Introduction
It’s hard to believe, but after, 7 books, and over 4100 pages, J.K. Rowling has finally brought the epic saga of the Boy Who Lived to a close with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. As the final book in the phenomenally popular Harry Potter series, Deathly Hallows had a lot of loose ends to tie up and expectations to fulfill. So does Rowling manage to craft a satisfying conclusion to one of the most beloved fantasy series of all time? Read on to find out.
You can find Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 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
Table of Contents
The Quest Begins
After the tragic ending of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which saw the death of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore, Harry knows his long-prophesied showdown with the evil Lord Voldemort is imminent. But first, he has one final task left by Dumbledore – to find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, dark magical objects containing pieces of Voldemort’s soul that make him immortal.
As Deathly Hallows opens, Harry is preparing to leave his Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon’s house forever to begin his dangerous quest. Along with his best friends Hermione and Ron, Harry sets out to uncover and eliminate the Horcruxes, the key to defeating Voldemort once and for all. But with Voldemort’s followers, the Death Eaters, searching everywhere for Harry, staying hidden will be as difficult a task as destroying the Horcruxes themselves.
Into Hiding
Knowing full well how much danger they’ll be in once Voldemort assumes control of the Ministry of Magic, the Order of the Phoenix spirits Harry away to a safe house before his official departure. This creates one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the book, as Harry is forced to erase all memory of himself from his muggle relatives’ minds, leaving them permanently unaware they ever had a nephew. It’s a poignant reminder of how much Harry has lost in his short life.
Soon after, Harry, Ron and Hermione are whisked away to the Weasley home, the Burrow, for Bill and Fleur’s wedding. Here, devoted fans will be happy to see so many familiar faces again – Hagrid, Luna Lovegood, Viktor Krum, and more, all enjoying one last lighthearted celebration before the real war begins.
The Seven Potters
Harry knows he must leave the Burrow before his 17th birthday, when the protective charm on him will break. A team of Order members disguise themselves as Harry using Polyjuice Potion to act as decoys, while Harry escapes with Hagrid in a sidecar attached to Sirius Black’s flying motorcycle.
This suspenseful sequence kicks the action into high gear right away. We see our first death in this book as Hedwig is killed defending Harry, clearly signifying that the stakes have been raised. The Order is battling Death Eaters in the air and on the ground, and Mad-Eye Moody is slain by Voldemort himself. Harry has his first face-to-face confrontation with Voldemort and survives, but the message is clear – nowhere is safe anymore.
The Search for Horcruxes
Now cut off from everyone he knows, Harry has nothing to guide his search for Horcruxes but the clues Dumbledore left him before his death. It’s clear Harry bears an enormous weight on his shoulders that no 17-year-old should have to. Even though he is considered “The Chosen One”, he does not have to bear this burden alone.
Hermione and Ron pledge to stand by his side and help destroy the Horcruxes, no matter the danger. And here is where Rowling reminds us of the power of true friendship. Despite all their bickering over the years, the trio’s loyalty to each other is unbreakable. Through their teamwork and bravery, they are able to uncover the location of the first Horcrux – Slytherin’s locket.
The Locket and the Eye
Retrieving the locket from its hiding place is one of the most suspenseful chapters in the series. Harry, Ron, and Hermione must penetrate hundreds of dangerous enchantments protecting the locket in a secret cave by the sea. It requires tremendous courage and sacrifice – Dumbledore is severely weakened by drinking an evil potion to reach the Horcrux, and Ron is nearly drowned by vengeful Inferi (zombies) after recovering the locket.
This harrowing experience foreshadows the difficulties that lie ahead. If destroying one Horcrux requires so much pain and danger, how will they ever find and eliminate all of Voldemort’s remaining anchors to immortality?
The trio then embarks on a frustrating cross-country search for the other Horcruxes. Along the way they encounter several familiar faces who provide invaluable help, such as goblin Griphook and Dobby the house elf. But progress is slow until Harry has a troubling vision showing one Horcrux in the possession of the Death Eaters – Voldemort’s snake, Nagini.
