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Harry Potter (Full-Cast Edition) #6
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
The beloved stories as you’ve never experienced them. Get ready to be transported to the world of Harry Potter in a captivating production that features hundreds of unique voices and immersive sound design that brings the wizarding world vividly to life in Dolby Atmos. You’ll hear footsteps echoing through the corridors of Hogwarts and the heart-racing whoosh of the Golden Snitch as it darts past your ears in the heat of a Quidditch match. Also featuring an electrifying new musical score, The Full-Cast Audio Editions present J.K. Rowling’s iconic series as a truly spellbinding listening event for the whole family.
There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building... wherever they had murdered...
When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shriveled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort's darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny...
Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter stories never fail to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new listeners.
Starring Jaxon Knopf as Harry Potter, Rhys Mulligan as Ron Weasley, Nina Barker-Francis as Hermione Granger, Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, Bill Nighy as Horace Slughorn, Ruth Wilson as Bellatrix Lestrange, Simon Pegg as Arthur Weasley, Leo Woodall as Bill Weasley, Ambika Mod as Nymphadora Tonks, Cush Jumbo as Narrator, and a full cast.
There it was, hanging in the sky above the school: the blazing green skull with a serpent tongue, the mark Death Eaters left behind whenever they had entered a building... wherever they had murdered...
When Dumbledore arrives at Privet Drive one summer night to collect Harry Potter, his wand hand is blackened and shriveled, but he does not reveal why. Secrets and suspicion are spreading through the wizarding world, and Hogwarts itself is not safe. Harry is convinced that Malfoy bears the Dark Mark: there is a Death Eater amongst them. Harry will need powerful magic and true friends as he explores Voldemort's darkest secrets, and Dumbledore prepares him to face his destiny...
Having become classics of our time, the Harry Potter stories never fail to bring comfort and escapism. With their message of hope, belonging and the enduring power of truth and love, the story of the Boy Who Lived continues to delight generations of new listeners.
Starring Jaxon Knopf as Harry Potter, Rhys Mulligan as Ron Weasley, Nina Barker-Francis as Hermione Granger, Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore, Riz Ahmed as Professor Snape, Michelle Gomez as Professor McGonagall, Matthew Macfadyen as Lord Voldemort, Bill Nighy as Horace Slughorn, Ruth Wilson as Bellatrix Lestrange, Simon Pegg as Arthur Weasley, Leo Woodall as Bill Weasley, Ambika Mod as Nymphadora Tonks, Cush Jumbo as Narrator, and a full cast.
Audiobook
First published July 16, 2005
About the author
J.K. Rowling
738 books235k followersSee also: Robert Galbraith
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
Although she writes under the pen name J.K. Rowling, pronounced like rolling, her name when her first Harry Potter book was published was simply Joanne Rowling. Anticipating that the target audience of young boys might not want to read a book written by a woman, her publishers demanded that she use two initials, rather than her full name. As she had no middle name, she chose K as the second initial of her pen name, from her paternal grandmother Kathleen Ada Bulgen Rowling. She calls herself Jo and has said, "No one ever called me 'Joanne' when I was young, unless they were angry." Following her marriage, she has sometimes used the name Joanne Murray when conducting personal business. During the Leveson Inquiry she gave evidence under the name of Joanne Kathleen Rowling. In a 2012 interview, Rowling noted that she no longer cared that people pronounced her name incorrectly.
Rowling was born to Peter James Rowling, a Rolls-Royce aircraft engineer, and Anne Rowling (née Volant), on 31 July 1965 in Yate, Gloucestershire, England, 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Bristol. Her mother Anne was half-French and half-Scottish. Her parents first met on a train departing from King's Cross Station bound for Arbroath in 1964. They married on 14 March 1965. Her mother's maternal grandfather, Dugald Campbell, was born in Lamlash on the Isle of Arran. Her mother's paternal grandfather, Louis Volant, was awarded the Croix de Guerre for exceptional bravery in defending the village of Courcelles-le-Comte during the First World War.
Rowling's sister Dianne was born at their home when Rowling was 23 months old. The family moved to the nearby village Winterbourne when Rowling was four. She attended St Michael's Primary School, a school founded by abolitionist William Wilberforce and education reformer Hannah More. Her headmaster at St Michael's, Alfred Dunn, has been suggested as the inspiration for the Harry Potter headmaster Albus Dumbledore.
