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Deathly Hallows Reviews

The End of a Legacy
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Review
I was impossibly young the first time I even heard about the infamous Harry Potter. It wasn’t in all the news, it hadn’t gotten the cult following it has today, and every where you looked there weren’t people whispering in dark corners about the secrets of the Boy Who Lived. It was on a quiet Saturday that my sister told me to read the book, because she had seen my utter boredom and lack of anything to do, but I was rather reluctant to take it up. I do love stories of the fantastical sort, with witches and wizard’s and spells the norm in the books I read, but I knew this would be different from the ones I usually read. It was a children’s book and, in all my exalted wisdom, I had gone beyond that realm, so I refused. Another Saturday of unconquerable boredom saw things in a different light, however, and though i doubted I would like it, I took up the rather thin first book of Harry Potter and was mesmerized.
Where before my eyes only moved with reluctance over the pages, after the first sentence, they were enthralled. My fingers turned the pages eagerly, engrossed in the tale of friendship, magic power, and an ancient war that much resembled World War 2 in many ways, making the book that much more relatable to my young eyes. The leader of the pure-blood zealots, a half-blood, half insane maniac who sought genocide against those born with no magic heritage and those of pure-blood that sided with them. Their eventual overtaking of their magical world to commit their most ferocious crimes and the inevitable rise of heroes, outnumbered but with the knowledge that they knew there way was right.
I alone of my less than brilliant peers read the subtle leads into other books, the references to things that were never expanded and so you forgot they were there, but I did not forget the big things. I did skip completely over the mention of Sirius in the first book and, though I had a sort of suspicion, it seemed unlikely that Ginny and Harry would get together because of his infatuation with Cho Chang, even though they barely got together before they broke up. The one thing that I was absolutely sure of, however, by the third book, that it was not Hermione and Harry that would get together, despite my classmates telling me that it would be. I was sure, without a doubt, that it would be Ron and Hermione and that hunch was well satisfied by the end of the seventh book.
As engrossed as I was by the excellent plot twists and downfalls of the heroes that we had come to think of as perfect, I could not help feeling a certain foreboding. This series was leading to one glorious battle, and who would die when the dust cleared? Sirius died in the fifth book, Dumbledore in the sixth, but who would die in this finale to top off all finales? A whisper, an inkling formed that Ms. Rowling planned to kill off Harry, and my heart sank with my need for the tortured hero to live.
I picked up the seventh book with trepidation and steeled myself for the unwanted. I read the entire book in two days, so engrossed was I with the last stand of the Heroes of Hogwarts. I cried at the last when Mad-Eye, Fred Weasley, Lupin and Tonks became casualties of war, especially after Lupin would finally find some happiness with his child and his wife, who cared not that he was a were-wolf. It made my heart glad to see Percy welcomed back into the fold of his family after his long estrangement and Hermione and Ron finally kissed; happiness in the midst of blood and gore. A part of Harry did die in this book, as was promised, the part of Harry that was Voldemort. The part that connected him irrefutably to the killer of his parents and friends, the part that let him see into Voldemort’s mind, the part that was never meant to be there, the unintentional seventh Horcrux. The end was a glorious battle where all fought for their right to freedom under the old regime at the place that had taught them all, and that both Harry and Voldemort had called their first home. Then, in a brilliant climax, it was done, over.
I felt oddly satisfied, like it had finally filled me up when before, with other books, they had given me mere morsels. But, though I had awaited this moment with anticipation and anxiously sweating hands, I had also been dreading it. For years I had been reading with the avid attention of a hardcore fan, it had been my friend in many dark times, and now it was gone, to no more yield me the secrets of a brilliant mind. The last book was the end of a legacy that would help usher in a new dawn. Good-bye Harry Potter, fictional though you are, may the rest of your life find peace as your childhood never could.
The Deathly Hallows

HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS


My review

I am sorry it is over, and it was quite an enjoyable roller coaster. I could have used a little less death and a little more lightness. It was almost like she was killing to avoid being accused of being shallow. However, all in all I loved it.


The Deathly Hallows is not J.K.Rowling's writing masterpiece, that title is reserved for The Half Blood Prince; however, Rowling did justice to the series and provided what I believe to be good closure for the series. The final installment was very clearly Rowling's tribute to the fans. Even in her dedication, she states that this book is for us who have followed Harry with bated breath all these years. Many plot points were predictable but as always beautifully written; and yet, Rowling still managed to surprise. The final battle at Hogwarts was literally breath taking and I could not help but gasp with excitement and gratitude as Rowling threw every character we had the least bit of emotional attachment to, every character who had left the picture and we had sorely missed, every character who had embellished her great stories, into combat against evil. After all, they had helped us love this world that we love and cling on to tightly, it was perfectly fitting that they should come back to defend it. Rowling's great talent of giving us exactly what we need, even when we didn't know we needed it prevailed.

