"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" is the sixth book of the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. Harry is a more mature character in this book and spends the most time with Dumbledore that he has in any other book. Harry and Dumbledore make progress against Voldemort, but, at the same time, Voldemort seems to be gathering forces and gaining more power. Meanwhile, Harry has other things happening in his life. There are lessons to learn at Hogwarts. The Weasleys become ever more important to Harry's story. There is an interesting change of who is teaching what at Hogwarts. Quidditch continues to be a part of Harry's life. And, personal relationships develop. Meanwhile, However, Harry begins to learn more of Voldemort's past. And, Harry has yet another dangerous adventure. Unfortunately, we then come to the darkest part of the HP stories.

Sorry, that is enough of that. We have left the children's stories behind. Harry must, now, be an adult as he continues to work against Voldemort.

This is an excellent book. However, if you have a young person reading this, be sure to prepare your young person for the possibility of difficulties and dark times for Harry. Personally, I doubt if anyone under 16 should be reading this episode of the Harry Potter series of stories.

Like I said in my other reviews, this series is nonsensical! Magic, according to the Bible, is otherwise known as witchcraft and it is a sin to practice it in any form. People, even Christians, need to realize that this series is detrimental to God's truth and they then need to cease reading these horrible books! Plus, a gay character (the practice of the Bible specifically forbids) just furthers my resolution that this series is evil! The world needs to come clean and 'fess up to their addiction to Harry Potter and then ban these books!

Great book! I have never devoured a book so fast in my life. Couldn't wait to read each page. For all ages. I'm already reading the last book.

It's been difficult for me to get into the Harry Potter books, having already seen all of the movies to this point. However, when the theatrical release of this film was pushed back into 2009, I thought now was a good time to try again with this one. THAN GOODNESS I DID! I've even started going backwards in the series.

What a great read. Rowling's writing is quite good. The scenes are very well described, and the character development is exactly where it needs to be. Rowling really makes you care about the characters all throughout this book (as well as previous installments).

I found the climax to be rewarding, and quite descriptive. I really cannot wait to see the new ideas in the book brought to life in the movie.

For those who've found the books difficult to get into, and have seen the movies, this one is a GREAT read while waiting for the "Half-Blood Prince" to debut in the theatre.

If you are even browsing this page then it is pointless to read any reviews. That means, you are already a fan and know how spell-binding the series is. Every HP book is AMAZING! A great read for all ages.

This book was good, But a lot less dark, and not as haunting. Also we are told that Voldemort's growing, but there's no sense of fear other than in London,and some parts of Europe. I mean, what about the other 6 continents. He's not taking over North America, or Asia.

Got the last 2 HP books they were in excellent condition I like doing business at Amazon

Bottom Line: Loaner (unless you have to have it for your collection)
I have to say I was disappointed in many things about this book.
First and foremost, it didn't grab my attention at the initial start of the book, like the previous books had.
Then, the insertion of the flashbacks at the first third of the book I felt was, confusing. Added to that, they seemed to drone on a bit longer than they needed.
Thirdly, the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore seemed to suddenly turn in another direction..which didn't feel 'true' to me based on the relationship portrayed in the previous installments..and it also added to the 'overness' of the book.
Then, we add in the relationship between Harry and Ginny, which was the all time most forced thing in this book, for me. It didn't feel right, didn't make any sense, on any level. It felt like a hasty move to shove another love scenario into the story. And then Ron and Hermione are supposed to like each other? I didn't get that either. There wasn't any or enough foundation laid for any of it, to me. It would have been far more interesting had Luna taken a romantic interest in Harry..now there's a chick who could have turned him every which way but loose.
All and all, it felt like, a book written by an author who might be perhaps 'over' this entire series and its characters.

