OK. I'm prepared to admit I've read it. As someone once said about Jeffrey Archer novels, it's rather like a packet of stale chips. You keep taking them out and eating them, hoping that the ones at the bottom are little better. But they're not. After a while, you notice that the bag is empty, and you feel rather disgusted with yourself.

She claims the whole story was planned from the beginning. Yeah, right. Though, to be fair, she's in good company; Proust said something similar about A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu. He didn't come across as very credible either.
_________________________

If you still don't believe me about the links between Proust and Potter, look here. If that doesn't convince you, I give up. There's such a thing as being too sceptical for your own good.

No quiero que esto termine.

↳ "Lo único que nos da miedo cuando nos asomamos a la muerte y a la oscuridad es lo desconocido."

Créanme cuando digo que, en verdad, intento ser más crítico y no tan obvio, pero las cinco estrellas vienen impregnadas a cualquier libro de esta saga. La facilidad y velocidad con la que termino estos libros es particular, nunca fluí tanto como con estas novelas.

¿Qué distinguió a Harry Potter y el misterio del principe del resto de la saga?

1. ¿Recuerdan ese primer libro, infantil, basado en unos niños inocentes en un mundo de magia misterioso? Olvidenlo. Ya no quedan rastros: la sexta entrega se caracteriza por su oscuridad, no teme ser siniestro ni despiadado: muertes, historias siniestras, injusticias. La evolución es inmensa.

2. Luego de Harry Potter y la orden del fénix y toda la euforia que nos dejó, es evidente que este sexto libro es, probablemente, el que más carece de esa acción (a pesar de que el final debería ser suficiente). Sin embargo, se aprecian las historias complejas y bien estructuradas, por lo que, la novela, se destaca por alimentar la trama y nutrirla de cierta complejidad. Es el caso de la historia de Voldemort, donde se puede entender que el pasado siempre es relevante para entender el presente.

3. Aquí, el romance entre los personajes, finalmente, aparece como algo serio. Vemos formalizar a las parejas favoritas (y no tanto) de esta saga. Funcionan como una buena subtrama, como siempre, sus interacciones siempre te quitan más de una sonrisa. Si no no es una sonrisa, es un llanto, sino es un llanto, una indignación. Pero cada parte del libro se siente necesaria.

Ya todos a esta altura de la saga, se sienten familiarizados con sus personajes. Cada uno se destaca y diferencia del otro, así como cumple su rol perfectamente. En mi opinión, el destacado de este fue Dumbledore, simplemente impresionante.

↳ "Y ahora Harry, adentrémonos en la noche y prosigamos esta peligrosa e indeseable aventura."

El final está a un libro, y no estoy seguro de querer acabarlo. Pero debo hacerlo. Así que pronto volveré luego de haber enfrentado, lo que deduzco que será, una conclusión difícil de olvidar.

***WARNING: This review will contain spoilers that will not be marked so if you haven’t read this book then I don’t recommend you read my review. I don’t usually write reviews like this where I talk less about how good the book is but more about what goes on in the plot***

**Also this was a re-read for me**

This book was so much better than I expected. I cannot remember enjoying this book as much as I did now. I actually thought this was one of my least favorite in the series but now I’ve realized that it’s actually one of my favorites. I liked this book much more than the fifth and read it much faster. I have no idea why but I found many parts in this book funny. I laughed a lot more than usual when I read Harry Potter books. This book was perfect and amazing in every way possible.

My second favorite character in the series is Draco and in this book, I felt so bad for him. He probably wouldn’t have gone off to the dark side if his dad wasn't there first. It was obvious that he and his mother didn’t want to follow Voldemort. When he hesitated to kill Dumbledore and was considering taking his offer of leaving the dark side I felt so bad for him. Also in the bathroom when he was crying really made me feel sorry for him because I don’t think he would be all rude and mean if it wasn’t for his parents and the way he was brought up.

Harry and Ginny. To me, they should have never been a thing. I have always hated Ginny and the fact that Harry starts to like her annoys me so much. I hated her from the beginning and I have no idea why. I always wanted Harry with Hermione and not with Ron but my ships always crash. But then again Hermione is way too smart for Harry and Ron. Harry being with Ginny slightly rubbed off on me after re-reading this book, but keyword being slightly. Although, I still don’t like Ginny and I don’t think I ever will. I always disliked her since the beginning and I also don't think I will be completely okay with them together.

