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The Unofficial Harry Potter Character Series
Voldemort: Die inoffizielle Biografie des berüchtigten Dunklen Lords
Eine fesselnde Reise zu den dunklen Ufern des Harry-Potter-Universums!
Wohl kaum eine Figur ist so verabscheuungswürdig und zugleich faszinierend wie Lord Voldemort. Denn hinter dem schrecklichen Alter Ego, das Tom Riddle von sich geschaffen hat, verbirgt sich ein qualvolles Schicksal voller düsterer Abgründe. Diese fesselnde Biografie blickt hinter die wohlgehütete Maske des dunklen Magiers, der zum meistgefürchteten Zauberer aller Zeiten werden wollte. Sie enthüllt mit scharfem Blick fürs Detail, wie aus einem vernachlässigten Waisenkind »Der, dessen Name nicht genannt werden darf« wurde – und lädt dazu ein, die Menschlichkeit in einem Mann zu entdecken, der alles daransetzte, sie zu vernichten.
Wohl kaum eine Figur ist so verabscheuungswürdig und zugleich faszinierend wie Lord Voldemort. Denn hinter dem schrecklichen Alter Ego, das Tom Riddle von sich geschaffen hat, verbirgt sich ein qualvolles Schicksal voller düsterer Abgründe. Diese fesselnde Biografie blickt hinter die wohlgehütete Maske des dunklen Magiers, der zum meistgefürchteten Zauberer aller Zeiten werden wollte. Sie enthüllt mit scharfem Blick fürs Detail, wie aus einem vernachlässigten Waisenkind »Der, dessen Name nicht genannt werden darf« wurde – und lädt dazu ein, die Menschlichkeit in einem Mann zu entdecken, der alles daransetzte, sie zu vernichten.
- GenresHarry PotterFantasy
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
July 19, 2026
I'm a massive HP fan! Not a surprise there I guess. So I was massively intrigued about this book! The premises was so promising!!!
But, I'm so sorry! I really thought this was going to be al lot of fun. But it was kind of disappointing. I hate writing this...
It just felt like a uncoordinated jumble of things. It was quit difficult to keep engaged with the book because it jumped from subject to subject, without a clear approach tbh. I feel like a chronological story about Tom would have been so much better, and easier to follow. And just be a lot more fun! Can you imagine a book about Lord Voldemort where we follow his journey, like Harry, from a child to a grown adult.
With his first chapters in the orphanage, to meeting Dumbledore, going to Hogwarts, the effects of WWII, learning about his real parents,... and so on. That would of given you a chance to really emphasize with Tom and feel his hurt and disillusionment about his dreams etc. I really would of liked it to be like this...
Thank you Netgalley and RBMEDIA for this ALC. I'm so sorry for this rating 😔
But, I'm so sorry! I really thought this was going to be al lot of fun. But it was kind of disappointing. I hate writing this...
It just felt like a uncoordinated jumble of things. It was quit difficult to keep engaged with the book because it jumped from subject to subject, without a clear approach tbh. I feel like a chronological story about Tom would have been so much better, and easier to follow. And just be a lot more fun! Can you imagine a book about Lord Voldemort where we follow his journey, like Harry, from a child to a grown adult.
With his first chapters in the orphanage, to meeting Dumbledore, going to Hogwarts, the effects of WWII, learning about his real parents,... and so on. That would of given you a chance to really emphasize with Tom and feel his hurt and disillusionment about his dreams etc. I really would of liked it to be like this...
Thank you Netgalley and RBMEDIA for this ALC. I'm so sorry for this rating 😔
June 25, 2026
This was basically a disgusting fanfiction that has nothing to do with who Voldemort canonically is. The author was constantly projecting their own fantasies and barely even acknowledge canon. The books were barely quoted. Even basic information was wrong sometimes. Who gave this deal to this person? Extremely disappointing. One of the worst books I have read in my life.
July 16, 2026
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
As a huge fan of Harry Potter series, I was really intrigued by Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle. The book revisits the original story by J.K. Rowling and adds layers of theory and analysis about Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort.
While it was an interesting concept, it ultimately felt just okay. The theories presented didn’t add much new insight for longtime fans and were fairly predictable if you’re already familiar with the series. I kept wishing the book had taken a more creative approach—perhaps as a narrative told directly from Voldemort’s perspective, which would have made it far more engaging.
Overall, it’s a decent read for devoted fans who enjoy revisiting the world, but it didn’t offer the fresh perspective I was hoping for.
As a huge fan of Harry Potter series, I was really intrigued by Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle. The book revisits the original story by J.K. Rowling and adds layers of theory and analysis about Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort.
While it was an interesting concept, it ultimately felt just okay. The theories presented didn’t add much new insight for longtime fans and were fairly predictable if you’re already familiar with the series. I kept wishing the book had taken a more creative approach—perhaps as a narrative told directly from Voldemort’s perspective, which would have made it far more engaging.
Overall, it’s a decent read for devoted fans who enjoy revisiting the world, but it didn’t offer the fresh perspective I was hoping for.
June 26, 2026
This wasn't "definitive" anything. Just the author's own ramblings and delusions. How is it even legal to call this "definitive"? You're not the author.
August 1, 2026
As a huge Harry Potter fan, I went into this expecting a deep dive into Tom Riddle's transformation into Voldemort and maybe even some new insights or theories. Unfortunately, it didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for.
The narrator, Christopher Tester, did a great job and kept me listening, but I often felt like the book kept hinting that it was about to reveal something fascinating... without ever actually getting there. It spent a lot of time circling ideas that longtime Harry Potter fans probably already know, so it ended up feeling more repetitive than insightful.
If you're brand new to analyzing the series, you may get more out of it than I did. I just finished wishing it dug much deeper into the psychology, motivations, and darker corners of Tom Riddle's story instead of staying so surface level.
🎧 Narrator: Christopher Tester
⏱️ Runtime: 9 hours, 6 minutes listened at X 1.25 speed
Thank you to Tantor Media and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The narrator, Christopher Tester, did a great job and kept me listening, but I often felt like the book kept hinting that it was about to reveal something fascinating... without ever actually getting there. It spent a lot of time circling ideas that longtime Harry Potter fans probably already know, so it ended up feeling more repetitive than insightful.
If you're brand new to analyzing the series, you may get more out of it than I did. I just finished wishing it dug much deeper into the psychology, motivations, and darker corners of Tom Riddle's story instead of staying so surface level.
