AnE Vibe weighs in their opinion on the new Harry Potter book....

Book: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Author: J.K. Rowling

Publishing Company: Bloomsbury Publishing and Raincoast Books

Release Date: July 21, 2007

# of pages: 606

ISBN 10:1-55192-976-7, ISBN 13: 978-1-55192-976-7

Price: $45.00 CAN

Reviewed By: Kaitlyn Cursley

5 stars

It is here; the seventh and concluding volume of the Harry Potter series has arrived. Harry faces Voldemort for the last and final time. I was nine years old when I first discovered Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in my school’s library. After reading the first chapter, or possibly even the first page I was hooked. I was completely fascinated with the extraordinary world that the author, J.K. Rowling, had created with her words. Yet I wasn’t the only child who had discovered this treasure of a book, 50,000 copies was the first printing and now millions are selling around the world within the first twenty four hours of this final book of the Harry Potter series. The tale of the Boy-who-lived and the magic society unbeknown to muggles (non-magical folk) has captured the attention of millions of children and adults around the globe. Almost everyone I know has followed Harry through his journey at Hogwarts, greeting each book with more anticipation than the last. Now with the release of the final instalment millions of Harry Potter fans await the result of the final struggle between Harry Potter and the ever-more-powerful Lord Voldemort and the answer to the burning question; how will it all end?

Harry has been left with a task. A dark and dangerous task assigned to him by his late Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore. Harry must find and destroy the four remaining Horcruxes of Voldemort if he is to have any hope of ever defeating ‘the dark lord.’ Harry has made the decision not to return to Hogwarts but rather devote all his time to his quest for the Horcruxes. Harry backed by his two best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley embark on their quest, which if not already more difficult then usual, has many additional twists and turns along the way. The Ministry of Magic has fallen to Voldemort’s merciless crew of Death Eaters, thus making no where in the wizarding world safe for Harry, forcing him into hiding while still in search for the remaining hidden Horcruxes. Harry’s pursuit for the Horcruxes leads him to discover his unavoidable destiny, a path that has already been laid out for him, which he must face without fear or hesitation.

The series ten years in the making has finally come to a conclusion. I feared that J.K. Rowling’s final book The Deathly Hallows would not live up to my high expectations for the most eagerly anticipated book of the decade; it appears I was wrong to worry. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is filled with gripping action and adventure that made it almost impossible for me to tear my eyes away from those 606 pages! Proving to be the darkest of all the Potter books, the final tale of the boy wizard kept me on the edge of my seat with its unexpected plunges and fast pace. As I read the last pages of the Deathly Hallows the complex jigsaw puzzle of the previous volumes place themselves together in a magnificent fashion. I do not hesitate when I say that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a fabulous read and a perfect ending to a much beloved series. I have to say that J.K. Rowling has done a marvellous job on her tale of the boy who lived a life of magic and she has created a series that both children and adults can and will enjoy for many years to come.