Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K Rowling (Book Review)

Harry Potter is coming of age, and the protective charms that Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, placed around him after the unfortunate death of his parent’s, Lily and James, will cease to exist. Coupled also by the unexpected loss of the Headmaster himself at the end of the previous school year, now puts the famous wizard in very grave danger. Harry is now vulnerable to an attack from his nemesis, the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

Instead of returning to Hogwarts for their 7^th and final year of education, Harry and his two closest friends: Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger are attempting to fulfil Dumbledore’s dying wish, to find and destroy the remaining horcruxes.

Horcruxes are magical artefacts that belong to Lord Voldemort, each object containing a small piece of the dark wizard’s soul. Two have already been destroyed, leaving the rest still unaccounted for. Harry must eliminate these powerful artefacts and weaken Voldemort’s powers, ensuring that the Dark Wizard can finally be defeated once and for all.

But, will they succeed?

 

 

The Deathly Hallows is the final novel in J.K. Rowling’s phenomenally successful Harry Potter series and while the majority of the story pales in comparison to its predecessors, at 4 out of 5 stars it provides a fitting conclusion to the 7 book set.

Harry and his friends have an important task to complete, which has been placed upon them alone due to the untimely death of Professor Albus Dumbledore, but armed with very little knowledge about the mission ahead, are the three youngsters capable of defeating the most powerful and dangerous wizard of all time?

The story is fraught with fear, deception and the death of all who get between Lord Voldemort and his enemy, but can love really conquer all as Dumbledore claims, or is there a better way to conquer the Dark Lord?  

Find out what happens to the famous young wizard in the concluding chapter, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

See also:

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Book 6: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K Rowling (Book Review)

The famous young wizard, Harry Potter and his closest friends, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, begin their 6^th year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, with its increased security measures in light of the now public return of the Dark Wizard, Voldemort. 

Their fellow student, Draco Malfoy, high profile son of recently imprisoned Death Eater, Lucius Malfoy, begins acting in a rather strange and un-Draco like manner, even before their return to Hogwarts, making Harry inclined to believe that Draco is treading in the footsteps of his father as a servant to the Dark Lord. However, Harry has trouble convincing those around him that Lord Voldemort would be in league with an untrained, sixteen year old wizard.

Meanwhile, Harry’s least favourite Professor, Severus Snape has finally achieved his dream of becoming the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts, a position that seems to be jinxed, but which side is the ex-Death Eater loyal to these days: Dumbledore or Voldemort?

Can Harry discover what Draco Malfoy is up to and prevent him from causing trouble? Is his theory about Malfoy joining the dark Lord correct, or will Ron and Hermione prove Harry wrong?

 

The Half-Blood Prince is the first Harry Potter novel not to begin by discussing Harry’s present circumstances at the Dursley family home, instead setting the stage from the enemy’s perspective.

Despite being much shorter than its predecessor, the Half-Blood Prince is not really the most engrossing of stories and I feel that at 3.5 out of 5 stars it may be one of the weakest novels in the series. Most of the book is mundane and positively dull with all of the excitement appearing near the end.

Also the fact that House-Elf’s can ‘apparate’ inside Hogwarts really bothered me, and distracted me a little, as apparition shouldn’t be possible considering all of the additional enchantments that have been put in place to ensure the safety of the students. I know Elf magic is different to Wizard magic, but I feel that it is a tremendous flaw in the storyline which throws up a number of plot holes.

 

See also:

Book 1: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K Rowling (Book Review)

Lord Voldemort, the powerful wizard that murdered Lily and James Potter 14 years ago, has returned and is currently keeping a low profile as he recruits more Death Eaters and followers. Professor Albus Dumbledore believes that Voldemort may be seeking a dangerous weapon and has called forth the Order of the Phoenix, a secret society of the Dark Lord’s enemies, in an attempt to foil the newly reborn wizard’s plans.

Meanwhile, young Harry Potter is back living with the Dursley family on Privet Drive and is frustrated at being kept in the dark about Voldemort’s plans, especially considering the strong connection between them. When two Dementors suddenly appear out of nowhere and attack him and his cousin, Dudley, resulting in the illegal use of magic in front of a muggle, he is threatened with expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Harry’s fury finally boils over.  

A technicality during the disciplinary hearing at the Ministry of Magic, allows Harry to return to Hogwarts, but the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, Professor Umbridge has been appointed by the Ministry to inspect the teaching standards at the school, causing problems for both Harry and Professor Dumbledore. 

The situation for both students and teachers at Hogwarts takes a nasty turn after Harry and his friends are discovered breaking the strict new school rules imposed by the Ministry of Magic, and Professor Dumbledore takes the blame, leaving Professor Umbridge in charge as the new Headmistress.

