Bright Ruin

*****

5/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me this book to review.

Bright Ruin is the really good final book of the Dark Gifts trilogy. It has lots of twists and I would not have expected half of the things that happened in this series when I started reading Gilded Cage. This book has politics, action and a small amount of romance. One thing I have always liked about this series is that the POVs are not only from the non-skilled people but also from the equals, even those who believe that slavery should not abolished. This shows how layered and complex the characters are.

Abi is hardened and emotionally scarred by the events of the last book which has left her with tough decisions to make. I loved the banter between Luke and Silyen which added so much in this book. Luke is still all heart and wants to help and protect people, while Silyen is amoral and enigmatic but we get to see his humour and flirty side.

I liked that the ending was not too neat and that some people did not get the fate that they deserve. While I liked the ending, there was so much more left to discover that I hope we get more books from this world, especially following a couple of characters whose story I don’t feel has finished.  I would recommend Bright Ruin to fans of the first two books of this series Gilded Cage and Tarnished City.

Lord of Shadows

*****

5/5

Lord of Shadows is the brilliant sequel to Lady Midnight as it really does not suffer from the problems middle books often do. It is well written, has a fast paced plot, lots of action and full of romance. In this novel, we have gotten to know many of the secondary characters better especially Kit, the twins, and Diana and I feel that all of the characters have developed significantly in this book. The one little problem I had with this book was where was Cameron? I got the impression from the first book he lived nearby and I could not understand why we did not see him in this book.

Emma made a few mistakes in this book but they were all made with the best intentions but she is still loyal and determined. Julian is very protective of his family but we got to see his darker side in this book as his is more cunning and calculating and we can see his jealousy with Emma and Mark’s relationship. There was an awful lot of romance in this book, including lots of love triangles but my favourite had to be Kit, Ty and Livvy as I grew to love them and their relationships with each other.

This book ends on a massive cliffhanger and I cannot wait to read the final book in the Dark Artifices series Queen of Air and Darkness. I would recommend Lord of Shadows to fans of Lady Midnight and this series to those who enjoyed Clare’s other Shadowhunter books. 

Lady Midnight

*****

5/5

Cassandra Clare is back on top form with Lady Midnight after the disappointing last 3 Mortal Instruments and Clockwork Princess, as I loved this book and it is the best one she has written so far. This book is full of action and mystery with fantastic characters and a heartbreaking romance. I was not expecting the villain to be who they were but thinking back it was obvious and I love when authors are able to do this.

Julian has been unable to have a childhood as he has had to give up everything to be a parent to his siblings, this means that he has grown up being cunning and ruthless when it comes to protecting his family but also that he is responsible, mature, and caring. Emma did not interest me as much as Julian as she felt similar to other characters in the Shadowhunter world, as she is daring, reckless, determined and tough. The rest of the Blackthorn family are interesting and engaging characters who are unique and have their own voices and personalities.

I am a little worried that there may be a love triangle with Julian, Emma and Mark in the next book Lord of Shadows and I really hope this doesn’t happen as I am getting bored of them in Clare’s work and I really like the forbidden love angle of Julian and Emma’s romance. I would recommend Lady Midnight to fans of Cassandra Clare’s other books. 

Last Stand

*****

5 Stars/5

Thanks to Rachel E Carter for giving me this book to review.

Last Stand is the brilliant final book in The Black Mage series. It is fast paced and keeps you on the edge of your seat with all the twists and turns. This story is an emotional rollercoaster and is the darkest story of the series with some very dark points.

Ryiah is determined to stop Blayne even though it will cost her everything, and she is a good character who is selfless even though she doesn’t see it herself. This is the first book where I truly understand Darren (probably because I have read Non-Heir) and I really liked his character, especially in the first third of the book, as he is so understanding and caring despite him being under so much stress. I felt very sorry for both Ryiah and Darren as they are both caught in situations they cannot escape no matter how much they want to.

I love this book and this series, and I cannot wait to read Rachel’s next book. I really recommend Last Stand and The Black Mage to anyone as they are excellent Fantasy books. 

Fairy Queens: Books 5-7

*****

5 Stars/5

OF SAND AND STORM

Of Sand and Storm is the very good 3^rd novella in the Fairy Queens series and like the others it is fast paced, well written and has good world building. However this is the darkest of the books as it deals with difficult issues such as slavery and sex trafficking. I would suggest you don’t read this story until you have read the previous books otherwise it could be confusing. One thing which lets this story down is that it had insta-love which I am not a fan of, and I got the impression from Winter’s Heir that Cinder would not have a love interest.

