Since the series has such outstanding success and crossover appeal to the adult market, it's easy to forget that the Harry Potter books are still very much children/adolescent books. The intense scrutiny the books undergo seem out of proportion to their importance as literature. As the Half-Blood Prince is released to literally hundreds of millions of fans all over the world, expectations are immense.

Happily, if one keeps one's mind off the hype, book 6 should satisfy fans, even if it couldn't be called the best of the series so far. We pick up where book 5, Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix, left off, with the wizarding world finally coming to a realization that Harry knew all along, the dreaded Lord Voldemort has returned. There is lots of dark drama and intense emotion in the book, while at the same time taking the time to add intriguing detail to the rich tapestry that is the world that Harry and friends Hermione and Ron, inhabit.

There is now only one book to go to reach the conclusion of this long-awaited and beloved story arc. Two plus years to wait! Arghh!