He also glimpses a mysterious symbol – the same symbol worn by Xenophilius Lovegood – and decides to pay him a visit. Here they finally learn the meaning of the symbol, which represents the Deathly Hallows – three legendary objects from an old fairy tale. This detour into the story behind the Hallows seems odd to some readers, but does provide some nice thematic resonance. Harry’s deceased parents, Sirius, Lupin, and Dumbledore all make brief appearances via the Resurrection Stone Hallow, providing Harry with much needed guidance and comfort.
Payoff at Gringotts
Eventually Harry pieces together that one of the other Horcruxes may be connected to Bellatrix Lestrange and hidden in her Gringotts vault. This leads to a brilliantly crafted, high-stakes infiltration of Gringotts bank – complete with a dragon escape! Watching our young heroes break into and successfully escape from the most secure wizarding bank is tremendously satisfying. And obtaining another Horcrux brings Harry one step closer to his ultimate goal.
The Battle of Hogwarts
After so many chapters of endless wandering, Rowling finally brings everything together in a massive, immensely satisfying climax – the Battle of Hogwarts. Harry knows Voldemort’s last Horcrux must be hidden somewhere in the castle, and seeks to sneak in undetected to find it. But Voldemort has learned of Harry’s plan and launches a full-scale siege on the school and its defenders, including teachers, students, and members of the Order of the Phoenix.
What follows are over 150 pages of continuous, edge-of-your-seat action as Harry frantically searches for the Horcrux while the sprawling castle is under attack. Favorite characters are dueling left and right, familiar places like the Quidditch pitch and Great Hall have become bloody battlegrounds, and lives are being lost by the minute. The non-stop action and high emotional stakes make this climax hugely rewarding for longtime fans.
The Forest Again
At the height of the chaos, Harry uncovers the location of the final Horcrux – Rowena Ravenclaw’s diadem in the Room of Requirement. But in his efforts to destroy it, Harry’s friend Vincent Crabbe perishes, and the diadem with him. Voldemort then gives an ultimatum – Harry must turn himself in or more people will die.
Harry comes to believe that he himself may be a Horcrux, implanted in him by Voldemort the night his parents were killed. Resigned to his fate, Harry surrenders to Voldemort in the Forbidden Forest, who strikes him down. In what may be the most haunting chapter in the series, Harry finds himself in a spectral Kings Cross Station, where Dumbledore finally reveals that Harry is not a Horcrux. He gives Harry a choice whether to move on to the afterlife or return to finish Voldemort.
The Final Showdown
Harry chooses to return and feign death. In one last attempt to defeat Harry once and for all, Voldemort unwittingly destroys the fragment of his soul inside Harry. The battle resumes, and now mortal, Voldemort duels Harry as the finale we’ve all been waiting for unfolds. With the help of friends like Neville Longbottom, who beheads snake Nagini with the sword of Gryffindor, Harry ultimately defeats Voldemort. The darkness has finally been vanquished by the Chosen One.
Loose Ends Tied Up
With Voldemort defeated, Rowling takes her time wrapping up every detail of Harry’s story. Rather than just celebrating Voldemort’s downfall, she shows Harry dealing with the aftermath of so much tragedy and death. He is able to finally have an honest talk with Dumbledore’s portrait at Hogwarts, as well as show mercy and understanding to the Malfoy family and the downtrodden house elves.
Nineteen Years Later…we get a touching snapshot of Harry, now married to Ginny and seeing his children off to Hogwarts, while Ron and Hermione’s family says their goodbyes nearby. This extended epilogue provides a sense of closure and hope after such a devastating war.
A Monumental Achievement
For Harry Potter fans, Deathly Hallows provided a hugely satisfying – if bittersweet – ending to an extraordinary series. Though not without flaws, the final book delivered on its promises and did justice to the beloved characters and world Rowling so brilliantly created. The author tied up every important thread while still leaving herself room to explore this universe further.
It’s hard to say goodbye to these characters that feel like old friends. But in giving them the powerful and emotional sendoff they deserve, Rowling created an unforgettable and definitive ending to a truly magical series. The final book’s unprecedented sales and reception speaks for itself – Harry Potter went out on top, and its cultural legacy is sure to endure for generations.
