Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "It is Harry Potter's sixth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. As Voldemort's sinister forces amass and a spirit of gloom and fear sweeps the land, it becomes more and more clear to Harry that he will soon have to confront his destiny. But is he up to the challenges ahead of him?"

Although Rowling's writing in the previous books of the series is skilful in telling the story of Harry Potter, it is within Half-Blood Prince that she begins to unravel the complex web she has created. The story as a whole becomes far more darker to read as it steps on the line between children and adult literature, yet continuing to make it just as enjoyable, suitable and magical to read for all ages.

The start of the novel has a much fresher start than those before it as it doesn't begin with Harry broadcasting his teenage angst over having to stay with the Dursley's over the summer. Instead Rowling uses the start of the book to branch out to other parts of the wizarding and muggle world, enlightening the reader of terrible events and frightening truths that do not relate to Harry. The first chapter is followed by an explosive second as we learn where Snape truly resides within the war on Voldemort and why Dumbledore had always turned him down for the sought after Defence Against the Dark Arts post. Together this highlights to the reader that there is more to the world of Harry Potter than just Harry himself.

Yet again Rowling manages to bring a great deal of character development to the story as we learn a lot about Salazar Slytherin's family tree, which ultimately branches out to Voldemort and his closest relatives in particular. The knowledge of who Voldemort's parents were, where he spent his childhood and how there was always an essence of darkness in him is very insightful and important to the story and it's fantastic to finally, after all this time, learn more about him.

Furthermore, there is finally knowledge of how Voldemort had survived all those years after being defeated by love, the one thing more powerful than any spell, hex or curse. This adds a lot of suspense to the story, as does the secret mission of which Draco Malfoy has been set by Voldemort, creating a gripping read despite the lack of action that occurs for the most part. There are clues and plot twists trailed throughout the story that creates a truly chilling read.

Ultimately the story becomes even more of a gripping and fast paced read at the explosive and emotional climax of the story, which is far more powerful than that of Goblet of Fire. Truths are revealed, disaster strikes and the wizarding world unites as one as they finally realise what they are up against once again.

Overall this novel is an exciting, dark and gripping story that begins to give answers to the questions we've all been dying to hear and creates a fantastic lead into the final book of the series.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Half Blood-Prince ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "Harry's furious that he has been abandoned at the Dursley's house for the summer, for he suspects that Voldemort is gathering an army, that he himself could be attacked, and that his so-called friends are keeping him in the dark. Finally rescued by the wizard bodyguards, he discovers that Dumbledore is regrouping the Order of the Phoenix - a secret society first formed years ago to fight Voldemort. But the Ministry of Magic is against the Order, lies are being spread by the wizards' tabloid the Daily Prophet, and Harry feels that he may have to take on this epic battle against evil alone."

It's fair to say that within the first three quarters of this book nothing all that exciting happens, other than the arrival of the Dementors at the start of the novel which at that point suggests the first sign of Voldemort's return to power. The general pace of the story is rather slow with the odd bit of humour here and there, unsurprisingly provided by the Weasley twins, and an insight into what Voldemort is planning and what he's after, which Harry sees through his dreams when his brain is most relaxed and unprotected.

So once again the story of Harry Potter kicks off during yet another lonely and depressing stay with the Dursley's for the summer holidays. Following the return of Lord Voldemort at the end of Goblet of Fire, Harry becomes more wary of his surroundings and agitated by the fact that he has heard nothing from anyone within the wizarding world, including his two best friends Hermoine and Ron. As a result of this I found myself become rather agitated myself by Harry as all he seems to do at first is whine and complain and not consider the possibility that maybe people are trying their best to protect him by keeping him in the dark until the right moment.

As a matter of fact Harry becomes rather unlikeable through the entire course of the story. He develops into an arrogant character full of so much teenage angst because of the things he's achieved since entering the wizarding world. He doesn't shy away from reminding himself, and more surprisingly others, of what he's achieved and how he should be rewarded by simple things such as becoming prefect and knowing more than he should about the Order and their educated guesses at what Voldemort's planning. Saying that however, when others remind him of what he's achieved, as Hermoine and Ron do when persuading him to set up a secretive Defence Against the Dark Arts club, he finds himself being brought back down to reality as he states the things he's achieved were mainly down to sheer dumb luck or assistance from others. As a reader you can sympathise with his frustration through all of this but at the same time grow tired of him acting so hard done by.

