This is the perfect ending to an incredible story.
Full review to come after publication because there will be spoilers.

Human Rites is a great conclusion to the HMRC trilogy & I was so excited to read it early (especially because the previous book ended on such a cliffhanger!).

The story is fast paced and sometimes confusing, but time travel is always a bit confusing to my brain. All the loose ends are tied up with a satisfying conclusion even though it’s nothing like I’d have imagined.

There continues to be a lot of LGBTQIA+ (especially trans) representation in this series which is appreciated & needed in literature. I also liked that the main characters are mid-late 30s as in fantasy women always seem to be teenagers or at most early 20s, it made it a bit more relatable for me as I’m sure it is for teenagers who can relate to Theo & Holly.

The formatting of this book was unreadable on Kindle, luckily I managed to read it without issue on the NetGalley App.

Human Rites had me HOOKED. It’s bold, smart, and deeply unsettling in all the best ways. Juno Dawson doesn’t hold back — the social commentary? Sharp. The worldbuilding? So scarily believable. I loved how messy and real the characters felt, even when I didn’t agree with them. It’s the kind of book that leaves you thinking long after you’ve finished. Not quite a five-star-haunt-my-dreams read, but it came so close!

I have been waiting for this book for a long time and while I’m always nervous for the ending of a series, this was…not what I expected.

There’s a lot of timey-wimey stuff that is quite surprising and I don’t really understand how it adds to the plot but also it’s very much the kitchen sink approach of tying up loose ends at the end of a series.

I enjoyed the book overall and I think for fans of the series it will be a satisfying ending with all the characters in places we don’t expect them to be.

I do think it dragged in some places but the chapters are short and impactful.

I have been looking forward to this book since the second that I finished The Shadow Cabinet, and it absolutely did not disappoint. And now I'm just in denial that it's over. Is it too much to ask to move to Hebden Bridge and become besties with Niamh, Elle, Leonie, and Ciara??

I am genuinely obsessed with everything about this series - strong characters, strong female-friendships, found family, witches... what more could you need? This series really is a testament to how strong women are.

Human Rites is a strong conclusion to this trilogy. There is a lot going on here, and at times it does feel a bit wild, but it honestly the whole story was just epic. I did not want to put this down. And the ending... wow.

If there isn't a spin off story about Seniat I may just protest.

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Human rites

Human rites is the perfect ending to this series.

“A with was something like rain or grass, not velvet and gold.”
“A sister isn’t the same as a friend. The love goes all the way to the core, like a peach stone. Whatever you say or do to each other, it stays the same; hard and strong. No matter what.”


After that giant cliffhanger of the shadow cabinet I was thrilled to be able to arc read to conclusion to this series. Once more, the witchy and girl power vibes were very present. Story wise; I feel like everything was tied up neatly. Ciara’s redemption arc was chef’s kiss. I only found the part with the time travelling with Leonie a bit confusing at times but overall I’m glad with how the story ended!
I rated it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

Human Rites by Juno Dawson is a bold, thought-provoking novel that skillfully blends dystopian themes with sharp social commentary. Dawson’s writing is as fearless as ever, tackling complex issues around human rights, identity, and justice with both sensitivity and urgency. The world-building is vivid and unsettling, pulling the reader into a future that feels chillingly plausible.

The characters are richly drawn, each bringing their own emotional depth and perspective to the story. Dawson does an excellent job of making you care deeply about their journeys, and the relationships feel authentic and impactful. While at times the pacing dips slightly in the middle, the powerful themes and compelling voice more than make up for it.

Human Rites is a timely and courageous novel that challenges readers to think critically about the world around them — and the world we could be heading towards. Juno Dawson continues to prove herself as a vital voice in contemporary fiction.

Highly recommended for readers who enjoy dystopian narratives with real emotional resonance and a powerful message at their core.

I have not read the first two books, but still enjoyed this book, and I will read the first two, and edit my review if my opinion changes.
A witty concept. Satan is back.
The coven fight the demons.
The friendships is the highlight of this book.
3.5 stars.

I absolutely love this series; Juno Dawson fuses a perfect blend of action, sarcasm, love and relatable pop culture to bring forward a thoroughly bingeable read.

The dynamic between the main characters is fantastic and the combination of their mundane daily struggles with their magical ones keeps them grounded.

For me, the change in location and the ease with which a couple of things were resolved is why we drop a star on the rating but it was still a great time.

I’m looking forward to getting a physical copy when this comes out, and doing a re-read of the whole series and picking up on the details I’ve missed the first time.

The formatting of the Kindle version was unreadable - I had to read on the NetGalley app which worked well but was a shame as too much screen time isn’t great.

Unfortunately this was a dnf for me at 50%. I am unsure if the arc format on my kindle had a part to play in this but compared to the authors other books this one failed to keep my attention and the POV’s were confusing (however I feel the pov issue was a format issue).

The return of Niamh? Chef’s kiss. Elle’s character arc was nothing short of phenomenal. Her growth throughout the series felt so authentic and empowering. What really makes these books shine, though, is the beautiful blend of found family, fierce girl power, and a hidden fantasy world that feels just close enough to reality.
This series is femininity in its purest, most powerful form. It’s raw, real, magical, and unapologetically bold. I’ll be recommending these books to absolutely everyone I know.

The perfect ending to a fantastic series!.

