Introduction
From the cupboard under the stairs to the Battle of Hogwarts, Harry Potter’s story has captivated readers young and old for over two decades. J.K. Rowling’s magical series chronicles Harry’s journey as an orphan who discovers he is a wizard, attends Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and embarks on epic adventures with his best friends, Ron and Hermione. Along the way, they encounter fantastical spells and creatures, danger and mystery, and a classic battle of good versus evil.
Let’s dive into each of the seven books that make up Harry’s spellbinding saga!
You can find the Harry Potter Book Series by author J. K. Rowling on your favorite bookstore, including Amazon.com and Amazon UK.
We have also loved and reviewed J. K. Rowling previous books, here are the links:
- Book 1 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone
- Book 2 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
- Book 3 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
- Book 4 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- Book 5 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
- Book 6 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- Book 7 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Table of Contents
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone: Where the Magic Begins
In the first book of the series, we are introduced to a scrawny, bespectacled 11-year-old who has no idea he possesses magical abilities. Harry has been raised by his neglectful aunt and uncle, the Dursleys, who try their best to keep Harry unaware of his true identity.
On Harry’s 11th birthday, he receives a visit from Rubeus Hagrid, the lovable gamekeeper of Hogwarts, who informs Harry that he is actually a wizard. Harry rejoices at the chance to escape the Dursleys and attend Hogwarts, where he quickly befriends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. The book follows the trio’s first year at school as they begin learning spells, potions, and magical theory while also unraveling the mystery of the Sorcerer’s Stone hidden at Hogwarts.
Harry and friends suspect their Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Quirrell, is trying to steal the stone, though they don’t yet know he harbors a weak Voldemort on the back of his head. In a climactic showdown, Harry defeats Quirrell and thwarts Voldemort’s plan to regain power using the stone. The book ends on a high note as Harry heads home for the summer, joyful at having found a place where he truly belongs.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Voldemort
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, Diagon Alley, The Forbidden Forest
- Major Themes: Good vs. evil, friendship, discovery of identity
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 1 – Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: An Ancient Threat Unleashed
In year two, trouble is brewing when the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts is opened, unleashing a monster that petrifies students. Harry begins hearing voices in the walls and finds ominous messages written in blood foretelling that the “heir of Slytherin” has returned to Hogwarts.
Could one of Harry’s classmates be the descendant of Salazar Slytherin? Harry, Ron, and Hermione suspect Draco Malfoy is the heir, but their investigation leads them to a more shocking discovery – the entrance to the Chamber itself, hidden in Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom.
Inside the legendary Chamber, Harry confronts Tom Riddle (a young Voldemort) and the deadly basilisk he has unleashed. With the help of Dumbledore’s phoenix and Godric Gryffindor’s sword, Harry slays the basilisk and destroys Riddle’s enchanted diary that had begun possessing Ginny Weasley. The book ends with Dobby the house-elf being freed from the Malfoys as a reward for trying to protect Harry.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Dobby, Tom Riddle/Young Voldemort
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, The Forbidden Forest, The Chamber of Secrets
- Major Themes: Prejudice, manipulation, friendship, bravery
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 2 – Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: A Dangerous Fugitive Looms
Book three takes a darker turn when a dangerous prisoner, Sirius Black, escapes from Azkaban and heads to Hogwarts, presumably to kill Harry. Dementors are stationed around Hogwarts to protect the castle, but Harry learns a mysterious connection exists between himself, Sirius, and his late parents.
As Harry unravels the truth, he discovers Sirius was falsely imprisoned and is, in fact, Harry’s godfather. The real traitor is Peter Pettigrew, who framed Sirius for betraying Harry’s parents and has been hiding in his Animagus form as Ron’s pet rat, Scabbers.
Lupin, Harry’s Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, is revealed to be a werewolf and close friends with Sirius and Pettigrew from their Hogwarts days. In a time-bending climax, Harry and Hermione use a Time-Turner to save Sirius from the Dementor’s Kiss. Sirius escapes yet remains a wanted man, leaving Harry devastated. However, the promise of a godfather gives Harry hope.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, Dementors
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, The Shrieking Shack, Azkaban
- Major Themes: Betrayal, innocence, legacy, revenge
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 3 – Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Tournament Begins
The Triwizard Tournament arrives at Hogwarts in Harry’s fourth year, bringing students from rival schools Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Though underage, Harry is mysteriously chosen as a fourth champion and forced to compete in the dangerous tasks.
While navigating the tournament, Harry begins having disturbing visions hinting at Voldemort’s return to power. Indeed, the tournament is revealed to be a elaborate scheme concocted by Voldemort’s servant, Barty Crouch Jr., disguised as Mad-Eye Moody all year.
