[polishgenius]

It was, I thought, much better than the previous two, and I think the best one overall... it's more focused than the latter ones, and more epic than the early ones.
The main flaw was all the Hallows exposition - that seemed to me a DEM thrown in at the last minute, and while it didn't work too badly, in fact quite well, it was very unsubtle compared to previous things she'd bring in. Also Moody saw through Harry's cloak in GoF, though I suppose you could just say he guessed.

Positives - lots of tension, with them being on the run and all, and lots of action. Nice Snape reveal (well guessed Cult of Dessembrae!), he was always a good character. Also nice use of ambiguity about Dumbledore, though as with the Hallows she really should have started some hints on that in previous books.

The aftermath was crap though. Nothing about all the death, just skip to nineteen years later and a properly poor epilogue -so neat and tidy. Boo.
Nonetheless, pleased that Harry and Ginny got together (though I wanted a reunion scene) and that Neville and Luna didn't.
Still, overall a good signoff to the series.

[Dolorous Menhir]

So Harry didn't buy it?

Disappointed.

This means there will be sequels.

[polishgenius]

I doubt it, the epilogue is too neat. And too far into the future.

She could do one set after said epilogue, but I don't see it happening, it had too much of an air of tying off ends for the precise reason that she wouldn't be tempted to sequelise.

[Illuyankas]

Now that it's out, and I've read it, I can post the review of the book from the site I got spoiled from (the guy hid the spoilers behind a cut, but all too late) - I'm not that angry, as it's a very funny review, but if I had anything tied up with the series I would have been so, so pissed off.

Besides, Hermione wouldn't have been allowed into the Justice League anyway.

Also, Harry is Jesus/a zombie, and what's wrong with Neville L. Ongbottom? (the L stands for Bad Motherfucker)

[QuickTidal]

I loved every last inch of it. It is hands down my favourite book in the series by far. I LOVED the epilogue. I don't care HOW neat and tidy it seemed. There was alot of death throughout this book and I feel that we needed a little happiness at the end, I really did, so I dug it wholeheartedly.

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Great book. Rowling iss a sadistic lady though. Can you imagine letting your 10 or 11 year old kid read this book? Let's see, Hedgwig, Dobby, Lupin, Tonks, Weasley, and many others bite the dust. There's a lot of crying going on right now, I bet.

She still could do sequals if she realy wanted, but I don't see it happening. I wouldn't mind though.

[Chance]

Something I thought during the entire book...probably for the first time ever while reading a book...this is going to be a better movie then it was a book

Clearly better then the half-blood prince which I think was the worst book but really the magic of harry potter is a bit tarnished after seven books

A bit too neat ending...and some of the interesting people gets entirely left out...the epilog was pretty much just a teaser...telling that ye ofc it all ended well...

[Dancer+]

After reading through it once, in less than five hours before I went to work I was disappointed. But after thinking about it for a while I think it was rather good, I just had a lot of trouble swallowing some of the storyline. I thought it was a bit too convenient in places.

I reread the last one hundred pages last night and looked more favourably on it.

It was quite funny looking at the power levels of the characters. Bellatrix can take on Hermione, Ginny and Luna (which is perhaps understandable) but Mrs Weasley is better (or of a similar power) than her. Voldemort was duelling three at once too; McGonagall, Slughorn and Kingsley. Kingsley seemed to be the third most powerful member in the order, although the other two were dead (Dumbledore and Mad-eye).

Thanks Polishgenius. It just made sense to me, it's one of those things that just occurs to you because it fits so well. A calculated gut instinct.

[ch'arlz]

polishgenius;201745 said:

She could do one set after said epilogue, but I don't see it happening, it had too much of an air of tying off ends for the precise reason that she wouldn't be tempted to sequelise.

The last line left some ambiguity as to whether there'd be sequels, imo. Harry muses to himself that his scar hasn't pained him for the last 19 years, so all is well...

Volume 1, Scene 1 of next series: "Harry's eyes opened in wonderment as his scar began to itch and then burst into excruciating debilitating overwhelming pain and he knew in the depths of his wizardly heart that one of his dear precious children had been captured and horribly maimed, if not killed and dismembered..."

[ch'arlz]

The Cult of Dessembrae;201764 said:

It was quite funny looking at the power levels of the characters. Bellatrix can take on Hermione, Ginny and Luna (which is perhaps understandable) but Mrs Weasley is better (or of a similar power) than her.

Yes but she had a mother's rage to help her (you will *not* hurt any more children!). One of the points made throughout is that the power of magic depends in part on the uses to which it is put. I thought this was actually a rather sweet touch.

[blewin]

I like it, and I don't like it, but HP7 is definitely much better than HP6.

I love the actions in this book. They're fast-paced and excellent. The last battle at Hogwarts is particularly exciting in that I get to see others in action, like Neville (man, isn't Neville cool when he does that to Voldemort's pet?) and Mrs Weasley. I like the intrigues - the wand, the stone and the cloak. I like the adventures...