Cinder is determined, protective and like all of Amber’s protagonists she has strong inner strength. However, she is the most damaged of the heroines with a coping mechanism in numbers, and not surprisingly Cinder is not very trusting. The love interest, Darsam, pretends to be flippant and cocky but is actually selfless, kind and gentle. Ash and Storm would do anything to protect Cinder and want her to have a better life than they did.

I love this series and I am looking forward to reading what Amber writes next. I would highly recommend the Fairy Queens series to fans of YA fantasy novels, especially to those who like Maria V Snyder and Trudi Canavan’s books.

DAUGHTER OF WINTER

All Elice has ever known is the never-ending isolation of the Winter Queendom. She has no company apart from her immediate family, including her mother, the Winter Queen, and the animals that she heals, but all that changes when a ship crashes and she rescues the lone survivor, Adar. Elice wants the freedom to see the rest of the world but when she discovers that the world is in more turmoil than she ever knew, will she be able to escape her mother?

Daughter of Winter is the brilliant and magnificent third book of the Fairy Queens series. It is very addictive and it pulled me into the story. Also, it has some action and a hinted at romance. Unlike the other books in this series the POV is from both Elice and Adar rather than just the heroine. One tiny problem with this book is that I was confused about the timeline and how people are the ages they were.

Elice is resilient, creative and innocent because she has been sheltered all of her life. She also reminded me a bit of Senna from Amber’s Witch Song series. Adar is cocky, talkative and easy-going but also protective and a bit mysterious. I was sad to see how different Ilyenna is and how cold and distant she has become.

I love this series and I am really looking forward to reading the fourth and final book in the series Winter’s Heir. I would recommend Daughter of Winter to fans those who have read the Fairy Queens series and to those who are fans of YA fantasy books.

WINTER’S HEIR

Winter’s Heir is a fantastic end to one of my favourite series and it ties up all of the loose ends and unanswered questions nicely.  Like with all of Amber’s books it has very good world building and is a fast paced page turner. This book had more romance than Daughter of Winter, and it had a kind of Romeo and Juliet vibe to it.  One thing I love about this series is that the characters are relatable and never give up.

At the first half of the book Elice is less sure of herself and is still very naïve but this lessens as the story continues. She is sweet natured,  gentle, empathetic and has an inner strength, like all of Amber’s Heroines, and is determined to gain her independence and freedom. Adar is more serious in this book as he faces very difficult choices and is conflicted about what he should do. However, there is still some of the charming tease there and I felt we got to understand more about him and his life than in the last book. There are lots of returning characters from the previous books, which was interesting to see how they have changed, but also there were some new characters, my favourite being Cinder, and I am looking forward to learning more about her in the last novella.

This book is a brilliant conclusion to the main story of the Fairy Queens series and I am really looking forward to reading the last novella Of Sand and Storm when it comes out. This book hints at future books set in the distant future in this universe which I cannot wait to read. I would recommend Winter’s Heir to fans of the Fairy Queens series, and this series I cannot recommend highly enough to fans of YA fantasy books. 

Fairy Queens: Books 1-4

****

5 Stars/5

OF ICE AND SNOW

Otec has always been the overlooked son of an overflowing house. When a young woman, Matka, one of the highmen staying in his village, wants to look for a plant, he is happy to help. When he is away, his home is attacked he must find a way to save his family but can he trust Matka as he is not sure if she is friend or foe. Is Otec willing to become the leader he never thought he would be.

I really enjoyed Of Ice and Snow, the prequel novella to Winter Queen as it tells us of how Ilyenna’s parents met. It is fast paced and full of action and Amber wrote from a male POV well.

I really liked Otec as he feels like he is the useless son who is not good enough, but he is brave, kind and very protective of his family. I liked Matka as she is willing to help people she doesn’t really know but I would have liked some chapters from her POV as it would have helped getting to know her better.

I really liked this prequel novella and I hope to read the rest of Daring Hearts soon. I would recommend Of Ice and Snow to fans of Winter Queen or any of Amber Argyle’s other books.