I have to say I was disappointed in many things about this book.
First and foremost, it didn't grab my attention at the initial start of the book, like the previous books had.
Then, the insertion of the flashbacks at the first third of the book I felt was, confusing. Added to that, they seemed to drone on a bit longer than they needed.
Thirdly, the relationship between Harry and Dumbledore seemed to suddenly turn in another direction..which didn't feel 'true' to me based on the relationship portrayed in the previous installments..and it also added to the 'overness' of the book.
Then, we add in the relationship between Harry and Ginny, which was the all time most forced thing in this book, for me. It didn't feel right, didn't make any sense, on any level. It felt like a hasty move to shove another love scenario into the story. And then Ron and Hermione are supposed to like each other? I didn't get that either. There wasn't any or enough foundation laid for any of it, to me. It would have been far more interesting had Luna taken a romantic interest in Harry..now there's a chick who could have turned him every which way but loose.
All and all, it felt like, a book written by an author who might be perhaps 'over' this entire series and its characters.

this harry potter book takes you way backm to lord voldmorts beginning. see how true evil is created in this awesome harry potter book, and also see how true evil can be destroyed. this book is awesome. i recomend it to everyone.

A basic battle tactic is to know your enemy. That' just what Harry has to do, learn about Voldemort. Why is he evil? Is Voldemort his real name? What is his connection to Harry and Dumbledore? All of these questions and more are revealed in this, my favorite book in the series.

The story continues. . . .Potter is growing into a unique individual with his thoughts and actions. Don't want to give anything away!!

I spent my entire day reading this book. AMAZING! I read often, but have never experienced the obsession I have with reading the Harry Potter books. I started over the summer and as the books are getting longer, my reading is getting faster. I highly recommend that everyone reads these books! I can hardly wait to start the 7th one.....

I ordered Harry Potter and the Half-blood prince CD audio book, narrated by Jim Dale. I received a cd with "all the harry potter books", instead.
Not at all happy -

I absolutely love this book. It is incredible. I read it the first time and thought it was good, but the second time was amazing. I am really looking forward to the movie!!!!!!!!!!!!

Overall:
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2.5 stars -- The story is weak exposition (for the most part) filling in holes in the plot / milieu that needed to be filled before the conclusion of the series to satisfy the Harry Potter fan base. The concept of Horcruxes is not new to the fantasy setting (many authors have used them before with wide circulation in the D&D realm for Liches). The death of Dumbledore is expected not the exact method of it. The milieu is getting dark but does not quite feel right for where I would have taken the story.

Characters:
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The use of the Pensieve for background development is a nice trick but seems to be used a bit much in the story. You could have just had Dumbledore explain things which would have worked just a well. The background of Tom Riddle is interesting but you quickly see how evil he is...did not need to belabour it as much as was done. Harry is growing a bit but is still emotionally stunted compared to the other characters; I am not sure why this annoys me so much when I reading the books. I guess I would like to see the characters learn from their mistakes instead of repeating them all the time.

Ron and Hermeine are clearly going to work out in the next book as are Ginny and Harry.

Snape is done very well in the book. The death scene of Dumbledore is done very well with great impact. The depth of Snape character is unmatched by the other characters in the entire story. The underdog role of Snape in the face of constant social pressure and potential lethalness is very well done (inserting a bit from the last book). The anger and betrayal felt in the death scene when Snape kills Dumbledore is well engineered and affective.

Draco: His true character is demonstrated -- a wuss. He is all talk and no show. I know JKR is going for redemption for him but he could really have had it. Draco only realizes the implications of his actions late in the book and could done many things about it.

Dumbledore: Many things are annoying about him in this book. The trying to make up for lost time with Harry is done pourly and ineffectively. It would have been much easier to actually tell Harry things..but wait you can not do that as Harry has not learned to block out the Dark Lord as people have been trying to get to do that for three books but he is too proud / self-important to do it.

Plot:
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The plot is terribly weak. Dumbledore's death is needed to advance the plot. I must give credit to JKR for setting up the last book well in HBP. She has done a very good job of laying out the plot many books ago and utilizing the plot hooks through the books. The unfortunately part is that you have to read some slow scenes that in hind sight could have been removed.

The Horcruxes are over used in my mind. Also, it should be nearly impossible to find them regardless of how much you have insight into the Dark Lord's mind. A smart wizard would have taken much stronger methods of protection and obfuscation for the objects.

Actions:
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The action is lacking up until the end of the book. The Death Eater raid on Hogworts is done fairly well. However, I still do not understand why the "good guys" are not killing the Death Eaters outright. There are many opportunities to do so. It is a war; war is a terrible thing with terrible costs. If the point is to show that violence and killing is bad, why not show the change in a beloved character after the battle where the character killed / executed a stunned Death Eater. If you are going for dark in the story/setting, the rounding up and killing of the captured Death Eaters would drive the point home very easily.

