Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Book Details
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Paperback, 652 Pages
2006, Scholastic Paperbacks
ISBN: 9780439785969
Series: Book 6 of Harry Potter

Synopsis
The war against Voldemort is not going well; even the Muggles have been affected. Dumbledore is absent from Hogwarts for long stretches of time, and the Order of the Phoenix has already suffered losses. And yet . . . As with all wars, life goes on. Sixth-year students learn to Apparate. Teenagers flirt and fight and fall in love. Harry receives some extraordinary help in Potions from the mysterious Half-Blood Prince. And with Dumbledore's guidance, he seeks out the full, complex story of the boy who became Lord Voldemort -- and thus finds what may be his only vulnerability.

Review
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince takes the series even darker, even more heart-wrenching, and still manages to work in a couple romantic entanglements. These kids are seriously growing up. When Dumbledore told Harry he wanted to take a "greater hand in your education," we knew this was going to be Dumbledore's book. Although he was absent for half the story, the his presence is always felt. As Harry first proclaims that he's "Dumbledore's man through and through," we felt a surge of pride in the loyalty Harry has always shown. Towards the end as Dumbledore states "I am not worried, Harry, I am with you," the crying began (even during my rereading) and didn't let up until the bitter end. The Harry/Dumbledore relationship was a huge part of the foundation of the entire series. The faith they constantly showed in each other was a powerful thing.

Sadly, I never got to experience the shock that I should have upon the ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. As many know, this book was spoiled early and often. Seeing how I've reacted to it even seeing it coming, the added surprise element probably would have left me inconsolable. I seriously envy anyone who hasn't read it yet and actually doesn't know what to expect (if such a person even exists in the world by this point).

The main characters all get involved in love triangles in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. As the characters couple up, jealousy ensues. The Harry/Ginny/Dean triangle and the Hermoine/Ron/Lavender triangles actually surprised me during my first reading. I don't know where I was getting the idea Harry was going to end up with Hermoine, but I believed that and when that wasn't even one of the possible scenarios, I was shocked. Re-reading many years later, its clearly obvious that the couples formed in Half-Blood Prince were inevitable. I particularly loved Hermoine's crazed jealousy as she's usually so level-headed, and Harry's guilt when he realizes his feelings for Ginny.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is easily one of my favorites of the series. A constant mix of elation and devastation, the book invokes amazing feeling as it messed with my emotions. I'm actually dreading moving on to the next and final book as it will mark the ending of the series and my last chance to immerse myself in this world.

Rating

Links

J.K. Rowling's
Website