This book proves that Harry Potter is an idiot and there was a reason he was never put in Ravenclaw. I mentioned this in my review of the first book but one day my friend and I were talking about HP and she told about how Harry is so dumb. First of all, Snape has been teaching him for 5 years. 5 YEARS yet Harry wasn’t able to recognize his handwriting. I cannot understand how Harry could not pick it up. I mean Snape had been his teacher for 5 years and was writing in front of them yet Harry couldn't put two and two together. Hermione probably could have figured it out but she never read the book. Does he not pay attention at all? I mean you’d have to never listen or read anything in class to not pick it up.

After he finds this book, which has spells written around it, he thinks it's perfectly fine to start using them. This book obviously belonged to someone who was a dark wizard but yet he sees these spells and thinks ‘oh nothing bad should happen I mean this book only was written by someone who was interested in the darks arts’. Then he decides to test a spell on Draco and he doesn’t even know what the spell does. I get Draco was trying to torture him with the Cruciatus Curse but there are still other spells he could have used to stop him. Then he tries to convince Snape that his nickname is Roonil Wazlib. Obviously, Snape won't fall for that. Don’t get me wrong I love this series and I do like Harry but he is so stupid.

I enjoyed this book a lot and found it really funny. I feel like reading this book made me love the series more and I’m not sure if that was even possible. I wish after finishing the series I can erase my mind and re-read the series. I am so excited to carry on even though I know what happens next. I want to wait for a little before carrying on to the last book because I don't want to finish re-reading the series. I don’t want it to end becuase I’m so obsessed with this series!!!

First of all ,It's the less "action" book in the series, That's why many may get disappointed, But I see it's one important book for the character development and to wrap up the actual "Task" of how Harry should finish Voldemort. as at that book we learn more about his past also we realize secrets that the writer kept hidden-although gave some hints that proved it was there from the beginning-about what Harry's facing, The cleverness of showing the "Horcruxes" idea was there since the early stage of the books is remarkable.

One of the things I adore about Harry Potter that it's set in the real world ,"Our World" ..the beginning of that book implant that concept.. that the events we're reading since book one is happening here in our real world,The Prime Minister scene/chapter is real amazing addition to the series,and it include most of the major events we witnessed happened at the Wizardry world through the previous books and how it affect our world.

The characters get more complicated here at that book..as for Snape secrets reveal...shocking for some and relieve those who always mistrust him being in the good side.. Well plotted twist from J K -which won't stop twisting the plot cleverly specially in Snape's character- Also there's a depth in Draco's character that really serve the plot of this and next book.
Then the guardian role of Dumbledore at Harry's life start to manifest at that book.
Then the atmosphere of the life in the wizardry world -like the Diagon ally scene was darker than ever.

And there's also the romance which is increase at that part due to the coming of age. You'll love the Hermione-Ron relation.
In short ..... it's the best way to introduce the beginning of the end of a Saga .

Dumbledore made up for his absence in book 5 here but first Sirius and now Dumbledore, I am drowning in the sea of sadness and crying.

Just as was the case at the beginning of the theatrical Transformers: the Movie (released in 1986), it was the year 2005. We had learned that Gwen Stefani, contrary to what you may have heard, was not, in fact, a hollaback girl; Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie kind of had crushes on each other based on their smoldering chemistry in Mr. and Mrs. Smith, portending not-so-good things for America’s sweetheart and favorite Friend Jennifer Aniston; and “crunk” was a real word and an actual thing that you could look up in the dictionary.

About a week before the highly anticipated July release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, perhaps the biggest book release of all time (well, until Deathly Hallows dropped), the day began like any other. I strolled to work with the sickly sweet smell of baking garbage assaulting me as I rocked out to tunes on my Discman (yes, even then, I was technologically behind the times). I sat at my desk and appeared to work diligently in my capacity as a marketing and sales-type person at a commercial publisher in Manhattan. The day proceeded normally: I pretended to work, the publisher pretended to pay me, and everyone was fine. Then, a colleague in the next cubicle received a call from a contact of hers at Scholastic. The pretext for the call was professional—coordinating distribution of a book that we were handling—but soon moved onto the publishing topic du jour: the forthcoming publication—from Scholastic, of course, of Half-Blood Prince.

Here’s the conversation, as I heard it from my end:

“You already have a copy?!”

Pause.

“Wow. Have you already read…you have?”

Pause.

“DUMBLEDORE DIES?!”

And that, dear friends, is how I came to know the climactic event of this legendary tome a week before it arrived at my house, and my reaction, and that of other nearby colleagues, can be best summed up by three words that rhyme with “druther plucking brass pole.”

