Through this book Rowling works on the plot that will lead to the finale, makes it tricky, spell bounding and twisted.

Snape, the half-blood prince is shown working as a double agent for both Voldemort and Dumbledore. Draco is given a task to fulfill in order to gain Voldemort’s sympathy, as his father Lucius has repeatedly not been able to finish his tasks. Sirius, Harry’s Godfather leaves all his gold, house and the elf for him.

Together, Dumbledore and Harry start going through Voldemort’s past. Voldemort created 7 Horcruxes with his soul to remain immortal and they should be destroyed before he can be killed forever. While two, his diary and a ring are destroyed, the remaining need to be found and dismantled.

Dumbledore and Harry go on with the search of other Horcruxes, upon their return Snape kills Dumbledore (if you didn’t cry, don’t know what else will make you) which leaves the mission for Harry and his friends to complete.

Blog | YouTube  | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

n  n
Grab this beauty of a book cover that I'm selling on my depop here, created by cover illustrator Jonny Dudley, who I commend for taking one of the most painful moments in the book and creating such lovely artwork out of it.

n  “Parry Otter, the Chosen Boy Who — well — something of that sort.”n  
n  
n  n

This reread of n  Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince - nthe last book in my minimal book collection - came as a saving grace during the many (many) holidays of Tishri. The stillness that accompanies sitting with your own thoughts during the countless rest days is painstakingly growing on me, so I needed something to look forward to, other than the many family-talks speculating about what's ahead.

I'm giving myself permission to sidetrack first into a bit of a backstory, given that this book did the same with its rather long "Previously on Harry Potter" starting point, catching the reader up on the 411.

Back in late 2014 - THE year I started reading Harry Potter for the first time and the same year I promised myself I'd finish the series - I made the hefty mistake of picking up the fifth book, n  n    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixn  n, from the library on its own right before Hanukkah, meaning that the sequel wouldn't be available for another week. I then dutifully devoured the fifth book by day two and convinced my mom that the only thing I wanted, nay needed, was the sequel, which I promptly completed in time to take the finale from the library.

(Spoilers: I finished the series with two days to spare of 2014 in which I also finished To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before to provide me some of that lightheartedness, as I mention in my review.)

I personally had a rocky start with reading the series. The first book took me multiple times to pick up and complete; it took me months of what I usually read within a week. I remember now really getting into the series with the fourth and fifth book, though I can't recall now which works better in my favor.

n  n    Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenixn  n is probably my favorite because I'm a sucker for dreams and nightmares being interpreted and taken seriously. The minute you start paying attention that's when you start seeing more clear signs that can easily give answers to your own personal situation.

This sixth book seemed promising to me, as well, because of the Pensieve and its many memories we dive into. This is the only way to do flashbacks... especially given the unbiased perspective to these unfolding events, like getting an introduction into Voldemort's family line from someone employed by the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and then slowly piecing together bits of information through the many reveals.

But before all that can happen, the book starts off where Harry feels most at peace: The Burrow. I love me some good ol' family dynamics with the Weasleys (and being a united front against Phlegm Fleur).

“Well, all I can say is that it was a lucky day for the Weasleys when Ron decided to sit in your compartment on the Hogwarts Express, Harry.”

Harry is slowly starting to view Ginny as a safe haven; she represents all good and safety in the world for Harry, which he desperately seeks with the upheaval that is his own life. I laughed when my mind associated Harry's choice of Ginny Weasley with that scene from Parks and Rec with the Saperstein twins:



n  n    Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Princen  n centers on the more obsessed-like state of Harry with Malfoy, Hermione sulking away from Won-Won, Roonil Wazlib making a mighty comeback, the frustration when no one believes Harry's valid suspicions, and so much more which I feature below in my favorite points:

• The sly insert when Slughorn dismisses Ron's name with: “...after what happened to your poor friend Rupert.” Clearly, filming for the Harry Potter series was well underway.

• This particular book in the series feels like the inspiration behind Baz and Simon in Fangirl (and Carry On) what with the slow-moving plot till the characters arrive onto school grounds, and the aforementioned nemesis-watching from afar and following their every move.

“Levi sat back, hugging the pillow again. “They are kind of gay, aren’t they? What with all the watching each other sleep … and the ignoring Penelope.”

I'm personally not into the whole Draco/Harry ship, given Draco literally smashed Harry's face in just because (this ruthlessness is what's so vivid in my mind, so much so that the hurt of that scene traveled through back four years when I first read it and I felt the exact same shock) and also the simple fact that Draco Malfoy is a terribly cruel character. Those types need to stray far, far from humans until they acquire some anger management tools. He's basically a reincarnation of Snape (the only reason they get along) what with all the sulking and pettiness (Snape with Lily, and Draco with his need to acquire power). Just because you've marked a certain person/goal as "MINE" in your head doesn't make it so it's yours. So the author trying to make me feel sorry for either of them won't work in my favor. Like, "Woe is me. All I want is the approval of the Dark Lord."