🎧 Narrator: Christopher Tester
⏱️ Runtime: 9 hours, 6 minutes listened at X 1.25 speed
Thank you to Tantor Media and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 3, 2026
Thank you #NetGalley for the ALC to listen to and review. The audio was great. At anymore than 2x the speed I don’t think it is possible to follow along with the story so I had to listen at no faster than 2x the speed.
Unfortunately I found the whole story extremely lacking something and I lost interest after listening for more than 10 mins each time. That’s why it took me so long to get through this but I had to finish it.
Unfortunately I found the whole story extremely lacking something and I lost interest after listening for more than 10 mins each time. That’s why it took me so long to get through this but I had to finish it.
June 30, 2026
Overall, it was mostly a summary of what happens in the books. The things that were opinion conclusions, I mostly disagreed with, but that's ok because there were opinions. There were a few that seemed to be completely contradicted by the books themselves. (For example, Voldemort's intentions with Draco.)
A few times, the author tried to dive a little deeper with some cited sources on psychology but those didn't really go very far.
Even bringing up something as asinine as "some people see Dumbledore calling him Tom and refusing to call him Voldemort to his face as the same as transphobia/deadnaming" was a waste of pages. The author didn't even seem to agree with this.
But I say "the author" because this author refused to even use Rowling's name in the book except for on one occasion to attack Rowling's personal opinions and left her out of the acknowledgements altogether. Why write a book about one of her characters if you dislike her so much?
A few times, the author tried to dive a little deeper with some cited sources on psychology but those didn't really go very far.
Even bringing up something as asinine as "some people see Dumbledore calling him Tom and refusing to call him Voldemort to his face as the same as transphobia/deadnaming" was a waste of pages. The author didn't even seem to agree with this.
But I say "the author" because this author refused to even use Rowling's name in the book except for on one occasion to attack Rowling's personal opinions and left her out of the acknowledgements altogether. Why write a book about one of her characters if you dislike her so much?
June 10, 2026
This was literally just a chronicle of Voldemort's life. There wasn't the rich interpretations or deep thought provoking analysis that the previous titles held. I wanted more of the psychology and for the author to just go a bit deeper than surface level.
July 19, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this audio ARC.
This one is very much a character study of Voldemort, built strictly from the book canon, which I appreciated. The author is upfront that the analysis is made of their own thoughts, theories, and interpretations, and they do a solid job grounding those theories in quotes and textual evidence. There’s definitely some guesswork involved but honestly, that’s part of the fun. We do fan theories constantly; why shouldn’t they?
Where the book lost me was when the author started weaving in real world historical context (yes i know the Wizarding World is based overlayed with ours) to justify the mental state of a fictional character. At one point, they referenced childbirth statistics in the 1920s in regards to Tom Riddles mother, and even mentioned being intimately familiar with newborn sleep patterns when referring to Voldemorts ‘state’ before he gets a body back in GOF. As a mother of 2 under the age of four… those references, while relatable, didn’t feel like they belonged in this particular analysis. Later I learned the author wrote this while caring for a 3m old and suddenly those comparisons made perfect sense, even if they still didn’t feel appropriate for the context.
The narrator was fantastic. Their tone and delivery of the text was impeccable. They were easy to listen to and follow, and kept me engaged and there for the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the listen, but the analysis of the author leaned a bit too biased for me. The saving grace, and truly the standout, was the narrator. I’d definitely listen to more by this narrator and quite honestly would even read/listen to more by the author in hopes their recentsy effect didn’t come into play onto their analysis so much.
This one is very much a character study of Voldemort, built strictly from the book canon, which I appreciated. The author is upfront that the analysis is made of their own thoughts, theories, and interpretations, and they do a solid job grounding those theories in quotes and textual evidence. There’s definitely some guesswork involved but honestly, that’s part of the fun. We do fan theories constantly; why shouldn’t they?
Where the book lost me was when the author started weaving in real world historical context (yes i know the Wizarding World is based overlayed with ours) to justify the mental state of a fictional character. At one point, they referenced childbirth statistics in the 1920s in regards to Tom Riddles mother, and even mentioned being intimately familiar with newborn sleep patterns when referring to Voldemorts ‘state’ before he gets a body back in GOF. As a mother of 2 under the age of four… those references, while relatable, didn’t feel like they belonged in this particular analysis. Later I learned the author wrote this while caring for a 3m old and suddenly those comparisons made perfect sense, even if they still didn’t feel appropriate for the context.
The narrator was fantastic. Their tone and delivery of the text was impeccable. They were easy to listen to and follow, and kept me engaged and there for the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the listen, but the analysis of the author leaned a bit too biased for me. The saving grace, and truly the standout, was the narrator. I’d definitely listen to more by this narrator and quite honestly would even read/listen to more by the author in hopes their recentsy effect didn’t come into play onto their analysis so much.
August 1, 2026
An enjoyable dive into Voldemort’s psyche, though I find myself wishing that Irvin Khaytman had been commissioned to write all of the books in this series, as this one doesn’t hit on the level of detail and nuance present in Khaytman’s Dumbledore and Malfoy books.
I was surprised how infrequently the author referred directly to the texts to back up her hypotheses, and also by how much of this book was eaten up by plot summary that literally every person who picks this up will already know.
The author makes a lot of claims about Voldemort and Tom Riddle that are pretty opinion-driven that cannot be backed up. I guess that’s okay, but it’s not quite as appealing or useful as the academic arguments presented in the other books in this series.
Where this book does well is in how readable it is, in the author’s charming and observant humor, and in how evident it is that she’s really tried to gain a more sophisticated understanding of Voldemort than your average fan has.
Perhaps a bit better scholarly practice and less recapping of the original books would have gone a long way toward legitimizing this as a solid piece of scholarship. That said, it’s still a fun read and a great roundup of all of Voldemort’s actions and appearances in the series.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I was surprised how infrequently the author referred directly to the texts to back up her hypotheses, and also by how much of this book was eaten up by plot summary that literally every person who picks this up will already know.
The author makes a lot of claims about Voldemort and Tom Riddle that are pretty opinion-driven that cannot be backed up. I guess that’s okay, but it’s not quite as appealing or useful as the academic arguments presented in the other books in this series.
Where this book does well is in how readable it is, in the author’s charming and observant humor, and in how evident it is that she’s really tried to gain a more sophisticated understanding of Voldemort than your average fan has.