As a child, Rowling often wrote fantasy stories, which she would usually then read to her sister. She recalls that: "I can still remember me telling her a story in which she fell down a rabbit hole and was fed strawberries by the rabbit family inside it. Certainly the first story I ever wrote down (when I was five or six) was about a rabbit called Rabbit. He got the measles and was visited by his friends, including a giant bee called Miss Bee." At the age of nine, Rowling moved to Church Cottage in the Gloucestershire village of Tutshill, close to Chepstow, Wales. When she was a young teenager, her great aunt, who Rowling said "taught classics and approved of a thirst for knowledge, even of a questionable kind," gave her a very old copy of Jessica Mitford's autobiography, Hons and Rebels. Mitford became Rowling's heroine, and Rowling subsequently read all of her books.
Rowling has said of her teenage years, in an interview with The New Yorker, "I wasn’t particularly happy. I think it’s a dreadful time of life." She had a difficult homelife; her mother was ill and she had a difficult relationship with her father (she is no longer on speaking terms with him). She attended secondary school at Wyedean School and College, where her mother had worked as a technician in the science department. Rowling said of her adolescence, "Hermione [a bookish, know-it-all Harry Potter character] is loosely based on me. She's a caricature of me when I was eleven, which I'm not particularly proud of." Steve Eddy, who taught Rowling English when she first arrived, remembers her as "not exceptional" but "one of a group of girls who were bright, and quite good at English." Sean Harris, her best friend in the Upper Sixth owned a turquoise Ford Anglia, which she says inspired the one in her books.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
April 24, 2026
If I had any misapprehension about Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore, it was completely erased by his performance in this book. No one could have done a better job.
June 15, 2026
5 brilliant stars
April 25, 2026
Listening to the full cast audio made this book (especially the first 2-3 chapters and the last 3 chapters) hit so much harder. 💔
June 3, 2026
As a first time reader I will now need 4-5 business days to recover from this book (iykyk). Need to go touch grass and remind myself this is a fictional world with fictional characters.
April 28, 2026
SO SO SO SO SO GOOD!!!! Im not ready for them to be over. 😭😭😭
May 5, 2026
This sixth book has always been my favourite and I was very much looking forward to the audio version. I loved it as much as the previous books.
I feel like, when this is all done that these versions will be my favourite way to consume the story. The TV show will probably be good too but to have the whole book with a cast that is absolutely fantastic from start to finish will be hard to beat.
The biggest new voice is Bill Nighy as Horace Slughorn and he nails it. I expected it to be a lot more 'Bill Nighy'-esque and I was pleasantly surprised when he went in a different direction.
The standout cast member though is Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore. He has a lot more to do and his character goes through a lot more and he nails it. I have enjoyed him so far but here he convinced me completely. A close second is Riz Ahmed as Snape. He completely transformed the role for me and I don't think of Alan Rickman's portrayal anymore when I think of Snape. He is just perfect.
But to be honest, there is no weak link in this production. I will be very sad when there won't be a new release every month after May but I will probably re-listen to all the books many times to come.
I feel like, when this is all done that these versions will be my favourite way to consume the story. The TV show will probably be good too but to have the whole book with a cast that is absolutely fantastic from start to finish will be hard to beat.
The biggest new voice is Bill Nighy as Horace Slughorn and he nails it. I expected it to be a lot more 'Bill Nighy'-esque and I was pleasantly surprised when he went in a different direction.
The standout cast member though is Hugh Laurie as Albus Dumbledore. He has a lot more to do and his character goes through a lot more and he nails it. I have enjoyed him so far but here he convinced me completely. A close second is Riz Ahmed as Snape. He completely transformed the role for me and I don't think of Alan Rickman's portrayal anymore when I think of Snape. He is just perfect.
But to be honest, there is no weak link in this production. I will be very sad when there won't be a new release every month after May but I will probably re-listen to all the books many times to come.
May 10, 2026
The voice acting in these audio versions are just impeccable. Listening to Hugh Laurie as Dumbledore in the cave is gonna haunt me forever.
May 10, 2026
The changing of the guard
Two big things happen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the penultimate installment of the Harry Potter series. First, we learn about horcruxes. Although this is not the first appearance of horcruxes in the series, it is the first time they are named, and it is the first time we realize what they mean. Henceforth Harry's central problem is finding and destroying horcruxes. That is mainly what Deathly Hallows is about. (I am writing this review 10-May-2026, and the full-cast audiobook of Deathly Hallows comes out in two days, 12-May-2026.) The second big thing is the death of Dumbledore.
