It’s my 200th review. Yay! To celebrate both this and my two year anniversary, I’ve decided to do something a little special. Today, I’m going to be looking at one of the novels that I originally said I’d never review. This post is going to focus on the first book of the series only, without reference to its sequels, and is likely to contain major spoilers. You have been warned.
If you haven’t heard of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (published in America as Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone), where have you been living for the last two decades? Penned by J.K. Rowling and originally published in 1997, it really took the whole world by storm. The story was soon followed by its sequels: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (1998), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2000), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003), Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (2005) and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (2007). In addition to this, Rowling published three short companion books for charity: Quidditch Through the Ages (2001), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2001) and The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008).
Harry Potter has always grown up as an unwanted child. His Aunt and Uncle – Vernon and Petunia Dursley – took him in after his parents were killed but only did so grudgingly. Determined to not spend a penny more than they have to on their unwanted nephew, they force him to sleep in the cupboard under the stairs and watch as they dote over their disgusting son, Dudley.
However, things soon change when Harry receives a letter inviting him to study at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. It turns out that both Harry’s parents were magical and so he’s bound to be as well. It’s not long before he’s whisked off into a world that he never knew existed. He makes his first real friends – Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger – as he slowly begins to learn how to cast spells.
But it’s not all fun and games at Hogwarts. There is a secret hidden deep within the school and Harry’s sure that the potions master, Professor Snape, is trying to steal it for himself. As none of the other teachers will believe him, Harry, Ron and Hermione decide that they have no choice but to find out what Snape is up to and put a stop to it.
Arkham Reviews 