Perhaps a bit better scholarly practice and less recapping of the original books would have gone a long way toward legitimizing this as a solid piece of scholarship. That said, it’s still a fun read and a great roundup of all of Voldemort’s actions and appearances in the series.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 4, 2026
Kaum eine Figur der Wizarding World ist zugleich so erschreckend, rätselhaft und faszinierend wie Lord Voldemort. Hinter dem gefürchteten Dunklen Lord verbirgt sich jedoch weit mehr als das personifizierte Böse. Einst war er Tom Riddle – ein verlassenes Waisenkind, geboren als Sohn einer Hexe und eines Muggelvaters, aufgewachsen in einem lieblosen Waisenhaus. Sein Schicksal schien schon früh von Einsamkeit, Ablehnung und Dunkelheit gezeichnet zu sein. Doch wie konnte aus diesem Jungen einer der mächtigsten und grausamsten schwarzen Magier aller Zeiten werden?
Dieses Buch nimmt uns mit auf eine Reise in die dunkelsten Winkel des Harry-Potter-Universums und fühlt sich dabei an wie ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der bekannten Geschichte. Schritt für Schritt wird Tom Riddles Leben von seiner Geburt bis zu seinem letzten Kampf nachgezeichnet. Seine Entscheidungen, seine Ängste, sein unstillbarer Hunger nach Macht und Unsterblichkeit sowie die Ereignisse, die ihn schließlich zu Lord Voldemort werden ließen, werden detailliert analysiert und mit zahlreichen Quellen belegt.
Besonders spannend fand ich, wie tief in Tom Riddles Psyche eingetaucht wird. Seine Entwicklung zum Dunklen Lord erscheint dadurch greifbarer, ohne seine grausamen Taten zu entschuldigen. Es entsteht dabei die Frage, ob in dem Mann, der alles Menschliche auslöschen wollte, vielleicht doch noch ein letzter Funken Menschlichkeit verborgen war. Welche Angst versuchte Voldemort sein Leben lang zu verdrängen? Warum war seine Verbindung zu Harry Potter so außergewöhnlich? Und weshalb war ausgerechnet die Liebe seine größte Schwäche?
Während der Reise begegnen wir auch bekannten Figuren wie Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore und Bellatrix Lestrange aus einer völlig neuen Perspektive. Gerade Dumbledore erscheint hier in einem anderen Licht. Seine Entscheidungen wirken kalkuliert, seine Opferbereitschaft gegenüber anderen beinahe erschreckend konsequent. Nach der Lektüre betrachtet man ihn und viele Ereignisse der Originalgeschichte mit völlig neuen Augen.
Ebenso gelungen sind die zahlreichen Hintergrundinformationen, die weit über das hinausgehen, was die Romane erzählen. Das Buch vermittelt das Gefühl, als würde man verborgene Zusammenhänge entdecken, die bislang im Schatten lagen. Gleichzeitig wird deutlich, wie viel Recherche und Leidenschaft in diesem Werk steckt.
Auch optisch überzeugt das Buch. Atmosphärische Illustrationen leiten die einzelnen Kapitel ein und unterstreichen die düstere Stimmung dieser außergewöhnlichen Biografie. Zwar hätten einzelne Passagen etwas spannender erzählt werden können, insgesamt überwiegt jedoch die Faszination, die Wizarding World einmal aus der Sicht ihres gefährlichsten Gegenspielers zu erleben.
Fazit: Wer glaubte, Voldemort bereits zu kennen, wird nach dieser Lektüre feststellen, dass hinter der schlangenähnlichen Gestalt mit den blutroten Augen weit mehr steckt als ein gewöhnlicher Bösewicht. Diese Biografie öffnet die Tür zu den finstersten Geheimnissen der Zauberwelt und zeigt, dass selbst die dunkelste Legende ihren Ursprung in einem einsamen Jungen namens Tom Riddle hatte.
Dieses Buch nimmt uns mit auf eine Reise in die dunkelsten Winkel des Harry-Potter-Universums und fühlt sich dabei an wie ein Blick hinter die Kulissen der bekannten Geschichte. Schritt für Schritt wird Tom Riddles Leben von seiner Geburt bis zu seinem letzten Kampf nachgezeichnet. Seine Entscheidungen, seine Ängste, sein unstillbarer Hunger nach Macht und Unsterblichkeit sowie die Ereignisse, die ihn schließlich zu Lord Voldemort werden ließen, werden detailliert analysiert und mit zahlreichen Quellen belegt.
Besonders spannend fand ich, wie tief in Tom Riddles Psyche eingetaucht wird. Seine Entwicklung zum Dunklen Lord erscheint dadurch greifbarer, ohne seine grausamen Taten zu entschuldigen. Es entsteht dabei die Frage, ob in dem Mann, der alles Menschliche auslöschen wollte, vielleicht doch noch ein letzter Funken Menschlichkeit verborgen war. Welche Angst versuchte Voldemort sein Leben lang zu verdrängen? Warum war seine Verbindung zu Harry Potter so außergewöhnlich? Und weshalb war ausgerechnet die Liebe seine größte Schwäche?
Während der Reise begegnen wir auch bekannten Figuren wie Harry Potter, Albus Dumbledore und Bellatrix Lestrange aus einer völlig neuen Perspektive. Gerade Dumbledore erscheint hier in einem anderen Licht. Seine Entscheidungen wirken kalkuliert, seine Opferbereitschaft gegenüber anderen beinahe erschreckend konsequent. Nach der Lektüre betrachtet man ihn und viele Ereignisse der Originalgeschichte mit völlig neuen Augen.
Ebenso gelungen sind die zahlreichen Hintergrundinformationen, die weit über das hinausgehen, was die Romane erzählen. Das Buch vermittelt das Gefühl, als würde man verborgene Zusammenhänge entdecken, die bislang im Schatten lagen. Gleichzeitig wird deutlich, wie viel Recherche und Leidenschaft in diesem Werk steckt.
Auch optisch überzeugt das Buch. Atmosphärische Illustrationen leiten die einzelnen Kapitel ein und unterstreichen die düstere Stimmung dieser außergewöhnlichen Biografie. Zwar hätten einzelne Passagen etwas spannender erzählt werden können, insgesamt überwiegt jedoch die Faszination, die Wizarding World einmal aus der Sicht ihres gefährlichsten Gegenspielers zu erleben.