There is also a smaller thing. Harry is convinced that Draco Malfoy is up to mischief, and that Dumbledore is not paying Draco enough attention. Everyone who knows Harry knows that he is obsessed with Draco, and they discount his worries. Furthermore, they have entire faith in Dumbledore. They tell Harry that Dumbledore surely knows what Draco is up to, and that Dumbledore has put protections in place that will thwart any plans of Malfoy's. Indeed, Dumbledore himself, while not saying so in so many words, hints both of these things to Harry.
It transpires that the skeptics are right about the first part -- Dumbledore is indeed aware that Draco is up to something. But they, even Dumbledore himself, are wrong about the second part. Draco manages to outwit Dumbledore. He introduces Death-Eaters into Hogwarts under Dumbledore's nose, with disastrous consequences.
Dumbledore was always going to die -- indeed, we eventually learn that he had a secret deal with Snape that Snape would kill him. He was not supposed to die and deprive Harry of his guidance quite this early, though.
Putting these two things together: Dumbledore dead, and dead of a tactical error that Harry didn't make, and you have a changing of the guard. In Half-Blood Prince the leadership of the opposition to Voldemort passes from Dumbledore to Harry and Ron and Hermione.
My five-star rating is for the story, not, alas, for the full-cast edition. The new character in this installment is Horace Slughorn, voiced by Bill Nighy. Neither the character nor Nighy's portrayal struck me as particularly inspired. Nothing wrong with either, but nothing I would call outstanding.
So, on to Deathly Hallows!
Blog review.
Two big things happen in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the penultimate installment of the Harry Potter series. First, we learn about horcruxes. Although this is not the first appearance of horcruxes in the series, it is the first time they are named, and it is the first time we realize what they mean. Henceforth Harry's central problem is finding and destroying horcruxes. That is mainly what Deathly Hallows is about. (I am writing this review 10-May-2026, and the full-cast audiobook of Deathly Hallows comes out in two days, 12-May-2026.) The second big thing is the death of Dumbledore.
There is also a smaller thing. Harry is convinced that Draco Malfoy is up to mischief, and that Dumbledore is not paying Draco enough attention. Everyone who knows Harry knows that he is obsessed with Draco, and they discount his worries. Furthermore, they have entire faith in Dumbledore. They tell Harry that Dumbledore surely knows what Draco is up to, and that Dumbledore has put protections in place that will thwart any plans of Malfoy's. Indeed, Dumbledore himself, while not saying so in so many words, hints both of these things to Harry.
It transpires that the skeptics are right about the first part -- Dumbledore is indeed aware that Draco is up to something. But they, even Dumbledore himself, are wrong about the second part. Draco manages to outwit Dumbledore. He introduces Death-Eaters into Hogwarts under Dumbledore's nose, with disastrous consequences.
Dumbledore was always going to die -- indeed, we eventually learn that he had a secret deal with Snape that Snape would kill him. He was not supposed to die and deprive Harry of his guidance quite this early, though.
Putting these two things together: Dumbledore dead, and dead of a tactical error that Harry didn't make, and you have a changing of the guard. In Half-Blood Prince the leadership of the opposition to Voldemort passes from Dumbledore to Harry and Ron and Hermione.
My five-star rating is for the story, not, alas, for the full-cast edition. The new character in this installment is Horace Slughorn, voiced by Bill Nighy. Neither the character nor Nighy's portrayal struck me as particularly inspired. Nothing wrong with either, but nothing I would call outstanding.
So, on to Deathly Hallows!
Blog review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Currently Reading
June 19, 2026Audiobook time 🎶
June 19, 2026
This one really caught me by surprise because as someone who has only seen the movies... this is my least favorite one but the book? AMAZING.
So many parts of this book felt very high stakes (because it is), there is so much more background on the characters & emotional depth than I was anticipating.
I need to remind myself that these are fictional characters & not my very close personal friends. Sad that there is only one left!
So many parts of this book felt very high stakes (because it is), there is so much more background on the characters & emotional depth than I was anticipating.
I need to remind myself that these are fictional characters & not my very close personal friends. Sad that there is only one left!
May 4, 2026
Had some ‘Hogwarts a History’ Professor Binns level Horcrux exposition. But Hugh Laurie is fire in this audio edition and it sets up Deathly Hallows perfectly. Plus honestly, the ending from the Lake onwards...some of the most compelling.#Chills #ValeDumby #Always”
May 18, 2026
Once again, I cannot overstate how much I'm enjoying these audiobooks. I'm dreading finishing the last one. They are making me SO excited for the new TV series!
June 9, 2026
Still my favorite in the series!
