"Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" by JK Rowling

At last, the long-awaited final installment in the Harry Potter series is amongst us. And let me just say, it's about time! It's been a decade since Philosopher's Stone was released, can you believe that? So, with great anticipation and relief that I finally held the last entry to the saga, I dove in. There's something magical about the first few pages of a new Harry Potter book, like returning to a regular vacation spot or the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Deathly Hallows is a little different, because none of the trio anticipate returning to Hogwarts. I'm going to break it to you straight, this isn't the strongest book in the series--but it isn't the worst. Harry faces several dilemmas, does he continue searching for Voldemort's Horcruxes, or does he set off in search of the Deathly Hallows, powerful artifacts said to grant the wielder mastery over death itself? Does he believe the surfacing accounts of Dumbledore's past? Should he allow his closest friends to remain with him, despite the danger this places them in? One of the main things I wasn't impressed with was how long it took to get the story off the ground, and actually gripping. Until roughly page 400, it feels a bit like reading an account of someone's "awesome camping trip" but it takes off like a speeding bullet from thereon in. The two main issues covered in Deathly Hallows (and indeed the rest of the series), Love and Choice, are handled exceptionally well for a children/young adult series. Every vital character, Voldemort, Harry, Dumbledore, Snape, Lucius.... has a choice to make, a decision in how their lives turn out. People are not the sum of their parts, they are the sum of their decisions and actions. One could spend a long time drawing comparisons between Voldemort's ideals and real-world fascism, but I'll leave that for another time. The second issue is the underestimation of the power that Love has on all of us. Even the most wretched and grumpy of people is affected by this emotion, and to shrug its effects aside is foolishness. The Greatest revelation of this book is regarding Severus Snape, and what makes him tick (no matter whose side he's on). He's by far my favourite character, and possibly the best written in the entire saga. Score: Recommended Rationale: The fact that it's the final chapter, the conclusion and the tieing up of loose ends--this makes up for a rather sluggish start.

"Skulduggery Pleasant" by Derek Landy

Suzanna from the Terry Brooks forum brought this book to my attention, and I’m really glad she did. Skulduggery Pleasant focuses on the skeleton wizard-detective of the same name (he won his current skull in a poker game—don’t ask what happened to his old one!) and a young girl named Stephanie. Stephanie’s uncle—a horror fiction writer—left her his fortune, including his own house. It’s not until Stephanie spends the night alone there that the story takes off, with Pleasant bashing the door down and saving her from a disturbing attacker. Skulduggery Pleasant is one of the funniest books I have read in a long time- the detective has a sense of humour to die for—jokes and quips abound, but it’s not the cheesy humour you might be used to finding inYoung Adult books. In fact, the humour is quite realistic without descending to rudeness. Despite being humourous, when it gets down to the nitty gritty of magic and action, Skulduggery Pleasant delivers, and delivers in style. Firstly, the magic system is pretty straight forward and easy to understand. It’s not basic, but Derek hasn’t really felt the need to explain needless nuances to it. Secondly, I wouldn’t describe the action as gory but it is most definitely exciting! There’s nothing quite like reading about a heist-escape with Vampires in hot pursuit! Overall this is an easy and enjoyable "Pick-up and read" kind of book. It's got action, humour, an evil mastermind and an involving but not overcomplicated plot. Score: 9/10 Rationale: Incredibly witty, and immensely fun--put Skulduggery Pleasant to the top of your "To be read" pile! Still not convinced? Read an Extract.