As if Professor Umbridge’s presence at Hogwarts wasn’t bad enough, Harry struggles to juggle the stress of his Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams, with his nightmarish connection to Lord Voldemort, which allows the young wizard to catch glimpses of the Dark Lord’s intentions.

Just what exactly is this weapon that Voldemort is searching for and what is its purpose? Can the Order of the Phoenix find the object first and prevent Lord Voldemort’s evil plot from coming to fruition?

The immense, 800 page long, 5^th volume of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, called the Order of the Phoenix is the most elaborate and detailed of the seven novels. It offers answers to some of the obvious questions that have cropped up in previous volumes, surrounding Harry’s background and the link that exists between him and Voldemort. It is this aspect that makes the Order of the Phoenix, at 5 out of 5 stars, such an important read for fans of the series.

See also:

Book 1 – The Philosopher’s Stone

Book 2 – The Chamber of Secrets

Book 3 – The Prisoner of Azkaban

Book 4 – The Goblet of Fire

Book 6 – The Half-Blood Prince

Book 7 – The Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K Rowling (Book Review)

During the summer holidays Harry Potter has a dream that Lord Voldemort and his servant Wormtail (AKA Peter Pettigrew) are plotting to murder him and he suddenly finds himself wide awake with the lightning shaped scar on his forehead burning. A few days later he attends the Quidditch World Cup Final with the Weasley’s and Hermione, where Death Eaters attack Muggles and Voldemort’s Dark Mark is summoned.

Meanwhile, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is playing host to the first Triwizard Tournament in over a century, a magical competition between the three largest European Schools of Wizardry: Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. One champion from each school is to be selected by the Goblet of Fire to compete in three dangerous and potentially deadly tasks, but somehow Harry Potter’s name is also drawn as a 4^th competitor, much to everyone’s surprise.

Believing Harry to be seeking fame and attention, the backlash he faces from his fellow students, competitors and teachers leaves the young wizard feeling rather lonely. Especially since his best friend Ron, like everyone else, refuses to believe that he has been set up and did not enter his own name into the goblet.

Harry suspects that Lord Voldemort is to blame for the situation, probably hoping that the trials will kill him, but can he prove his innocence and finish the tournament alive?

The Goblet of Fire is the longest book in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series so far, and despite its detailed descriptions and complex storylines, every word has a meaning and purpose. Rowling only fills the pages of her novels with important facts that are necessary to the plot, and her writing matures drastically with every book.

At 4.5 out of 5 stars, book number four plays host to a spectacular magical tournament filled with an extensive variety of magical creatures, while also continuing on with the main theme that runs throughout the entire series of novels, the connection between Harry Potter and his nemesis Lord Voldemort. 

See also:

Book 1 – The Philosopher’s Stone

Book 2 – The Chamber of Secrets

Book 3 – The Prisoner of Azkaban

Book 5 – Order of the Phoenix

Book 6 – The Half-Blood Prince

Book 7 – The Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling (Book Review)

The future looks grim for thirteen year old student wizard, Harry Potter when Lord Voldemort’s sidekick, Sirius Black escapes from Azkaban, the Wizard Prison.

Sirius Black is said to have murdered thirteen people with a single curse, twelve years previously, resulting in the Ministry of Magic locking him away in the fortress known as Azkaban. The prison is guarded by hooded creatures known as Dementors, which suck the joy out of everything around them and the island is supposed to be so secure that it is impossible to escape from. However, Sirius Black has somehow managed to do just that. The madman is now evading capture and seeks revenge on the one person who has lost him everything: Harry Potter.

With Sirius Black looking to commit another murder, Harry is on lockdown inside Hogwart’s School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, unable even to visit the local village, Hogsmeade with the rest of his fellow 3^rd year students.

Would Sirius Black dare to break in to Hogwarts with Professor Dumbledore in charge and the Dementors on guard outside the school gates? Is he planning to bring Lord Voldemort back into power and if so, will he be successful?

The Prisoner of Azkaban is the third novel in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and at 5 out of 5 stars is a very difficult book to put down, once you begin to read it you’ll soon find that you can’t stop until you’ve reached the end.

J.K. Rowling’s writing matures and becomes more and more complex with each subsequent book and the Prisoner of Azkaban is no exception, as we learn that not all is as it first seems when Harry’s Godfather, Sirius Black comes looking for revenge.

The third instalment also plays host to a variety of intriguing magical creatures including: Animagi, werewolves and Hippogriffs, while Harry has an extremely amusing ride on the ‘Knight Bus’, the transport for stranded Wizards and Witches.

