jesstheaudiobookworm
Written on Feb 22, 2020
'His hand closed automatically around the fake Horcrux, but in spite of everything, in spite of the dark and twisting path he saw stretching ahead for himself, in spite of the final meeting with Voldemort he knew must come, whether in a month, in a year, or in ten, he felt his heart lift at the thought that there was still one last golden day of peace left to enjoy with Ron and Hermione.' With these words Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince draws to a close. And here, in this seventh and final book, Harry discovers what fate truly has in store for him as he inexorably makes his way to that final meeting with Voldemort. In this thrilling climax to the phenomenally bestselling series, J.K. Rowling will reveal all to her eagerly waiting readers.
- ISBN10 0545010225
- ISBN13 9780545010221
- Publish Date 1 August 2007 (first published January 2007)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Scholastic US
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 784
- Language English
Reviews
moraa
Written on Dec 29, 2019
Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?
4.5 stars
This was sadder than I remember. And yet it filled me with so much joy to read the words "I've had enough trouble to last me a life time" and "All was well".
I am in tears.
ross91
Written on May 1, 2018
When this book first came out I was hugely disappointed.
And now, 11 years later, I am in love with it.
Why????
How??
I don't really have an explaination.
I loved it.
And Neville is AMAZING.
Djilan
Written on Mar 19, 2018
Beth C.
Written on Jan 3, 2018
Amber (The Literary Phoenix)
Written on Oct 19, 2017
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a very different adventure than the rest of the books in the series - as it should be. Times have changed, and so has Harry. It is important for the reader to know that going into the book. This is not just an adventure through a mysterious hidden chamber beneath the halls of Hogwarts - this book bears several heavy themes. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is not exclusively a children's book - it is more.
Rowling doesn't disappoint. I don't think she could if she tried. She is right on mark with her details, as always, and her characters continue to grow and change. Perhaps the greatest and most remarkably change we see is in the character of Neville Longbottom, who has finally found his voice. We always knew he was in Gryffindor for a reason... and Rowling finally reveals that it is for reasons greater than standing up to his friends.
I have read discussions about the relationship between characters, and how Dumbledore's childhood friendship was not about a quest, but more personal in note. While I see where these presumptions may have been drawn. I do not think that was Rowling's intent at all, and it saddens me to think that people have chosen to look for scandal in the book, rather than experience the magic that is already there.
In short, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows presents everything avid readers of the book could have wanted, and then some. Yes, the ending may be "disappointingly happy and cliche," as I have also read in various places, but in that, I believe Rowling has left us another piece fo advice - our futures are what we make of them. We can choose to see the world in its corrupted state and pity our existence in it, or else we can see the beauty between the lines, and revel in it.
((x-posted to my blog: The Literary Phoenix))
Berls
Written on Sep 10, 2017
Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews
Written on Jan 9, 2017
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a fantastic conclusion to the story of The Boy Who Lived. Tying up all lose ends of what happened on the fateful Halloween night and has the reader looking at some of the beloved characters in different and sometimes disconcerting light.
While reading Deathly Hallows I could not help but notice some similarities to two other classic novels; one being the Lord of the Rings Trilogy and the Tale of King Arther's Excalibur. One of the Horcruxes that Harry, Ron and Hermione must destroy is a locket, with each taking turns wearing it to be sure of its safety. While possessing the cursed token, they who wears it begins to experience morbid thoughts and becomes very paranoid. This reminds me of Frodo's relationship with the One Ring, and Ron's behavior has a hue of such nature. I even saw a glimpse of Sam in Harry, while he is not the sidekick of the book he manages to keep his cool and his companion on the quest at hand. Even, when the locket had to be destroyed Ron had difficulty proceeding with the task, as did Frodo upon reaching the Fires of Mordor.
This leads us to Excalibur, To break the spell upon Horcuxes one must either use venom form a basilisk or the force of a very powerful sword once owned by Godric Gryffindor. Harry and Ron discover said sword in the water while in the Forest of Dean and must dive in the fringed water to claim it. As Only a true Gryffindor could achieve claiming of a valued sword, only the true King could pull Excalibur from the stone, with the impression that it would only be used in good.
And that's what this book was, a good read and an excellent ending to a series ten years in the making.
Jo
Written on Aug 11, 2016
The last time I did a re-read of the Harry Potter series, I left out Deathly Hallows, and so a review is required this time round, rather than just a re-read post. As I was re-reading Deathly Hallows this time, I realised that I'd only read it once before; there were so many details that I had completely forgotten, and most of my memories of the story were from watching the movies, so it was really interesting to rediscover certain elements again.
