AUGUST 2023 - AudioFile
The second installment of Her Majesty's Royal Coven, narrated deftly by Nicola Coughlan, brings intrigue, magic, and a complex plot. Ciara Kelly, though suffering from amnesia, works to pass as her late twin, Niamh, to infiltrate the coven and the Secret Cabinet--civil servants who don't trust witches. Meanwhile, Leonie Jackman is in search of the renegade warlock Dabney Hale, whose mysterious dark object may mean the end of Britain, the coven, and all humankind. Irish accents, various British accents, and multiple genders as portrayed by Coughlan help listeners keep track of this complex plot. With humor, danger, and action, Coughlin ensures that Dawson's creation is a great new listen. C.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
Publishers Weekly
★ 03/13/2023
The brilliant and fast-paced second contemporary political fantasy in Dawson’s HMRC trilogy (after Her Majesty’s Royal Coven) takes the series to new heights. Ciara Kelly wakes from a 10-year coma and steals the body of her twin sister, Niamh, just before Niamh is set to take the helm as HMRC’s High Priestess. She struggles to navigate Niamh’s interpersonal relationships without revealing her identity, all while piecing together her fragmented memories and battling her own (literal) demons. Leonie Jackman, the founder of an independent coven, races to locate her brother Radley, who left Britain to track down renegade warlock Dabney Hale. Along the way, she becomes entangled in a much larger plot involving a dangerous and powerful magical artifact. Meanwhile, underground witchfinders, in league with Hale, put into motion a plan that threatens all witchkind in the name of “warlock supremacy.” Dawson handles the tricky middle book with aplomb, raising the stakes and deepening the rich worldbuilding without losing sight of the pathos that makes her characters shine. Magic seamlessly weaves with pop culture references, fun soap-operatic twists, and an incisive look at the psychology of violent misogyny. This is the work of a master storyteller. Agent: Katelyn Dougherty, Paradigm Talent. (Jun)
From the Publisher
Dawson takes everything that worked so well in the first book and makes it stand out even brighter. At times provocative and sharp, at others funny and filled with queer joy, this book is sure to keep lovers of the first book very happy. Told from a variety of different characters, the threads of the story are woven together even more intricately and alliances (as well as friendships) shift as we dive deeper into this magical world…As always, Dawson’s talent of tackling contemporary topics in a fantastical setting truly makes this story stick with you…This entrancing mix of feminism, queerness, magic and power-hungry villains makes for an intoxicating reading experience. The Shadow Cabinet takes the irresistible themes of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven and amplifies their reach well beyond the pages of the book.” —The Nerd Daily
"The characters that were so carefully and diligently created in the first book are given their own stories in the second book, and it is a blast to read...The complexities of modern life are here; thrown into the mix are magic, witches, and rules created around them...There are no limits in this fantasy world; even the established rules are pushed. Readers who enjoy feminist, queer fantasy like The Priory of the Orange Tree (2019), by Samantha Shannon, will enjoy this series." —Booklist, starred review
"The brilliant and fast-paced second contemporary political fantasy in Dawson’s HMRC trilogy (after Her Majesty’s Royal Coven) takes the series to new heights...Dawson handles the tricky middle book with aplomb, raising the stakes and deepening the rich worldbuilding without losing sight of the pathos that makes her characters shine. Magic seamlessly weaves with pop culture references, fun soap-operatic twists, and an incisive look at the psychology of violent misogyny. This is the work of a master storyteller."—Publisher's Weekly, starred review
"The fast pace keeps the many stories moving as the points of view shift, and once again Dawson places a bombshell at the end to surprise readers. The second book of the series, after Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, is filled with witty dialogue, pop culture references, and features the bonds of childhood, sisterhood, and fighting for what one believes in." —Library Journal
Library Journal
03/01/2023
Her Majesty's Royal Coven (HMRC) is preparing to initiate its new High Priestess, and Niamh Kelly is the best witch to take that position. Except Niamh is dead. Her twin sister, Ciara, now inhabits her body and must fool everyone into thinking she is Niamh. Comatose for almost a decade (thanks to Niamh), Ciara has amnesia, so trying to figure out her past and masquerade her present is more than enough to handle. As the story develops and continues, more event threads unfold. Warlock Dabney Hale, Ciara's former lover and Enemy Number One for the HMRC, is tracked across the continent, and the rest of the coven must deal with the change of power in the British Empire. The fast pace keeps the many stories moving as the points of view shift, and once again Dawson places a bombshell at the end to surprise readers. VERDICT The second book of the series, after Her Majesty's Royal Coven, is filled with witty dialogue, pop culture references, and features the bonds of childhood, sisterhood, and fighting for what one believes in.—Kristi Chadwick
AUGUST 2023 - AudioFile
The second installment of Her Majesty's Royal Coven, narrated deftly by Nicola Coughlan, brings intrigue, magic, and a complex plot. Ciara Kelly, though suffering from amnesia, works to pass as her late twin, Niamh, to infiltrate the coven and the Secret Cabinet--civil servants who don't trust witches. Meanwhile, Leonie Jackman is in search of the renegade warlock Dabney Hale, whose mysterious dark object may mean the end of Britain, the coven, and all humankind. Irish accents, various British accents, and multiple genders as portrayed by Coughlan help listeners keep track of this complex plot. With humor, danger, and action, Coughlin ensures that Dawson's creation is a great new listen. C.F. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine
