So I just read Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince in under eight hours


I think there is going to a lot of shit over this book. Personally, I still enjoyed it but it didn't seem as good, as exciting as the other ones. It didn't really seem like a full episode in Harry's adventure, just an exerpt although the pace and action did pick up at the end.

Although, I think because I have fallen in love with the characters and the story and the world that even though this book may seem bad in parts, it doesn't matter because I still love the series. It's at the point where to me it's not just about the books but it's the people in them.

And for that matter, ultimately, it's JKR's story and it's her right to write it how she wants and put people together how she wants. She is the one who has the grand plan in her mind and unless the publishers and editors have seriously screwed things up I think she should be free to tell things how she wants. You may not agree and you have every right to disagree but I just think everyone is getting really viscious over things.

But yeah, it wasn't as good.

Other stuff I remembered to comment on:

And so the ship wars begin. Can I just say I don't really have a problem with any of them? I know there are going to be huge discussions over them and people are already saying they've lost respect for JKR over them but romance has always been a subplot in HP so I hardly think any relationship other than those with Harry are going to be given much consideration.

And Remus/Tonks does not neccessarily destroy Remus/Sirius. Sirius (bless the bastard) is dead and I think he is going to stay dead so it's not like there was going to be R/S after OOTP. Remus is a werewolf, someone that's hated through no fault of his own and we already know he has a weakness when it comes to getting people to like him. So he'll probably take love wherever it occurs whether it be male or female.

Also we haven't seen much of either Tonks or Remus so for all we know their relationship isn't as unexpected as it might seem. And don't hate me but the idea of those two does seem kinda sweet.

And I never hated Tonks to begin with.

I also thought it a bit weird that when the trio considered the possibility that Tonks was in love with Sirius no one went but they're COUSINS! EWW! They all seemed to accept that it could be okay. Seriously.

But why was there not more of Remus? Damn it, I love Remus and we didn't get to see nearly enough of him. However, before I read the book I had been thinking he was going back to the werewolves so I like that that happened. And knowing how he was bitten just makes his story all that sadder. Bloody Greyback. But that first mention of him at Harry's birthday party was pathetic. I kept waiting for him to say something more, actually go and talk to Harry about Sirius but sadly nothing.

I also want a showdown bewteen Remus and Greyback.

And what it just me or did Harry seem to get over Sirius' death mighty fast?

And it seems like I am one of the only people who doesn't hate Harry/Ginny. That first kiss was funny, in a cliched kind of way but I wish them being together was explained just a little bit more. But the overall thought of them doesn't send me into paroxyms of rage as it does to some people.

Ron/Hermione. Bloody hell, will those two just get it together and get together. That bit at the end didn't count.

Bill and Fleur annoyed me though but that's because Phlegm annoyed me. And everyone else.

Bill as a psuedo-werewolf. Interesting thought and yay for hideous disfiguring injuries but hmm, I hope something else happens because of that. Something vagueoy important.

I think that was the problem with this book, while I don't abjectly disagree with anything that happened it just wasn't presented in the best way.

SNAPE! BASTARD! I hope he stays evil though. Not through any great dislike of him but him redeeming himself will just seem stupid now. Although, Half Blood Prince, didn't see that coming. Figured What's Her Name Prince was his mother so maybe I should've have seen that coming but meh. Snape as the Half Blood Prince doesn't seem that exciting. But everyone said Dumbledore had iron clad evidence that Snape changed side and I don't think telling Dumbledore that Voldemort knew the Prophecy would be enough to convince Dumby of Snape's allegiance so I think we don't know everything yet.

But damn bastard killed Dumbledore (I was finally of the opinion that Dumbledore would die) but he is a damn bastard now. Although I hope he becomes really evil on Voldemort's side because evil people do seem to have more fun.

Ah, Draco, Draco. Cowardly bastard that you also are I think JKR set him up to be redeemed. So he might takes Snape's place as a spy and ultimately join the side of good but I hope he doesn't lose that snarky edge.

Blaise Zabini is apparently hot.

The Horace box thingy. Nice idea. But if Harry is going to be able to find them that means he won't be going to Hogwarts like he said and that's sad because that breaks the tradition and encourages people to drop out of school to fight evil? I would so do that.

So who is R.A.B?

My only guess after scrolling through the Lexicon's list of names is Regulus A---- Black.

But he's dead?

So? It's possible. Maybe Reggy realised what Voldemort was doing was wrong and tried to get away but when he found that he couldn't he faked his death and embarked on his own plan of revenge.

...

McGonagall's "Take that!" during the fight at the end. You go, girl.

RIP, Dumbledore. You tried buddy, you fought well, we'll miss you. But what the hell was in that potion thingy near the end that he drunk?

But that's all the ramblings I can think of, feel free to disagree, agree, discuss, send me money and what not.

And still, I can't find it in myself to hate these later books as much as I probably should. Despite the faults I still like them, I still enjoy them and I will accept the way she writes stuff unless it really does not make sense because it's her story.

But like I said, good but not as good.

And funnily enough my major gripe is that this fucks with the fanfic I was writing