It's clear however that the strongest part of this novel is Rowling's continuation of using a blend of dark and light themes to create a story that continues to portray the beauty of the wizarding world but also the dangers of it. Furthermore, she concentrates a lot on developing characters that have remained prominent throughout the series so far but haven't had much in the way of their own story. Professor McGonagall for example becomes one of my all time favourite literary characters in this book because she becomes so enjoyable to read. You get a real sense of her protective and loving side for Potter but also a hilarious and incredibly sassy side when dealing with Dolores Umbridge.

And, finally, there's the matter of the conclusion of the story. There's no denying that the lead up to the appearance of Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic is fast paced and action packed, but when Voldemort actually made an appearance I found myself rather let down. I just felt as if that part of the conclusion was rather anti-climatic and too short. A lot of the story focuses on people believing that Voldemort has returned and then when they finally realise he has nothing much happens. Saying that however it was thrilling to read about the prophecy of Voldemort and Harry and finally learning why he tried to kill him as a baby.

There's no denying that this is my least favourite book of the series, but overall the story is just as magical and thought provoking as the latter with a strong storyline that, unfortunately, doesn't have a lot going on with just a few little surprises here and there.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ★★★

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "When the Quidditch World Cup is disrupted by Voldemort's rampaging supporters and the resurrection of the terrifying Dark Mark, it is obvious to Harry that, far from weakening, Voldemort is getting stronger. The ultimate signal to the magic world of the Dark Lord's return would be the defeat of his one and only survivor, Harry Potter. So when Harry is entered for the prestigious yet dangerous Triwizard Tournament he knows that rather than win it, he must get through the tasks alive."

There isn't a single dull page from Harry, Ron and Hermoine's fourth year at Hogwarts, with a captivating and action packed start and explosive and heart-stopping climax, this book has a truly frazzling plot with a pace more impressive than ever.

The Goblet of Fire really showcases Rowling at the height of her writing talent and her ability to captivate even the most abstruse of minds. It is in this book that Rowling takes a firm grip of her voice as she delves into a story far darker than the previous three books in the series, but in a way that can still be enjoyed by even her youngest of readers and that is why it is my favourite book of the series.

The darker themes present in this story such as death and hatred become representative of the darker times ahead for Harry and the remainder of the wizarding world, giving the reader a feel of what the final three books of the series will endow. Rowling's idea of creating the Triwizard Tournament to add something new to the already magical and wonderful world she has created is something I truly relished. It gave a broader aspect of the wizarding world, particularly of wizards and other supernatural beings outside of Britain and something refreshing to read as the events that unfold aren't primarily focused within or around Hogwarts.

Unsurprisingly the friendship of the golden trio continues to flourish in this story but without a few bumps along the way. Up until this point Harry, Ron and Hermoine's friendship has been almost unbreakable but Rowling shows in The Goblet of Fire that even the strongest of bonds can sometimes be broken even if it is for a little while and that is what brings such a strong sense of realism to the book.

Finally, it goes without saying that the attention to detail in this story is fantastic. It is obvious that Rowling really concentrated on adding a lot of background information to new characters and the plot in general, leaving next to nothing unanswered. Even the littlest of details that are considered insignificant at the start of the book become vital to the story thus bringing everything in the focus.

Conclusively this novel is far more darker, exciting and thought provoking than the previous three books and stands as a good lead to the final three in the series.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban - J.K. Rowling

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 ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: "Harry Potter is a wizard. He is in his second year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Little does he know that this year will be just as eventful as the last, even getting there is an adventure in itself! The three firm friends, Harry, Ron and Hermoine, are soon immersed in the daily round of Potions, Herbology, Charms, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Quidditch. But then horrible and mysterious things begin to happen. Harry keeps hearing strange voices, sinister and dark messages appear on the wall, and then Ron's sister Ginny disappears.."

I love The Chamber of Secrets as much as The Philosopher's Stone, if not more. It's common for an author to write an astonishing first book in a series and then start to slip as the series progresses - that however isn't the case with Rowling as her writing and her stories continue to become far more enjoyable and magical.

