Rating: 
Summary: Remarkable...
Review: Please be warned, I will be discussing this "major" secret that Dumbledore is supposed to tell Harry concerning the reasons for Voldemort's attack on him as a baby, only for a moment though.The 5th installment is nothing short of breathtaking once it actually does get past the somewhat tedious first 100 pages. Rowling has effortlessly integrated a plethora of magical ideas and nuances that make this book so enjoyable and genuinely fun to read. And I don't think that any author has yet grasped the effects that puberty has on young men like Harry better than Rowling. Subtly, we can see Harry's temper tantrums and hissy fits that are directed towards the most unexpected of people. His involvement with Cho Chang is also handled well, although I would have preferred a different ending to the book concerning their relationship. Yes, a character dies in this book. And yes, it is a gigantic surprise that left me with my mouth gaping open in shock at 4 30 in the morning...and Harry doesn't handle it too well, which proves just how human and normal he is. The climax of the novel is a doozy, as its packed with confrontations with all kinds of villains in one of the most magical and mysterious of places. Rowling is able to make the pages fly during these action-packed sequences, and it is a joy to read. One minor quibble. DON'T READ THIS PARAGRAPH IF YOU DO NOT A PART OF THE NOVEL SPOILED! LAST WARNING! **
Dumbledore's supposed "tell-all revelation" with Harry was slightly underwhelming. He basically cements the fact that Harry will have to kill Voldemort or the other way around. It also states that Voldemort wanted to kill Harry because he heard of a prophecy that said a baby would be born that has the potential for bringing Voldemort down. Were we expecting any less of Harry all along?...
** All in all, this is another can't-put-down read that'll leave you weary eyed with delight even if it means losing nights of sleep. Utterly fantastic to read, and an extremely worthy addition the to Harry Potter series.
Rating: 
Summary: superb
Review: I am DEEPLY impressed by this masterpiece of fiction. The reason behind these words is the ghostly tone and intriguing plot of the new book. J.K.Rowling has managed to get the precise feeling of teen angst and nail it to Harry's persona page by page, he becomes sullen, moody, detached, inexplicably resentful... if you're over 18 you will definitely relate to Harry's feelings in this 5th instalment, and the darkest yet by a long way. This time around, there is little sanctuary from the dangerous and fickle world of dark magic for the now 15-year old wizard, and his newly characterised classmates, all of whom are rapidly maturing, and developing magical talent. All the minor characters play a larger part in the ensuing chaos, with the spectre of the Dark Lord and his minions present constantly throughout the story. By far the most riveting Harry Potter story yet, this book is sure to please Harry's older fans, and J.K's crafty writing leaves a much more satisfying after-taste in this incarnation. I loved this book, hope you do too. =))
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: This is probably the best book yet. It may seem daunting at 870 pages of actual text, but it reads rather quickly. I can not wait for book 6 to come out, but I will just like everyone else. :)
Rating:
Summary: Everything I Expected
Review: J.K. Rowling, in my mind, had a lot of expectations to live up to with Book 5. I enjoyed Books 1-4 and have re-read them countless times in the time between the release of the Goblet of Fire and now. Mainly, I was hoping Rowling would stick to the formula of Summer with the Dursleys/School at Hogwarts and not throw in any trash like the Triwizard Tournemant or moronic house-elves. She stuck to the classic formula very well in Order of the Phoenix, but still seems fixated on writing about house-elves. Book 5 is remarkable because it explains and answers many pressing questions from the previous books. In my opinion, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is well worth reading, it is a great addition to the series. Someone does die, and that person is a main character, and an adult.
Rating:
Summary: Different than the others...
Review: Well, the wait is over, and the book has arrived. I devoured it like the others, all the while thinking, "This is different".
The book, as Rowling told us, was darker then the others. Harry was more angery, there was more death, more pains in his scar, and more frightening visions in his dreams.
The end was almost a little disapointing, due to the amount of fanfictions who have explored the same theme- but Rowling adds an unexpecting (and enduring) twist.
There are scores of new characters to meet, and places to visit- Luna Lovegood is a surprising addition to Harry's little group, and we learn of Sirius's family, and see his home. We visit the Ministry of magic, perhaps even more complex then even Hogwarts.
Characters in the background are thrown into the light- we learn more about Petunia, Seamus, and Neville, among others.
In short, it is everything a fan could have asked for, and is worth the 3 year wait.
Rating:
Summary: The most stunning yet...
