Pizzas galore!

It took me nine hours to read and I loved every minute of it, although it was sometimes quite difficult to sustain the tension. In Germany, the book is criticised for being just a set-up for the final volume, but I think that is what makes the book so good. Karen Brandes, Lagerfeld, Germany

Definitely the best book yet – more of a thriller than a children's adventure, it answers questions that we wanted answered and builds up to a major climax at the end. Brilliant! Karen Steward, Birmingham

The plot seems a little lethargic and sparse to take up 600 pages, and an entire school year in Harry's life. Maybe he should just have been home-schooled by Dumbledore in the summer holidays so we could get to the final book a year early and what will hopefully be a more satisfying tying up of plot loose-ends. Scott Edwards, Oxford

An intense disappointment, I'm sad to report. The last book gave us an enticing and witty thriller, marred by a bafflingly lacklustre conclusion. This one reverses the error. While it would take a hard heart not to find the closing chapters touching, the first 500 pages(!) are strangely paceless.
The two new characters are pale and irrelevant, the romantic shenanigans retread familiar ground, and the plot contains more holes than a leaky cauldron. Most infuriating, though, is the sheer aimlessness. There is no urgency, no sense of jeopardy. The title, too, is wholly inapposite - inevitably, for a book that has no central purpose driving the narrative forwards. Harry Potter and the Long Pointless Preamble to the Significant Death of a Certain Character (for Reasons Which Will Probably Become Apparent Next Time) instead, perhaps? Susie Day, Oxford

The magic of Harry Potter definitely still exists. This book is much darker than the others and it sends chills up the spine. Karina Tammai, Pärnu, Estonia

The book is well written and the tale is more adult than previous books, but it ends on a hopeless note, which I think is a mistake. Children may be upset after ploughing through all those pages to then not find a happy ending. Mimi Rubenstein, Manchester

I loved it. Fabulous ending, but perhaps too much snogging. Yav Ribbonneux, Exeter, Devon

It’s a superb book that leaves you wanting more. I'm 35 and eagerly awaited this new book. It holds your attention on every page. The storyline is excellent and although the ending brings a tear to your eye, it makes perfect sense. Harry knows what he has to do and you see him move from childhood into adulthood as you turn the pages. It’s a book that you must read. Tina Whittle, Liverpool

I really enjoyed this instalment of the Harry Potter saga, but it felt more like a preparation and build-up for book seven. It does not stand alone, but in conjunction with the other books is compelling reading with unpredictable twists. Deborah East, Norwich

I loved Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I think it is very well composed, and very well written, with more variety than Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Harry is more mature in this book, which makes him a lot less annoying, and we are finally given some answers to the questions about Voldemort. Ulla Lauridsen, Odense, Denmark

It doesn't read like a complete piece of work, unlike the first four Harry Potter books. There are long explanations of who is up to what and not much suspense or action. Everything of significance is crammed into the last 50 pages. It’s not too bad for a summer weekend read, but definitely not the best one of the series. Olga Efremova, Nuneaton

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