What a conclusion! So often I’m left disappointed at some point in a series but Juno Dawson really pulled off three flawless books in this series.

For fear of spoilers I will keep this very brief. Some of the twists in this are absolutely heartbreaking and I was really feeling for our cast. However, it’s not all gloom and there is lots of fun to be had with this book too! The banter we’ve come to love is still there and some of the characters arcs are truly heartwarming.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

What an epic conclusion to the series!! It was incredibly fun, fast paced with a lot going on (sometimes a bit too much but I didn’t mind because it kept me entertained) and just had all the themes of the previous books that I loved so much. Everything was tied up really nicely so I wasn’t left with any glaring questions or felt unsatisfied upon finishing.

It was ultimately my ideal series finale — the perfect amount of fun vibes, twisty turns and a well wrapped up conclusion.

I have loved this series so much, I am bereft that it’s over. Absolutely no notes, sheer perfection. This series has made it to my forever shelf and I look forward to that time in around a decade, when I’ve completely forgotten what happened and I can go back to the beginning and start all over again!

Now just awaiting a special edition of each title!!

I have really enjoyed the previous books in this series, so I was eagerly anticipating the conclusion. I was not disappointed!

Human Rites gets off to a great start (and one I wish more authors would emulate), with an excellent ‘Who’s Who and What’s What.’ As someone whose memory isn’t the best, and who doesn’t have the time to re-read all of the preceding books before continuing with a series, this was very much appreciated. Although whole reading this recap a lot of the plot came flooding back, there were elements I had forgotten, and so I was even more excited to get back to the characters I’d come to love (and hate).

Juno’s writing is very engaging, and I loved the cultural references. I thought we must be of a similar age (a quick google search has told me that there is less than a month between us), as these references made me very nostalgic.

Whilst the whole book was gripping, when it got to the final third of the book, I literally could not put it down! I was trying to read while cooking a roast dinner (which could have been messy), and stayed up past my bedtime to finish the last few chapters.

A great conclusion to the series, with Juno’s signature wit and emotion. As always, she includes fantastic and diverse representation, and strong themes of found family and female friendship. A must read for anyone who loves contemporary fantasy.

Juno Dawson’s Human Rites is a powerful, emotionally charged finale to the Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy.
It’s a story of reckoning, personal, political, and magical. The characters are forced to confront grief, justice, and the consequences of past choices, navigating impossible decisions in a world on the brink.
Dawson blends fantasy with sharp social insight, crafting a narrative that is urgent, layered, and deeply human.
The novel explores what it means to rebuild after devastation, asking hard questions about power, identity, and hope.
Bold, sharp and engrossing, it’s a fitting end to a series that never grew on me and improved novel by novel
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Such a good conclusion to the trilogy, it was very moving in parts and really drew on the previous books, developed and concluded the stories of the original gang of hebden girlies, alongside the other characters we have met along the way. Without giving any spoilers, this is hte best book yet, and Dawson writes a maturity and depth into the text beyond the magical highjinks that makes the final book even more moving, And what an ending for some of the characters - all very apt!

4 stars - Urban fantasy

Human Rites is the final book in the HMRC series and I wasn't sure how it was going to end given the ending of book 2 but I felt it was wrapped up nicely. I re-read books 1 and 2 and although I did enjoy them, I didn't enjoy them as much as my first read. Now I do think this is because my reading taste lately is more Romantasy and this series has little to no romance. I did enjoy this one more than the first two as there was a lot of action and mostly a happy ending and lot of questions were answered / tied up from the previous books.

Slight spoilers ahead that happen early in the book:

Niamh - is resurrected by Theo in the first few chapters but has she brought something else back with her. I loved Niamh being back with us - her death at the end of the first book had me shocked as I placed her as the main character. She goes through a lot in this book and i cant imagine this book without her in it.

Ciara - is put in Grierlings prison for her past actions - will she get a chance to redeem herself and tell Niamh that Conrad is still alive. I expected to hate Ciara as she killed Niamh, but I really enjoyed her character and I felt she was given a rough hand in life and though she made questionable decisions she was a hero by the end - I loved her little epilogue chapter although I was shipping her and Luke.