The most moving scene is Dobby's death (Snape's comes close). *sniff* I feel for him the most. Great to see some characters having a change of heart: Dudley and Kreacher.

But what I'm not sure about the book.... it said that the Death Eaters found the gang quickly because they used Voldemort's name in the cafe, but howcome they were ok when they used the name like more than 5 times at Grimmauld Place??

I also don't like the ending line. "All is well". Its positioning is terrible, and the use of such a well-known cliche makes the book less than what it is... after all, like Harry, the book is no longer than a simple children's tale. She could have ended it better... and the task of finding the Horcruxes. Still don't see why Dumbledore left it in the hands of three barely of age wizards, with no adult supervision or help whatsoever. Just too unrealistic.

With the characters, I think this is the first time that I really like Harry. What he said to his son Albus is like another Dumbledore in the making. He's truly a wiser man now.

I doubt there'll be a sequel, not with Rowling jumping all the way to 19 years later. And she can't rewrite the story, so any more stories set in Hogwarts would undermine the uniqueness of the Harry Potter series. I wouldn't mind reading more stories on the adult wizard world though. I think there's potential..

[QuickTidal]

blewin;201795 said:

But what I'm not sure about the book.... it said that the Death Eaters found the gang quickly because they used Voldemort's name in the cafe, but howcome they were ok when they used the name like more than 5 times at Grimmauld Place??

This is easily explained. The Fidelius Charm keeps Grimmauld Place unmappable and essentially invisible to anyone but those who have been informed of the secret, therefore when the bells and whistles would go off that Harry, Hermione or Ron used Voldy's name while inside would point...nowhere. The Fidelius Charm is said to be light magic of the highest order (it's explained in an earlier book, I believe it is the 3rd) and would NEVER be able to be broken by a simple Name tracing spell.

[Dragnipur]

Shoot me down if this was explained, but, how in the name of Hoods' knobbly knees did Neville get a hold of the Sword of Godric Gryffindor?

[blewin]

thanks, QuickTidal! I didn't remember how the secret keeper thing works, so got confused there.

Dragnipur, remember how Harry also pulled out a sword from the Sorting Hat back in book 2 when he faced the basilisk?

[Whelp]

blewin;201817 said:

Dragnipur, remember how Harry also pulled out a sword from the Sorting Hat back in book 2 when he faced the basilisk?

There's a mightily disappointed and angry goblin out there somewhere...

All in all, the book wasn't as bad as I feared. Pacing was good, characterization was also well, and it was only occasionally syrupy or angsty. Imho, it was a good closure for the series - though there are a number of threads open for a possible sequel (or tie-in novel, maybe).

[Morgoth]

I thought the book was in essense very good, but unfortunately, it ended pretty much exactly as I've been wishing it not to.. Snape being good, an epic battle between Voldemort and Harry at the end, Harry being a horcrux.. It's all so cliché and so incredibly predictable.

yet, I did enjoy reading it, and so I spose I should not complain too much. This is after all a children/YA book and so clichés are to be expected

[Raymond Luxury Yacht]

Part of the charm of this series is Rowlling's ability to take cliche and make it work. I enjoyed parts of these books that, coming from a different author, would have made me throw he book down in disgust. I can't explain it, she can get away with things no one else can.

I love what this means for the fantasy genre. Like Potter or not, there are milions of people who now enjoy reading of magic and epic battles between good and evil. Hopefully this will lead to more good fantasy being written.

[polishgenius]

Sadly though, the amount of fans who's dedication to the genre appears to be "I hope Rowling writes more Harry Potters" appears to be depressingly large.

[Anomander Rake]

I thought the final book was excellent, everything coming together, and all the clues left across the previous 6 books coming together.

I've never found anything wrong with her writing, because its works wonderfully well for the series. Its a nice read, and the power behind her books for me has been, being able to really take the reader into the world she's created, and escape to this world she's created. The only regret I have is, it would have been wonderful to have been a kid growing up while reading this book series, and mixing with the massive fan community that exists.

The only downside I found was the moment that Voldemort dies, she seemed to have rushed the rest thereafter waaaay too much. It just seem to be rushed to Lunch in the great hall, and then the end. I guess she could have written more detail over the deaths and prolonged the writing to create a more emotional impact, but as so many kids are reading this I guess she would have avoided that.

As to the 19 years later part, I'm still unsure what I think to it. Because it means that she hasn't left herself open to writing a further series following Harry, though there is the possibility of writing one follow Albus Severas as he seemed like a nice Character.

Overall for a final of a series I thought it was excellent. I thought Dobby's death was probably the saddest, and great to see Snape's younger years and his friendship with Lilly.

[tiam]

I wasnt impressed at all really. The book wasnt too bad but most of it was like a camping expedition. That was ok. But harry being resurected (although were all fairly used to that here ) was crap he should of died.

What i disliked most was the brady bunch ending but more importantly the completely random introduction to these piles of crap Hallows. It all just seemed so convenient that these would be introduced. If it was just the Horcruxes then it wouldnt be so bad