Reviews with content warning for Torture - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Title: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Author: J.K. Rowling
Series: Harry Potter #5
Genre: YA Fantasy
Rating: 4.25
Pub Date: June 21, 2003

T H R E E • W O R D S

Angsty • Revealing • Adventurous

📖 S Y N O P S I S

With Harry set to enter his fifth year at Hogwarts, yet another awful summer with the Dursley's comes to a dramatic end. Harry is eager to get back to school and find out what his friends have been so secretive all summer long. When Dumbledore reveals everything, Harry's world will be turned upside down, yet again.

💭 T H O U G H T S

As I continue my re-read of the Harry Potter series, I recall Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix being my least favourite of the books. I'll admit to enjoying it much more this time around, despite it being rather lengthy.

Book five introduces a host of new characters, and answers a bunch of questions. The plot has certainly darkened and although there is a lot of filler, everything felt necessary to move the story forward. I absolutely love Ginny's place is this installment and she remains one of my favourite characters, along with Hagrid (obviously for different reasons). I also appreciated Harry's time with Sirius.

Reading this as an adult, I noticed a bunch of teenage milestones and behaviours that I hadn't picked up on as a teenager. At times Harry can be downright annoying, but honestly who could blame him with everything he has been through and each new challenge he faces.

Jim Dale's brilliant narration continues to be a welcome enhancement to my reading experience. Returning to Hogwarts is always an enjoyable time, and I am looking forward to reading the final two books to complete my re-read. In all honesty, it's been so long that I don't really remember much of what happens.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Harry Potter fanatics
• readers of all ages

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Indifference and neglect often do much more damage than outright dislike."

"Things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end, if not always in the way we expect."

Content Warnings

jhbandcats's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

For me, this is the most difficult and painful book in the series. Harry and his friends are angry and miserable in much of the book, and the scene in the chapter Beyond the Veil is shattering. Excellent book, hard to read.

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sdemo08's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful lighthearted tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Ooof, things are getting darker. This one is always a difficult read as we lose another loved one with Harry. The war is escalating and we ultimately see major heartbreak as Harry struggles throughout the the year only to experience another loss.

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idkwhoisnita's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

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lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

After the heartbreaking ending of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" I was a little hesitant to dive back into Hogwarts because I knew what devastation awaited me in this installment. Overall, I am still thoroughly enjoying my audiobook indulgence of this series, and I am still continuously blown away by the magic of these stories.
Book five is where the story really becomes dark and stays dark, and just when there is hope and happiness, J.K. Rowling seems to rip it away from us.

Voldemort is officially back in the Wizarding World and he is ready to pick up where he left off fifteen years ago. There are many people who are hesitant to believe Harry and what he saw in the maze, but Harry still has his best pals, Ron and Hermoine, and the majority of Hogwarts on his side. This year's new defense against the dark arts teacher is one of the most hated women in the series: Dolores Umbridge. Harry begins to take matters into his own hands, and he assembles Dumbledore's Army: a collection of students who believe Voldemort is back and want to prepare themselves.
I HATED reading about Dolores Umbridge. Her sugary sweet personality is sickening and only a mask to disguise how ugly she is underneath. She causes so many problems at Hogwarts and literally tortures students into submission. I was SO happy when she finally got kicked out in the end. I was most hesitant to read this book because this is where we lose Sirius. Harry finally finds himself a family, a family that supports him and loves him unconditionally, and Bellatrix Lestrange kills him! I definitely got teary eyed during that battle scene, especially because Harry does not want to initially believe it. After everything Harry has lost, losing Sirius was almost too much. I am happy he has his found family, but I really wish he could have someone just for him.

Book five is filled with action, love, heartbreak, and hope. I cannot wait to continue on with book six!

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