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Her Majesty's Royal Coven #3
Human Rites
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.
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.
But Lucifer has deadly offer for fledgling witch Theo: help him and her coven – her family – will be spared as the rest of humanity perishes in a hellish new reality. Save the ones she loves? Or save the world? The choice is hers…
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.
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.
But Lucifer has deadly offer for fledgling witch Theo: help him and her coven – her family – will be spared as the rest of humanity perishes in a hellish new reality. Save the ones she loves? Or save the world? The choice is hers…
473 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2025
531 people are currently reading
15119 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 416 reviews
August 14, 2025
Pre-review: TELL ME ABOUT THE FOOT. 👀
I enjoyed this, but as much as I like the humor and pop culture references, here it often slowed down and got in the way of what was going on; I wish the character arcs felt deeper and more poignant as well. And for the first time, a lot of the themes felt hammered in, which felt inelegant and grew a bit tiresome—I’m in support of the many topics brought up, of course, but they sometimes felt muscled in. I should be more gripped by the story and characters rather than picturing the Etsy tees in my head.
3.5 stars
The ending was overall satisfying, however, viewed in broad strokes.
I enjoyed this, but as much as I like the humor and pop culture references, here it often slowed down and got in the way of what was going on; I wish the character arcs felt deeper and more poignant as well. And for the first time, a lot of the themes felt hammered in, which felt inelegant and grew a bit tiresome—I’m in support of the many topics brought up, of course, but they sometimes felt muscled in. I should be more gripped by the story and characters rather than picturing the Etsy tees in my head.
3.5 stars
The ending was overall satisfying, however, viewed in broad strokes.
July 2, 2025
4.5 stars
“I had an idea; Desperate Housewives, but they’re witches.” And from that kernel of an idea sprung the vibrant trilogy of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. Millennial childhood friends and witches, women embracing their power, celebrating diversity, community, and friendship, with sassy quips, 90s nostalgia, and an irreverent attitude. Bursting with brilliant LGBTQIA+ characters and exploring diaspora and intersectionality. All of this in the background while facing down the big bad.
Human Rites is the final book of the trilogy, so I don’t want to say too much and risk spoilers. Let’s just say that it’s a wild ride of a book that kept me gripped and on my toes to the end! Our witches channelled their inner Buffy and spouted sassy quips when the stakes were at their highest. There were so many twists and turns, great character growth and development, and emotional hits that really hit home.
“I had an idea; Desperate Housewives, but they’re witches.” And from that kernel of an idea sprung the vibrant trilogy of Her Majesty’s Royal Coven. Millennial childhood friends and witches, women embracing their power, celebrating diversity, community, and friendship, with sassy quips, 90s nostalgia, and an irreverent attitude. Bursting with brilliant LGBTQIA+ characters and exploring diaspora and intersectionality. All of this in the background while facing down the big bad.
Human Rites is the final book of the trilogy, so I don’t want to say too much and risk spoilers. Let’s just say that it’s a wild ride of a book that kept me gripped and on my toes to the end! Our witches channelled their inner Buffy and spouted sassy quips when the stakes were at their highest. There were so many twists and turns, great character growth and development, and emotional hits that really hit home.
March 31, 2025
The conclusion to Her Majesty’s Royal Coven! This is a mostly satisfying ending, but there’s a LOT going on here, and at times it feels a bit rushed in a race to tie up all the threads. There are some characters that get very satisfying arcs, and some that get short shrift. One character seems to exist solely for the purposes of deux ex machina, and I think the story as a whole would have benefitted from more time fleshing them out and making them feel like more than just a convenient plot point.
It's a fun read, very witchy and very girl-power, but I do think this is probably the weakest of the three books. Still, it’s got some wonderful characters and I kinda hope we get maybe some short stories or some continuation where we see more of Senait; I think she’d be a lot of fun to come back to, and has a lot of potential.
Despite some of the rough spots, I do think that if you enjoyed the first two you’ll like this conclusion; and if you haven’t started this series but you like books about women’s power, and the power in tight, strong female friendships – or you just like a good witchy story! – then Her Majesty’s Royal Coven would be a great choice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the chance to read this early digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinions!
It's a fun read, very witchy and very girl-power, but I do think this is probably the weakest of the three books. Still, it’s got some wonderful characters and I kinda hope we get maybe some short stories or some continuation where we see more of Senait; I think she’d be a lot of fun to come back to, and has a lot of potential.
Despite some of the rough spots, I do think that if you enjoyed the first two you’ll like this conclusion; and if you haven’t started this series but you like books about women’s power, and the power in tight, strong female friendships – or you just like a good witchy story! – then Her Majesty’s Royal Coven would be a great choice.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the chance to read this early digital ARC, in exchange for my honest opinions!
August 1, 2025
Devoured this in two days. While some are saying it's a little choppy, Dawson needed to wrap up 500 storylines at once. I wish we had gotten more of Elle in this one, ultimately she got a bit of a short shrift, but the focus on womanhood, queerness, female rage, girl power, and the power in the connection of women was VERY prevalent and lovely.
