Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

“He can run faster than Severus Snape confronted with shampoo.”

Synopsis:

Harry Potter is preparing to leave the Dursleys and Privet Drive for the last time. But the future that awaits him is full of danger, not only for him, but for anyone close to him – and Harry has already lost so much. Only by destroying Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes can Harry free himself and overcome the Dark Lord’s forces of evil.
In this dramatic conclusion to the Harry Potter series, Harry must leave his most loyal friends behind, and in a final perilous journey find the strength and the will to face his terrifying destiny: a deadly confrontation that is his alone to fight.

My Initial Expectations:

Since I started this series I knew exactly how it would end. However, this book was actually the one I knew least about. I knew the end and almost every minor detail of it: who died and how, who married and how many children they had, who won (though that one is kind of obvious whether you are spoiled or not) But I didn't have a single clue of how the Golden Trio would get to that end and the struggles they would face on the way. Like for all the other books in this series, my expectations were exceptionally high.

My Thoughts:  WARNING, CONTAINS SPOILERS.

Where do I even start? There was so much about this final book that captivated me like never before. This series has evidently stolen a huge chunk of my heart and soul that I will never be able to get back. Hell, I don't want it back because these books and the amazing author behind them deserve it much more than I do. Nevertheless, I was not satisfied.

Yes, J.K. Rowling, like always, made sure to cover everything involving the Golden Trio's quest to find the Horcruxes and the Hallows. There was a complexity to the setting, plot and characters that somehow never managed to overwhelm me (and I am easily overwhelmed when it comes to sci-fi and/or fantasy).
Yes, her story made me cry into my chest hurt and bite my nails with anticipation until they bled. It kept me up late into the night and was convincing enough to get me (little miss goody two shoes) to skip class in order to get in just a few more chapters one day.

There was nothing wrong with the ending. Loose ends were tied, the world was saved and they all lived happily ever after. The seemingly perfect ending to a perfect book. Emphasis on the "seemingly".

All I wanted was for the spotlight to be on someone else besides Harry for a change. Sure everyone, even the Malfoys, got their moment in the sun. But the moments were brief and hardly expanded on. All that seemed to matter was Harry and how he felt. While there was definitely nothing wrong with that, I would've loved a little more insight into the many subplots. Like Neville and Dumbledore's Army. They had this whole bad-ass rebellion building right under the Death Eaters' noses and all they get is a pat on the back when Harry turns up and rains on their parade. This brought, though thankfully only for an instant, the immature Harry that I'd hated for the majority of the series.

And then there was Fred's death. That was what really got me. Not the death itself, but the fact that J.K. Rowling gave readers only the slightest glimpse of how people were dealing with such a tragic event and then moved back to Harry with barely a second thought. I understand that she probably needed to keep the plot moving and all, but I felt that a character that important to the series should've had more than just a mention here and there after his passing.

Maybe I'm the problem. Maybe I'm too nit-picky and demanding. Either way that is how I felt.

On a positive note, I really enjoyed the change in scenery. Though I love Hogwarts and everyone in it, I was getting a bit tired of entire chapters of Harry and his friends attending class after class after class. I also really liked how the plot was spread out over almost an entire year. It was much more enjoyable and logical then some of the young adult books I read nowadays where teens on a quest somehow manage to get halfway across the continent within a week or so.

Overall, I loved this book. It had its flaws and not every story got to be told in full detail. I'm sad about that, but I accept it. No book can cover everything at once. J.K. Rowling's series, in its entirety, went way beyond my expectations, especially in this final installment. It has been about a week and I'm still crying about it being over on a regular basis. That's how much it has impacted me.

I gave this book all the effing stars on Goodreads (5/5)!

Would I recommend it? I think the answer to this is obvious. Still, if you're one of those people who have never read or seen the Harry Potter series and choose not to try it out just because you think it's cool going against the hype or because you're "too old for kid books" (I've met a lot of people like this), just shut up and pick up this goddamn beautiful series. Sometimes hype can be a wonderful thing.

Would I re-read it? Yes. Absolutely. I've already marked my favourite scenes in this for whenever I'm in the mood for an emotional rollercoaster. As for the other books, I may only read some and skip others. I didn't necessarily enjoy the first three books so I'll just skip ahead to when Harry is no longer an insufferable and immature brat.

My Reading Progress: