Hi friends! Have your hankies dried yet? Or are you thankful that the great saga, which has kept the world hung for nearly 10 years, has finally ended. Yes. I am sure you’ve guessed by now what I’m talking about. The last and final book of one of the greatest ever book series is finally out: “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” has been on the shelves for an entire week.
I sit with a heavy heart writing this review on the “grand finale.” Actually, it’s a conflict of feelings. When the book hadn’t yet arrived, I eagerly wanted it to do so but now I half-wish I had a time turner. Sniff! I might as well warn you: SPOILERS AHEAD. So, if you haven’t yet read the latest arrival don’t go further. Yup, stop now or read at your own risk!
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” (DH) has cleared all loose ends and doubts in the brilliantly presented plot that just goes onto show the genius of J. K. Rowling. It picks our hero in the most desperate situation, where we had left him in the last installation. Unable to grasp the reality of Dumbledore’s death, with barely any leads to move on, Harry is desperate. On the other hand, Lord Voldemort (Harry’s sworn enemy) has moved fast and moved well to establish himself as the lord of the wizarding community, intruding the Ministry of Magic and Hogwarts. What, with an attempt at his life as early as when he leaves the Dursley’s home for the last time, Harry realizes that his chances of thwarting Voldemort are dreadfully slim.
Our hero, with his two trustworthy friends sets off on a journey, the path of which is unknown, and the only realistic destination appears death. Finding the remaining Horcruxes, the task entrusted upon him by his late Headmaster Albus Dumbledore, seems not only difficult to Harry but also unachievable. However, our hero knows that he has to find bravery and courage within him for not only attempting to defeat Voldemort but to be ready to sacrifice himself to save his friends and loved ones.
We discover certain not-so-good truths about our dear old half-moon spectacled professor with bright blue eyes. Some very beloved characters (including a very dear little house-elf) lose their lives at the hands of the Death Eaters (the supporters of Lord Voldemort). Highly shocking details of the actions of Severus Snape are brought to light in this book that would definitely leave most, if not all, readers pitying him. Snape’s fate, more than Voldemort’s, perhaps more even than Harry’s, is the most heartbreaking, surprising and satisfying of all of J.K’s achievements. The truth about him hits like a powerful stunning spell knocking you off completely!!!
Oh, I almost forgot. After witnessing the animosity between Draco Malfoy and our hero, one could have never dreamed that Harry would actually… However, Narcissa certainly paid back for it in kind. And as for the Deathly Hallows themselves, I assure you that if you haven’t yet read the book, wasting precious minutes deciphering the meaning would get you no where close to finding out what they are. Better to simply go to the nearest bookshop and get your very own copy of the book!
The darkest book ever, DH shows the necessity of holding onto friends even in the direst times. It teaches the lesson of selflessness and patience in the face of opposition. It forces us to open our minds to the deepest sentiments of love and helplessness felt in the wake of the deaths of loved ones — and not just losing one but several friends and supporters. DH presents a true picture of the emotions, actions and decisions that have to be taken during war and almost proves that everything is fair in love and war. Though of course, with the Weasley twins around, the book can’t lack humor. You’re bound to have laughing fits that may assure anyone in your surrounding of your mental imbalance! But J.K. has left no doubts that the essence of the novel is in the overwhelming importance of continuing to love in the face of death. “Do not pity the dead, Harry,” a wise man tells Harry in Deathly Hallows. “Pity the living, and, above all, those who live without love.”
Finally hats off to J.K.R.!! Only she could have brought such an amazing ending to the Harry Potter saga that has kept everyone hooked to the last page of the last book. I still, at times, feel a sense of numbness such as that after the Imperious Curse. I truly can’t believe that this amazing tempestuous journey has come to an end, I can’t believe that the magic has finally come to an end, I can’t believe that J.K has cast the spell to end all other spells finite incantatum! However, I am glad that despite the ever-increasing darkness of the plot, it had a happy ending — it serves as the essence of dittany for wounds, you know!