Rating: 
Summary: Better plotted, more complex characters than before
Review: [If you haven't read the previous books, don't read this review]I was nervous about this one, there are literally millions of children counting on its being not just a good read but a worthy continuation. I'm relieved to report that it comes through on all counts. This is a big step forward for Rowling. More than ever, Harry isn't just an action figure, he's a real person, and it's not just him. Snape, for example, remains a complex yet consistent character whom Rowling steadfastly refuses to sentimentalize. Even in places where cliche seems unavoidable -- Harry's "love interest" -- it doesn't happen. Harry is a real teenager here (as are his friends), with quicksilver changes of mood, and it's a great thing that the author simply 'shows' rather than constantly 'explaining.' One unexpected pleasure is Rowling's fine evocation of political division within a close-knit community. (If you've been through it, you'll know what I mean.) One big problem with some of the previous books has been the 'revelation scene' at the climax, where the villain talks and talks and talks until the cavalry comes to Harry's rescue. This was a symptom of a deeper problem: important parts of the plot turned on details which were essentially irrelevant to Harry's personal story. For example, in book 3, which turns on time-travel, there's no mention of time-travel until the final act. In book 4, which turns on "Mad-Eye Moody" really being a villain in disguise, too much depends on the exact manner of the villain's escape from prison, and even his exact name. None of that here, which is a good thing. Also good is a de-emphasis of Quidditch -- since we knew Harry had to win most of the time, it became too predictable. I will say there are a couple of places where Rowling nods, where it's not clear how a lost item was recovered, or how an (offstage) battle was won; and there are more than a few places in the last chapters which show signs of editorial fatigue. But I'm so glad that the book is finally here that these don't matter much. Parents: although there's nothing gruesome here -- like Wormtail cutting off his hand in Book 4 -- I think most children under 11 will find too much of the book dull or confusing. Of course, I did read the first four chapters to my 7-year-old, and he was enthralled, but we'll see how he does with the later, more 'psychological' material.
Rating:
Summary: When's the next book?
Review: I can't believe what Rowling has done in this book. Absolutely the best one. Hated that new character so badly I had nightmares about her. And the second to last and last chapter were enough to make me tear up. I highly recomend this book. Obviously! When is the next book comming out?
Rating: 
Summary: A solid Addition to the Series
Review: I got it Saturday morning and finished it by 7pm Sunday. So of course on the good side, I had trouble putting the book down and am sorely wanting the sixth book already. Throughtout the book (based on the other books) I sensed that one character would meet an untimely demise, but it was in fact a different character with whom all readers will likely find a stronger attachment to meet their end. Rowling did an excellent job of evoking emotions at that moment and I had to re-read the entire chapter to get a feel for all of the events of the scene. Overall there was some good plot and character develoment. Much of the quality of the series has to do with character flaws of the people in the book, especially harry, making the whole experience more easy to relate to, despite the fantasy setting. Overall the series has not shown a sign of let down that other series of long length have done and I heartily endorse this volume as a good follow-up story for the Potter series.
Rating:
Summary: huge, complicated, unpredictable, amazing story
Review: I just finished it five minutes ago. Yes, it's darker, yes, it has about a jillion twists (my significant other lost track of the times I yelled "WHOA!" and "NO WAY!" when I was reading it on the couch). And yes, there's a death. But it's all seamlessly done...I was pretty much glued to this book from start to finish. Also, there was some great mini-twists/character stuff I didn't quite expect (about Harry's parents and Snape, for example). I LOVED it, and it was absolutely worth the wait.
Rating:
Summary: No Spoilers
Review: This is the best yet in this series. Rowling does an amazing job of filling in the background of the previous four books without bogging down the ongoing story one whit. What seems a long book (870 pages) went by in a flash. As with her other four, the book's ending satisfies, but whets the appetite for book 6. A read to be savored.
