Harry Potter, the early years. Book reviews. (J.K Rowling)

So much has been said about these books, by so many, that you're probably wondering what there is to add. 

Well, lots really, both likes and dislikes.

I like the simplicity of the first two books; the fact that they are short and get to the crux of the matter, whilst adding elements to the overall story as a whole, is clever.

Take Dobby the house-elf for example. How can he save Harry Potter in book seven, if Harry doesn't save him in book two? Tom Riddles diary is another example, a Horcrux in book two, yet we don't really start learning about Horcruxes until book six; again, clever!

Another thing I like about the books over the films, is that they have more depth.

Harry and Ron get invited to Nearly Headless Nick's 500th death-day party in The Chamber of Secrets, and as a reader, we learn exactly what year the books are set. Again, very clever!

There's the last task at the end of the first book, the one set by Professor Snape, where Hermione helps Harry solve the riddle of the potions, so he can go on and find the philosophers stone; something you’ll never know about if you’ve only ever watch the film.

Then there’s Neville Longbottom, who features more in the books than any 'would be movie goer' might imagine; going into the forbidden forest at the end of book one instead of Ron is the best example, but there are others.

The third book was all shaping up to be another fabulous read, when time travel was introduced. Now I understand that Hermione had to adhere to a strict set of rules when using the time turner, but one has to question Voldemort’s lack of intellect when it comes to this.

We all know that he splits his soul into seven (well eight really) so as to survive any would be attack on his person, gathers an army of like-minded dark wizard supporters, before being defeated when his own spell rebounds and kills him.

But eleven years later and it's all kicking off again, three years after that and the Dark Wizard is back, but what does he do? The greatest wizard of all time! He spends the next few years chasing Harry, using ever more elaborate schemes to try and trap and kill the boy, when all he really needs to do, is get a time turner, go back to the beginning, and get a mate to kill him instead.

That would of course make for a shit book, but come on! If you introduce time travel, you've got to be prepared to accept that anything can happen.

Still love the book through, just thought it was the weakest of the three.                                     
So, four and a half stars for book one, four and a half for book two, but only four for book three.