Synopsis: "Harry Potter is lucky to reach the age of thirteen, since he has already survived the murderous attacks of the feared Dark Lord on more than one occasion. But his hopes for a quiet term concentrating on Quidditch are dashed when a maniacal mass-murderer escapes from Azkaban, pursued by the soul-sucking Dementors who guard the prison. It's assumed that Hogwarts is the safest place for Harry to be. But is it a coincidence that he can feel eyes watching him in the dark, and should he be taking Professor Trelawney's ghoulish predictions seriously?"
It's very rare for an author to spawn books in a series that continue to outshine the latter books, but in a positive light. Rowling however manages to accomplish that successfully and is therefore understandable why The Prisoner of Azkaban is considered by many the favourite book of the series.
Overall the story is so well and cleverly constructed constructed on Rowling's behalf. The events that unfold are incredibly thought provoking, allowing this story to be far more advanced than that of The Philosopher's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets. Despite this however, Rowling's writing style doesn't alter and is therefore just as descriptive, hilarious and momentous to read.
What particularly stands out about this novel is the pacing. Everything from the Quidditch matches, to sightings of Sirius Black, to Harry and Hermoine's race to save innocent lives, are all so gripping that you become rather anxious when reading. You're constantly left on the edge of your seat with the need to keep turning the pages and not put the book down until you've completed it, leaving you with a massive sense of accomplishment once you have done so.
It's clear that this novel is also the most touching read of the series so far. Although at times incredibly emotional and therefore difficult to read, I found Rowling's addition of Harry hearing his parents' final moments before their death, when coming in to contact with Dementors, vital to the development of his character. As Harry has gone so long without his parents it's easy for him to almost forget where he came from and the sacrifice his parents made, so reminding him of their final moments gives him the strength he needs to soldier on and be the best that he can possibly be in all that he does - this is beautifully expressed by Rowling's increased use of emotive language throughout the novel.
Fortunately Rowling also brings a greater sense of realism to the story that is apparent in the latter two books but not as strong as it is in this one. This is particularly highlighted via Harry, Ron and Hermione as they step into their teenage years and come face to face with real teenage problems such as time management, stress, crushes, test of friendship and loyalty. This allows young readers in particular to grow a greater connection with the characters as they understand first hand what they are going through.
And, finally, Rowling does another fantastic job in regards to character development, particularly of Professor Snape, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. As Lupin and Black are particularly important to the story it's great that Rowling found the opportunity to enlighten the reader of their past and find answers to questions that linger throughout the novel without having to wait until the next installment(s) to find the answers.
Ultimately, this novel is incredibly gripping and thought provoking and is a fresh and more advanced addition to the world of Harry Potter, and presents a much darker side to the world of magic we all know and love.
I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ★★★★★
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