When it comes to witchy books it does not get any witchier than this series! I feel like with each book the stakes got higher and the sacrifices so much more devastating. I really was shocked at the cliffhanger in the end of book two and was happy to see that this book transitions firmly. I love each of these characters. I feel like each of them had tremendous character growth in this story. I was happy to see that the world building was just as rich as the rest of the series. I really found myself giggling at the pop culture references and relating to the very real issues that we face today with climate and women's rights. I will say that there were a few twists that I wholeheartedly did not see coming, and just wow! I am sad to see this series come to an end but that ending was so perfect and I can't imagine it any other way for these characters.

The conclusion to Dawson’s Her Majesty’s Royal Coven Trilogy is a roaring fun time! I’ve loved all of the books in the HMRC and Dawson delivers a worthy conclusion. First conceived as “Desperate Housewives, but make them Witches” our favorite British Coven is all that can save humanity from literally going to hell!

As with the previous books, reading feels a lot like riding a launch coaster. Chapter one picks up right where The Shadow Cabinet leaves off at 100 miles an hour and never lets up. Filled with humor, action and more mind blowing twists, I couldn’t have asked for more !

Pictured here is my signed Waterstones edition, complete with endpaper character art that is just perfect!

If you are looking for an irreverent contemporary fantasy with female rage that’s just a damn good time, I’d highly recommend you check out the HMRC.

An easy 4/5 stars and a satisfying end to our witches' journeys. She doesn't always stick the landing - Helena and how that impacted Snow felt like an afterthought at times, and some of the plot decisions felt mildly fanfic adjacent and as if they were made for shock value. But even those were forgivable with the satisfying conclusion to Theo and Niamh's story, along with the conclusion for Leonie and Ciara. That, and the occassional strokes of comedy laced into the text and the penchant for dramatics within the lives and reactions of our characters allow the more surprising plot additions to still be believable plot progressions for the story. Well done, Juno Dawson - thank you for a wonderful read and a wonderful ride with these characters and their story!

In this conclusion to the HMRC trilogy, the coven is in chaos and the end of the world is imminent. The witches must come together to defend humanity from Satanis and protect Gaia’s creation.
This was a solid conclusion to the HMRC trilogy. It can be difficult to wrap up a series this complex and with characters we’ve bonded with over so many pages, but Juno Dawson did each of the characters justice, while still managing to sneak in some twists and turns that kept me on my toes. I’ll miss the witches in this series, but sincerely hope that Juno finds her way back into this world again in the future.

Picking up right where the last book left off, I was very excited to see where the story was going to go. We have Niamh back from the dead, and Ciara is in prison, and Theo is in danger, and really, a whole hot mess of problems are going on with the other people in the coven.

I'm not sure where exactly in the story it happened, but somewhere along the way, I began losing interest in what was going on. There was just so much happening, and only a few of the threads were ones I was interested in following. I was all into Niamh and Ciara figuring out their relationship, and helping Theo. Then we get this time travel thing, which maybe I missed the clues in the last book, but if felt like it felt like it came out of nowhere. Especially at the end, when we get this weird 22-year gap that happened for a couple of characters but no one else. I was just left confused. I did like how Niamh's and Theos' story ended. I think they deserve some happiness after everything they have been through, and while I wish things ended differently with Ciara, I was happy with what we got from her at the end.

This series is one of my favorites and I would highly recommend it to anyone! Readers who love witches, LGBT rep should definitely read this trilogy. I can’t wait to see what Juno Dawson writes next! That said, this did have some weak moments and I would recommend all 3 together than leaving some time

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel didn't disappoint! What a great finale for the HRMC trilogy. I strongly recommend this series to anyone that enjoys a great fantasy "beach read". Lots of action and interesting plot twists, great characters moving into their 40's -- you couldn't ask for more!

Human Rites is the third book in Juno Dawson’s Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series. It continues the story started in prior books and so this review contains spoilers for earlier in the series.