June 25, 2025
Thank you so much Harper Collins UK & Netgalley for the arc!
„She was bloated on a thousand swallowed words. She'd bottled it for so, so long but it was time to release it: her rage.“
looming apocalypse
witches vs Satanis
time travel
female rage
trans & intersex witches
What's going on:
Niamh is back from the dead, but brought back an unwelcome hitchhiker. Luke turned out to be a witchfinder and is missing, while Ciara is rotting in a prison for witches. Elle is mourning her son, who turned out to be Lucifer, and Leonie is in for a shocking surprise.
Theo has the opportunity to save her family from Satanis but it would mean sacrificing humanity.
What I liked:
All that happened in the series was so well connected and the open plots were tied up neatly. Especially the time travel parts helped to really understand the impact of all the little decisions previously made. I also loved to get glimpses into the timelines of previous witches millennia ago, back to the very first witches.
What I didn’t like:
I missed that the girls never really got the time to talk through everything that happened, especially Niamh and Ciara. So many things happened to them individually, that were part of the bigger picture, but the others never got to know.
„She was bloated on a thousand swallowed words. She'd bottled it for so, so long but it was time to release it: her rage.“
looming apocalypse
witches vs Satanis
time travel
female rage
trans & intersex witches
What's going on:
Niamh is back from the dead, but brought back an unwelcome hitchhiker. Luke turned out to be a witchfinder and is missing, while Ciara is rotting in a prison for witches. Elle is mourning her son, who turned out to be Lucifer, and Leonie is in for a shocking surprise.
Theo has the opportunity to save her family from Satanis but it would mean sacrificing humanity.
What I liked:
All that happened in the series was so well connected and the open plots were tied up neatly. Especially the time travel parts helped to really understand the impact of all the little decisions previously made. I also loved to get glimpses into the timelines of previous witches millennia ago, back to the very first witches.
What I didn’t like:
I missed that the girls never really got the time to talk through everything that happened, especially Niamh and Ciara. So many things happened to them individually, that were part of the bigger picture, but the others never got to know.
February 28, 2025
You mean now I have to say goodbye to the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series? But... I never want to leave? Hebden Girlies Group Chat 4eva.
I cannot stress enough how much you need to read HMRC, because Human Rites was a masterpiece of an ending. Juno Dawson has managed to create a community and a vision for the future and a guide on how to be a powerful, supportive woman in a world which wants us to stay down, on our backs and in the kitchen where we belong. She tackles complex social issues in frankly a funny AF way. This series had me laughing out loud, while also crying multiple times in this final installment. Pick this up if you want a witty, fast-paced adventure with an EPIC conclusion. How she thought out that last 30% is beyond me. So incredible.
Girl power is fucking magic.
I cannot stress enough how much you need to read HMRC, because Human Rites was a masterpiece of an ending. Juno Dawson has managed to create a community and a vision for the future and a guide on how to be a powerful, supportive woman in a world which wants us to stay down, on our backs and in the kitchen where we belong. She tackles complex social issues in frankly a funny AF way. This series had me laughing out loud, while also crying multiple times in this final installment. Pick this up if you want a witty, fast-paced adventure with an EPIC conclusion. How she thought out that last 30% is beyond me. So incredible.
Girl power is fucking magic.
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September 3, 2025#Gifted
The third and final installment in the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series.
I read this on audio as I usually do with these books, because Nicola Coughlan is the narrator, and she is INCREDIBLE. All the accents, demon voices etc. She’s wonderful.
We pick up directly where the last book ended. The coven is still somehow together and fan-fave Niamh has been brought back from the dead. Her twin sister Ciara is in prison, while the other witches in their group reel from a series of shocking life events.
Lucifer has decided now is the time to destroy the world, and settles on witch fledgling Theo to help him.
Obviously the coven will fight back, but it will be a battle of epic proportions which not everyone will survive..
I’ll start by saying I’m not the target audience for anything too fantasy-ish. This is purely because I struggle with remembering all the lore, the various different names of characters and so on.
That said, these books are rooted in our reality, including lots of pop culture references, which I love (especially the many nods to Buffy). I also feel very fondly towards these characters now, and when I tell you I SOBBED during this one! Not able.
As always with the HMRC series, there’s incredible LGBTQIA+ representation. These stories often feel like a warm hug, especially considering the stance the author of another popular witchy series has chosen to take on trans rights (I’m never not side-eyeing you, Joanne).
I did get a bit lost occasionally with some of the time jumping but overall I really enjoyed this addition to the series. And that ending. Perfect.
If you love this series, I think you’ll be delighted with the trilogy finale. An epic read. Recommend!
With many thanks @harpercollinsire for my copy. All opinions are my own, as always. Human Rites is available to buy now.
The third and final installment in the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven series.
I read this on audio as I usually do with these books, because Nicola Coughlan is the narrator, and she is INCREDIBLE. All the accents, demon voices etc. She’s wonderful.
We pick up directly where the last book ended. The coven is still somehow together and fan-fave Niamh has been brought back from the dead. Her twin sister Ciara is in prison, while the other witches in their group reel from a series of shocking life events.