WINTER QUEEN

After the Shyle and there ally clan Argon are attacked by another clan the Tyron, 17 year old Ilyenna is mortally wounded by the Tyron’s Clan Chief’s son Darrien, but she is healed by the winter fairies and is offered the ability to become the Winter Queen. Unwilling to leave her family she declines this offer only to sacrifice herself as an Tiam, practically a slave, to Darrien to save her clan, along with other women of her and Argon clan and the some of the Argon men, including her brother’s best friend Rone.  While in captivity Darrien tries everything to break her mind, body and soul, however she discovers that the attack was part of a bigger plan to overthrow all the clans. Now Ilyenna has to decide if she is willing to sacrifice her humanity and warmth to become Winter Queen to save her people and those she loves.

Winter Queen is an incredible and magical YA fantasy book which I love by Amber Argyle. Even though this is darker and more grown up than the Witch Song series, it still has all the elements I love in a fantasy book, romance, adventure, magic and a strong heroine.

I really like Ilyenna as she is loyal to her people and no matter what happens to her, she is strong, kind and selfless. All the other characters are well written, even the bad guys, and there are so many characters that I have enjoyed getting to know.  I really like the romance in this book as it is mature but at the same time sweet and tender.

Even through the story did not go the way I thought it would when I read the blurb, it is more unique than I could have imagined especially the fairies as they play a very important part in this book but it is in a subtle way. I like the depth of this book and how the magic worked as the idea of the Balance is such a simple idea but is also very clever and complex.

I am not sure if the next book Summer Queen is a continuation of Ilyenna story or someone else’s from this world, but either way, I cannot wait to see what Argyle will do next and I hope it is released as soon as possible. I would recommend Winter Queen to everyone, but especially to people who like YA fantasy novels such as books by Maria V Snyder or Trudi Canavan.

OF FIRE AND ASH

For all of Nelay life she has seen fairies but her mother has told her that she must not let the fairies know she can see them or Nelay will pay a high price. However, when her father is bitten by a snake, Nelay’s only choice to save him is to turn to the fairies, but they require in that one day she must repay the favour. As all deals with the fairies come with a price, will this change Nelay’s life forever?

Of Fire and Ash is a very good YA fantasy novella, with an interesting look at the back story for Summer Queen. Although it is not a long book, it is enjoyable and a well-rounded story.

I liked Nelay as she was a nice and resistant little girl who was really caring. I did not like her brother, Panar as he was horrible and really jealous, and I think he is going to play a key role in Summer Queen. While I liked Nelay’s parents as they really cared about their children, I don’t believe that they didn’t see how Panar treated Nelay.

I am really looking forward to reading Summer Queen after this, and I would recommend Of Fire and Ash to fans of Amber Argyle, especially those who enjoyed the Fairy Queens series.

SUMMER QUEEN

Nelay never wanted to be queen, she wanted to become the most powerful priestess in Idara, but with an army sweeping towards her family she is willing to risk everything and to manipulate the king to get aid. She sets off on a journey across Idara with a band of tribesmen smugglers, led by the charming Rycus, in the hopes of getting to her parents on time. However, there are bigger powers at play and a deal made years ago will change Nelay’s fate forever. With a war waged between mortals, fairies and goddesses, will Nelay be able to stop Idara being turn to ash.

Summer Queen is the brilliant sequel to Winter Queen as there was action, adventure, romance and magic. There was never a dull moment in the book and I did not want to put it down, but I also never got overwhelmed with too much info either. While you don’t need to read Winter Queen to enjoy this book, I would recommend it as it is adds to the story, I would also recommend reading the prequel short story to this Of Fire and Ash as it gives a good insight into Nelay and her past.

I really loved Nelay’s character as she was brave, determined and willing do anything for those she cares about, even if they don’t deserve it. I also liked that she was intelligent and was never timid, while her character grew in this book she always knew she was capable. I also really liked Rycus as he was protective and balanced Nelay really well, plus I do have a soft spot for storytellers. Another character I liked was Nelay’s best friend Jezzel but I did wish she was in this book more than she was.

