The Shadow Cabinet: A Novel (The HMRC Trilogy, Book 2)

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars | 847 ratings

Price: 17.72

Last update: 08-09-2024


Top reviews from the United States

Bel l.
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!
Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
Wow I just finished and I'm still reeling. So much happens in this second installment in a planned trilogy and I can't believe we have to wait for third! Plenty of action, drama, humor, great character development and even a bit of romance thrown in. And if you like magic that packs a punch, there's plenty of that too. But my favorite part is the relationships amongst the witches. At the end of it all they really do support each other. Highly recommend this author!
Katie
4.0 out of 5 stars I absolutely loved parts of this book, while some were tough to grind through.
Reviewed in the United States on April 1, 2024
I absolutely loved parts of this book! The writing is witty and fun and Dawson manages to completely pull me into each character POV. Now, that being said I did have some issues with how Elle and Leonie react to Ciara. Dawson doesn’t seem afraid to take characters down dark paths and cover tough topics. Parts of the story seem to rush and others drag, and so found myself thinking of TV show pacing and mechanics while reading….whatever that’s worth. I’m definitely excited to see what happens in the next installment.
Liz H
5.0 out of 5 stars A great second book that takes the series in new directions
Reviewed in the United States on June 20, 2023
The sequel to Her Majesty’s Royal Coven picks up right where the first book left off. If you haven’t read book one, for the love of Pete, please DON’T read the synopsis for this one, as it’s full of spoilers! I will try to be as spoiler-free as possible, but the bottom line is that I enjoyed The Shadow Cabinet as much as, if not more than, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven (HMRC). Most of the core group of friends, plus Theo and Holly, are back, along with an expanded storyline for Luke and an intriguing new set of supporting characters. A dark band of warlocks seeks world domination, the Sullied Child still may be out there, there’s an imposter inside HMRC, and the new non-magical Prime Minister has started meddling in the coven’s business, all of which threaten to bring on the end of the world as we know it unless our little band of heroines can intervene.

Likes: Friendship is at the center of these books, and these witches support one another through spousal infidelity, kidnapping, attempted murder, and a quest for a hidden magical object. Dawson’s special blend of magic, fantasy, girl power, sarcastic humor, and unexpected twists kept me frantically turning the pages to find out what happened next. The twists in this one came out of left field at quite unexpected moments and took this story in different and very interesting directions. I also really like the way one of the villains gets to narrate parts of the story (as in book one), so we see her perspective as well as that of the more sympathetic and heroic characters.

Dislikes: Again with the cliffhanger ending! Okay, it’s not really a *dislike* for me, but I know they really bug some people. If this is you, consider yourself forewarned!

FYI: violence, murder, demonic possession, kidnapping, infidelity, gore.

Thank you to the publisher for the advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.
Chelsea M
5.0 out of 5 stars *Silently screams into the dark night*
Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023
Whaaaaaaat?! Ahhhhhhhh!!! How does Juno keep doing this to us?! I quite literally am sitting here with my mouth open and simultaneously forming “What the fuuuuu…?!”

Like what the actual F???? Seriously this book was such a wild ride and unexpected mind blower. I could see the direction of a few things…but the general outcome? And those final twists? Ahhhhh that third book cannot come soon enough.

I know a number of people stopped reading after the painful and shocking twist at the end of the last book…but please trust me: CONTINUE THIS SERIES. You won’t be disappointed. Shocked, dismayed, mind blown and deeply unsettled…but never disappointed. Holy Gaia.
Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing and ingenious with a delightful sense of humor!
Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2023
This love!y book is simply unputdownable!The author as created a magic world of powerful women who keep the traditions of their coven alive. Just plain excellent!
D. Bush
4.0 out of 5 stars great sequel, can't wait to see how the trilogy is going to end
Reviewed in the United States on June 21, 2024
The Shadow Cabinet picks up where the last book left off, and boy was that the cliffhanger of the century... At least until you get to the end of this one... Let's say not only did I not see what happened coming AT ALL, my jaw may have literally dropped, but we were left with another cliffhanger ending that makes me happy I was lucky to get an arc of book 3 Queen B.
I did pick this one up last year but wasn't able to really get into it, but I think it was due to the death of a certain character. Then that person not somehow being brought back in the next book, and we are following the person that killed her, and throughout the last book, we were told what a horrible person she was I had a hard time wanting to read from her POV. However now that some time has passed, and the third book's release coming up soon I really wanted to try this one again, and I'm super happy that I did. Not only did I come to really like this person, I also enjoyed the bit of a darker tone her POV offered. and this time this book had me in its grips from the beginning. I found the pacing perfect, and all of the major moments and reveals happened at the perfect time with enough foreshadowing for me to need to know what was going to happen next. So much happened there wasn't a dull moment and I can't wait to see how this trilogy is going to wrap up.
P. Melgar
5.0 out of 5 stars Soooooo good!
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2023
I love these series. I love the characters are relatable and imperfect. I love the all over diversity and real social issues. Powerful imperfect witches/humans. Sisterhood.

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