first instalment of the trilogy a few months ago, I was so pleased to get a Netgalley copy of the latest novel. This is another strong additional to the trilogy. This story gives more backstory to the characters of Ciara, Luke (the mundane gardener) and develops the relationship between Holly and Theo which was so sweet. Snow (Helena's daughter) was absent from the novel but it has heavily alluded to her return in the final book for a showdown. The book didn't have any Niamh in it which was disappointing as she was my favourite character so I hope we find a way to bring her back ! And Leonie travelling around was a little boring in parts but otherwise it was as good as the first. I love the world building of the Shadow Cabinet and the mundane government world. The action scenes are done well and the character development is strong. I also love the northern links in the book as I'm a northern lass myself.
Thanks to the author Juno Dawson, Publisher Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
claws face I stayed up too late to finish this!! AAAA
Also thank you Juno Dawson for helpfully providing a list of characters/minor recap at the beginning of this! Series authors stop expecting me to remember everything from the previous books challenge!! I want to re-read the first one now though because I've been reminded how much I love these characters. AAAAAAAA