Regardless of how much you love a story, if there is a massive wait between the book you just put down and it's sequel it is easy to forget parts of the story and therefore the sequel can at times become difficult to understand. Rowling however successfully manages to retell the events of The Philosopher's Stone in a manner that is just as exciting to read as the first time round at key points throughout this novel, in order to refresh your memory and remind you of important occurrences to assist you in understanding the world of Harry Potter on a much larger scale.

Thankfully Rowling continues to tell the story of Harry Potter, his friends and Hogwarts in a manner that continues to be humorous, imaginative and momentous. She carries out great development of the protagonist, Harry, and his friends Ron and Hermoine as well as new characters to the story, such as Gilderoy Lockhart, in a way that makes you either fall irrevocably in love or unctrollably loathsome of a character. What I particularly loved about this was the development of Harry, Ron and Hermoine's friendship. At the conclusion of their first year they had been through so much together that a tightly knit bond was created between the three of them that was so heart warming to read - they would all either stand together or not at all, and that wasn't absent in this novel.

I also found the story in this book far more thought provoking than The Philosopher's Stone. There was so much more happening in The Chamber of Secrets that you were always left on the edge of your seat wondering what on earth could possibly happen next and each time you're taken aback by Rowling's creativity and originality. Yet again the conclusion of this book comes down to Voldemort, but as a 16-year-old memory, and that's quite possibly my favourite part of the book. Rowling could have easily taken a more predictable route, yet she opted for a plot twist that I did not see coming the first time I read it.

The only negatives I have about this story is not the lack of action but the lack of duration. Although the action sequences leave you wanting more and are fast paced, I feel as if they are over and done with far too quickly. Rowling has a wonderful descriptive technique which I feel she could have taken advantage of, which is why I prefer the action sequences in the film far more than the book.

Nevertheless, this novel is just as magical, courageous, mysterious and wonderful as the latter.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ★★★★★

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone - J.K. Rowling

Synopsis: When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord's curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Escaping from his unbearable Muggle guardians to Hogwarts, a wizarding school brimming with ghosts and enchantments, Harry stumbles into a sinister adventure when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers which can be valuable, dangerous, or both."

Although coming across a book you've never read can be a wonderful experience, I think there's nothing more important than rereading some of your favourite books, particularly if they are ones that you have grown up with, such as the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Despite having read The Philosopher's Stone many times already I was still captivated and amazed by the magical world of Hogwarts. Rowling's writing style is so alluring as she uses classic narrative devices with flair and originality. She also displays a great level of descriptiion of everything and everyone, but in a way that doesn't become tiresome to read. The character development in this novel is fantastic and even the smaller characters have a description and a back story to them. This brought a great sense of realism to the story as it allowed me to grow a connection with them as well as the protagonists.

I was particularly fond of how Harry grew as a character throughout this novel. He had a very lonely and unhappy decade with the Dursley's which caused him to be a very secluded character and although it gave me a great sense of sympathy for him, I was happy that that was the upbringing he had as opposed to the one he would have had if he stayed in the wizarding world - being famous before he could walk and talk would have resulted in him growing a lot like Malfoy. Despite his upbringing however he was humble but quickly became used to being hated and alone, but once he arrived at Hogwarts he had a greater sense of home. This allowed him to grow into a stronger character who would do anything to protect the people he loved and stand up for what he believed in, even if some of the choices he made were rather foolish.

One of the best things about this story is the pacing. Although the novel has a somewhat slow start, it was really intriguing to read. Not much in terms of excitement happens until Hagrid turns up in the novel but up until that point it was still an enjoyable read, despite being rather slow paced. I loved how Rowling threw in a bit of adventure and action here and there throughout the novel to add excitement and to build up to the conclusion of Harry, Ron and Hermoine going after the Philosopher's Stone. Everything from the moment they came across Fluffy for the second time is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat and I believe the way in which Voldermort's character was brought into the story at the conclusion was impressive on Rowling's behalf.

Overall this novel takes you on a magical and wonderful journey of self discovery, friendship, courage, the supernatural and binary opposition.

I give J.K. Rowling and Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ★★★★★