Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

by J.K. Rowling

Although one of the attractions of the Harry Potter series is the sense of humour and likeability of the main characters—by now aged 16 or so, and experiencing the highs and lows of teenage love—what drives the books forward is J.K. Rowling’s ability to plot compellingly. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, published in 2005, the plotting really starts accelerating. There is not only a striking, unexpected plot twist to end the book but also the buildup to the seventh and final book in the series when everything will come together and fall into place.