Lucifer has decided now is the time to destroy the world, and settles on witch fledgling Theo to help him.
Obviously the coven will fight back, but it will be a battle of epic proportions which not everyone will survive..
I’ll start by saying I’m not the target audience for anything too fantasy-ish. This is purely because I struggle with remembering all the lore, the various different names of characters and so on.
That said, these books are rooted in our reality, including lots of pop culture references, which I love (especially the many nods to Buffy). I also feel very fondly towards these characters now, and when I tell you I SOBBED during this one! Not able.
As always with the HMRC series, there’s incredible LGBTQIA+ representation. These stories often feel like a warm hug, especially considering the stance the author of another popular witchy series has chosen to take on trans rights (I’m never not side-eyeing you, Joanne).
I did get a bit lost occasionally with some of the time jumping but overall I really enjoyed this addition to the series. And that ending. Perfect.
If you love this series, I think you’ll be delighted with the trilogy finale. An epic read. Recommend!
With many thanks @harpercollinsire for my copy. All opinions are my own, as always. Human Rites is available to buy now.
July 6, 2025
Human Rites is a heartfelt, fast-paced and powerful goodbye to our Hebden Bridge witches. The long anticipated finale to the Her Majesty's Royal Coven series was, in my opinion, how you go out with a bang.
There were a few elements that felt a little rushed or abrupt but then again there was a lot to cover to tie up all of the character arcs from the multi-povs. All of the characters stepped into their own power or levelled up in some way by confronting their past traumas and choosing their futures.
I really loved the sense of sisterhood, the celebration of enduring female friendship, the representation of found families and the central thread of unconditional love and acceptance. There's a sense of gritty reality to the writing style which can feel a little harsh in places but also makes the characters feel more truthful and unapologetically who they are. This makes the dynamics between them stronger as, in this book more than ever, they need to rely on and believe in each other to defeat their biggest threat yet and, to do so, they need to understand each other and their part to play in the battle between ancient entities.
Prophecies, huge stakes, uniting covens and facing your own demons. What more could you ask for? A very satisfying and unexpected conclusion to the trilogy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
There were a few elements that felt a little rushed or abrupt but then again there was a lot to cover to tie up all of the character arcs from the multi-povs. All of the characters stepped into their own power or levelled up in some way by confronting their past traumas and choosing their futures.
I really loved the sense of sisterhood, the celebration of enduring female friendship, the representation of found families and the central thread of unconditional love and acceptance. There's a sense of gritty reality to the writing style which can feel a little harsh in places but also makes the characters feel more truthful and unapologetically who they are. This makes the dynamics between them stronger as, in this book more than ever, they need to rely on and believe in each other to defeat their biggest threat yet and, to do so, they need to understand each other and their part to play in the battle between ancient entities.
Prophecies, huge stakes, uniting covens and facing your own demons. What more could you ask for? A very satisfying and unexpected conclusion to the trilogy.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
July 21, 2025
yet another emotional rollercoaster, as juno dawson does not spare anyone’s feelings. i discovered this series thanks to the audiobooks read by nicola coughlan (🫶🏻) and i loved the first chapters so much i decided to stop listening and buy physical copies of the books because i needed to hold the books in my hands. this series confirmed how much i love fantasy as a genre and, although this last book is maybe not a 5 star read, i can’t help but be extremely grateful for all the beauty it has brought. reading a book set in the city where you’ve chosen to spend your adult life hits differently. why am i getting so emotional????
April 29, 2025
Thank you so much to Harper Insider and Harper Voyager for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my review!
What an epic conclusion to one of my favourite series! I never want to leave these characters and this world - I feel so connected to them, and like they're actually real people. This felt like the perfect ending for these characters and their stories, and this entire series embodies the meaning of sisterhood and friendship, and I think it's so beautiful. This installment is non-stop from the get-go, as our gang of witches tries to stop evil from taking over the world, and I found myself completely shocked at so many points throughout this with what was going on. Every POV in this book felt so well done and well-written, with each character incredibly complex and you find yourself feeling so much for each of them. This is just one of my favourite series, I can't recommend it enough.
What an epic conclusion to one of my favourite series! I never want to leave these characters and this world - I feel so connected to them, and like they're actually real people. This felt like the perfect ending for these characters and their stories, and this entire series embodies the meaning of sisterhood and friendship, and I think it's so beautiful. This installment is non-stop from the get-go, as our gang of witches tries to stop evil from taking over the world, and I found myself completely shocked at so many points throughout this with what was going on. Every POV in this book felt so well done and well-written, with each character incredibly complex and you find yourself feeling so much for each of them. This is just one of my favourite series, I can't recommend it enough.
August 5, 2025
An action packed and exciting conclusion to a brilliant trilogy following a girl gang of witches who are facing up against (another) end of the world scenario after already defeating a big band in their early twenties. Now in their late thirties, and dealing with cheating husbands, teenage children and mortgages, they have to face up to terfs, prophecies, witch hunters and demons who like to take over bodies to bring about hell on earth. Spice up your life and all that!
