Book Review: 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'

"For twelve long years, the dread fortress of Azkaban held an infamous prisoner named Sirius Black. Convicted of killing thirteen people with a single curse, he was said to be the heir apparent to the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

Now he has escaped, leaving only two clues as to where he might be headed: Harry Potter's defeat of You-Know-Who was Black's downfall as well. And the Azkaban guards heard Black muttering in his sleep, 'He's at Hogwarts...he's at Hogwarts.'

Harry Potter isn't safe, not even within the walls of his magical school, surrounded by his friends. Because on top of it all, there may well be a traitor in their midst." - (Excerpt from the Book)

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Series: Harry Potter
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: October 1st 1999
Format: Hardcover (1st Edition)
Age Group: Middle Grade/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 435
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

The story starts on the night of Harry's 13th birthday. He receives gifts by owl posts and other such magical things start to happen. The oddest things start to happen as well. He then has to escape and wait out till the new school year begins. Along the way he meets up with his two best friends: Ron and Hermione. There we find out that Sirius Black is looking for Harry. From there on out, things start to turn into another adventure for the three musketeers at Hogwarts.

This was such a fun book to read. I remember reading it back when I was just a mere 12 going on 13 (I'm now 24). Anyway, I couldn't put the book down, yet had to because of school and sleep (being young does have it's draw backs when reading a good book haha). But never the less I did find time to read it like my life depended on it.

The story has all the normal elements found from the series woven in this story, yet with a few surprises. Some I would say wasn't in the movie or fully explored either. So it's a great idea to pick up this book and read it at least once.

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Book Review: 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets'

"The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he's packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry's second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girls' bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley's younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble begins, and someone — or something — starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects...Harry Potter himself!" - Goodreads

Title: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Series: Harry Potter
Author: J.K. Rowling
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: January 1st 1998
Format: Hardcover (1st Edition)
Pages: 341
Age Group: Middle Grade/Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Rating: ❤❤❤❤
Where to Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

The story starts off with Harry stuck at the Dursley's house and for his birthday. They get so mad at the boy they lock him away in this room for the rest of the summer. I know, crazy right? But of course Ron comes to the rescue for Harry and they go back to the Wesley household. From there on out the Harry, Ron, and Hermione start another fabulous adventure, all the while learning about some of the past. The key to want will become information in how "thou shall not be named" makes his return!

I read this book over 10 years ago. I have yet to re-read it but that is one of my goals in the next six months; to re-read the entire first four books of the series and try to finish the 5th one as well. I never read the last two, but I heard they are amazing! One good reason for my to dive right back into the wonderful series.

Anyway, I was just a 'tween' when I started the series back in 1999. I ate up the first one faster than I've ever read anything in my entire life! The 2nd book didn't stand a chance when my mother bought it for me. The way the story makes you feel, as though you are really there, immersed in this magical world. It's a priceless piece of imagination that no other series has done in the last 20+ years for children and everyone else of all ages.

I'd recommend this book, of course, to those that read the first book. But also to those that haven't read the first two. I'd give them both to someone who loves the read and take a truly amazing journey with books.

J.K. Rowling is simply a visionary in story telling. I wish she would maybe write a pre-quel to the books about maybe how things began or how Harry's parents were as teenagers at Hogwarts. I think that other fans of the series would love that too, mostly due to the fact that on 'Pottermore' she explains some backstory information. Some of that included that his Aunt Petunia, she is Harry's mother's Sister, which meant she is a witch herself! She denied her magical side and well ended up marring Veron, a muggle, and had a very boring life. This means his cousin Dudley is half muggle and doesn't know about it. Things like that could make a very lovely story! But alas Rowling doesn't want to write anymore of the 'Harry Potter' world.

So in conclusion, if you haven't read the series, you may want to or wait, because next year for the first time ever, the eBooks will be available. So no matter how you decide to read it, this series isn't one to miss, especially this one from the series!

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Pottermore: Beta Testing (I finally have access!)

It's official: I got my letter!

My name on the website is CrimsonJinx177.

And this is what it looks like inside at Privet Drive:
(click on the pictures to enlarge the image!)

That is all I can show for now, because there is a lot for Potter fans to discover. I'll post down the road pictures of the wand I get and what I house I'm in. Till then, you just may have to join when the official website opens, unless you are already an early beta tester, then come and find me.

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Pottermore: The craze after the books!

So if you've been reading the news or been on facebook, you probably heard of 'Pottermore' by now. It's an interactive social networking type of site dedicated to the books. It's not like facebook, it's more of a 2-D  pop-up looking world.

Here is the main picture they have on the page, but it also has banners and such since it's not open up to the public yet. Unless.... you got in early to test out the beta, then you get to see it before October.

For myself, I got in on day #6! It was a 7 day event to find a magic quill, answer a trivia question and register to get into the website.

This is my first email I've gotten telling me that I'm officially accepted into the early testing! Now everyone is waiting, who received an email like the one above, to literally enter into the world on their computer.

Some teens and young adults are very impatient right now for this. I think the on thing they have forgotten or don't realize is that London is not doing well. That's where the SONY branch is that collaborated with J.K. Rowling on this project. It has been hell with the riots and company had to probably close doors for a few days because of this. Also it's in beta stage, so it's going to have a few kinks, which is why they needed testers (ie - myself and others who got in early).

In due time, after I've gotten in, I'll post a few pictures of what it looks like on the inside of Pottermore. Till then it's against the law in the fine print of the website to post anything that isn't on the main page of the website. So it's very hush, hush to the public (minus a few leaks here and there).

So till then, we all have to just wait *sigh*...

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