This is an amazing book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the Fairy Queens series, Daughter of Winter. I would recommend Summer Queen to fans of the First Book Winter Queen and the Fairy Queens series, plus Ambers other books, to all fans of YA fantasy novels.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

*****

5 Stars/5

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is the fantastic 8^th story in the Harry Potter universe, and I have not felt this nostalgic and sentimental about a book since I finished reading The Deathly Hallows. This story has the same atmosphere as the books and I loved being back in this magical world again. It is a very quick and easy, with an engrossing plot, twists and turn and lots of familiar faces. Like the books, it focuses on friendship and love but also looks at the impact and outcomes from the decisions from the original 7 books.

I had to get used to reading a script layout instead of a normal book format which I did but because it is not a standard book I missed the emotional depth we see in characters in novels. One criticism is that it has a fanfic vibe to it, with all the old favourites back, and one thing in particular I felt was there to power the story and to make fans happy rather than it making sense in the original books (will talk more about this later).

I struggled to get on with Albus in the beginning as he came across selfish and with too much angst but he did grow on me. He feels he is disappointment as he cannot live up to his father and is an outsider. While the story points out often the Harry and Albus are different I felt their personality and beliefs are very similar, which is probable why they clash and quarrel often. My favourite character in this story is Scorpius as he is an outsider and geeky (and proud). He is the sensible best friend who is a follower not a leader, and is also kind and lonely.

Harry is stressed as an adult as he has to deal with being thought of as legendary and his traumatic childhood which has still left some big emotional scars. I also think fans will like and understand his struggles with being a good parent and feeling like he is doing everything wrong. Hermione has become more confident and determined as an adult and has a lot of responsibilities resting on her shoulders but is still the same character we know and love. However, I was very disappointed with how Ron was portrayed in this story. This is because instead of having the complex and overlooked Ron from the books we have the Ron from the films whose only role is to be the joker of the group.

Spoilers!!!!

The main thing which made no sense to me in this story was Delphi’s parents for two reasons. Firstly I got the impression from the book that as Voldemort became less human he lost interest in having sex and generally he saw people were pawns just used to get him more power, so him fathering a daughter near the end of his life did not ring true to me. Secondly, whilst Bellatrix adored Voldemort and would have very happily slept with him, how come no one knew she was pregnant or had had a child including her nephew Draco?

Spoilers End

That being said I love this book as it adds to the story of Harry Potter without copying it, and I am desperate to watch the play soon, to see this story in the format it is meant to be seen. I will always want more books set in this world and while J K Rowling says this is the end for Harry, I would love more books set either in the past or future. I would recommend Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to everyone who loves Harry Potter and wants to find out what happens next. 

Winter's Heir

*****

5 Stars/5

Thanks to Amber Argyle for giving this book to review.

Winter’s Heir is a fantastic end to one of my favourite series and it ties up all of the loose ends and unanswered questions nicely.  Like with all of Amber’s books it has very good world building and is a fast paced page turner. This book had more romance than Daughter of Winter, and it had a kind of Romeo and Juliet vibe to it.  One thing I love about this series is that the characters are relatable and never give up.

At the first half of the book Elice is less sure of herself and is still very naïve but this lessens as the story continues. She is sweet natured,  gentle, empathetic and has an inner strength, like all of Amber’s Heroines, and is determined to gain her independence and freedom. Adar is more serious in this book as he faces very difficult choices and is conflicted about what he should do. However, there is still some of the charming tease there and I felt we got to understand more about him and his life than in the last book. There are lots of returning characters from the previous books, which was interesting to see how they have changed, but also there were some new characters, my favourite being Cinder, and I am looking forward to learning more about her in the last novella.

This book is a brilliant conclusion to the main story of the Fairy Queens series and I am really looking forward to reading the last novella Of Sand and Storm when it comes out. This book hints at future books set in the distant future in this universe which I cannot wait to read. I would recommend Winter’s Heir to fans of the Fairy Queens series, and this series I cannot recommend highly enough to fans of YA fantasy books. 

Daughter of Winter

*****

5 Stars/5

Thanks to Amber Argyle for giving this book to review.

All Elice has ever known is the never-ending isolation of the Winter Queendom. She has no company apart from her immediate family, including her mother, the Winter Queen, and the animals that she heals, but all that changes when a ship crashes and she rescues the lone survivor, Adar. Elice wants the freedom to see the rest of the world but when she discovers that the world is in more turmoil than she ever knew, will she be able to escape her mother?

