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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
Much better action and plot than book #2. Looking forward to the next one.
By far the most satisfying of the series so far.
Rory gets taken under Thorpe's wing after the events of the previous book. There's a desperate search to find Stephen, but he's not anywhere that the team can find. Meanwhile the sinister Jane Quaint is still at large with serious plans for Rory and her friends.
This book and the previous one could be considered a duology in the larger series. Many of the plot points set up in the previous novel are resolved satisfactorily in this one. The Madness Underneath left the Shades and Rory in an unstable state, without terminii, so the Shades themselves being fairly pointless and Rory about to be shipped back to the States at a moment's notice. In this one the whole framework of the Shades becomes much clearer and you can see the basis that ongoing books in this series can build off. The introduction of Freddy and the fleshing out of Thorpe as well as exposition on Stephen's Weighty Secrets are all welcome.
Looking forward to the next one and a probably long series to come.
Rory gets taken under Thorpe's wing after the events of the previous book. There's a desperate search to find Stephen, but he's not anywhere that the team can find. Meanwhile the sinister Jane Quaint is still at large with serious plans for Rory and her friends.
This book and the previous one could be considered a duology in the larger series. Many of the plot points set up in the previous novel are resolved satisfactorily in this one. The Madness Underneath left the Shades and Rory in an unstable state, without terminii, so the Shades themselves being fairly pointless and Rory about to be shipped back to the States at a moment's notice. In this one the whole framework of the Shades becomes much clearer and you can see the basis that ongoing books in this series can build off. The introduction of Freddy and the fleshing out of Thorpe as well as exposition on Stephen's Weighty Secrets are all welcome.
Looking forward to the next one and a probably long series to come.
Actual Rating: 3.6
When I realized that book 4 isn't out yet:
D: I really am excited to see where the series goes. The cult thing is pretty interesting to me.
Also, I find Rory to be (mostly) amusing, Stephen to be great, and Boo to be basically perfect.
When I realized that book 4 isn't out yet:
D: I really am excited to see where the series goes. The cult thing is pretty interesting to me.
Also, I find Rory to be (mostly) amusing, Stephen to be great, and Boo to be basically perfect.
I went back to the beginning and read my review of THE NAME OF THE STAR because I couldn’t remember how I felt about the prior books. Yeah. It takes me a while to get through series. I know.
Well, I loved THE NAME OF THE STAR, as did the rest of my fellow YAcks. Then I went back and read my review for THE MADNESS UNDERNEATH. Less than impressed with that one. Felt like a filler book that if half were shoved into book #1 and half into book #3 this could have easily been a duology because book #2 doesn’t really contribute much as its own book.
As for THE SHADOW CABINET? Way more in line with book #2. I just felt meh. I was reading without really realizing it. I wasn’t disliking what I was reading but I wasn’t really enjoying it either. It was basically easy enough for me to plow through and it grabbed my attention enough that it escaped the DNF pile. But not by much.
While waiting four years between books is my own damn fault, THE SHADOW CABINET doesn’t recap anything in any meaningful way. It pieced the prior plot together as the story went along, very scattered, and they were just teeny, tiny little shreds of information. Basically enough to get what they’re referencing but that’s about it. I don’t need pages of recap at the front of the book, like “previously, in the series . . .” But the recap was scant and sporadic enough that it really didn’t help.
Ultimately I just didn’t feel the immediacy of the plot. I would often find myself reading along only to have grazed right by a serious action scene that the characters were now referencing. More than once that happened. Not to mention Rory was a tool to be used in this book. Quite literally. Whether it’s by Jane or Thorpe, her agency is pretty much blown as she’s shoved from one scene to the next. And she’s not that likable of a character. It’s not that I didn’t like her either. She just wasn’t really that well-formed in my head as a character. She didn’t stand out. Neither did Stephen. Just . . . blanks.
I wanted to like it more than I did, especially with how much I liked the first book. But I didn’t. It happens. It just makes me kind of sad.
2.5
Well, I loved THE NAME OF THE STAR, as did the rest of my fellow YAcks. Then I went back and read my review for THE MADNESS UNDERNEATH. Less than impressed with that one. Felt like a filler book that if half were shoved into book #1 and half into book #3 this could have easily been a duology because book #2 doesn’t really contribute much as its own book.
As for THE SHADOW CABINET? Way more in line with book #2. I just felt meh. I was reading without really realizing it. I wasn’t disliking what I was reading but I wasn’t really enjoying it either. It was basically easy enough for me to plow through and it grabbed my attention enough that it escaped the DNF pile. But not by much.
