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I know I read fast, but hasn't anyone else other than ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bethbethbeth finished yet? Then again, you're just *getting* the book in the US, I suppose!
Wow. I loved the first 9/10 of the book, but those last fifty pages or so really brought me down with a thud. Random and unseen deaths, people injured and never mentioned again, and the Epilogue of Doom. (though I did like Balding!Draco very much)
The Horcrux Hunt itself was really well done - there was so much variety in their rather wonky plans and imminent danger closing in that I never felt like I was trapped in a bad dungeon-crawl, as I feared. The Hallows versus Horcrux methods of immortality were just thrilling, especially all the pieces of folklore and bad research that both the Trio and Voldemort were chasing down, not to mention Dumbledore's youthful flirtation with power-mongering. It makes a lot of sense to me that Dumbledore learned the hard way about seeking power - he trusted Snape, and he had the strength of one who has seen the other side and come back. Harry, Hermione and Ron were just lovely, and so were all the minor characters - the house-elf and goblin POVs on wizards were great, though I still think Grawp is pointless! Is it wrong to admit that I cried more for Hedwig and Dobby than for the rather suddenly deceased Snape, Remus and Tonks? Probably. Still. It was a lot more touching.
I didn't like Snape being in love with Lily, but it was awesome that they were childhood friends - as with most of the book, if JKR had a lighter touch with the Anvil of Romance, I would have accepted it better. Harry finally understanding Snape and mocking Voldemort with it was rather excellent.
Thinking about it, romance seems to be the biggest problem for me in this book - other relationships (the Trio, Harry and Hedwig, Narcissa and Draco, Draco with Crabbe and Goyle, Peter and his hand, the Dumbledores, the Weasleys, Remus and baby Teddy, Kreacher and Regulus) were fascinating and well-written. Even the romance between Ron and Hermione, which had strong underpinnings of years of friendship and trust, read naturally and honestly. Harry and Ginny, Remus and Tonks, even Bill and Fleur seemed awkward and over-dramatic. Maybe it's just my inner gen-writer coming out.
Also, Neville, as we always knew, is the truest of Gryffindors. I love him dearly.
bethbethbeth finished yet? Then again, you're just *getting* the book in the US, I suppose!Wow. I loved the first 9/10 of the book, but those last fifty pages or so really brought me down with a thud. Random and unseen deaths, people injured and never mentioned again, and the Epilogue of Doom. (though I did like Balding!Draco very much)
The Horcrux Hunt itself was really well done - there was so much variety in their rather wonky plans and imminent danger closing in that I never felt like I was trapped in a bad dungeon-crawl, as I feared. The Hallows versus Horcrux methods of immortality were just thrilling, especially all the pieces of folklore and bad research that both the Trio and Voldemort were chasing down, not to mention Dumbledore's youthful flirtation with power-mongering. It makes a lot of sense to me that Dumbledore learned the hard way about seeking power - he trusted Snape, and he had the strength of one who has seen the other side and come back. Harry, Hermione and Ron were just lovely, and so were all the minor characters - the house-elf and goblin POVs on wizards were great, though I still think Grawp is pointless! Is it wrong to admit that I cried more for Hedwig and Dobby than for the rather suddenly deceased Snape, Remus and Tonks? Probably. Still. It was a lot more touching.
I didn't like Snape being in love with Lily, but it was awesome that they were childhood friends - as with most of the book, if JKR had a lighter touch with the Anvil of Romance, I would have accepted it better. Harry finally understanding Snape and mocking Voldemort with it was rather excellent.
Thinking about it, romance seems to be the biggest problem for me in this book - other relationships (the Trio, Harry and Hedwig, Narcissa and Draco, Draco with Crabbe and Goyle, Peter and his hand, the Dumbledores, the Weasleys, Remus and baby Teddy, Kreacher and Regulus) were fascinating and well-written. Even the romance between Ron and Hermione, which had strong underpinnings of years of friendship and trust, read naturally and honestly. Harry and Ginny, Remus and Tonks, even Bill and Fleur seemed awkward and over-dramatic. Maybe it's just my inner gen-writer coming out.
Also, Neville, as we always knew, is the truest of Gryffindors. I love him dearly.
