Dastardly Deeds (Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Adult edition) - J.K. Rowling)

Member Name: eiley123

Product:	Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Adult edition) - J.K. Rowling
Date:	01/02/08 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good plot and characters, more grown up and darker than earlier Potter books

Disadvantages: None for me

Harry Potter and the Half Blood prince is the penultimate book, out of a series of seven, written by British female author J K Rowling. The Half Blood Prince is currently being filmed and is due for release, I think, in Autumn 2008.

Each book in the series is increasingly dark and in a more serious vein. The plot continues where the Order of the Phoenix left off. The book starts with the magical world's Prime Minster, attempting to warn the muggle world's Prime Minister, of the sinister events happening around the country, and to explain why they are happening.

As any Harry Potter fan knows the muggle world is the non-magical world, that is the ordinary, everyday world in which we live. Strange and dastardly events have been occuring since the return of 'He who shall not be named' aka Lord Voldemort. Unexplained deaths and disasters have been befalling the magical and the mugggle communities everywhere.

Simultaneously to the Prime Ministers visit, dark deeds are underway at Spinner's End which put Snapes's loyalty to Dumbledore into question, yet again. This book sees a sombre Harry Potter attempting to move on from his godfather's death. Lord Voldemort is stronger than ever and intrigue and mystery abounds. I will not spoil the plot for any new readers but I will say that this book is as compelling as J K Rowling's always are.

As usual we have our old familiar characters and a smattering of new ones. Horace Slughorn for one provides an unusual character. The descriptions of him paint such a vivid picture that I have a clear picture in my head of what he looks like.

Ardent Potter fans will not be disappointed with this, the sixth book of the series. It is a hefty read at 607 pages but each of these pages fly by as you, the reader, eagerly turns the page in anticipation of what on earth will happen next. This, as always with the Harry Potter books, could be read as a stand alone book but will be much more enjoyable if read in the correct order of the Harry Potter books.

It is still aimed at a young audience but it is not for the very young. For example, in the search for Horcruxes we meet Inferi, who are long dead souls.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince answers some vital questions in this tale and of course poses many new ones. It is a fitting book to lead the reader into the Harry Potter book's dramatic conclusion and I heartily recommend it.

ISBN0-7475-8110-x

Thanks for reading
(C) Eiley 2008

Summary: Scary in parts, even for me.