Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Introduction:

With the return of Voldemort and evil rising by his side once again, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was expected to be even more dark and complicated than the fourth book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. It was also expected, to have difficulty matching the superb writing of that of the fourth book, but would have been just as happily accepted if it could match such a level. The question is, did it?

Plot:

Getting back into the introduction style of the first three books, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix starts in a whirl of action. Having been attacked by a pair of Dementors, Harry is guarded by a group of witches and wizards belonging to the Order of the Phoenix in a removal operation from the Dursley’s to a secret headquarters. Such an...

THE GOOD:
- Darker storyline
- Excellent point of view
- Massive book size for assured long read
- Great character change and development

THE BAD:
- long points with nothing happening at all
- plot changes tend to be more boring than not
- many failed attempts at romanticism
- death of a far too pivotal character
- overall, the book is a mite depressing

SUMMARY:
I've never been a major fan of the Harry Potter series, although I do admit that JK Rowling does know how to write. She's perhaps not the best fantasy author I have read, paling in comparison to a number of others with writing styles I prefer, but she has been doing a good job. That is, right up until about this book.

Harry Potter has had a massive fan following for a while now, so I expected her to keep up her good work so far, both for the fans, and because she had mentioned she had already lain this all out in advance on a train ride...