American GIs were forced to kill or be killed in WWII. When they came home, they did not discuss the fighting, horror and death but rather they did their best to celebrate life and build a better life for their families. It was their personal sacrifice that led to their ability to achieve so much; the strongest people are forged in the hottest crucibles.

Action:
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It is fairly weak until the climax.

Prose:
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It is on par with the prior books -- aka not evolving much.

Summary:
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Overall: 2.5 stars
Characters: 2.5 - 3 stars
Plot: 1.5 - 2 stars
Action: 2 stars until the end 3.5 - 4 stars (Dumbledores death is well done)
Prose: 3 stars

WOW, she really did a great job of getting everyone fired up for book 7. The ending was torture. I don't know if that makes me happy or really angry. I find myself continually amazed at how she created all this in her head and if she knew how things would turn out from the very start.

In the Sixth installment of JK Rowlings Harry Potter series, "The Half-blood Prince", she continues the thrill ride. As yet another year passes for Harry Potter, of all the changes that have come to him, the trials, difficulties, and changes, this year will bring some of the most ardent yet.

Pro. Dumbledore begins to teach Harry himself, but these private lessons held in the Master's Office are not the lessons that he is use to. The two takes a 'stroll down memory lane' as it were, reviewing key memories that Dumbledore has managed to collect concerning Voldemort's past and his rise to power. Together they learn the secret to Voldemort's seeming indestructibility, and devise plans to end the Dark Lord, once and for all.

This is the most compelling of the Harry Potter series yet, the heat begins to get cranked a little higher, and the pressure goes up on Harry and his friends. The mystery of the "Half-Blood Prince" keeps you guessing right up until the end.

****WARNING, THE REST MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!!****

It was hard reading the end of this book, for somehow I had managed to avoid hearing details of those last few chapters before reading them. Reading that ending, was one of the hardest things I've read I think. Rowlings really makes you feel you know these characters, not just Harry and his close friends, but Dumbledore and the other major characters as well. Standing on the top of that tower, watching helplessly along side Harry as he watches the murder of his mentor, hero, and friend, is nearly heartbreaking.

I highly recommend this story for anyone who is a Harry Potter fan, or just a general fantasy fan(though I suggest reading the first 5 first if you haven't).

RD Williams, author of "The Lost Gate"

More of a mystery than some of the others, as entertaining as the rest. A must read for anyone who wants to know the whole story (movies are great fun, but the books are the backbone of the tale).

This is so far in my opinion the best Harry Potter book, together with the number 3, after the rumbles that the fifth one was, it was really refreshing to see a Harry more focused and centered, the history goes with no annoying moments, and it was one of the quickest to read so far.

OK, more in detail then:
The conflicts between the characters remain, which is great, the bad characters begin to give light that there is something else in them besides the urge to be opposite of being good, an common error in children's books these days, the duality good vs evil, in this book, you see persons with no choice having to do wrong, despite their wishes, a knowledge much harder to grasp for 11-years old, a book for the fans that kept growing.
I haven't read the 7 yet, and am going to keep it at bay for some time, but must say that the ending is really forcing me to find out how the seventh one starts.

Bottom Line:

Great Book, between the 2 best of the Series, great history, great ending, prepare for something shocking, Harry much more mature, Just the title, that has some connection to the book, but to me felt more like the name of a Chapter of instead the name of the book, but go wonder. In the end it certainly made more sense, but still, not enough.

Enjoy a great read.

Nothing I can say more that hasn't been said alrady. Highly recommend. A must read in the series.

Finally, a book devoted to everyone's favorite bad guy.
Severus does not disappoint in this book.
Another knock out punch from J.K., The Half Blood Prince, has everything we've come to love about the Potter books.
An amazing story, action, and drama to the extreme, "Prince" doesn't let go until the last page.
Yet another brilliant page turner from Rowling and one of the finest in the series.
Highly recommended.

Slow, slow, slow........That's what this book is, If it hadn't been next in line, I probably wouldn't have read it. Probably the worst of all the books.