May 17, 2026
Once again the full cast puts on a fantastic performance
May 21, 2026
SO GOOD! These audiobooks are fabulous, but Dumbledore’s death hit so hard. I’m not ready for the end 😢
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
June 18, 2026I don’t wanna talk about it
June 6, 2026
Still my favorite Harry Potter book.
May 14, 2026
The full-cast audio was spectacular ✨I’ve read this book half a dozen times and somehow it’s still epic and heartbreaking.
May 20, 2026
Despite knowing what happens a thousand times over, this hurt 😭😭😭
May 11, 2026
NOTE: A donation was made to TransActual UK upon downloading this audio book.
Listening to the full cast audio felt like experiencing the story for the first time all over again 🥹⚡️
The cave scenes, the astronomy tower, the aftermath - that whole final stretch was absolutely incredible with the full cast production. The music, performances and sound design made everything feel so cinematic and immersive, especially the battle scenes and emotional moments in the final few chapters. Even knowing exactly what was coming, it still completely destroyed me emotionally.
Harry Potter will always be ultimate god-tier for me (despite my views on JK Rowling herself) and getting to experience this story in a completely new way after loving it for so many years honestly felt really special ✨
Now emotionally preparing myself for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because I already know that full cast audio is going to RUIN me 😭
Listening to the full cast audio felt like experiencing the story for the first time all over again 🥹⚡️
The cave scenes, the astronomy tower, the aftermath - that whole final stretch was absolutely incredible with the full cast production. The music, performances and sound design made everything feel so cinematic and immersive, especially the battle scenes and emotional moments in the final few chapters. Even knowing exactly what was coming, it still completely destroyed me emotionally.
Harry Potter will always be ultimate god-tier for me (despite my views on JK Rowling herself) and getting to experience this story in a completely new way after loving it for so many years honestly felt really special ✨
Now emotionally preparing myself for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows because I already know that full cast audio is going to RUIN me 😭
May 2, 2026
“I’m not worried Harry, I’m with you.” 😭 Chills and tears
May 28, 2026
I know I’ve been handing out a lot of 5 star reviews with these full cast editions of the HP audiobooks, but if you would let them dazzle your ear holes, you’d get it! This review is partly about the story and partly about experiencing the audiobook.
The story: We see lots of new relationships and connections forming. I find it funny how Harry’s oblivious to his feelings about Ginny until he sees her with someone else. If that isn’t a perfect example of teen love, I don’t know what is. Something similar happens with Ron and Hermione, who FINALLY start to show some affection toward one another (sorry, not sorry, Lavender). They aren’t quite dating, but doing that “hey let’s not bicker anymore and instead be really nice to each other while being jealous of anyone the other has had a romantic interest in” kind of thing. Also, Remus and Tonks. Remus breaks my heart. The poor guy turns into a savage beast every month and I’m sure that must be exhausting. I do that once a month myself, minus the fur and fangs and the entire shifting of my bones and such, and it exhausts me. He carries so much self-loathing. Being a werewolf renders him a social pariah and he lives a difficult life. Despite this, and their age gap, Tonks so badly wants a relationship with him and he is convinced she deserves better 😭 You stupid man, love is knocking on the furry door of your heart, open it!! Fleur makes a comeback and she’s engaged to Bill. I really enjoyed how her relationship with the Weasley family developed. I don’t think she ever meant to be offensive, but the cultural differences paired with the clashing of her and Mrs. Weasley’s personalities made things tense. Plus I think mamas just have a hard time letting their sons grow up. I’m glad Mrs. Weasley came to realize her son was truly loved.
This book is one of my favorites because we get to see the backstory of Voldemort, a character that has previously always been shrouded in so much mystery. To say he comes from a dysfunctional family would be an understatement. Before he was ever the Dark Lord, he was just Tom Riddle. We go through the stages of his life starting as a strange orphaned child, developing into a charismatic and cunning student, and finally into an ambitious and power hungry young man with a pull toward the Dark Arts. Learning his background answers a few of my “why are you like this?” and “who hurt you?” questions, but it doesn’t excuse his actions. Obviously, we can’t have daddy issues and then start murdering people all willy-nilly.
