Fantasy Novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Author: J.K. Rowling Published By: Arthur A. Levine Books Reviewed by Ismael Manzano                As many of you out there in the wonderful world of web-surfing already know, the last installment of the much beloved and very lucrative children’s book series, Harry Potter, came out not so long ago.  This installment—The Deathly Hallows—is a separation from the remainder of the series in more than one way.  First, it’s the only installment that takes place almost completely outside of the famed Hogwart’s School for Witchcraft and Wizardary.  Second, it’s the only book in which the iconic character, Dumbledore, is not alive—although his presence is still felt throughout.  Finally, out of the series, Deathly Hallows, is the least geared toward children.  Now I’m sure you’ve all heard of the rumors about J.K. Rowling’s claim that two major characters will die in this series.  Well I’m going to spoil you day and ruin your lunch by telling you that she exaggerated by far.  There are at least four deaths of characters that have been in one or more of the books in the series and another four of characters that have been in the series from the very beginning.  So as read the pages of this final—FINAL—installment of the Harry Potter series, keep that in mind—at least eight deaths.  If that doesn’t have you clutching your hardcover book in white-knuckle stress, then you must have actual problems to worry about not. Deathly Hallows follows Harry Potter, student-wizard, hero of the wizarding world and nemesis of the worlds most dangerous and evil dark wizard—Voldormort—as he carries out his mentor, Dumbledore’s, final wish.  That wish, to find the Horcruxes in which the Dark Lord has hidden portions of his soul and destroy them so that the Dark Lord can be killed at last.  To accomplish this, Harry opted not to complete his final year at Hogwarts and, with the aid of the only two other people who know his mission—Ron and Hermione—goes searching the countryside, backtracking Voldomort’s past while avoiding his growing legion of henchmen.  While this is going on, the Dark Lord and his Death Eaters have taken control of the Ministry of Magic, subverted the writers of the Daily Prophet and managed to have the entire world looking for Harry Potter, claiming that he was the one who had actually killed Dumbledore.  Dementors are loose everywhere, Hogwarts is under the control of Snape, and the Order of the Phoenix are scattered.  Even among the trio of heroes, dissention and animosity threaten to tear the group apart forever when items left to them in Dumbledore’s will leads to the discovery of the existence of the Deathly Hollows.  Harry, believing that these Hollows are what Dumbledore really wants to him go after, is ready to abandon his mission at the risk of alienating his friends who want to stick to the original mission.  But when the paths taken lead Harry to a direct confrontation with the Dark Lord, and the lives of his remaining friends are on the line, can Harry step up to the plate and risk his own life for those of others?  Will Harry Potter survive the power of the Dark Lord?  Will anybody else?  All in all, I loved this book.  Almost from the very beginning it was nonstop action, taking the reader from one near mishap to another, with hardly a break in between.  And the tension is not exclusive to action either.  The tension between the trio and some other members of the Order was so intense that it at times it left me wondering whether or not the characters in questions were possessed or being impersonated by one of the Death Eaters.  In my opinion, Rowling’s warning of the impending deaths of this final installment, made reading it just that much more exciting.  Every encounter had me wondering which main character would fall and when.  And this book finally answered the question that has been burning inside my stomach for since almost the beginning: where does the loyalty of Severus Snape truly lie?  So if you are a fan of the story or if you just want to see how the famed fable will end, you must check out this book.  If you haven’t read the previous books and don’t have time to, watch the movies, read the sixth book and then read this one and you’ll be fine.  Whatever you do to catch up, you won’t be disappointed.  Rowling has outdone herself and I look forward to reading any other stories that she puts out there—Harry-oriented or not.      For more about Harry Potter, check out: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Movie Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Soundtrack Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Movie Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince For feedback, visit our message board or e-mail the author at imanzano@g-pop.net.