Book Review: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by J.K. Rowling

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” by J. K. Rowling

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 5 Water Towers

Think of the fastest, tallest, roughest rollercoaster you have ever been on. Multiply that by ten and you may come close to the excitement in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”.

If you have not read Books 1 thru 6 do not read below

The final chapter of the Boy-Who-Lived is a rousing send-off of the Harry Potter saga. As Book 6 ended, Dumbledore had prepared Harry to strike out on his own to seek out the remaining horcruxes of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.

In Book 7, Harry, Hermione and Ron receive the items left to them by Dumbledore. At first glance, they seem odd and not at all helpful. Ron received the “Deluminator” (this is the device that Dumbledore uses in previous books to turn off lights and then turn them back on). Hermione received a book of Wizard fairy tales written in “Runes” (being Muggle born and brought up, these stories are new to her), and Harry received the first “Snitch” he ever captured (in his mouth) at Hogwarts (when he breathed on it some very cryptic words appeared “I open on close””). But looks are deceiving. The importance of these items becomes apparent and the core plot of the “Deathly Hallows” hinges on them.

Minor Book 7 spoilers below

With much planning and little knowledge as to where the next horcurxes could be found, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set out on their adventure. And a harrowing adventure it turns out to be.

The Death Eaters and Voldey have taken over the Ministry of Magic and caused the deaths and imprisonment of numerous Muggles, Muggle Born, and Blood Traitors. People are fleeing for their lives. The mere mention of the name “Voldemort” instantly causes Death Eaters, or bands of renegades, down upon them. To remain free, one must move constantly and not mention his name. Not unexpectedly, Harry is the #1 most wanted person.

I am not going to ruin the book, but, as page after page of pure terror unfolds; Harry, Ron, and Hermione are captured, escape, and nearly lose their lives several times. Harry is lucky to have both Hermione and Ron with him (at least most of the time). Herminone gets them out of scrape after scrape and Ron comes through when he is needed the most (after flakeing in the beginning, then leaving, then coming back (thanks to the Deluminator) at just the right time).

The three-some have help from an unknown person with a silver Doe as a patronous, and many other people. Via their travels they find, and destroy, several more horcruxes (and learn what the Deathly Hallows are). The final battle at Hogwarts, where many of the characters who have been missing are still at school and now show up, is wild and disturbing.

I don’t know what J. K. Rowling meant when she said two main characters die. My count of “main” characters that we know, and love or loath, who perish exceeds TEN. So beware of the mounting death toll that starts almost right from the start. The bloodbath at Hogwarts claimed over 50 people from “Dumbledore’s Army”, the “Order of the Phoenix”, and students and teachers.

But in the end, the “Deathly Hallows” teaches us about the power of love and that we should respect everyone.

Many questions are answered, including: Is Snape good or bad?, Is Dumbledore really dead?, Why is Dumbedore’s hand burnt in Book 6?, Do Harry,Ron, or Hermione live or die?, What are the final horcruxes?, How can horcruxes be destroyed?, How tall are real giants?, How did R.A.B. get the locket?

This is a very satisfying book to finish the series.

The ending is complete, surprising, and scary. I’m glad I have finished it, so now I can relax.