I read all three of the books in Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy in a week, and Human Rites was an excellent conclusion to a spectacular trilogy.

For me, one of the best things about these books is the way that Juno Dawson writes. It feels so cinematic, as if I’m watching a movie playing in my head. There’s just the right amount of description to let me imagine the settings, people and emotions without getting too bogged down in the details. It’s a valuable balance that really made these books easy for me to just fly through. Additionally, I love that the characters are multi-faceted and aren’t easily slotted into pure “good” or “evil” buckets (other than the literal devil). It is always impressive to me when an author can take a character that did terrible things and redeem them in a way that makes me wonder if maybe they weren’t that bad after all!

Speaking of evil characters, while I loved Her Majesty’s Royal Coven and The Shadow Cabinet, I really struggled with the “bad guy” in both - in Her Majesty’s Royal Coven, it felt like the villain was transphobia, and in The Shadow Cabinet, it felt like it was misogyny. And on a personal level, I generally read fantasy to escape, and the plotlines in those books felt too real in the world we currently live in. Obviously it is important for books to tackle these subjects, but for me, it can be difficult to read. However, Human Rites has a purely evil big bad guy that the coven is fighting, and I really enjoyed the turn away from the more realistic issues to the fantastical, especially with some of the scenes later in the book.

I loved the coven banding together to have their final battle that all three books had been building to. The journey the women have had over the whole course of the trilogy really made the whole experience very emotionally impactful. The way the pieces fall into place is amazing. Plus, we get answers to so many questions in Human Rites - I was impressed that it didn’t feel like anything got dropped!

A few brief complaints: I did feel one character/magical ability was a bit of a cop out (but only if I think about it too much). Also, because there are so many storylines to tie up in Human Rites, I did feel that some characters got the short end of the stick. For example, Helena’s daughter’s very brief appearance didn’t really feel fleshed out enough to make it worth it. But these are minor quibbles for what was otherwise a very impressive ending that kept me thinking about the books for weeks after. I really think readers are not going to be disappointed, and if you haven’t started the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy, this should be your sign to check it out!

Human Rites had some big shoes to fill as one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and the final book in a strong contender for one of my favorite series ever. Without giving any spoilers away Juno wrapped things up in a really smart and satisfying way. I read the second half of the book in one sitting, gripped and needing to get to the end. Having this last installment of Niamh, Ciara, Leonie, Elle and Theo was bittersweet, I'm better for having (fictionally) known them but sad now there is no more new HMRC adventures for me to read.

I have a small gripe with how lesbianism is portrayed in the book. Although I know it doesn't come from a place of malice, if a cis woman had written a book with the phrase 'gold star lesbian' in it twice I would have promptly closed the book and written the author off as a TERF. I also wish the phrase 'lesbian bed death' would meet an untimely end.