In the graveyard after the final task, Voldemort finally returns with a full physical form, summoning his Death Eaters. He duels Harry, hoping to finish him once and for all, but Harry manages to escape.
The book ends with the wizarding world finally alerted to Voldemort’s comeback, though the Ministry of Magic refuses to accept it. Dumbledore announces that dark times lie ahead as he reforms the Order of the Phoenix.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Voldemort, Barty Crouch Jr.
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, The Triwizard Tournament Tasks, The Graveyard
- Major Themes: Competition, danger, prophecy, betrayal
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 4 – Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix: The Resistance Rises
With Voldemort having returned, Harry’s fifth year is plagued by denial from the Ministry of Magic that anything is amiss. After Harry wards off dementors using magic outside of school, he is threatened with expulsion. Dumbledore intervenes and mysteriously disappears.
Dolores Umbridge is installed as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, refusing to teach students real defensive magic. Harry, Ron, and Hermione form Dumbledore’s Army to take matters into their own hands.
Harry begins having disturbing dreams about the Department of Mysteries. Duped into believing Sirius is being tortured there, Harry rushes to rescue him only to discover it was a trap set by Voldemort. In the midst of the battle, Sirius is killed by Bellatrix Lestrange.
Voldemort tries to possess Harry but finds their minds are strangely connected. As Voldemort tries to kill Harry, Dumbledore arrives to duel Voldemort in an incredible display of magical power.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Dolores Umbridge, Sirius Black, Dumbledore, Voldemort
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, Ministry of Magic, Department of Mysteries
- Major Themes: Tyranny, resistance, prophecy, grief
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 5 – Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: Secrets of the Past
As Harry’s sixth year begins, Voldemort’s followers wreak havoc in both the Muggle and wizarding worlds. Dumbledore begins giving Harry private lessons on Voldemort’s past in order to find his weaknesses. Harry is stunned to learn Voldemort’s real name is Tom Riddle and that he opened the Chamber of Secrets fifty years prior.
Dumbledore and Harry retrieve one of Voldemort’s Horcruxes, a locket once owned by Salazar Slytherin, only to find a fake one left behind. Draco Malfoy struggles with a secret mission given to him by Voldemort. On their way back from finding the locket, Dumbledore is fatally cursed by Draco during a battle with Death Eaters. Snape arrives and delivers the final blow, shocking everyone.
Harry decides not to return to Hogwarts but to instead hunt the remaining Horcruxes in order to defeat Voldemort. He reads the obituary Dumbledore left for him in a children’s book, hinting this will be no easy task.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Dumbledore, Draco Malfoy, Snape, Voldemort
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, The Cave by the Sea
- Major Themes: Redemption, sacrifice, secrets, trust
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 6 – Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: The Final Showdown
In the epic finale, Harry, Ron, and Hermione ditch school to search for Voldemort’s remaining Horcruxes. But the wizarding world has become a dark and dangerous place with Voldemort in control. The trio battles their way across the country, destroying Horcruxes and narrowly escaping Voldemort himself multiple times. Several loved ones make heartbreaking sacrifices along the way.
Eventually, the last Horcrux is found at Hogwarts and destroyed, leaving only Harry himself who Voldemort accidentally made into a Horcrux too. Knowing he must die, Harry surrenders to Voldemort in the forest. But the protection of Harry’s blood allows him to return from a dreamlike state to finally confront Voldemort.
Harry reveals key secrets learned from Snape’s memories, including that Dumbledore planned his own death and Snape has always been loyal to Dumbledore. In a final explosive battle, good triumphs over evil as Harry defeats Voldemort once and for all, bringing peace back to the wizarding world.
- Key Characters: Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, Voldemort, Snape, Dumbledore
- Key Locations: Hogwarts, Ministry of Magic, Malfoy Manor, Forest of Dean
- Major Themes: Sacrifice, courage, destiny, death
If you want to know more, please check out our full coverage on Book 7 – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
J. K. Rowling’s Wonderful Saga
J.K. Rowling’s magical saga has cemented itself as a beloved pop culture phenomenon and modern classic. Over the course of seven books, Harry’s journey takes him from the cupboard under the stairs to defeating the darkest wizard of all time. Along the way, fans watch him grow up, discover love and friendship, and learn what it truly means to be courageous in the face of evil.
While we sadly leave Harry behind at the end of book seven as he sees his own children off to Hogwarts, the wizarding world will live on in the hearts of millions worldwide. Harry’s story will be remembered for generations to come as one of friendship, bravery, and good conquering evil against all odds. The boy who lived will truly live forever.
