As most of you know, I am a huge follower of the Harry Potter series of movies and books. I have to admit that I have been eagerly waiting for this book for over two years. Finally, everything can be tied up with no dangling plot holes.

Well, not exactly, but close.

First. let me warn any potential reader that they should not skip to the well-publicized epilogue at the end of the book. It gives away a great deal. Also, and I fell victim to this, please do not believe the spoilers publicized all over the web. They were all wrong for the most part.

And now to the book.

This one was a departure from all of the others. In times before, the story bounces in and out of the main characters, setting up various plotlines. Not this one. It pretty much stays with Harry and crew as they go through the task of finding the horcruxes and destroying them.

The story twist and turns and catches you by surprise at almost every turn. There are new characters as well as the familiar cast we’ve grown to love and hate so much through the years.

Without giving any specifics away, let me just say that the book has satisfied almost all of the plotlines we all wanted more information on. We learn about Harry’s Mother, Dumbledore’s early life and family, wand lore, love, hate, pain, life, death (more on that in a few lines) and forgiveness.

Did I say death? JKR keeps you guessing til the end just who will die and who will live. By the time you get to the last chapter, you will have realized that no character is so important that they couldn’t die (and I mean no character). Death is so prevalent in Deathy Hallows that there are times when you will actually be worried that someone is dead becasue you haven’t seen them mentioned in a page or two.

Why will you feel this way? Because JKR leaves us a lot of carnage in this book.

What will we finally understand from this reading?
1) Whether or not Snape is good or bad
2) Was Harry the chosen one? Or Nevelle?
3) Will Harry, Ron, or Hermione survive?
4) Do Ron and Hermione get together? (Depends on question 4 is all I can say)
5) Will Ginny and Harry get together? (See question 4)
6) Is Harry a horcrux?
7) Why did JKR suggest to the filmakers that Kreature be put in HP and the Order?
8) Does Voldie get his? (If you know what I mean.
9) Will Harry return to school as a pupil?
10) Who was RAB?

All of this and more.

Overall, I’d give this one a very satisfying 8.5 out of 10. It doesn’t answer everything I asked, but it comes pretty darn close. I loved it.

One last thing. JKR has let her kids in the book grow. They get to drink more than ButterBeer, swear like real kids (bearly PG rated) and have young adult growing pains. Nice touch.

I hope you like it as much as I did.