I admit that the pace of the book was not as refined and perfected as The Half Blood Prince but as I said the 6th book is her masterpiece. The sixth book is also her greatest creative masterpiece in terms of jaw dropping plot points that no one could predict. However, I don't hold this against her, the sixth book laid out what must be done in the seventh, such that the sense of mystery that had come with the previous books was lacking. The mystery was over, Harry knew exactly what he needed to do as did we. I was utterly pleased and grateful to J.K. for ending it the way she did. I feel as though it couldn't have ended any other way.
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    Jankowski Expectations were other 2 Nov 30 2007, 9:38 AM EST by Jankowski
    Jankowski
    Thread started: Nov 30 2007, 9:24 AM EST  Watch
    I was reading the latest Harry Potter book with great interest. I hoped everything to finish good. When I've got to know about the stone which was able to ressurect people I hoped the Harry's pareants and friends to come back to earth al last, and I was upset when they didn't manage to.
    I also expected Severus Sneip to be really loyal to Lord Voldemort. I couldn't belive he could betray him!
    It's also sad to know so many people have fallen death.
    Al last I'd like to tell you, that this story, the story about Harry Potter, is just another story about faschism. It was really trilling, but the plot is so simple. Respecting all the Harry's character quallities, I suppose my sympathy to be at Voldemort's side. And I do not understand, why do English people, being mostly aries, do not accept the faschists' ideas. I do not support the real faschism, but me attracts idea of "noble faschism". The Aries ought just to help other people who are not wise enough to encrease their level of life.
    The happy end of the book is very nice. It's like a dream for many people - to have a good family. But the Lupin's child have lost his pareants. A lot of chidren stayed alone because of the war. WHY???
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    Keyword tags: Book 7 deathly hallows Last Book reviews spoilers
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    yvette48ddd "The Perfect Ending to A Great Series" 0 Aug 19 2007, 5:46 AM EDT by yvette48ddd
    Thread started: Aug 19 2007, 5:46 AM EDT  Watch
    I am a 54 year old grandmother, who has fallen in love with a series meant for children. I waited just like everyone else in the world with great anticipation for the last installment of this tale of "The Boy Who Lived", and like with each and every book I was not disappointed. I know for a fact that I will re-read all seven books, even though some of them I have read several times already. But each time I enjoyed them as if it was my first time. I congratulate JK on the excellent way she brought all the previous stories together at the end. I was also thrill at the epilogue, even though I wish it was a tad longer. I look forward to sharing the books in the near future with my granddaughter who is now age 4 (she already loves all of the movies) as I did with my now fifteen year old daughter. Who is finishing off the last book at this very moment, ( Of course I had to read it first!, she reads slower than I do). Sad to see it all come to an end, but looking forward to the encyclopedia.
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    qtpie114 I Can't Believe I'll Never Get to Read Another Potter Book... 0 Aug 9 2007, 7:06 PM EDT by qtpie114
    Thread started: Aug 9 2007, 7:06 PM EDT  Watch
    It's the last book. Even though it's already been out a few weeks, the reality of it still hasn't really sunk in. I can't believe that that was the last book. I keep expecting JK Rowling to pop up on the news and be like "Surprise! I'm going to write about Harry's future!!" "Deathly Hallows" was, by far, the best Potter book. I never suspected Snape was in lovw with Lily, and I cried when I finished "The Prince's Tale"! I wish I hadn't heted Snape all those years...I kind of figured he would turn out good, but not like that. I did get confused on parts- can someone help me with this? What did it mean when Dumbledore says "Are you saying you have, after all these years, come to care for the boy?" (or something like that) and Snape was like "For HIM?" and then he casts a patronus? I don't get it! I loved that Mrs. Weasley finished off Bellatrix. I think she deserved it. I have heard that Rowling is going to write a Potter encyclopedia, explaining every thing that happened after the book. Can't wait for it!! I will miss getting to read these books!
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    sabresfan It's really over 0 Aug 9 2007, 1:51 PM EDT by sabresfan
    Thread started: Aug 9 2007, 1:51 PM EDT  Watch
    I can't believe this is really over. This was not only my favorite HP book by far but it was also one of the best books I have ever read. The deaths were mostly expected except for Dobby and Hedwig. Both of those hit me hard. I kind of figures that Snape had been in love with Lily but didn't realize that it had been since they were kids. There were so many climaxes in this book. I couldn't put it down. I started it at 1:00 a.m. and didn't sleep until I was finished. Around noon the next day. I can honestly say that this book was everything I hoped it would be. It tied everything from all the other books together. There were many things I didn't see coming. Although it was nice seeing Mrs. Weasly as a fighter I still wish it had been Neville or his grandmother that finished off Bellatrix. Kreacher was great in this book. I thought when I finished it I could finally put them away. I have read each book except for #7 at least 20 times each. Now I find myself reading them again to see what I missed after having read the last one.
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    Priori.Incantatem A Final Thought 0 Aug 3 2007, 12:36 PM EDT by Priori.Incantatem
    Priori.Incantatem
    Thread started: Aug 3 2007, 12:36 PM EDT  Watch
    "Deathly Hallows" was a book that brought anticipation to readers across the world on July 21, a day that will be forever remembered. I stood in line at the nearest Borders, anxiously awaiting a copy of the famed book to be placed into my hands. At 1:45 the wait concluded as I stepped up to the checkout counter, covered in books. Two minutes later, I began to read, taking in every finite detail: the novel was amazing from page one. I read quickly, hoping to finish before any spoilers could reach me, but with great care and attention: I had to savor the last book of a splendid series. As I sauntered through the chapters, various emotions played in my mind: with an extraordinary amount of deaths I had little time to grieve before a new plot twist would arise. Mad-Eye, Dobby, Fred, Tonks, and Lupin; although you are merely fictional characters, you will be missed. I have to say, the moment I was most pleased with was when Dudley emerged as a person with feeilngs toward his cousin; J.K. Rowling could not have done better. I was suspecting the marriages of Tonks & Lupin, Ginny & Harry, and Hermione & Ron; but they still came sweetly. Although I have always been a fan of the intelligent Hermione, I beileve my new favorite character was the clever Severus Snape, whose role in Dumbledore's plan was explained beautifully. Dumbledore remained a legend who always strove for The Greater Good, though not in the malicious way Harry thought. As the book ended and the epilogue began, I felt a good sense of closure that I was not expecting. Harry and his mates will always remain in my heart as magnificent characters in a series of books that captivated me to the last words; as Albus Severus boarded the scarlet Hogwarts Express: "The scar had not pained Harry for nineteen years. All was well."
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