To say that Her Majesty's Royal Coven left us on something of a cliffhanger is an understatement of truly gargantuan proportions. I have been hankering for book two for quite some time now, so having the opportunity to read it early I pounced!
The Shadow Cabinet picks up where book one left off but does exactly what I want a sequel to d0 - expands the world and deepens our understanding of the characters and their context within it. I won't get too into the specifics of the plot here because I don't want to spoil things for those individuals reading this review before book one (go read book one!) but I will say that we get to see a lot of places beyond the UK and Ireland in this book.
I felt as thought book two also got broader in terms of the themes and the kinds of conflicts explored. Where book one has a strong focus on transphobia (for very obvious and legitimate reasons) there are other ideas brought to the table in this sequel. I thought this was a good way of keeping book two from feeling like a rehashing of the first book while not saying 'well we solved it'.
Book two still follows the characters from the first book with a few changes to some of the perspectives. I appreciated this not only for the continuity but also because there is a fantastic way in which this series balances being about world-ending conflict and also conflict/love between friends of a certain age. The way Juno Dawson manages to reflect this experience of life and friendship alongside a fantastical magical world is truly masterful.
I am very excited for more people to have read this book so that I can scream at them about the various things that happen and also so that I have someone else with whom to suffer the long wait before book three Human Rites.
I'll be recommending this to everyone as I did book one!
I received a free digital review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved Her Majesty's Royal Coven and with the cliffhanger ending I had such high hopes coming into The Shadow Cabinet but it fell short for me.

Starting with what I loved. I loved the who's who at the beginning of this book! I'd like to petition every book to have this as I forget so quickly after finishing a book.

I also like that Juno Dawson always gets into the nitty gritty. The good the bad and the ugly is always fully on display in her books and I love it!

The plot twists at the end was really good but it's sad we had to wait so long to get to these twists!

My biggest issue is with how slow it is. It feels like so much is going on and yet nothing is happening. I feel like subplots start and then get dropped and we're still only a bit nearer to the big overall plot at then end of book 2 than we were in book 1. Honestly this book felt like a filler book!

I also still wish there was some more clarity in terms of the world building. I feel like I still don't know the extent of witch abilities. One moment I think I have it and then they do something crazy OP.

I also feel like the plot built up to this big climax and then it resolved waaaaaay too easily and suddenly.

Overall it was a decent read but I didn't enjoy it as much as I enjoyed the first and I kind of wish this series was just a Duology instead of a Trilogy but where book 2 and 3 is combined and condensed. That being said I look forward to book 3 because I hope we finally get to see the prophecy that everything's been leading up to!

Juno. Juno. JUUUUNNNO! If book one was an electric launch into some incredible world building, this follow-up pulls us deeper into allegiance with some truly badass witches. Packed full of some insanely twisty turns, and another banger of a cliff-hanger, I already cannot wait for book 3.
What should be truly admired about Dawson's books is the fact she is unafraid to reign chaos and trauma upon her protagonists, and boy do we get both here.
The multiple povs are all excellent, each are distinct voices we feel a varying degree of loyalty to. It's impossible not to burn through reading this book as you're so desperate for answers that Dawson teases and tantalises us with.
DELICIOUS!

Thank you for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Shadow Cabinet picks right up where HMRC left off. Leoni is trying to find her brother Radley. Radley is trying to find Dabney Hale who escaped from Gierlings prison and is on the warpath trying to find the seal of solomon (a mythical object that gives unimaginable power) . Elle is dealing with the fallout from her family after her husband discovered she is a witch. Theo is trying to work out how her transformation took place and also wondering why Niamh is acting so odd. And then there is Ciara about to become High Priestess after killing her twin sister Niamh and occupying her body. She is causing absolute havoc throughout.

I loved this book and the continuation of these childhood best friends stories. Yet again Dawson left us gobsmacked with her last two chapters and on an absolute cliff hanger. I'm looking forward to reading the last of the trilogy and seeing how it ends.

I adore how Juno pickles the book with 90s references.

I’m so sorry, this ARC is basically unreadable! The sentences are all mixed up / don’t make sense. I will be sure to read this book once the published copy is available and review then!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the chance to read this ARC

Dawson has done it again! The Shadow Cabinet follows on from the electric HMRC and does not suffer from second / middle book syndrome, I was swept up from the very beginning and could not put it down.
With that cliffhanger I cannot wait to see what the third book has in store for us, long live Queen Juno!

I finished this book nearly a month ago, and I am honestly still struggling with what to write. Just wow.

This book was nothing like I expected and it did not suffer from that middle book curse. I did not realise the direction it was going to go, and I ain't mad. I loved this one just as much as I loved book 1. Obviously, where we left off in book 1 I thought I was going to HATE. a certain POV... but I was enthralled with it and I honestly couldn't get enough. I loved the adventures that each woman got to go on and I just honestly did not want it to end. Also the 90's references till make my heart so happy. How am I even going to cope with waiting for book 3?? I need the audiobook asap so I can listen to it to help me with the waiting. Dawson has done it again, I knew I was going to be obsessed with this series and book 2 only makes that more obvious. I wish I could give it more than 5 stars, it needs to be.

