Reviews
2.5 - It wasn't bad, it just wasn't very good, either. I attribute this to a few things: a) I'm no longer that into Maureen Johnson in general; b) I found Rory to be a really boring narrator a lot of the time; c) I was uncomfortable because I didn't know how large the age difference between Rory and Stephen is (and still don't); and d) it's been so long since I read the last one that I hardly remembered some of the characters and events and was no longer all that invested in Rory and Stephen as a couple. For how comprehensible the writing is it felt interminably slow to read. I never really knew what was going to happen but it wasn't at all suspenseful; I was never riveted. I put the book down a lot because it was making me tired. I still wanted to finish the trilogy and know what happened, though. (Although, now it seems like this might not be the last book? It's certainly left open-ended.) I really liked the character of Freddie, and Sid and Sadie were fascinating and more than a little terrifying, but the whole mythological mysteries/Shadow Cabinet/stones thing came way out of left field. As another reviewer said, it did feel almost like another series at times. Again, because I read the first two so long ago, I'm not sure what exactly was set up/hinted at, but tonally and plot-wise this seemed way different than the first one at least.
3.25 While I do like where this one ended up more than the last, I still take issue with a lot of what happened. There was a lot of meandering going on and the plot just felt like it was all over the place. Part of me wonders if this is why it's been 6+ years and the sequel still hasn't been published.
Would have been 5 stars, but it felt like it left off on a cliffhanger. Is there going to be another book? It's been 5 years.
2015 Reading Challenge: A book published this year
4.5 stars. Yikes, I totally forgot to update this review. I absolutely adore the Shades of London series. For a series I definitely picked up only because it was convenient and free, I am astounded how much I love it. I also love that there will be four books, instead of the usual three. There's just something special about this series that makes it so unique. Maybe it's because I have an obsession with London, with boarding schools, and with magic. The second book in this series wasn't that exciting, but this one certainly makes up for it. The only complaint I have, as ever, is that it doesn't include much Jazza, which is a shame, because she was my favourite from day one. I liked the 70s vibe coming from Sid and Sadie, and I actually really liked the creepiness of their story. I'm really looking forward to the next book in this saga of Rory's extraordinary life. I think I will probably read every book of Maureen Johnson's, probably. This review also appears on my blog in a longer, more cohesive post (and is also probably a lot better than this rambling of words I quickly put together (but also probably not)) here.
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Tik Tok | You can find my review here. “But when we live, we believe that we have a right to everything in the universe - that everything is ours to touch.” First of all, how DARE the fourth book not be published yet. Second, The Shadow Cabinet is proof that the characters of Shades of London totally own me. Third, this installment left me reeling from heartbreak and then hope and then introduced a pair of my new favourite villains. But, we'll get to that later. What you need to know about The Shadow Cabinet is simple: this book is somehow fiery and chilling--it has completely electrified me. As a whole, the Shades of London series is a delight. Impossible to put down and truly entertaining. The series has yet to suffer a slump in terms of quality. In-fact, it only keeps improving on itself as time goes by and at the end of the day, it has aged beautifully. Maureen Johnson is able to craft an ever-changing and enthralling landscape of magic, ghosts, murder and more. The Shadow Cabinet leaves me feeling distinctly hungover in the best possible way and I desperately hope that the fourth book still happens someday soon. The Shadow Cabinet sees Rory and her friends struggling through a new reality after the loss of one of the most important people in their lives. Even worse, new villains emerge from the shadows and with every page comes new obstacles. My biggest feeling throughout the series has always been that of suspense, but The Shadow Cabinet grips much tighter on this and the feeling of heartbreak. Despite the sadness, and the bittersweet quality to some of the more central plotlines of The Shadow Cabinet, there's a blend of other emotions to be felt. Aching as many moments are in this installment, there is just as much intrigue and hope to be found within the pages. Even moreso? The inclusion, and threats, of the villains--and cheerfully so--Sid and Sadie prove to fill in the gaps of the story and take it to new heights. (They are definitely the types that would stab first and sigh dreamily second. I am here for this brand of evil.) As always, the use of multiple genres suits The Shadow Cabinet in a wonderfully coherent and witty way. Not only is Johnson's prose as breezy and vivid as always, there's this quality to it that makes us even more breathless than usual. The Shadow Cabinet is easy to fall into and impossible to forget--I'm completely consumed by it and I need more. Immediately. I laughed. I cried. I yelled. The Shadow Cabinet is truly a force to be reckoned with and I'm living for every moment.
