Rating: 
Summary: "Phoenix" soars
Review: Author JK Rowling continues to expand our view of Harry's world. We learn more about the Dursleys, Professer Snape, and how even Dumbledore has his human failings. This book takes a darker tone than the previous 4; Harry is no longer a little boy, he is growing up-- and going through some pretty typical teenage angst. Still coping with the death of Cedric, Harry does indeed lose yet another someone, this time someone he is very close to. Somewhat disappointingly, JK does not give us the kind of surprise-twist ending that has marked the other books of the series up until now. On the plus side, however, we finally get the answer to the Big Question that's been left unanswered since book 1- the question of why Voldemort specifically tried to kill Harry as a one-year-old baby.
Rating:
Summary: Another absorbing story!
Review: J.K. Rowling has written another engrossing novel. Before I knew it I was swept up in the saga of Harry growing up and battling for his life. I won't give away which main character got the axe, but I will say it was not who I thought it would be.
A warning to all buyers, you may want to take a couple days off to read this one! You may not be able to put it down :)
Rating:
Summary: The best book yet
Review: Finally to year five in the Harry Potter series. I found this book to be one of the most gripping chapters in the saga to date. It had all of the darkness and interest of the fourth book, but Rowling had managed to recapture her elegant style of the first novel. In this book Harry is showing much of the adolescent angst common in fifteen year olds, while at the same time he is still recognizably the troubled young man of the early books. Much of his innocence has fled, to be replaced by anger, and at times petulance. While I found his bad attitude, and whining mildly annoying, it showed a very familiar side of adolescence. If you are a fan of the series who has put off buying this book I suggest you indulge. It is a true pleasure to read. Of course, one of the main plot points involves a major character's death (and no, I won't tell you who...), but it is well done, and I think her choice of who to kill was an excellent one for the story. Overall this novel is a triumph for J.K. Rowling and is a magnificent addition to one of the best book series ever written. In fact the only bad thing to say is that there are only two books left... Read and enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Harry Potter and the Rush of Hormones
Review: Yupe! There is no doubt Harry is 15 in the book, and like most 15 year olds, he's angry and prone to doing stupid things. Ok granted he does have more to be angry about than other 15 year olds (Like the whole part about people trying to kill him), but I like the way the JKR has evolved the character. He isn't the same character as he was in SS. The Wessely twins do still steal every part of the book they are in, and their departure from Hogwarts, by itself is good enough to earn the book 5 stars in my opinion. Overall a great read, yes it is cut in the same outline as the last books, but the mood is darker then the rest (of course I'm guessing book 6 will be darker still, but thats just a guess) and provides enough momentum to keep the story going. You won't want to put it down trust me.
Rating:
Summary: The plot thickens in this incredible book!
Review: After such an agonizing wait between Goblet of Fire and this book, J.K. Rowling does not disappoint. People usually say "I couldn't put this book down" when describing it, but I literally could not stop reading this! I would read for eight hours at a time, easily. The story is simply superb! The characters we've come to know and love are presented here at their most vulnerable state, making them all the more real. Thus, this book is full of emotion and tension. Harry, 15 now, has all the characteristics of a full-blown, angst-ridden teenager. No longer the sweet innocent boy we were introduced to in Sorcerer's Stone, Harry is the angriest I've ever seen him. Of course, taking into account what he goes through this time around, it is no wonder he feels this way. A truly despicable character is introduced here...the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, Dolores Umbridge. This is by far the most evil character in the series. I daresay she's worse than Voldemort! Halfway through the book I found myself thinking up several horrific ends for her.
Along the way, several important revelations are made about almost all the characters...including Harry's Aunt Petunia! The book's climax is the greatest in the series thus far, featuring a great duel and the death of a very important character. Fans of the series will undoubtedly love it. A great book! I hope Rowling won't make us wait for book 6 that long!!
Rating:
Summary: the best by far
Review: I was impressed by Rowling's latest entry into the Potter canon! For the first time the kids seem like real kids with emotional outbursts, sulky moments and petty fights. Everyone got along so well (in the group of friends of course -- we'd have to exclude the odious Draco, Crabbe et al) in previous books that I'd sometimes wonder when we'd see any real middle school behavior! The last 100 pages are clearly the most gripping part of the book, but there are many excellent moments leading up to the grand finale. Lots of clever bits as usual (I love the O.W.L.S. and NEWTS and the secret room that knows what you need -- don't we all need one of these!) and fun side plots (the Weasley brother's joke business and Hagrid's misadventures) that keep you glued. If you're already a fan, there's nothing not to like. For the newly initiatiated, you'd have to be completely devoid of imagination not to enjoy the ride. Kudos to Rowling for keeping her standards high.
Rating: 
Summary: HP5 isgreat, but not up to the *standard* of the other 4
Review: After waiting for 3 years for this book after reading the Goblet of Fire, I have to admit that I was slightly disappointed.