This was so much fun, and a great ending to a great trilogy. I love the female friendship and sisterhood, and really enjoyed and was touched by seeing how Juno Dawson wrote out the Niamh-Ciara storyline in this one. Juno has been great at bringing current events into her books from the trans/terf debate, manosphere via witch hunters and just what it's like generally being a woman in today's society. Despite some of the heavy themes, there's enough comedic moments to keep the story fun and light-hearted and this is a story heavily written for the 90s kids with Spice Girl references, Tamagotchi's galore. Some of this can be heavy handed a bit and there's the fear that it can date the novel but for once in this trilogy, I didn't mind the pop culture references as it just worked perfectly with the characters.
The start of this book did feel very fast as we are left reeling with the results of the cliff hanger from the second book, and we see how this turns out. And it felt like the months went by very fast, very quickly but it all geared up towards the big battle at the end which had everything from pirates, sea walkers, demons and time travel!
This was so much fun, and a great ending to a great trilogy. I love the female friendship and sisterhood, and really enjoyed and was touched by seeing how Juno Dawson wrote out the Niamh-Ciara storyline in this one. Juno has been great at bringing current events into her books from the trans/terf debate, manosphere via witch hunters and just what it's like generally being a woman in today's society. Despite some of the heavy themes, there's enough comedic moments to keep the story fun and light-hearted and this is a story heavily written for the 90s kids with Spice Girl references, Tamagotchi's galore. Some of this can be heavy handed a bit and there's the fear that it can date the novel but for once in this trilogy, I didn't mind the pop culture references as it just worked perfectly with the characters.
The start of this book did feel very fast as we are left reeling with the results of the cliff hanger from the second book, and we see how this turns out. And it felt like the months went by very fast, very quickly but it all geared up towards the big battle at the end which had everything from pirates, sea walkers, demons and time travel!
August 6, 2025
this was such a stunning book, oh my god. i genuinely loved this book so much because the way the author brought in old plot points, and made things make sense, and connected all the dots?? chef's kiss. and can we talk about the character growth literally everyone experienced?? and the way this book felt like such a woman power moment?? ugh, it was too good. i am so sad this series is over but it's ok because i NEED to do a reread so i can catch all the things i know i missed.
August 22, 2025
I really liked the first book, I liked the second one, and so I was really excited to read the last one, so much so that I ordered it as soon as it came out!
It started well, with , something I was expecting since book 1! I was glad to
But, as I progressed into the novel, I felt something going wrong and I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I felt like the author, contrary to what she did in the previous volumes, was completely rubbing my nose in the ideas she developed from book to book with more subtlety. I don't need to be convinced, I just wanted to get back to these characters and to HMRC and Diaspora. There were sentences that made me cringe, because they didn't need to be there: the reader is intelligent enough to get what the author is doing without her explaining it or making it more obvious, putting it into words. Plus, I had the impression that the author's voice came into the narration, parasiting the tone of the story, using words and expressions that made me glimpse the human being behind the book I was holding. And it was so vulgar: I have nothing against that, but it felt way more so than in the first two books.
Because of that, the more I read, the more I felt detached from the book and the characters, even the ones I loved. It's not that I didn't care what happened to them, it's that it didn't matter as much to me as in the first and second books, where I was really invested.
I ended up disliking the ending:
Finally, for the first time, I discovered multiple errors in the text itself, not due to the author, but to the editing. For a book this expensive, it was disappointing too.
So, I felt let down by this ending, despite loving the world the author created. I didn't believe in the story - and, mostly, the ending -, I felt estranged from the characters and it felt like the book was trying to give me an explicit lesson I didn't need or ask for on feminism, intersectionality and climate change.
It started well, with , something I was expecting since book 1! I was glad to
But, as I progressed into the novel, I felt something going wrong and I didn't enjoy it as much as I wanted to. I felt like the author, contrary to what she did in the previous volumes, was completely rubbing my nose in the ideas she developed from book to book with more subtlety. I don't need to be convinced, I just wanted to get back to these characters and to HMRC and Diaspora. There were sentences that made me cringe, because they didn't need to be there: the reader is intelligent enough to get what the author is doing without her explaining it or making it more obvious, putting it into words. Plus, I had the impression that the author's voice came into the narration, parasiting the tone of the story, using words and expressions that made me glimpse the human being behind the book I was holding. And it was so vulgar: I have nothing against that, but it felt way more so than in the first two books.
Because of that, the more I read, the more I felt detached from the book and the characters, even the ones I loved. It's not that I didn't care what happened to them, it's that it didn't matter as much to me as in the first and second books, where I was really invested.
I ended up disliking the ending:
Finally, for the first time, I discovered multiple errors in the text itself, not due to the author, but to the editing. For a book this expensive, it was disappointing too.
So, I felt let down by this ending, despite loving the world the author created. I didn't believe in the story - and, mostly, the ending -, I felt estranged from the characters and it felt like the book was trying to give me an explicit lesson I didn't need or ask for on feminism, intersectionality and climate change.
September 2, 2025
What a way to end one of my favorite fantasy series ever 😭👏🏼 this was such an epic conclusion!!