While waiting four years between books is my own damn fault, THE SHADOW CABINET doesn’t recap anything in any meaningful way. It pieced the prior plot together as the story went along, very scattered, and they were just teeny, tiny little shreds of information. Basically enough to get what they’re referencing but that’s about it. I don’t need pages of recap at the front of the book, like “previously, in the series . . .” But the recap was scant and sporadic enough that it really didn’t help.
Ultimately I just didn’t feel the immediacy of the plot. I would often find myself reading along only to have grazed right by a serious action scene that the characters were now referencing. More than once that happened. Not to mention Rory was a tool to be used in this book. Quite literally. Whether it’s by Jane or Thorpe, her agency is pretty much blown as she’s shoved from one scene to the next. And she’s not that likable of a character. It’s not that I didn’t like her either. She just wasn’t really that well-formed in my head as a character. She didn’t stand out. Neither did Stephen. Just . . . blanks.
I wanted to like it more than I did, especially with how much I liked the first book. But I didn’t. It happens. It just makes me kind of sad.
2.5
This is my favourite book out of the three thus far, that much is certain.
Rory remains a character that I truly do enjoy reading about, as she is not perfect and will be the first to admit. I really enjoyed how Thorpe's character was more filled out, but am interested to learn more about him, like for example how he did end up with white hair at the age of eighteen.
The plot was tightly woven together and I found myself flipping the pages almost frantically, wanting to know what was going to happen next. Even though it was broken up into parts it was still a seamless reading experience.
The beginning of this novel was captivating to me and it was clear Maureen Johnson had done her research about the time. The scene in the cemetery had me truly frightened as did Ol'Jim.
The idea of the Shadow Cabinet was intriguing. Sid and Sadie were disturbing and terrifying in a way that I feel really brought this book to a whole new level.
Rory remains a character that I truly do enjoy reading about, as she is not perfect and will be the first to admit. I really enjoyed how Thorpe's character was more filled out, but am interested to learn more about him, like for example how he did end up with white hair at the age of eighteen.
The plot was tightly woven together and I found myself flipping the pages almost frantically, wanting to know what was going to happen next. Even though it was broken up into parts it was still a seamless reading experience.
The beginning of this novel was captivating to me and it was clear Maureen Johnson had done her research about the time. The scene in the cemetery had me truly frightened as did Ol'Jim.
The idea of the Shadow Cabinet was intriguing. Sid and Sadie were disturbing and terrifying in a way that I feel really brought this book to a whole new level.
Originally posted on Londiniumgirlbooks
I discovered Maureen Johnson last year, through the recommendation of one of my friends, and I was not disappointed (this is also the friend that recommended The Raven Boys. She’s a good friend.) I will try toreview this novel without giving away too much detail, so those that haven’t read the first two in the series( you should) won’t hate me after reading this.
I loved the first book in the Shades of London series. It was so amazing to me because the main character, Rory, is from the Southeastern part of the US, and yet she gets to go to high school in London, England. That was my dream as a teenager (now it’s just my dream to live there or go to grad school there. Times change) so that part endured me. Then y’all, guess what? Jack the Ripper shows up. I’m not kidding. This is a contemporary novel, but Jack the freaking Ripper from 1888 makes an appearance (one of my obsessions is Jack the Ripper FYI). I won’t go into detail, but needless to say, there are ghosts, scary ghosts, and after a seriously awkward near death experience, Rory can see them.
This changes her life and in the first two books, she deals with Jack the Ripper and a ghost-hunting squad and it’s complicated and it’s good. There’s also a weird pot-dealing therapist in the mix. Watch her. She’s a crafty one.
So everything’s good, everything’s fine THEN the end of the second book punches you in the throat. You’re given this cliff-hanger and you patiently (ha) wait for this, the third book, The Shadow Cabinet.
I begged my mom to buy it for me for Valentines Day (because I’m poor and I’m pitiful) and she did. I read it in basically one sitting and here’s my honest opinion: The first book was amazing. The second book was good. There third book was ‘aight. Honestly, only ‘aight. I would have read it if it have been horrible, because I love the world MJ created and the characters are so realistic, but there’s a major relationship in the making and it honestly was not dealt with enough(because right now it feels like inst-love in the making and MJ usually doesn’t do that). I’m sorry that’s vague, but I don’t won’t to spoil it for anyone. Just, there was not enough kissing. There. I said it.