That notwithstanding, this remains a poignantly affecting chapter in the saga, one that’s hard to read without simultaneously mourning the fallen and lamenting the lost innocence of characters we’ve watched grow so much.

Still, could have used more Fred and George. Then again, so can everything. Except maybe my wedding night.

Well, no, even that would have been enhanced by them.

"5. Should you feel that a family member, colleague, friend, or neighbor is acting in a strange manner, contact the Magical Law Enforcement Squad at once. They may have been put under the Imperius Curse."

Time for interesting little subplots is over. We've arrived finally, where everything is closely tied to the core of the story and progressing fast. It's always delightful to see, everything that was great about the series still remains the same, if not better. However, disappointments, sorrow and hardships are what the reader is going to encounter for the most part. As I finished reading Half-Blood Prince, more than ever before, I feel being trapped in a hopeless situation filled with nothing but forebodings.

"Destination...determination...deliberation..."

One would imagine, we're beyond being accommodated with new characters, but the author will quickly convince you otherwise, and introduction of new and interesting characters continues. It's great to see how Rowling keeps outperforming herself with each new book . Harry's ill-tempered nature and suspicions does not end with the last book as I hoped it would, but the results are quite the opposite this time around. Honestly, I did not anticipate the way how things turned out right till the last three chapters.

"To friendship! To generosity! To ten Galleons a hair!

We've been somewhat used to happy ending in the first four books (relatively) with 5th being a bit disappointing but this one, it was the most depressing ending for me yet. It probably comes down to reinforcing the suspense toward the final book but, it's a difficult place to be in - especially if you had to wait for a year..

"Eet 'as been too long!"

I started reading this series over 10 years ago, and for some reason after the fifth book I just stopped. My literary interests were diverse, still are, and I needed to give Harry Potter a short rest. Five years later I've come back to finish the story. This book, number 6, is one of my favorite, probably second to Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. A lot going on in this book and some big changes at the end. Of course everyone in the world knows the end of the story by now, even me, although I've still to read the final book. I'll look forward to doing that soon. I know most Harry Potter enthusiasts have reread these books several times--maybe someday I will too.

فکر می‌کنم تا اینجا این جلد خسته‌کننده‌ترین بخش‌های کل مجموعه رو داشت
ولی بازم بهترین جلد بود. سکانس‌هایی داشت که صرفاً با دیالوگ آدم میخکوب می‌شد. بخشی که دامبلدور با شور و حرارت برای هری در مورد پیشگویی توضیح می‌داد استثنایی بود

n  

ولدمورت، درست مثل همه‌ی ستمگران دنیا، با دست‌های خودش بزرگ‌ترین دشمنش رو خلق کرد! هیچ می‌دونی ستمگران چقدر از مردمی که سرکوب می‌کنن وحشت دارن؟ همه‌شون ورای هر شک و تردیدی می‌دونن روزی فرا می‌رسه که از دل قربانیان پرشمارشون یک نفر در برابرشون می‌ایسته! ولدمورت هم فرقی نمی‌کنه! اون همیشه دنبال کسی بوده که در برابرش قد علم می‌کنه. تا پیشگویی به گوشش رسید، بی‌معطلی دست‌به‌کار شد. نتیجه‌ی کارش این بود که نه‌تنها با دست خودش کسی رو انتخاب کرد که بیشتر از دیگران احتمال داشت بتونه کارش رو بسازه، بلکه سلاح‌هایی به غایت ویرانگر هم در اختیارش گذاشت

n

تا قبل از اینکه خوندن کتابها رو شروع کنم یه سری تصاویر خیلی مبهم از فیلم‌ها توی ذهنم داشتم. در مورد شخصیت‌ها چیزی که خیلی خوب تو ذهنم مونده این بود که اسنیپ بهترین شخصیت مجموعه بود (و هست). ولی هیچی از دامبلدور یادم نمونده بود. فکر می‌کردم یه شخصیت معمولیه و به خاطر همینه چیزی ازش یادم نمونده. حتماً دوباره فیلم‌ها رو می‌بینم که بفهمم واقعاً توی فیلم‌ها خوب پرداخت نشده یا من اشتباه می‌کنم
ولی خب توی این شش جلد سکانس‌هایی که دامبلدور توی اون‌ها حضور داشت بهترین‌ سکانس‌های مجموعه بودن. حضورش همه‌چی رو تحت تأثیر قرار می‌داد

Have a nice death old man

Buddyread with the cutest Trixi.



