Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling Series: Harry Potter #5
Published by Scholastic Press (6.21.2003)
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 870 pages
Source: I own it
Harry Potter is due to start his fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. His best friends Ron and Hermione have been very secretive all summer and he is desperate to get back to school and find out what has been going on. However, what Harry discovers is far more devastating than he could ever have expected...
Suspense, secrets and thrilling action from the pen of J.K. Rowling ensure an electrifying adventure that is impossible to put down.
My thoughts
CAUTION: SPOILERS!
I am seriously becoming so addicted to this series! I feel like each book gets better and better, and now I can definitely see why everyone was saying that the books were way better than the movies. There’s so many little wonderful details in the books!
I must say, I’m kind of upset that I was robbed of the feeling I should have felt at the death of Sirius Black. I knew he was going to die at some point, but I couldn’t remember which one it was in from watching the movies (I remember basically nothing from the last 4-5 movies). But, when he fell through the veil I didn’t feel anything because I didn’t believe that he was actually dead. I mean, I pretty much gathered that to walk through the veil meant death, but I still didn’t believe it. It wasn’t the same as actually seeing him die, if that makes sense. It wasn’t like Cedrid Diggory’s death, where you knew without a doubt that he was dead as soon as it happened. And because of that, I didn’t feel anything at all. I kept waiting for him to come back! I’m upset because I wasn’t upset, how silly does that sound? But he was my favorite character and I should have cried. When Voldemort had him in Harry’s dream, I gasped out loud! Argh.
I liked the undercurrent of intrigue that Harry’s dreams created! Also, we finally get to meet Luna Lovegood and Bellatrix Lestrange, so yay. I think my favorite part of this book was the secret gatherings though – I love that they set up their own defense lessons, and the room they were in was awesome!
I also enjoyed seeing the snippets of James’ and Snape’s past. It kind of sheds some light on the way that Snape acts, and his resentment of James Potter. (And I know that Snape was in love with Lily, of course. I can’t wait to see that backstory!) I actually felt sorry for him in the scene of his worst memory.
Overall assessment
Plot: 4/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 4/5
World-building: 4.5/5
Pace: 4/5
Feels: 3/5
Cover: 3.5/5
Overall rating: 4/5
Previous books
I love that you’re loving this series. Love it so, so, SO much. I have to agree with you on Sirius though. When I read the book, it was just a day or two after release date so, unfortunately, I’d already heard that there was going to be a death in the book. When I read that scene, I didn’t even clue in what happened! I was a few pages past it, and then thought, “Hey, where did Sirius go? And why is Harry sad?” and then I had to flip back a few pages and figure out what happened. It was very subtle, and not super clear. I can’t wait to read your review for Book 6 — it’s my favourite of the series =)
My favorite book remains the last one! I did love this one, though Harry himself annoyed me a lot for most of the book. XD And yeah, my best friend and I still hate Rowling for killing Sirius. xD
If it makes you feel better, I had managed to steer clear of spoilers about Sirius’ death, and when I read about it, it didn’t really click for me either. It didn’t feel real, and then I felt bad for Harry but I didn’t think it hurt me like it was supposed to, because I suppose I never really got to know him.