Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by JK Rowling
![]()

Rate and review Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets! | What does everyone else think?

J.K. Rowling’s series began with the Philosopher’s Stone and The Chamber of Secrets continues the adventures of the young wizard Harry and his friends at Hogwarts.
The Chamber of Secrets begins, as did the Philosopher’s Stone, with Harry once again at home with the dreadful Dursleys. The Dursleys are, to put it mildly, unpleasant and the arrival of the house elf Dobby sets in motion a chain of events that ends with Harry, thanks in no small part to a flying car, happily back at Hogwarts. There are mysterious happenings at Hogwarts and Harry, assisted by his staunch friends Hermoine and Ron set about discovering the truth to the Chamber of Secrets and look for clues to help them understand the attacks on the children at the school.
All the ingredients that made The Philosopher’s Stone a much-loved success are once again here in abundance. This is a rich fantasy tale, fuelled by J.K. Rowling’s vivid imagination and full to the spine with magic, spells, companionship and humour. The humour, in particular, is once again rich in the narrative, a humour that will make both children and adults laugh at loud. Gilderoy Lockhart is a superb character that steals the spotlight from Harry and his friends on more than one occasion.
Cynics may say that the success of the first Harry Potter book made this success of The Chamber of Secrets inevitable. That would, however, be extremely unfair as this is a fine book in its own rights and deserves to be praised every bit as highly as the original. The Harry Potter series is a must read for all children as they are best enjoyed when the imagination is undimmed by age.
The Harry Potter series cannot lay claim to being the most original as J.K. Rowling has drawn on many influences within their construction. The lovely thing is that she pays homage to these influences in her own style and this has made her stories compellingly unique. The ability to completely immerse the reader in a fictional world and make it seem so real is her strongest card and her strong characterisation further enhances this. This is a much darker and adult themed book than its predecessor and this again is well played as the books mature along with Harry Potter.
A delightful fantasy story full of magic, mystery and laughter.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Book 2) (Amazon.co.uk)
Author: J.K. Rowling
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 256
Publication date: 1999-02
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
RRP: £5.99
Lowest new price: £1.00
Lowest used price: £0.01

J K Rowling's sequel to Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone carries on where the original left off. Harry is returning to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry after the summer holidays and, right from the start, things are not straightforward.
Unable to board the Hogwarts express, Harry and his friends break all the rules and make their way to the school in a magical flying car. From this point on, incredible events happen to Harry and his friends--Harry hears evil voices and someone, or something is attacking the pupils. Can Harry get to the bottom of the mystery before it's too late?
As with its predecessor Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a highly readable and imaginative adventure story with real, fallible, characters, plenty of humour and, of course, loads of magic and spells. There is no need to have read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to enjoy this book. However, if you have read it, this is the book you have been waiting for... (Ages 9 to Adult)--Philippa Reece
From Amazon.co.uk

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Amazon.com)
Author: J. K. Rowling
Binding: Paperback
Number of pages: 256
Publication date: 1998-01-01
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
RRP:
Lowest new price:
Lowest used price: $0.01

Submit your own mini-review
Let people know what you think about Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. You can write your own mini-review and give the book the rating that you think it deserves. Your reviews will go towards giving Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets its overall rating that will decide where Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets finishes in the top 100 fantasy books of all time.
Books you may also enjoy...
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Voldemort is and growing stronger as is his following and dangerous times are ahead for our hero and his friends. Dumbledore enlists Harry’s help, to convince his old friend and retired professor Horace Slughorn to return to his old teaching post at Hogwarts. ... read the full review
Summary: Excellent book, in fact I may just start reading it again!
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling

Harry has left Hogwarts to dedicate himself to the quest for final Horcruxes, together with his friends Ron and Hermione. Harry is also searching for the answers he feels Dumbledore has left unanswered and his feelings for his beloved old headmaster veer from anger and bitterness to painful loss. Voldemort continues his rise and nowhere seems to be safe anymore. With three gifts, bequeathed by Dumbledore to our intrepid trio, they set off on their deadliest task yet and know that this could be the end of everything they hold dear, even themselves. With Voldemort ever closer our hero must not hesitate; the final battle is coming and no one knows what the outcome will be. ... read the full review
Summary: I feel a little sad that there will be no more Harry Potter books.
Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody

When you put your mind to considering some of the greatest writers of the English language, it is a source of continuing pity that Isobelle Carmody’s name is not up there along with some of the greats like Tolkien, Lewis and Hemmingway. Though some of her work has been criticized, writing science fiction, fantasy, children’s and young adult literature, Carmody is probably most well known and praised for her work on the Obernewtyn Chronicles. ... read the full review
Summary: Obernewtyn is a pleasure to read.
Also in this sub-genre...
- Nation by Terry Pratchett
- The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
- Watership Down by Richard Adams
- The Yiddish Policemen’s Union by Michael Chabon
- Duncton Wood by William Horwood
- Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling
- The Magicians by Lev Grossman
- Obernewtyn by Isobelle Carmody
- Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling
- Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling
- The Gunslinger by Stephen King
- Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling
- Prince Caspian by CS Lewis
- Duncton Quest by William Horwood
- The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson
- Storm Front by Jim Butcher
- Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
- Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs
- Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs
- Palimpsest by Catherynne M Valente
- The Shadow Year by Jeffrey Ford
- X-isle by Steve Augarde
- Hyddenworld: Spring by William Horwood
- Charlotte’s Web by EB White
- The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay
- The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay
- American Gods by Neil Gaiman
- Return To Allapatria by Shelley E Parker
- The Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling
- The Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay
- Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
- Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs
- Enchanters by David Bryan Russell
- Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding
Book of the Month
Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill
Some doors are better left closed . . . In Barrington House, an upmarket block in London, there is an empty apartment. No one goes in, no one comes out. And it’s been that way for fifty years. Until the night watchman hears a disturbance after midnight and investigates. What he experiences is enough to change his life forever.
Latest interviews
Interviews plus question and answer sessions with authors, narrators and publishers.
Competition: Win a signed copy of Graham Hancock's Entangled
Graham Hancock is the author of The Sign and the Seal, Fingerprints of the Gods, Keeper of Genesis, Heaven's Mirror, Supernatural and other bestselling investigations of historical mysteries. His books have been translated into twenty-seven languages and have sold over five million copies worldwide. Written with the same page-turning appeal that has made his non-fiction so popular, Entangled is his first work of fiction. We have five signed copies of Entangled to give away as prizes. Email us the answer to the following question and the lucky winner, chosen at random, will receive a copy of the book, signed by the author.
Special Feature: Fantasy Book Review talks to the Book View Cafe

Book View Cafe is a cooperative site created by a group of writers - including internationally renowned authors Katharine Kerr, Ursula Le Guin and Vonda N. McIntyre - who want to take advantage of the internet's possibilities for reaching a wider audience and to distribute their work directly to their readers. The Book View Cafe is a place where you can find free, original fiction plus the authors' best and out-of-print work for a fee. Fantasy Book Review spoke to Book View Cafe member, science fiction author and memoirist Chris Dolley in February 2010.
Special Feature: Understanding the author of Alice in Wonderland

Lewis Carroll, the elusive author of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, has been the subject of enduring fascination for the past hundred years. The destruction of many major documents about his personal life by his descendants has only magnified the mystery. Jenny Woolf's biography, published to coincide with the release of the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland film, lays waste to the myths and suspicions that have obscured Carroll's reputation by placing him firmly in the context of his own time.