Every bit as fantastic as the first book. Rarely have I liked a sequel as much as this one. The characters are compelling and the pace just right. Prepare yourselves folks, as this book has real page turning quality and you won’t want to put it down.

First of all let me say that I was huge fan of the first book and I loved this one even more!

I often struggle with series in the fact that the second book can feel a bit like filler. But this was not the case with the ingenious switch of narrators the shadow cabinet felt like a whole new series set in the same world.

You pick up with the witches after the skirmish at hebden bridge leaving HMRC leaderless and in chaos. Dabney hale has escaped prision and is plotting the uprising of the ages in the name of magical supremacy. The battle isn’t over and the war has just begun!

Book two is a perfect mix of mystery, intrigue and witchy escapades. And I adored the switch of voices having the darker narrator really helped ramp up the severity of the situation.

At the start of the book you are given the most helpful breakdown of characters almost a last time on, recap that you get before new series of tv shows. EVERY BOOK SERIES NEEDS THIS!! it was so helpful publishers take note!!

Overall 5 stars I love it !

Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

To be honest, my love for Her Majesty’s Royal Coven took me completely by surprise. Generally, I really struggle to get into modern, urban fantasy but the second I started HMRC last year I could not put it down. The characters and their backstories are so intricate and well-fleshed out, and each POV is distinct. It explores so many important themes whilst maintaining a gorgeous witchy vibe, cohesive and brilliant plot, as well as being raucously funny.

The Shadow Cabinet is exactly the same, and more. The stakes are heightened, new characters are introduced, and established ones are developed so much further in ways I never would’ve expected, but adored. I flew through the book in two sittings, and I don’t know how I am expected to wait for book 3 (which title was revealed at the end!! Ahhh!!!) Since reading HMRC, I knew Juno Dawson could pull off a cliffhanger ending, but I don’t think anything could’ve prepared me for this one. My jaw has yet to be closed.

This book is unapologetically fierce, feminist, and an absolute firecracker. I am truly obsessed.

Thank you to HarperCollins UK, Juno Dawson, and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this instalment and I’m excited for the final one!
It was a wild ride.
I found it hard to keep up with the plot at times but it did all come together.

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 really wanted to love this series. I am a big Juno Dawson fan but this series is just not for me. I just don't like the characters or care about the story 😔

This is, if anything, too good. God, I loved it. I didn't think you could improve on the first book, but honestly, this knocked it into a cocked hat and now I am livid because I am going to have to wait months for the third book. Brilliant characters, a fully rounded, cleverly imagined world and fantastic plot lines that leave you in awe of where this book is going to go next. Brilliant. Brilliant. Brilliant.

I miss Niamh. I will admit that I really struggled with the beginning of this book as Ciara’s addition to the narrative felt abrasive. Over time I came to accept the change but was hoping Niamh may reappear. The cliffhanger is 😱😱

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for the widget

This was a perfect follow up to her majesty's royal coven,
The story had me on the edge of my seat and kept me hooked into it.

The world building in this was so good that it was easy to picture it in my head while ready

I read The Shadow Cabinet straight after Her Majesty’s Royal Coven (which I had mistakenly thought was a YA novel until I started it). The Shadow Cabinet follows seamlessly on from the first book and is as exciting, funny, political and clever as the first one. This series is very compelling with a great set of characters and I would be very surprised if a production company hasn’t snapped this up for a film or tv adaptation.

Having enjoyed HMRC, I was looking foward to the Shadow Cabinet, and it didn't disappoint. Dawson has a distinct writing style that isn't for everyone, but I adored it! Cannot wait for the final installment!

A witchy fantasy with twists and turns on every page!

With Ciara out of her coma, and preparing to become the next High Priestess of HMRC, she is searching for Dabney Hale. But Dabney Hale is also on the hunt for something…

This was a fantastic sequel to the first book, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. Much like the first book, there was plenty of action and unexpected twists and turns to keep you on the edge of your seat. And once again, Juno Dawson blew my mind with the ending!

For me, the Shadow Cabinet improved upon Her Majesty’s Royal Coven by including chapters from Theo’s point of view. A major criticism I had of the first book was that, although Theo was a major character, her opinion was largely ignored, so it was nice to see Dawson remedy this.

I would like to point out that if you did not enjoy the writing style in the first book (e.g. the use of pop culture references) then the second book is not for you. Juno Dawson has a distinct writing style that will not work for everyone.

Overall, I loved the second instalment of the series and cannot wait for the final book to be released!

Utterly fucking magical. I adored HMRC and I will admit I was worried whether book 2 could live up to it, but if this book has taught me anything, it is never doubt Juno Dawson. An absolute must read and if you haven’t read the first book, do it right now. I can’t wait for the final instalment!