Harry Potter is Back!
584335
I have not seen the actual play but I've read the script so my review is based on that. I must say I throughly enjoyed reading the script book and I found the story very engaging. As some reviewers said, I do think the plot is a bit flawed and not as strong as the Harry Potter books but I thought the moral message of the story was very thought provoking and important. This story is a must read for any fan of the Harry Potter books.
1925927
Reviewer: Michelle

(Elgin Illinois, U.S.)

Spoiler Alert!!

 I found Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince to be a great book.  Voldemort has come back to life, Cornelius Fudge is no longer the Head of Ministry of Magic.  A new teacher called Horace Slughorn who was Dumbladore's old friend and colleague is appointed... and instead of Defense against the Dark Arts it is Potions.  Snape gets the job of Defense against the Dark Arts.  Malfoy is working for Lord Voldemort. Harry forgets/loses his potion book so has to borrow one from the school and finds many different spells as well as ways to make potions a completely different way then what the teachers show him that gets him incredibly good grades(especially if you consider it the subject is potions).  The previous owner of the potions book was the Half Blood Prince!
1013095
Harry Potter fans will like this book, it gives back that feeling of belonging. I cant wait for the next one.
4154903
The second one gets better than the first! My favourite among the lot of four! This one has more adventures but a great logical ending too! Loved it!! New characters are introduced in this one and believe me nothing like this book! Thank you Ms. Rowling for getting the kids off the idiot box! How can people even think of banning this series?
3427333
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is about a 12 year old boy who goes to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The book starts with the Weasley's (well, Fred, George,and Ron) rescuing Harry from the Dursley's with a flying car! When Harry gets to Hogwarts he starts hearing voices in the walls. Ron said that it isn't a great sign to hear voices in the wizarding world. It seems that the dreaded Chamber of Secrets has been opened once again!
Our favorite part is when Harry saves Ginny and when the phoenix takes them back to the girls' bathroom.  Once we thought we saw a red bird that looked like a phoenix!
We would recommend this book to anyone who likes magic. we would also recommend this book to people who like cool creatures that are very creative! Bloggers #5 and #17
911182
J.K. Rowling writes beautifully. She has a way of entrancing her readers and submerging them into the wizarding world. I love Harry Potter and recently started reading this book with the 5 yr old I nanny!
1007445
Although this is my first time writing a review, I am going to try to explain how wonderful the books are.  I cannot tell which one is my favorite book, because frankly, I'm not sure myself!  They are all so great.  J.K. Rowling fills the books with enough details that I can picture the scenes going on in my head.  In fact, the characters seemed so real that in the third book, when all the characters were shouting at each other, I was worried everyone else in the building would hear!  Yes, I definitely give this five stars, and I say it isn't an evil series at all.  I am eagerly awaiting the last of the series, no matter how long they are.  I am sure though, that the movie will not be enough to keep me satisfied until the new Harry Potter book comes out.
4743814
Book two was just as exciting (actually more so) than the first, in terms of the main plot! I felt that I comprehended more even with seven or so new character involvement. All in all, I rank this a 4/5 stars.

Gah, I ought not to spoil anything, so I will do my best to steer clear. Despite the exciting plot twist, I thought it took a bit long to arrive. While I appreciated JK Rowling reviving characters from book one, I felt that some scenes were drawn out/unnecessary between Harry/his crew and said characters. In particular, Harry conversing with Nearly Headless Nick.