Moving on…I will be reading the fourth book, and I hope it’s as good as the first one. Character development just wasn’t there for me in the third one, and the plot kind of when in a weird direction, but I trust MJ. She’ll see us through.
I discovered Maureen Johnson last year, through the recommendation of one of my friends, and I was not disappointed (this is also the friend that recommended The Raven Boys. She’s a good friend.) I will try toreview this novel without giving away too much detail, so those that haven’t read the first two in the series( you should) won’t hate me after reading this.
I loved the first book in the Shades of London series. It was so amazing to me because the main character, Rory, is from the Southeastern part of the US, and yet she gets to go to high school in London, England. That was my dream as a teenager (now it’s just my dream to live there or go to grad school there. Times change) so that part endured me. Then y’all, guess what? Jack the Ripper shows up. I’m not kidding. This is a contemporary novel, but Jack the freaking Ripper from 1888 makes an appearance (one of my obsessions is Jack the Ripper FYI). I won’t go into detail, but needless to say, there are ghosts, scary ghosts, and after a seriously awkward near death experience, Rory can see them.
This changes her life and in the first two books, she deals with Jack the Ripper and a ghost-hunting squad and it’s complicated and it’s good. There’s also a weird pot-dealing therapist in the mix. Watch her. She’s a crafty one.
So everything’s good, everything’s fine THEN the end of the second book punches you in the throat. You’re given this cliff-hanger and you patiently (ha) wait for this, the third book, The Shadow Cabinet.
I begged my mom to buy it for me for Valentines Day (because I’m poor and I’m pitiful) and she did. I read it in basically one sitting and here’s my honest opinion: The first book was amazing. The second book was good. There third book was ‘aight. Honestly, only ‘aight. I would have read it if it have been horrible, because I love the world MJ created and the characters are so realistic, but there’s a major relationship in the making and it honestly was not dealt with enough(because right now it feels like inst-love in the making and MJ usually doesn’t do that). I’m sorry that’s vague, but I don’t won’t to spoil it for anyone. Just, there was not enough kissing. There. I said it.
Moving on…I will be reading the fourth book, and I hope it’s as good as the first one. Character development just wasn’t there for me in the third one, and the plot kind of when in a weird direction, but I trust MJ. She’ll see us through.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
this series so incomplete now i need another book! this cliffhanger is going to bother me.
now this book holy crap so much happened in this one book alone i loved the pacing and the whole gang and a new member! the lies being told to saving and murder happening.
now this book holy crap so much happened in this one book alone i loved the pacing and the whole gang and a new member! the lies being told to saving and murder happening.
After not reading the Shades books for almost two years, I was a little rusty on this world. I remember not liking 'The Madness Underneath' as much as 'The Name of the Star', so I was worried that this book would be difficult to get through. Because I don't find Stephen to be that compelling of a character and, in this series, if you don't like Stephen, you'll be skimming a good portion of the book.
BUT
The Shadow Cabinet was so good! I had forgotten about Jane the Crazy Therapist and pretty much everything that happened in TMU (except for "THE THING", obviously). Rory still gets on my nerves when she focuses too much on things that don't matter to the plot and some of the dialogue was a little out-of-place and trying a little to hard to be "English".
I adored the whole Sid/Sadie plot. Call me a sucker, but I love a good ritualistic poisoning/eternal sleep plotline and boy did this book deliver. I enjoyed the 1970's cult-mentality bringing brought into the supernatural mishaps that seem to follow Rory around.
Honestly, I was so bored with The Madness Underneath that I wasn't excited for this book at all, but it's the first book all year that kept me up past my bedtime. Good job, The Shadow Cabinet. Good job.
BUT
The Shadow Cabinet was so good! I had forgotten about Jane the Crazy Therapist and pretty much everything that happened in TMU (except for "THE THING", obviously). Rory still gets on my nerves when she focuses too much on things that don't matter to the plot and some of the dialogue was a little out-of-place and trying a little to hard to be "English".
I adored the whole Sid/Sadie plot. Call me a sucker, but I love a good ritualistic poisoning/eternal sleep plotline and boy did this book deliver. I enjoyed the 1970's cult-mentality bringing brought into the supernatural mishaps that seem to follow Rory around.
Honestly, I was so bored with The Madness Underneath that I wasn't excited for this book at all, but it's the first book all year that kept me up past my bedtime. Good job, The Shadow Cabinet. Good job.
Three and a half stars. Good continuation of the story, but I thought it was the last book and clearly it isn't so it still felt like a middle book.
Omg I need the next book!!! Really loving the new characters Maureen is developing, and of course the good ol squad of four!