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SPOILER ALERT!!! IF YOU HAVE FINISHED THE BOOK, READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

After months of anticipation for theories to be proven wrong or right, the seventh book that ends the Harry Potter series is read with high expectations. Now is the bar set too high? The main plot left from book six is to destroy the four remaining objects that house You-Know-Who’s soul. It’s a guarantee that the book will be entertaining because J.K. Rowling has a knack for creating scenes and imagery so strong that readers can’t help but get emotionally involved in the story. Have all the loose ends, however, been tied in this finale?

I would say, Yes. Although throughout the book, there were a tad too many coincidences that help Harry realize and discover what to do next. The story goes too smoothly when Harry’s actions are determined by seeing into Voldemort’s mind. Closing his eyes to visualize Voldemort’s malicious intent is a fabulous way to discover and thwart the enemy’s plans, but it becomes anti-climatic and gives a sense of a short cut. There were a few times when I wondered whether the book was a bit rushed because the deaths of many characters were just bluntly announced (Lupin and Tonks), when I believe that the reader should have been in a part of the action leading up to it. The robbery of Gringotts was all too easy. There were parts where I thought it could be more in-depth, especially after Harry learns of The Prince’s Tale when I really wanted to know what Harry was thinking. And after the war, with the Evil man gone, how was everybody coping with their losses? (George! Fred! George!) The epilogue definitely was not even close to satisfaction.

But the point is that the many good points overshadow the bad. Neville’s fantastic character development from being a timid little boy into a total he-warrior-hero-man was absolutely delightful. The battle at Hogwarts was riveting, McGonagall and the head teachers leading the students to defend against the death eaters was intense. And Snape…. Oh, Snape.

What made the book even more powerful was its parallelism to World War II. The incorporation of the historical time into many of the scenes gave a sense of realism and goose bumps. I definitely like the action packed Deathly Hallows. Confrontations, close encounters, and battle scenes will keep one at the edge of the seat and reading throughout the night.