The boy who lived and went on to become a cultural icon has finished his prophesied journey. The long anticipated final installment of the Harry Potter phenomenon has arrived. This book is, perhaps, the most powerful of the seven volume series.

JK Rowling, a master storyteller, returns us to the wizarding world, a magical world in a parallel universe that is so fully and richly described you cannot help but immerse yourself into that magical world, caring deeply about the fates of the many characters we have met and embraced along the way. We have been kept entranced with the independent story lines of each individual volume and now find the cleverly phenomenal author has left us clues scattered like breadcrumbs along the way as cunningly intertwined story threads that tie the seven volumes into a truly extraordinary tale of the continuing battle of good and evil.

IF YOU HAVE NOT YET READ THE BOOK AND WISH TO AVOID SPOILERS,YOU SHOULD STOP READING NOW.

Book Six, The Half Blood Prince, concluded with the beloved headmaster’s shocking murder by an unforgivable curse. In an effort to avenge Dumbledore’s assassination by Professor Snape, the three heroes Harry, Ron and Hermione plan to leave school and take up the search Dumbledore began for the remaining horcruxes. It is time for Harry to fulfill the prophecy and finally end the Dark Lord’s attempt of returning to power.

Book Seven, The Deathly Hallows picks up the story. It is just prior to Harry’s 17th birthday, a significant age in the wizarding world as this is when they “come of age” and pass into adulthood.

After Snape killed Dumbledore in book 6, there appeared to no longer be a question which side the greasy dark haired professor was truly on as he has spent the previous volumes as an apparent spy, or perhaps more accurately, a double agent. The beginning of book 7 seems to support this idea but with the expert storytelling ability of the author, you again begin to have some doubts and questions to his true allegiance. This question was very decidedly answered near the end of the story.

This series has been getting darker with each passing story and this final installment was no exception. Deaths began early on with a secondary character, a teacher from Hogwarts we have not gotten to know from the series. The deaths that follow are pointedly thought out and play crucial roles in the moralistic story.

The Order of the Phoenix attempts to move Harry to safety before he reaches the age of 17 and will become traceable by the Death Eaters and Ministry of Magic who are now quite intertwined. Six of Harry’s friends have transfigured themselves to look like Harry to serve as decoys as he is moved to safety but they find they have been betrayed and the Death Eaters are waiting to attack as the move begins. A bloodthirsty battle begins as broomsticks fly frantically through the skies of England, curses flying everywhere. In the course of battle is the extremely unexpected killing of Hedwig, Harry’s pet owl, yet another casualty in this bloody battle. A devoted member of the Order is also killed in this battle and a Weasley twin is maimed and loses an ear from a dark curse.

The three crusaders put their lives on the line time and time again throughout the story, gathering horcruxes to destroy, and, in turn destroy the Dark Lord. A major turning point in their quest was when a devoted house elf sacrificed his life to help wizards and witches escape the death eaters. This endearing character idolized the boy wizard.

The young wizard recognized the mistreatment that not only these little magical creatures endured but those wizards and witches that were not “pure bloods.” These heroes tried to change the way the wizarding world treated any magical being that was not pure blood. The very touching scene of the house elf’s sacrifice and the gratitude of his self sacrifice, the love the trio had for the small creature and honor that was shown the little elf as Harry hand digs his grave is a very emotional point in the story. The heroes say a very emotional goodbye to their friend and Harry walks away, no longer a boy, but a man with a prophecy to fulfill to save the wizarding world he has loved so.

Reminiscent of the Lord of the Rings, an epic battle ensues, lines have been drawn and you were either with the Dark Lord or standing shoulder to shoulder with the comrades in the battle against his minions. Much bravery is shown as the resistors take their stand to defend their beloved Hogwarts castle.

The question of Snape’s allegiance is finally definitively answered. It becomes clear why Dumbledore trusted Snape implicitly. Snape, at the point of death, draws Harry near to look deeply into his eyes, or from Snape’s perspective, his beloved Lily’s eyes. His profound love for Lily is what bound him to look after her son. He, in the end, gives Harry a memory to view which is a montage of memories regarding Lily and his unrequited love for her.

He also shares memories of conversations he had with Dumbledore to further clarify things for Harry and to let the young wizard know he had killed Dumbledore as a prearranged request from the headmaster, himself, another area of protection for one of the artifacts Harry needs to complete his quest. With viewing this memory, Harry gains a new perspective of Snape and, in the end, refers to him as one of the bravest men he has ever met, for Snape’s life sacrifice was critical in enabling Harry to complete his quest.

In perhaps the most crucial chapter of the book, Harry marches into the Dark Forest alone to face Voldemort. He knows what he must do, and he is ready. On his long walk into the Dark Forest, he is joined by the spirits of his parents and Sirius telling him how proud of him they are; they tell him they will be with him as he faces his nemesis for they are part of him. The “boy who lived” sacrifices himself for the world he loves so deeply so Voldemort and the evil that ensues in his wake can, at long last, be destroyed. At this point this young hero becomes the Master of Death.

Voldemort forces Hagrid, Harry’s first friend in the wizarding world, to carry Harry’s limp, apparently dead, body out of the forest and up to the castle for everyone to see. Neville, who has done an extreme amount of growing himself in this last story, in a very heroic effort still stands up to Voldemort and is punished in a very sadistic and cruel manner that is typical of the Dark Lord. Neville escapes his fate, and quite unexpectedly, the sword of Gryfindor comes to him allowing him to kill Nagini, the final horcrux.

With a very Christian flair, Harry has resurrected and Lord Voldemort is destroyed as a result of Voldemort’s own rebounding death curse.

The epilogue takes us 19 years into the future of our heroes and a small glimpse of where their lives will lead.

JK Rowling has said she will, in all likelihood, write an encyclopedia of sorts, to tie up additional details for the fans. It will not be tomorrow though, as she is now taking a well deserved break.

It has been an incredible ride.