As I've said, I liked the action of the central plot scene better, and I loved that everything connected to  finding out who was petrifying the students. It made it feel a bit like a mystery/suspense book as well.
I must say that I was surprised by the point we learn who is the culprit! I didn't expect it, but in a way, I did. I loved meeting the Weasley family, and they truly are lovely folks! Lastly, I most admired Hermione's role in Chambers of Secrets. She stepped out of her comfort zone and *that* change was what impressed merather it was her growth in character.
903241
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is fantastic!  J.K. Rowling does not fail to keep the never-ending mysteries and adventures going since the first book.  Trouble seems to find Harry wherever he goes.  Accidentally blowing up Aunt Marge into a balloon, Harry decides to run, for the fear of how much trouble he'll be in from the Ministry of Magic.  Unknowingly, Harry flags down the Knight Bus, which takes him to Diagon Alley.  Here he learns that he is in danger.  Sirius Black, an escaped convict from Azkaban is at large and is seeking Harry to finish off Lord Voldmort's work.  Unable to attend Honeydukes without a signed permission, Harry is given the Marauder's map, which helps him escape from the school to Honeydukes in a secret tunnel.  Harry encounters Demetor's during a Quiditch match, causing Harry a great fall and his broom to be smashed to pieces.  Sneaking out one night under the invisibility cloak,  Harry,  Hermione,  and  Ron visit Hagrid.  Upon leaving Hagrid's, they are attacked by a large black dog.  The dog drags Ron away.  The fate of the characters is quite different than what readers expect!  The ending is unpredictable.
Readers who enjoy magic, mystery and adventure will love this book.  All three things and more are included.  The context is easily read and isn't hard to follow.  The story has a lot of unexpected turns. Just when you thought you knew what was happening something new is thrown in.  Once you're hooked you, won't want to put the book down.
4749467
Harry potter fans rejoice!  I love everything about this book!  So fun to see the pages come to life in color as I read.
3039291
`The Goblet of Fire' is book 4 in the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.  It is also the largest book to date in this series.  To fully appreciate this one, you simply must read the preceding three.  Book 4 takes a completely different turn from the first three, with an entirely unconventional year at Hogwarts.  In this book Harry Potter get exposed in a big way to the international world of wizardry by first attending the `Quidditch World Cup' and later becoming a part of a very exciting and secret competition between two other wizarding schools like Hogwarts.  The characters from preceding books are in full swing in this one, and as usual J.K. Rowling introduces even more colorful and exciting characters in this edition.  Additionally there is the alarming return of the frightening 'He who must not be named'.  There is nothing quite like the imagination of this author, it is simply wonderful and brilliant.  She really has an incredible gift for capturing the reader in the most unusual and exciting adventures.  This book has kind of a dark and scary ending, unlike the preceding three.  All the same, however,  it sets up the reader with screaming curiosity for the forth-coming book 5.  You will simply enjoy this one as the whole story broadens out to become a huge global adventure, and Harry Potter is the ultimate hero.  This series has a unique way of spanning the generations of readers, and anyone looking for something fun and entertaining to read should definitely dig into this series.  You will find yourself captured like none other with this imaginative and refreshing creation.  Further the illustrations by Mary Grandpre are just right throughout the book to keep you turning page after page.  The biggest problem with this book is that it leaves you ravenously wanting to read book 5, and it has not been released yet!  A remarkable story, and it has me totally captured!  You will simply love it!
4624640
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is an upbeat sequel.  It involves the Dursleys once again, who manage to find one way or another to punish Harry.  Dobby is another character who shows up with couple of odd quirks.  Gilderoy Lockhart is a new character in the series, and Colin Creevey is a  new Gryffindor who has yet to get a good shot of Harry.  Quidditch  continues with a new seeker from Slytherin and the reader discovers a  secret of Filch.  Ginny, Ron's sister, is in the new book as a first year  at Hogwarts.  Draco Malfoy shows up again (too bad he did not fail) along  with Crabbe and Goyle, and he is just as crude.  This book is well  intertwined with the first.  My teacher got it from England and she let me  borrow it.  I was done in two days.  A must read!
1026239
I am a huge Harry Potter fan to say the least.  I have read the first four books five times each and I eagerly awaited the fifth book, showing up three hours early the night it was released.  While I am still just as much of a fan as I was before, I finished the fifth book feeling a little disappointed.
First of all, I thought the book was way too long.  Admittedly, the fourth book was also lengthy, but it was action-packed with the Quidditch World Cup, the Triwizard Tournament, and the return of Voldemort.  This new book was even longer, but with the exception of the end, I can't think of any really exciting things that happened.  It dealt a lot more with the emotions that Harry was feeling rather than his adventures that have hooked so many readers.
Secondly, I thought Harry seemed very dark and angry most of the book.  I know it was necessary to let the reader in on some of the things he was feeling, but not everything.  He yelled at Ron and Hermione a lot and fought with Cho several times.  While he was acting just like any other teenager, I didn't think he was the same as in the first four books.
Unlike some people, I don't think that J.K. Rowling has lost her stuff. I think that in the sixth and seventh books, all the loose ends from this book will be tied together.  I also hope there will be a good reason a main character had to die.
Even though it has its faults, this is still a wonderful book that you won't be able to put down.  As for me, I still love Harry Potter and I will be in line early to get my sixth book
4492619
This entry in the series literally picks up at the end of the last.  The wizarding world has finally admitted what Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) and Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) have been saying for a year - Lord Voldemort is back.  And that leads everyone into a panic.  Ron (Rupert Grint), Hermione (Emma Watson), and Ginny (Bonnie Wright) are barely allowed to go back to Hogwarts by their worried parents, for example.

But back they and everyone else go.  Harry is captain of the Quidditch team this year.  Professor Snape (Alan Rickman) has started teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts, making way for Professor Slughorn (Jim Broadbent) to regain his long ago post of Potions.  And love is in the air as all our main characters seem to struggle with their feelings for the opposite sex.

Below the surface, trouble is still brewing.  Draco Malfoy (Tom Felton) has been given a secret mission by Voldemort.  And Dumbledore has some memories and a mission of his own for Harry.  Will these missions mean that good can triumph over evil?

