Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire - J.K. Rowling

Advantages: Vivid characters, exciting plot, unpredictable right to the end
Disadvantages: Huge book! Makes it difficult to hold, and the story is slow at times

...Many readers of the other Harry Potter books will have noticed how different this book is from the others. Being so untypical it gives JK Rowling greater freedom for creativity in order to break the previous pattern of her other books. But it also leads to a distinct change in style that I'm not sure all fans have reacted well to. The beginning is eerily different, the middle unlike any of the books so far, and the end is hauntingly memorable. When ...
...over quantity. I love the Harry Potter books, don't get me wrong, but I can't help feeling critical. At times I've noticed that JK Rowling chokes parts of her plot with irrelevancies, and the action is sometimes watered-down to make it stretch a whole year. But it is a good story, and being different makes it memorable. The Hype Fans waiting for each new installment of the Harry Potter installment will recall months and months of waiting ... Read review

Advantages: Action packed, tackles supposedly "adult" issues.
Disadvantages: Little in the way of characterisation. Too many plot twists.

I hate the Harry Potter phenomenon. I hate the merchandise, toys, films and spaghetti. However, I have to concede Rowling has succeeded in doing something many authors can't do. Make my son read and for that I am truly thankful. Being the Worlds Greatest Dad (that’s what the mug says anyway) I have recently made the great effort to read this book to see why my ten year old son is so enthralled with the whole Harry Potter experience. I have chosen ...
...The book centres on Harry Potter and unsurprisingly is told through his eyes. This particularly novel is peculiar as it is almost like a murder/mystery novel. Following the Quidditch World Cup (kind of like water polo on broomsticks) the wizard's see an ominous symbol known as "The Dark Mark". This symbol heralds the return of the most evil and powerful wizard whom has ever existed, Lord Voldemort. He was responsible for the death of Harry's parents ... Read review

Advantages: Great story, gripping,
Disadvantages: none

...relevant to the story of Harry Potter?! For the members of the wizarding world this book starts with high excitement. It is the Quidditch World Cup, and wizards from far and wide are meeting up to celebrate the best Quidditch players in the world. It is the final between Bugaria and Ireland and their fans are out in force, hidden from the Muggle world in a very large field surrounded by many spells and enchantments the wizards are all celebrating ...
...of troubles this year with Harry and Ron trying to secure dates for the Yule Ball a dance traditionally part of the tri-wizard tournament, and Hermione trying to fight off the rumours that she is cheating on her boyfriend Harry with another very famous wizard. A rumour helped along by none other than the acid quilled Daily Prophet Reporter Rita Skeeter, who is sneaking around spreading as many vicious rumours as she can conjuer up with the help of ... Read review

Advantages: Everything!
Disadvantages: Nothing!

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is the fourth book in the series, and has perhaps the most ‘epic’ plotline. This book is definitely where the series grows up, and in my own personal ‘hit list’ of Harry Potter books, it is rated as number three. **Blurb** (from the back of the book) “It is the summer holidays, and one night Harry Potter wakes up with his scar burning. He has had a strange dream, one that he can't help worrying about...until ...
...the Quidditch World Cup! Soon Harry is reunited with Ron and Hermione and gasping at the thrills of an international Quidditch match. But then something horrible happens which casts a shadow over everybody, and Harry in particular... “ **Plot** (minor spoilers) The book opens – curiously – outside of Harry’s PoV, as we follow an old caretaker through a creepy house, overhearing things that he is not supposed to. This is an interesting way to open ... Read review

Advantages: Another excellent book
Disadvantages: Not as good as number three!

...– when is the fifth Harry Potter book coming out? I shall be queuing outside the bookshop when it does! Well maybe not, but I shall certainly be buying it as soon as possible. As you must have guessed by now I have just finished reading the fourth book in the series, which is entitled Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It is by far the thickest of all the volumes so far being about twice the size of any one of the other three. This book is about ...
...Hogwarts, Beauxbaton and Durmstrang Schools. Harry gets involved and is subject to some horrifying situations as he battles with the other contestants for the Triwizard Cup. I won’t say any more than that as there is so much going on in this book that I would not be able to do it justice unless I gave away too much of the plot. His old friends Hermionie and Ron are both there to help him as is Professor Dumbledore, the Headmaster of Hogwarts and ... Read review