Daughter of Winter is the brilliant and magnificent third book of the Fairy Queens series. It is very addictive and it pulled me into the story. Also, it has some action and a hinted at romance. Unlike the other books in this series the POV is from both Elice and Adar rather than just the heroine. One tiny problem with this book is that I was confused about the timeline and how people are the ages they were.

Elice is resilient, creative and innocent because she has been sheltered all of her life. She also reminded me a bit of Senna from Amber’s Witch Song series. Adar is cocky, talkative and easy-going but also protective and a bit mysterious. I was sad to see how different Ilyenna is and how cold and distant she has become.

I love this series and I am really looking forward to reading the fourth and final book in the series Winter’s Heir. I would recommend Daughter of Winter to fans those who have read the Fairy Queens series and to those who are fans of YA fantasy books. 

Night Study

*****

5 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin (UK) Limited for giving me this book to review.

Since losing her Soulfinding abilities Yelena has never been more vulnerable and now, nowhere is safe, especially with the growing discord between Ixia and Sitia. Valek is determined to protect Yelena but finds his loyalties conflicted as the Commander is acting usually stern and is keeping things form Valek. As Valek and Yelena try and find out more about what is happening they discover a plan that is far more sinister than they could have imagined.

Night Study is the brilliant 2^nd/5^th book in this series as it is just as good, and better than some of the Study Novels and does not suffer from middle book syndrome. It has romance a complex story and many twists which I did not see coming. The POV was from Yelena, Valek, Janco and Leif, which I felt helped tell the story and what was happening. Every chapter ended on a cliff-hanger which made it hard to put down and very fast paced.

Yelena is struggling without her magic and with so many unknowns in her life, but like in all of the books I admire her loyalty and inner strength but I do wish in one book she wouldn’t be the target. Valek is struggling with his loyalties and learning more about himself and who he wants to be, and unlike Shadow Study I preferred his POV as we got to see how he handled many changes and surprises in his life.

While Yelena and Valek were together more in this book than most of the others I wish they did not always separate as they work really well together and are such a brilliant couple. I also liked Leif’s chapters and getting to know how his mind worked but, like other reviewers have mentioned, this chapters did make me hungry with all his descriptions of food.

Fans of the Study series will not be disappointed as it is one of Maria’s strongest books to date. I am really looking forward to reading Dawn Study as I can’t wait to see how this series ends (please be nice Maria V Snyder). I would recommend Night Study to fans of Maria V Snyder’s books, especially those set in the Ixia/Sitia universe.

The Shepherd's Crown

*****

5 Stars/5

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House UK Children’s for giving me this book to review.

WARNING – Spoilers in this review from the very beginning

In The Sheperd’s Crown, we say goodbye to both a much beloved character, Granny Weatherwax and to Sir Terry Pratchett himself. At the beginning of this book, Granny Weatherwax dies, and leaves her cottage and her responsibilities to Tiffany Aching, along with the headache of dealing with a boy with magical talents who wishes to be a witch not a wizard. When the Elves learn that Granny is no longer protecting the Dancers, will Tiffany be able to keep them out of Lancre and the Disc, whilst proving that she is able to fill Granny’s shoes?

Tiffany Aching continues as her intensely practical (and possibly slightly irritating) self, although in this book she realises that she can’t do everything herself, and she needs to ask for help sometimes. Geoffrey is an interesting character, in Sourcery, we had a girl, Esk, want to be a wizard, and now we have a boy wanting to become a witch. Also, Geoffrey’s idea with the sheds made me smile.

I believe that Sir Terry wrote Sheperd’s Crown knowing that it would be his last, and has allowed us to return to the characters and locations which were fan favourite’s. He has written with his usual humour and wit, although he maybe didn’t have time to add the final polishing touches. He has tied up several loose ends in Lancre and the Chalk.

Thank you, Sir Terry for 32 years of brilliant Discworld novels. R.I.P

Angel of Storms

*****

5 Stars/5

After spending five years living in her new home, Rielle meets the Angel Valhan again and he offers her a chance to live on the home world of the Angels as an artist. When one of his allies abandons her on an empty world, she almost dies but is rescued by the Travellers, people who trade from world to world, and Rielle starts to make a new life for herself. 5 years after leaving his world Tyen is a teacher at an academy for magic, however, he is forced to leave when the Raen, ruler of all the worlds, has come back and has outlawed the teaching of magic. While travelling between worlds trying to find the long searched for answers to restore Vella he meets the Raen and to save his live he makes a deal, Tyen will spy on the rebels and in return the Raen will try and restore Vella to her human form. Are the Angel Valhan and the Raen the same person and if so what is his plans?

