The wizarding hour has come and gone. The new edition to the Harry Potter collection was released on 16th July. Potter fans eagerly awaited the new book from J.K. Rowling and it didn’t disappoint.

The secrecy surrounding the release made the excitement more magical. The book was released at one minute past midnight on the 16th July. This reviewer was on hand, with many others, at Books On The Green, Sandymount to collect her copy at midnight from ‘Grand Wizard for a night’ Brian O’Brien.

In ‘The Half Blood Prince’, we are reunited with what feels like old friends Harry, Ron and Hermione. Harry’s return to The Burrow, the Weasley family residence. is like returning to the only real family he knows and into the loving arms of the adoring Mr and Mrs Weasley.

The plot barely changes at the start. We follow the same familiar routes as we have before, the annual trip to Diagon Alley for school supplies, a meeting with our resident friendly giant Hagrid and an unusual meeting with the horrible Draco Malfoy.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince shows us just how much Harry, Hermione and Ron have grown since we last read about them. We are thrown into their awkward teenage life and how they deal with bigger exams and relationship problems. But unlike teenagers in the Muggle world (that’s non-magical people’s world for anyone who doesn’t know!) the return of Lord Voldemort hangs over their heads and the constant threat from Harry’s mortal enemy is never far away. The return of Voldemort has the wizarding world in chaos as he wreaks havoc and death on anyone who crosses him.

In the confines of Hogwart’s School, we see Harry become closer than ever with Professor Dumbledore. Their relationship becomes very strong and Dumbledore confides more in Harry now than ever. Harry has special lessons with Dumbledore and on these rare occasions we are told a lot more about who Lord Voldemort is and how he came to be the evil wizard he is now. We are given more information about Voldemort in this book than in any of the other books, which makes the story more exciting and thickens the plot. Compared to Harry’s growing relationship with Dumbledore, the relationship between Harry and Professor Snape has worsened. He now despises Snape and it seems the feeling is mutual: there is no reconciliation with these two, the hatred between them remains.

I don’t want to ruin the plot for anyone who hasn’t read the book or who isn’t finished yet, but what I will tell you is Harry falls in love and one of the main characters dies! I really enjoyed my return to Hogwarts and the familiar characters. The last few chapters of the book made up for the lack of action in the beginning. It has also set the stage for the next edition from J.K Rowling, which I feel, will be Harry and friends’ biggest and most dangerous adventure.

As Harry and his friends grow up, the books seem to become darker with more adventure and danger. Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will leave you yet again in anticipation of the next adventure. It was well worth the wait. I don’t think Potter fans of any age will be disappointed.