The epicentre of magical fiction. - Rated 
I opened this novel prepared for a gradual deceleration of plot and character developments - after all, such a slow-down happens regularly in series of books as long as the Harry Potter series. But I was proved completely wrong within the first ten pages of this enchanting novel. Rowling must be commended for her capacity to develop the character of Potter into a mature, young man, who has himself the ability to take the role of protagonist so well in this epic book. I would go so far to say that this penultimate novel rivals the greatness of the very introduction that sets Harry Potter so further apart from other characters in fantasy fiction, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. Another work from Rowling to read and reread with great pleasure.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince on Audio - Rated
The book is really awesome. Don't get me wrong, I just like Harry.
Anyway, I found this audio cd collection somewhere and I just can't stop listening to it. Stephen Fry's readings always give the books by J. K. Rowling a little kick. Once you start hearing the story read to you by Mr. Fry you read along, or follow, the text written by the acclaimed novellist.
The film is coming out soon, but I think the filmmakers should have chosen an older person to play Dumbledore. Apart from that, the original cast glows like an on-glowing light.
My favourite Harry Potter book - Rated
This was my favourite Harry Potter book it was a real page turner.I read it in a day.
brill book - Rated
Harry's sixth year in school is filled with problems and adventures. There Snape is the Defence against Dark Arts teacher and the Potions teacher has something important that is needed by Harry. Slughorn is very impressed by Harry's potion making and rewards him with a lucky potion. He has parties for good students which to every single one Harry and Hermione are invited but not Ron. The guests can bring along a friend but Harry has more important things to do with Professor Dumbledore including seeing and visiting the past of Voldermort and trying to trace the Seven Horcruxes. Fleur (Beauxbatons champion) and Bill (Ron's brother) get engaged and they start planning the wedding. Near the end of the book, someone who is much unexpected and trusted kills Dumbledore. But who? Read the book to find out! Rating: 10
Horcruxes - Rated
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is the sixth Harry Potter book in the series. I got a copy of this book just before I turned 17, shortly after the release (a little over two years ago now). This isn't as good as book 5 (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, but it's my favourite after this. Out of all seven books, this book is my third favourite and book 5 is my second.
Once again it was great when I got it, not just because it was a new Harry Potter book, but because of the way the previous book ended. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (book 4) ended with the return of Lord Voldemort and book 5 continued with that story, in which very few people believed Harry. The book ended with the truth being announced to the wizarding world, as Voldemort had been seen by Cornelius Fudge (minister of magic) as well as a few employees at the ministry. Fudge was forced to accept the truth and deny it no longer.
In this book, we learn that now the truth's been annonced the ministry now sees Harry as a symbol of hope. The prophecy that Harry may be the one to destroy Lord Voldemort for good has leaked out somehow. Now the prophecy is flying around the wizarding world.
The book starts of with the Prime Minister (who I assume to be John Major as this is set in July or August in 1996). In the first chapter (and I was pleased with this part as I took a severe dis-liking to the character in book 5) we learn that Fudge has been demoted (ha ha) and a wizard named Rufus Scrimgeour has replaced him as minister of magic. We also learn that the dementors have joined Lord Voldemort. It's in that chapter when the Prime Minister is alerted of Voldemort's return.
In the meantime Narcissa Malfoy (Draco's Mother), along with Bellatrix Lestraneg visit Snape in a desperation to have Snape make an unbreakable vow (a promise he has to keep and according to Ron those who break it die) and watch over Draco and ensure that he completes the task Lord Voldemort has set him. Is Snape a Death Eater after all? Or is he working as a spy for Dumbledore?
That same evening (thanks to Harry's persuation), Dumbledore is able to bring an old teacher Horace Slughorn out of retirement and have him return to Hogwarts.
Harry spends the rest of the summer with the Weasleys and it's that summer when he realizes that Draco has joined the Death Eaters, although neither Ron nor Hermione take Harry seriously.
They return to Hogwarts for their 6th year in which Harry is able to do Potions in NEWT level after all (he needs a NEWT grade in potions if he wants to become an auror, a dark wizard catcher), due to Slughorn being the new potions teacher, although Harry is outraged that Snape has become the new defence against the dark arts teacher.
Harry orders a copy of Advanced Potion Making, required for his sixth year and in the meantime has to make do with one of Hogwarts's copies. His however has been graffitied; made up spells have been written in the book and potion methods have been scribbled out and altered.
Harry learns from the book that it once belonged to someone known as the half-blood prince. Who that is is a mystery to Harry, although the half-blood prince does seem to be very clever as his or her instructions produce Harry top results in potions and wins him a bottle of luck potion (felix fellicis) in his first ever lesson.
Hermione believes that the owner of the book is dangerous as is the book itself. Personally I felt that Hermione was just annoyed that Harry uses is to cheat his way through potions, although I do agree with her that Harry shouldn't test an unknown spell without looking up what it does.
In the meantime Dumbledore gives Harry secret lessons, in which they observe people's memories with the pensieve, which are all linked to Voldemort's past and according to Dumbledore this is all very important. These memories are very important as they give Harry knowledge about Lord Voldemort and will help him destroy the evil git for once and for all.
These events in the book are actually important in the story. Particually the one in which Tom Riddle (Voldemort) asks Slughorn what Horcruxes are. Dumbledore sends Harry in an urgent mission to retrieve the real memory of Slughorn as he's tampered with the one they observe. In this book we learn what a Horcrux is, which is basically an object containing a piece of somebody's soul. They have to commit a murder and perform a spell, in which a piece of their soul is torn and incased in an object. Creating a horcrux gives immortality to the wizard that makes one.
Throughout his year Harry's still convinced that Draco is a Death Eater and is determined to prove it and find out where Draco is always dissappearing to and what he's always up to.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince is an excellent book and it's great, not just for the storyline, but due to the fact it explains a few things, such as how Lord Voldemort got so powerful and how became to be mutated looking during the years. It's all in here. It also features some romance.
Harry falls in love with Ginny in his sixth year, which is ironic as it was Ginny who fancied Harry in books 2 and 3. Also Ron begins dating a girl in his year Lavender Brown. I won't tell you wether or not Harry does get Ginny. You'll just have to find out.
The book has a few mysteries. Amongst them are the following...
What's Malfoy up to?
Who is the Half-Blood Prince?
Is Snape on Dumbledore's side?
How did Dumbledore severly injure his right hand?
There's also a couple of other mysteries such as the cursed necklace and the poisoned mead. The horcruxes I've already explained. They're all revealled by the end of the book, which ironically ends with a new mystery; what does the initials R.A.B. stand for?
This book is very brilliant and very eventful throughout. It has a brillant yet tragic ending also. J.K Rowling is a brilliant author, with a great imagination. She's writes the books brilliantly in my opinion; she doesn't drag them out (if you catch my drift. I don't mean the actually length of her books but the way they're written) and she doesn't quicken her books either. Excellent book.
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