Let's start by being honest.  Odds are if you aren't familiar with the characters, you probably won't get what's happening here.  There are just too many of them and they are introduced too quickly with little to no explanation or back story.  If you have seen the previous movies, you should be fine.  But don't even think about making this your introduction to the Harry Potter world.

The other word of warning is to not go into the movie expecting the book.  You will probably be most disappointed by that here.  Instead of giving us lots of backstory on tom Riddle/Lord Voldemort, the film focuses more on the romantic stories.  I've got to admit, I enjoyed that.  I don't think I have ever laughed so hard at a Harry Potter film.  Plus we really get the return of Quidditch, which also provided some laughs.

However, this emphasis cut down on the amount of time we could focus on the story.  And this story really sets things up for the final book (or final two movies).  I think enough of the pieces were presented that you can just watch the movies and understand what is to come.  But one plot point I thought was important did get dropped.  I guess we'll see how they proceed from here.

I found the PG rating surprising at first, but I think it works.  Even with the romance playing such a key part of the movie, it is still more innocent in tone than the previous two movies.  That's not to say that the climax isn't dark, but it also isn't long and drawn out, which really improves the pacing.  It does leave one character's actions in doubt, but it's a minor point over all.

Frankly, none of the movies have been completely faithful to the books, but this one seems the worst of the lot.  If you haven't read the books, you won't notice the difference.  And if you have, try to let that go and just enjoy what is here.
440855
It has been a while since I enjoyed a Dresden File book this much!  The last few books were so depressing, with Harry beat down so much that it seemed every "victory" was Pyrrhic.  I just didn't enjoy them.  Cold Days finally brings back the old, smart ass Harry who relies on his friends and never loses hope.  And to my delight, Thomas comes front and center again too.

At the end of Ghost Story, Harry is in the care of Demonreach and Mab after being "assassinated."  He's still the Winter Knight with a boatload of problems, and the world is about to end.  Again.  Which Thomas and Harry sarcastically say is "same old, same old."  That is perhaps the best thing about Cold Days.  Butcher returns to the trademark wiserassery and snark that makes Harry so enjoyable and relatable. I laughed out loud when Molly says to Thomas "Wait a minute.... We're his flunkies!" and Thomas snidely replies, "I'm his thug. I'm way higher than a flunky."  There was a lot of humor, especially in the dire situations.  There are also multiple plot threads, which do eventually tie into each other, but which kept the book engaging with lots of twists and turns.

Mab gives Harry his first assignment - to assassinate a member of her court (I won't reveal who) and the target stuns Harry.  This tiny beginning blossoms into an overarching plotline that will likely expand many more books, and which reintroduces an enemy that had been on the periphery. An enemy which is a danger to everyone, including all of Harry's foes and frenemies.  This plot also allowed for serious expansion on the world-building of Faerie.  Readers get a lot of detail on the hows and whys of Summer and Winter, and Mab specifically. When Harry is taken to the distant border of Faerie, the revelations there were a complete surprise and absolutely fantastic.  We even learn just what is special about Harry's island, Demonreach, and its purpose. Also very cool.  Moreover, though Harry does take some blows (physical and psychological), his victory is decisive and satisfying.  Major plots are left open for further development, but the specific missions Harry was on are fully resolved.

Overall, this was a wholly satisfying book that I could not put down.  So glad to see Dresden in top form, and I cannot wait for the next installment.
3224469
The 2nd year of Harry Potter at Hogwarts sees more adventures. The second of the Harry Potter scintillates readers with musch twist-and-turns and surprises. It is more or less a detective plot in the wizardry world. Piece by piece, Harry and his friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger probed identity of the Heir of Slytherin through traces of evidence. Who launched the spree of Muggle-born attacks? Who turned the Hogwarts students into stone? What kind of monster stands behind the Chambers of Secrets? Who kept the Very Secret Diary and how did it end up in Hogwarts? The three friends unveiled, little bit little, the mystery of the Chamber and trapped into unprecedent danger. The element of suspense makes story interesting to follow. Dobby, the impish Malfoy family house-elf, warned Harry not to go back to Hogwarts at the beginning makes it very difficult for me to put the book down! I rate this second of the series 4.5 stars. Another good read.
1747221
That is the best ways to describe the new Harry Potter Novel.  I read this book in three days, and enjoyed every minute. I laughed outloud, cheered outloud and absolutely loved this book!
The plot is fun, fast and frustrating. (If you've read it or are reading it you understand.) I think that JK Rowling has given another good look into her Wizarding world, and not disapointed us.  She allows us to see characters in a new light, and makes us feel closer and more connected to them.  JK Rowling's gave me more than I ever thought I wanted to know about characters in this novel.  She complete questions, thoughts and ideas from the past few books.  And she gives Harry a new voice...but you'll have to read it, because there is no need to spoil what you can enjoy yourself!
Even if your concerned that your children can't finsh this 870 page book, don't fret, they will! Even if it takes them all Summer Break!
Happy Reading, Muggles!