Angel of Storms is the brilliant second book in the unique Millennium’s Rule series. This book has really good world building, storytelling and I love the magic and the ability to travel between worlds. The first half of the book was slower than I was expecting but it did pick up in the second half.

Rielle is quiet and creative, and is still naïve and wants to please people, but this books shows that she has learnt to make her own decisions and discovers who she is. Tyen is idealistic, likes to discover more knowledge and is clever, he is not a violent person, hates betraying people and wants to protect others. However, unlike most of Canavan’s books I felt the secondary characters were lacking as part from the Raen and Baluka I didn’t really feel like I got to know anyone or care about them. Also I did not feel that Vella was as bigger part of this book as the first one and I missed her a bit.

I am glad that Tyen and Rielle story seem to have more influence on each other’s life’s than the previous book. I cannot wait to read the third and final book in this series Successor’s Son. I would recommend Angel of Storms to fans of the first book in the Millennium’s Rule series Thief’s Magic

Winter

*****

5 Stars/5

Princess Winter is adored by the Lunar people for her kindness and her beauty, despite her scars, but this makes her stepmother Queen Levana hate her. Cinder, along with her allies, have “kidnapped” Emperor Kai from his wedding with Levana, so that they can slip into Luna, rescue Scarlet, gain the support of the people and overthrow Levana. However, when the group is separated, hope looks lost and it seems they will be unable to prevent Levana becoming empress and taking earth for herself. Are Cinder, Scarlet, Cress and Winter able to stop Levana and find their happily ever after?

Winter is the Brilliant fourth and final book in the Lunar Chronicles and I love this series ability of giving each book their fairytale elements and in such a unique way. It is very faced paced as I read it in just over a day and considering this book is over 800 pages long, that is good for me, and it never became dull of boring at any time in the story. Meyer is amazing at giving each character equal amount of book time and none were pushed to the side-lines. In Winter there is lots of romance, action, humour and revolution.

Cinder is just as resourceful, determined and sarcastic as she is in previous books. However, now she is on Luna the more she feels the responsibility and knows what will happen if she fails. Scarlet and Wolf have the hardest journey in this series but they have such a strong bond, and Scarlett is just as stubborn, gusty and no nonsense as she has ever been. Cress is sweet and innocent still and the character I related to the most, although I wish I had her tech skills, but I think she is braver in this book and makes sacrifices for the best of the group. I liked Winter as she is kind and selfless, but because we the readers are only just getting to know her, I found it harder to be interested in her part of the story. I love Iko, but I am a bit disappointed that she didn’t find her “prince”, even though I felt it was a bit hinted at, and I hope there will be a short story which finishes her happily ever after.

Kai impressed me in this book as he is left out of the loop for quite a bit of the story but still plays his part and never doubts Cinder, and will do anything for his country and I like that he is intelligent, capable and just a little bit awkward. I feel very sorry for Wolf in Winter and he has changed the most as a character and has had the hardest time, but you never doubt his devotion and loyalty to Scarlet. Captain Thorne has got to be one of my favourite characters with his witty banter, cockiness and charm, and I think in this book he becomes the hero Cress believes he is. I found it harder to connect to Jacin than the other men, probably for the same reason as Winter, but he is sardonic, very protective and fierce.

I felt this book had the perfect ending and I am going to really miss this series, and I am really looking forward to reading Heartless next year. I would recommend Winter and the entire Lunar Chronicles to fans of YA books, Sci-Fi novels and fairytale retellings.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the final brilliant book in the Harry Potter series and it answers all the question raised in the previous books but still leaves us wanting more. This is different from all the other books as the war has been lost and Hogwarts is not the main setting of the story. While this is the most adult book in the series, the series does still feel innocent especially as the characters do not think like most teenagers.

These books have all been about how love triumphs all and that death is not the end but the beginning of a new story. Unfortunately, it was obvious that the Deathly Hallows were added just to this book as there was no references to them in previous books unlike the Horcruxes. One thing I have never liked in this series is the labelling of Slytherin students as evil, as just because they are cunning and ambitious does not mean they will all turn into Death Eaters. Is it bad that I was more upset over Hedwig dying than Moody’s death?