These characters will forever live on in my heart now 🥺
These characters will forever live on in my heart now 🥺
August 16, 2025
To quote our dear Lorde and savior: Baby, What Was That? And why the fuck did our Desperate Housewives turn into the members of Umbrella Academy?
I think I’m slowly realizing that I don’t like time travel and alternative timelines/realities. I also don’t remember any foreshadowing relating to the fact that time travel was possible.
Furthermore, I don’t think Queen B brought anything particularly relevant to the narrative, that cash grab novella really didn’t need to exist. Speaking of things that didn’t need to exist: Ciara’s death. I liked her epilogue, but I am really disappointed that she died, especially after being underused throughout the majority of the novel. Elle showed hints of an interesting character development, but it wasn’t explored in any depth that would warrant a compliment.
Finally, I think it’s in poor taste, especially considering how performatively woke and inclusive this trilogy is, that saving the world ultimately required a pro-life approach. Not only was Leonie first violated and impregnated by Gaia (whose actions were never questioned by the way), she was then was guilted into not having an abortion by her daughter from the future because otherwise “they’re fucked”…Even Lucifer asked for more consent before possessing people.
I think I’m slowly realizing that I don’t like time travel and alternative timelines/realities. I also don’t remember any foreshadowing relating to the fact that time travel was possible.
Furthermore, I don’t think Queen B brought anything particularly relevant to the narrative, that cash grab novella really didn’t need to exist. Speaking of things that didn’t need to exist: Ciara’s death. I liked her epilogue, but I am really disappointed that she died, especially after being underused throughout the majority of the novel. Elle showed hints of an interesting character development, but it wasn’t explored in any depth that would warrant a compliment.
Finally, I think it’s in poor taste, especially considering how performatively woke and inclusive this trilogy is, that saving the world ultimately required a pro-life approach. Not only was Leonie first violated and impregnated by Gaia (whose actions were never questioned by the way), she was then was guilted into not having an abortion by her daughter from the future because otherwise “they’re fucked”…Even Lucifer asked for more consent before possessing people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2025
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.
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.
June 16, 2025
This was still a good book - but it wasn't a great book and didn't reach the standard of previous two books in the trilogy. I still enjoyed it and the characters were wonderful but I had a lot of issues with it.
The first half of this book felt like it was wrapping up a lot of the plot threads started in the other two books and just going "oh this doesn't actually matter". It makes me wonder if the author changed her mind about what should happen in the book as it just felt like sooo many plot threads were just tied up in a very quick way that felt like they were kind of pointless. The pacing overall was very mixed as whilst the first half was much too slow, then the last half of the book moved so fast and we spent not enough time on the action and plot of the book and emotional fall out of that.
This book also doesn't have the same coherent political themes as the other two books. Her Majesty's Royal Coven was all about women fighting each other and how the patriarchy sets us against each other with a major weapon of that being transphobia. The Shadow Cabinet was all about women fighting against men and how the men weaponise the patriarchy to use against us and violence men perpetrate against women. This one didn't have a clear theme and I really missed that feminism and political commentary.
In the same way that the title of this book doesn't quite fit the other two - stepping away from the twist on the names of government branches - Human Rites feels like a step away from some of what made Her Majesty's Royal Coven series great and it's not a seamless fit with the previous two books in this trilogy. The character arcs are largely satisfying and I enjoyed the character development, but the ending felt like it moved at warp speed with a deus ex machina plot device that took away from the original characters a bit. I do have a few very long and spoilery rants about certain plot points that I'll be dropping after the release day (seriously I've got another 1000 words to drop once this is out - whoops!).
Overall too much time was spent redirecting the story from the place The Shadow Cabinet had left it in and tying up abandoned plot threads in the first half of the book that too little time was spent on the actual action and plot of the book. This is definitely the weakest book in the series, but despite this I did enjoy it whilst I was reading it and the characters are the highlight of this whole series.
Thank you to HarperVoyager for a proof copy of this book!
The first half of this book felt like it was wrapping up a lot of the plot threads started in the other two books and just going "oh this doesn't actually matter". It makes me wonder if the author changed her mind about what should happen in the book as it just felt like sooo many plot threads were just tied up in a very quick way that felt like they were kind of pointless. The pacing overall was very mixed as whilst the first half was much too slow, then the last half of the book moved so fast and we spent not enough time on the action and plot of the book and emotional fall out of that.
This book also doesn't have the same coherent political themes as the other two books. Her Majesty's Royal Coven was all about women fighting each other and how the patriarchy sets us against each other with a major weapon of that being transphobia. The Shadow Cabinet was all about women fighting against men and how the men weaponise the patriarchy to use against us and violence men perpetrate against women. This one didn't have a clear theme and I really missed that feminism and political commentary.
In the same way that the title of this book doesn't quite fit the other two - stepping away from the twist on the names of government branches - Human Rites feels like a step away from some of what made Her Majesty's Royal Coven series great and it's not a seamless fit with the previous two books in this trilogy. The character arcs are largely satisfying and I enjoyed the character development, but the ending felt like it moved at warp speed with a deus ex machina plot device that took away from the original characters a bit. I do have a few very long and spoilery rants about certain plot points that I'll be dropping after the release day (seriously I've got another 1000 words to drop once this is out - whoops!).