Anti-Climatic Conclusion of a Regressively Anti-Feminist Witch Story
Juno Dawson, Human Rites: Book 3 of the HMRC Trilogy (New York: Penguin Books, July 1, 2025). Paperback: $19. 464pp, 5.5X8.25”. ISBN: 978-0-143137-16-0.
**
“With HMRC in shambles and the fate of the world hanging in the balance, the sisterhood of friends and witches must find a new way of putting together the pieces if (wo)mankind is to stand a chance, in this final chapter… Niamh, Ciara, Leonie, Elle and Theo. Five very different witches with one thing in common: they were unwittingly chosen by the dangerously charming Lucifer, the demon king of desire, to fulfil a dark prophecy: Satanis will rise and the daughters of Gaia will fall. 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.” Referring to an unstated “surprise” is a common trope in fantasies, as it refers to a mystery without giving any details: given room to keep referring to it in foreshadowing and never really deliver a significant “surprise”. This set up of having something strange happening to the plotlines of the lead characters sets up these surprise-carrots for all. “Meanwhile, Lucifer offers fledgling witch Theo a deal: if she helps him, her coven—her family—will be spared. But the magic he asks for will take her out of London—out of time, entirely. The final confrontation between good and evil…”
The conclusion of this novel highlights the problems with this trilogy. The lead character is shown to just be realizing that avenging the deaths of some, or all her friends would be against the set rules of magic, so she learns she cannot do anything other than raise a few “gray clouds” to storm out her rage against the perpetrators of the murders. There is a bunch of empty dialogue that explains this non-action, and talk about this desire to enact vengeance without any need to insert dramatic actions that would have resulted from going ahead with vengeance.
The final note in the blurb refers to a struggle between “good and evil”. There are a few mentions of “evil” across the text itself, but mostly these are to the “devil” or the character of Lucifer who is driving these women to commit “evil” in exchange for keeping friends safe. This exchange of safety for murder or other evil act doing is a common trope in fiction, and films. Though this trade is an absurd one, as in reality no rational person would opt to commit crimes in exchange for safety, as contacting the authorities to unravel this plot would be the rational solution. It is an easy plot-setup that forces lead characters to carry the violent actions in the plot, while the Devil can remain in the shadows. Otherwise, the leads might have had nothing to do, as the villain would be the one doing various evil things, and they could not kill this villain (at least not until the end of a series). The goal of “evil” is to birth “him” or an evil-spawn, while good’s goals seem to be to stop whatever evil wants: at which they keep failing because they end up helping these plans. This birth-of-Satan scheme is too common in fantasy and horror to be interesting. The women are accused of allowing themselves “to be the vessel of the devil himself”. This idea of a witch as witchy because she is sleeping with the Devil comes from Medieval European narratives, and has not progressed since. This plot is certainly not progressively feminist, as it suggests sex and procreation are themselves sinful, and worthy of being condemned to death for thus sinning.
Pennsylvania Literary Journal: Spring 2025 issue: https://anaphoraliterary.com/journals/plj/plj-excerpts/book-reviews-spring-2025

First off, what a great title? Layered and completely applicable. I really enjoyed the first two books in this series, even though they both ended in phenomenal, unexpected cliffhangers. I could not wait to get this third book and conclude the trilogy and it exceeded my expectations!

Despite how much was squeezed into this book, the majority of the characters had satisfying arcs (really, all but one, but that one felt pretty glaring) and the ending felt just right. I half expected the ending to leave some questions unanswered and to feel incomplete, since there was so much going on in this book, but it made a lot of sense without being over the top perfect for everyone involved.

Like the first two, this book is filled with magic, girl power, found family, female friendships, lots of laughs, and a few tears.

Human Rites is a powerful and emotional end to an amazing series. Juno Dawson really knows how to mix magic, friendship, and real-world struggles in a way that hits hard. The characters feel so real, and their stories had me completely hooked.
It can be dark in places, but there’s so much heart. The bond between the witches, the personal sacrifices, the twists,everything came together perfectly. I did not want it to end, but the ending felt right.

Obsessed. I love this series. This a must read. I could not put this down. I’m so thankful I got the ARC. I have this preordered to get the physical book to add to my shelf. More people need to read this!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group, for the ARC of this title. This is the third (sort of fourth) book in the Her Majesty's Royal Coven series by Juno Dawson. There are three books in 'contemporary' time and one novella that is historical about the creation of HMRC. The series has been described as The Spice Girls meets The Craft and it has somewhat stuck to that idea in that a group of women with a long-standing friendship and magical powers take on the forces of evil. At the same time, the storylines are eerily relevant to some of the horrific issues we are dealing with in the world currently.

There are definitely dark moments in the story, but Dawson's writing always has a glimmer of hope and a way of seeing the light through even the toughest of emotional times. As the story of HMRC comes to an end, we are left with a feeling that the women, and a few supportive men, have more power than even their magic - that their friendship and relationships, while not always easy and occasionally toxic, provide even more inner strength, which provides exactly what they need to win in the end.

It's difficult to write a synopsis without giving spoilers. So I'll just say that Theo is still struggling with her reality and her destiny which seem at odds. The ladies are gearing up for the fight of their lives and are ready to put it all on the line.

“It's just that regular women have more power than we've ever, ever been told we can have. What if the biggest lie there ever was was that women are weak? Why did men want us to believe that? So we'd think we needed them? So they could control us? Look how big they made these statues. They're fuckin' titans. What if this is what women are?”

