Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling

Buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from Amazon.co.uk Buy Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince from Amazon.com

Summary Excellent book, in fact I may just start reading it again!

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. He succeeds and Professor Slughorn begins the term at Hogwarts teaching potions, with Severus Snape now the Defence of Dark Arts teacher, the job he has so long hankered after. Harry is lent a potions book by Professor Slughorn, which Harry finds a number of notes from it's previous owner, which allow Harry to excel in a subject he has never been more than average at. The book is marked "Property of the Half-Blood Prince". Things do not appear to be as they should to Harry; he overhears Malfoy, who he sees entering a shop dealing in dark arts artefacts and then threatening the shop keeper about an item he wants repairing and another that needs to be kept safe. Snape also seems up to no good but Harry is frustrated at Dumbledore’s seemingly disinterest in Harry’s fears that they both maybe in league with the Death Eaters. As Voldemort gathers strength Dumbledore must prepare Harry for what is to come and looks to past to help find clues that may help them in the fight against the Dark Lord. Not only must Harry now conquer his fear but also his feelings for someone very close to him. The battle against Voldemort continues but can it be a happy ending?

This is my absolute favourite book of the entire series. It’s so dark in places, in fact quite creepy, but the flashbacks to the past in which we learn so much about Voldemort or should I say Tom Riddle are absolute absorbing. Everything seems to be at risk here and you just don’t know what will happen next, nothing and no one seems to be safe anymore. There is also a touch of romance, and not just for Harry, which helps to lighten things, but the tension in this book is palpable and it really isn’t one you can put down. It’s a hefty book but I managed it over a weekend and was left wanting more. There are so many plot lines in this one and the thumping pace does not let up from first page to last. As for new twists and turns and complete revelations, well there are more than you can shake a stick at. Excellent book, in fact I may just start reading it again!