Although JK Rowling did a great job with the plot, this book lacks the fastpaced, exciting quality, and we see Ron and Hermione play a more passive role in the story. It is more centralized on Harry Potter and his own conflicts. There is less humor, but this can be explained by the grim mood and events of the book, and perhaps the inevitable maturing of Harry Potter. Harry Potter enters his 5th year as a moody and sullen teen of 15. JK Rowling could have done a better transition from his old humble self to his new personality which involves snapping at everyone and indulging in self-pity. The plot does not move with the lightning speed of the other 4, but the good thing about it is that there is more elaboration on the histories of various people including Sirius Black. Throughout the book, you will continually ask yourself, could HP's experiences get any worse? and as they do, you begin to wonder, will they ever improve?
Order of the Phoenix is definitely a more serious book, and still has the usual shock that most of JK Rowling's books contain--this time with the death of a central character. JK Rowling is a brilliant writer, and HP5 is a must read. Perhaps JK Rowling's lapse in up-to-her-own-standard (which is actually pretty high in comparison to other fantasy books) may be made up for in the remaining 2 installments of Harry Potter.
Rating:
Summary: Well....
Review: I usually read the worst replies first...just to get an idea of what people really think. What I saw was as follows - too dark, boring and character-killing (in the moralistic sence) - basically, some people believe that Rowling hasn't lived up to the magic that had been explored in earlier novels.Well, I am only on page 703 but could not refrain from writing my own review. Although I too am personally a little bit disappointed in Harry's character, you can't leave out the good points that can be found in this book. Rowling's previous books contain one main goal - ex. get the stone, find the chamber...etc. This story obviously has progressed into a real epic. Now we are not only able to discover bits and peices of the story plot...but the real thing. Finally the "Dark Lord" has become powerful enough to fight (we had all been expecting this right)? Rowling's 5th instalment took on a new and better level as far as plot goes - in my opinion, it had to happen. And by no means was it boring. The first 700 pages are full of character depth and continuation; just like the first 4 books. I admit to hating Chou but I loved Fred and George!
So while this book may have taken on a different face...Rowling's story and characters have only gotten better. I wouldn't call the story "dark" or "violent" at all - I have read much worse...and would recommend this book to people of all ages!
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Summary: Order of the Phoenix Review
Review: I bought the Harry Potter Book 5 last Friday at midnight and finished reading it in 5 days. Overall, I thought it was a good book(not excellent) and feel it is J.K. Rowling's 3rd best Harry Potter book to date. My preferences goes as follows(least best to best): Book 2, Book 1, Book 5, Book 3, and Book 4. I think the story of Harry's fifth year is told in a similar template to her previous work(somewhat making the book redundant): Summer at Dursley's, 1 half of school year, christmas vacation, 2nd half of school year, climatic adventure and solution to major year long problem with review from Dumbledore, and returning back to Dursley's. The major problem of Harry's fifth year is that Voldemort is back alive, but mainly staying in hiding organizing his group of supporters, trying to recruit more help(i.e. giants, dementors, more death-eaters), and trying to find information on why he got defeated previously(i.e. the prophecy). His staying in hiding in turn causes many to choose between believing Harry and Dumbledore that Voldemort is really back or follow the more conservative view from The Ministry of Magic that since Voldemort and his followers haven't overtly surfaced that Voldemort cannot be back. Many subplots and trials occur in Harry's fifth year that take up most of the initial 700 pages of book including being attacked by dementors and the trial that occurs following the encounter, Professor Umbridge being the new defense against the dark arts teacher then rising to power to eventually becoming head mistress of Hogwarts in doing so disrupting one after another of Hogwarts normality, new developing relationships between Hogwart students esp. Harry and Cho, and preparing for the O.W.L.S. The final 150 pages are the best part of the book where the real action takes place and we learn new information about Harry's past. It also is where the Order of Phoenix and Dumbledore join in with Harry to thwart Voldemort and his death-eaters. In the process, one member dies and Harry heads home for the summer at the Dursley's with this continually going through Harry's mind.
Overall, the fifth book is well-done, but suffers in being too long(mainly the 700 pages of introduction and minor subplots) and because all the Harry Potter books to date keep the same template making the originality of the fifth book seem repetitious.
Rating:
Summary: the best book yet
Review: MY DAD CAME HOME WITH THE NEW HARRY POTTER BOOK AS A SUPRISE. I PICKED IT UP TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER AND GOT 300 PAGES INTO IT! THE FIFTH BOOK IS DARKER AND MORE COMPLEX THAN THE FIRST FOUR. HARRY IS A TEEN AND IS DEALING WITH SOME COMPLEX ISSUES INCLUDING BEING ATTACKED BY DEMENTORS ON PRIVET DRIVE, A TRIAL TO SEE IF HE SHOULD BE THOWEN OUT OF HOGWARTS, AND THE RETURN OF VOLDEMORT. JUST IN THE FIRST COUPLE CHAPTERS YOU CAN TELL THAT HARRY HAS GROWEN UP ALOT SINCE HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE. BUT DON'T WORRY... THIS BOOK IS STILL KID FRIENDLY. SO PICK IT UP AND START READING!
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