@junodawson pulled of something that, personally, I feel is so difficult in writing which is a solid trilogy of books where each one is as good as, if not better than the previous. “Human Rites,” the final in the #HerMajestysRoyalCoven trilogy, was a trippy, wild, and thoughtful wrap-up (can there please be more?!) to these wonderful witches.

With Levithan set to rise any day, our witch coven must seek out the tools to destroy the aspects of Satanis before they come together. Drawing on their pasts, each witch must work to discover their inner power they have had all along to overcome the apocalypse. With new witches and old allies, the world of witches is set for a biggest fight of their lives to save Gaia from ruination.

Dawson really went all out in this final book, and it is hard to talk about my favorite aspects without giving away some major plot points. In a way, it seems like she saved her best tricks for this book, moving out of quaint Hebden Bridge for a world tour of sorts. Her characters continue to be nuanced and rich, their flaws and fears driving their actions as if they were real people. While Ciara and Niamh’s relationship is perhaps the mos interesting dynamic, I really came to love who Leonie was, the outsider of these outsiders; she really became the focal point of this story for me, and rightfully so.

I’m sad this series is done (again, are we sure?!), but I’ve already shared it with so many people looking for a witchy story to look to for representation. Truly a winning series.

Rating: 3.5/5
Series Rating: 4.5/5

Special thanks to @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for this eARC

The absolute perfect ending to the HER MAJESTY'S ROYAL COVEN series, Juno Dawson knocks it out of the park with this third demon-fighting yet heartwarming experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for this eArc of Human Rites!

I have been in love with these characters from page one of Her Majesty's Royal Coven and this conclusion of their stories is incredibly satisfying. Juno Dawson has gained a lifelong reader. She has taken such care of each character throughout the series. I love her writing and this trilogy is beyond magical.

Human Rites, specifically, is a wild ride! Every character plays a crucial role leading up to the final battle. The plot twists and surprises kept me on my toes. I am mystified by how well plotted, written, and executed this final book is. I experienced the full spectrum of human emotions while reading this book, and I know this series will stick with me for years.

An extremely satisfying ending to the HMRC trilogy, and a cathartic read given current events. Dawson has kept many plates spinning over the course of this trilogy, and though this chapter, being the final in the series, does obviously require the reader to retain moe knowledge of past event, it does solid work in giving you enough of a refresher to remember the big plot beats. For a voracious reader like me who can't remember something in strong detail that she read two+ years ago, it still felt like I could follow everything. It stretches on a tad bit at the end once the main conflict has been resolved, but I personally forgive the victory lap. If I were Dawson I'd also struggle to let these characters go.

Even though this is the final chapter in this story, I'd love if she revisited some of these characters or this world in a few years. But I'm also satisfied if this is the final goodbye.

the feminine rage in this series is top tier 🫰 a great conclusion to the series, even though the pacing felt chaotic

What a perfect ending to a perfect series. Dark and yet whimsicle. Chalk full of feminine rage power. These are badass characters

If you want to feel hope while also thinking about the current state of our world, pick up this whole SERIES! If you have already read the series, well the final installment is a treat. Human Rites gives exactly what is needed, joy, questioning, humor, love, and family. Who would I recommend read this book? Everyone who has wished they were a witch their whole life because they always knew they were a little different and anyone who welcomes difference with open arms!

I am so sad this series is over. What an EPIC conclusion!

There's A LOT that happens in this book but I loved all it all comes together. I love the way Juno Dawson tackles social issues in such a unique way. She intertwines the real issues of today with so much witchy goodness. I laughed, I cried and I cheered!

Girl power really is magical.

I loved the first two books in this trilogy, and the 3rd book absolutely lived up to and even surpassed the other two. This story has the women in this coven trying to keep Satanis from coming together and ending life as they know it. I am not always a fan of an ensemble book where we are jumping from one character to the next rapidly, but this book had a great balance, and the flow was wonderful. Enough cliffhangers to keep me on the edge of my seat without them being so often that it was annoying. Balancing a book with this many elements had to be quite challenging, but it was so well done that it flowed seamlessly.