It's also the reason why I'm not rushing to reread the following book given the frustrations whenever an author dismisses the actions of an evil character, like Snape, for "Oh, Love..." You've painted your picture for the whole series, making us not only hate but despise Severus Snape, so you can't just drop this pent-up anger with one scene in the seventh book. Snape "loving" (more like, marking his territory) a certain someone who chooses not to settle for him doesn't justify his following actions, no matter what storyline tries to redeem him.

• The one thing that really settled with me was when Harry and Dumbledore were discussing destiny and "the prophecy" and how it's neither here nor there: Voldemort sculpted his own enemy, by choosing to believe that prophecy he molded you into his enemy. I listened to a lecture on the topic that voiced a similar idea that in order for there to be good in the world there needs to be evil to defeat.

“Imagine, please, just for a moment, that you had never heard that prophecy! How would you feel about Voldemort now? Think!’
Harry watched Dumbledore striding up and down in front of him, and thought. He thought of his mother, his father and Sirius. He thought of Cedric Diggory. He thought of all the terrible deeds he knew Lord Voldemort had done. A flame seemed to leap inside his chest, searing his throat.
‘I’d want him finished,’ said Harry quietly. ‘And I’d want to do it.’
‘Of course you would!’ cried Dumbledore. ‘You see, the prophecy does not mean you have to do anything! But the prophecy caused Lord Voldemort to mark you as his equal … in other words, you are free to choose your way, quite free to turn your back on the prophecy! But Voldemort continues to set store by the prophecy. He will continue to hunt you … which makes it certain, really, that -‘
‘That one of us is going to end up killing the other,’ said Harry. ‘Yes.’”

• The main plot-propelling point is circling around the Pensieve, which at the time of reading I found so fascinating and wondered what memories I would store away. However brilliant the first memory from Bob Ogden, sooner than later these flashbacks start feeling like a contrived set up for a grander plot-device, especially when Dumbledore speaks like he's looking through a crystal ball; Professor Trelawney seems tame in comparison.

“Why?’ said Harry at once, looking up into Dumbledore’s face. ‘Why did he come back? Did you ever find out?’
‘I have ideas,’ said Dumbledore, ‘but no more than that.’
‘What ideas, sir?’
‘I shall tell you, Harry, when you have retrieved that memory from Professor Slughorn,’ said Dumbledore. ‘When you have that last piece of the jigsaw, everything will, I hope, be clear … to both of us.”

This was so defeating to read the first time, being held on a leash with the information that could be released, but on this reread, knowing what's ahead, I could relax and take in all the suspense and foreshadowing.

• It's unfortunate, though, that the author deems all these important adult figures in Harry's life valuable only long enough to serve him in the grand scheme of things. Children need adults to look up to for longer than a semester period. I noticed that even when I was having a good time reading, half-way through a thought would creep in to remind me that half of the characters wouldn’t survive this series… and then it felt somehow wrong to laugh at something they said.

•Which leads me to discuss the one thing that I dreaded and put-off...


I'd forgotten that rereading Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince meant reliving this emotional trauma of a chapter all-over again. I honestly can't believe I got fooled twice into believing that Snape would come to heal Dumbledore. I was utterly and positively assured that when Severus Snape came running down towards Dumbledore it was to cure him of his wounds. My brain somehow managed to repress the memory of that scene and fooled me into believing the same damn thing I thought the very first time... Evidently, the events of this series have all mixed into one for me so that certain scenes from the last book I expect to show up in here. Though nothing prepared me for this line that broke everything:

n  ‘I am not worried, Harry,’ said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. ‘I am with you.’n

If nothing else, I'll certainly miss his sage sayings:

n  
n  

n    n      ‘Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right,’ said Hermione.n    n  

n  
n

I commend the cover illustrator, Jonny Duddle, for taking one of the most painful moments in the book and creating such lively artwork out of it:



The illustration on the back cover, in particular, had me staring back and forth to take it all in: the tired eye-bags, the sullen face, the grip on his left arm. SO MUCH DETAIL.

And on that chipper note, I'll conclude by saying that taking my time with this reread made the journey so worth it. Let me know in the comments below if there's a particular favorite book in the series you'd want me to reread and review!



If you’re interested in buying Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince, just click on the image below to go through my Amazon Affiliate. I’ll make a small commission!

n  n

n  n

Support creators you love. Buy a Coffee for nat (bookspoils) with Ko-fi.com/bookspoils
n  n

n  n n  n n  n n  n
This review and more can be found on my blog.

