Book 3 of 7: a murderer has escaped from the wizard prison, and everyone says he is coming for Harry.
Darker, funnier and far more cleverly plotted than the first two books, with Lupin, the dementors and an ending that rewards a second read. The middle sags a little and the big explanation scene is long, but it is the book where the series grows up. Five 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 Prisoner of Azkaban worth reading? A spoiler-free review of J.K. Rowling's book 3 of 7: the setup, Lupin, the dementors, the plot, what drags, content notes and my score.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ending explained: Scabbers and Pettigrew, the Marauders, Lupin, the dementors, the Time-Turner, Buckbeak and the stag. Full spoilers.
Every clue hidden in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Scabbers, Crookshanks, the dog and the Grim, Hermione's schedule, the Marauder's Map, Lupin and the stag, plus seeds planted for later books. Full spoilers.
How does the 2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film compare to the book? Cast, runtime, box office, reception, what was cut and what was changed. Contains spoilers.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (1999 in the UK and the US) is book 3 of 7 in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. Sirius Black has escaped from the wizard prison Azkaban, the school is ringed with guards called dementors, and Harry’s third year at Hogwarts begins with a new teacher and a secret.
Below you’ll find a spoiler-free review, the ending explained, the clues you missed, and how the 2004 film compares.
It is the summer before Harry's third year, and he has just turned thirteen. Harry is stuck at the Dursleys, doing his homework in secret, and his aunt Marge is coming to stay. That visit goes badly wrong, and Harry runs away from Privet Drive with his trunk in the middle of the night.
Then the real news arrives. A man named Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban, the wizard prison, and nobody has ever escaped from Azkaban before. Everybody agrees on two things. Black was a servant of Lord Voldemort, and he is coming for Harry.
So Hogwarts is no longer the safe place it used to be. The school is ringed with guards that are more frightening than any villain in the first two books. The question driving the story is simple. How do you protect a boy from a man who can get through anything?
It is the summer before Harry's third year, and he has just turned thirteen. Harry is stuck at the Dursleys, doing his homework in secret, and his aunt Marge is coming to stay. That visit goes badly wrong, and Harry runs away from Privet Drive with his trunk in the middle of the night.
Darker, funnier and far more cleverly plotted than the first two books, with Lupin, the dementors and an ending that rewards a second read. The middle sags a little and the big explanation scene is long, but it is the book where the series grows up. Five out of five. Read it if: you loved the first two harry potter books; you enjoy a clever mystery with fair clues; you want the moment the series starts to feel big. Skip it if: you haven't read books one and two yet; young or sensitive readers who are frightened by the dementors; you want a fast, light read with no dark moments. Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban →
Our ending explained covers the final chapters in full, with spoilers. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ending explained: Scabbers and Pettigrew, the Marauders, Lupin, the dementors, the Time-Turner, Buckbeak and the stag. Full spoilers. Ending explained: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban →
How does the 2004 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban film compare to the book? Cast, runtime, box office, reception, what was cut and what was changed. Contains spoilers. Book vs movie: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban →
Yes, somewhat. The dementors cause fear and despair, a murderer is on the loose, and there are werewolf and knife scenes. It is still a children's book, best for readers around ten and up, or younger with a grown up.
It helps. This is book 3 of 7 and builds on characters and events from the first two books, though it recaps enough to follow the plot.
It has 22 chapters and roughly 107,000 words, the longest of the first three books. It works well as a read aloud for confident readers around nine or ten and up.
Yes. Warner Bros. released a film adaptation in June 2004, directed by Alfonso Cuarón with a screenplay by Steve Kloves. It runs about 141 minutes, with Gary Oldman as Sirius Black, David Thewlis as Lupin and Michael Gambon as Dumbledore.
Amazon links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them.