His name is Milo, but he’s not the boy Theo knew. He’s not Elle’s son, Holly’s brother, or Theo’s friend. He’s someone dangerous, someone she shouldn’t trust, but to bring Niamh back, Theo will do anything, including listening as Milo helps her break through the barriers of life and death and bring Niamh back from the dead. No matter that she did so with love, no matter she had the support of the the rest of the coven — Ciara, Leonie, Elle and Chinara — Theo’s action has signaled the end of the world.

Theo has summoned Leviathan.

Niamh returns to a world in shambles. The coven is shattered, lessened with so many deaths; the Seal of Solomon is destroyed; her sister is freed from her hospital bed, only to be imprisoned; her lover has turned betrayer; and an even more heartbreaking revelation has Niamh questioning the last ten years of her life. But none of that can matter, not now, not when she has to somehow find the strength, the cleverness, and the power to save the world.

With her are her chosen family: Elle, cruelly used by Satan; Leonie, suddenly pregnant with no idea how — only a hope it wasn’t something done to her by the evil warlock, Dabney Hale; and Ciara, her twin, her sister, and the person who has caused her the most harm. With magic and maybe a miracle or three, without their fifth member, these women must somehow find a way to destroy Satan before he destroys them.

This book picks up directly after the events of the second book in Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series and, as the third and final book in the trilogy, really shouldn’t be read as a standalone. However, while I have read (and enjoyed) the first book in the series, Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, along with the connected story, Queen B, I haven’t read the second book, The Shadow Cabinet. Therefore, I will somewhat be treating this book as a standalone, rather than as the conclusion to an ongoing trilogy. In a sense, I’m very like Niamh in this way, who also missed the majority of the events of book two, having been dead. This is not a spoiler; the book opens with Theo bringing Niamh back into the land of the living.

While there is a lot of plot going on in this book — with threads from the previous two books being pulled together and tied into tidy little bows — the focus is very firmly on the characters. On Niamh and her feelings towards her sister, towards Theo, towards Lucas, and even herself. Having died and been raised from the dead, Niahm has less patience for all the little politics the covens want to play. She has seen the evil that is has coming, and that evil is directed at Theo, the young witch Niamh views as her own child. Prophecy or not, Sullied Child or not, Niamh is not going to let them kill Theo, or take her away to an American conversion camp in the hopes that might save the world.

Cruelty is never the answer. Love is. Or … ought to be, which makes it harder for Niamh to deal with her twin. Ciara has done terrible things, killed people, destroyed lives, allowed demons to gain a foothold; she’s responsible for the death of Niamh’s husband! But … she’s still her sister. She is repentant, but is saying I’m sorry enough? Ciara knows it’s not, knows she will always be judged by her actions and accepts that. She knows she deserves to be in prison, but when she finds out Satan has forces inside the witch prison, Ciara does everything in her power to warn Niamh. And when push comes to shove, Ciara will be there at her sister’s side to shove back.

Leonie, an unapologetic black witch, is pregnant. For her, the pregnancy isn’t the only scary part, it’s … how did it happen? She’s never been with a man, and even when Dabney Hale used her as a puppet, he didn’t rape her. So how is she pregnant? When she learns the truth of the child within her, Leonie’s entire world changes. For her, saving the world has suddenly become a great deal more personal.

Elle is broken. Her first child, her son Milo, was stillborn … but Satan took that from her, insinuating himself into her life in the form of a teenage boy named Milo. Her memories were rewritten to allow him to live in her house, eat her food, call her mum. She did his laundry, worried about him, loved him, and now her son is gone, and all that’s left is the knowledge Satan did this to her. Elle’s daughter is turning into a powerful seer, but one whose power will drain the life from her with every vision she has. Her husband has left her, and all Elle has left is so much rage and pain, coming from a place of darkness and anger. Is she corrupted, is her magic tainted?

Every woman struggles, separately, with what has been done to them … but not so much with the choices they have made. Except Ciara, whose choices are all she’s allowed to struggle with. And Lucas, who turns out to be a witchfinder, who is held accountable for the death he caused. Lucas and Ciara, who for me were two of the most interesting characters, are never given time to redeem themselves due to the amount of plot that has to happen, and it makes their endings feel unsatisfying to me.

