⚠️⚠️TRIGGER WARNINGS⚠️⚠️

#TheShadowCabinet is the second book in the #HerMajestysRoyalCoven series by #JunoDawson.
All opinions are my own.

Like the first, this is a Urban Fantasy.

In this second book, the situation changes drastically and things are more complicated. New issues arise, others get gradually solved.
The writing style, is always direct and fluent, it captures you and doesn't let go until you finish or fall asleep at 1am (I'm not a night owl😅).

I was afraid the expedient used at the end of the first book would make the sequel less interesting. I needn't have worried.

It's very, very good, very serious, well written. I think it can be defined as a New Adult.
Almost all the characters are over 30 years of age, except for a couple of exceptions.
There is barely any teen-age, nothing similar to a Romance Fantasy, and it is not a Young Adult.

It is undoubtedly a full 5⭐ read. ❤️

The first book, #HerMajestysRoyalCoven, talked about transph0bia and some other issues in a minor way, but this volume is on another level.
We're talking in length about 4buse, radical1sed mysog1ny, generalized h0mophobia, the 1gnorance of trad1tions, patri4rchy, b4trayal, m3n thinking women owe them their existence, m3n who only want to be in contr0l and are either convinced women are weak and unassuming or they're afraid of women and t0rture and k1ll them for that. Hypocr1sy - m3n that are afraid of witches and their magic but collaborate with warlocks instead. And then, the difference between m3n who are firm in their 1gnorant convinctions and those who can understand their past wrongs and change and grow from that to become better and more respectable people.

The end was particularly mind-blowing. I so look forward to reading the sequel!!!

I advise reading this series and this second installment in particular, to people who are close or over 30 who look for representation in books, and especially Fantasy books.
This second book made an excellent job in making me feel seen and understood.

I thank the author #JunoDawson, publisher @harpervoyager_uk @harpercollinsuk and @netgalley #netgalley for giving me the chance to read this ARC. I loved it so much 💖

While I still really enjoyed this book, I struggled with how disconnected it felt from the first instalment in the series and missed some of the characters from the first book. I still enjoyed it, though, and will definitely be buying the third book.

The Shadow Cabinet is the sequel to Her Majesty's Royal Coven and I was so excited for this one! The last book left off on a massive cliffhanger and the sequel did not disappoint. Literally so much happens, I could not stop reading and the twists left me shocked, this is becoming a favourite series for sure!

Like the first book, real world issues are tackled so well alongside the supernatural plotlines. Everything weaves together perfectly and leads up to another memorable ending that left me excited for the next book! We also have new POVs in this one and I love how complex each character is with their own distinct voice. If you haven't read these books, you need to pick them up because you will not be disappointed!

Following the trial (and killing) of Helena, following her betrayal of the Coven and witchkind, the second book about our Northern witches picks up with the plans for Niamh's coronation as High Priestess. Albeit the reader knows that things aren't quite what they seem.

Offering a look into Ciara's life and revealing some heart breaking secrets, the Shadow Cabinet introduces some new villians, in the form of the Witchhunters, while also revealing the identity of the Sullen Child.

Allowing us to continue to follow Theo's coming of age story, as she grapples with life in her longed for female body. We also get to see how the world of mundanes and witches occasionally clash with mixed consequences.

Containing high octane moments amongst beautifully poignant and moving ones, I've been left - once more - eagerly awaiting the next book!

This book continued to build on the characters we met in the first book; we see some powers grow, and others struggle with their powers, as well as meeting new characters and not knowing who can be trusted. There were twists and turns in this I did not see coming and it kept me on the edge of my seat. My only ‘complaint’ with this book is that I have to wait so long for the next book.

When I thought HMRC couldn't get better, Juno has absolutely gone and blown it out of the water. That ending?!? Talk about a cliffhanger. Superb characters, amazing world building, excellent story. This is fast becoming one of the favourite trilogies ever. I can't wait for the next one, get scribbling Juno

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for my gifted copy of this book!

HO👏🏽LY👏🏽 SH*T👏🏽 BALLS👏🏽

What a follow up to the amazing HMRC! I mean my heads 🤯

We join our friends after the battle of Hebden Bridge where not everyone is who they once were or should be.

I feel like this one starts out slightly less conspicuously however it has all the fantastic features that HMRC has.

I loved the acknowledgement that trans women no matter where they are in their transition can still take some getting used to being in their own skin. And like all of us women still question how they feel about certain situations and feelings they have.

I loved the travel to other lands and the albeit brief descriptions of other covens there.

There are so many parts that made me say “oh crap!” Or “OH MY GODDESS” but I don’t want to say what they are for fear of spoilers.

Let me just say that I am absolutely fuming that I have to wait for the next instalment 😭

Now I am even more excited to see what explosiveness the third book brings with it!

This was a brilliant follow up to Her Majesty's Royal Coven. Gripping from the beginning and well thought out in meaning. Can't wait for the third installment.

Juno Dawson has done it to me again, I think I need to have a lie down and an Anna nap after this. Yet again I’m on a cliffhanger with no idea when the next is going to be released, Whilst reading this I don’t think I caught my breath at all, the action, the reveals, story and twists and turns were just constant, I just couldn’t put it down and that final reveal, it’s going to kill me waiting for the next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a great sequel to Her Majesty's Royal Coven. The character development in this book was great and I can't wait to see where these characters go next. The plot was compelling throughout and I really enjoyed seeing more of the world in this sequel. I definitely recommend checking this series out.