Fazit: Wer glaubte, Voldemort bereits zu kennen, wird nach dieser Lektüre feststellen, dass hinter der schlangenähnlichen Gestalt mit den blutroten Augen weit mehr steckt als ein gewöhnlicher Bösewicht. Diese Biografie öffnet die Tür zu den finstersten Geheimnissen der Zauberwelt und zeigt, dass selbst die dunkelste Legende ihren Ursprung in einem einsamen Jungen namens Tom Riddle hatte.
July 18, 2026
A beautiful collector's item ruined by surface-level theories and glaring canon errors.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC. As a longtime Harry Potter fan, I was genuinely excited to dive into Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle. Tom Riddle is one of the most fascinating villains in modern fiction, so the idea of a book dedicated entirely to exploring his character immediately caught my attention.
On paper, Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle sounds like an absolute dream for longtime Harry Potter fans. Visually, the book is stunning from the striking Slytherin green-and-black cover to the dramatic blood-red sprayed edges and the gothic, atmospheric illustrations inside. Unfortunately, once you actually start reading, the beautiful presentation completely crumbles under the weight of incredibly weak execution.
As a devoted fan who was hoping for a rigorous, deep-dive psychological profile of literature's darkest wizard, I was immensely disappointed. The "theories" presented here are remarkably basic and predictable, offering zero new insights for anyone who has read the original series more than once.
The book revisits Voldemort's journey, tracing his transformation from Tom Riddle into one of the wizarding world's most feared dark wizards. It offers theories, character analysis, and commentary on his motivations, relationships, and obsession with power and immortality. For readers who enjoy revisiting the Harry Potter universe from a different angle, there is certainly some entertainment to be found.
That said, I found myself hoping for a deeper and more original exploration. Much of the discussion covers ideas that longtime fans have likely already considered, so there weren't many moments that felt genuinely surprising or revelatory. Instead of uncovering new perspectives, it often felt like a retelling of familiar ground with added interpretation.
Because this is an unofficial companion, some of the speculative analysis may not resonate with every reader. At times, the conclusions felt more like personal interpretations than arguments firmly rooted in the source material, which occasionally pulled me out of the experience.
I also couldn't help imagining how compelling this concept could have been if it had been presented as a fictional memoir or narrative from Tom Riddle's own perspective. That approach could have offered a far more immersive psychological portrait while still exploring the same themes.
Overall, Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle is an enjoyable read for dedicated Harry Potter fans who like literary analysis and discussing fan theories. While it didn't provide the fresh insights I was hoping for, it remains an interesting companion for readers who simply can't get enough of the Wizarding World.
I gave it 3/5 stars because it acknowledges both sides:
👍 Interesting premise.
👍 Fun for devoted Potter fans.
👎 Doesn't add many new insights.
👎 Some interpretations feel speculative rather than strongly supported by canon.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Media for the ALC. As a longtime Harry Potter fan, I was genuinely excited to dive into Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle. Tom Riddle is one of the most fascinating villains in modern fiction, so the idea of a book dedicated entirely to exploring his character immediately caught my attention.
On paper, Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle sounds like an absolute dream for longtime Harry Potter fans. Visually, the book is stunning from the striking Slytherin green-and-black cover to the dramatic blood-red sprayed edges and the gothic, atmospheric illustrations inside. Unfortunately, once you actually start reading, the beautiful presentation completely crumbles under the weight of incredibly weak execution.
As a devoted fan who was hoping for a rigorous, deep-dive psychological profile of literature's darkest wizard, I was immensely disappointed. The "theories" presented here are remarkably basic and predictable, offering zero new insights for anyone who has read the original series more than once.
The book revisits Voldemort's journey, tracing his transformation from Tom Riddle into one of the wizarding world's most feared dark wizards. It offers theories, character analysis, and commentary on his motivations, relationships, and obsession with power and immortality. For readers who enjoy revisiting the Harry Potter universe from a different angle, there is certainly some entertainment to be found.
That said, I found myself hoping for a deeper and more original exploration. Much of the discussion covers ideas that longtime fans have likely already considered, so there weren't many moments that felt genuinely surprising or revelatory. Instead of uncovering new perspectives, it often felt like a retelling of familiar ground with added interpretation.
Because this is an unofficial companion, some of the speculative analysis may not resonate with every reader. At times, the conclusions felt more like personal interpretations than arguments firmly rooted in the source material, which occasionally pulled me out of the experience.
I also couldn't help imagining how compelling this concept could have been if it had been presented as a fictional memoir or narrative from Tom Riddle's own perspective. That approach could have offered a far more immersive psychological portrait while still exploring the same themes.
Overall, Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle is an enjoyable read for dedicated Harry Potter fans who like literary analysis and discussing fan theories. While it didn't provide the fresh insights I was hoping for, it remains an interesting companion for readers who simply can't get enough of the Wizarding World.
I gave it 3/5 stars because it acknowledges both sides:
👍 Interesting premise.
👍 Fun for devoted Potter fans.
👎 Doesn't add many new insights.
👎 Some interpretations feel speculative rather than strongly supported by canon.
July 13, 2026
Review: Voldemort by G.V. Candido‑Beecher (Narrated by Christopher Tester)
ARC provided by NetGalley
Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle positions itself as a literary and psychological excavation of one of fantasy’s most infamous villains, and that is exactly what it delivers. This is not a retelling, not a dramatization, and not a piece of expanded lore. Instead, it is a scholarly, theory‑driven analysis of Tom Riddle’s evolution into Voldemort, written with the tone and structure of an academic op‑ed or dissertation.
The author approaches the character with seriousness and rigor, pulling threads from across all seven Harry Potter books and weaving them into a cohesive psychological portrait. Themes like trauma, identity formation, isolation, immortality, and moral decay are explored in depth. The work clearly required significant research, close reading, and a strong grounding in literary analysis and character psychology.
Christopher Tester’s narration supports this tone well. His delivery is measured, articulate, and suited to the analytical nature of the text. It feels less like listening to a fantasy audiobook and more like attending a lecture on villain studies.
Where the book succeeds most is in its commitment to treating Voldemort as a subject worthy of academic scrutiny. Fans who enjoy character deconstruction, literary theory, or villain psychology will find plenty to appreciate. The author’s interpretations are thoughtful, sometimes provocative, and occasionally illuminate connections across the series that casual readers may not have considered.