Niamh and Theo are given a happy ending, which they deserve; Elle is allowed to work through her pain and her guilt and realize that she deserves to be happy. In the first book, I thought Leonie, the only black witch, was given short shrift by being the voice of the plot, rather than her own character; here, she’s given an ending which, to me, isn’t exactly one I’d call happy.

Spoiler title
There are a lot of little moments that didn’t work for me, a lot of emotional beats that I think didn’t hit the way they could have. Sisterhood has always been a focus of these books, but here I think that theme was weakened. However, the pacing was excellent! I know it’s an odd thing to praise but, as the third book in a trilogy, the book has to have a balance in showing the characters where they are after horrible tragedies, give them each a chance to recover, and then give them each a chance to shine as they take down Satan himself and do so without leaving anyone behind and keeping the tension. I did feel the stakes of the world, the belief each character had about how dangerous the big bad was, which made their efforts to fight him and their exhaustion and sorrow and rage all the more effective. It’s just the little moments in between as the characters interacted with each other that didn’t work for me as well.

The characters all felt very similar in the way they spoke and in the way they thought and acted, with only two real standouts: Elle’s rage and shame at being used, at having her grief mocked, and Theo’s heartbreak at being the cause of the end of the world. It’s all well written, and I imagine it would have been more fun to read if I’d read book two, but I still had a decent time with this. If you want to give it a try, though, I do suggest reading all three books in order!

Human Rites is the epic conclusion to the trilogy of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. I loved this installment and thought it was very satisfying! The story picks up right where we left off in book two. Niamh is back from the dead, Theo is hunted by Lucifer, and Ciara must face the consequences of her actions. Leonie is faced with a choice she never thought she’d have to make and Elle has to reckon with the hell Lucifer unleashed on her family.

I couldn’t put this down! Human Rites ties up many loose ends and is filled with action-packed scenes. Each character has come so far from book one and I love seeing their character growth. This series has been so intricately designed and it’s clear that Fate has been pulling strings from book one. Dawson examines the twisted bonds of sisterhood and choices between good and evil. Human Rites is action-packed and filled with compelling characters. Dawson writes witty and heartbreaking dialogue. This series is one of my favorites and I would highly recommend it to anyone! Readers who love witches, LGBTQ+ rep, and epic magical stories should read this trilogy. I can’t wait to see what Juno Dawson writes next!

Thank you to Juno Dawson, Penguin Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, and Barnes & Noble etc.

Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the gifted eARC of this book!

I am, and always have been, a massive Juno Dawson fan. I have been ANXIOUSLY waiting for this book, and let me tell you, it did NOT disappoint.

I won’t do an overview of the book, because if you’re interested in Human Rites, you likely have already read the preceding books in the HMRC world. So, let’s talk.

This book was a masterpiece. An absolute triumph. The world that Dawson has been able to build, and the things we are still learning about it at the conclusion of the tale…just astounding. I took a bit to really digest what I had read, so I could leave an entirely honest review, but my enthusiasm during reading has stuck with me, long past reading.

Most books have exposition, then rising action, then the climax, and descending action to conclusion. Human Rites rewrites all the rules here. The entire book is the climax, with a slightly longer conclusion. Every single chapter ended on a “WHAT?!? REALLY?!?” Like, just constanttttttttttttt action, and it’s all intentional.

I’ve seen some reviews that say the book felt rushed, but I didn’t actually feel that way - maybe because I was on an adrenaline high from reading and I couldn’t wait to get to the next chapter, the pacing felt great for me. Juno Dawson has said that, for now, this IS the last book in the series. However, I could see opportunities for spin-offs that were left not “open-ended,” but were slightly leaning towards it. I feel really quite happy with the way the story ended.

Listen, if you’ve read the other HMRC books, just go buy this. Immediately. And then take some time off work to read.

