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

Well, how about that finale? It’s the final epic showdown for Harry Potter against his worst enemy, Voldemort. Somehow he’s got to work through the mess he’s been left in after Dumbledore’s death, figure out how to destroy the horcruxes, and face another problem – his own inevitable death. Spoilers ahead.

Title: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Author: J.K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter, Book 07
Publish Date: July 21, 2007
Genre: YA Fantasy
Source: Purchased

Publisher’s Description: It’s no longer safe for Harry at Hogwarts, so he and his best friends, Ron and Hermione, are on the run. Professor Dumbledore has given them clues about what they need to do to defeat the dark wizard, Lord Voldemort, once and for all, but it’s up to them to figure out what these hints and suggestions really mean.

Their cross-country odyssey has them searching desperately for the answers, while evading capture or death at every turn. At the same time, their friendship, fortitude, and sense of right and wrong are tested in ways they never could have imagined.

The ultimate battle between good and evil that closes out this final chapter of the epic series takes place where Harry’s Wizarding life began: at Hogwarts. The satisfying conclusion offers shocking last-minute twists, incredible acts of courage, powerful new forms of magic, and the resolution of many mysteries.

Above all, this intense, cathartic book serves as a clear statement of the message at the heart of the Harry Potter series: that choice matters much more than destiny, and that love will always triumph over death.

Possible spoilers beyond this point.

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Kat Mandu says…

J.K. Rowling closes the series up with a perfectly happy ending. I’ve expressed time and time again how remarkable this series is and I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed rereading the entire seven books with my friends. All that world-building and marvelous writing just hits all the right feels.

Here’s a wrap up of all the things I love about these books.

• Top four favorite characters –
  1. Hagrid – this gentle giant was Harry’s first friend and I adore him and his love for dangerous creatures, his undivided loyalty, and his soft heart.
  2. Sirius – as a man who only got to be in Harry’s world for a short time, I really loved Sirius and his fatherly wisdom, recklessness, and humor.
  3. Luna – Who doesn’t love Luna? I mean, she’s funny and quirky, plus she has all the best ideas when Harry needs them, is very kind, and is a deep friend to Harry.
  4. Hermione – Smart, powerful, and sassy, it’s hard to find someone to compare to Hermione Granger. I love that she’s muggle born and proves just how much of a badass she is throughout all seven books.
• Favorite creature – Dobby and Kreature; I just love house elves!
• Favorite book – Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban.
• Favorite movie – Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince.
• All-time favorite scene – When Dumbledore duels Voldemort near the end of Harry Potter & The Order of the Phoenix. Also, I really enjoy the love potion scene between Ron and Harry in book six. It just makes me giggle every time.

And well, I love everything else. What can I say? It’s been a pleasure rereading this and I’d do it again.

Luna Lovebooks says…

After finishing HP7 and watching the last movie again, I feel like it’s the end of an era all over! I love the way we get to see Snape’s love/hate relationship with Harry. All of the death is tragic, but there is the uplifting theme of friendship and hope as well. These characters will always be in my heart and this story will forever have changed me.

Invested Ivana says…

The Deathly Hallows is a serious and bittersweet book with a lot of heartache. I hated that we had to lose beloved characters. However, I did enjoy learning the backstories on Dumbledore and Snape. However, after realizing just how awful Snape behaved toward CHILDREN in this reread, I just can’t buy him, anymore, as the hero adult Harry makes him out to be at the end of the book.  He did a heroic thing, for whatever his own reasons were, but I feel that, especially in literature, the title of “Hero” is less about one deed and more about a person’s character.

That being said, the comparison between Dumbledore and Snape made by this book is so very interesting. Both of them did some seriously regrettable things in their pasts. Both of them spent most of their lives trying to make up for them by doing heroic things. In many ways, the similarities between them are astonishing. Yet they are viewed by most people so very differently. Why? Were Dumbledore’s actions any better or worse than Snape’s, really? Were their talents? Were their results?

Or was it just they way they chose to show up, the way they chose to “be” with other people? Snape was mostly angry and bitter and cruel. Dumbledore was mostly gracious and kind. In the end, they may have both been on the same side, but the way they chose to be with other people made a big difference. Interesting life lesson, I think.

Agent Annie says…

I so enjoyed this final book in the series. I think J.K. Rowling achieves the right tone with Harry sacrificing himself in order to save others, and choosing to end the reign of Voldemort by destroying hoarcruxes, rather than finding the Deathly Hallows and having ultimate power. Harry is a true hero who has unusual moral courage; it makes you wonder where that came from since he had no role models in the Dursleys.

I found myself better able to pay attention to the conversation Dumbledore had with Harry at the ethereal King’s Cross Station. I know better now what Harry’s true power was: the love of his parents.

This series definitely gets better the second time you read it. I would recommend a third reading just to be able to take in more of the details. I have the series in hardback and in audio format and I can see reading these books over again for many years just to see how my perspective changes as I grow older. I highly recommend this series to kids and adults.

Our reviews in this series…

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Book 01
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Book 02
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Book 03
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Book 04
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Book 05
• Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Book 06
• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Book 07
• Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Book 08
• All the Harry Potter companion books by J. K. Rowling