Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

5/5 STARS

Genre: Fantasy, Children’s
Author: J.K. Rowling
Published: November 2015 [book: July 1999]
Publisher: Pottermore
Length: 12 hours [317 pages]

[Review on Goodreads]

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Initial Thoughts Upon Finishing

Still one of my favourite books in this series! I loved the Prisoner of Azkaban so much and thoroughly enjoyed Stephen Fry’s narration of it. It amazes me with each book just how much of it I’ve forgotten since my last reading of it. There is honestly no series more magical than Harry Potter

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Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Being the third book in the series, things are starting to develop a bit more in the plot. Having faced Voldemort twice already, we now get a wonderful spin of events. The third book follows Harry and his friends through their third year of Hogwarts with the infamous Sirius Black now on the loose! But I think we’re probably all familiar with the story, no? If not, jump to the summary (or face spoilers!).

The Prisoner of Azkaban is a book in the series that I’ve always found to be quite fun. It starts throwing at us a bunch of back stories and more intricate problems for Harry to face. I like that we explore more of the wizarding world outside of Hogwarts (namely the Ministry and the Knight Bus) and I love the time turner and all the problems it brings!

It’s certainly an excellent book for developing Harry’s character and ties to Voldemort a bit better, too. We finally get more of the story about Lily and James and the circumstances surrounding their death a bit better. I love the different classes we get to experience, such as Divination and Professor Trelawney’s wild predications (although, in hindsight, not that wild). But the best thing about this book regarding classes has to be Defence Against the Dark Arts with Professor Lupin. Nothing beats those classes — particularly the Boggart lesson!

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My Favourite

The reason I love this one so much is because so much happens. I absolutely adore the story behind Padfoot, Mooney, Wormtail and Prongs because it’s something that gets totally axed from the films. I always enjoy that little snippet you get into the mischief that Harry’s dad and his friends got up to and I love the time travelling aspect of this book, too. The way that it all just works as Hermione and Harry go back several hours to save Buckbeak and Sirius – it was fantastic. It certainly made the Whovian part of my soul sing with glee.

The new threat of the Dementors was something I enjoyed too (even if they did plague my nightmares as a child). I feel like this is our first time really seeing just how capable Harry is as a wizard. The fact that he can perform a full-body Patronus is amazing. The scene by the lake where he blasts them all away was nothing short of epic.

But let’s not forget that the shining star of this book has got to be the Marauder’s Map. Whilst it is decidedly absent in the films beyond this point, its continued use by Harry throughout the rest of his schooling years is fantastic. Plus, it means we really get to start seeing just how awesome Fred and George are. This is the book where we begin to pay attention to their storyline.

I don’t know, the reason to why this is my favourite can really only be explained by one simply reading it. So much more is going on in it than the book (I think this is the book that suffered the most from the film adaptation). Lupin’s character is better, Harry’s hatred f0r Snape is further developed and all in all it just feels like J.K. Rowling’s imagination expanded that step further to write this book. Plus I just love the fact that the book ends with Sirius giving Harry a permission slip to Hogsmead — a touching thing to finish on and a wonderful moment of normal life for Harry.

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Audiobook

I’m re-reading the series via audiobook this time round and I can’t recommend them enough. Stephen Fry is the perfect and most fabulous narrator that could have ever been chosen. Harry Potter just isn’t the same unless Fry is spinning the tale in your ear. He does a fantastic job of all the voices and it’s thoroughly enjoyable. Make sure you listen to the audiobooks at some point in your life!

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Summary

I think we can safely say that I definitely recommend this one! I do and always will love it – it will forever hold a special place in my heart. The whole series is utterly fantastic but for whatever reason this is the one I enjoy reading the most! So hop to it, if you haven’t read it already!

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~~ Kirstie ~~

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