MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! If you’ve been following along with the blog for the last few days, then you’ve seen my daily reviews of Harry Potter leading up to today with the final novel. For me, the magic of Harry Potter is a Christmastime story, and I have thoroughly enjoyed re-reading and reviewing these books leading up to Christmas, as both the series and Christmas itself means so much to me. Have the merriest of Christmases, and I hope you enjoy my final Harry Potter review (and choose to read the series, if you have not done so already).
From Goodreads: Harry Potter is leaving Privet Drive for the last time. But as he climbs into the sidecar of Hagrid’s motorbike and they take to the skies, he knows Lord Voldemort and the Death Eaters will not be far behind.
The protective charm that has kept him safe until now is broken. But the Dark Lord is breathing fear into everything he loves. And he knows he can’t keep hiding.
To stop Voldemort, Harry knows he must find the remaining Horcruxes and destroy them.
He will have to face his enemy in one final battle.
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The end. Finito. Terminé. It is done, and I always have a hard time accepting it. The wonderful wizarding world of Harry Potter so enraptures me each time I read it that I am able to think of little else. While many of the novels themselves are on the long side, I still feel as if more could be said. Spanning from around 300 pages at its shortest to over 850 pages at its longest, the series itself encompasses over 4000 pages that grip readers and bring them into this world through amazing themes, events, characters, and connections to the real world, as discussed in some of my prior reviews. Likewise, it presents a fantasy world that allows our imaginations to run rampant, especially in regard to the question of “what if.” What if it really did exist…
This seventh and final novel in the Harry Potter series is just as amazing and gripping as the first (and all those that come in-between). Of course, it follows in its predecessor’s footsteps with its dark undertones as Harry, Hermoine, and Ron attempt to find the final Horcruxes before the battle with Voldemort, one Harry knows must take place in order to fulfill the prophecy. With Dumbledore gone, Snape in charge of Hogwarts, and the death eaters infiltrating The Ministry of Magic, the wizarding world is in chaos, and people, both magical and muggle, are dying left and right…
From the very beginning, the novel strums our emotional chords as the magic surrounding Privet Drive is about to expire, sending the awful and repulsive Dursley family away once and for all as their safety is now in question. Although these muggles are ones we love to hate, Rowling finally adds a piece of sentimentality in the form of Dudley, and readers know that this is going to be an emotional read from beginning to end. How can it not, as it dives deeper into the recess of good versus evil.
While absolutely amazing, the death toll in this novel will leave readers in a somber mood for days, as it does me, no matter how many times I read it, and no matter how much I try to prepare for what I know is inevitably coming–because even though they are fictional characters, they have become a part of my life just the same. And while I wish Rowling didn’t do it—I’d love for this to have been all roses and butterflies—it just wouldn’t carry any validity or as much steam had Rowling not made these difficult decisions to kill off some of our most beloved characters.
And Snape? While I still find his actions appalling from book one to now, I can’t help but feel a twinge of sadness for him while reading this novel, and I rejoice over his ultimate decisions because we finally know the absolute truth behind the man we’ve hated for so long. The “why” is important, and though he chose not to live life in a way that made him happy, his choices helped lead to justice for the Potters, and that is worth so much. Just writing a review of such a riveting novel brings all the emotions to the forefront again, and I cannot say it enough: this series, this book, this world, is amazing. Five stars.
I own this beloved novel and entire series in both hardcover and audible.
Did you know that you can listen to this novel for FREE with a FREE TRIAL of Audible for 30 days? Try it today!
Kindle | Audible | Paperback | Hardcover
Have you read the short prequel to the Harry Potter series, yet?
And if you missed them, read my review of:
Books: The Cheapest Vacation You Can Buy 