Review of Human Rites by Juno Dawson

I love how I’m always talking in reviews of previous books that I can’t wait to read the next book, then I go ahead and wait over two years, lol, what even is time. Human Rites is the exciting, bombastic conclusion to Juno Dawson’s Her Majesty’s Royal Coven trilogy. Despite not remembering much of the previous book, I was able to get into this one very easily, and aside from a few minor quibbles, I really like this ending. I think Dawson brings her trilogy to a close in a touching, empathetic way. It feels very Doctor Who (and perhaps, in no small coincidence, that is why Dawson has now done some writing for that franchise!).

As usual, spoilers for the first two books but not for this one.

Niamh is back! Yay! All I really remember from The Shadow Cabinet is Ciara and her incredible face turn. This continues in Human Rites, albeit with the main focus back on Niamh (where it should be). She has to pick up the pieces of her life, her abruptly truncated relationship with Luke, and the fallout from Theo’s necromancy. Meanwhile, Leviathan rises: it’s literally the end of the world, and all the witches together might not be able to stop Leviathan, Lucifer, and Belial from reunifying into Satanis like some incredibly twisted Captain Planet.

One of my primary complaints about the previous book, apparently, was that there were too many POV characters. I don’t know have the same complaint here. However, as much as I appreciate the quick clip at which this plot progresses, I wish we could spend more time with each character. In particular, Theo felt like such an important character in the first book—and is still pivotal to the plot in this one—yet now we spend very little time with her. Dawson hasn’t quite got a handle on how to write deeply while maintaining an ensemble cast.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed all the individual subplots we get. The timey-wimey shenanigans connected to Leonie were really well done (again, very Doctor Who). When time travel gets involved, it’s always challenging because of the potential to obviate free will. I don’t think that’s what’s happening here though; I think Dawson walks a really fine line between predestination paradox and self-fulfilling prophecy, the result of which is that the time travel leads us to the climax, though the climax itself is very linear. The time travel also ultimately leads to a very interesting (though rushed) denouement that re-reintroduces a character that I barely remembered from the previous book. Dawson carefully balances this between “convenient and saccharine” and “tragic and bittersweet.”

All in all, I think she’s trying to explore what it means to live a good and full life. From Niamh’s protestations at being resurrected to her conversations with Annie, who is all-too-aware of her impending death, to Leonie and Chinara’s slip, to Sennait’s fate … none of these women get the ending they expect, yet Gaia seems to provide an ending that is very fitting for them. There is a very profound and powerful theme here about accepting what we can’t change and instead making the most out of life, enjoying the time we have with those who are here, and I think there is definitely something to be said about that.

In contrast to these inter- and intrapersonal arcs, I was honestly less invested in the actual apocalyptic plot, oops. Lucifer, Belial, and Leviathan are … fine, I guess? I was a bit miffed that Lucifer and Belial could apparently just show up and pretend to be anyone at any time; that felt like a very overpowered plot device that at the same time was not fully exploited.

I love that Elle finally got her due. Dawson puts a lot of effort into showing us so many of the different ways women can be women, belying the patriarchal myths that we are only one thing. Elle is emblematic: at the start of the trilogy, she is a stereotypical mum, to the point where she has basically renounced her powers so she can wilt in the shadow of her man. Now she’s starting to flourish, and though she is only just beginning her journey to heal from her trauma, she is no less a mother—and no less a witch.

I don’t have too much more to say without getting into spoilers, so I want to end on this: I really liked the conclusion. This would be great adapted into a miniseries. As it is, this is a brilliant urban fantasy trilogy. It’s female-first, trans-inclusive, sex positive, and just … powerful. The action blends with the emotion to create this satisfying and balanced snack of a novel.