I will say that I hope this book has trigger warnings. One of the scenes in the last 3rd of the book was so hard to read that I had to step away from it for a few days because of my own trauma and it would have helped to know that I was going to be dealing with so I could make sure I was mentally prepared for it.

I can't wait to read more from this author! I have the prequel waiting for me to pick up next!

A pretty satisfying conclusion to the series. There were some parts that felt a little rushed but overall the pacing of the story was good. I appreciated the brief glossary of sorts at the beginning because there are many characters to keep track of from the previous books and it could be confusing without it.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC. I was ecstatic I received one. i have been feral for the conclusion to this epic Trilogy and it did NOT disappoint. This was such a satisfying conclusion but when I tell you these Witches went THROUGH it.

They truly put up a fight and I loved the exploration of good, evil, queerness, family, sisterhood, motherhood, found family and dealing with biological family. SO MUCH is discussed and represented here.

I'm happy. but also not happy because it's OVER. but it was a great ending. it was messy, complex and yet measured. I believed it. and loved it!

Thank you, NetGalley & Viking Penguin, for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

I don’t think I’ll ever stop talking about this series. Her Majesty’s Royal Coven has been life changing for me in the best, most powerful way. I feel genuinely proud to have stepped into the world Juno Dawson created. These books made me feel seen, made me think, made me furious, and made me laugh out loud in equal measure. Human Rites is a stunning, fearless, and deeply moving conclusion to a story I never wanted to end.

This book tackles so many of the pointed, painful issues we’re facing today, especially here in the US. The war on trans people, systemic racism, homophobia, sexism, the prison industrial complex — it’s all there, woven seamlessly into a story about magic, friendship, and the consequences of power. Juno Dawson never shies away from the ugliness of those realities, but she also never forgets to make space for hope, for humor, and for the quiet, persistent ways people hold each other up when the world feels impossible.

One of the most beautiful things about this series has always been its celebration of female friendship across generations. The bond between these women is messy, complicated, and utterly unbreakable. In Human Rites, that theme feels even more profound as the characters reckon with aging, with grief, with the shifting ways they relate to one another and the world around them. There’s a line I can’t stop thinking about: “It felt to Elle like they were entering a new era. If their twenties had been about girlish freedom, and their thirties had been about establishing themselves as women, their forties felt like an unknown proposition. Truly grown ups. They knew themselves now. But what to do with that knowledge?” It gutted me. It reminded me how rare it is to see women allowed to age, to change, to hold onto each other through it all.

And let’s talk about Ciara because my god, she is hilarious in this book. Her one-liners, her unfiltered chaos, her ability to be both deeply damaged and wickedly funny made me love her even more. It’s a perfect example of how well Juno Dawson balances heavy, devastating topics with sharp, laugh-out-loud humor. The writing sparkles with life in every scene.

I also need to shout out some of the quotes that will live rent-free in my head forever. “But I'll keep on pretending. That's what grown-ups do isn't it? We pretend we know what we're doing and hope we don't get found out.” And “...happy is rare and regret is common as fuck.” There’s such raw, unvarnished truth in lines like those, and the entire book is full of them.

Juno Dawson is a master at weaving cultural commentary into immersive, funny, and devastatingly emotional storytelling. This series is one I’ll be recommending to everyone I know, especially those who believe in the power of women, queer resilience, and magic in all its forms. I’ll miss these characters fiercely, but I’m so grateful I got to know them.

Five stars. Ten stars if I could. Read this series. You won’t regret it.

This book was bittersweet. While I am glad to have a conclusion to events and characters that I have been following in the first two books, I really did not want this series to end. This book was fast paced, and it had a girl power/ religious theme that make you really think about what is happening currently in our world. Just because it tackles some heavy themes doesn't mean that it also didn't allow us laughter. As the characters try to ensure that three powerful demonic entities are not able to combine their forces and rise as one to end all of creation, we also see a story of self-awareness and the bonds of friendship. I absolutely loved this trilogy and hope that there may be more adventures in the form of novellas???