Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Review

Is the final installment the best Harry Potter novel?

by Mark Zurlo

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With an unparalleled amount of excitement and anticipation building around the release of the seventh and final Harry Potter novel, could Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows possibly live up to the hype? This question, probably best left to the millions of diehard Harry Potter fans worldwide to decide, would seem to be a resounding "yes." Deathly Hallows features everything readers have come to expect from the Harry Potter series: heart-pounding action, narrow escapes, and plenty of edge-of-your-seat excitement.

Never a Shortage of Tension

While many readers thought the last installment of the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, was a nail-biting read, Deathly Hallows brings tension to a new level. Harry and his friends face death and narrow escapes at nearly every turn. Such critical situations allow the characters to learn a great deal not only about magic, but also about themselves. Past books in the series have often featured one epic battle to close the story, but Deathly Hallow features such adventures throughout, guaranteeing that the action never becomes dull and readers never feel bored despite the 700+ page length.

Questions Answered

Leading up the release of Deathly Hallows, fans had a long list of questions they hoped would be answered in the series finale. It is safe to say that J. K. Rowling satisfies most curiosities. However, answering questions was not the only strong point in the Deathly Hallows. Indeed, an intriguing new tale, that of the Legend of the Deathly Hallows, was also woven into the story, alongside the characters' search for the seven Horcruxes, which began at the conclusion of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Surprising Secrets Finally Revealed

The most surprising—and welcome—element of the book is the way it enlightens readers on the personal history of two of the series' most pivotal characters: Albus Dumbledore and Severus Snape. Through Rowling's portrayals of the two characters, we see that our assumptions, even if they are built upon six previous books, aren't always correct, and evil, as well as good, can be found inside just about every character. Deathly Hallows serves as a fitting end to one of the world's most popular literary series. Harry Potter is destined to join the ranks of the most beloved fictional characters of all time, and he will live on as future generations continue to discover the series and enjoy it as so many millions already have.

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