Reviews

The Shadow Cabinet by Juno Dawson

miltosa's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

laurolly's review against another edition

3.0

3.5 Stars. I didn’t like this as much as the first - I think the number of different narrators just did not work as well and I did not connect as much with the characters. That being said, I thought the characters were well fleshed out and complicated, and had some wonderful moments between them. The ‘ring’ ending was too convenient - it felt like Dawson had created a completely over powered character and then floundered over how to stop them. As well as this, although a lot happens, the story feels very slow paced. The ending though will make me come back for book three because holy moly I need to know what has just happened.

contem0604's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

I wasn't sure how I was going to feel about this book after the ending of the previous book. However as I read further I got more and more invested, and towards the end the book kept throwing out genuinely surprising moments and reveals that I did not see coming. The fact that I went from disliking the main character the book was focused on to genuinely sympathising with her and caring about her shows how well this has been written

meoreads's review

adventurous dark emotional funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

jeyjey's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

cupitonians's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

praetor's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Oh my goddess, the ending leaves me needing the final book in the trilogy. I guess the prequel that is coming will be good enough for now. 

erin_lusk's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

I LOVED IT!

I am gutted there isn’t a third yet and the next thing out is a prequel. The ending had me gasping and yelling - even my kid wanted to know what had happened (and he’s 4).

I enjoyed this more than the first but that’s likely due to the fact I had a better understanding of just now grounded Dawson’s work is in our own reality. Her ability to create a pocket world inside the actual reality we’re currently living is extraordinary but it made for a slightly jarring experience at first. 

I cannot wait for more of this story -  prequel which will talk about one of my favorite historical figures (Anne Boleyn) and the next installment from present day can’t arrive fast enough. 

Love love love 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Sexism, and Misogyny

ellerose21's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I have come to realise I actually love these characters and the plot and the world 10/10 

okevamae's review against another edition

5.0

Normally if a second book is available I launch right into it after the first, but the ending of the first one scarred me emotionally so I had to give things a few weeks to percolate. But I'm glad I finally did - this one was even better than the last! Some real killer twists and turns. Some of which I'm still confused about, which is why this is 4.5 stars instead of 5 (but I'm rounding up because it was still really good)

CW: misogyny and other bigotry, and a magical equivalent for drug addiction