It seems like by now, everyone would realize they should listen to Harry..
Such a sad end :( I knew that was going to happen before starting the series, but didn't know when. It still got me in the feels, though.
The book as a whole was really fun and entertaining. I love the mystery and learning more about Voldemort. The romance drama was funny as well.
I can't wait to see what adventures the next book brings and how it all concludes..

An unexpected death left me reeling!!!
What will happen next?

What to say here?

I think I'm in a stage of my reading life where I'm not easily impressed by explosive endings but instead, I appreciate a balanced build-up from the start. Had I read this a couple of years ago I have no doubt I would've 5 stared it but now I think I cannot easily ignore how long and at times even boring this was.
Do I still like the classes and the magical school setting? No not really.
Do I like Quidditch and how Gryffindor takes those tight last minute wins? No not really.
I'll tell you what I wanted tho, I wanted more Neville, I wanted Harry dealing with depression and trauma and I wanted more plot and less romance.
Okay maybe not less romance but a different kind, a better character development to all ships and I say that bc I hated all ships! Even the very minor ones like Lupin's! I did like Bill's tho.

This was 600 pages guys, it's not a small book! So I am really wondering right now what happened in all these pages? Because I can only think of very few things that matter.
I think I would've liked more povs other than Harry's, I don't hate him but at this point I think I've seen most of him and not enough of the others. I even had enough of Ron and Hermione and didn't enjoy them in this, they kept bickering since book 3 and it's getting tiresome now.

I did really like Dumbeldor and Harry's sessions together, I liked Slughorn and Snape and Voldemort's past stories.

--------------------------------------
Buddy read with Witch One? and Witch Too

Siempre digo esto de cada entrega de Harry Potter, pero les juro que este es mi favorito (hasta que lea el siguiente).

It never gets old, rereading this series. I love always picking up on new things I didn't notice the first 10 times around. Also, with these later books, I wish the movies had stayed truer to the books.

Always been my favorite out of the seven.

Well I decided to come back and actually put in a review for this book since all I'd done is give it a star and go on my merry little way.

Hated this book. Flat out, this book was the worst of the whole seven-book series.

I bought HBP the day it was released and I was very excited to read something new in the series. To my shock, I couldn't believe how bad the story was. Something happened to JKR's editor. I think perhaps foul play was involved because apparently the editor was completely absent. Someone forgot to tell Jo that her book kinda (no actually "really really") sucked.

I'm not speaking from a shipping aspect because in the grand scheme of things I don't care who ends up with who. But it was the writing that made baby Jesus cry. The complete and utter abysmal writing. The rate of revelation in this book was appalling. The plot basically sucked and the use of flashback was overdone. The ENTIRE book was a "tell" and not a "show". Cardinal rule of writing. SHOW DON'T TELL.

JKR should have gotten some writing lessons before she wrote this one. Someone should have told her on the rough draft read-through that this was bad. Someone should have forced her to stay away from schmoopy romance because GAG.

What a complete stinker.

***************

02/22/12 - four-ish years later and although I still dislike this book, my opinion has mellowed. It's an amazing series, but this is my least favourite. I'm not editing the review as my opinion four years ago is still just as valid.

carry on

1.) Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone ★★★★★
2.) Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ★★★★★
3.) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ★★★★★
4.) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ★★★★★
5) Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ★★★★★
6.) Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince ★★★★★
7) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ★★★★★
8.) Harry Potter and the Cursed Child ★★

--------------------------------------------------

I'm not sure why, but this one took me completely by surprise. I was expecting this installment to be mainly filler to get us to the Deathly Hallows, but so much happened here that I must have forgotten from the movie. The Half-Blood prince was considerably darker than the previous 5 books, and I just adore how this series has progressed and grown just like most of its readers have. Obviously I knew what the big reveal was prior to finishing the book due to my viewing the films before, but it didn't take away from the experience the novel had to offer. I have this nervous lump in my throat knowing that the next book is the final one, but am simultaneously excited to finally read what the films surely have left out surrounding the conclusion of the series.

A beautiful book with an end that made me cry!

2018 REREAD: I really, really enjoyed rereading this book and feel like I even loved it a little more than my younger self did. It’s actually been a few years since I’ve last reread the HP books and I still remember e.g. that I didn’t really enjoy the flashbacks in the pensieve the other times I’ve read this book and wasn’t actually that interested in learning more about Tom Riddle. But this time around, those were actually some of my favorite scenes; it’s funny how your opinion on some things changes as you grow older. One thing that hasn’t changed though, is the fact that the ending once again made me very emotional!

instagram || my blog