I love the Potter books. These CDs allow me to hear the book on a noisy plane or on the drive to work.

It really does keep getting better - every new book becomes my new favorite. Favorite scene: Felix Felicis/Slughorn/Harry gets the memory. And of course the kiss. And the cave. And pretty much the whole book. The death scene was the most devastating thing I have ever read. You really become emotionally invested in the characters. For the first time ever, I started re-reading the book immediately after speed-reading it (at midnight when it was released). Read it!!

I paid for, but never received this book from the seller. I have contacted them 3 times during the past 6 weeks with no reply. Stay away from this seller!

what else can i say that no one else has?- this is a GREAT book like all her others!!!

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

This fantastic book is just like all the other Harry Potter books, full of magic, excitement and passion. The adventure has thrills and spills and amazing writing skills that somehow drag you into the book. It captures an amazing amount of the reader's imagination right in this five centimetre thick book. I also love J.K. Rowling's amazing way of setting the scene. This book has drama, emotion and lively comments, unlike the extremely boring and pointless Warner Brothers Harry Potter movie series. I realised how much more addictive the book is because it has more pieces of information to put the puzzle back together. There is never a moment of boredom in the book.

When I finished the book I felt like I was in a different world. Big Potter fans who have not read the book yet are in for a big shock when more of the story unfolds. I won't tell you about that Potter fans. As you can see I don't even need to have a long review for you to see how good this book is. I strongly recommend any Potter fan or passionate book fan to read this book.

(Review by Daniel)

***relatively minor spoilers below***

Once I got started, I devoured HP and the Half Blood Prince in about a week. This was a nice change from the plodding Order of the Phoenix, which I forced down over the course of several months.

The HBP focuses primarily on the development and evolution of the main characters. There are only a few big events but boy, are they shocking. The final pages throw the ball high into the air, to be caught somewhere in Book 7.

I fault the HBP on two points:

First off, many reviewers have observed that HBP is largely a setup for Deathy Hallows (which I have yet to read). But HBP also spends many pages attempting to wrap up and weave together the events of Books 1-5. Rowling tries to pull it all together-- characters, incidents, items from HP's past-- into one over-arching plotline. At times it feels very strained, and it's evident that Rowling dreamed up most of these explanations and connections far after the time they were originally written.

Secondly, there are, of course, a number of rather astounding twists towards the end. However, unlike in previous volumes, I don't feel that these twists were handled very well. Their explanations seem feeble, half-hearted, and overall unsatisfactory. The twists inevitably result in character assassination of cast members whose reliability served as much of the foundation of previous volumes. The destruction of reliability is a bit too abrupt, and subsequent attempts to patch or explain away this loss feel like a band-aid over a dagger through the heart. Perhaps the Deathly Hallows will help bridge these rifts.

Overall, it's still a very enjoyable, engrossing read. I feel like a young school girl in admitting that intrigue over the various romances prodded me to continue flipping pages. Several scenes and lines made me laugh out loud or smile, always a sign that a reading is time well spent.

"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" by itself is a very good novel. When compared to its predecessor "Order of the Phoenix" and the last installment "Deathly Hallows", it doesn't quite measure up. The sixth book of the series is largely a build-up to transition to the final stand-off in the seventh book, but it seems like there is just a little too much talking and not enough classic Harry Potter action. I guess this was a pretty necessary transition, however, as it does set up the conclusion of the series very nicely. I suggest that if you have not read this book yet to make sure that you have the seventh book handy as you are going to want to continue on as soon as you finish this one.

Like all the books before its a great work. My entire family (that can read) has read every book (my wife and I listen to them on cd). My 5 yr old has been harry potter for the past 3 years for holloween.

