emilyhooie22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
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
4.5
This one broke my heart in the end. So many things happened and haven't yet happened with the end of six books, it's overwhelming how much one story can stir up so many emotions. I love these characters and their journeys.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
mariamj's review
challenging
dark
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
By far, the most heartbreaking book of the series...I forgot how sad this series gets until I read this book. Still a good read but not my favorite
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Death
Moderate: Blood, Violence, and Body horror
Minor: Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Vomit
briochebun's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
4 out of 5 ☆’s.
“It is the unknown we fear when we look upon death and darkness, nothing more.”
ੈ✩‧₊˚
While I appreciated getting to learn a bit more about the world and certain families in this novel, “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” was a bit of a frustrating read for me.
Dumbledore’s riddles about the Horcruxes were rather grating to read (I mean it’s not like we’re on a time crunch here or anything 🙄) and the constant repetition of the flashback scenes / meetings became monotonous to read about after awhile.
I also understand why Dumbledore was so quick to brush aside Harry’s concerns about Draco’s allegiances, but I feel as though some others (Ron + Hermione + etc.) should’ve believed him after a certain point?
I know that Harry was mistaken about the situation that occurred at the end of OOTP, but it’s not as though his theories haven’t saved everyone’s lives numerous times before?
He even began to have more concrete reasonings to support his beliefs as the story continued, and yet everyone just brushed his findings aside as though they were unfounded. :(
#JusticeForHarry.
Dumbledore’s riddles about the Horcruxes were rather grating to read (I mean it’s not like we’re on a time crunch here or anything 🙄) and the constant repetition of the flashback scenes / meetings became monotonous to read about after awhile.
I also understand why Dumbledore was so quick to brush aside Harry’s concerns about Draco’s allegiances, but I feel as though some others (Ron + Hermione + etc.) should’ve believed him after a certain point?
I know that Harry was mistaken about the situation that occurred at the end of OOTP, but it’s not as though his theories haven’t saved everyone’s lives numerous times before?
He even began to have more concrete reasonings to support his beliefs as the story continued, and yet everyone just brushed his findings aside as though they were unfounded. :(
#JusticeForHarry.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and Grief
Moderate: Murder and Bullying
a_alves00's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, and Violence
abbyport's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
abbyisabellas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Violence, and Death
sunnycollins_'s review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
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
5.0
This has been, by far, my favorite book of the series. Everything about it just felt... better; the characters, the writing, the world building, all of it.
The further I get into the series the more I find that it's not the characters that I'm drawn to, it's the world. Getting a look into is really cool and makes the world around Hogwarts feel more storied and realistic.
That being said, I did really enjoy the arcs that each of the main characters went on over the course of the book. Everyone felt a bit more mature in this book which was much appreciated after five straight books of childish arguments between the trio.
The last few chapters were
On a sillier note, Professor Slughorn is one of my favorite teachers so I'm always happy to see more of him. I think that his character does a great job of adding a bit of the, now classic, "silly wizard stuff" to this book's rather dark plot.
Overall this book was an excellent read and I can't wait to finish off the series.
The further I get into the series the more I find that it's not the characters that I'm drawn to, it's the world. Getting a look into
Spoiler
Voldemort's background + family historyThat being said, I did really enjoy the arcs that each of the main characters went on over the course of the book. Everyone felt a bit more mature in this book which was much appreciated after five straight books of childish arguments between the trio.
The last few chapters were
Spoiler
heartbreaking, especially the last chapter with Dumbledore's funeral and Harry coming to terms with the fact that he is now responsible for defeating the Dark Lord.On a sillier note, Professor Slughorn is one of my favorite teachers so I'm always happy to see more of him. I think that his character does a great job of adding a bit of the, now classic, "silly wizard stuff" to this book's rather dark plot.
Overall this book was an excellent read and I can't wait to finish off the series.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Blood
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Death of parent
Minor: Animal death, Alcohol, and Bullying
mconroy9137's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Murder, Death, Torture, Violence, War, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Alcohol, Xenophobia, Bullying, Medical content, Blood, Body horror, Racism, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, and Racial slurs
Minor: Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, and Vomit
quinn_07's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
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
4.75
A great well-rounded book that kept me hooked throughout! All the characters are lovable and it’s so fun seeing more of Harry’s personality and who he is growing up to be - sass-master Harry. The story is quite focused with most chapters furthering the plot and gradually peeling back the layers of the story and mystery within. There are themes of teen romance and class shenanigans mixed in foreshadowing of the more serious themes approaching in the final book of the series. Loved this book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Murder
therealsouls's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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? N/A
5.0
4.75 stars.
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/b7/dc/8cb7dc19bf68b80f45022f268d955e24.jpg">
<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8c/b7/dc/8cb7dc19bf68b80f45022f268d955e24.jpg">
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” by J.K. Rowling is the sixth book in the Harry Potter series.
It’s also my sixth reason for living.
“Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” takes place after Ministry chaos in the 5th book. Harry Potter is now known as “The Chosen One” (oh and he’s the Quidditch captain too!), destined to either kill or be killed by Lord Voldemort.
To assist Harry, the Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore educates Harry on Voldemort’s past to try and give him an advantage, as well as elucidate the prophecy further. As Harry develops, he encounters challenges, mysteries, pressure, betrayal, even relationship problems, if you will! In Layman’s terms, there’s a bit of everything going on at once.
To assist Harry, the Hogwarts headmaster Dumbledore educates Harry on Voldemort’s past to try and give him an advantage, as well as elucidate the prophecy further. As Harry develops, he encounters challenges, mysteries, pressure, betrayal, even relationship problems, if you will! In Layman’s terms, there’s a bit of everything going on at once.
Seriously, I couldn’t get enough of this book and it’s BY FAR my favourite one in the series so far. All the other Harry Potter books felt like snails which I had to try and follow without angrily walking faster. THIS is the pacing I wanted to see in ALL of the Harry Potter books; it kept me occupied with events, as well as twists and turns dispersed throughout. This is also how you engineer an entertaining rollercoaster, by the way; so make sure to wear your seatbelt!
Unlike all the others, the Half-Blood Prince introduces new concepts that make it distinctive from the other novels. You can find betrayal, romance, and the ability to LOATHE the villains like you never did before. Personally, I think this made the plot much more interesting. There's almost always more than one conflict going on at once!
If you were bored by the Order of the Phoenix, which I certainly was, please continue with the Half-Blood Prince. It’s a ride engineered of the utmost mastery, with rises, falls, twists, and turns scattered throughout, and it’s worth hopping on. You won’t regret it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Death