Final Thoughts
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows brings a magnificent close to J.K. Rowling’s masterful and groundbreaking series. It provides heart-stopping action and ripped-from-the-headlines mature themes, pushing the boundaries of what a “children’s book” can do. Though not without its flaws, the final novel sends off Rowling’s magical world with a bang rather than a whimper, giving devoted fans the rewarding conclusion they deserved.
More than just another bestseller, the Harry Potter saga became a landmark of modern fantasy literature and a global pop culture phenomenon. Though the story has ended, the magic of Hogwarts, Quidditch, and butterbeer lives on in the hearts of millions worldwide. So get comfy in your chair, grab a nice hot cup of tea, and escape one final time into the wizarding world with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Just keep a box of tissues handy, because you’ll need it.
FAQs
Why is the final book called Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows?
The “Deathly Hallows” refers to three legendary objects featured in an old wizarding fairy tale that becomes important in the final book. These three objects are the Elder Wand, Resurrection Stone, and Invisibility Cloak, and together they make up the Deathly Hallows. As Harry races to destroy Voldemort’s Horcruxes, he comes across symbols representing the Hallows and must decide if their power could help or harm his quest.
What was J. K. Rowling’s inspiration for the final book’s story?
Rowling has said she took inspiration from various sources for the final installment. The books The Iliad and Paradise Lost helped shape the overall themes of love and war. She was also influenced by the real-life regime of Adolf Hitler for Voldemort’s fascist state. And she used her own personal feelings about loss and motherhood to craft Harry’s journey and eventual confrontation with Voldemort.
How did fans react initially to the final book?
There was an unprecedented level of hype, excitement and speculation leading up to the seventh book’s release among Harry Potter fans. Lines stretched around blocks at bookstores for the midnight release parties. Despite some concerns about character deaths, most fans and critics praised Deathly Hallows as a very satisfying finale that deftly balanced action and emotion. It broke numerous records to become the fastest selling book in history.
What was the biggest challenge in wrapping up the series?
With so many key characters and storylines, Rowling had to tie up all the loose ends in a way that felt organic and realistic. She wanted to avoid clichés and bring closure for fans who had grown up alongside Harry. Meeting everyone’s expectations while maintaining creativity was difficult. killing off some beloved characters was also hard for Rowling emotionally.
How is the tone of book seven different than the earlier ones?
The final book has a much darker, more somber tone compared to the earlier, more whimsical novels. The characters grapple with death in a very real way now that the war against Voldemort has begun. And Harry himself is changed by the enormous burden placed on him as “the Chosen One.” It’s a more mature, character-driven story compared to the lighter magical school adventures of the earlier books.
Were there any major plot twists?
Rowling is known for sneakily planting clues and surprises that pay off books later. She doesn’t disappoint with some big reveals and shocking moments in the final book. The true nature of Dumbledore’s troubled past catches readers off guard. Snape’s love for Lily Potter is perhaps the biggest surprise that completely reframes his actions. And many beloved characters die, reminding us that no one is safe in war.
How long is the battle of Hogwarts scene?
The climactic, non-stop action sequence of the epic battle at Hogwarts lasts around 150 pages. It features nearly every character, creature and location from the series uniting for an all-out war to defend Hogwarts and defeat Voldemort and his Death Eater army. Many call it one of the most unforgettable and cinematic battles in all of fantasy literature.
What happens to the characters post-battle?
Rowling provides a satisfying “where are they now” wrap up for all the key surviving characters. Harry, Ron and Hermione all go on to work at the Ministry of Magic. Harry marries Ginny, Ron marries Hermione, and they all have children who go on to attend Hogwarts together. Even the Malfoys manage to avoid imprisonment after the war.
Is this really the end of the series?
While Deathly Hallows marked the end of Harry’s story, Rowling has said she’ll never say never when it comes to revisiting the wizarding world. She has published additional HP-related books like Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. And the massively popular play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues Harry’s story with the next generation.
What is the enduring legacy of the Harry Potter series?
The Harry Potter saga had a monumental cultural impact and helped revolutionize YA literature. An entire generation grew up alongside “the boy who lived.” The series introduced millions of readers to lore like Quidditch, Hogwarts Houses, and butterbeer. And it promoted timeless themes of friendship, bravery, and the ultimate good vs. evil fantasy showdown.