Rating: 
Summary: HP Series Takes a Turn Toward the Dark Side
Review: J. K. Rowling's promise that this installment of her award-winning series would be much darker than the first three was well warranted. Voldemort himself is after Harry, people will die, and dark times are about to return. This is a very courageous move on Rowling's part. Her series up until now, while punctuated with conflicts between good and evil, was primarily cheerful. Harry has been able to spend most of his school years acting as one would expect a young teenager to act: enjoying friends, making enemies, and stumbling into trouble. While Book 4 maintains elements of this, everything takes on an aura of seriousness. The dangerous Triwizard Tournament replaces the friendlier Hogwarts Quidditch Cup, for example. Overall, this change seems to benefit Ms. Rowling's writing. While she is gifted at describing cheerful and mundane events, her writing takes on an extra flourish when her themes become more epic. This novel is well-crafted and the storyline is as creative as that of the first three books. This novel also plays a crucial role in the series. It is, in fact, the beginning of the end. We knew Voldemort would have to gain in power before he could be finally destroyed, and we are not disappointed in this novel. The novel ends on a dark and chilling note, leaving us anxious to know the rest. Of the four volumes so far, this one leaves us with the most questions. Rowling will have plenty of room to work her magic (no pun intended) in Books 5, 6, and 7. In conclusion, I very much enjoyed this book. It gave me frequent chills and definitely showcased Rowling's considerable verbal mastery. I enthusiastically recommend this book to anyone interested in the series as a whole. It was an exciting read, and it sets the stage for a final conflict between good and evil, which, I'm sure, will be just as thrilling.
Rating: 
Summary: Harry Porter Book IV
Review: The long-awaited sequel in the Harry Porter series, blurbed like crazy for the last few months. Has it been worth the wait? Well, yes and no. Yes, because all Harry Porter fans will read this book, no matter its quality. It's gripping enough and the intrique and Hogwarts atmospherics are still sufficient to sustain interest. But this book isn't as good as Books 2 and 3. Rowling's getting formulaic in her plotting. Voldemort, aided by a servant, grows stronger. (As he has in books 1 to 3) Foes are out to harm Porter - but mysterious agents help him survive. Hermione acts secretive again. There's the obligatory lengthy Quidditch descriptions in the form of a world-cup, a la Euro 2000. And Porter has a one-on-one encounter with Voldemort - and yes, survives again. Yawn. The writing's not as taut as the previous books. Superfluous descriptions ramble on, written obviously with an eye for the camera. More effort is spent at scene-setting than narrative, especially in the first one-third of this (734-page) tome. Porter's fledgling adolescence and teen infatuation is handled somewhat clumsily. Some chapters read like something from Sweet Valley High, giggling school girls staking out popular boys and all. Oh, and there's the obligatory nod to political correctness in the form of a more racially mixed character cast. This book, frankly, reads like a book in transition. Maybe 14 is a clumsy year for Porter. Maybe Rowling caved in to her publisher's suggestions for political correctness; a teen romance, and a world tournament. I just hope Porter and Rowling grow up more in Book 5 and have the courage to go back to what they do best: spin a ripping good yarn about good and evil, (hog)warts and all. Get the basic story structure right, leave the scene setting to the movie producers. This book will still be a sensation - but largely because it borrows on the fame of the first 3. By itself, it's flawed. I hope Book 5 next summer won't disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Like Voldemort, a necessary Evil
Review: 3.5 stars. The writing is still engaging, the characters are still true and consistent. This is one of those necessary tension-building middle segments that don't always stand by themselves. A lot of time spent upon "foreign" schools and romances that hopefully will be fleshed out in Books #5-7. The come-to-be-expected classroom dramas and Quidditch stories were missing. I felt that perhaps a bit too much explanation was required in the "confession" towards the end...
Rating:
Summary: Best book I've ever read!
Review: I liked this book better than the other 3 HP books because of the Triwizard tournament. I liked that is was dangerous and unexpected things happened.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Ever
Review: This intriguing sequel was a book that I couldn't put down since I laid hands on it. Harry's adventures keep growing to new heights, and the book takes on an unexpected twist. As many of you have heard somebody does die in this book, and Harry does have a growing interest in girls. Though it was tricky to follow in the end, it is still my favorite book.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant--excellent follow up to the first three.
Review: I admit it, I'm 29 yrs old an I love the Harry Potter series. Bought the book first thing Saturday morning and finished Sunday afternoon. I don't want to give anything away regarding the plot, but for all who have yet to experience the Harry Potter phenomenon, grab a broomstick (a Firebolt preferably) and jump on. And for anyone who's a bit leery of the book's size--don't be. It reads fast and the story has enough twists and turns to keep even the most easily distracted reader interested. I honestly think that Goblet of Fire is the best of the series thus far. The transformation of Harry and his friends from children to young adults is quite evident here and makes for wonderful reading. So stop reading this review and buy the book!
Rating: 
Summary: Longer and Darker
Review: Book 4 of the Harry Potter series is as inventive and interesting as the previous 3 volumes; however, there is a forboding element to the story that changes the tone of this series. This may disturb children a little bit, certainly I was nervous at the end of the book rather than excited for the continued adventures of Harry Potter.
Rating:
Summary: Jim Dale Does it Again!
Review: If Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone wasn't good enough on CD, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was absolutely fantastic! With 16 complete CD's full of wonderous adventure anyone can experience the wonderful world of Harry Potter again and again. It is a wonderful thing for children and adults of all ages.
Rating:
Summary: A great addition to the Potter series
Review: The fourth Harry Potter installment will be loads of fun for all Harry Potter fans and newbies too. Rowling does a great job of including crucial background from the series throughout the book to catch you up if you haven't read all three of the other Potter volumes. Although I suspect you'll want to do so the minute you finish this one -- they are addictive. The series is great for many ages. I'm 28 and started reading the series on the recommendation of someone in my office, and eagerly awaited the release of this latest volume. If you read The Chronicles of Narnia as a kid, you'll love these books. The Goblet of Fire is a good book although I have to admit I did find it cumbersome to lug around 730 pages all weekend. I do remember reading the first three and being sorry they were over, and I was ready for this one to be done....I think just from having read so much. But it didn't drag. There was lots of excitement and I'm already looking forward to the next one! As much as I liked this one, I think the third volume is still my favorite. But this is a keeper....it's a fine place to begin the Potter series or a great place to continue.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Book Yet
Review: I thought that this, by far, was the best book yet in the Harry Potter series. It is indeed much more sinister than the other books, and includes some more direct episodes with You-Know-Who. Someone does get killed - actually, more than one person. It is a little different from the other books because there is this big competition going on, and so that absorbs everyone and is much more important than Harry's relationships with the teachers and his classmates, although Hermione and Ron are still main characters in the story. There is a great ending, with a few unexpected twists. I would reccomend this book to any Harry Potter fan - I was hooked and read all of 2 days to finish the 734 pages in this book. Now my younger sister is so wrapped up in it that she couldn't put it down either! Trust me, these books may seemed hyped up and overpriced, but it's worth it because they are really, REALLY good!
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