Elle - is finding it hard to cope without Milo and has finally divorced her cheating husband - will she get her happy ending. Elle doesn't get as much screen time as the others I felt but she was still my favourite of the witches. She goes through a lot of personal issues with her family but comes out the other end stronger and more sure of herself.

Leonie - finds out she is pregnant (virgin Mary style) is her baby important who will she grow to be. Honestly, my least favourite character but her story was interesting and quite surprising. I just wasn't a fan of her "open" relationship.

A fun trilogy full of witchy magic, friendships and found family that also touches on points of LGBTQ, transgender and race issues.

This was probably my most anticipated ARC out of all the ARCS I'm fortunate to read. I adore the world that Juno Dawson has created. HMRC and the characters each have a special place in my heart.

This book was PERFECT, so painful in places, but then it wouldn't be the story arc I've grown to love if we didn't have a significant amount of turbulence along the way.

Every chapter is just a delicious delve into this world. I'm constantly left wanting more, and Juno Dawson doesn't disappoint.

Highly recommend if you loved her first books!

I was really excited for this book so I was gutted that the formatting of the Kindle copy made it completely unreadable. All the sentences were scrambled together, and I couldn't even make it through the first chapter.

This was a beautiful conclusion to one of my favourite series. Dawson pulls it together beautifully and seeing everyone’s story conclude got me ugly crying repeatedly. Some of the twists and choices the characters made broke my heart and healed it at the same time. I am so happy to say the final book in the series is also the strongest.

I was so excited to dive into the final book in this trilogy, but now I’m so sad it’s over. I’ve formed deep bonds with these witches that I wasn’t ready to let go of.

This series will stay with me for a long time. The relationships between the group of females felt so real. Juno Dawson’s writing is simply exquisite. the banter is top tier without detracting from the world building or storyline with a fiercely feminine heartbeat. Even when they weren’t being their best selves, the characters were all lovable. I truly adore them all.

This book promised an action-packed finale, and it delivered. The plot took unexpected turns, and the well thought out twists kept me on the edge of my seat. The book and ending were executed perfectly, and it didn’t disappoint.

Thank you Juno Dawson for this series, it was such a delight to read.

An incredible end to an incredible series. Rising stakes, satisfying reveals and a perfect ending - Human Rites is another jewel in Juno Dawson's crown. I loved binging the series in anticipation for Human Rites, the high octane, hilarious and emotional arcs of the characters are so strong and entertaining. This whole series showcases an author in control of her craft - a must read!

I have been eagerly awaiting the final instalment I. The HMRC series and this did not disappoint.

I raced through the book because I was so invested in the characters and their dates.

Highly recommended!

An epic finale to the series.

I’ve loved following these characters and learning the lore of this world and this is such a perfect ending to the series. Juno Dawson writes in a way that has you not wanting to put the book down and eager to learn more about the world she’s created.

I am filled with so many mixed emotions after finishing this book. I'm sad because this series is over and this was a world that I love so much and a group of characters that feel like friends. I'm happy because it ended perfectly and I enjoyed every moment of this last book in the HMRC series.

I knew before I started that this was going to be an action packed book, the story had to end with a bang right? And it did not disappoint. Every chapter was a punch in the face of plot and the blows just kept on coming. When I thought everything was going drastically wrong, the witches would recover it. When I thought everything must surely be chill now, something would happen to mess it all up. IT was sublime.

I have loved and will continue to love every one of these characters. I could never pick a favourite because each of them brought their own something to the story. I loved all of their character arcs and it was heart warming to follow each of them to a conclusion.

This series and this book have felt like a gift. This book particularly made me laugh (I had forgotten how funny Juno Dawson's writing is), made me emotional and made me want to go out into the world and kick ass as a woman. In a word; wonderful. I'm gutted that it's all over for HMRC but my word I'm so glad this didn't have to end in a Juno Dawson cliffhanger special.

