Book 6 of 7: Dumbledore shows Harry the secrets of Voldemort's past, Draco Malfoy is hiding something, and an old Potions textbook belongs to the Half-Blood Prince.
The series grows up: funny, romantic and quietly heartbreaking, with Dumbledore's memory lessons at its heart. A chatty middle slows it down, but the ending is unforgettable. Four and a half out of five.
Every guide comes as a video and a full written article. Pick the one you need: the review is spoiler-free, the ending explained is not.
Is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince worth reading? A spoiler-free review of J.K. Rowling's book 6 of 7: the setup, Dumbledore's lessons, Slughorn, the Prince's textbook, what drags, content notes and my score.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ending explained: the cave and the Inferi, the fake locket, R.A.B., the Astronomy Tower, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore's death and the white tomb. Full spoilers.
Every clue hidden in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: the Prince's textbook, Snape and the Unbreakable Vow, Draco's cabinet, the Horcrux memories, Felix Felicis and the cave, plus the seeds planted for book 7. Full spoilers.
How does the 2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film compare to the book? Cast, runtime, reception, the added Burrow scene, the cut funeral and Gaunt memory, and Snape's reveal. Contains spoilers.
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (2005) is book 6 of 7 in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. In Harry’s sixth year, Dumbledore shows him memories of Voldemort’s past, Draco Malfoy is up to something, and Harry finds an old Potions textbook scribbled with notes by the Half-Blood Prince.
Below you’ll find a spoiler-free review, the ending explained, the clues you missed, and how the 2009 film compares.
The book came out in two thousand five, and it covers Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. It has thirty chapters and roughly one hundred and sixty eight thousand words, so it is a big one.
It opens with the Muggle Prime Minister, who is visited in his office by a very worried wizard stepping out of the fireplace. Then Dumbledore himself turns up at Privet Drive, late at night, to collect Harry. He has a favor to ask first. They need to persuade a retired teacher to come back to Hogwarts.
That teacher is Horace Slughorn, a vain, charming collector of famous students. Dumbledore plainly wants something from him, and he will not say what.
The book came out in two thousand five, and it covers Harry's sixth year at Hogwarts. It has thirty chapters and roughly one hundred and sixty eight thousand words, so it is a big one.
The series grows up: funny, romantic and quietly heartbreaking, with Dumbledore's memory lessons at its heart. A chatty middle slows it down, but the ending is unforgettable. Four and a half out of five. Read it if: you have loved the series so far; you like mysteries built from memories and clues; you enjoy school stories that mix comedy with real stakes. Skip it if: you want a fast thriller from page one; you haven't read books one to five yet; a slow, talky middle stretch will frustrate you. Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince →
Our ending explained covers the final chapters in full, with spoilers. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ending explained: the cave and the Inferi, the fake locket, R.A.B., the Astronomy Tower, Draco, Snape, Dumbledore's death and the white tomb. Full spoilers. Ending explained: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince →
How does the 2009 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince film compare to the book? Cast, runtime, reception, the added Burrow scene, the cut funeral and Gaunt memory, and Snape's reveal. Contains spoilers. Book vs movie: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince →
The Half-Blood Prince is Severus Snape. His mother was Eileen Prince, a witch, and his father Tobias Snape was a Muggle. Harry finds out when Snape shouts it after killing Dumbledore. This answer contains spoilers.
Yes. It is the darkest book so far, with curses, a poisoning, creepy Inferi, grief and a heavy ending, though it is also very funny. Best for readers around twelve and up.
Yes. This is book 6 of 7, and its mysteries rely on events from the earlier books, especially the diary from Chamber of Secrets and the Ministry battle in book 5.
Yes. Warner Bros. released the film on 15 July 2009, directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It runs 153 minutes and stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, with Jim Broadbent as Horace Slughorn.
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