*sniffs* I have actually finished this several days ago but I spent those days mourning for the loss of one of my favorite characters of all time and before I start bawling my heart and eyes out again, let me straight away proceed to the random thoughts while and after reading the book. *sniffs*

1. *Gasps* Professor Snape???
2. Harry’s Quidditch Captain! Yaaas!
3. Weasleys’ Wizzard Wheezes (Say this ten times)
4. Malfoy’s head on Pansy Parkinson’s lap and Pansy stroking his head. *shudders*
5. Slughorn’s belly preceded him out of the door. Bahaha
6. Potions class has never been this cheerful. Thanks Grampy Sloghorn and Harry has never performed better. Thanks to cheating. Lol.
7. Ron, you bollocks! Stop being an idiot, WonWon!
8. Voldemort as a student seems to me even more sinister than the Dark Lord he already is. *shivers*
9. Like Harry, I am Dumbledore’s man through and through. Take that, Rufus!
10. I’d go back to school anytime if it meant having Professor Dumbledore as a teacher.
11. Aherm! Why do you keep looking for Ginny, now Harry?
12. There’s a reason a Dark Arts teacher stays only for a year. It’s all clear now.
13. Who would have thought that the once timid Ginny will blossom into a confident, beautiful, charming, funny and best of all, snarky girl?
14. Chapter 24 will particularly make you swoon! Gaaah!  I ship Harry and Ginny! <3
15. RIP, Aragog.
16. For the first time, I solved the mystery!  I have guessed early on in the story that the Half Blood Prince was Snape! Yaaas!
17. I knew there was a reason Harry spent so much time with Professor Dumbledore. I can’t…*sobs*



Some of the things/characters missing in the movie:

1. Kreacher and Dobby
2. Bill and Fleur
3. Dumbledore’s Army and the Order of the Phoenix putting up a fight against the Dark Eaters.
4. . Harry breaking up with Ginny which reminds me of Peter Parker and Mj.

Finally, as a simple tribute to the wisest, kindest, most revered and one of the most powerful wizards (whose death out of the many deaths hurts me the most that I cried so much, I may have cried harder than Hagrid), the following is a collection of a few of his great thoughts and words that’ll be forever etched in our hearts. *sniffs*


“In fact, being-forgive me- rather cleverer than most men, my mistakes tend to be correspondingly huger.”

“People find it a lot easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.”

“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live.”

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it."

“The pain is part of being human. The fact that you can feel pain like this is your greatest strength.”

“To the well organized mind, death is but the next adventure.”

“It’s not really goodbye after all.”

On a lighter note, it's beautiful Katerina's birthday today, let's spare a few moments to greet her a HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY! Even though you're quite busy for Goodreads and reading atm, I hope you're doing something that's making you happy today! Enjoy! <3

“I am a wizard, not a baboon or a transphobe.”
- Not JKR

Mermaids UK

The Trevor Project

Black Visions Collective because Black trans lives matter.

4.5 Golden Stars

92%

yeah, it was dark, but probably the most Hilarious book of HP; it IS a Comedy! I was rolling in laughter! Hilarious Ron, sassy Harry & Hermione's wittiness & the unique fun in the writing style, the impression, the descriptions, the comparisons.

anyway, don't get mad at me, but this book is my least favourite in Harry Potter series. it was kind of disappointment for me.
3 years gap, reading the other fantastic books many times, guessing & after that shocking end in book 5, looking forward to this one, to be greater than others as we are close to end...
in one sentence: I was not satisfied after reading it. (IK the book was the calm before the storm, but still.)

& don't get me wrong; it was a disappointment Only compared to other HP books.

Boring start. (2 chapters without anything related to Hogwarts or the golden trio)

Harry was obsessed with what Malfoy was up to, the whole year & for the first time, I found Harry annoying. risking for no good reason, only his hunch. maybe this is the main reason I didn't like this book. (I hate 'Sectumsempra' chapter , always get mad at him.)
always yelling:
Don't!
No!
you idiot, Harry!

because he is my favourite character...
(though now after many times re-reading, at some points, I found those parts hilarious too, )

at the end, he was right though.

also, lack of funny sarcastic retorts between Harry & Draco :(

almost whole events were like side-jobs (except the... you-know-what)
A.K.A the Slug club
truth: I don't care about Slughorn either. those chapter he just talked & talked about celebrities once-were-his students... ughhhh.

