Goblet of Fire: a brief review

taken from jkrowling.com

Another Harry Potter book down for this girl! Which means that I'm one book closer to being part of the worldwide clique that is Harry Potter fans. One book closer to knowing the facts and plot points that everyone else already knows. And one book closer to finishing my 2015 reading goals. (37% through them, guys. And it's not even March. Self-high five.)

Harry's fourth year at Hogwarts brings a surprise: an Olympic-type competition where students from other magic schools in other countries come to Hogwarts and try to win the Triwizard Tournament Cup. Despite the fact that Harry is not old enough to compete, his name is entered and he is doesn't have a choice but to compete. Meanwhile, Ron gets jealous of all the attention Harry receives, Hermione is obsessed with freeing the house elves at Hogwarts, Sirius keeps in touch with Harry from a hiding place in the mountains, and a truth-stretching gossip columnist keeps reporting on private information she has no way of knowing.

I really liked this one. Maybe it was because of the audiobook format, but I didn't mind the Triwizard Tournament scenes at all, and didn't have a hard time keeping up with the details like I sometimes do in heavy action scenes. I enjoyed the progression of characterization a lot in this book; I developed a new level of interest and appreciation for characters who had always been around, like Fred and George Weasley, because of how Rowling bulked up their story lines, dialogue, and personalities this time. And, WHOA SURPRISE ENDING. Didn't see that whole Mad Eye Moody thing happening at all. (That's not technically a spoiler. I didn't give any details. Also, I'm sure not too many people are worried about me spoiling anything.) One more thing to discuss...listening to the scene where Crouch's son is screaming about not wanting to go to Azkaban was horrifying. Bone chilling, and horrifying.

Order of the Phoenix, you're next.