This audio book was SO much fun to listen to! Jim Dale is truly an amazing actor, and this audio book is great fun to listen to for any age! One day, when I was sick and at home, I listened to it for hours on end, and it never got me bored as most things do. I recommend it for everyone!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (year 6 at Hogwarts) is, unfortunately, the low-point of the series in my opinion. It pains me to say so, as there are some important developments in the story, but it is definitely the weakest book overall. Some reasons why:

First of all, the content of the story can basically be broken down into three main parts: exploring Voldemort's past, introducing the horcrux concept, and the ending sequence involving Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy, and Snape (with a couple of events leading up to it). Besides that, it's mostly Harry "cheating" using a marked-up potions manual, and a whole lot of "romantic" shenanigans between the students. The whole "Half-blood Prince" storyline is both unnecessary and distracting, as is the issue of the new teacher, Slughorn. A lot of the book feels like an ill-advised attempt to make *something* happen in the sixth year, just so that the overall series would fit into the "obligatory" seven-year time line; it could all have happened in a few weeks just as easily as an entire year.

So, laying aside the fact that the whole book is mostly a "set up" for book 7, rather than a story unto itself, there are a couple of things about it that I really like. Both revolve around the development of ambiguously evil characters. First, and most prominently, is the development of Severus Snape, who has always been one of Harry's least favorite people. He also happens to be, in my opinion, one of the most intriguing characters in the entire series. From the beginning of the book (well, the second chapter), we are already faced with the question of where Snape's true loyalties lie, and by the end, we have some drastic "surprises" that illuminate the issue. Although his story is not fully told until book 7, this story is where his character really starts coming to the forefront.

The other part of the story that I really like is the story of Draco Malfoy. Throughout the series, he has been little more than the snotty, prejudiced bully who irritates Harry and his friends, but I always suspected and hoped that he would have an important role to play in the end. This book is really when we learn what Draco Malfoy is all about, although it does take a little reading between the lines at times. His scene with Dumbledore at the top of the astronomy tower is the finest moment in the book, and it is rather sad to me that this is, for all practical purposes, the end of Draco's story (his involvement in book 7 is largely perfunctory). I think that J.K. Rowling missed a fantastic opportunity by not giving Draco a larger role in the conclusion of the story. More on this in my review of book 7.

Overall, as I've said, this is definitely the weakest book in the Harry Potter series. You could read only from Chapter 23 to the end and not miss out on anything critical, and get the best of the book besides. Well... Chapter 1 is a good bit of fun, but the middle of the book is mostly a load of waffle, worth reading if you (like me) don't want to miss out on any of the details, but irrelevant to the outcome of the story as a whole.

Unlike the complete letdown of the last book in the series this one keeps your attention throughout it. It also sticks to the story line quite well unlike as I said the next book doesn't in it's review.

The item arrived in a timely manner and was in excellent condition. I'm most pleased.

The book came in the time promised and it was in great condition . It is great doing business with you.
Barbara Holbrook

The Boy Who Lived returns to Hogwarts for the sixth year. Voldemort's return is public knowledge, but he gathered power while the Ministry of Magic denied Dumbledore and Harry's claims. The book opens with Severus Snape making a cryptic promise to Narcissa Malfoy, in a scene that sets the novel's dark tone.

Rowling has magic in her pen. Her prose may not always flow and some plot twists might be obvious, but few books are as fun to read as the Harry Potter series. Her Hogwarts imposes itself on the reader's imagination - children across the world hope for an invitation on their eleventh birthdays. I devoured this and her other six books because she catches your attention and holds it.

Despite this, I feel Rowling became less descriptive in this entry. Some parts seem rushed and it damages her fantastic world-building. It also ensures that Harry seems blander. Most fans hate OoTP Harry. I, on the other hand, think it is his best incarnation. He's temperamental, impulsive, hormonal, and often quite stupid. Rarely does an author write a teenager that perfectly. With this less emotional Harry, more emotional remove exist between the reader and his grief and crushes.

But while I feel remove from his crush, Rowling develops one relationship I hoped for in many of the previous books. She also, FINALLY, grants Draco Malfoy some character development. Long a fan favorite and a key figure in many of the best fanfictions, the Malfoy of the books left something to be desired. Namely, a third-dimension. DH does not focus on Malfoy, but it does continue this development with some wonderfully done scenes involving the entire family.

In the end, the flaws of HBP don't matter. It's the sixth book of the most popular series ever. The Harry Potter books may not be perfect, but they are something special.

[...]

harry appeals to grandmas too. i don't think this was as good as the others.