I always felt that Harry should have died at the end of this series for two reasons, firstly then Rowling would not have been pressured to write more in the series, and secondly it felt like Harry’s entire life was destined to stopping Voldemort and, like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, I am not sure he would have been able to move and carry on with his life without a purpose. I also really liked Neville’s development over the series as he has gained confidence and has become the person he was meant to be.

I love Ron and Hermione’s relationship and when I first read this book when I was younger, I was hoping that they would end up together but now I feel that with the amount of time they spent together without acting on their feelings they would have been stuck in the friend zone. Snape is one of the most interesting and complex characters and I loved learning more about his past. I also liked hearing about Dumbledore’s darker past which I feels humanises him. I guessed what was going to happen to Lupin and Tonks in this book after Harry was named Godfather, as I could tell that Ted’s situation would mirror Harry’s.

When I first read this series I thought the ending would have been about Hogwarts and maybe Harry and Voldemort’s links to the houses or that Neville was actually the chosen one. After I finished this book when it originally came out I felt like my childhood had ended as I had grown up with these characters and even now 8 years later I also got the same feeling. I would recommend the entire Harry Potter series to everyone, even those who have watched the films as they don’t have the magic of the books.

All was well. 

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the penultimate book and one of my favourite in the series. This book has more romance than any the rest of the Harry Potter series and has a teenage soap opera feel to it. When I first read this book I never guessed that Snape was the Half-Blood Prince and he had such a big role in this book and the next book.

Hermione says that love potions are not that dangerous but in the wrong hands it can be used very unethically and even as a date rape drug. I really liked learning more about Voldemort’s past and how young Tom Riddle became Voldemort. I love the Weasley family as they are kind and warm and the family that Harry had never had.

I did find it odd that Harry mourned more for Cedric, an acquaintance and kind of friend, than Sirius, his Godfather and someone he saw as a father figure. But I did like how Harry and Hermione’s friendship grows closer in this book as it always felt Harry was closer to Ron than Hermione. This is the one book which you can tell it was written by a woman, this is because the way Rowling wrote Hermione’s action and reactions to Ron fit perfectly to how most girls would act.

One thing is that Harry likes dull chicks, as while Ginny is described as being fun and feisty I just never saw it, and it felt I was told this, not shown it. Also Dumbledore is such a liar as he said he had told Harry everything about Voldemort and Harry, but he really didn’t, and it shows that even after all those years he still believes in The Greater Good (“The Greater Good”). Is it just me or does Professor Slughorn with his bald head and walrus moustache remind you of Jamie from Mythbusters?

I love Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and I would recommend it to anyone who likes this series. 

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is the fifth book in the series and is one of the darkest in the series and hardest to read as it is so depressing. We can start seeing more of the puzzle pieces coming together and hints to what is coming, such as Petunia talking about that awful boy and the locket at Grimmauld Place.

Harry is depressed in this novel which makes reading this one not as fun as the previous books, and I do have to agree with Hermione and Lucius Malfoy that Harry does love playing the hero and it does start to grate on me. While I think their relationship is sweet and awkward I am not a fan of Cho as I think she is dull. Rereading this I had forgotten about Firenze becoming divination teacher. I feel very sorry for Neville, because I would much rather my parents died quick and clean than what happened to Neville’s parents and I feel he should have had more sympathy.

However two people I really don’t like are James and Sirius as they were jerks and while I don’t know if Snape was just as bad, they were bullies and it does not matter about their age, if anything bullying affects people the most at that age. Also they remind me of the boys at school who behaved very badly at school but always got away with it. On the other hand, I really hated Umbridge as she was the most relatable baddie in the series, and turns what is Harry’s only home he has known into somewhere he does not enjoy being.

One thing I never got is why the order never used muggle technology, for example phones, as it is much quicker than owls and Voldemort and his Death Eaters would never expect it. Also how did Harry get the marauder’s map as last we knew fake Moody had it and we never heard about him getting it back. Similarly, Harry should have been able to see the Thestrals since he was one year old when the first person he saw die was Lily, not Cedric.

While Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix is probably one of my least favourite of the Harry Potter series I still love it and would recommend it to anyone who has read the first four books.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book and, apart from the Deathly Hallows, is the most action packed with the Quidditch world cup and the three tasks happening throughout the book. This book is the turning point where the series changes, with its first death and with Voldemort being back. This book has a darker tone and shows the maturing of the novels and characters.