However, this is also where the book may divide readers. Because the analysis is built on limited canonical material—Rowling never intended Voldemort to be a deeply interior character—some sections feel stretched, filling gaps with speculative interpretation or expanding minor textual moments into extended theoretical arguments. At times, the analysis becomes drawn out, and the book’s commitment to its academic framing can make it feel more like a thesis than a narrative exploration.
As a lifelong Harry Potter fan, I enjoyed diving into this perspective, but I did find myself wishing for a bit more narrative engagement and a bit less theoretical density. I went in expecting a hybrid of analysis and storytelling; what I received was almost entirely analysis. Not bad—just different from what I anticipated.
Overall, this is an interesting, thoughtful, and occasionally overextended deep dive into one of fantasy’s most iconic villains. It’s a solid read for fans who appreciate literary dissection and character studies, but those hoping for a more story‑driven or lore‑expanding experience may find it less compelling.
ARC provided by NetGalley
Voldemort: The Definitive Study of Tom Riddle positions itself as a literary and psychological excavation of one of fantasy’s most infamous villains, and that is exactly what it delivers. This is not a retelling, not a dramatization, and not a piece of expanded lore. Instead, it is a scholarly, theory‑driven analysis of Tom Riddle’s evolution into Voldemort, written with the tone and structure of an academic op‑ed or dissertation.
The author approaches the character with seriousness and rigor, pulling threads from across all seven Harry Potter books and weaving them into a cohesive psychological portrait. Themes like trauma, identity formation, isolation, immortality, and moral decay are explored in depth. The work clearly required significant research, close reading, and a strong grounding in literary analysis and character psychology.
Christopher Tester’s narration supports this tone well. His delivery is measured, articulate, and suited to the analytical nature of the text. It feels less like listening to a fantasy audiobook and more like attending a lecture on villain studies.
Where the book succeeds most is in its commitment to treating Voldemort as a subject worthy of academic scrutiny. Fans who enjoy character deconstruction, literary theory, or villain psychology will find plenty to appreciate. The author’s interpretations are thoughtful, sometimes provocative, and occasionally illuminate connections across the series that casual readers may not have considered.
However, this is also where the book may divide readers. Because the analysis is built on limited canonical material—Rowling never intended Voldemort to be a deeply interior character—some sections feel stretched, filling gaps with speculative interpretation or expanding minor textual moments into extended theoretical arguments. At times, the analysis becomes drawn out, and the book’s commitment to its academic framing can make it feel more like a thesis than a narrative exploration.
As a lifelong Harry Potter fan, I enjoyed diving into this perspective, but I did find myself wishing for a bit more narrative engagement and a bit less theoretical density. I went in expecting a hybrid of analysis and storytelling; what I received was almost entirely analysis. Not bad—just different from what I anticipated.
Overall, this is an interesting, thoughtful, and occasionally overextended deep dive into one of fantasy’s most iconic villains. It’s a solid read for fans who appreciate literary dissection and character studies, but those hoping for a more story‑driven or lore‑expanding experience may find it less compelling.
July 12, 2026
How does one rate a book that is an analysis of a fictional character? It's not a story where you judge the plot, characters, and worldbuilding that were created by the author. And you can't rate it the same way you would a biography of a real person, because there are no first-hand writings of Voldemort to analyze. In the end, it feels more like trying to analyze a fanfiction or someone sharing their headcanons - which in the communities where those are found, rating a person's work is generally discouraged.
In the end, my rating of this book is based very much on how I feel, without the guidance of my usual guide posts for rating books.
I really like the Harry Potter books, I requested this ARC specifically because I'm part way through the new audio versions of the series and wanted something new pertaining to the Wizarding World to enjoy. I don't, however, care much for Voldemort. He doesn't interest me as a character. And this book, didn't change my opinion on him, I still find him rather boring and uninteresting - which I feel was the biggest failing of the book. An analysis of a character that is turned into a book, should leave me, the reader, feeling at least somewhat more interested in the character. On the other hand, I think one of the biggest strengths of the book was that I could tell how interesting Tom Riddle was to the author. At no point in the book, did I feel like the author was writing this as some sort of 'cash grab' but rather out of a genuine interest in the character and a desire to delve deep into the character.
There were a lot of conclusions draw about Riddle that I disagreed with. A lot of things I felt were repetitive
I did find the author framing Riddle's early life against the backdrop of the Great Depression and then later against World War II to one of the most interesting parts of the book. The book also got me to look at other characters in different ways - Quirrell was only spoken about for a few pages, but I found those pages to be quite interesting and there were things about Dumbledore that I wouldn't have minded delving deeper into. But as far as Riddle goes? Still boring. But that could be because I went in with no draw to the character. Someone who is more interested in He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, might have the book's analysis of him more interesting. And the book is relatively short, so if you think you might be interested it won't be a huge time commitment to give it a shot.
I received an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley.
In the end, my rating of this book is based very much on how I feel, without the guidance of my usual guide posts for rating books.
I really like the Harry Potter books, I requested this ARC specifically because I'm part way through the new audio versions of the series and wanted something new pertaining to the Wizarding World to enjoy. I don't, however, care much for Voldemort. He doesn't interest me as a character. And this book, didn't change my opinion on him, I still find him rather boring and uninteresting - which I feel was the biggest failing of the book. An analysis of a character that is turned into a book, should leave me, the reader, feeling at least somewhat more interested in the character. On the other hand, I think one of the biggest strengths of the book was that I could tell how interesting Tom Riddle was to the author. At no point in the book, did I feel like the author was writing this as some sort of 'cash grab' but rather out of a genuine interest in the character and a desire to delve deep into the character.
There were a lot of conclusions draw about Riddle that I disagreed with. A lot of things I felt were repetitive
I did find the author framing Riddle's early life against the backdrop of the Great Depression and then later against World War II to one of the most interesting parts of the book. The book also got me to look at other characters in different ways - Quirrell was only spoken about for a few pages, but I found those pages to be quite interesting and there were things about Dumbledore that I wouldn't have minded delving deeper into. But as far as Riddle goes? Still boring. But that could be because I went in with no draw to the character. Someone who is more interested in He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, might have the book's analysis of him more interesting. And the book is relatively short, so if you think you might be interested it won't be a huge time commitment to give it a shot.
I received an audio ARC of this book through NetGalley.
July 22, 2026
My first ARC - thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release audiobook.