I was rather dissapointed with this book. Yes, the book is OK, and some might find it even interesting. I liked it enough to finish the reading but it wasn't a quick read. The biggest problem with Half-Blood Prince is that it is way to long. It would be much more interesting if it had just 250 pages instead of 600. This book is not worth all the hype that has been created around it. I say it is mostly the effect of smart marketing. Once again, the bok is OK, but absolutely not great. Three stars is all that it is worth.

But I want more!!!!!!
Being in my late 30's, I enjoy these books as if I was 10.

In the conclusion, when Harry and Dumbledore are in such peril, listening to Jim Dale's narration brings chills, it is so affecting. I heartily recommend it.

Its been awhile since I've read the Harry Potter books and I've read all seven of them, more than once. I picked this one back up recently since I wanted to readjust myself with the story since the 6th movie will be coming out this fall. Though I love all seven books, this one by far is my favorite. I do have a romantic streak to me and the addition of Harry's love life in this one was a big push in that factor of making it my favorite. There is not as much action in this one as some of the others, but I enjoyed the backstory on Voldemort and the twist at the end.
I loved the couples in this, particularly Harry and his lady love which I had been hoping for since early in the series. I won't post much more in case people read this who don't want to be spoiled who haven't read this book yet! (though I can't imagine that being!)
I am a mom of one and in my 40's, and I love these books. They are not just for kids but for any age. My son and I read the last 2 books together, so it made for quite a treat for us to share in the same excitement together.
I love J.K. Rowling and will miss Harry and his adventures quite a bit, but am glad she gave us 7 great books to reread over and over.

This is the best of the seven books in the series. The story was fast pace and exciting. It was difficult to put it down because the author did an excellent job of making me wondering what's going to happen next.

Boy am I glad I didn't start this series until all seven books were written! If I didn't have Deathly Hallows sitting on the bookshelf when I finished this book, I'd have chewed my fingernails right off!

Who is the Half-Blood Prince? You'll find out. I was actually thinking it was someone else, so the plot twist was a nice surprise, even if it meant re-thinking one of my favorite characters, although I'm still not sure what to think (which is why I am glad to already be 50 pages into Book 7).

This book is definitely darker and more serious than the previous one, which was darker than the one before. It provides yet more of the background we need to truly understand, along with Harry, just what he's up against in Voldemort and just how important his role is. This is such a credit to JK Rowling as she writes to an older and older audience each time and definitely does not write down to them.

However, the ending, which is quite shocking, raised lots and lots of questions, and so almost felt like a teaser for the next book, which is annoying enough (in a GOOD way, mind you) when you have the next book on the shelf, but I can only imagine how all you poor folks felt who read this when it first came out!

I could not put the book down it was so fascinating throughout the entire book... I just love her books!

It's Harry Potter and I've loved every book in this series. There's not much I can add to what's already been written.

I write this now, having finished the series and am, to this day, mourning the loss of my adopted children Harry, Ron and Hermione and the gang! (That's not a spoiler folks). JK Rowling is a GENIUS...the complexity of this world, the clever, subtle undercurrents, themes and references are just overwhelmingly impressive. I know all good things must come to an end, but I sure miss the gang!

Slightly disappointed with Rowling's saga, after the relatively boring and story-fatigued "Order of the Phoenix" (OTP), I was truly excited to read "The Half-Blood Prince" (HBP). This book is a turnaround to what seemed to be, in my opinion, an ever winding story.

In HBP, we find a more mature Harry Potter (which was an interesting but frustraing nuance in OTP) in a story with exciting developments:
- Dumbledore's sharing with Harry some "memory snapshots" of Voldemort's past
- A Potions class for which Harry ends up using a used book full of alternative formulas and tips, signed by a mysterious and anonymous "Half-Blood Prince"
- An open-war between the Death Eaters and the Order of the Phoenix (and Ministry of Magic)
- The infamous Draco Malfoy, with less "scenes", but with a mysterious behaviour that obsesses Potter
- Some evolutions in the love scene that put some "spice" into the story

I won't get into more details. This is a must, even for those, like myself, that were slightly disappointed with OTP.

Very entertaining. I probably can't say anything that hasn't already been said, but I love the series, makes me feel like a kid again.

By far the best Harry Potter book of the entire 7 book series. I wish the final book could have matched the great adventure that was expressed in this one.