Rating: 
Summary: Not up to the hype
Review: This book did not live up to the multi-million dollar hype. Now I know why JK Rowling wanted to keep such a tight reign on the details. It read very much like a sub-par fan fiction (I've actually read BETTER fan fictions). Many parts directly contradicted other books, including how ghosts are 'made'. Many things the author herself promised readers would be in this book, such as the significance of Harry's green eyes, where James got his fortune, Ron and Hermione's budding romance, etc as well as characters that were promised to be 'seen' (Aragog, the Ford Anglia) weren't there. The death, so hyped for nearly 2 years was anti-climatic and the character poorly chosen with the angry tone of the book. I was very disappointed in the 'jumping' around, some things felt unfinished from chapter to chapter, like parts of the book went missing in the process. All in all, I was very disappointed with the tone and the story itself and have loved all 4 of the previous books. All I can say is, JKR, what were you thinking when you wrote this? You let your fans down.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent but very sad
Review: I just finished reading this book and I am kind of in shock. The best way I can describe it is that everything about the book has grown up a lot. It has a very different tone to it than the previous books and there are many changes and many surprises. Though it was very long, it held my interest very well (I finished in less than 2 days and I practically only stopped to sleep). It provoked a lot of emotion; some parts I was laughing out loud, some (many actually) had me furious, and one part in particular left me crying. A lot of our questions were answered as well and we learn a lot more about the characters, especially the seemingly insignificant ones. It was just altogether a great book and I hope we won't have to wait too long for the next one to come out.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: I picked up my copy of this long-awaited novel at Midnight, and didn't sleep. I flipped the pages of this book one after another, captivated by Ms. Rowlings magnificent creation. She has managed to outdo herself with Order of the Pheonix in every way possible, and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter At His Best
Review: ...Like a lot of avid Harry Potter fans, I attended a midnight book realease party on June 20/21 at my local [store] to receive this book. When I finally managed to get my hands on a copy, I couldn't wait to begin reading. And when I did, I was thrilled. I have to say that it is the best book so far in the Harry Potter series. JK Rowling has really outdone herself this time. Harry is more grown up, and more angry, definitely not the innocent and confused kid we meet in the first book. (Not to mention he is more interested in girls, particularly Cho Chang.) A lot of the old chracters are back, including Remus Lupin, Stan Shunspike, and even Gilderoy Lockhart, but there are tons of new ones too, like a strange girl named Luna and an evil toad-like woman who now teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts. There are new places we visit too, like the Ministry of Magic, Sirius Black's house, St. Mungo's wizarding hospital, and even a few different shops in Hogsmeade....There are so many new adventures I can't even name them all. But the best(and personally my favorite) part was the whole climax of the book, and I was really happy to see that the author brought three new people along with Harry, Ron, and Hermione for the big "... scene" at the end, which is comepletely unexpected and so unlike the other four. (And in the end, Dumbledore finally explains a lot of surprising things to us.) This book really is different from the others, it's darker, you could say, and it definitely deserves a good rating.
Rating:
Summary: Still enchanting
Review: How's that for a predictable cheesy tagline
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix has a slightly different tone from the other 4 books. While the others were dark yet grounded in innocence OOTP takes a deeper look at Harry's emotional state. This in turn means that Harry is often depressed or angry, thus the novel carries a much heavier feel than its predecessors. However this never bogs down the book and I always eagerly awaited every new page. Also death/blood are more often used than in past books, although not in any horrific way. The story flows very nicely and I never once felt burdened by the 800+ pages. Many old characters (the weaselys, Hermoine, cho chang, etc.) all have their own side stories, all of which are interesting and well thought out. There were no patches that I had to swamp through in order to get to the good parts. Almost every character from the previous books is revisited in one way or another, which will have you trying to remember who many of the names belong too. My only complaint is that for all the build up (some 700 pages of the book) the grand finale was not as spectacular as the last book, although it does set up the next novels nicely. That's not to say that it was disappointing, it just seemed familiar and less life altering than the previous finale's. Overall this book is of the same high quality as Rowling's other novels. The OOtP is another fantastic addition to the Potter lore, and will leave any reader young or old waiting anxiously for the next installment, whether it takes 1 year or 20 to arrive.
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