Overall too much time was spent redirecting the story from the place The Shadow Cabinet had left it in and tying up abandoned plot threads in the first half of the book that too little time was spent on the actual action and plot of the book. This is definitely the weakest book in the series, but despite this I did enjoy it whilst I was reading it and the characters are the highlight of this whole series.
Thank you to HarperVoyager for a proof copy of this book!
April 23, 2025
How do I move on from this? 😭💜
Thank you so much El at Harper for this early copy - Human Rites (HMRC 3) by Juno Dawson is out in the UK on the 17th of July from Harper Voyager ✨
Human Rites kicks off near enough straight after that insane cliffhanger we were left with at the end of Shadow Cabinet. Obviously I can't go into much detail as this is the third and concluding part of a series.
This book is a wild ride!! It was literally non-stop from page one. The witches are once again trying to stop the forces of evil from ending the world. The twists and turns had me gasping out loud. Even though every HMRC book has been high stakes this one felt like it was on another level entirely.
I always love the humour within these books. With the books mainly set in the North West I loved call outs to places I recognise, the comment about the GMEX had me cackling. I love Hebden Bridge and am dying to go back now, it truly does feel like a magical place.
I think Ciara is still my favourite character, she's so well written and this book very much solidified my love for her. Any passages mentioning Annie had me in tears! Senait's back story reveal was brilliantly done and unexpected, it took the narrative in a direction I truly wasn't expecting and I loved every second of it.
Juno has this insane talent of being able to make you snort laugh one second and sob so hard the next. Her writing is so effortless to read. Human Rites is a satisfying and epic conclusion to an absolutely incredible series. To read a book like this in the times we are currently living in feels strange but ultimately hopeful, this book feels like a call to arms and a message of love in such a dark time, it screams you are not alone as the witches of Hebden wrap their arms around you.
Thank you so much El at Harper for this early copy - Human Rites (HMRC 3) by Juno Dawson is out in the UK on the 17th of July from Harper Voyager ✨
Human Rites kicks off near enough straight after that insane cliffhanger we were left with at the end of Shadow Cabinet. Obviously I can't go into much detail as this is the third and concluding part of a series.
This book is a wild ride!! It was literally non-stop from page one. The witches are once again trying to stop the forces of evil from ending the world. The twists and turns had me gasping out loud. Even though every HMRC book has been high stakes this one felt like it was on another level entirely.
I always love the humour within these books. With the books mainly set in the North West I loved call outs to places I recognise, the comment about the GMEX had me cackling. I love Hebden Bridge and am dying to go back now, it truly does feel like a magical place.
I think Ciara is still my favourite character, she's so well written and this book very much solidified my love for her. Any passages mentioning Annie had me in tears! Senait's back story reveal was brilliantly done and unexpected, it took the narrative in a direction I truly wasn't expecting and I loved every second of it.
Juno has this insane talent of being able to make you snort laugh one second and sob so hard the next. Her writing is so effortless to read. Human Rites is a satisfying and epic conclusion to an absolutely incredible series. To read a book like this in the times we are currently living in feels strange but ultimately hopeful, this book feels like a call to arms and a message of love in such a dark time, it screams you are not alone as the witches of Hebden wrap their arms around you.
September 7, 2025
An epic conclusion to the trilogy!
The stakes are higher than ever in this third book of 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' series, a wild ride of girl power and female rage.
The story is action packed as we follow our witches in their attempt to prevent the end of the world. I enjoyed the fast pace but I felt that the action never stopped long enough for the characters to process what was happening, I wish there’d been more quiet moments for them to talk through their feelings.
There were many twists and turns, which I admit were fun but at one point I thought I couldn’t take many more revelations 😅 I felt as if the author tried to include every epic trope and twist available in the history of literature. In addition to that, the plot from the second half of the book was too 'deus ex machina' for my taste.
My only other criticism is that to me it felt arbitrary which characters had a redemption arc and which ones stayed the 'bad guys' after the conclusion, even when their crimes had been similar.
Apart from that, the ending was satisfying and the author tied all the loose end neatly. If you enjoyed the first two books you'll definitely like this one!
Thanks to HarperVoyager via NetGalley for providing an eARC
The stakes are higher than ever in this third book of 'Her Majesty's Royal Coven' series, a wild ride of girl power and female rage.
The story is action packed as we follow our witches in their attempt to prevent the end of the world. I enjoyed the fast pace but I felt that the action never stopped long enough for the characters to process what was happening, I wish there’d been more quiet moments for them to talk through their feelings.
There were many twists and turns, which I admit were fun but at one point I thought I couldn’t take many more revelations 😅 I felt as if the author tried to include every epic trope and twist available in the history of literature. In addition to that, the plot from the second half of the book was too 'deus ex machina' for my taste.
My only other criticism is that to me it felt arbitrary which characters had a redemption arc and which ones stayed the 'bad guys' after the conclusion, even when their crimes had been similar.
