Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince by J. K. Rowling (2005, Hardcover)

This much anticipated and long awaited book is the sixth in J.K. Rowling's series which have captured the imagination of children and adults alike across the globe. It's definitely worth the wait and is as engrossing as the five previous books in the series!

Now I'm not -- and my kids aren't ... yet perhaps ... -- like many of those other Harry Potter fans who dressed up and waited all night in front of some bookstore to buy this new installation. Rather, we bought it on eBay for 50% off and got it nearly as fast without the drama. Nonetheless, we've been drawn into the series in much the same way. I have a nine year old who has been listening to me read the books for the past few years and is just starting to read this latest edition on his own (although he has trouble with some sections, so it's probably still a bit ahead of his level). Rowling again delivers a lot of action, mystery, intrigue, and plenty of creativity to keep you turning quickly through the 675 or so pages.

"Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince" is packed with twists and turns. It's definitely a good bit darker than the previous editions as it follows our favorite trio Harry, Ron and Hermione into their sixth year at Hogwarts Academy of Wizarding and witchcraft. While I don't want to give away any of the secrets, here's a quick synopsis. At age 16, our heroes have clearly entered adolesence where petulance and crushes abound. They have just finished their O.W.L.s (a smart play on the English O-Level exams which are sort of like pre-SATs in the US) and in addition to various romances are consumed with what careers they want to pursue upon finishing school. All the while, the wizarding world is in turmoil over the war with Voldemort and his Death Eaters. The central villain, who is also known as the DarkLord or "He who must not be named," is unquestionably alive again and is terrorizing both the wizarding and muggel/non-wizarding worlds. And Harry has gone from misunderstood and maligned teenager to the yound adult who may have been prophesized to bring balance.

There are also many of other villains inluding Harry's nemesis at Hogwarts, Draco Malfoy and his crew of bullies in Slytherin. In addition, Belatrix Lestrange and professor Snape (now a Death Eater again). And, there are also some new characters including new Defense Against the Dark Arts and Potions teachers. In addition to many other twists and turns, one of the central characters dies in the end which is as surprising as it is sad. And at least so far in the series, this isn't one of those "supposed" deaths like Dumbeldore's "disasppearance" or Ron's Boggert-inspired imaginary death in previous editions.

The only drawback I can think of is that you might have to read the first five books before reading this sixth edition to fully get it. And what better way to get ready for the film version of Harry Potter four, "The Goblet of Fire" which will be in theaters in November than to read this final edition. It's a great read from start to finish and will be enjoyed by all.

Admittedly, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince was going to end up on my bookshelf whether it was a real stinker or the best book in the series. J K Rowling has lived up to every bit of the hype with each continuation of the Harry Potter series though. TAKE NOTE: And if you haven't read the books, be aware many spoilers are in this review!!!!
An amazingly, gifted writer with number four (HP and the Goblet of Fire and my favorite), she took Harry, a young protagonist and pampered prince of the wizard world to full blown hero with anti-hero qualities such as a tendency towards broodiness and egocentric qualities that his closest friends have come to tolerate in him. In five, these egocentric qualities leave him desolate and without one of his dearest confidantes, but in six... well in six it leaves him a man.
In the sixth installment of Harry Potter, Harry cannot get away with the tantrums and broodiness he exhibited in the fifth book. His torture in five at the Hands of Ministry Politician has left him bitter but more wise and less prone to complain (which is good I might add). He did too much whining in the last two books for my liking. Dumbledore is desperate to transform Harry from typical wizard student into the megahero wizard he needs to be in record time. Throughout the sixth book, Dumbledore's urgency to teach Harry and regret at having left Harry to his own devices for so long come out in what he says and how he instructs Harry. After reading the book, I know why he seemed that way. But as you read it, you can feel Harry's reluctance and surprise to take on the role Dumbledore is trying to force him into without much preparation.
In the end, this book left me breathless and full of heartache. As an advid fan who has read and re-read all of the books many times, this book hurts the most to read. All the pain, struggles and death Harry has faced, he has always been surrounded by an awareness that there was a positive future for him. This book offers no such hope at its end. He is without any champion and all that he took as truth is uprooted. As a reader, I felt all of that with him.
If you are a fan, this book is the heart of the struggle that will continue in seven. You cannot go without reading this book. Despite its heartwrenching qualities, it has the details and experiences that explain nearly everything that has happened in the first four books. Voldemort's nature and familial mess is explained and his bitterness to his father is justified. However, the depths of evil he contains finally is revealed in this book.
Harry must be the hero for the world. Can he take up that mantle that Dumbledore has placed upon him? Or more importantly, that Voldemort has placed upon him. You will know, once you have read this book!

After grueling midnight experience at the local bookstore I have added the sixth Harry Potter book to my collection! JK Rowling once again proved her creativity by adding another truly engrossing book to the series.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is as suspenseful, gripping and imaginative as the previous volumes. I honestly think it appeals to all ages. I am 74. (If not for the lack of waist-length silver hair and beard, one might confuse me with Albus Dumbledore himself...) Although my interest in Harry Potter was spurred a few years ago by my teenaged grandchildren, we are now all lining up together in the bookstores to get each new addition to the series.