I'm so happy my first ARC is something Harry Potter related. As a life-long fan with dozens of re-reads under my belt, I know and love this world deeply. This book is an analysis of the life of Tom Riddle/Voldemort, which is a fascinating, rich topic. Instead of a character analysis though, this book felt like a tour of reddit fan theories. Don't get me wrong, the fan theories out there are fun! This book compiles many of these book-fan theories, giving readers questions/topics to read into further. Since this reads more like a list of theories rather than a meta-analysis, the book lacked flow and felt very messy. Chapters are organized by HP book, then by seemingly random topics. I think a chronology of Tom's/Voldy's life would make the arguments much more streamlined and clear. Similarity, the topics of analysis seemed random and often only the authors opinions were shared. A review of several of the top theories for "key" character traits would have been more impactful. I agreed with some of the theories (e.g., why he picked certain locations for horcruxes) and disagreed with others (e.g., the 7 horcruxes represent the 7 sins).
A minor complaint is that all book titles were abbreviated (e.g., HBP), which did not read well in audiobook form. Naming the full HP book title would be more clear. Another is that Voldemort was almost always referred to as "Tom", regardless of the time in his life we were discussing.
Regardless, this was a fun read. I would recommend this to HP book fans just getting into fan theories as a resource for further research.
I'm so happy my first ARC is something Harry Potter related. As a life-long fan with dozens of re-reads under my belt, I know and love this world deeply. This book is an analysis of the life of Tom Riddle/Voldemort, which is a fascinating, rich topic. Instead of a character analysis though, this book felt like a tour of reddit fan theories. Don't get me wrong, the fan theories out there are fun! This book compiles many of these book-fan theories, giving readers questions/topics to read into further. Since this reads more like a list of theories rather than a meta-analysis, the book lacked flow and felt very messy. Chapters are organized by HP book, then by seemingly random topics. I think a chronology of Tom's/Voldy's life would make the arguments much more streamlined and clear. Similarity, the topics of analysis seemed random and often only the authors opinions were shared. A review of several of the top theories for "key" character traits would have been more impactful. I agreed with some of the theories (e.g., why he picked certain locations for horcruxes) and disagreed with others (e.g., the 7 horcruxes represent the 7 sins).
A minor complaint is that all book titles were abbreviated (e.g., HBP), which did not read well in audiobook form. Naming the full HP book title would be more clear. Another is that Voldemort was almost always referred to as "Tom", regardless of the time in his life we were discussing.
Regardless, this was a fun read. I would recommend this to HP book fans just getting into fan theories as a resource for further research.
July 15, 2026
5⭐️
Hands down the BEST book for Tom Riddle fans! I am obsessed!
Tom Riddle is my absolute favorite character in the entire Harry Potter universe, so when I got my hands on this ALC, I was so incredibly excited. Honestly, this book exceeded every single expectation I had. I was completely hooked from the very first minute to the last!
What made me love this so much is that it is so obvious the author loves and appreciates Tom's character just as much as I do. It felt so good to listen to someone who shares most of my thoughts.
The absolute best part of this book is the sheer level of detail. It doesn't just repeat the facts we already know; it does a massive deep dive and actually speculates about his mind, his trauma, and his choices. That speculation is exactly what makes Tom Riddle such a fascinating character to think about, and the author nailed it. It was also so cool hearing how she connected tiny details across all seven HP books that I had never even thought about before!
A quick note on the audio:
Since I listened to this as an ALC, I have to say the narrator did a great job. They kept me completely engaged the whole time. It felt like sitting down and having a really deep, fascinating conversation with a fellow fan.
If you love villain studies or are just as obsessed with Tom Riddle's character as I am, you absolutely have to listen to this. I cannot recommend it enough!
Thank you so much to the publisher for letting me listen to an early audio copy. I absolutely loved it!
Hands down the BEST book for Tom Riddle fans! I am obsessed!
Tom Riddle is my absolute favorite character in the entire Harry Potter universe, so when I got my hands on this ALC, I was so incredibly excited. Honestly, this book exceeded every single expectation I had. I was completely hooked from the very first minute to the last!
What made me love this so much is that it is so obvious the author loves and appreciates Tom's character just as much as I do. It felt so good to listen to someone who shares most of my thoughts.
The absolute best part of this book is the sheer level of detail. It doesn't just repeat the facts we already know; it does a massive deep dive and actually speculates about his mind, his trauma, and his choices. That speculation is exactly what makes Tom Riddle such a fascinating character to think about, and the author nailed it. It was also so cool hearing how she connected tiny details across all seven HP books that I had never even thought about before!
A quick note on the audio:
Since I listened to this as an ALC, I have to say the narrator did a great job. They kept me completely engaged the whole time. It felt like sitting down and having a really deep, fascinating conversation with a fellow fan.
If you love villain studies or are just as obsessed with Tom Riddle's character as I am, you absolutely have to listen to this. I cannot recommend it enough!
Thank you so much to the publisher for letting me listen to an early audio copy. I absolutely loved it!
July 21, 2026
3 Stars!
This book is rather detailed about Tom Riddle/Voldemort and his life as told throughout the Harry Potter series. As someone who loves to write fanfiction in the HP universe, the information here is really interesting and it is fun to see someone else think of Tom Riddle as something other than an all powerful villain. And the narrator, Christopher Tester, has a way of keeping you engaged!
However, with that being said, this book is WAY too long and bounces around everywhere. I would have thought that there would be some introspection into Tom Riddle and why he would do certain things (a tiny bit of it is present when talking about his upbringing during World War II). This is just more of a review of the original text with some surface level analysis and more theories but it feels like no depth, you know? I have read fanfiction that has dived into Tom Riddle and his motivations that I would consider more of a study of his character than this.
If you don't like the history of Harry Potter or Tom Riddle, you probably will not like this one. But if you like diving into the universe and all of its side characters/elements and the connection between Harry Potter and Tom Riddle, than you might want to check this out!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This book is rather detailed about Tom Riddle/Voldemort and his life as told throughout the Harry Potter series. As someone who loves to write fanfiction in the HP universe, the information here is really interesting and it is fun to see someone else think of Tom Riddle as something other than an all powerful villain. And the narrator, Christopher Tester, has a way of keeping you engaged!
However, with that being said, this book is WAY too long and bounces around everywhere. I would have thought that there would be some introspection into Tom Riddle and why he would do certain things (a tiny bit of it is present when talking about his upbringing during World War II). This is just more of a review of the original text with some surface level analysis and more theories but it feels like no depth, you know? I have read fanfiction that has dived into Tom Riddle and his motivations that I would consider more of a study of his character than this.
