Second book syndrome Juno Dawson doesn’t know it! The Shadow Cabinet is a stunning action packed sequel that had me screaming. I fell heads over heels into this book and I’m still not sure I’m out of it. Keep reading this book review for my full thoughts.
Summary
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.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
One of my favorite elements of The Shadow Cabinet has to be the ways it navigates the ‘good’ versus ‘bad’ sister. Ciara kind of stole my heart in this one and I’m not sure what that says about me? I am a sucker for the one who everyone misunderstands and makes some mistakes. She’s unapologetic in her convictions, her past actions, and the ways she sees the world. Some of her scenes – especially the ones in the past when she’s seen as the ‘bad’ sister and how she protects the ones she loves – broke my heart.
The Shadow Cabinet examines the relativity of goodness. Of the ways the world twists our actions to fit the image they have of us. It’s a theme that was introduced in Her Majesty’s Royal Coven with Theo and the prophecy, but it’s only further explored here. If you love that kind of character, you should get the sequel immediately. This sequel shines in the ways we can really sink into the characters. I loved the expansive feeling to The Shadow Cabinet as Leonie travels the globe.
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And as Theo figures out friendship, identity, and family. Being able to witness their character growths, especially as they are tested and put to the limit again, is probably my second favorite element of The Shadow Cabinet. Additionally, I love the turn the world has taken to feel a bit more ‘zoomed out’. We get to see even more magically talented humans as well as the dangers and cruelties of humanity. The Shadow Cabinet asks us whether cycles of discovery, betrayal, hurt, just repeat itself.
Overall,
It asks us what happens when the ‘good ones’ do nothing? Or worse, have moments where they hurt others – what happens to our understandings of them then? How do we let these feelings of superiority twist our feelings into cruel moments, subjugation, and power struggles? Find The Shadow Cabinet on Goodreads, Storygraph, Amazon, Bookshop.org, & Blackwells.