Human Rites by Juno Dawson
I give this book 4.5 stars

Niamh is back from the dead but not alone,Elle mourns a son she never had. Ciara languishes in a prison & Leonie has an unexpected surprise.
Five witches Lucifer, the demon king chose to fulfil a dark prophecy.He has a deadly offer for fledgling witch Theo:.Save the ones she loves? Or save the world? The choice is hers…

This is the final book in this incredible series and I was so excited to be back with the Hebden Bridge coven. I personally think these work better in order rather than standalones.
I’ve been totally invested in these 5 diverse witches who live in a modern world and have such an empowering bond together as they come up against Lucifer the political demon. I’ve loved the 90’s nostalgia throughout the series and I enjoyed the time travelling element within this book that produced revelations from the past. One tiny thing to mention the pacing felt slightly off.
But for me personally this was a satisfying conclusion to an urban fantasy series that’s filled with magic and witchcraft, sisterhood, resilience & identity. Could there be future potential spin offs from the author I certainly hope so 🤞

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!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Author Juno Dawson for allowing me to gain early access to Human Rites. In return I intend to leave an honest review for this title.

Summary

Human Rites is the exciting conclusion to the Her Majesty's Royal Coven series. HMRC was one of my favourite reads of the year in which it was released and still remains to be one of my favourite witchy reads to this day. Human Rites follows the witches of the coven as they face not only their own, but the world's biggest threat that it has ever known. While all of the characters in the series are facing their own personal demons (yes pun intended), they will need also need to work together despite their differences in order to save humankind.

Review

Firstly, I am so thrilled to be able to read Human Rites at long last, this has been a title that has been a highly anticipated read for me ever since I had began my journey with this gripping trilogy. Over the years I have highly recommended these books to many friends, my book club and family too. After finishing the conclusion in the trilogy, I still feel happy to continue to recommend to people with a varied taste in their reading preferences. It's not one just for fantasy lovers.

Now that I have finished the HMRC series, a part of me is a little disheartened to let it go, along with it's memorable characters. In all honesty, I felt that the end of Human Rites did feel a little bittersweet, but I really couldn't have imagined a more perfect ending to this journey. Truth be told, for me, the first half of Human Rites was a little slower in regards to it's plot due to the continued world building and very much character driven plot. Although saying this, the character development within Human Rites was near perfection. During the second half of the book, the plot really ramped up the excitement with scenes that I could genuinely compare the likeness to being that of a Marvel film or maybe even the TV show Stranger Things.

There are some characters that I have enjoyed reading about from start to finish within this book series, I won't say who in particular as this may give away some pretty big spoilers for Human Rites. Which I don't intend on doing so. But one character that I have felt a very much love/hate relationship with since book one (HMRC) was Ciara (twin sister to Niamh). But oh my goodness, did Ciara shine throughout Human Rites! I loved every scene she featured in, whether it be because of her part of the plot or because of her sarcasm and wit or even her sheer determination to finally do the right thing. This book would be completely different if not for Ciara, she was absolutely a huge highlight for me and I can now confidently say that she most likely my favourite character within the whole series of these books.

Even though Her Majesty's Royal Coven remains at the top spot as my favourite book in the trilogy, I did really enjoy reading Human Rites. And as I mentioned previously, I am sad to say goodbye to the HMRC series. But it is a story that will stay with me for a long time and because of this, I am really looking forward to reading any future projects that Juno Dawson has lined up.

This book was everything the ending of this series needed and deserved. These amazing women were once again loving and supporting each other and fighting for a better world and I love love loved it.
The perfect ending and I really enjoyed the journey that this series took me on.
My version had some formatting issues so I had to get past that at the start of every chapter but the more I read the less it phased me. Nothing would have stopped me from finishing this book.

Thanks NetGalley for the arc!

I think this book is exactly what I needed. Great ending to the trilogy!

I love this characters, I love that the book is full of imperfect, different women that give so many important messages.

In my arc the format made it harder to read so I guess I didn't enjoyed as much as I could and yet I couldn't stop reading, the pace in this book is perfect