I was a little wary before picking it up because I remember feeling disappointed the first time round because of how much time Harry, Ron and Hermione spend doing nothing. It felt like nothing was happening for a really long time, whereas in the other books, even when nothing was happening in regards to the major plot, there were always lessons, Quidditch, or confrontations with Malfoy. There was always something happening. But in Deathly Hallows, there's a lot of time spent moving from place to place, trying to work out what they should do next, when I wanted to get the plot to get moving and see how things would go. This time round, I appreciated how little the three know and how that affects them all. There is no real plan, it's all guess work backed up by the information Dumbledore gave Harry, but no real certainty. I loved how Ron and Hermione seemed to worry about there not being a plan, and how Harry started doubting himself, feeling like he wouldn't be able to finish destroying the Horcruxes because he just didn't know what he was doing. The pressure is on, and he's really starting to feel it. It's because of this, although awful, that I really loved the bust up between Ron and Harry.
I didn't enjoy as much Harry questioning Dumbledore and their relationship. I don't see why Harry thought Dumbledore would have shared his whole family history with him. It wasn't really any of his business for one thing, and it was in the past. Plus he was his teacher. Sure, Dumbledore was a mentor/guide to Harry as well, but I just don't understand why Harry thought Harry should have told him his whole life story. I could understand why these feelings were cropping up, because he was feeling so lost and so much was being revealed about Dumbledore's past because of Rita Skeeter's book, but not why he felt he deserved to know everything. This is just me disagreeing with Harry, though, not a problem I have with the book.
When things get going, though, boy do they get going! The deaths are so hard to deal with. Dobby always gets me, always. He is the most bravest little guy, and god, I love him. But Fred, Lupin and Tonks, too... too much, just too much. And poor Colin Creevey! It was like being stabbed, and then having the knife twist and twist with each death. I absolutely loved the epic Battle of Hogwarts, it was just so incredible! And can I just take a moment to say how wonderful Snape is? I still hate the guy, there was no real need for him to be so cruel throughout the other books, but protecting Harry this whole time for the woman he loved... that's just heartbreaking, but so, so beautiful.
I found it surprisingly emotional this time round when Harry realises he has to die, because I already knew he actually doesn't. But I think it was down to how Harry was feeling, walking towards his death. The first time I read this book, it was all about what I felt and thought of what was happening, and now I can appreciate how the events affect the characters more. It brought tears to my eyes when Harry used the Resurrection Stone and brought back his family, it was such an incredibly emotional scene; knowing he had to die, but having the people he loved and who loved him with him in some form to keep him going. It's just wonderful.
I also think I understood a whole lot more this time round when it came to how Harry survived, with his conversation with Dumbledore. I think I was either far too emotional to really get it the first time round, or it's because I'm older now, but I finally got it. And I absolutely loved seeing Dumbledore again, that he got his appearance, and got to impart more advice and guidance. That was just such a wonderful, wonderful touch.
I was really bloody disappointed with the climax the first time round - Voldemort was defeated simply because of a rebounded spell? What?! But I think with understanding more about wands in general and the Elder wand, and how Voldemort completely screwed up, it was kind of brilliant this time. I loved it! And the epilogue was pretty awesome, too!
I finished my re-read this time round with a feeling of sadness, but satisfaction, and also excitement. The story isn't over yet. There's still Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and the story will continue with that play. I just need to get ahold of some tickets! Deathly Hallows was a brilliant finale to the Harry Potter novels, and I'm always going to love them dearly.
thepunktheory
Written on Aug 22, 2015
As I mentioned before, I devoured the book. It's so thrilling and capturing, you just can't put it down. The characters are more relatable than ever, you wish you could crawl into the book and help them. I love how intricate and cleverly woven the story is. Just when you think it's over, J. K. Rowling comes around the corner with something new. With every book I have to admire her more for imagining all this.
She's the master of plot-twists. But I'm not sure I can ever forgive her for killing one of my favourite characters...
Now to the movie: Actually, there's not only one film. The final novel was turned into two films, what I really appreciate. While analysing the other books and movies in the Harry Potter series, I was often disappointed that a book with over 1000 pages was squeezed into a two-hour movie. I am certain that the only way to do the final novel justice was to make two films. Watching it you can clearly see that the story simply needs the time to unfold. These films are not as hectic and crammed as some of the other adaptations. The plot (and also the people watching) have time to breathe.
But due to the other films being relatively short (compared to the books they are based on) certain events in this movie are lacking context. Bill and Fleur's wedding for example: as their relationship was never mentioned in any of the other films, the wedding seemed to come out of nowhere.
However, I need to shower the actors with some praise. Helena Bonham Carter as Bellatrix Lestrange gives me the creeps - every single time. Although both Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliff did an amazing job, I think it was Rupert Grint who delivered the best performance of the movie. They definitely all blended in very well with the dark atmosphere of the film.
You could tell from the opening sequence on that it wouldn't be a nice ride. I have to say, the first scenes gave me goosebumps, it set you into the perfect mood for the film!
Summing up, I have to say I loved both the book and the two films. Everything was very well implemented. Might be the best adaptation of the entire Harry Potter series!