I adore Juno Dawsons writing style, and In each of these books the way in which the story is told is utterly brilliant and has you hooked to the very end. I adored the Witches and the way we got to follow their lives and how they changed throughout these books, through both life changes and personal development too, something that was done beautifully by the author.

Full of adventure, suspense and hope throughout it all, this really is a series that will stay with me for a very long time.

What a conclusion to the trilogy!

Girl power at its finest, Human Rites reminds us that it takes a village and with your village, you can work wonders - even when the apocalypse is at your door.

A fabulous witchy, powerful read tying up all the threads that have been woven in the first two entries to the series.

I laughed out loud in so many places and my heart broke in others. I wish some characters had a better ending than they got and a bit of the last few chapters felt a little rushed and tacked on but on the whole, I really enjoyed this book.

I can’t wait for the audiobook to come out - I hope Nicola Coughlan returns - as that’s how I discovered the world of HMRC and I missed her unique, fantastic voices bringing the characters and story to life.

Thank you to HarperCollins, Juno Dawson and NetGalley for the ARC!

Sorry but this is unreadable.

Not sure if the formatting is wrong but the sentences are jumbled up on each page making it ridiculously difficult to read so I haven't read past 15%

Human Rites by Juno Dawson is a bold, electrifying novel that blends dystopian fiction with razor-sharp social commentary. From the very first page, Dawson creates a world that feels disturbingly close to reality, exploring themes of identity, resistance, and systemic oppression with unflinching honesty and emotional weight. The writing is fierce, urgent, and deeply affecting.

The characters are vivid and unforgettable, especially the protagonist, whose journey through a fractured society is both heart-wrenching and empowering. Dawson balances the personal and the political with precision, crafting a story that is as emotionally resonant as it is thought-provoking. Every scene feels purposeful, driving home powerful messages without ever losing narrative momentum.

The pacing is tight, the stakes are high, and the conclusion lands with both impact and clarity. Human Rites is a masterclass in dystopian storytelling—brave, necessary, and utterly unforgettable. A well-earned 5-star read that will stay with you long after the final page.

I was over the moon to be sent an ARC of this book as the HMRC books has to be one of my all time favourite series.
Funeral Rites is HUGE. Absolutely Massive in its brilliance. Each book in this series feels like the best thing you’ve ever read. Till you read the next one (apart from Queen B - soz!)
And Juno Dawson? Oh my God, such a huge talent as an author. The plots, pacing, excitement, drama, characters, humour - everything is just so immaculate.
So, in this instalment (the last in the series - waaah!!)our Hebden Bridge Witches, are all undergoing absolutely massive changes.
These are all characters that you can’t fail to have a huge connection with. My heart was pounding for each and every one of them throughout.
The last part of the book is insanely action-packed. You’ll need to put aside some time that’s free of interruptions because you’ll never want to stop reading.
The only negative? It’s finished and I honestly feel bereft!

I'm not going to lie - I have been waiting for this book since the moment I finished The Shadow Cabinet. I was desperate to know what happened next because how dare Juno leave it like that. The Queen B novella satiated some of that desire, but the moment I got the approval email for Human Rites, I started reading - and I devoured it.

Our plot-heavy conclusion gives us a lot to take in, however Juno still manages to give us character growth. We've become attached to our Witchy sisters and knowing this was the end meant a lot of breath holding and frantic page turning. Peppered with quick quips and pop culture references that had me actually chuckling out loud (something very rare) Juno ties up the world that she has made very nicely. I love when an author can surprise me and I can't actually predict where they're going - Leonie and Chinara, especially fit this part.

I've only rated it 4.75/5 because it felt like the whole plotline with Ciara ended up very deus ex machina. Nah, also Lucifer was a bit more annoying than alluring. But that's just my personal opinion. I was hoping to see more of Leviathan (since we'd had 2 books of hearing about them.)

Overall: I adored the ending to our trilogy about our Hebden Girls.

Also, as someone who loves in Swansea: most accurate description of our city centre ever.

Ohhhhhhh my heart! I can't believe this series is concluded. I've enjoyed it so much through all the books to this fantastic conclusion.

Our beloved witches have been through so much, and yet there's so much left for them in this last book. The character arcs are really satisfying and I absolutely loved how everything came together.

Juno's writing draws you in, all the characters are incredibly relatable and real on their own different ways, and the world building is incredible and makes so much sense.

What am I going to do with out the Hebden Bridge girlies in my life?

A truly sublime and spectacular ending to greatest witchy books EVER! I am truly bereft to say farewell to this incredible group of characters. Juno Dawson has created the most perfect world for fans of Charmed, Sabrina, Buffy and the like. It is the gift for us 80s,90s kids who want more from fantasy books. I think Juno's real skill is writing REAL people: Yes, they're witches, yes it's supremely fantasy, but the characters talk, act, and react like real people. In addition, the diversity of her character's is reflective of our modern world but pushes the boat out a little to welcome more people into the LGBTQ+ community and starts discussions in a vital, safe, soft-touch way. Genuinely, cannot beat this series for magic fantasy trilogy.

Oh I’m so sad this series is over! I absolutely love our witchy girlies and I’m going to miss them. The pop culture references, writing style and female friendships are as strong as ever in the final instalment of the series. I love these characters and the way they have developed over each book. The only reason why this isn’t a 5 star for me is because I don’t like time travel storylines. I sort of hate them so the fact that I enjoyed this even though it was a big part of the end shows that it is a good series!

I read the digital ARC from NetGalley in return for a honest review. Thank you for letting me read it early as I have been so excited for this!