If you don't like the history of Harry Potter or Tom Riddle, you probably will not like this one. But if you like diving into the universe and all of its side characters/elements and the connection between Harry Potter and Tom Riddle, than you might want to check this out!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
July 15, 2026
This is a hard book to review. How long could someone spend talking about a fictional character? Turns out... nine hours.
I have to applaud the author's obsessive theorising and investigation. Not everyone can do this, and I was genuinely impressed. Seriously, I was. However, I do think some of the analysis goes well beyond what J.K. Rowling has explicitly confirmed about Tom Riddle's character development.
For example, there's an entire chapter exploring the impact of World War II on young Tom Riddle's mental wellbeing. While it's an interesting literary interpretation, Rowling has never explicitly said that the war was a deliberate factor in Voldemort's character development. That pretty much sums up the book - it's full of thoughtful theories and literary analysis rather than explanations Rowling herself has confirmed.
That said, it's well written, the author's humour comes through, and the narrator does a remarkable job. This is a book for hardcore Harry Potter fans who enjoy digging into literary analysis and character theory, but it won't be for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the advanced listener copy.
I have to applaud the author's obsessive theorising and investigation. Not everyone can do this, and I was genuinely impressed. Seriously, I was. However, I do think some of the analysis goes well beyond what J.K. Rowling has explicitly confirmed about Tom Riddle's character development.
For example, there's an entire chapter exploring the impact of World War II on young Tom Riddle's mental wellbeing. While it's an interesting literary interpretation, Rowling has never explicitly said that the war was a deliberate factor in Voldemort's character development. That pretty much sums up the book - it's full of thoughtful theories and literary analysis rather than explanations Rowling herself has confirmed.
That said, it's well written, the author's humour comes through, and the narrator does a remarkable job. This is a book for hardcore Harry Potter fans who enjoy digging into literary analysis and character theory, but it won't be for everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the advanced listener copy.
July 14, 2026
I enjoyed listening to this study of He Who Must Not Be Named. It is not exhaustive and some of the arguments miss a few things, leading the listener/the author to some conclusions with which I don't necessarily agree. However, it is nice have something published that isn't complete hogwash and the constant reference to printed canon was a nice change of pace when compared to previous publications. As for this being "definitive," as defined by Merriam-Webster to mean authoritative, complete, and final, I would agree with the authoritative, but is incomplete and will likely never be the end of discussion over the topic of Tom Riddle.
I listened to Christopher Tester's narration and found it very interesting. It is for his work that I chose the five star rating. He highlights the study and made it sound exciting and it momentarily took me back to the first time I read the HP books.
#Voldemort #NetGalley #TantorMedia
Thank you to Tantor Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I listened to Christopher Tester's narration and found it very interesting. It is for his work that I chose the five star rating. He highlights the study and made it sound exciting and it momentarily took me back to the first time I read the HP books.
#Voldemort #NetGalley #TantorMedia
Thank you to Tantor Media for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 16, 2026
I've never read a character analysis on a fictional character like this. There's definitely nothing official about this book and the author was truly writing fiction to the point where a few facts were completely different from the storyline (especially some parts of COS and HBP).
For a character who is widely known in the HP universe but there is actually little known about him as a character, it was interesting to see someone else's thoughts and opinions. However, when the author was diving in to the psychology behind the character, it lost me a bit and I wish the story focused less on the why and more on the how.
Overall, it was nice to have on in the background while doing stuff around the house and it didn't require a ton of focus.
I think a more appropriate title would have been Voldemort: The Speculative Study of Tom Riddle.
Thank you Tantor Media and Netgalley for this ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
For a character who is widely known in the HP universe but there is actually little known about him as a character, it was interesting to see someone else's thoughts and opinions. However, when the author was diving in to the psychology behind the character, it lost me a bit and I wish the story focused less on the why and more on the how.
Overall, it was nice to have on in the background while doing stuff around the house and it didn't require a ton of focus.
I think a more appropriate title would have been Voldemort: The Speculative Study of Tom Riddle.
Thank you Tantor Media and Netgalley for this ALC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2026
I picked this up because the blurb promised a deep literary analysis of Voldemort, but that wasn't really what I got.
Most of the book felt like a summary of events from the books, movies, and other adaptations rather than a thoughtful exploration of Tom Riddle/Voldemort as a character. I kept waiting for the author to dig into his psychology, motivations, and what made him become who he was, but the discussion only breached the surface.
I also expected to find a lot more quotes from the original source material in a book that has promised literary analysis of such an iconic character.
Overall, I felt disappointed after listening to this audiobook. Pretty much the only thing I liked about this release was the narrator's voice, which was absolutely lovely.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Most of the book felt like a summary of events from the books, movies, and other adaptations rather than a thoughtful exploration of Tom Riddle/Voldemort as a character. I kept waiting for the author to dig into his psychology, motivations, and what made him become who he was, but the discussion only breached the surface.
I also expected to find a lot more quotes from the original source material in a book that has promised literary analysis of such an iconic character.
Overall, I felt disappointed after listening to this audiobook. Pretty much the only thing I liked about this release was the narrator's voice, which was absolutely lovely.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 17, 2026
I was so excited to have been accepted to listen early to a deep dive on Voldemort. It started off promising however the further I got into it felt much more like a recap of all the books. As a long time fan of HP I didn't find any of the theories or analysis to be unique and it mostly just rehashed what was in the original books. I could see how if someone had just entered into the HP world this audio book would be very beneficial and interesting. But for me it didn't hit the spot.
I found the narrator interesting and they kept me engaged through out. I enjoyed the change of voices for when the direct quotes from the book came in. I would still listen to something like this in the future I enjoyed the reminiscing of the books and made me want to do a re-read.
I found the narrator interesting and they kept me engaged through out. I enjoyed the change of voices for when the direct quotes from the book came in. I would still listen to something like this in the future I enjoyed the reminiscing of the books and made me want to do a re-read.
July 26, 2026
Thank you, NetGalley for this ALC.
3 stars
While I enjoyed this book, I feel like it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t know.
If you’re a huge fan of the books, this is all information that was explained in the books. It did add a little more modern psychology and dove into a little more of the suspected mindset of Tom Riddle, but I don’t think it was enough.
