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reesepective 's review for:
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
by J.K. Rowling
Ah yes, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets—where Harry James Potter goes from “famous orphan wizard” to “possibly the Heir of Slytherin” in record time, and all because the castle won’t stop trying to murder people. Charming.
The second instalment in the series is where things really start to flex. The wonder of the wizarding world is still in full swing, but now there’s an edge to it—darker corners, nastier secrets, and a monster literally slithering in the walls. There’s also an enchanted diary, a bit of attempted murder, and a house-elf who really needs to work on his delivery method for saving lives. (Dobby, bless him, has the best intentions and the worst execution.)
We open with Harry James Potter being imprisoned by the Dursleys (again), and he’s “rescued” by a flying car like he’s escaping some wizarding witness protection programme. The whole scene feels mildly cultish—in the best way. He then spends an idyllic few weeks with the Weasleys (I want to live in the Burrow, honestly), and things are looking up… until Ronald Bilius Weasley and Harry James Potter miss the train and crash into a Whomping Willow. Honestly, no one causes more disruption on the way to school than these two.
This book really shows the trio starting to hit their stride. Hermione Jean Granger continues to be the brains, Harry James Potter the instinct, and Ronald Bilius Weasley—surprisingly—is the emotional core. I didn’t appreciate Ronald Bilius Weasley much when I was younger, but re-reading this with older (and marginally wiser) eyes, I found myself laughing at his lines and genuinely appreciating the balance he brings. He’s the grounding force between Harry James Potter’s trauma and Hermione Jean Granger’s logic.
The mystery here is beautifully structured—J. K. Rowling starts planting those “oh that’s what that meant” seeds, and on a re-read, you’ll spot easter eggs that link up with events much further down the line. That’s where this book really shines: the foreshadowing, the careful pacing, and the slow revelation of just how deep the roots of Lord Voldemort’s evil really go. We get our first glimpse of Tom Marvolo Riddle in his charming schoolboy form—slick, cunning, and dangerously persuasive. It’s brilliant character work. This isn’t just a villain with no nose; this is someone who once had a face, and a disturbingly convincing one at that.
In short: flying cars, friendship, curses, and a diary that writes back—what’s not to love? The magic’s still there, but this time it comes with consequences. A must-read, whether it’s your first visit to Hogwarts or your tenth.
The second instalment in the series is where things really start to flex. The wonder of the wizarding world is still in full swing, but now there’s an edge to it—darker corners, nastier secrets, and a monster literally slithering in the walls. There’s also an enchanted diary, a bit of attempted murder, and a house-elf who really needs to work on his delivery method for saving lives. (Dobby, bless him, has the best intentions and the worst execution.)
We open with Harry James Potter being imprisoned by the Dursleys (again), and he’s “rescued” by a flying car like he’s escaping some wizarding witness protection programme. The whole scene feels mildly cultish—in the best way. He then spends an idyllic few weeks with the Weasleys (I want to live in the Burrow, honestly), and things are looking up… until Ronald Bilius Weasley and Harry James Potter miss the train and crash into a Whomping Willow. Honestly, no one causes more disruption on the way to school than these two.
This book really shows the trio starting to hit their stride. Hermione Jean Granger continues to be the brains, Harry James Potter the instinct, and Ronald Bilius Weasley—surprisingly—is the emotional core. I didn’t appreciate Ronald Bilius Weasley much when I was younger, but re-reading this with older (and marginally wiser) eyes, I found myself laughing at his lines and genuinely appreciating the balance he brings. He’s the grounding force between Harry James Potter’s trauma and Hermione Jean Granger’s logic.
The mystery here is beautifully structured—J. K. Rowling starts planting those “oh that’s what that meant” seeds, and on a re-read, you’ll spot easter eggs that link up with events much further down the line. That’s where this book really shines: the foreshadowing, the careful pacing, and the slow revelation of just how deep the roots of Lord Voldemort’s evil really go. We get our first glimpse of Tom Marvolo Riddle in his charming schoolboy form—slick, cunning, and dangerously persuasive. It’s brilliant character work. This isn’t just a villain with no nose; this is someone who once had a face, and a disturbingly convincing one at that.
In short: flying cars, friendship, curses, and a diary that writes back—what’s not to love? The magic’s still there, but this time it comes with consequences. A must-read, whether it’s your first visit to Hogwarts or your tenth.