Amazing conclusion to Her Majesty's Royal Coven series. The coven is reunited—but broken. Niamh is back from the dead…but she hasn’t come back alone. Elle mourns a son she never had. Ciara languishes in a prison for witches, and Leonie reels from a very unexpected surprise. Theo, on the other hand, is being pulled out of time by Lucifer.
Everything is nicely tied up and the ending is satisfying. Of course, you may still want to spend all your time with the Hebden Bridge witches, so have a re-read. Completely enjoyable and I will miss this series!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House for this digital e-arc.*

In Human Rites, Juno Dawson concludes the Her Majesty's Royal Coven trilogy. Told in multiple POV, it was funny, epic, and action packed, we get to wrap up the story of Theo, Leonie, Elle, and Ciara. I was really satisfied by this ending.

Human Rites is already the conclusion to the Her Majesty's Royal Coven trilogy. And what a wild ride it has been. This book is a good conclusion to a strong series overall.

We start the book with the return of Niamh. Being raised from the dead isn't easy. Especially not when you bring something back with you. And Lucifer is making its final play. Even if nobody else wants to believe it.

It was easy to settle back into this book, this series and this story despite there being 2 years between books 2 and 3. The difference between each character makes it a good way to follow the differing story lines we follow. It is great to have Niamh back who I missed a lot in the second book. Theo is always a joy.

For those that believe this might be a harder read with the way lucifer and satan are very front and center. As is Gaia mentioned a lot.

As much as I enjoyed reading this book however I did have some points to squabble over. For one I feel that for such a gritty story this ends with a rather happy ending. It was a bit too convenient. Part of that was because of a story line around Leonie that is close to a deux ex machina. In that regard it was a little dissapointing. However it wasn't a last minute add either. A part of it was already set-up in book 2 so at least it had always been apart of the plans.

I still find it a strong ending for our characters and I enjoyed reading it. I would certainly pick up a next fantasy by Juno Dawson.

Picking up pretty much where we left off, Theo accepting their destiny of being the unsullied child and the resurrection of Niamh- my favorite. And of course, Leonie has returned with an unexpected surprise, Elle seems to finally come into her own, and Ciara is just being Ciara, but from behind bars.

This book felt like everything I’ve been WAITING for. A villain from book one I have been on the edge of my seat of the author would re introduce and I was happy to see. Niamh was thrust back into her life, without so much a hiccup- like I needed the integration of her with her friends. Not binge watching tv. I did feel some pacing issues in the beginning, as each character being on the edge of their seat for what was next felt dragged out- like if something’s going to happen, happen. Not multiple chapters of characters looking over their shoulder.

With this being the concluding book, every characters was brought back. Which I appreciated but also, a little whiplash from all the different point of views. There was a little too much with the Leonie side plot to try and follow, but I was glad to see Elle really getting a moment to shine and seeing her growth. Her little moments of reflection, like remembering being told to stop showing off when she was good at something, to not brag, to not outshine the boys. We also finally got a good back and forth between Ciara and Niamh, showing their sisterly bond, which was cohesive, believable, and made Ciara more root-able.

With as much as was going on this book, there was one particular point of view I was intrigued to see back from book 1 but was overall lackluster. I think this could have been 2 books. A good conclusion still to an overall fun coven series that had depth.

Human Rites by Juno Dawson is a dark and twisty paranormal story that will have you on the edge of your seat.
An intriguing read that pulled me in from the beginning. The story flowed well, and it was exciting.
This was truly masterfully done. Dawson somehow told a complex story with fully developed characters, but with a pacing that pulled you forward.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Book Review: Human Rites by Juno Dawson
(Her Majesty’s Royal Coven #3)

This was everything I wanted in a series finale and then some. Human Rites is bold, heartbreaking, magical, and just a little bit unhinged in the best possible way. Juno Dawson stuck the landing like a gymnast in glittery robes—dramatic, confident, and unforgettable.

The story picks up with our coven scattered, broken, and emotionally bruised—but not beaten. Niamh is back (kind of? sort of? not alone??), Ciara is imprisoned and still brilliantly complex, Leonie has a revelation I did not see coming, Elle is grieving something that never existed, and Theo… oh, Theo. She’s offered a devil’s bargain by Lucifer himself, and watching her navigate that choice made my heart ache. Her journey continues to be one of the most layered and moving parts of this entire series.
And yes—Lucifer enters stage left, and wow. Charming, manipulative, and terrifying, he adds this delicious tension to the plot that never lets up. His scenes practically sizzled off the page.