We also get a peek into that brilliant mind of Albus Dumbledore. He knew so much yet revealed so little. I suppose he couldn’t lay everything out that he knew. Running a school, secretly hunting down horcruxes, keeping in contact with The Order, keeping tabs on what’s going on with the ministry, making sure Harry was safe, knowing apparently every detail of everything (except for the vanishing cabinet apparently) and all the extras and still have time to even pee would have had me in the floor with a nervous breakdown. His death is one I will never get over. I know why it had to happen, but why did it have to be so traumatic? I also kind of felt bad for Malfoy. I hate feeling bad for terrible characters. Yes, he was a rectum, but he was also a kid. A scared kid whose stupid parents got him pulled into a cult.
Also, just want to throw in that if I were Harry, after everything that happened, I would’ve lined up every single person who was gaslighting me over the Malfoy and Snape conspiracy, and would’ve ran by every person with my hand open wide, slapping them in their unbelieving mouths while screaming “I TOLD YOU!” Ron, Hermione, Mr. Weasley, the other Weasleys, The Order members…I don’t care. I would’ve shown no mercy. Learn to listen to your friends.
Despite the series growing even darker at this point, it was nice to have a balance by seeing the students still get to be students. Quidditch, teenage drama, homework and classes, all of that still continued. Kids can only evade murder attempts so many times before it starts to impact their studies, after all.
The full cast audiobook: I say it all the time, but if you aren’t listening to these, you should run and do it immediately. If you are a HP fan or even if the series is completely new to you, I cannot stress enough how amazing these full cast editions have been. They have only amplified my love for this series and gave me a completely new experience that I never thought I could have again.
Be prepared: Having read these books and watched the movies countless times, Dumbledore’s death shouldn’t have had much of an impact on me, so I was surprised that when I was cleaning my bathroom, I looked into the mirror to find my face was devastated while listening. These full cast audios pack a punch 😩 Fawkes singing his phoenix song of grief sounded so utterly heart wrenching. That poor bird lost his bestie and just says “bye, y’all.” The merpeople singing didn’t make it any easier. My heart was being assaulted. Shew. This one gave me so many feelings. This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to experiencing these stories for the first time again. Very much recommend.
The story: We see lots of new relationships and connections forming. I find it funny how Harry’s oblivious to his feelings about Ginny until he sees her with someone else. If that isn’t a perfect example of teen love, I don’t know what is. Something similar happens with Ron and Hermione, who FINALLY start to show some affection toward one another (sorry, not sorry, Lavender). They aren’t quite dating, but doing that “hey let’s not bicker anymore and instead be really nice to each other while being jealous of anyone the other has had a romantic interest in” kind of thing. Also, Remus and Tonks. Remus breaks my heart. The poor guy turns into a savage beast every month and I’m sure that must be exhausting. I do that once a month myself, minus the fur and fangs and the entire shifting of my bones and such, and it exhausts me. He carries so much self-loathing. Being a werewolf renders him a social pariah and he lives a difficult life. Despite this, and their age gap, Tonks so badly wants a relationship with him and he is convinced she deserves better 😭 You stupid man, love is knocking on the furry door of your heart, open it!! Fleur makes a comeback and she’s engaged to Bill. I really enjoyed how her relationship with the Weasley family developed. I don’t think she ever meant to be offensive, but the cultural differences paired with the clashing of her and Mrs. Weasley’s personalities made things tense. Plus I think mamas just have a hard time letting their sons grow up. I’m glad Mrs. Weasley came to realize her son was truly loved.
This book is one of my favorites because we get to see the backstory of Voldemort, a character that has previously always been shrouded in so much mystery. To say he comes from a dysfunctional family would be an understatement. Before he was ever the Dark Lord, he was just Tom Riddle. We go through the stages of his life starting as a strange orphaned child, developing into a charismatic and cunning student, and finally into an ambitious and power hungry young man with a pull toward the Dark Arts. Learning his background answers a few of my “why are you like this?” and “who hurt you?” questions, but it doesn’t excuse his actions. Obviously, we can’t have daddy issues and then start murdering people all willy-nilly.
We also get a peek into that brilliant mind of Albus Dumbledore. He knew so much yet revealed so little. I suppose he couldn’t lay everything out that he knew. Running a school, secretly hunting down horcruxes, keeping in contact with The Order, keeping tabs on what’s going on with the ministry, making sure Harry was safe, knowing apparently every detail of everything (except for the vanishing cabinet apparently) and all the extras and still have time to even pee would have had me in the floor with a nervous breakdown. His death is one I will never get over. I know why it had to happen, but why did it have to be so traumatic? I also kind of felt bad for Malfoy. I hate feeling bad for terrible characters. Yes, he was a rectum, but he was also a kid. A scared kid whose stupid parents got him pulled into a cult.