The film for the Prisoner of Azkaban however, has a number of problems and doesn’t quite match up to the quality of its predecessors.

See also:

Book 1 – The Philosopher’s Stone

Book 2 – The Chamber of Secrets

Book 4 – The Goblet of Fire

Book 5 – The Order of the Phoenix

Book 6 – The Half-Blood Prince

Book 7 – The Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Book Review)

It is summertime and Harry Potter is back living with the Dursley’s for the holidays, but when he has an unexpected guest in the form of House-Elf Dobby, he ends up in a whole heap of trouble. Dobby has come to warn Harry that he will be in danger if he returns to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but when Harry refuses to believe him, Dobby uses magic in the house almost getting Harry expelled from school.

Angry at Harry for messing up his important dinner with potential business clients, Vernon Dursley locks him in his bedroom with the promise that he will not be allowed to return to Hogwarts ever again. Fortunately, worried about his friend, Ron borrows his Dad’s flying car to check up on Harry and when the Weasley’s discover Harry’s unfortunate predicament they take him off to ‘The Burrow’ to live with them until the new school term begins.

As Harry, Ron, Hermoine Granger and the rest of the students settle back into their classes at Hogwarts, strange things begin to happen: Harry hears odd whispering voices, Mrs Norris, Mr Filch’s cat turns up almost dead after a petrification curse and a rogue bludger persistently attempts to knock Harry off his broomstick during the first Quidditch match.

It seems that Dobby’s prediction may be coming true and Harry’s life is in danger, now that the Chamber of Secrets has been opened. But just who exactly is the mysterious Heir of Slytherin and why open the Chamber now?

Can Harry and his friends figure out the puzzle and prevent the monster, let loose from the Chamber of Secrets, from killing Hogwarts students?

Favourite Quote:

“There is a plot, Harry Potter. A plot to make most terrible things happen at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry this year.” – Dobby the House-Elf. p16

At 4 out of 5 stars the second novel in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series doesn’t quite manage to captivate the reader in the same way as its predecessor. However, with serpents, spiders and a strange creature known as Dobby, The Chamber of Secrets is still a pretty fun novel as it tells of the young wizard Harry Potter and the adventures during his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

See Also:

Book 1 – The Philosopher’s Stone

Book 3 – The Prisoner of Azkaban

Book 4 – The Goblet of Fire

Book 5 – The Order of the Phoenix

Book 6 – The Half-Blood Prince

Book 7 – The Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (Book Review)

One Halloween night when a wizard named Voldemort attacks Lily and James Potter, the only person to survive is their young son Harry, leaving a lightning shaped scar on his forehead. Aware that young Harry is going to be famous as a result of this extraordinary situation that he’ll never remember, Albus Dumbledore and Rubeus Hagrid, friends of his parents place the boy in the care of his aunt and uncle to keep him as far away from the magical community as possible, until he comes of age.

Vernon and Petunia Dursley, not being magical themselves, disapprove of Lily Potter and anyone else who gets involved in that sort of nonsense. As a result their treatment of Petunia’s nephew, Harry is so detrimental that they have him sleeping in a cupboard under the stairs, despite having two spare bedrooms, and try to keep him as far away from their only son, Dudley afraid of the strange events that sometimes happen in their nephew’s presence.

As Harry approaches his 11^th birthday he receives his invitation to begin attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, however fearful of the magical influence, Vernon Dudley hides his letters from him. When Hagrid tracks Harry down he is both astonished and appalled to discover that the boy has been taught nothing of magic and is unaware of his parent’s abilities.

For Harry Potter is a Wizard and soon begins his lessons at Hogwarts School of Wizardry with his new friends, Ron Weasley and Hermoine Granger. However, the trio soon make a startling discovery: One of the Professors has been attempting to steal an item that is protected by a three headed dog, in an out-of-bounds area inside the school. When Hagrid refuses to believe their story, Harry realises that it is up to himself and his friends to stop the theft, but just what exactly does Albus Dumbledore have hidden beneath that secret trap door that someone wants so badly?

Favourite Quote:

“To the well-organised mind, death is but the next great adventure.” – Professor Dumbledore. p320

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a truly fascinating read, filled with magic spells, potions and flying broomsticks, as well as an unexpected twist. J.K. Rowling has done an amazing job with her very first fantasy novel for children.

At 5 out of 5 stars this will have you constantly turning the pages, dying to discover new secrets from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and find out what potential new dangers Harry, Ron and Hermoine will be facing next.

 

See also:

Book 2: The Chamber of Secrets

Book 3: The Prisoner of Azkaban

Book 4: The Goblet of Fire

Book 5: The Order of the Phoenix

Book 6: The Half-Blood Prince

Book 7: The Deathly Hallows