Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2003)

Disappointed that there wasn’t a more plausible or creative reason to keep Harry out of the loop of information for the majority of this book. While the explanation from a certain character was clearly intended to tug at the heart strings it was just as apparent that the plot required Harry to be in the dark so that’s why it happened and that’s the only actual reason it happened.

It defies logic that any adult in Harry’s life would have considered him better off uninformed. I don’t mind plot dictated decisions as long as they have a strong explanation to back them up, an explanation that doesn’t have me calling into question the intelligence of characters whose intellect I’m supposed to admire.

But there were plenty of other things I did enjoy here, Luna Lovegood and all her spacey yet wise observations, Neville given more dimension and a bigger part in the story, The Weasleys just in general, and as always, Hermione. While it is irritating that Hermione with her cunning and her emotional intelligence (two traits Harry would never be accused of possessing) lets an often witless Harry take the lead, there’s certainly truth in that storytelling, you see it all the time in real life, a more qualified person relegated to the background, their good sense outright ignored or dismissed when they should be the loudest voice in the room. ( )

Started new year on a familiar, intimate note. This book has become my 'safe zone', and these are dark times. ( )

4,5 stars!

This book is great! ( )

everyone is too angry and conveniently dumb in this one ( )

Probably overlong, and certainly not as good as the 4th book, but still wonderfully immersive and compelling. ( )