Review: The 5th book is, far and away, the most stunning and absolutely the best. However, it is also by far the darkest. Many people say that the earlier books were crammed with "filler." I can assure you right now that the filler content of the 5th book is 0%. Hogwarts is no longer safe for Harry, and he is now a far cry from the happy, eager first-year that he once was. Even Peeves the Poltergeist has turned around, and is now the funniest character in the entire story. All in all, the 5th book is an absolute masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: Dark, Disturbing, but Engrossing
Review: There's an early Friends (the TV series) episode where Phoebe is hired to sing for a NYC library. Contrary to what parents expect (barnyard animals, fairytales), her songs, in wacky Phoebe tradition, are about death of grandparents, sex, and the meat industry. After being fired, the children find her out, and come to listen to her songs at Central Perk, calling her "The Lady who Tells the Truth". Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, the latest in the wildly popular adventures of the boy wizard and his friends at Hogwarts School or Witchcraft and Wizardry, is- and believe the hype- darker and angrier than the previous books- mostly because its hero, Harry is so. Adolescence isn't easy for Harry, and the solid stoicism and light-hearted sensibility of the first two books is mostly gone. Remember the Ron of Goblet of Fire, and you have the Harry of the Phoenix. (but the longer, extended version). Fans who've loved the books because of the meticulously constructed fantasy world of magic will find in this book to have less of the Everyflavor Beans and school feasts or the sensible yet irreverent approach to magic education (dreary to Harry and Ron, not to Hermione); the practical other-world of Harry Potter is invaded by so-far the scariest character in the series, DAD teacher Dolores Umbridge, whom J.K. Rowling has described as having a personality like "poisoned honey". The regular life (the "recipe" as some have called the Potter books) of Hogwarts is turned upside-down as Umbridge destroys the security that makes the Potter-verse such a wonderful place to escape to. On top of this, Harry goes through adolescence as I've never read elsewhere: stormy, angry, and explosive. His awkward first relationship with a girl (no spoilers here) is both embarrassing and funny (mostly due to Hermione's translation of "girl talk"). One might think this would be the Potter book to stay away from- too scary for the younger kids, too painful for adolescents. But after staying up all night after the midnight sale on June 21st and finishing it by Saturday morning, I have to give OotP 5 stars, and the verdict of "best Potter book" (so far, and crossed fingers for the future ones). Remember the previous books: was Harry's life at the Dursley's ever carefree?; wasn't the Chamber of Secrets or the final scenes of Goblet of Fire chilling and horrific? wasn't Harry always going through trials and even ostracizing from Hogwarts students and Muggle-world combined? After all, the return of Voldemort, announced at the end of Goblet, isn't just a final exam. Order of the Phoenix, though diverging from some aspects of the previous books, is a great read, impossible to put down, and an amazing account of growing up.
After all, it tells *the Truth*...
Rating:
Summary: If you liked Book 4....
Review: I read the Order of the Phoenix yesterday in one sitting, so forgive me if my review is similarly rushed. I'm not going to give away plot points, but instead I wanted to give a warning to readers (especially parents), that this book is very dark, and a hard read. I'm 27, but I was thinking that this isn't so good for smaller children (as books 1 and 2 were, for example). There is a heartbreaking death (I mean, who really cared about Cedric Diggory anyway?), and even bits of sadism (as Harry carries out a detention task that literally draws his blood, over and over). And not to mention all the themes that come along with the reappearance of Voldemort and the Death Eaters. We also get a sense of Harry's inner rage, recklessness, and his character is not so innocent and mischievous as he seemed in the earlier books. When I finished the book, I just sat back and contemplated what's to come, filled with sorrow for Harry and the wizarding world. That said, I was delighted to read the book, and to see how J.K. Rowling has continued to flesh out the wizarding world. I really enjoyed the book, even if the pacing was sometimes uneven. This really is a good continuation from Book 4, although you will be similarly agonized at the end and the prospect of waiting again for Book 6. Harry is growing up, and his character is really showing that nicely. We learn less about the development of the other child characters (Ron and Hermione seem to swimming in the same lazy circles), but the adult characters and the social order of the wizarding world are much more nuanced. This book suffers from middle chapter syndrome -- but it is still really worthwhile.
Rating:
Summary: Wow. Definitely still up to par.
Review: Wonderful, if extremely heavy. I raced through it, finishing in the early morning hours and now am left to wonder when the next installment comes out. Book five in the Harry Potter series well lives up to its predecesors. Harry has grown up as a result of the events in Goblet of Fire and is angry, and quite obviously teenaged throughout this book. Rowling maintains the vivid description and sly sense of humor that characterize the early books. One caveat, I would definitely reccommend that parents of younger childeren give this one a read through before allowing their children to read it. There is no swearing and nothing remotely sexual in content but the book itself is fairly dark. The ending contains a surprise which may be shocking and highly upsetting for some younger children. I would say that if you have children under 12 you might want to read this with them as a family effort. The book itself is absolutely wonderful. Harry races through his 5th year, facing upcoming OWLS, a Hogwarts community with doubts about his sanity, a wizarding world which doubts the return of Voldemort and the worst Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher yet. A must read.
Rating:
Summary: J.K. Rowling Creates Magic Yet Again!
Review: [This is a SPOILER FREE review] Well, after picking up Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix at 12:01 AM the day of it's release, I've finished it after some 15 hours of reading. J.K. Rowling has outdone herself yet again! This book has everything the first four had and much, much more. For the first time, Harry learns the truth about why Voldemort came to his house on Halloween night and killed his parents. He learns why he must return to the Dursley's every summer, and why some wizards become ghosts, and why some seem gone forever. Longtime characters find bravery and courage within them and show Harry only the deepest loyalty. Harry finds deeper glimpses of Professor Snape's hatred of his family, and learns details about his father that surpises him. For the first time, we learn why Voldemort fears Albus Dumbledore as we see Dumbledore in action like never before. Harry learns about one of the most complicated subjects at school - girls. Rowling brilliantly and accurately taps into the adolescent mind and perfectly captures the hopes, dreams, and fears of teenagers everywhere. Is this the best Harry Potter book yet? I think so. But it is also different. The dark blue cover (far darker than pictures suggest) hints at a more serious story. In earlier books, particularly the first three, Harry and his friends' biggest worries are school tests, friends, and bullies like Malfoy. They seek out answers about the sorcerer's stone, the chamber of secrets, and other mysteries almost as a hobby, not out of necessity. In this book, Harry and his friends are dealing with life and death issues. Malfoy is no longer just an obnoxious bully, he is a death eater's son, loyal to the darl lord. Harry becomes an integral part of Voldemort's return - it's as if he's forced to grow up too fast. Some have said this book is darker than the rest. I'm not entirely comfortable with that description, because the book is just as fun, compelling, and engaging as the rest. True, Harry is angrier in this book than any of the others, and for good reason. But it's still a Harry Potter book, and that is a very, very good thing.
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