A review by lastingliterature
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

We are nearly the end of the audio re-read marathon, and I am getting sad!!

It was so comforting to read this book again. I have always loved the later books, and I felt ALL of the emotions when reading this one. As Sirius is gone, Dumbledore steps up and takes on the role of Harry’s (last) protector. Each time they met, I wanted to scream at Dumbledore to tell him more! But, alas, I guess that’s what book 7 is for…

Dumbledore has been a fairly minor character up until this point, but in this book he ✨shines✨ I absolutely loved Harry’s lessons with him in this one, and I love the relationship they develop. You truly can see how much love Dumbledore has for that boy and how far he is willing to go to protect him. 

When he tells Harry, “I’m not worried, Harry...I am with you” 😭😭, I about died. THE TRUST. THE LOVE. Ah!

That’s what makes it so heartbreaking when he meets his end—much more heartbreaking than Sirius, in my opinion. Once again, I do miss some of our secondary characters. Fred and George are mostly gone, Neville is barely mentioned, even Hagrid is hardly seen! I could always use less Snape, but oh well. I do love Ginny finally becoming a real character in this one—the movies do NOT do my girl justice. She is such a powerhouse. Go Harry. 

It still annoys me that Harry AGAIN refuses to work on the task he is given. Finding out the clues in Goblet of Fire, learning occlumency in Order of the Phoenix, and now ignoring Dumbledore’s task of getting Slughorn’s memory! Step it up, boy!

And like a few of the others in this series, all of the action is saved up for the end. Nothing really trulyhappens until Harry and Dumbledore leave the castle. Much of the first 2/3 of the book is Harry skulking after Malfoy, Harry barely trying to get Slughorn’s memory, and teenage love drama. I don’t love that but man, those last 100 pages get you in your feels. It’s worth it. 

Despite these minor flaws like the last book, I absolutely still love it. You end this book NEEDING to move on to the next one, and I am so glad I don’t have to wait for it like I did as a child. Not let me wipe away my tears and go start Deathly Hallows…

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️