Apart from that, the ending was satisfying and the author tied all the loose end neatly. If you enjoyed the first two books you'll definitely like this one!
Thanks to HarperVoyager via NetGalley for providing an eARC
April 25, 2025
Thank you so much to Harper Collins for approving me to read this early, it’s obviously a 5 star book - I’d rate it higher if I could.
I started this trilogy on Monday and fell inlove with the magic, characters and chaos. I’m literally crying that it’s over, the whole thing blew my mind. I wanted to swear there and say it blew my effing mind because well the book characters swore like builders on site so it feels appropriate.
This trilogy has come to an end and it was an amazing ride, book 3 is incredible. The multi POV was done brilliantly linking every path the story diverted to and making it coherent. The prophecy came to a head in the most insane and crushing way, but each characters conclusion is super satisfying and I loved it.
Feel like I’m going to be in such a reading slump after this, how do I move on.
I started this trilogy on Monday and fell inlove with the magic, characters and chaos. I’m literally crying that it’s over, the whole thing blew my mind. I wanted to swear there and say it blew my effing mind because well the book characters swore like builders on site so it feels appropriate.
This trilogy has come to an end and it was an amazing ride, book 3 is incredible. The multi POV was done brilliantly linking every path the story diverted to and making it coherent. The prophecy came to a head in the most insane and crushing way, but each characters conclusion is super satisfying and I loved it.
Feel like I’m going to be in such a reading slump after this, how do I move on.
Read
July 31, 2025not sure yet if rounding up or down, but my heart is full and I am happy
[4.5 stars]
[4.5 stars]
July 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
‘Human Rites’ is the final book in Juno Dawson’s Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy and oh boy, what a ride you are in for.
Preface for this review: I won’t be spoiling this book but there will be spoilers for the previous books. So that’s a warning!
This book picks up after the deliciously painful cliffhanger of the second book. With the coven left reeling from Niamh’s return, everyone is trying to pick up the pieces of recent events and somehow prepare themselves for the possible end of everything.
Where do I even begin with this?
As usual, Juno Dawson’s writing is full of quips, clever analogies, and big characters that stay with you long after the book is done. I’m a huge fan of multiple POVs, and this series allows us to spend time with multiple characters through the story. The references are spot on if you grew up in the 90s/early 2000s in the UK.
This book has a far greater scope than the previous two, given the literal world-ending events going on, and there is a lot more focus given to the fantasy of it all, with magic, witches, and demons taking most of the space. That being said, the recurrent themes of girl power, friendship, familial bonds, and identity remain tangible throughout. Each character has their own journey and arc, though with a cast this big, some characters didn’t get as much attention as I perhaps would have liked. Everyone, however, got what I believed to be appropriate and immensely satisfying endings.
Much like the previous book, I felt the first half lagged immensely BUT once I hit 50%, the pacing switched and the latter half was pretty perfect. As usual, Juno Dawson buffeted me with twists and turns that boggled the mind and dropped my jaw. Honestly, she is a puppet master and knows exactly how and when to pull each thread for maximum impact.
Finally, this book had me in tears. The last few chapters were just emotionally wrenching, in the best way. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a hugely enjoyable trilogy.
4.5 🌟
‘Human Rites’ is the final book in Juno Dawson’s Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy and oh boy, what a ride you are in for.
Preface for this review: I won’t be spoiling this book but there will be spoilers for the previous books. So that’s a warning!
This book picks up after the deliciously painful cliffhanger of the second book. With the coven left reeling from Niamh’s return, everyone is trying to pick up the pieces of recent events and somehow prepare themselves for the possible end of everything.
Where do I even begin with this?
As usual, Juno Dawson’s writing is full of quips, clever analogies, and big characters that stay with you long after the book is done. I’m a huge fan of multiple POVs, and this series allows us to spend time with multiple characters through the story. The references are spot on if you grew up in the 90s/early 2000s in the UK.
This book has a far greater scope than the previous two, given the literal world-ending events going on, and there is a lot more focus given to the fantasy of it all, with magic, witches, and demons taking most of the space. That being said, the recurrent themes of girl power, friendship, familial bonds, and identity remain tangible throughout. Each character has their own journey and arc, though with a cast this big, some characters didn’t get as much attention as I perhaps would have liked. Everyone, however, got what I believed to be appropriate and immensely satisfying endings.
Much like the previous book, I felt the first half lagged immensely BUT once I hit 50%, the pacing switched and the latter half was pretty perfect. As usual, Juno Dawson buffeted me with twists and turns that boggled the mind and dropped my jaw. Honestly, she is a puppet master and knows exactly how and when to pull each thread for maximum impact.
Finally, this book had me in tears. The last few chapters were just emotionally wrenching, in the best way. I honestly couldn’t have asked for a better ending to a hugely enjoyable trilogy.
4.5 🌟
July 20, 2025
What an epic ending to an excellent trilogy. I'm still processing it this book since I finished it in about 4.5 hours in a day but....
I didn't know how Dawson was going to wrap this up but it was done on such an epic scale!! At this point I feel like Niamh, Elle, Leonie, Chindara are all friends I wish I had? They're all so brilliant and wonderful but also quite flawed. I liked that Ciara was brought back into the fold - not forgiven but accepted back into the sisterhood. I feel like Book 2, created all the catalysts for the character development that we saw come to fruition in this book.