Adrenaline peak parts were not satisfying & not enough (amounts). the whole story was a bit ordinary & nothing happened in the whole school year, in particular. (like school wasn't at an immediate, solid grave danger (book 2, 3, 7 & maybe 5), the golden trio wasn't solving mysteries (1, 2, 4, 5, 7) or something as intriguing as these. they were just attending classes, boring parties, slug club & these normal stuff.
though I like the classes & the Hogwarts routine, justt ass I enjoyed in book 5. whenever I missed Hogwarts this book, along with 5, is my go-to.
just the Slug club ruined it a little.

but in total, other parts (except Malfoy & Slug club); maybe not high peak of adrenaline (as I said), but interesting, & funny; we all wanted to know who the half-blood prince was, Quidditch was great as always & the parts with Dumbledore were fascinating.
I liked the second half of the book more, like finally this book stepped into action!
& that end was the "Beginning of the End"!

But main reason: his obsession with Malfoy; 'OMG! Harry, just come off it!', therefore Harry being annoying, therefore lack of Harry's sarcasm comebacks with Malfoy, lowered this book to my least favourite.


However....
on the bright side, there are parts I love too:

❤ sassy Harry was the best!


There's no need to call me "sir", professor.



Bless you JKR!
Bless you Harry Potter!
one of the sassiest comments in the history of sass masters!


my first reaction when I see this, was: whaaaa!?... then "omg! Harry! did you just...!?" & re-read the sentence to see if I got it right & then... putting the book down ("Hail Harry Potter!") & burst out laughing!
& that's that, ever since!

although there was no sarcastic comebacks between Potter & Malfoy, but this book had many funny moments by other characters.

"Well, you can’t break an Unbreakable Vow..." (Gee! Thanks Ron!)
"I’d worked that much out for myself, funnily enough!”


& Harry was not just being sassy & sarcastic, but also being funny & clueless too, which was laughable.

Ron's jokes with ghosts always made me choke with laughter!


❤ Friendships
Harry & Ron's friendship (always one of my favourite brotps) funny, great, looking after each other. always love it, in all books.

Roonil Wazlib!

also Harry & Hermione's. (especially after Ron & Hermione's bickering), beautiful, caring, protective. again, I love it in all the books.

I actually noticed after years of rereading, now Romione has lowered in its place for me & I ship these two more. they care so much for each other.
(I'm thinking it's probably also a brotp. well, it's complicated to decide if I want to accept the canon (because I do love canon too) or my mind. the point is, I love the moments with these two together :)

❤ the writing style is just Unique & perfect & funny!

❤ my favourite chapters are "the Cave" & "Horcruxes"; awesome, exciting with unexpected amount of surprises. I actually loved them.
I loved the main-stream parts with Dumbledore.
I loved how Harry, at some points, admired Tom.
& how he unfolded this story & also sympathized with other characters.

❤ I liked Dumbledore in this book.

❤ at least after that terrible mistake (mentioned above), the chapter ended beautifully; my favourite part, that magical romantic moment, how well described, what a glamorous scene. My first ship finally sinking!


"... After several long moments, or it might have been half an hour-or possibly several sunlit days- they broke apart.
The creature in his chest roaring in triumph."

(& I was really angry when the movie CHANGED this scene! actually I really loved the first 3 movies (they were so similar to the books) & 5 too (tho it was a bit different & they mostly deleted the humor parts), 4 was similar enough, just darker than my imagination. but movies 6 & 7 just had the same quotes (almost) & changed or deleted scenes a lot, therefore those completely disappointed me. :(

❤ & I was proud Harry became Team Captain!

Quidditch were funny, especially the first one (You Clever Harry! XD). except not the commentator, but Harry made a funny moment of that too ;)

❤ Don't forget how Gracefully this book was written. (& how delicately Rowling chose to show they were swearing without any direct swears. I love it. it doesn't make me apprehensive, on the contrary, it makes me laugh very hard & respect the pure talent.)
Hail Queen!

10th read; November 2019: I could've given 5 Stars because of Sassy Harry (I mean, Harry just being savagely Sassy this year! XD) & beautiful, magnificent choices of the words & compare to a few of my 5 stars this book definitely deserves 5; but I'm not satisfied with it (still things that annoy me) so I probably won't. Although there's a progress, the rating score has risen to 4.5 now.
13th read; June 2022: never have read this book this quick! thanks to BR with my new Potterhead! (slow down girl!