If your only knowledge of the Harry Potter world comes from the movies and you’re interested in learning more backstory, then this would be a good option.
I really enjoyed the narrator; he was charismatic and really put a lot of expression into the read.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read/listen but if you’re interested in more back story that wasn’t in the books, this might leave you a little disappointed.
3 stars
While I enjoyed this book, I feel like it didn’t tell me anything I didn’t know.
If you’re a huge fan of the books, this is all information that was explained in the books. It did add a little more modern psychology and dove into a little more of the suspected mindset of Tom Riddle, but I don’t think it was enough.
If your only knowledge of the Harry Potter world comes from the movies and you’re interested in learning more backstory, then this would be a good option.
I really enjoyed the narrator; he was charismatic and really put a lot of expression into the read.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read/listen but if you’re interested in more back story that wasn’t in the books, this might leave you a little disappointed.
July 12, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was really interested to dive into this unofficial exploration of Tom Riddle’s transformation into Voldemort. It offers a detailed look at his character, motivations and the choices that shaped one of fiction’s most iconic villains, with plenty of references that fans will appreciate. At times it felt a little repetitive and more like an academic analysis than an engaging read, but it was still an interesting deep dive into a character I’ve always found fascinating. A solid read for Harry Potter fans who enjoy exploring the lore beyond the original books.
July 13, 2026
I was really intrigued when I saw this book. I have never read a book of this kind before - one that analyzes a single character, it was an interesting and new experience for me.
Its clear, that author has a lot of knowledge about Voldemort and enjoyed exploring his world and history, but I cant say, that authors devotion to this charater captivated me.
For me, it was too much jumping from one period to another, from one events to other, I wished, it was telling about Voldemort from his childhood to his lifes end, gradually.
Also, it felt, partly, like retelling books, with authors interpretations and thoughts.
However, I really liked narrators voice!
Its clear, that author has a lot of knowledge about Voldemort and enjoyed exploring his world and history, but I cant say, that authors devotion to this charater captivated me.
For me, it was too much jumping from one period to another, from one events to other, I wished, it was telling about Voldemort from his childhood to his lifes end, gradually.
Also, it felt, partly, like retelling books, with authors interpretations and thoughts.
However, I really liked narrators voice!
July 20, 2026
2.5 ⭐️
Credibility/research: 5
Authenticity/uniqueness: 4
Writing: 6
Personal impact: 1
Intrigue: 5
Logic/informativeness: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Review of an ALC received from NetGalley.
While I flew through the audiobook, this book really presented nothing new. It's more of an overview of everything that happened in the books than a deep character study or psychological analysis. The theories that were introduced were both very basic and not that deep.
I've seen plenty of YouTube videos back in the day that were structured better and had interesting ideas that defy what we think we know of this villain. Conclusion: some basic googling can give you the same information for free.
Credibility/research: 5
Authenticity/uniqueness: 4
Writing: 6
Personal impact: 1
Intrigue: 5
Logic/informativeness: 4
Enjoyment: 5
Review of an ALC received from NetGalley.
While I flew through the audiobook, this book really presented nothing new. It's more of an overview of everything that happened in the books than a deep character study or psychological analysis. The theories that were introduced were both very basic and not that deep.
I've seen plenty of YouTube videos back in the day that were structured better and had interesting ideas that defy what we think we know of this villain. Conclusion: some basic googling can give you the same information for free.
July 21, 2026
This was a really interesting listen!
As someone who loves Harry Potter, I enjoyed taking a deeper dive into Tom Riddle's character and seeing his story analyzed from a different perspective. It was fascinating to look beyond the "big bad villain" and explore the themes of identity, trauma, ambition, and power that shaped him.
Christopher Tester also did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. His voice fit the material well and made the analysis engaging from start to finish.
If you're a Harry Potter fan who enjoys literary analysis and character studies, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a listen.
As someone who loves Harry Potter, I enjoyed taking a deeper dive into Tom Riddle's character and seeing his story analyzed from a different perspective. It was fascinating to look beyond the "big bad villain" and explore the themes of identity, trauma, ambition, and power that shaped him.
Christopher Tester also did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. His voice fit the material well and made the analysis engaging from start to finish.
If you're a Harry Potter fan who enjoys literary analysis and character studies, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a listen.
July 11, 2026
As a Harry Potter fan, I enjoyed the discussion and dissection of Tom Riddle as a character. The summary and chronological walkthrough of Tom throughout the Harry Potter books was enjoyable and made the timeline of the character easy to follow.
There is only so much source material to draw information from so it’s important to not that there are a lot of observations and assumptions made about Tom Riddle that likely fall into the category of “head cannon”. Some I agreed with and some I didn’t but I found them all interesting!
There is only so much source material to draw information from so it’s important to not that there are a lot of observations and assumptions made about Tom Riddle that likely fall into the category of “head cannon”. Some I agreed with and some I didn’t but I found them all interesting!
July 30, 2026
As a huge Harry Potter fan, I was excited to dive deeper into Tom Riddle’s story. We did get a little insight on how he became Voldemort, but I wish it had gone even deeper. I didn’t agree with many of the author’s opinions, which is ok but also made it harder to fully enjoy the book. It also felt repetitive at times and moved at a pretty slow pace.
It was fun seeing glimpses of other familiar characters like Quirrell, Slughorn, and Barty Crouch Jr. Those sections definitely held my attention the most.
It was fun seeing glimpses of other familiar characters like Quirrell, Slughorn, and Barty Crouch Jr. Those sections definitely held my attention the most.
August 7, 2026
e-ARC from NetGalley.
3.25
This was fascinating and I (initially) really enjoyed it, but now all I can remember about it is the author's obsession with transphobia.
I was expecting to give this a 5 until it lost the plot. This was marketed as (and mostly about) the psychology of Lord Voldemort, so the random dissertations on JK Rowling's remarks on trans topics and comparisons to deadnaming a trans person, only to immediately point out that Voldemort is not trans, just evil? Completely irrelevant and detracted from, well, everything.
3.25
This was fascinating and I (initially) really enjoyed it, but now all I can remember about it is the author's obsession with transphobia.
I was expecting to give this a 5 until it lost the plot. This was marketed as (and mostly about) the psychology of Lord Voldemort, so the random dissertations on JK Rowling's remarks on trans topics and comparisons to deadnaming a trans person, only to immediately point out that Voldemort is not trans, just evil? Completely irrelevant and detracted from, well, everything.
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