I wasn't expecting an Endgame style timey-wimey adventure but somehow, it worked?! AND I like that there was an added element of jeopardy when he clocked it. (Do we think that this story was almost lifted wholesale from Feige - potentially BUT I'll allow it because it does work). I feel like Ciara is 'our voice' in the story because she talks/acts the most like a late 30s something and Elle is probs my least fave because she just takes a little too long to recognise how powerful she is. I was a bit sad with how Snow's storyline ended - that one was a little too sad/convenient for me. There was some hand-wringing about it, but not enough compared to other characters we've seen?
The shift between the older and younger members of the coven was well done AND we love a book that has barely any men in it! (You never realise how dominant this is in fantasy books until you read a book that has virtually no men centred in it!).
All in all it was a great ending and the messaging around sisterhood, fighting the patriarchy is incredibly apt given we're living through a time of an upsurge in the tradwife movement, women literally shrinking themselves thanks to 'the pen' and the return of the 'nothing tastes as good as skinny feels' vibes thanks to a shift to Conservatism and right wing populism around the world.
I didn't know how Dawson was going to wrap this up but it was done on such an epic scale!! At this point I feel like Niamh, Elle, Leonie, Chindara are all friends I wish I had? They're all so brilliant and wonderful but also quite flawed. I liked that Ciara was brought back into the fold - not forgiven but accepted back into the sisterhood. I feel like Book 2, created all the catalysts for the character development that we saw come to fruition in this book.
I wasn't expecting an Endgame style timey-wimey adventure but somehow, it worked?! AND I like that there was an added element of jeopardy when he clocked it. (Do we think that this story was almost lifted wholesale from Feige - potentially BUT I'll allow it because it does work). I feel like Ciara is 'our voice' in the story because she talks/acts the most like a late 30s something and Elle is probs my least fave because she just takes a little too long to recognise how powerful she is. I was a bit sad with how Snow's storyline ended - that one was a little too sad/convenient for me. There was some hand-wringing about it, but not enough compared to other characters we've seen?
The shift between the older and younger members of the coven was well done AND we love a book that has barely any men in it! (You never realise how dominant this is in fantasy books until you read a book that has virtually no men centred in it!).
All in all it was a great ending and the messaging around sisterhood, fighting the patriarchy is incredibly apt given we're living through a time of an upsurge in the tradwife movement, women literally shrinking themselves thanks to 'the pen' and the return of the 'nothing tastes as good as skinny feels' vibes thanks to a shift to Conservatism and right wing populism around the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2025
I am so sad this series is over. What an EPIC conclusion!
There's A LOT that happens in this book but I loved how 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.
There's A LOT that happens in this book but I loved how 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.
September 6, 2025
3.75 ⭐️ Älskar HMRC-serien men jag tyckte slutet på denna var lite kaotiskt och förvirrande med alla tidsresor och Senait/Leonie mm.
Men rekommenderar verkligen serien; den har verkligen de finaste vänskapsrelationerna jag nånsin läst om & världen är helt otrolig 🫶
Men rekommenderar verkligen serien; den har verkligen de finaste vänskapsrelationerna jag nånsin läst om & världen är helt otrolig 🫶
August 10, 2025
Absolutely loved that series and so sad it’s over! 4.5* rounded up to 5 for GR!
Loved the pacing and thoroughly enjoyed the Senait chapters, a twist I didn’t see but adored, very River Song coded IYKYK. Ciara’s redemption arc was a highlight too 🫶🏼
Loved the pacing and thoroughly enjoyed the Senait chapters, a twist I didn’t see but adored, very River Song coded IYKYK. Ciara’s redemption arc was a highlight too 🫶🏼
September 1, 2025
PERFECT. 🖤
such a great conclusion to the “Her Majesty’s Royal Coven” books
such a great conclusion to the “Her Majesty’s Royal Coven” books
August 17, 2025
4.5 such a good finale to the series!
August 13, 2025
Fantastic end to the series! I am in tears! Definitely a new all-time favorite series <3
July 13, 2025
An absolutely perfect ending to the series.
I’m gutted I won’t have my Hebden Witches to read about anymore.
Genuinely not a dull moment in the whole book, there was action from the start and it didn’t stop.
Juno Dawson wove together the story perfectly, the plot twists throughout, the character arcs, EVERYTHING happened for a reason and it came together insanely well.
The last couple of chapters had me sobbing in bed.
It’s 4am and I’m distraught that it’s over 💔
Viva Forever ❤️🔥
I’m gutted I won’t have my Hebden Witches to read about anymore.
Genuinely not a dull moment in the whole book, there was action from the start and it didn’t stop.
Juno Dawson wove together the story perfectly, the plot twists throughout, the character arcs, EVERYTHING happened for a reason and it came together insanely well.
The last couple of chapters had me sobbing in bed.
It’s 4am and I’m distraught that it’s over 💔
Viva Forever ❤️🔥
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