I honestly couldn't wait to read this as I loved the first book. And it truly didn't disappoint.

I absolutely love the story and all the characters. And cannot wait for the next book to find out what's next for the Coven.

The story is refreshing and a great spin on the traditional witch stories, but including lost of historical elements.

I don't want to spoil it for anyone but the story will truly grip you into wanting to find out what happens next. If you love audiobooks then its a fabulous listen with the brilliant Nicola Coughlan narrating.

After reading and loving the first book I couldn’t wait for this to be released.
It lived up to the first book and I cannot wait to see where this series goes. One of my new favourites!

Modern witches combined with ancient evils make this such a delight to read. The story is so accessible, I identify with the characters and the popular references, which make it fun to read as well.
The cast of characters are representative, flawed and badass.
This sequel really challenges assumptions, what you thought you knew about the covens and witches is wrong! I love how the ending of these books just makes my jaw drop,
Overall great story development and no middle book syndrome here.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for an E-ARC. This is a voluntary review of my own thoughts.

Yes! So happy that this second book lived up the the first! This was really good and justice the first kept me engaged and excited to read it throughout! The scenery setting, the characters with their different points of view the magic, thoroughly enjoyed!

What can I say? I loved this book so much! I originally started this series after receiving the first book in the Adult Fairyloot and was so excited to start this one after the cliffhanger of the first!

I think the story and characters developed so much more in this book and I was so impressed with how the twists and turns took us. I think Dawson approaches a very topical area with a fun and inclusive attitude which I completely loved! I’m so excited to see how this series progresses!

I loved how this book carried on from the last book. It tackles such in depth relevant issues and I think that is what makes this series a must read. I loved all the characters and the scene setting is immaculate!! Thank you so much for the eArc netgalley.

The Shadow Cabinet has absolutely managed to avoid 'middle book syndrome' and is thrilling the whole way through. Picking up immediately where the first book left off, there's immediate drama and tension as Ciara is trying to hide her identity and pretend to be her now-dead sister. Watching this through the perspectives of all the different characters both builds excellent tension and also twisted amusement as you see them write off these things rather than realise the truth - or Ciara rewrites it for them.

Something I think Dawson does really well throughout this series is using the multiple POVs to keep the reader included on everything that's happening and have the inside knowledge whilst still keeping the relevant characters in the dark, which enables you to keep the element of mystery but also that frustration where you know exactly what is needed to fix the problems but have to watch the narrative play out anyway.

I don't think there was a single POV in this book I didn't thoroughly enjoy - I loved getting to read Theo coming to grips with her new identity and continuing to work through past trauma, Ciara grappling with her sense of self and trying to work out both what happened and what kind of person she wants to be, and the twists of characters that both Elle and Luke went through, neither of which I would have expected but absolutely loved both.

To be expected, the last 10% was filled with so many twists and turns that left me on the edge of my seat and I now can't wait for both the upcoming prequel novella and the final book in this trilogy.

Okay so I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy and this second instalment did not disappoint!!

In an effort to keep this spoiler free this will be a punchy review but all you need to know is that the action is ramped right up for this book! There’s plenty of nitty, gritty magic, demon worshipping, secret covens, magical artefacts, witch finders and some epic battles! All on top of what Juno did so perfectly in the first book by tackling a ton of contemporary issues within her fantasy world.

I loved being back with the main characters from book one as well as getting a few new POVs in this book. The very last page of this book made my jaw drop!! Give me book 3 now!!!

Thank you to Harper Voyager, Juno Dawson and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect with this sequel after HMRC ended on such a mind blowing cliffhanger with one of my favourite characters not making it through.

I didn’t want to like Ciara at all but I suppose it’s a testament to Juno’s writing that I do. Juno is incredibly good at making it very clear that there is no such thing as good and evil, only bad choices vs good choices. Learning more of why Ciara came to be who she was really made me feel for her. It was great to get some of Theo’s pov in this book and understand the struggles she has with her new identity. It was also an interesting twist with Luke and I enjoyed seeing how other people view witches.

That ending though! Were the signs there for the twist? Yes but it still took me by surprise. I need the next book.

It's been a few days since finishing the shadow cabinet and I'm still not quite sure how I feel about it, maybe feels like a 3 star I think. I knew going in this would lack a certain someone ( keeping this spoiler free ) but I didn't expect the story to lose so much of what I loved about the first one because of it.

Without going into too much detail the things that let this down for me was the connection that Theo and Niamh had was so wonderful in the first book the found family trope was beautiful and it was definitely missing from this one and the main witches are off battling there own things which made me miss them so much as a group. Then there's Ciara who I did eventually come to like but not as much as Niamh.

I will say these all feel like me issues and not so much the book being at fault so I will rereading this in the future probably just before 3 comes out and I do think it will probably end up a 4 star maybe even 5 upon re-read because I adore these characters so much Her Majesty's Royal Coven is in my top 5 Favourite of this year and I'm so excited for where this series is going after that ending. I just think my expectations for this were maybe a bit too high so it ended up falling a little short.

Thank you so much to the publishers via netgalley for the e-arc which I voluntary reviewed.