Also, just want to throw in that if I were Harry, after everything that happened, I would’ve lined up every single person who was gaslighting me over the Malfoy and Snape conspiracy, and would’ve ran by every person with my hand open wide, slapping them in their unbelieving mouths while screaming “I TOLD YOU!” Ron, Hermione, Mr. Weasley, the other Weasleys, The Order members…I don’t care. I would’ve shown no mercy. Learn to listen to your friends.
Despite the series growing even darker at this point, it was nice to have a balance by seeing the students still get to be students. Quidditch, teenage drama, homework and classes, all of that still continued. Kids can only evade murder attempts so many times before it starts to impact their studies, after all.
The full cast audiobook: I say it all the time, but if you aren’t listening to these, you should run and do it immediately. If you are a HP fan or even if the series is completely new to you, I cannot stress enough how amazing these full cast editions have been. They have only amplified my love for this series and gave me a completely new experience that I never thought I could have again.
Be prepared: Having read these books and watched the movies countless times, Dumbledore’s death shouldn’t have had much of an impact on me, so I was surprised that when I was cleaning my bathroom, I looked into the mirror to find my face was devastated while listening. These full cast audios pack a punch 😩 Fawkes singing his phoenix song of grief sounded so utterly heart wrenching. That poor bird lost his bestie and just says “bye, y’all.” The merpeople singing didn’t make it any easier. My heart was being assaulted. Shew. This one gave me so many feelings. This is the closest I’ve ever gotten to experiencing these stories for the first time again. Very much recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2026
~ 5.0 Stars
Man, I had forgotten how good this book is!!
It's one that I often overlook, and there are so many delicious little details I've forgotten. I really should have read this one more.
This installment is rich with lore and does an excellent job of setting up the final book.
Sure, its certainly the most high school feeling, with teenage hormones running rampant, however I think that adds a light-hearted element that nicely contrasts the dark, impending feeling of doom closing in on the reader at this point in the story.
The acting in this is superb, full of realistic emotions that even the movies are void of. Very well done.
I can't believe I am on to the last book!
Man, I had forgotten how good this book is!!
It's one that I often overlook, and there are so many delicious little details I've forgotten. I really should have read this one more.
This installment is rich with lore and does an excellent job of setting up the final book.
Sure, its certainly the most high school feeling, with teenage hormones running rampant, however I think that adds a light-hearted element that nicely contrasts the dark, impending feeling of doom closing in on the reader at this point in the story.
The acting in this is superb, full of realistic emotions that even the movies are void of. Very well done.
I can't believe I am on to the last book!
May 5, 2026
"Age is foolish and forgetful when it underestimates youth."
"Dumbledore's man through and through."
"'I don't mean to be rude—' he began, in a tone that threatened rudeness in every syllable.
'Yet, sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often,' Dumbledore finished the sentence gravely."
"When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love."
"Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies."
"Dumbledore's man through and through."
"'I don't mean to be rude—' he began, in a tone that threatened rudeness in every syllable.
'Yet, sadly, accidental rudeness occurs alarmingly often,' Dumbledore finished the sentence gravely."
"When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love."
"Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies."
June 15, 2026
The more i read these books, the more i realize that JK's writing is actually fantastic. We know how great the story and world is, but her pacing is actually incredible.
HBP has tied, if not overtaken, the #1 spot in the series for me. So much detail about Voldemort, Snape's character is so complex, and Ginny is such a BAD A**!!! The book ends so bleak that you really wonder how things will pick up. Bring on the war!!!
HBP has tied, if not overtaken, the #1 spot in the series for me. So much detail about Voldemort, Snape's character is so complex, and Ginny is such a BAD A**!!! The book ends so bleak that you really wonder how things will pick up. Bring on the war!!!
May 21, 2026
RIP dumbledore. Also I forgot how much better the romance is between Harry and Ginny in the books than in the movies. The full cast brought something special to it as well. And I can not STAND Lavender’s voice. Whoever is doing her makes her sound like she’s 7. But otherwise always an interesting book of the series and I enjoy these full-cast versions nonetheless.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2026
The Full-cast editions are so fantastic! I wish more of my favorite series were available in this type of format. It's like playing a movie in your head. Most of the cast is just perfect. I love the voice performances.
June 6, 2026
Listening in this format really highlighted Dumbledore and Harry’s relationship for me. I know in book 7 Harry gets really frustrated by not knowing more of what to do, but Dumbledore did really tell him so much and show him the way to go.
April 28, 2026
Amazing!!! One more to go!! 🥳
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