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

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on December 4, 2015 | 3 Comments


Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #7
Published by Scholastic Press (7.21.2007)
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 784 pages
Source: I own it


5 Stars

Harry is waiting in Privet Drive.

The Order of the Phoenix is coming to escort him safely away without Voldemort and his supporters knowing - if they can.

But what will Harry do then? How can he fulfil the momentous and seemingly impossible task that Professor Dumbledore has left him?

My thoughts

CAUTION: Spoilers if you haven’t read the series!

Oh my gosh, how do I even review this?! I was completely blown away by this book. I think it was my favorite of the series, besides Prisoner of Azkaban (because Sirius Black, of course).

My absolute favorite part of this book was Snape’s memories after his death. HOLY. SHIT. You guys, I was fucking bawling. I know he acted like a horrible person, and I probably shouldn’t romanticize him, but his love for Lily Potter is freaking beautiful. And the reveal of the doe Patronus being his made me cry even harder, especially when he said “Always.” I mean, I knew he was in love with Lily. I remembered that much from the movies. (And of course I knew the ‘always’ quote, it’s EVERYWHERE.) But I hadn’t remembered anything else regarding it, including his Patronus. But I guessed as soon as the doe appeared in the woods, because it made sense. SO. BEAUTIFUL. (Might I add I also bawled my eyes out at that part in the movie when I watched it after reading the book.)

I really love Harry and Hermione’s relationship in this book. I think I said in my review of Half-Blood Prince that I absolutely LOVE that they have such a strong platonic relationship, and I wish there were more friendships portrayed like that in fiction. I think in this book it’s the strongest ever, because they stick together in their search despite everything. It totally sucks that the Horcrux messed with Ron’s perception of them. Although I do quite love the part where Ron comes swooping back in and saves Harry’s ass! (And the whole “he must’ve known you’d always want to come back” that Dumbledore said….LOVELOVELOVE.)

I love the story of the Hallows so much, you guys! I think it’s such a fabulous little snippet. J.K. Rowling is a genius.

I had an emotional connection to this book that I didn’t have for most of the series. All of the character deaths in this one really affected me, and I didn’t realize how attached I was to all of them! Hedwig’s death really got me, and I cried when Fred died even though I knew it was coming (SO pissed at the movies for glossing over it!), but what surprised me the most is how much Dobby’s death affected me. I was bawling! I didn’t even care much for him when I watched the movies before I read the books, because he creeped me out. But he had a MUCH bigger role in the books, and I hadn’t realized how much he meant to me until he died! *sobs* (And I cried the second time around watching the movie because of that!)

As far as the movies go, they did a decent job – the only thing that really upsets me is the fact that they glossed over some of the deaths like they were less important (and cut out the fact that Wormtail’s hand makes him kill himself), and they cut out a lot of Snape’s memories. The thing I’m most pissed about, however, was the fact that they left out the part where Carrow spits in Professor McGonagall’s face while Harry is hiding under his invisibility cloak, and he whips the cloak off, says “You shouldn’t have done that” and freaking uses the Cruciatus curse on him. The first and only time he ever curses anyone is because they spit in his teacher’s face. That part was amazing, and probably my favorite scene in the whole freaking book! I’m also pretty disappointed that they left out the very cathartic scene between Harry and Dudley where Dudley tells him he’s not a waste of space. Why was that only a deleted scene?! That was so important >:(

I’m also not quite sure how I felt about the dance scene between Harry and Hermione. I mean, I like it, but at the same time, it makes it seem like there might be more than just friendship there, and there was never even a little bit in the books. Actually, I remember thinking of it as an almost love triangle when I saw the movies, before I read the books. Because the movies don’t make it so clear that they are ONLY friends and absolutely nothing more.

Most everything that I wish had been included in the movies is detailed in this Buzzfeed post!

In conclusion, I am so, SO glad that I finally read this series. I can’t believe I put it off for so long! I really wish that I had read it much younger, and grown up with it. I’m pretty sad that I didn’t, actually. I already want to read it again! They aren’t my favorite books, but they have a special place in my heart!

Favorite quotes

“It is a curious thing, Harry, but perhaps those who are best suited to power are those who have never sought it.”

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

 

Overall Assessment

Plot: 4.5/5 
Premise: 5/5 
Writing style: 4.5/5 
Originality: 5/5 
Characters: 4.5/5 
World-building: 4.5/5 
Pace: 4.5/5 
Feels: 5/5 
Cover: 3.5/5 
Overall rating: 5/5

The Harry Potter series

HP sorcerer's stone HP chamber of secrets HP prisoner of azkaban

HP goblet of fire HP order of the phoenix 1 HP deathly hallows

Overall series rating:

4 half heartbeats

Jessi (Geo)

Posted in: Book Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , ,

Subscribe to Novel Heartbeat to get more posts like this!

3 responses to “Review: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

  1. YAY!! SO glad you loved Deathly Hallows!! It’s definitely one of my favorites.
    Since you’re all hyped up on Harry Potter, I suggest coming around to my blog, bookyabber.com. I’m hosting an all December long event called Pottermas, with my good friend, Nicole of Nicole’s Novel Reads. It’s a series re-read paired with discussions, trivia and a giveaway, gift guides, recipes, ETC.
    Hope to see you there, Jessi!

  2. This was, hands-down, my favorite of the series. Everything just really hit me and everything felt for the characters just grew ten-fold in this one book. I also love Harry & Hermione’s friendship, and I actually really like the dance scene in the movie! I think if you know them, you know it’s not romantic, that he’s just trying to cheer her up, and it made me happy inside. Of course, I watched the movie after reading the book, so that might affect my opinion. So glad you loved the finale too!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.