Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter, #6)

"Don't you see? Voldemort himself created his worst enemy, just as tyrants everywhere do! Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be the one who rises against them and strikes back!"

[Click here to see my reviews of book 1: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, book 2: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, book 3: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, book 4: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, & book 5: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.]

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the sixth book in J.K. Rowling's fantastically written Harry Potter series, has indeed followed its predecessors in stunning its readership with carefully thought-out plot twists, shocking revelations, and emotional heights and depths. It is a lovely addition to a series of which I can only speak well.

Beginning in the summer before Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts, The Half -Blood Prince opens not with Harry, but with Britain's prime minister. This is Rowling's first deviation from seeing things from Harry's general point of view and it is executed wonderfully. We see the Prime Minister in his dealings with the Minister of Magic and how those proceedings are affected upon the return of "He Who Must Not Be Named."

When we see Harry once more, we find him awaiting the arrival of Professor Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts, who has promised to retrieve Harry from the Dursley's house (home of his horrid aunt, uncle, and cousin) and take him to the Burrow (home to the Weasley's and Harry's second favorite place in the world; the first being Hogwarts itself).

But things are rapidly changing for Harry and his friends. Not only is there another new teacher at Hogwarts, but now there is a wedding to look forward to. Love is in the air, it seems, even in this hard time, and Harry is not the only one who seems to be feeling it.

There's more to worry about, though. Malfoy's up to something and Harry is diligent as ever to keep his eye out for his whatever his rival is planning. More importantly, Voldemort is continuing to amass his army. Harry believes the two are linked and he's convinced that he must figure out how before things get much worse.

All in all, J.K. Rowling has pumped out another fine work of fiction that has the reader flying through the pages, begging for more. It's hard to believe one person can possess such talent in the art of storytelling. I can hardly grasp it.

Now, you must forgive me. I simply have to get my hands on the conclusion and am off to do so immediately!

Rating: ★★★★★

[Click here for my review of book 7: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows]

"It was important, Dumbledore said, to fight, and fight again, and keep fighting, for only then could evil be kept at bay, though never quite eradicated ..."