Harry is sixteen now and it is only one year left before he comes of age and the protection of Dursleys home will cease. This hints at new kind of troubles for Harry in the next book of the series... In the meantime he is taken from Dursley's to engage in the usual medley of dangerous and some very emotional events. At the threshold of his adulthood Harry has gone through a considerable character development and is making more mature and independent decisions. It is difficult to say more about the book without revealing the story line and spoiling the fun of reading for any "Muggle" that has not yet read it... Suffice to say that the battles with the evil continue and reach their culmination by the end of the book.

On the negative side, I found Half-Blood Prince at times too long and lacking the glint of some of the earlier books of the series. This makes me wonder how many more volumes is the author able to create without getting into mediocrity...

As my younger grandchildren grow I continue looking for new, interesting children books. A recent new discovery for me was "Why Some Cats are Rascals" by yet another master of fantasy, Boszenna Nowiki. It is a completely different kind of fiction, showing the world from cat's perspective. Nowiki's writing style is as engrossing as the one of JK Rowling. The story evokes child's imagination, and it's loaded with positive energy that bears some traces of influence by writings of David R. Hawkins, the author of "Power vs. Force."

I'm one of those who couldn't wait until the morning to get hold of this book. I literally battled rain and cold weather with my sister to get our copies at 12.15 am, July 16, in a local bookstore. According to my dad, I'm slightly nuts for doing that :)

In my opinion, though, this book was well-worth the extra effort. After picking it up, I returned to my house and started to read it. I just finished it, and I can sincerely say that it is simply outstandingly good. Yes, the other books were awesome too, specially the 4th and the 5th, but I think that Harry's world is becoming more defined with each book, and that makes for a thoroughly engaging reading experience.

What is new in this book? Well, after having to come to face with the fact that Lord Voldemort is alive, the wizard community is in an uproar, and quite frightened. Cornelius Fudge has been sacked as Minister of Magic, and an Auror has been named in that position. Harry, Ron and Hermione get their O.W.Ls (Ordinary Wizardry Levels), and have to decide what courses to take for their N.E.W.Ts (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), something that will define their future careers. Plots abound, and danger is omnipresent throughout the book. There is a new teacher of Defense against the Dark Arts, and also an eccentric new Potions' teacher. Of course, there is much more, including a death that I bet will make you cry, and that hurts Harry enormously. I won't tell you who dies, only that the event involves the Half-Blood Prince, and that I think it was a sacrifice rather than a murder.

But what's the point of telling you all this if you can read the book, and enjoy it as much as I did? Suffice it to say that this is a worthy addition to the Harry Potter series. There is adventure, some romance, and many more elements that add up to make the kind of book that you simply must read. And now, after staying up all night in order to read this book, I really need to catch up on my sleep. If you haven't guessed my opinion on "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" yet, I'll say that I highly recommend it. Run to get your copy, if you don't already have one, and share the magic :)

In her 6th book, the school of Hogwarts and past friendships begin to disappear as so much background noise as Harry starts to come to terms of what must be done to defeat Voldemort. Professor Dumbledore himself guides Harry in this new education.

Voldemort's artificial immortality was created by putting parts of his soul into powerful artifacts called horcruxes. As long as one remains, Voldemort can not truly die. Harry destroyed one, Tom Riddle's diary, in the 2nd book. Sharp readers will quickly guess that Dumbledore destroyed another one before the story begins.

The suspense builds up nicely as Harry is invited to go with Dumbledore to find and destroy a 3rd, but someone beat them to it and a fake has been left in its place. Greatly weakened by the ordeal, Dumbledore is rendered helpless by Draco Malfoy, who has been charged by Voldemort to kill the headmaster. Draco can't bring himself to do it, but Professor Snape does.

While it is not normal for me to tell how the book ends in my reviews, I am making an exception here because the ending is the most fascinating part of the series as a whole. The greatest appeal is how it leads into the 7th book.

The biggest question of all was the motives of Professor Snape. Dumbledore was obviously dying as the result of destroying the 2nd horcrux. Was it a mercy killing? Looking back in past books does not seem to help. We constantly find Snape in questionable circumstances but he always has an excuse for his motives. Ironically, the death eaters in the first chapter must likewise decide for themselves just how much circumstantial evidence and excuses are proof of his evilness.

The other great mystery to come from the book were the horcruxes, of which there are 7. 1 was the journal and the Riddle family ring was another. It seems obvious that artifacts from each house (except Griffendor) are being used (3 more) and that Naja, Voldemort's serpent, is the 6th. So what is the 7th? Since Voldemort has a similar connection with Harry as he does Naja, could it be that he might be the 7th? If he is, then does he have to die to destroy Voldemort?

Despite having so many important questions left unanswered at the end, this book does not suffer from the "middle book funk". The mega story has built to a major turning point but the mini-story has a definite end with successes for the protagonists. The most obvious is that Harry now knows what must be done and how big the task is. Less obvious is Harry's rite of manhood. I've mentioned in other reviews that Harry has matured past his age. Despite being capable (and indeed, usually operating) on his own, Harry still used adults as a safety net. At the end of this book he cuts this final tie of childhood and declares he will hunt down and face Voldemort alone.

In conclusion, JK Rowling has done more than just wrote a great novel. She has brought all the mysteries together and leaves us satisfied that Harry can finish the job he is given. The loss of Dumbledore and the apparent betrayal of Snape were high prices to pay, but they were necessary for Harry to grow into the man he was prophesized to become.

John Holland-author of Necklace of Terrersylvanous