The magical system remains a standout—rich, layered, and evolving. There are so many nuances: power levels, magical types, and consequences that feel both mystical and deeply human. I absolutely loved how magic was used to reflect very real choices, flaws, and strengths. And the time-travel element? Totally unexpected and totally fun.

Even with all the action and apocalyptic stakes, Dawson never forgets the heart of the story: the bond between these five women. They're messy, complicated, fierce, and loyal—just like real friendships. The emotional payoff in this final installment felt so well-earned, and I found myself tearing up more than once. (Okay, more than twice.)

Yes, the political commentary is still there, and it won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, but this time it felt more woven into the fabric of the world rather than hitting me over the head. It was pointed but purposeful.

Final verdict? This book is spellbinding. Human Rites wraps up this witchy feminist trilogy with power, punch, and heart. I’m honestly sad it’s over, but so satisfied with how it ended. If you’ve been holding out on starting the series—now’s the time. Trust me, the magic is real. ✨

What more can I say about a series that I have adored and will rec to anyone that will listen?

The way that I am so unwell that I finished this book and now the series is done…I just can’t. While Human Rites was not my favorite of the main trilogy (👀 Queen B), it was still a well deserved 5⭐️ banger.

Many a L was OL’d and tear was shed (the last part of the acknowledgements? Come ON!). I agree that things got a bit *much* at times but I felt the sense of urgency and chaos. I would liken a lot of this book to Avengers: Endgame - you got a time heist, people staying in the past for love, and ultimate victory over evil (I mean we all saw that coming, right? No spoiler).

I feel like this series was tailor-made for elder millennial oldest thought daughters who were obsessed with pop culture and suffer from constant imposter syndrome and mild anxiety. Even if you don’t fit any of these categories - I almost guarantee you will enjoy these books. But if you don’t, DON’T TELL ME!

CW/TW: death, war, murder, sexism, misogyny, grief, violence, miscarriage, transphobia, death of parents, infidelity

So thankful to have been gifted this arc, I absolutely love this series. The final installment of this series lived up to the rest of the series. I’m so sad to say goodbye to the coven!

Thank you to Penguin Group Viking/Penguin Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this title to read and give my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This final book of the series has completely cemented my love for Juno Dawson and her writing. She had some big shoes to fill with me loving her first two books of this series and she did not disappoint. Not only does she write about a diverse community of witches but she infuses so much love and understanding. You definitely have to read at least the first two books in this series prior to this one or you will be totally lost. The novella was a bonus but not necessary to understand the story. It did give some great background, though.
It's hard to review a third book in a series without giving anything away. That being said, Dawson continues to amaze me with her well developed characters and incredible plot line. I loved all the different points of view we got in this book. It made the story so much more immersive.
The pacing in the book was quite fast. There was a ton of action and also some great scenes showing the characters' growth. A lot happens in this book. Sometimes it was tough to keep up. But I loved every second of it. And the emotional journey of the characters was quite something. I laughed, I cried, I did both at the same time. I really didn't want it to end. Dawson's writing is so descriptive. She really shows you what is going on and you feel like you are in the thick of it with the characters.
And while I hoped things would end on a good note, I actually was never sure if this would happen or not. I didn't know which characters we would lose. So many of them wanted to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. And the confrontation between good and evil in this book really gave it that extra punch.
The one thing that confused me a bit were the time jumps. I don't want to get into it, but there is some time travel introduced and, while I usually love time travel, it seemed odd for this series to introduce it in the last book. I feel like I would have understood it better had it been introduced earlier.
I loved the relationships, the pop culture references, and the growth that happened throughout this series. If you love a found family, queer representation, and magic, pick this series up.

There is for sure good stuff here, but that's somewhat inevitable given the sheer amount of stuff generally happening simultaneously.