"The two men appeared out of nowhere, a few yards apart in the narrow, moonlit lane."

Courtesy of goodreads.com

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is the final installment in the series that captivated the world and changed children's literature forever.  By this point, the movies had been smash hits, the series had reached rock star levels of fame, with the midnight book premier being more of parties and celebrations than just a book release. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at universal Studios in Orlando, Florida was already being rumored (it was true!) and the last book was heavily guarded, with only two people in the world knowing the exact reasons for everything (JK Rowling herself squealed to British actor who played Severus Snape, Alan Rickman).  The world was hooked.  The Harry Potter series had become so real for so many people that it was hard to imagine a book that would not only satisfy the masses, but that would wrap up everything that had happen in the last six books.  Yet, Rowling delivered. 

Deathly Hallows encompasses all that made the series great: action, mystery, suspense, love, wit, and an ever present sense of hope.  It is needless to say that this book is dark; Voldemort has taken over and the good guys are running out of time (and people) to find the way to defeat him. Rowling creates the deathly hallows, a mystical fable of objects that would overcome death (seriously, the movie version of this part is better than the book).  These objects,  along with another set of darker, more evil objects, drive the story forward. This is the book that, in my opinion, finally showcases Rowling's ability as a fantasy writer.  She has created her own canon of magic, not borrowed and tweaked previously known items; she solidified a new idea of magic in literature.  Deathly Hallows is difficult to classify.  It is not the best book out of the series; there are parts that seem choppy and out of sorts, almost like Rowling was postponing the end herself.  Nonetheless, this is the book that makes the series, that makes the world black and white, and illustrates to the reader Rowling's overall message in the series: redemption, forgiveness, love, and honor will triumph even in the face of the darkest foes.  

Chapter 33 "The Prince's Tale"

There are several things simply wrong with this book.  Several  things made readers cry, rage, throw the book down in disgust.  Things that broke our hearts.  Things that were paramount to reveal the ugliness of war, the brokenness of evil, and the heartache that accompanies taken the hard road, the righteous road.  Rowling did not make a mistake with this book, despite what readers still debate.  The things that seemed wrong, seemed awful, were realistic and relevant.  War and death are not rational, which Rowling stressed to point out.  She took a war (wars are not all that different, even in a magical world) and showed us that divided along good and evil, people die, places get destroyed, lives are changed forever, and things that people dread can happen. Yet, in this book, in life, good triumphs.  There will always be someone to stand up for what is right,  even in the face of death.  Those least likely will be the heroes.  Love conquers all. Always. 

"All was well,"