angrboda's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
sarahunty's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
fuck jk rowling
geoene_'s review against another edition
5.0
Para mí, hasta ahora, el mejor libro de la saga. Este libro está rodeado de incertidumbres y enojos. El personaje de Luna Lovegood, me pareció muy cómico y valiente. Como Ginny, que, por primera vez, demuestra su bravura. El esfuerzo por leer 925 páginas es recompensado por el placer de poder sentirnos adentro de esta mágica historia.
communistbookreader's review against another edition
1.0
updated 10/19/2021 - i would never have read these books if i knew Rowling was a TERF. NEVER. so muh for using your powers (writing, in this case) for good. what a cunt.
this review will be for all 7 books, which is kinda silly as that covers 4000+ pages, but whatever... so many people have read (and re-read...) these books i likely won't add anything to the corpus of critique that hasn't been covered already... i found Harry to be a rather unlikeable character... he treated his friends like shite, he was self-absorbed, he never really tried to improve as a wizard, and he had a major superiority complex... loved the Weasleys, such a funny, amazing, loyal, talented, and complex group... Hermione should have been the main character, she was smart, dedicated, interested in knowledge, loyal, tough, levelheaded, an awesome female to follow into a crisis... i found the books to be quite different in their writing style, Rowling seemingly got more detailed (long-winded?) as the books went on, and not always to the benefit or requirements of the tale... i thought many parts were too lengthy, while others of more interest (to me anyway) to the core of the tale were left shorthanded or perfunctorily explained after the fact... i found the books very sexist and while not overtly racist (i refuse to overindulge in ex post facto "symbolism" of Mudbloods, elves, etc.) was surely extremely light on non-white/European characters/characteristics... a bit of the Merlin/King Arthur/Song of Roland type of mythology... the dark arts never got that dark, which i found disappointing... "Death Eaters" sounds pretty imposing, but they came across as fanboys of Voldemort... lame... waywayway too much Quidditch, way too much... while we're trying to stop the Dark Lord let's play some games, and act like who wins that Cup is vital to the success of the good side in the battle against evil... WTF?!?!? not much romance, which was super, i absolutely despise YA/Fantasy/MagicalRealism romance, it's almost always overdone, love-out-of-nowhere, and heteronormative, not to mention TOTALLY unnecessary... i can see why the books were so popular, but if you set aside the fear of death by saying other fantasy series have been better by a long shot in many ways, then it's easy to say the books could have been so much more than just pretty good... the characters didn't progress, even though 7 years pass, and if part of what was going on was to eventually defeat Voldemort, it didn't seem much effort was put into ensuring victory (just so many things don't make sense or add up or seem to matter or were left out or just filled pages)... i resisted the urge to read the fan-wiki-blog-whatevers about the "world of Harry Potter" since there is entirely too much i don't know enough about (mistakes, plot holes, color of some characters underwear on Tuesdays... kudos to people who have fun with that stuff, but for me those things point out the weaknesses of the books and i wanted to enjoy them for what they are, seven discrete books that tell a specific story... i don't think Rowling thought the books would be such a big thing, else she would have caught the problems, mistakes, etc. and also done a much better job of telling the tale... plenty of elements that could have been expanded or explained... a lot left to the last 200-300 pages, a LOT... OK, just too much... Dumbledore and Voldemort were hardly different in most aspects... and at least Voldemort was honest about what he wanted... Dementors were the best thing in the books... awful!!! loved them!!! OK, i could go on, but i don't have the energy or interest... surely 4-star books, but no more... i had fun reading them, they were uncomplicated, the language was simple, great pacing, believable, interesting, complex, reasonably satisfying ending/resolution... glad i read them at last but wouldn't ever read them a second time... if you got this far, you're a glutton for punishment, and for sketchy reviews. cheerio!
this review will be for all 7 books, which is kinda silly as that covers 4000+ pages, but whatever... so many people have read (and re-read...) these books i likely won't add anything to the corpus of critique that hasn't been covered already... i found Harry to be a rather unlikeable character... he treated his friends like shite, he was self-absorbed, he never really tried to improve as a wizard, and he had a major superiority complex... loved the Weasleys, such a funny, amazing, loyal, talented, and complex group... Hermione should have been the main character, she was smart, dedicated, interested in knowledge, loyal, tough, levelheaded, an awesome female to follow into a crisis... i found the books to be quite different in their writing style, Rowling seemingly got more detailed (long-winded?) as the books went on, and not always to the benefit or requirements of the tale... i thought many parts were too lengthy, while others of more interest (to me anyway) to the core of the tale were left shorthanded or perfunctorily explained after the fact... i found the books very sexist and while not overtly racist (i refuse to overindulge in ex post facto "symbolism" of Mudbloods, elves, etc.) was surely extremely light on non-white/European characters/characteristics... a bit of the Merlin/King Arthur/Song of Roland type of mythology... the dark arts never got that dark, which i found disappointing... "Death Eaters" sounds pretty imposing, but they came across as fanboys of Voldemort... lame... waywayway too much Quidditch, way too much... while we're trying to stop the Dark Lord let's play some games, and act like who wins that Cup is vital to the success of the good side in the battle against evil... WTF?!?!? not much romance, which was super, i absolutely despise YA/Fantasy/MagicalRealism romance, it's almost always overdone, love-out-of-nowhere, and heteronormative, not to mention TOTALLY unnecessary... i can see why the books were so popular, but if you set aside the fear of death by saying other fantasy series have been better by a long shot in many ways, then it's easy to say the books could have been so much more than just pretty good... the characters didn't progress, even though 7 years pass, and if part of what was going on was to eventually defeat Voldemort, it didn't seem much effort was put into ensuring victory (just so many things don't make sense or add up or seem to matter or were left out or just filled pages)... i resisted the urge to read the fan-wiki-blog-whatevers about the "world of Harry Potter" since there is entirely too much i don't know enough about (mistakes, plot holes, color of some characters underwear on Tuesdays... kudos to people who have fun with that stuff, but for me those things point out the weaknesses of the books and i wanted to enjoy them for what they are, seven discrete books that tell a specific story... i don't think Rowling thought the books would be such a big thing, else she would have caught the problems, mistakes, etc. and also done a much better job of telling the tale... plenty of elements that could have been expanded or explained... a lot left to the last 200-300 pages, a LOT... OK, just too much... Dumbledore and Voldemort were hardly different in most aspects... and at least Voldemort was honest about what he wanted... Dementors were the best thing in the books... awful!!! loved them!!! OK, i could go on, but i don't have the energy or interest... surely 4-star books, but no more... i had fun reading them, they were uncomplicated, the language was simple, great pacing, believable, interesting, complex, reasonably satisfying ending/resolution... glad i read them at last but wouldn't ever read them a second time... if you got this far, you're a glutton for punishment, and for sketchy reviews. cheerio!
rubyjoness's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
billie1401's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. At times it did drag on a bit but i really felt attached to the characters. Harry’s anger throughout the book felt really real but sometimes did go on a bit too much. I am looking forward to the rest of the books as this dark turn suits the book as well. Dumbledores Army will always be one of my fave parts.
boekiemonster's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
laerkelikesreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
megggg's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0