Written by Harry Croose
"Working hard is important, but there is something that matters more: Believing in yourself."
As a beautiful book series, Harry Potter has been an absolutely huge influence on my life. 🙂 Harry Potter when I was a child, started coming out as movies. I watched the movies first, and have finally come to discover the Harry Potter book series, that I have decided to pick up and read. I have been listening to the amazing Audible Audiobooks of the Series, read by Stephen Fry. There are 7 books, (8 movies) and in this series I will be reviewing and ranking the books, giving you a summary of my thoughts on each book. Also, I want to say I do heartedly prefer the books to the movies, although I do appreciate the movies in their own way. 🙂
7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
The Deathly Hallows, a thrilling conclusion to the Seven Part Book Series. Whereby Harry, Ron and Hermione are certainly tested in their friendship trying to find and destroy Horcruxes. I did like how it was a bit of a change from the usual being based in Hogwarts, also it allows us to explore the Wizarding World much more, as well as Dumbledore’s Past. Funny enough this was the only book that I didn’t enjoy as much as the other 6 books.
I enjoyed the Battle of Hogwarts’ it was a very suspensive epic conlusion. I loved the Auras and how Hermione and Ron grew closer through their hardships. The Tale of the Three Brothers was also a very interesting tale, which set up the mood and the premise for the dark days to come once the Ministry fell.
I will be including full reviews of the books seperately. Once it is avaliable, there will be a link in the desription or you can find it in search format. 🙂
6. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
The Philosopher’s Stone was a such a great opener, this is where we were of course introduced to everything, the Wizarding World, Harry Potter and his friends his rivalries with Draco Malfoy; the teachers and of course Lord Voldermort. “He who must not be named.”
I loved how the 3 heroes, Harry, Ron and Hermione formed their friendship. I also adored Gryffindor House and the side characters like Dean Thomas and Seamus. Crabbe and Goyle will good henchmen too. As I have got older however, although this book is still incredibly nostalgic, I do note the fact that Slytherin House seems to be noted as the ‘evil house’; even though that is not neccessarily the case with ALL Slytherins.
The story is really lovely and heartfelt when Gryfindor win in the end. 🙂 Also how they team up playing Wizard’s Chess, and Hermione’s problem potion logic puzzle!! It was great! 🙂
5. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, is an incredibly good book. I liked the fact it delve deep into the law of the origins of Tom Riddle and his ancestry (The Gaunt Family). I also loved the fact that Dumbledore and Harry’s character relationship developed especially tested in the Cave. I am not sure about Ron and Hermione’s relationship; although it felt a lot more natural in the books then it did in the films. The ‘Half Blood Prince’ was a good enough mystery to keep me intruiqued, but I didn’t find it as interesting as earlier books, which had more in depth mysteries. Dumbledore’s death was an impactful conclusion, but it left a lot of questions unanswered; which is part of the reason why I found Deathly Hallows less interesting due to the lack of info about Horcruxes.
That being said, I loved the Quidditch element of this book, and how Harry and Ginny;s relationship grew a lot more gradually, which unlike the film wasn’t rushed and seemingly out of place.
This is still a great book, but I feel with the tangents of Lavender Brown, and even Aragog’s (Hagrid’s Spider’s) Funeral, removing some of this writing could have left more room for more knowledge about Dumbledore, Qudditich and Professor Slughorn.
4. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. A fantastic sequel to the first book. 🙂 Seriously love it so much! This was the first book that really got me into the Wizarding World Lore. There were a lot of questions answered e.g. how did Hagrid get expelled from Hogwarts. The opening of the Chamber of Secrets, and the mystery of what the creature is and where the chamber was located; along with how Harry can speak Parseltongue, (Snake Language).
I loved Gilderoy Lockhart he was a very commerical, funny person to add to the Defence Against the Dark Arts post, his character was a very unique addtion to the Wizarding World. Of course Severus Snape is great constantly trolling Harry in his Potions Classes. Qudditich has also been build upon with Draco Malfoy added to the mix as the Seeker of Slytherin Qudditich Team.
3. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, is an absolutely amazing book, even better then the Chamber of Secrets.
I just love the premise of the book, being an escaped convicted from Azkaban. (Hence the title). Sirius Black to me is one if not my favourite character in the book series, becuase of how much of a badass he is, which is more pronounced in later books. Also, Hermione’s given a new dynamic with the additon to the time-turner, which I liked very ‘Doctor Who’ with Time-Travel. 🙂
Also, Remus Lupin’s character really gives even more depth to the past of Hogwarts, with the history of the Whomping Willow, and the rivalry of Snape and The Marauders. The plot-twist was amzing having ‘Scabbers’ be Peter Pettigrew the one who betrayed Harry’s Parents, Lily and James.
Qudditich dynamics again were really awesome, although I did find how the Dementors kept interfering with the games, I found a little annoying. 🙂 In this book, I really grow to like Ginny Weasley as a character, I found in the first 2 books, she was not quite the ‘damsel in distress’, that being said she wasn’t as fully fleshed out as many of the other Weasleys; such as Fred and George ‘The Weasley Twins’, who are comedy gold throughout I really like their banterous behaviour.
2. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
The only thing about Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix that I don’t like in comparison to Goblet of Fire; is that it is slightly too long in my opinion and a bit stretched in places. Apart from that it is a marvelous novel, what can I say Dolores Umbridge is a great antagonist. Putting Ministry Control into Hogwarts. Harry’s connection with the Dark Lord being stronger, is an interesting dynamic. 🙂 Qudditich once again, is at its pinical here ( Half Blood Prince also had good qudditich). Sirius Black’s death, the fight between Dumbledore and Voldemort is an amazing conclusion to the book. The Weasleys are great in this, as well as the unification of a lot of side characters especially Luna Lovegood, and Neville Longbottom, and Ginny Weasley also becomes more of a figurehead character. Cho Chang as well is a great dynamic as a love interest throughout the story for Harry. 🙂 Dumbledore’s Army, and the Inquisitorial Squad is a great addition to the school, as it is constantly being patrolled.
The teachers fighting back as well especially the sassy Professor McGonagall is such a joy to read. 🙂
1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by far the best Harry Potter book, in my opinion. It is the first time in Harry Potter that we are introduced to other Wizarding Schools, the Triwizard Tournament and the Qudditich World Cup. 🙂 Also Harry, Ron and Hermione’s friendship is also tested heavily, especially when Harry gets him name out the Goblet. The only downside to this book, I’d say is there is no Qudditich although i do understand why obviously it wasn’t in this book (given the Tournament). But the ingenius polot for Lord Voldermort’s return, the apparent appearance of Mad-Eye Moddy and the mystery of Ludo Bagman and the Goblins and Barty Crouch dissapearance.
The three tasks, are a great addition as well with the Dragon Egg Task, and the Merpeople (swimming int he lake) and of course the legendary Maze. I do wish the movie did include more bits from the Maze in particular especially with the riddle, and the addtional creatures, Harry had to fight. The Movie although awesome in its own adaptation did have a fair few plot points missing.
The Yule Bawl, was also a great addtion, to the dynamic at Hogwarts, especially when Hermione’s was asked out by Victor Krum in the library. 🙂 I also liked the fact that Cedric and Harry formed a close aquaintanceship and team in the Maze. But the tragedy of Cedric’s Death, Lord Voldermort’s return, and Harry seeing a shadow of his parents again. A phenomeonal book, I adore Harry Potter so much. 🙂
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