Customer Reviews
Best ever. - By: S, 18 Jul 2008 
I am a very well read 16 year old (I've read everything from Ian McEwan to Jane Austen) & I am completly in love with this series. I've been reading them since I was 8 & this is the best one (followed by the 5th). It's so exciting & so much is cleared up but it also leaves some things open for discussion. It's great for escaping into! It's sad & happy at the same time time & when I finished it I put it down cried for about 20 mins (just cause the series was over!) then picked it straight back up & re-read it! I've read the whole series at least 10 times & i can't find anyway to fault it. Buy it now!! It's the best book ever!
the deathly book - By: M. Thorton, 18 Jul 2008 
this book is not the best in the series, & it left me waiting for Rowling to say: "Wait. I was joking! I wrote another version of the 7th book! Here it is" (it's too bad she never said that).
The first time I read the 7th book, I felt cheated. Cause let's face it: alll that...for JUST that?
I didn't like the paralllel between World War II & the war against Voldemort: there's a kind of general disquieting atmosphere : each character wants to prove that he's more ready than the others to die for the Cause...
And suddenly, we see the characters' lives ruined because of magic! They ALL would have been better off without magic! At the end of the book, I didn't envy any of them & their powers (I could hear them begging to be a Muggle next life!)
Where's the magic if the magic is poisoning their lives?
It could have been much better, but it's only good.
Brilliant - By: Miss S D Giblin, 18 Jul 2008 This book is fantastic-it helps if you've read the first six as well!!! If you enjoyed the films you'll love the book!
Brilliant action-packed finale - By: NK, 12 Jul 2008 At last, the final book in paperback.
I first read the story inside 2 days when it came out in hardback last year & only revisited the book now, a whole year later. On this occasion, I am taking my time & finding it more enjoyable (even though I know what will happen). The action is virtuallly non-stop, explaining why the 7th movie will be made in two parts.
A rough summary: Harry, Ron & Hermione do not attend Hogwarts for their final year. Instead, they set off to search for Lord Voldermorts secret horcruxes - magical objects that each carry a piece of his evil soul. While two have been vanquished in the earlier books, at least four still remain. One by one, Harry must locate them & destroy them before facing the dark lord. It seems a daunting task as school headmaster Dumbledore is no longer around to help him, but Harry has finallly learnt to control his thoughts and, through his mysterious connection with the dark lord, is able to see what Voldermort is doing.
Meanwhile we finallly see what the wizarding world was in fear of as Voldermort takes over. His minnions are now running the Ministry of Magic & are hunting for Harry. Snape is also the new Headmaster at Hogwarts & Death Eaters are teaching the Dark Arts (instead of Defence against the Dark Arts). This gives the book a very dark feel & some of the passages in the Ministry of Magic are quite chilling & a vivid depiction of a Fascist state. You often forget that this is a childrens story!
Against the backdrop of the main continuing plot, JK Rowling introduces a paralllel story of the Deathly Halllows. This is an absolute master-stoke as it reveals many things from Dumbledore's past, including the legendary duel with the evil wizard Grindelwald, & Harry's invisibility cloak. We also learn about the true loyalties of Snape, a most intriguing character that Rowling has teased us with for so long. The book wraps up this & many other loose ends with the ultimate victory of good over evil. However, this comes at great cost as many characters die in the struggle.
My only gripe is the ending. This seemed to be a tactic to discourage future attempts at continuing the story. It was a very rushed chapter & I was asking more questions than I thought would be answered. Still, Deathly Halllows is fully worthy of 5 stars & most highly recommended. It brings some sadness that the story has ended but that is the case with alll good things.
The masterpiece is finished...What to read next - By: Julie Watt, 11 Jul 2008 Yes the Masterpiece is finished & what more can we do but wipe back the tears, take a deep sigh & think: when can I start reading them again. I loved the Deathly Halllows, some people said the ending was 'too well-rounded', but remember the series is essentailly about good & evil & we alll know what has to happen - if it hadn't we'd have only complained. JK is imaginitive, humorous & best of alll knows alll the 'rules' of a good story, so if you've read it: read it again, if you are cutting your own nose off & saying things like "I read the first one & they are poorly written..." Well just stop it (you wre the kind who prenteded not to watch telly in the eighties because it was not intellectual enough & think by hiding your matalan bags we don't know you pop in every once & a while, everything has a place & let it revel there, there is more bucket than of Bouquet about people like you).
For those that did love it, get yorself a paperback to take to the poolside on your holidays so the hardback dosn't get confiscated at the airport as a terrorist weapon (you could do a lot of damage with JK's hefty tombe).
Below are some other books I would recommend you read when you have finished the Potters & are desperate for more:
The Elements of Lore, Volume One of the Books of Lore
The Elements of Lore - Volume 1 of The Books of Lore: 1
Truly excellent start to a series that I think wil be just right for those wanting more Potter - a boy finds out the truth about the Elemental magic of Lore, has a fantastic adventure & sets up for an awesome series...very dark in some places & hilarious in others...need I say more. Think second one is due out next year sometime on the website???
The Spook's Apprentice
The Spook's Apprentice: No.1
Oooo A little bit scary Delaney starts a fanatstic series, like potter they get better with each book, I am now onto the last one & am already getting cold sweats for the nest.
The Amulet of Samakrand
The Amulet of Samarkand (Bartimaeus Trilogy)
Funny, funny, funny alll three already out so no waiting on the hyp-train