I feel the title of this book should have been Harry Potter and the Triwizard Tournament as the Goblet of Fire plays a very small in this book. Also Avada Kadavra does not seem the worse way to die, at least it is quick. The film missed out lots of stuff from this book such as SPEW, the twins and Bagman, Hagrid being a half giant and so much more.

The hormones have kicked in and you can see the main characters growing up and becoming the adults they later become. Poor Harry, he can never catch a break and is under loads of attention and pressure in this book. Ron, even though he is one of my favourite, did irritate me as he did not stick by his best friend, but this happens often with teenagers and I can understand him always being over looked and second best. I like how we get to know Neville more and about his past.

This entire series is very British apart from the Yule Ball which is very American as at most school dances I went to, we don’t partner up but just go as group of friends unless they are already a couple. There are a few plot holes which don’t make sense, firstly the rules said that only 3 people were allowed in the tournament so why did they not stop Harry continuing. Also I don’t get how the people that meant the most to Cedric and Krum are girls that they have only been going out with for a few weeks. The biggest plot hole in this book is how Voldemort got his wand back as he was a kind of spirit when he fled from attacking infant Harry.

I cannot recommend Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and the entire series highly enough. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third book in the Harry Potter series and you can tell that the tone of the books are getting darker. I felt this book was faster paced and better story than the first two book as when I first read it I did not expect that Sirius was innocent. This Harry Potter book is unique as it is the only novel without Voldemort, which shows that his followers can be just as dangerous.

Harry feels trapped in this book as he is over protected, for his safety and feels no one is telling him anything. I really like Lupin as I can relate to him, he has a tragic affliction yet it never affected how he treated people and was a very good teacher. However, while Sirius is an interesting character I don’t love him like so many others do.

While I love this book there are somethings that don’t make sense. Firstly Bogarts in this book don’t show real fears, as even when I was 10 my fears are not things like spiders and mummy’s but more abstract like harm happening to my family. Another thing is how come Fred and George never noticed that an unknown man was in either Percy or Ron’s room on the marauders’ map? Also if Hogsmead is the only muggle free place then how come most wizards have no understanding of the muggle world? Finally it is obvious the Rowling had not planned the Deathly Hallows as here is this all powerful invisibility cloak which is meant to hide a person from everything but apparently can be seen on a map made by teenage boys.

I love Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the entire series and I would recommend it to everyone. 

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is the second in the amazing Harry Potter series but it is not one of my favourites in the series. This book is still a kids book and feels innocent with it being more morally black and white than subsequent novels. Plus I never get how wizards can manage normal life without learning basic stuff like maths and science.

In this book, during the conversation between Harry and Dumbledore, it has a massive spoiler about the ending of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows, particularly if you have read the Half-Blood Prince. This and all the books in this series have so many layers where at first it seems a simple story but also a story of good vs evil and the strength of love.

The trio of friends has not really changed since the first book, but Harry is a bit snappier as he has got people believing he is attacking students. I like how Hogwarts feels like another character and changes in each book. I also like Dobby as he is loveable and Lockhart who makes me smile especially with the valentines Dwarves.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is an amazing book full of mystery and danger and I would recommend it to fans of the first book. 

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

*****

5 Stars/5

Warning, this review has spoilers for this book and the entire series.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is a brilliant book and the start of a world changing series. The Harry Potter series is a big part of my life and influenced my childhood. I probably will not be able to add anything that has not been said before. I also won’t describe the story as almost everyone must know it by now and if not where have you been hiding the past 15 years? While the writing is not bad, you can tell the Rowling has improved as the series went on.

One pet peeve I have with this book is that it is not called The Sorcerer’s Stone but The Philosopher’s Stone, that’s because philosopher’s stone has lots of lore and myth surrounding it and I am not sure why they changed it for America. One thing I discovered, and probably only British people will get this, but when reading this book did anyone else have Stephen Fry’s voice narrating it to them?

Harry is a kind and brave person and I like that even after years of abuse and neglect by the Dursley’s he has not turned out bitter and emotionally scarred. Ron is one of my favourite characters of the series as he is normal, and does not feel he is good enough. Hermione is annoying in this book as she is a know it all and just too perfect.

I love this book and the entire series and I cannot recommend it highly enough.